Reeder Fellows Discussion Series:

Cool it!  When bad politics hijack good intentions

Tuesday November 10

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm  (Dinner served at 6:00)

Introducing Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Bjorn Lomborg.

A continuation of the discussion led by the TED club “Third way to look at aid”. While most debate about foreign aid centers on the negative impact it has on receiving countries, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former finance minister of Nigeria, takes on a more pragmatic approach, attempting to balance aid with trade. As she bluntly pointed out, what most of the developed world needs is certainly not enthusiasm and compassion to help the poor, but some cool-headed reasoning.  Applying the same mindset to controversial issues such as climate change, we question whether the debate over what to do about the world’s problems  has been polluted by too much “bad science, non-science, inflamed rhetoric and outright fibs.”

Some TED to refresh our memories:

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on aid versus trade

Bjorn Lomborg asks, Why worry about global warming?

More background information on foreign aid effiency:

US and Foreign

Bjorn Lomborg sets global priorities

Discussion led by Nan Li

Fuck the Police?

Tuesday November 3

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm


The police, and other law enforcement/security forces are a fairly constant presence in our lives, and as children, the message is strongly enforced that the police are here to help and protect you.  However, is that always the case?  Are there times where the police can actually make you feel less safe?

The first point of this discussion is to share experiences.  Have you had any extraordinary interactions with the police (good, bad, or indifferent)?  Do you think back on these experiences when encountering law enforcement in everyday life?  On a broader note, do the police sometimes serve interests that go against public well-being, or general safety?

Relating a personal experience with the police (not me)

A video from the G20 protests in Pittsburgh.  Listen to the commentary of the girls making the video:

Discussion hosted by Peter Moody

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PORNOGRAPHY!!!

Tuesday October 27

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

CM519~Porn-Posters

The title says all…we will be discussing various issues related to pornography, not necessarily in the order listed below. I want this discussion to consist of short question and answer sessions, instead of talking about one particular aspect of pornography. We will run through the following questions, one by one, and talk for 10-15 minutes about each one!

Here’s some information about the pornography debate:

1. http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/pornplag.html
2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1166542/Pornography-debate-Just-whats-terrible-man-looking-pictures-naked-women.html
3. http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2007/08/29/News/Porn-Star.And.Pastor.Go.HeadToHead-2941052.shtml

And of course, nothing is more reliable than The Onion:

4. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/study_children_exposed_to

Questions to think about:

1. What elements of human nature play a role in the fact that people enjoy erotica/pornography?
2. Why is pornography stigmatized in most societies?
3. Is pornography educational? Is it necessary and/or helpful for you to have watched pornography in order to learn about various sexual experiences?
4. In what ways does pornography differ from prostitution?
5. Is pornography addiction a disease?
6. Does the revenue generated by pornography help the economy or are the social costs simply greater than the money earned?
7. Would you have reservations towards being in any kind of relationship with a member of the porn industry?

As for food, I’m inclined to order pasta from Morici’s, but if anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to let me know before Tuesday!

Discussion led by yours truly, FA!

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Reeder Street Fellows Fall 2009 Discussion Series:

Sleepy Time

Tuesday October 20

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm (Dinner begins at 6 pm)

Reeder House Lounge, 225 Reeder St.

sleep_-_le_sommeil_1937_salvador_dali

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP:

“…sleep difficulties visit 75% of us at least a few nights per week.”
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/importance_of_sleep_and_health.htm

THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP:

“Sleep was once considered an inactive, or passive, state in which both the body and the brain “turned off” to rest and recuperate from the day’s waking activities.”
“Understanding these patterns, and the factors that affect them, may help in making choices that will lead to better quality sleep.”
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/science/what/sleep-patterns-rem-nrem

SLEEP DURATION:

“…the exact number of hours that a person should sleep is unknown. Some claim to work optimally with only 3-5 hours of sleep per night, while some admit needing at least 8 hours of sleep per night (or more) to perform effectively”
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sleep_understanding_the_basics/article_em.htm

POLYPHASIC SLEEP:

“…everything we know about sleep … suggest that the technique can work only in your dreams.”
http://www.livescience.com/health/071218-bad-sleep.html

SLEEP IN COLLEGE:

“I don’t really understand listening to Sarah Mclaughlan unless you’re trying to pass out, but if you are, she really does the trick”
http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1652566

SLEEPLESSNESS:

“If a sleep-deprived person doesn’t sleep after the initial signs … the person may then start to experience apathy, slowed speech and flattened emotional responses, impaired memory and an inability to be novel or multitask…”
http://www.apa.org/topics/whysleep.html

THOUGHTS FOR THE DISCUSSION:

What is sleep? Why sleep?
Do we need to sleep long? Why the ‘need’ to sleep? Why is it so difficult to get up from sleep?
How much is healthy sleep? How much of the length of sleep is psychological and how much is biologically necessary?

More Links:

How to become an early riser: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-early-riser/
Sleep hormones and coffee: http://altmedangel.com/melaton.htm

Sleepy_men

Discussion led by Ahsan Nawroj

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The Fate of the world’s oceans.

Tuesday, October 6th

wave-energy_nice wave 550x315 rounded

The world’s oceans are a fascinating place. Also the most mysterious places on our planet. I personally have been fascinated with them for as long as I can remember. The world’s oceans hold vast potential. For a long time man has used the oceans as a source of fuel, energy, transport and drinking water. With all the hubub about energy, water and living space in the recent news I have once or twice thought about the possibility that the answer to these problems lies within the oceans. Wave power and tidal power are here but are only in their infancy. We have agencies and laws to deal with the ocean, but no real development,why is this? The oceans and not trees are the primary absorbers of CO2 in the atmosphere. It is the oceans that power global climate. The oceans are so important but yet, there is almost no draw for people to study oceanography. Why? We also seem to be quite happy using the oceans as a dumping ground for hazardous waste as well as household waste. Why? Some other questions that keep me awake at  night and that I would like to share: Due to global warming, what effects is this having on our oceans? What can we do to adapt to these changing conditions? How can we use the oceans to better ourselves as people? What possible secrets could the ocean hold for us? Are the oceans the next frontier? Is the pressure the only problem keeping us from exploring the depths? Are the riches of the oceans for the rich or are they for all? and most importantly, why is nobody working on this and if they are why are they working on it in the shadows? Why isn’t this as sexy as say space travel? The oceans are still such a mystery yet we depend on them for so much.

Some readings to make you as crazy about the oceans as I am
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/guide/ocean.html
http://www.wfs.org/Sept-Oct08/Castaways.htm

List of readings just to brush up on the basics of the oceans
http://www.gdrc.org/oceans/world-oceans.html
http://theworldsoceans.com/index.html

This is a site for the folks who regulate the exploration of the seabed, check out their site,its actually really cool
http://www.isa.org.jm/en/scientific

Another question to think about, why was this published so long ago and nothing has been done?
http://www.atimes.com/oceania/AB19Ah01.html

Picked this one for the engineers, don’t salivate too much haha, breeze through a couple of pages
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1413&page=20

Explains what the seabed is and current research, breeze through a couple of pages
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1413&page=5

more readings may be added so stay tuned

ocean-$7001699$300

Discussion led by Alex Sandoval

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FOOD, FAMILY AND CULTURE

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

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Time: Dinner at 6pm, Discussion starting at 6:30pm

RSVP: hasegand@lafayette.edu at least 24 hours in advance if you plan to come for dinner so we know how many to expect.

Location: Reeder Fellows House Lounge (Map)

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New Bitmap Image

Food, Family and Culture:

Just as turkey symbols a typical Thanksgiving dinner, the moon-cake is the delicacy on the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (Oct 4, 2009). It is said that on this day according to the lunar calendar, the moon is at its fullest and brightest, which in Chinese means completeness and harmony. The moon-cake, as a symbol, conveying the message of unity, is more than a mere type of delicious food.

In many other cultures, there are examples of such kinds of food that is “larger than food.” What is more, the process of preparing food, having it together, and enjoying activities after food, proves to be important events that unites a family or even a culture. Why does food play such a large role? What is the “holiday food” in different cultures? How does it relate to the traditions of a culture? How come?

Share the experiences, voice the opinions, show the pictures, bring the “samples” and engage in the “Reeder House open-ended academic (gourmet) exploration.”


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Some Reading Material:

significance of food relating to family - Constructing the Family

brief introduction – Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

first few pages – Chinese food in the US

book review on Amazon - Hungering for America

reference section in Skillman – Encyclopedia of American holidays


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Discussion led by Luke Liu

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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Digital Media, Rights Management and the Future of Free.


In a world where the reproduction, modification and distribution of digital information becomes easier almost daily, there are a host of unanswered questions.  How does copyright apply in the digital realm?  How should it be enforced?  Who should enjoy what rights, and who has responsibilities?  Who will pay for the creation of content if it is expected to be free?  What constitutes fair use? Are newspapers dying?  Should they be saved?  The list goes on.

The one thing that does seem to be for sure is that as digital tech continues becoming more pervasive, there will continue to be winners and losers — those who realize how to adapt their goals to an evolving information landscape, and those who don’t.  Who will win, who will lose, and what does that mean for the rest of us?

Some Reading Material:

Priced to Sell — Is the Future Free?

EFF – What is Fair Use?

Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center

Harvard Law Professor Defends Student in RIAA case

RIAA in the Classroom

News You Can Lose

Content (A collection of essays by Cory Doctorow — if you for some crazy reason don’t have time to read all of them, I suggest The Microsoft DRM talk and Why is Hollywood making a sequel to the Napster wars?)

Can Kindle Improve on the Book?

What can the Kindle Do?

Copyright enforcement versus privacy

Discussion led by DIETRICH HOEFNER.


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Tuesday, September 12th, 2009

Khuda Kay Liye

In the Name of God

What social issues do Muslims today face – at home and abroad?

How should the traditional values of Islam – and of any religious faith – play a role in our modern lives?

Discussion Info

Movie screening at Reeder House, 7 PM on Saturday, Sept. 12

Dinner will be served at 6 PM and the discussion will start at 6:30 on Tuesday, Sept. 15

Please RSVP to adelmanm@lafayette.edu if you are planning to attend dinner

Sources of Information

Acceptance of Muslims in the U.S. and treatment of post-9/11 prisoners

Social issues in Pakistan and Islam

Discussion led by MICKEY ADELMAN.


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The First Reeder Fellows Discussion of the Fall 2009 Semester

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

I THINK. I ADAPT. I EVOLVE

Charles Robert Darwin (1809 – 1882) was an English naturalist who realised and presented compelling evidence that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors, through the process he called natural selection. The fact that evolution occurs became accepted by the scientific community and much of the general public in his lifetime, but it was not until the emergence of the modern evolutionary synthesis from the 1930s to the 1950s that a broad consensus developed that natural selection was the basic mechanism of evolution. In modified form, Darwin’s scientific discovery is the unifying theory of the life sciences, explaining the diversity of life.

How did the theory of evolution changed the way we see ourselves as a species?
And how about influence on the purpose of our lives?
How can we reconcile the theory of evolution with the religious faith?

Sources of information:

Discussion led by DIANA HASEGAN.