1. Elephants 2024

    Week 13 Contemporary Descriptions of Memory – 3/20 [9:59 P.M.] I would like to preface this blog with a little introduction to the two art pieces that I am considering.  The first is a famous painting by Salvador Dali , titled “The Persistence of Memory.” It's more  recognizable when it's framed as "that painting with the weird melting clocks on a beige background."  The second is a more familiar work, an album by " The Caretaker ," and is titled "Everywhere at the End of  Time." This song was relatively popular two years ago on the internet, and there was a whole host of  fanatics who incorporated this music into short-form videos that have helped younger generations relate  to and become more sympathetic to dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases .  I chose these two specifically because of their slightly different perspectives, leading to slightly  deviating conclusions that are equally educational and great food for thought...

Computers and their intricate ecosystem contain processors that perform tasks at lightning speeds and software algorithms that nearly run our lives. However, it’s easy to look over one fundamental component that serves as the base of the entire computer: memory. Memory, more often called RAM (Random Access Memory), might seem like a minor aspect of computers compared to the glorified processors and flashy graphics cards, but its role is undeniably critical.  Imagine trying to work without a short-term memory. You would forget what you were doing every few seconds, constantly repeating the same task. In computing, RAM serves as short-term memory. It stores data and instructions that the CPU (Central Processing Unit) needs to access quickly. Without sufficient RAM, your computer would be constantly shuffling data between the CPU and slower storage drives, resulting in a frustrating performance similar to a brain suffering from short-term memory loss. The fast-paced digital world of t...

  My Favorite Christopher Nolan Movie      My favorite Christopher Nolan movie is one most people I talk to haven’t heard of. Unlike his many recent box office hits like Oppenheimer  and Interstellar , this film came at a time in Nolan’s career where he was still a relatively unknown director. It was his first major film, in fact, and it’s titled Memento .      The movie follows Leonard, a man with severe short-term memory loss who is actively trying to hunt down the man who sexually assaulted and murdered his wife. He’s able to somewhat recall events from before the accident, but is physically unable to remember things around fifteen minutes prior. Because of this, he uses photos, sticky notes, and tattoos to remember where he had left off in his search before he once again forgets everything. This is an extremely unique and interesting premise which is only enhanced by the fact that the film plays backwards in reverse chronological order.  ...

      Last week, I was making noodles with my brother, while showing him the songs I used to listen to when I was around his age. Although he did not know any of the music I played, listening to these songs took me on a trip down memory lane. Music is a powerful tool to reminisce the past. The iconic hits of the 2000s display more than just the pop culture advancements of the time. For many, they are the key to their childhood and most special memories.       "Gangnam Style" is a cultural revolution that was released in 2012 by PSY. During the "Gangnam Stye" era, the whole world was united in performing the signature horse-riding hook step at every dance, party, festival, and concert. For many generations, PSY and "Gangnam Style" shaped the childhood and memories of many. Although it was the first video to reach one billion view on YouTube, it reached so many more hearts worldwide.       The era of "Gangnam Style" was one quick...

My friend said I look like him. (core memory for real)  I have always been a memory friend. A term my friend coined for us since we were always the ones taking pictures when our friend group went out. However, for me it does not stop there, when going out I always save a receipt, paper bracelet, tag, just something to help me store that night’s fun for safekeeping. I always believed in savoring what you enjoy, from food to memories. I document my time to make it last longer than what I feel in the moment. Although in the moment it might feel like forever, things do not last forever, so cherishing these bits of life to look back on is always nostalgic.  One of the main methods I have to store my memories is my Instagram spam account, where I post all the pictures I love of my friends, family, food, and fun moments. The main reason I put everything there is because my phone and other devices do not have that much backup storage and I can never back up my pictures manually be...

The emergence of capitalism enabled the industrialization of the west during the late 19th century. Industrialization transformed western economies and societies from being focused on agriculture and the cottage method to a reliance on manufacturing using the factory method, or mechanized methods of mass production. Under capitalism, business owners and entrepreneurs organized labor centrally into factories, finding any and every way to maximize their own profit. Children and adults alike were shuttled into factories to make a living, artisans and guilds were unemployed and dismantled, and the cottage system was brought to an end. Essentially, the world as it was known before industrialization was irreversibly changed. And sleep was also affected by this transition. Before industrialization, the socially accepted sleep schedule was biphasic — sleep was split into two segments. The first sleep would take place between 9:00 to 12:00, followed by a short waking period, and the second sl...

As founding father George Washington once said, “democracy dies when the deep state takes away our alligators.” True, by the way.  This quote would later become quoted by Thomas Jefferson, who wrote it into the constitution. Sadly, after some debate, the clause was ultimately removed, which is why you may not find such a declaration anywhere within legal, or online records. On March 16, 2024, Cavallaro, New York citizen, had his poor little 11-foot 750 pound alligator “taken away like a terrorist.” Clearly, this alligator holds no latent harm. The fact that a naturalized alligator would be assaulted so vilely like this, because of HIS RACE, is disgusting and indicative of seriously poisoned racial divisions. (I mean, look at this dude, how could he hurt anyone?) (https://nypost.com/2024/03/19/us-news/ny-man-fights-to-get-back-750-pound-pet-alligator-back-after-state-seizes-beast-that-loves-people-but-not-to-eat/) When we had the alligator civil war against crocodiles—which is odd b...

 Technology is improving at a faster pace than ever before. It’s amazing to think that just a decade ago, the Iphone 6 was all the rage, and Instagram was only four years old at the time. With budding technology came extremely fun smartphone games. Games like Temple Run, Talking Tom, Flappy Bird, and Subway Surfers are still what I consider the epitome of casual gaming. Were these games really better than the casual Iphone games available today, or is it nostalgia that makes these games seem better than they were? Research has found that “nostalgia can increase our sense of well-being and boost inspiration.” Nostalgia often makes things better than they seem. To test this, I downloaded some old Iphone games and gave them a go. The games were not as good as I remembered, which was interesting to me, but it also reaffirmed that nostalgia plays a big part in making memories seem better than they actually were.                  ...

While working on my POAS research paper, one of the main things I realized is that the influence our families, childhood, and early-life relationships have on us is immense. Events that happen in one's childhood quite literally shape what kind of person they will become when they are older. This is why people with extreme childhood trauma tend to grow up to reciprocate that trauma and pass it onto the next generation. However, positive childhood memories do contribute to the development of positive attitudes and behaviors in young adults. Personally, some of my most fond memories have been created during the month of Ramadan—which has just begun yesterday for 2024. Ramadan has always been a wholesome affair in my family—meaning that it is always celebrated and honored with full dedication and passion. My parents have always made sure that I am aware of the reasons and intent behind the fasts we keep during the month of Ramadan. I have always appreciated and loved the fact that the ...