Author Archives: tos5

Mapping Ithaca!

Posted on by

Ithaca as I know it has always been a wee bit off the map as far as cities go. However, this week I learned that Ithaca was once a place where trade with New York was abundant. Professor Blalock taught us a bit of the history of Ithaca’s geographical history this past Monday. He began the talk by asking me and two other attendees about our knowledge of city planning. I honestly did not know much and guessed it was basically involved a group of government city planners in a room mapping out a course for the city. And I was right, city planning involves just that. It involves a lot more too, of course. The purpose of city planning is to ensure that as the city grows, certain measures are put in place for the accommodation of more people. These measures include rules for drainage, sewage, what types of buildings should be built where, and more. And apparently, Texas cities do not have proper building zoning laws. The flooding in Houston after the hurricane could not have been as bad as it was. We also talked about flooding in Ithaca as well. Did you know that downtown Ithaca was built at the bottom of a hill? As a result, it experienced intense flooding, until an artificial river was created to redirect the water to Cayuga Lake. And it’s on this lake that old farmers would take their produce along the lake to Lake Hudson near New York City to sell their wares. That river has now been replaced with a highway, which we are all familiar with since we do not have to take a boat to the city. I love learning to the city of Ithaca and what it was like hundreds of years ago!

 

 

Quitting Social Media?

Posted on by

On Monday I attended one of the most fascinating table talks I’ve been to in a while. It was based on a TED Talk about a Professor who never had social media. His argument for staying off the web was that social media was much like a slot machine: it provides entertainment, but the rewards aren’t valuable to a person’s intellectual development. In addition, an increase in the use of social media has led to an increase in mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression over the last few years. Lastly, he boasted how much work he gets done in a day because he doesn’t have social media to distract him. This is because social media reduces a person’s ability to focus in the long term.

Well, that last point got me. A few hours after I watched the video in preparation for the talk, I checked out an actual book. There was no way social media was going to reduce my ability to focus. Also, I hadn’t remembered the last time I had read for fun; I’ve always had Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook to entertain me.

At the table talk, with my book beside my plate and my fellow Rose Scholars surrounding me, we discussed the validity of his argument: that it’s good to quit social media. Someone brought up the point that as a non-user, the speaker had no idea of how beneficial social media could be. It connects us to our family and friends, provides us with lighthearted entertainment that is not always detrimental (we all like to laugh sometimes) and for our generation might even be necessary. And just because the professor could go hours without working because he doesn’t have a feed to check doesn’t mean that someone who quits social media won’t find something else to distract him or her.

Of course, we can’t ignore the disadvantages. Social media does bring with it anxiety, depression, and a way for anonymous bullies to target and hurt. But social media is not a problem, it’s just a tool that can be used incorrectly. And with every dangerous tool, there should ideally be rules and precautions that come with it. It doesn’t mean one has to quit it.

So I’ll continue using social media. And I’ll finish reading my book too. Regardless, I think I’ll be more aware of how I’ll use my time. I don’t want to pull a slot machine for the rest of my life.

Thoughts on Transgender/Transracialism

Posted on by

Last week I attended a Table Talk about an (honestly) very touchy topic: Transracialism. We discussed Rachel Dolezal, her transformation from a white to a black woman, and the subsequent media backlash that came once her true identity was revealed (by her parents, no less). We could largely agree that being transgender and being transracial are two completely different things. There is a history and a culture that comes with each race that does not make it so simple for a person to just cross these boundaries as they please. This is because it if a person is not part of a certain culture, they are not part of the history that is a major component of the culture. Being transgender does not come with as much rooted history, especially in America where racism is a major component of the country’s foundations. That is the reason why it was incorrect for Rachel Dolezal to assume she could change her race. She did not understand the history.

I believe it is possible to respect and appreciate a culture without attempting to join it. As we can see, that only leads to a myriad of problems. In conclusion, I have a question. When she attempted to change her race, did she accept that she would be treated differently in the world because of it? I would like to know.

Bike Share Systems!

Posted on by

I’m a fan of Cornell’s bike sharing system! At least twice around sunset, I have cycled around the Arts Quad, down the slope, and to North campus with my friends, two to a bike and too close to danger.

That’s why I thought the Table Talk system talk about bike sharing systems was a relevant chat for my college experience. I learned that Cornell’s bike sharing system is actually quite inefficient in terms of where the bike sharing spots are located (my friends and I had to hike up the slope with our bikes after gleefully whizzing down it). I also learned where the first bike sharing systems were established and when-somewhere in Europe around 1965.

So it was a nice chat. I can’t wait until it gets warm so I can ride bikes again!

 

Massagesss

Posted on by

I love massages! There is nothing more boujie (bourgeouis? )!

I feel so fancy having my face smooshed into a soft, lavender smelling pillow, and to let my problems melt away as skilled hands massage the tension from my back with soothing music playing in the background.

Ok, ok a lot of description, but it’s definitely something you’d want too, lol.

If only our massages lasted longer than 10 minutes! But I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to have a massage at all.

*Sigh* Wish I could get another one now.

 

Powerlines and EHubs

Posted on by

I knew there was always something wrong with the design of college town. It looked so overcrowded and cluttered for some reason. I believe a major part of that was all those unburied power lines! Now that they’ve been pointed out to me, I don’t think I can ever unsee them.

That was one of the many things we heard at the Architecture and Development Rose Cafe last week. Noah showed us some excellent (and very expensive looking) projects his company, STREAM, is working on in Ithaca. Just like those powerlines, now that I’ve seen what STREAM is working on, I don’t think I can unsee how multiple projects are connected to Noah’s company. Like the new building complex in college town that is modern and beautiful and sticks out like a sore thumb. Or the EHub, also in college town, which apparently used to be a hot mess of glass and brick (alright now a mess, it was just boring and ugly). But we’ve all passed by the EHub and seen how beautiful it is against the quaintness of college town.

 

It’s cool that through this program we can be connected to people that have so much influence on the things we see around us every day.

 

 

West Campus Maintenance!

Posted on by

Last week Wednesday,  I had the opportunity to hear Scott Miller, the head of maintenance for West Campus, speak about his job. It’s amazing how much work and care goes into making sure that the people who live on West campus are safe and that the buildings are in the best of conditions.

One thing that stood out from the talk was a story he recounted. A few maintenance people on Central campus wanted to take power from residence halls on West Campus to rewire some Central campus buildings. This would have caused there to be no electricity in the halls at night time, which would not only have been inconvenient but would have been dangerous as well. Scott kept them from taking the power because he was looking out for the kids who lived there.

It’s amazing how many people at Cornell take care of us and look out for us without us realizing it. Having someone like Scott take care of where I live so I don’t have to is a real gift. I don’t have to worry if the electricity goes, or y plumbing doesn’t work because there will always be someone to fix it for me o West campus. So I’m grateful to Scott and the rest of the maintenance team. Thank you!