The Civil War

On the weekend I was able to complete another item on my Southern Experiences Checklist by attending a Civil War re-enactment in Bridgeport, Alabama. I have much to report, but I'll have to do it in installments. One of the highlights was the reconstruction of a field hospital, complete with creepy 19th Century medical instruments. Remember that bit in Gone With the Wind where we watch Scarlett wincing at an unfortunate soldier's amputation? Well...

Two blocks west of Kent and Clark

Honour thy Father and thy Mother

I've been teaching a unit on cyborgs, with the intention of engaging my students in ethical debates about artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and other challenges to human identity that are likely being devised elsewhere on campus as we speak.  We watched a Star Trek episode where an android has to endure a court case to determine if he is property or an autonomous being.  One of the arguments he makes is that he is the expression of his creator's vision, and is therefore sacred.  I asked my students who their creator is (responses included both God and parents), and then asked if and why they felt responsible to those who created them.  After a long period of silence, I provoked them with a "So, none of you care about your parents?  To hell with Mum and Dad!"  This got a laugh, and then my student with perpetual bed-head offered that "If I had to choose between my parents and a box of chocolates, I guess I would choose my parents."  I couldn't resist exclaiming "Wow, that's going in my blog!"

Proper Topper

Last week I broke down and purchased an item of clothing with university insignia on it. It is a pink baseball cap, much like the one pictured here. I bought it because my red McGill cap that I got for free at an alumni event clashed with some of my gym outfits. I tried on every hat in the store, but I was disappointed with their attempt at making a "gold" hat, as the result is just a bad yellow. I would adore a gold metallic hat, but that is too much to hope for. So, I decided to go with the pink one that I see on so many members of the cheerleading team.
I had not anticipated the effect this hat would have on my social interactions. I have been given student discounts in stores, and the men of Atlanta view the hat as a conversation starter, i.e. "Go Tech!"

Urban Wildlife

At last, I am back in my apartment. Mollie and I went for a walk in the park and I couldn't stop grinning about being downtown again. As we entered the park, I saw a couple in the distance who were on a family outing. He was making protective gestures toward her, and she appeared to be cradling a baby. Imagine my delight when I got closer and realized that she was actually holding a bunny. Mollie took interest, but not in a potentially catastrophic way. This is the kind of thing that makes city life fantastic.

My Apartment Has a Floor

...but it lacks a bathroom sink.

Zen and the Art of Aircraft Maintenance

This week I went to my first flying club event, where I was introduced to the wonderful world of aircraft maintenance. It was enjoyable in the same way that cooking is - it makes one feel grounded (insert your own joke here), and a welcome contrast to my otherwise cerebral working life. My contributions to the process were to fill up the tires, use dentistry tools (donated by a pilot/dentist) to winkle carbon deposits out of spark plugs, and engage in long discussions about which screwdriver to use for which job. Good times.

Once the plane was ready to go, I tagged along on a ferry mission, delivering a plane to a nearby airport to be looked at by a real mechanic. It was a night flight, which is new for me, and we got slightly lost, so I got to fly the plane for a while as the pilot tried to sort out which flashing light on the ground was the airport beacon. I learned something interesting, which is that Wal-Mart, while a generally evil force in the world, is most helpful in nighttime navigation because their buildings have a distinctive skylight pattern. Light shines out of the skylights like a flashlight through a cheese-grater, so if you know where the Wal-Marts are on the map, they serve as excellent landmarks.

Monkey Business

The fancy-pants Georgia Tech athletic centre is equipped with a rock-climbing wall. Last week my friend invited me to an intro to rock climbing session for GT women. For three bucks you get climbing lessons followed by snacks, so I was in. I made it up about half way before I started to get too tired, and spent the rest of the time trying to launch myself onto the bouldering wall, where the idea is to move sideways rather than vertically. The hardest part is to remember to lift with your legs, since your inclination is to climb with your arms, which is a) difficult for women, and b) difficult for non-monkeys. I enjoyed it, but clutching crevices in the wall was hard on my nails, so I may stick with aviation for my vertical thrills.