Author Archives: rpj33

Rhythm and Blues (Brothers)

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I’ve always been a fan of 80s movies, and I can say that this one definitely lived up to my standards. This story follows two hip brothers that are seeking to raise money for an orphanage. Of course, this leads to an abundance of mayhem, mixed with musical performances.

After discovering that their orphanage will be shut down unless a $5,000 tax bill is settled within days. The brothers decide that they are “on a mission from God” and set out to do the only thing they know how: reunite their old blues band and perform a show to raise money.

Even though the ending results in them being able to save the orphanage, their rowdiness and crimes catch up to them, resulting in their arrest.  In the final scene, we see them playing for the other inmates with armed guards standing above the hall. This bittersweet nicely ties up the film, and I highly recommend the film to anyone into 80s films!

The Benefits of Massage Therapy

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Someone once told me that a massage is to the human body what a tune-up is to a car. The benefits of massages, however, go beyond just physical. Along with physical benefits, there are emotional and even mental benefits of getting a massage.

Physically, massage therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles. It also improves blood flow. It can also facilitate the removal of metabolic wastes and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to our cells. Of course, massage therapy results in the release of endorphins–the body’s natural stress/pain reliever!

Emotionally and mentally, massage therapy provides relaxation and reduces mental stress. This reduction can enhance our capacity for thinking and creativity. This therapy is also known to reduce anxiety levels, giving us an overall “feel-good” mentality.

 

How to Save a Life

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This past weekend, I had the honor of becoming CPR certified. I believe that everyone should have at least a general knowledge of CPR, because you never know if you’ll be in a situation in which someone needs their life to be saved. Every single day we face dangers that can possibly lead to needing CPR— yet simple and easily learned procedures can help prevent this. This knowledge can be invaluable when someone is in medical distress. Knowing these things in a medical emergency can mean the difference between life and death.

Halloweekend!

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During table talk, we discussed the origin of Halloween and its relevance in today’s society. Halloween began as a pagan holiday in Ireland almost 2,000 years ago. How did this holiday become consumed by commercialism? Halloween today is second only to Christmas in terms of expenses. I personally celebrate Halloween and go all out in buying candy, decorations, and costumes. However, I was surprised to hear how some people don’t celebrate Halloween at all. In the end, we all came to realize that Halloween can be a time for celebration and unity.

Into the Streets: An Important Reminder

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To be honest, volunteering with Into the Streets was something I was not immediately looking forward to. However, after finally bracing the walk up the slope and meeting my wonderful team, I could already tell that the rest of the day would be an experience to remember.

I wanted to focus this conversation to the aspect of volunteering as a whole. This experience helped me stay in touch with the Ithaca Community and reminded me of the gratification that volunteering can give. You can make friends and learn about the community, and more  importantly, you can help change someones life for the better. From now on, I will always be sure to volunteer  in my free time, and enjoy doing it!

 

The Martian: “There is No I in Team.”

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At the end of The Martian, we see Mark Watney finally returning to home on Earth. This nearly two-year struggle however, was not overcome on his own. NASA, the China National Space Administration, and even his crew on Hermes all had a part in his rescue and return to Earth.  Everyone involved in his rescue could have simply chosen to go on with their lives and not pay Mark any mind. They could have assumed that the worst would happen—that he wouldn’t survive long enough for them to rescue him. Instead, countless people, most who do not have any direct affiliation with Mark, put blood, money, sweat, and tears to bring one man home.

In the novel, Mark claims that the only reason he survived was because “every human being has a basic instinct to help each other,” even if we might not act this way most of the time.