The Cogitating Ceviché Week in Review (25-37)
Discussion via NotebookLM
Editorial Summary
This week’s writings explore the ghosts in our machines, the forgotten voices of history, and the echoes that shape modern ethics. Conrad Hannon brings satire and spectral musings to the tech world, while Mauve Sanger honors scientific heroism with moral clarity. Gio Marron offers both escapism and elegy in his literary contributions, and Calista Freiheit grounds us with a rigorous moral lens on technological power. From F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quiet heartbreak to Tu Youyou’s global triumph, the common thread is impact—whether immediate or long after memory fades.
Articles
The Domino Principle: Brief Lives, Lasting ImpactDate: September 15, 2025Author: Conrad HannonDescription: A philosophical jaunt through forgotten influencers, the fragility of reputation, and how small acts shape sweeping change.
Can Ghosts Get Pregnant? The Afterlife of Dead PlatformsDate: September 16, 2025Author: Conrad HannonDescription: A sharp and spectral exploration of defunct tech platforms, their legacy code, and the philosophical residue of digital extinction.
The Lees of HappinessDate: September 17, 2025Author: Gio MarronDescription: A literary reprint of Fitzgerald’s short story, reflecting on joy, decline, and quiet tragedies in relationships.
The Woman Who Unlocked Ancient Medicine's Greatest SecretDate: September 17, 2025Author: Mauve SangerDescription: A powerful tribute to Tu Youyou’s discovery of artemisinin and its transformative impact on global health.
The Ethics of Technology: Guardrails for AI, Privacy, and the Common GoodDate: September 19, 2025Author: Calista FreiheitDescription: An incisive argument for ethical guardrails in technology, grounded in principles of human dignity and the public good.
The Chimney Sweep's Tale - PART ONE: "The Fall"Date: September 20, 2025Author: Gio MarronDescription: The debut of a new mystery series featuring Mimi Delboise, where industrial grime meets Victorian intrigue.
Quote of the Week"The future is not haunted by ghosts, but by data that never forgets."— Conrad Hannon, Can Ghosts Get Pregnant?
Questions
The Domino Principle
* How do minor actors in history leave disproportionate legacies?
* What systems reward—or erase—quiet contributions?
* Are we living through a similar cascade today?
Can Ghosts Get Pregnant?
* What defines a platform’s “death” in digital culture?
* Can defunct technologies influence the present more than live ones?
* How should we ethically engage with digital remains?
The Lees of Happiness
* How does Fitzgerald portray happiness as inherently transient?
* What role does economic ambition play in the characters' decline?
* Could this narrative work in a contemporary setting?
The Woman Who Unlocked Ancient Medicine's Greatest Secret
* What ethical models can we draw from Tu Youyou’s story?
* How did traditional knowledge and modern science collaborate here?
* Why was her contribution overlooked for so long?
The Ethics of Technology
* What guardrails are essential for AI to serve the common good?
* How does privacy intersect with civic responsibility?
* What role should faith traditions play in shaping tech ethics?
The Chimney Sweep’s Tale - PART ONE: "The Fall"
* How does Gio Marron build tension through setting?
* What kind of detective is Mimi Delboise?
* How does the story reimagine noir through a steampunk lens?
Additional Resources
* The Ghost in the Machine by Arthur Koestler
* Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold
* WHO briefing on the global impact of artemisinin
* The Ethics of Invention by Sheila Jasanoff
* Fitzgerald’s collected short stories (Scribner edition)
* The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London by Judith Flanders
Thank you for your time today. Until next time, stay gruntled, curious, stay safe, and God Bless.
