Where's my desk?

[fredericks]

I'm sitting here after almost flunking my Nursing Care exam (but you'd really want me taking care of you, promise! *sigh*) listening to a streaming episode of "Home Movies" via [AS]'s 24 hour Fix ("listening" because, hello, LJ window is up...when did the mom's VA change?) and I just remembered what went on in my Nursing in the Media class on Tuesday. The class educated our 70-odd year old co-professor on golden showers. Yes, golden showers. It was in a poem, and while I heartily maintain it was in reference to an actual flower ("Golden Shower petals") some of my classmates seemed convinced that it was about...well, you know. One woman's adamant "some people pay good money for that" made me want to jump into a pool of holy water. Or maybe I was just jealous that I didn't say it first. Meh. We're supposed to be doing research to see if there actually are Golden Shower flowers in India or...yeah.

Speaking of Nursing in the Media, I decided to do my final paper on Nurses in Sci-Fi. Only thing is I don't read sci-fi. And the paper is due on Tuesday and I've yet to start it. And I managed to blurt out what my paper topic was on Tuesday and now my professors are all "I can't wait to read your [plural, as in "the class" but I know I brought it on] papers". Fuck. I was lucky in that some kind souls gave me wonderful reading leads, but I still have to do the work. Fuck.

I am at a serious loss this semester. That's the only way to describe it.

Comments

[mintyduck.livejournal.com]

Woooo, that sounds like a rough topic. I'm not even much for sci-fi, but I'd still be interested in what you end up learning about it. Kind of cool.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

If it comes out marginally good I'll get it up here somehow as a link or cut and paste. I think I might enjoy working on it if I don't end up having to cram it all down in one night.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

"Nurses in Sci-Fi"? Cool topic - I'd be interested to see what you've come up with.

Sadly, all I can think of right now is James White's "Sector General" series.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

*grin* I bugged a couple of sci-fi communities about medical books and White came up a lot. I picked up the first omnibus yesterday. Now all I have to do it read it and analyze it and, you know, write a paper and such.

It's nice to see your wenchy icon (*grin*) btw. I hope the angst isn't weighing you down too much. You're like a ray of composer-crazy sunshine in my life.

[xioley.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...well, there nurses on various versions of Star Trek, I think....

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I know about Majel (however her name is spelling) playing a nurse on the first Star Trek. The interesting thing to me is how her husband initially wanted her to play Second and the network balked saying the role wasn't fit for a woman, and then she went on the play one of the most stereotypically female positions ever. I want to see if I can work that in somehow. Other than that...I know there were female characters that sort of milled around in Medical, but I don't think they were addressed as nurses. They might have been medics...? They didn't do much of anything, anyway.

[jenjiyana.livejournal.com]

yeah all i can think about is star trak nurses...

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

There were nurses in all the Treks? All I recall are the nurses from Original Recipe.

[twoworldsin1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, today in Bible study while were were talking about abortion and contraception we learned that three of Pastor's kids were concieved while his wife was on birth control. Yeah. Pretty uncomfortable Bible study right there. :(

He also mentioned that vasectomies don't work then Scott, one of the LSFers, blurted out "HOW ABOUT A RAZORBLADE?" I cringed and crossed my legs. Great bunch, the LSFers.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Lutherans allow birth control? I didn't know that. Hmm.

A "razorblade"? Yeah, that kid needs help STAT. :/

[twoworldsin1.livejournal.com]

Lutherans allow condoms and stuff like that that blocks the sperm from reaching the egg (most Protestants allow that kind of contraception; it's one of the big differences between Catholics and Protestants), but we don't allow contraception that "creates an inhospitable environment" for the egg once it has been fertilized, such as some kinds of the pill. It's splitting hairs, I know, but it has to do with the fact that, along with the Catholic church, Lutherans believe that life starts at contraception.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

it has to do with the fact that, along with the Catholic church, Lutherans believe that life starts at contraception.

"Contraception"? I know that's a slip, but I find it no less hilarious. *grin*

[twoworldsin1.livejournal.com]

Oh. Whoops. Freudian slip FTW.

mmm

[inode-finder.livejournal.com]

Contrast the “Nurses in Sci-Fi” vs real stuff today.

Robots in the OR and robot on-line ie web presence devices....
Talking companions in nursing homes.
Wheelchairs that drive in the street and can climb steps.
human-robot interaction in the next 25 years.

Goggle is your friend.

Re: mmm

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

The contrast is a given. I'm not lacking a focus, but lacking sufficient material. Nurses rarely get mentioned in science-fiction (they make good wallpaper). The point is to point out media portrayals of nurses as unskilled candystripers.

mmm 2

[inode-finder.livejournal.com]

And...
Robotic Exoskeleton, help people walk
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=51

Medical Rounding Robot
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=125

A robot pharmacist named ERNIE
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=318

more...
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science_List_Detail.asp?BT=Robotics