Genetic engineering sounds like a science fiction term, but it is very much part of the world we live in. From agriculture to medicine genetic engineering helps us to live in the world we do today. In Table Talk, we talked about different ways we can use genetic engineering and the different techniques a scientist could use to go about actually getting to a specific goal. During the talk and afterward, I could not help but think about the ethics that gene editing has, especially in the realm of medicine. As it stands the U.S public does not look too highly on the altering of plants and would not be too keen on moving technology to humans. Not only that but the possible ramifications and consequences that it could have are incredibly vast. So how much control should we really have?
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To Do or Not to Do: Is it up to me?
Free will seems like one of those concepts that can exist with its opposite. For me, free will means exercising control over the conscious actions that I take. However, occurrences that may happen in my life, I don’t think I have ultimate power over. The choices that I make may lead me to a situation, but the probability of that situation happening also depends on other people’s choices. My own choices and other people’s choices may or may not be fated to happen at the time that they do. I think it is an interesting field of thought to explore.
Seasonal Creativity
October is definitely up there as one of my favorite months solely because of Halloween. The candy, horror movies, decorations, and overall spooky atmosphere make it one of the best times of the year. I was glad to be able to pumpkin carve because even though I myself have no distinct creative abilities it was nice to be able to see what everyone else was creating. It was also a nice destressing event to just let go and place my energy into something constructive instead of worrying about prelims (even though prelim season seems to just start and never stop).
No Day but Today
Rent has had the ability thus far to stand over the test of time. Its messages about addiction, AIDS, and the day to day struggle of just trying to make it resonate even today. Watching the musical made me realize how important it is to show all sides of life even the darker sides.
Boo Radley Is That You?
Housebound was the perfect mix of horror and comedy. Not meant to be taken too seriously, it has all the elements of a traditional a “supernatural entity haunts an old family home” movie until it doesn’t. The occupants of the house figure out that there is a reclusive hermit moving in their walls and to be quite honest I almost think I would rather have a ghost. That being said, he tries his best to help them stay out of harm’s way the best he can while staying directly in the shadows. Interestingly enough, he doesn’t show until the last 15 to 20 minutes of the movie, but his appearance helps to explain some of the odd goings-on throughout the movie. All in all, it was a great movie and really made my night.
Humanity and Exploration
Watching Apollo 13 when I was younger inspired me and made me want to become an astronaut at one point. However, I realized that while I enjoy the science aspect, the math was not for me. With that being said, I still am in awe every time I watch this movie. Even though the comparison of the technology and equipment that they had then paled severely in comparison with that of which we have today, the fact that they were able to make it back home in the movie despite all of the challenges, twists, and turns was amazing.
To Infinity and Beyond
It was super cool to learn that there was an observatory on campus. Being in Ithaca, the night sky is incredibly clear especially on the slope. That being said, going out to the Fuertes Observatory was a completely different experience. Luckily, the night we went out there, Saturn and its rings were able to be seen. Looking up and seeing a planet that is on average about 894.4 million miles from the Earth was mind-blowing. It made me really sit back and reflect on the sheer expanse of the universe and how perspective is everything. When you compare the size of the solar system with life on Earth every large problem seems to become so much smaller.
A Nun and a Lounge Singer Walk into a Bar, What Happens Next may Surprise You
Having seen the original Sister Act movie some years ago, I was excited to see it in all of its glory on the stage. I’ve heard that Ithaca College had an incredible theatre program, but hearing and seeing for myself are two different things. I think what really awed me about the whole experience was the display of the specific talents that each of the actors had. Some were very clearly dancers and it showed. Others were very clearly singers, and that showed as well. Overall I really enjoyed the show.