Cyborgs of the Modern Age

Technology; does it rob us of our humanity or is it precisely what makes us human? No matter which side of this age-old debate a person may stand, technology is an undeniable part of daily life. Arguably one of the most unique aspects of our species is the ability to create and use complex tools. This evolutionary trait, this capacity to improvise and innovate has determined the course of human society, weapons of war and lifesaving innovations alike. As we look to the future, like so many science-fiction storytellers have, we begin to contemplate the implications technology may have.

One of the most enduring sci-fi themes, popularized in the 1960’s, is the concept of cyborgs. Dictionary.com defines a cyborg as, “A person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent-upon a mechanical or electronic device." Following this logic almost every single one of us could be considered a cyborg, some people with machinery build directly into their bodies. We may not look like Darth Vader or Robo-cop but technology certainly allows us to far exceed our physical limitations. From automobiles to aircraft, clothing to smartphones, MRI machines to ventilators, pacemakers to wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs and even eyeglasses make us more than our basic biology.

"Resistance is futile."

When it comes to science-fiction however, cyborgs are many times presented in a somewhat cautionary light, tales of what could go wrong. A powerful example of this is The Borg from the Star Trek: The Next Generation series. This hostile alien collective had surrendered all notions of free-will and become a terrifying mechanical hybrid bent on galactic domination. The Borg and other insidious cyborgs may be in the realm of fiction but the stories we create often parallel real life problems and opinions. The sci-fi genre often and accurately suggests that progress without a conscience can be deadly.

For all the good technology does, it is still very much a double-edged sword; humanity's ability to create is rivaled only by it’s ability to destroy. As a civilization we have constructed and continue to manufacture tools specifically designed to end lives and inflict pain on the most massive levels imaginable. Even so many of the things we take for granted every day, create enormous amounts of pollution and devastate the ecosystem. However, our ingenuity may be the only to way overcome this destructive path, evolving past the need for violence and creating devices with reduced environmental impact. The future must be built on sustainability, both morally and physically.

Throughout the course of history there have always been individuals who warn of our growing dependence on devices and machinery, those who fear what we will become. For someone such as myself though, a life without these things is simply not possible. Personally, I am proud to call myself a cyborg of this modern age. The question is not whether we should have technology but rather what we will do with it. As Spiderman’s Uncle Ben once said, “With great power comes great responsibility."

A Sky Full of Stars

What do you feel when you gaze into a sky full of stars? This question, as simple as it may sound, can reveal so very much about who we are. There is something so primally human about staring at the vast expanse of space, wondering just what our place is in this universe. From the earliest humans to the most cutting-edge scientists, this fascination with the great celestial horizon has pushed our species forward. The more we understand about this breathtaking cosmos we inhabit, the more we feel drawn to knowledge, drawn the mysteries yet to be solved.

"Space is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly hugely mindbogglingly big it is." Douglas Adams remarked in his humorous sci-fi series, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. For me, just thinking about the sheer size of the known universe is a rather humbling experience; when I look at the stars I cannot help but feel small but also infinitely part of something much, much bigger. When I was around seven or eight years old my parents bought me a telescope, my father in particular took an interest in showing me the constellations and other heavenly bodies that filled the night sky. From Orion's Belt to the Milky Way, Cassiopia to Polaris the North Star, each speck of light a had story to tell. I felt part of a tradition passed down for thousands of years, from generation to generation.

Looking at the stars is so deeply ingrained in the human narrative, a tool for the imagination as well as the physical world. The stars helped us to create stories and myths, to plant crops and to navigate sea and land, they have truly allowed our society to advance. Before humanity could even comprehend the concept of anything beyond our own planet, space had captured our collective interest. As our understanding of science expanded our views of the universe passed from the realm of mysticism and legend to that of facts and logic, outer space became a tangible place. The prospect of interstellar exploration fascinated our species long before the technology to do so was even conceived. 

Science changed our perspective, imagination took us that next step forward. Jules Verne, for instance, wrote the novel From the Earth to the Moon more than one-hundred years before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the lunar surface. When we had just barely scratched the surface of spaceflight, minds like Gene Roddenberry who created Star Trek and George Lucas creator of Star Wars, imagined a time where intergalactic travel is commonplace. Fantasy and scientific fact have both, in their own way, brought us closer to the stars. The great power of the human mind has helped us begin to boldly go where no one has gone before. 

As we imagine a brighter future, space is almost always part of that vision, part of that dream for a better tomorrow. Every astronaut, astronomer, astrophysicist and science-fiction writer started out as a child looking at the stars dreaming of something bigger. The spirit of exploration is as big a part of who we as the cosmos. Carl Sagan once famously said, “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.”  We are not only in the universe, we are the universe, each one of us infinitely connected to everyone and everything around us.

The Force Re-Awakens

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”, Star Wars always begins. That little sentence that tells you that you are in for something truly unique. Then those yellow letters of title crawl fill the screen as you hear it, one of the most iconic pieces of film score ever written. The epic blaring trumpets of the London Symphony Orchestra playing the pure joy-inducing composition written by the legendary John Williams. The text and music drift off into space as you are transported to this galaxy that is part fairytale, part sci-fi and all marvelous imagination.

Growing up with Star Wars, it has become inseparably intertwined with my past, my present and certainly my future. Much like the mysterious force that binds all things together in the series, this universe from the mind of George Lucas is a part of who I am. How many people can say that they love something just as much now as they did when they were three years old. I vividly recall watching the original movies over and over on VHS and receiving my first action figures and Millennium Falcon toy. I have memories of anxiously awaiting the prequels to come out, Star Wars themed birthday parties and Halloween costumes, video games and plastic lightsaber battles—countless hours spent thoroughly immersed in this wonderful space saga.

For me, there are few things better than spending a lazy afternoon glued to the television watching these films. It is truly an experience for me, not just simply a piece of entertainment. The sense of wonder is something I strongly value my life, Star Wars has always brought me that feeling. Every time I re-watch the series, as I did just a few weeks ago, I cannot help but be completely overwhelmed with excitement and nostalgia. I have found myself particularly electrified lately as hype continues to build for the seventh installment premiering this winter.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens directed by J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Star Trek) arrives in theaters December 18 and I could not be any more ecstatic. The trailers alone instantly reignite a child-like joy within me, I am once again that little boy dreaming of a big galaxy. My cautious optimism for this film and the subsequent sequels and spin-offs has quickly shifted to an uninhibited level of excitement, sometimes we must simply trust the in force. The anticipation is palpable for millions of Star Wars fans, young and old, as we await the major resurgence of this beloved franchise. As the first teaser trailer asks, “There has been an awakening, have you felt it?”

Star Wars is forever a part of my life and the lives of so many others, it is an important cultural phenomenon that will remain for generations yet to come. The proverbial lightsaber has been passed to a new group of filmmakers, actors and dreamers of galaxies far, far away. The biggest lesson that this series has taught me is there is always hope, always a chance to make this universe a brighter place. To all the Jedi, Wookies and scruffy-looking-nerf-herders alike, I warmly say may the force be with you, always.

In honor of this week's post I give you... Darth Mike.

Summer Movie Magic

There are few things in this world that give me more joy than going to the movies, it is both a beloved pastime and an eternal aspect of my identity. I am a dreamer with starry eyes forever affixed to the big screen. Favorable weather signals the start of that magical season of popcorn blockbusters, larger-than-life spectacles of cinematic grandeur. Ladies and gentlemen, we have once again reached the time of summer movies.

Mann's Chinese Theatre, May 25, 1977

In May of 1977 a film very close to my heart hit theaters, a monumental release known boldly as Star Wars. In my opinion, few movies better sum up the summertime film phenomenon. This saga a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away dazzled audiences; it took them to new worlds and new heights of imagination. The summer movie spirit truly lies within the transportive experience, the journey of the moviegoer. In a large dark air-conditioned room we can be whisked off to new, exciting places without ever having to leave our seat.

The word that most vividly comes to mind with this feeling is wonder, pure childlike wonder. Whether it’s superheroes battling evil robots, chases across post-apocalyptic wastelands or adventures 65 million years in the making, we cannot help but be mesmerized by what is on screen. There is something indescribably magical about the films that suspend our sense of disbelief, that take us along for the ride. I live for those unforgettable movie moments that make us shout in utter jubilation, “That was totally wicked!"

The Incredibles (2004) 

The flicks of the summer months capture elements of bravery, humor, peril and adventure. The best films of this nature effectively balance all of these aspects creating a well paced and entertaining storyline. A great example of this flow is last summer’s box-office hit Guardians of the Galaxy; it combines impressive action and visuals with hilarious lines and unforgettable characters. This movie is also particularly unique because of it’s memorable soundtrack, who would have imagined 70’s pop songs could work so well in a high-flying space adventure. The most entertaining summer films separate themselves from the pack while still maintaining the same energy that moviegoers love. 

With new leaps in technology and imaginative minds at work, I believe the future of summer movies is bright. As time goes on these films will continue to grow and evolve. Personally, I would like for there to be more inclusion of disabled, LGBT and racially diverse characters. I also hope to see more movies with genuinely interesting female characters, such as Charlize Theron’s Furiosa from the recent Mad Max: Fury Road. Everyone deserves to feel seen. 

Summer blockbusters may not always be oscar winners or major contributions to the art of film-making but they certainly have a great deal of value in their own regard. They are more than just CGI and explosions, while still awesome at times, they are about the feeling of boundless excitement. These movies give us an escape from the mundane, the average. At the same time, they can also give us glimpses at ourselves and world around us. Each story, no matter how out-there, contains glimmers of the truth.

Pure Imagination

Once upon a time there was a young boy who imagined an entire world all in his own backyard. In this land of wonder every day was an amazing adventure, each moment an unfolding story. This child set free by his mind was me. For as long as I can remember imagination has played a role major my life. One of the first memories I have is spending time outdoors pretending at my family's first home in North Syracuse. I vividly recall a grouping of two or three large pine trees that I affectionately nicknamed the Sherwood Forest after Robin Hood's legendary outlaw hid-a-way. To a small child a few trees can certainly be towering woods filled with mystery—it is all a matter of perspective. 

I believe that our senses are limited but what we can think is truly infinite. Creative abstract thought allows us to transcend our physical surroundings and expand our minds. I am quite fortunate to have been strongly encouraged to pretend from a very young age. My parents and my grandparents both allowed me to explore my imagination, often times playing right along with me. I always had plenty of toys that engaged my mind but some of the most fun I ever had was with boxes, chair forts and empty paper-towel rolls. My parents always challenged me to play creatively. Most Saturdays when I was younger were spent with mom's parents. My grandpa and I took pretending to a whole new level; when we played down cellar, no idea was too absurd. The basement could be transformed into a restaurant, a school, a courtroom or a campground depending on our mood. 

These elaborate fantasies ranged from stage shows to award banquets with stuffed animals (Bugs Bunny's bribery investigation is still pending), all very real to us. Even to this day my grandfather and I fondly reminisce about these times, I think in many ways it allowed him to be a kid again. As we grow older we never really lose this beautiful ability to pretend, we just learn to hide it. In my opinion, the world be a much better place if we all used our imagination's a little more often. In a world that tells us to focus solely on reality, it is up to us break the mold. 

Many of the greatest minds history has ever know, were those who could think outside the box. To quote Albert Einstein,"Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere." From theoretical physics to social change, imagination has opened the door. One-hundred years ago, going to outer-space was something that only existed in the realm of science fiction.

In my life, imagination carries through into everything I do and defines who I am as a person. When your mind is free to wander, life becomes so much more grand. Sometimes a good daydream is all it takes to get through a hard day. As we grow up we must never stop pretending—imagination is truly our salvation.