FergusonCommentMemo3-4-Ross

Memo 3 or Memo1Redux
__Chimera's__

1. I was thinking about this human/animal abstraction when I started reading about the rescueing of the dogs that Michael Vick was using in his dog fighting clan. While I can't quite get to why this struck me, there seems to be a continuum of values placed upon human/animals that allow for violence to perpetuate.

Insects in research (no one cares)-mice in research (some concern)-chimps (ALF bombs a facility)-the human 'other' in war (they're not really human right?)-the 'other' in gender (she needs to get belittled and hit so that she understands her place)-the other in sports (you can punch him in the face so long as there is a ref close by)-and then the rest of us...

2. Do you have any interest in the trickle down effect of science spaces negotiating human/animal? In other words is the framing of sentient mice or human/pig chimera's as scientific breakthroughs rather than horror inspiring change sociocultural thinking more broadly?

3. Where did you get your background on freaks?

4. "I am a human, male, ..." whom also grew up on the west coast that is attuned both to animal rights and freakiness?

5. Is there a human/technology chimera in the future and/or do cyborgs give us different understandings of human boundedness?

6. You seem to also be getting into Philosophy of Science and Philosophy more broadly.

__The good life through drugs__ 1. Are there particular pharma companies or products that are more interesting than others, e.g. why should I pay attention to my diet (too much meat and processed food) when I can just take a pill to get my GI system back in order OR "kids acting up" pop em a pill?

2. I really think you need to include the marketing that is directed at physicians. I've heard a number of accounts from family friends and acquantances that this is an understudied area. 3. You should talk with Jen about her knee surgery experience and the anti-remedy stance of the doctor.

4. Are there aspects of the good life that pharma hasn't been able to crack or are considered culturally off-limits?

5. What did you get out of work on Prop 36 that you think will be useful?

6. How do you determine useful drugs?

7. In the "what constitutes the good life?" are you going to do a comparison between regions, users, etc.?

__The Good Death__ 1. You have to do some sort of discourse analysis on the Terry Shiavo disaster...

2. Does euthanasia acceptability come in cycles, is it linked to sociohistorical changes, ...?

3. Is euthanasia legal anywhere?

Memo 4
Should you be using "Thee" for formality if you're going to put something in front of your name? -You might want to throw out why the life science and medical tech are of particular interest for understanding values and technoscience. -One of the items Kim asked that we touch on is why STS has a useful lens that other fields don't have. I'm not sure exactly how this is supposed to occur, but I'm pretty sure whatever that discussion should be it is not in this biosketch. -What's the novel about? -In your current research are all of these intersecting together or are they different case studies on changes in sexual practices?