Machine Sex

I really liked this short story, but I am not totally sure if i can explain myself as to why. I think it is because of the really strong outstanding female character. Angel learns a lot about life in this story and how difficult it is to survive in a man's domain (AI intelligence) in this world. Angel got (to use her terminology.. sorry Dr. Jones) "fucked over" a lot when trying to make her way to the top. First with her boyfriend selling their company without her permission or even acknowledgement and in turn he also sold her. Angels intelligence was constantly being taken advantage of and it seems like every time she would make a breakthrough about AI technology, there was always a man there to take the credit.
However, I would just like to finish my blog with a comment on robots having orgasms and sexual encounters much the same as humans. I am not sure how to respond to that section of the story because I believe that it is completely unethical and well.. just plain weird.. but those are just my views..haha..
Does anyone else have any views about these promiscuous Robots and their sexual encounters with humans?

The Handler

Apparently Knight is known for the term "second-order idiot-plot," a story set in a society that only functions because everyone or almost everyone in it is an idiot (Wikipedia).
I laughed when I read this during my research because the society in which "The Handler" is set is clearly full of idiots. Apparently, Pete was everyone's favourite person and was adored by all. And by some weird twist in the plot it is revealed that Pete is just some large body that is controlled by a Handler named Harry. So, I hope that I am not wrong in assuming that Harry actually climbs into Pete's body and controls him. Once the crowd recognizes this and they are no longer looking at the tall handsome Pete but instead are looking at the short bald big nosed Harry, the crowd turns on him, having their own private mini conversations. This ignorance and idiotic behavior continues until Harry climbs back into Pete's body, and once this transition has occurred the crowd begins to party again, cheering on Pete.
This really speaks to me about exterior appearance and the effect that is has on society. We are in such a superficial time that people do judge others and show different levels of respect to others depending on their looks. Television, radios, magazines and so on, have a generic way for one to look, and if they do no fit into those standards then they are often treated much like Harry. When Harry is Pete (the generic standard for an ideal patriarchal male) he is very accepted, but when he shows his true self as "The Handler" the respect that they have for him disappears. This story, thus reinforces the sad truth that outer appearance does in fact matter to such a large extent.

Plants Voice Their Opinion Way Too Much..

So Much for my earlier comment that plants couldn't speak for themselves..

Yaaa for Women!

I believe that "The vegetable Wife" is a really interesting short story. Of all the stories that I read this week (most of them dealing with strong women), this one really sticks out to me. It really speaks to me about the oppression of women; how men used to "grow" women to be a certian way, to look a certian way, to act a certian way. Women literally had as much say and freedom in this world as a plant.
However, much like the vegetable wife in this short story, women broke free from the patriarchal roots that were so firmly implanted into the ground and became more independent. By killing the symbol or representation of patriarchy, this case being the husband, the wife is showing how far women have come in modern day society. Women have, somewhat, killed (or chocked) the notions of the conventional patriarchal woman, and are now able to stand free and independent with their faces shining towards the sun with unlimited possiblities in life.

(it's valentines day so I am in a very happy and optimistic mood, can you tell? haha)

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day Everyone. This is an e-mail that I got from my boyfriend today who is also a newfie...haha....I thought it was cute and figured I would share it with you all... hope you all enjoy your day of romance..


Newfoundland Valentine Poem

Fer Me Woman ...

I writes ta say I loves ya b'ye!
Cause I don't say it very much...
Everytime I tries ta cuddle ya
Ya says GET A WAY, DON'T TOUCH!

I tried ta be more gentle
Took me rubbers off outside...
When I tells ya where I was last night
Ya always tinks I lied!

Ya knows I loves me Fishin'
Ya knows I loves me boat...
But you're da life preserver
I needs to stay afloat!

So I got ya sometin' really nice
How much, please don't ask...
But you'll find it a lot easier now
When ya goes ta cut da grass!

Just pull da cord, and stand behind
Steer her as you go...
Next Valentines I'll get ya sometin'
Dat helps ya shovel snow!

So keep up da cookin' and cleanin'
You're de only one I got...
To keep me duds all washed and clean
And me coffee always hot!

You knows dat I appreciates
Your home made buns & bread...
And I hope dat it continues on
Till one of us is dead!

I loves ya b'ye!

Yes, I'm Still Alive......

Well It appears that I have bitten off more than I can chew this semester, with 7 courses, an online course and the stresses of everyday life, I seem to have fallen behind. I do have the readings completed but my blog seems to be very empty. Winter Flies was a very interesting read and I really enjoyed it, I think?
I did finish this short story wondering what it was really about, wondering "what exactly is Fritz Lieber trying to say to me exactly?" and then I took a day or 2 to reflect upon it, and I honestly don't know what to say, except wow.
I was completley confused, however, when doing my presentation with Lisa about the life and works of "Fritzy" as Lisa commonly refers to him, things began to make sense. Leiber was a very odd or interesting person and writing a story that causes his readers to have many different interpretations and points of view of his work, along with a massive amounts of confusion, would be, what I think, as on of his aims in writing thise story.
Sometimes, when reading a story, especially in science fiction, one cannot read into it too much and try to push things to try and understand the author or the story. One has to simply sit back in the warmth of their own home with a nice hot cup of coco, put their feet up and enjoy it for what it is: a short science-fiction story about ?????