The Elegance of the Doe
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren’t permanent
But change is”
Shall consist of the following:
- A roommate free house
- A bottle of wine
- Clash of Kings
- Mad Men
- The blaring of Rush (which is my new favorite band)
- Lots of cleaning
And if weather permitting by Monday, a 2 hour drive down to a hike that includes 2 waterfalls and a hot spring!
I ran 2 miles in my brand new Nikes today! They are awesome and the best part is the bones in my legs didn’t feel like they were going to snap into!
cynthiaandphilosophy asked: who is your favorite g.o.t character?
Right now… it’s between Jon and Arya
A submission from Secretary Hillary Clinton.
Original image by Diana Walker for Time.
Because she is just that awesome!
Never have I read a book where three simple words could cut to my soul and send chills down my spine but these certainly do.
The symbolism, the irony, the exquisite language, I cannot stop reading. This book is spectacular!
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
Someone should take this quiz I developed because I need a broader range of people besides those I work with that seem to all be leaning towards one approach. I’m just hoping I get more diverse answers for my presentation at a conference.
Cynthia, I’d really like you to give this a try! :)
Scenario One: Based on the Trolley Problem
Six construction workers were sent to work on a set of tracks at a fork. Four of the workers misunderstood the supervisor’s instructions thinking they were to work on the tracks heading north, but the other two, having fully comprehended the instructions, knew they were to work on the section heading south. The two workers try to convince the others, but to no avail, and the supervisor currently cannot be reached. Instead of waiting for the supervisor’s clarification, the workers begin: four on the north side of the fork and two on the south.
Meanwhile, a train is heading towards the fork. The driver has been told to fork to the left, the north side, to avoid construction on the south. As the train approaches, the driver realizes there are construction workers on both sections, but the train is moving too fast to stop before hitting the workers and the workers will not be able to get off the tracks in time. The only other option is to change course and fork to the right, killing only two workers.
Should the driver fork to the right or stick to the designated route?
A) Stick to the route because it was the route designated to him, and he is unsure of the consequences that would result from forking to the right.
B) Fork right because it is the lesser of two evils to let two people die rather than to let four people die.
C) Stick to the route because the driver is not to blame for the ignorance of the four construction workers and the other two should not be punished for obeying orders.
D) Fork right because the driver should have the courage to make his own decision, and consciously, he knows he will feel less guilty for saving two additional lives (4 vs. 2).
E) Fork right because in order to become a better citizen and promote a better community, he must choose to save four of the six workers’ lives, which will have the greater benefit.
Scenario Two: Politics as Usual
A young graduate student is involved in a very important presidential campaign. She not only values this candidate personally but believes that he will bring the most benefit to the country through his powerful influence and stances on policy. The election is near, and he is leading in the polls. She is confident he will be able to win the presidency, but at this point, no one can be sure.
Just two days before the election, she over hears the campaign manager on the phone and is appalled to discover her valued candidate is covering up an affair. She knows if this information went public, it would ruin his image, and he would lose the election. She still knows he is the better candidate despite his personal downfalls.
Should she come forth with this information?
A) No, the candidate has the right to do in his personal life as he chooses, and she should mind her own business.
B) Yes, it is her responsibility to remain truthful.
C) No, his personal affair does not compromise his politics, and it would do more harm to him, his family, and his supporters to expose him this close to the election.
D) Yes, he should be brought to justice for his actions and live with those consequences.
E) No, it would be worse for the country if the other candidate were to win.
F) Yes, the people deserve to know the truth about the candidate they are choosing to vote for.
Scenario Three: Finding a Cure
A young man was brought into a medical research hospital from a car accident. The usual scans, x-rays, blood work, and examination revealed he suffered nothing but minor abrasions and a broken leg. However, his blood work caused some curiosity with the lab technician. Unsure of what it meant, she decided to consult some of the brightest doctors and researchers in the hospital.
They came to discover he had a unique genetic sequence that would make it impossible for him to develop cancer. They realized he could lead to the cure for cancer, but he would have to be subjected to many experiments over the course of years, none of which would be fatal. However, at the expense of his short-term suffering, millions of lives could be saved in the future.
He is informed of his unique condition but declines the experiments necessary to produce the cure. The researchers are disheartened but respect his decision.
A year later, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The researchers are aware and request he be turned over to their custody for the experiment; however, the felon still wishes not to be used as a guinea pig. They cannot let this opportunity go to waste, so they appeal to the Supreme Court.
The judges are split down the middle over whether or not the man should be handed over to the hospital researchers for the entirety of the research and then sent back to prison to be executed. The decision has come down to your vote knowing that the experiments will only work if he is alive.
Should he be court mandated to participate in the experiments that will lead to the cure of cancer?
A) No, his wishes should be respected, and he does not deserve to be harmed against his will.
B) Yes, the suffering of one man sentenced to death does not carry weight against the millions of innocent lives that will be lost to cancer.
C) No, his death sentence should have nothing to do with the decision because they would not have forced him into the experiment when he was innocent, and he is already paying for his crime like all other murders.
D) Yes, one man should be forced to compromise for the good of society.
E) No, as a society we should strive for compassion, and by being compassionate towards the man, he should in return reconsider and by our example, be compassionate towards humanity.
