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In discussion, someone brought up the point that they believed that the two boys in the beginning of the book, Jeff and Carlos are gay. I also got that vibe when i read the first chapter, it just seemed odd the little things that were said like "Jeff threw his arm around his friend (Carlos)" and Carlos "enjoyed the closeness of this friend" it just seems kind of weird for boys to do. But at the same time they could just act this way, picking up affectionate moves and thoughts from what they learned from their parents, after all they are still young. Maybe Jeff's father would always put his arm around him, and Jeff doing that to Carlos was just a mimic. And Carlos often didnt experience anyone being close to him, so it made him feel good.
The part that made me sad was when even though he knew his friend wasnt breathing anymore, Jeff kept doing mouth to mouth, with some hope that his friend would come back to life. Another weird part is why the author had to make the rocket go through Carlos's eye. It just seemed really gruesome to have the thing poke through his eye and to his brain. Im not sure if there was any sort of significance to the fact it hit his eye, and not have gone through his neck or his chest.

The next chapter was really sad for me. After the first chapter set the sad tone for the book, the second one kept it rolling. The boy Chu being autistic was really sad to hear, how he doenst talk and his parents have to deal with violent tantrums, and his mom isnt happy, she is tired of babysitting and wants to start her career as a chef which she had to give up. Also the fact that it is discovered Jeff has devoted his life to the nants he had been talking about with Carlos. and how he believes Jeff blames himself for Carlos's death. This would be a horrible thing to have to life with and devote your life to. And how Ond mentions that the nants are a "way to bring reality under control." Im sure that relates back to the fact that the rocket exploding should have been under Jeffs control, but it wasnt and it ended up killing his best friend. Now sense that happened, Jeff im sure has control issues and has to make everything under control.

It was interesting the point that Nektar brought up that she thinks mother humanity is mad at us for "making too many machines" which is an interesting point. Im not sure what time period this book is set to be in, but I am able to tell it is probably in at least 40 years from now. It would be interesting to see what types of machines and robots are being produced then. The quality of ACTUALLY LIVING will probably be down. People wont have to get out of their houses if they dont want to. Virtual hikes can be taken through the cascades, and in a case like the diamond age, you can have things just like groceries sent to your kitchen. What would people do with their lives? what kind of quality of life is that. You can get food by the push of a button, what will you ever have to work for? You are seeing these exercise machienes for people who dont even have to do any work, you just sit there and it vibrates your body, and you become toned. How lazy!

I think it was funny how it said everyone from Ond's company were sharing the launch of the Nants to Mars with their families, yet there were a bunch of little computer screens all around the room displaying his co-workers. Is that what it will mean to share time with your family? you and your spouse, and you guys skyping (essentially) 5 other families at the same time. Will there even be dinner parties anymore?

A friend of mine that recently moved to cali, wanted me to bring my lap top to starbucks with me and skype her while she is at a starbucks so it would be as if we were on an actual coffee date there with each other. hahaha needless to say we haven't done it yet, besides the dirty looks i dont know if i would enjoy that.

It is scary how even Ond is unsure about what the nants will do. He is saying that they cant completely be controlled, and that is something everyone gets scared of when they think about. What would happen if say America were to build an indestructible robot to be used for military purposes and protecting our country, but when we dont need it anymore it cant be destroyed. It ends up turning on the American military, and all of America and then what happens?