The talk given at Fuertes Observatory was one that is usually used in science fiction. The subject of finding an alien planet takes time to understand. However, our speaker was able to give the audience (with children!) a crash-course. The search for a life-supporting planet begins by distinguishing how exactly a planet can be habitable. In order to be habitable, planets must be a certain distance away from their star, along with its size, determines the maintenance of its temperature. I was surprised to learn that there were actually a number of candidate planets that, with time and research, will be determined to be habitable or not.
Author Archives: rpj33
Verdict
Previously seeing this movie in middle school, I initially thought that I had a pretty good grasping on the movie’s analysis, however, I was pleasantly surprised finding myself looking at the movie in a new way. One interesting aspect of the film is the setting. By having limited changes in scenery, one could easily hone in on each of the juror’s personalities, and by using their personalities, the audience is left to figure out the crime in question and whether or not the accused is truly guilty.
Finally, the idea that all it takes is one opinion to change others is explicit in this film. Initially, only one juror, Juror 8, votes “not guilty” while the remaining jurors all vote “guilty”. This initial vote of not guilty is enough to start a cascade of thought-provoking arguments that eventually lead to all jurors agreeing that the accused is “not guilty.”
A Refreshing Movie
Following the screening of “Before Night Falls” Friday night, I had mixed feelings about the film. The portrayal of homosexuals and the gay community was refreshing and surprising in its accuracy. I appreciated the political and social issues the movie tackled, however, I feel that perhaps it was a bit overwhelming for the film. Multiple times throughout the film I found myself googling different political and cultural aspects of the film so I could keep up with it. On top of this, the film portrayed symbolisms reminiscent of the idea that artists are a political movement’s greatest enemy. Overall, I really appreciated this beautifully made film.
Sit Back & Relax
Someone once told me that a massage is to the human body what a tune-up is to a car. However, there are multiple academic studies and personal accounts that prove that the benefits of massage are not only physical, but beneficial as well.
Physically, massage therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles. It also improves blood flow. It can 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 pain killer.
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 Well Do You Sleep?
For Monday’s table talk, we discussed the reality of how much sleep college students really get, and what they should be getting. Sleep deprivation in the long run can lead to increased risk of obesity, cancer, and decreased immunity.
Personally, I strive to get a good 5-6 hours of sleep a night, so I was shocked to hear that the recommended sleep amount for college students was around 9 hours. I feel like this is something that is impossible, especially at Cornell. If I were to strive for 9 hours, I would have to cut something else from my daily routine, like going to the gym or taking that extra hour to review the work I’m currently doing in class.
I always believed that what determines how well you wake up/function was your REM cycle. After discovering when exactly I should be going to bed (to wake up at a certain time) allowed me to wake up more easily because I wasn’t interfering with my REM cycle. But who knows! Maybe it’s just placebo.
So next time you’re getting ready for bed, remember how your schedule works for you!
Forrest Deserved Better
After watching Friday’s film Forrest Gump, I was left with multiple emotions, but of all of them, the feeling of melancholy stood out compared to the rest. In the whole film, Forrest is faced with constant challenges that he must overcome, but his fight to get the love of his life, Jenny, was the worst of them all. After Jenny finally tells Forrest she loves him, we are faced only moments later with a plot twist— “You died on a Saturday morning.”
These heart-wrenching words almost make the entire film seem like its goal was to break your heart. However, we are left with a light of hope in the end, something that seems to make what Forrest went through worth it: his son. His son is what really represents the little box of chocolates that life gives you.
What are the Consequences of Cheating in the Olympics?
On Monday’s table talk, we had the interesting topic of how Russia cheated in the last Olympics and the consequences that followed. This year, you could see in the opening ceremony that Russia’s team wore plain, grey tracksuits, and instead of presenting their flag like other countries, they waved the flag with the Olympics logo. But why?
This was a consequence of their country cheating in the last Olympics. Information was released on how their “doping” was covered up by the Russain government themselves by switching their contaminated urine samples with clean ones that were made long beforehand. Even the person who was responsible to find any possibility of contamination for Russia was part of the scheme. But was this enough? Since this information was found right before the start of Sochi’s Olympics, the board decided to let each sport to decide whether or not to allow Russia to participate in the games. All but two sporting events allowed Russia to participate regardless.
However, many people think that this punishment wasn’t enough. Some believe they should have a “probation” from Olympic events, but we must also keep in mind that for Olympic participants, this is something they train for most of their life and that they only have a short window of peak performance before their performances start declining. What if that specific (or this years) Olympics was that window for them? It is always important to put yourself in the shoes of an Olympian, as one’s perspective can drastically change regarding this issue.