Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

What kind of music should a person listen to before an athletic event to optimize performance?

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

How does music affect our cognitive functioning while doing certain tasks and what types of music can lead to optimal performance for those tasks?

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

Traversing the Antarctic landscape poses many hazards. The constantly changing weather, the thin ice, and the deep crevasses are only some of the dangers that face a traveler. The hardships take precedence in the section called, “The Bluff Depot Journey”.  The crew was given instructions to leave a depot of stores near the Minna Bluff so that The Southern Party can get supplies on their return journey.

On the way to the Bluff the dogs from the sled had to be dug out of the snow after a heavy storm. They also had to be carful not to fall down deep crevasses that ran parallel to their path. The crevasses were hidden by a snow cap so the danger was even worse.

Although there is no direct relationship that I can draw from this section between the arts and sciences, it does raise some questions. I would like to know what kind of survival training one needs in order to survival such a harsh environment and how the people of the expedition care for the dogs.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

Bromirski has been studying the effect of gravity waves on the integrity of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. This study uses seismographs that measure the vibrations of the ice shelf. The information gathered will be used to better understand the evolution of the shelf in a changing environment characterized by an increase in the amount of storms and effects of the increase of oceanic waves that are hitting the shelf. Certain sections of the shelf respond to the different frequencies of the gravity waves due to the depth of the ice. The different frequencies are produced by the severity of storms in the region.

This relates the science of how the ice shelf responds to changing environmental factors and the art of sound. This is because the gravity waves cause the different portions of the ice to vibrate and form sound which could be measured by seismographs. This is an ingenious study.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD109-15

The ability to hear noise without the influence of humans is a rare occurrence. So much so that its existence is being studied in the remote regions of the planet. Kim Tingley explains that human “noise” is considered a form of pollution and natural sounds should be preserved just as tangible objects are. This is so wildlife isn’t confused or deafened by the cacophonous noise of humans.

I can see a parallel between this article and my trip to Glacier National Park. My family and I saw all of the tourist attractions but we thought it would be nice to go off on a trail when there were little to no other people around. The trail was gorgeous and lined with waterfalls, mountains, and lush foliage. More importantly there were no other people in sight and we were surrounded by the sounds of the trickling water, wildlife, and the cool wind blowing through the dense forest. It was a deeply moving experience that deserves the same protection as the park itself.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19

It is evident in this article that even though two countries are in conflict they need to come together in attempts to meet their basic needs. As a result of war, water treatment plants have been destroyed and a large amount of human waste is being dumped into river beds that, with the rains, will ultimately end up polluting ground water and and seeping into the ocean. It is a shame that Gaza and Israel haven’t been able to work together on the issue but hopefully in the future they will realize that their collaboration could eventually be in the best interest of both parties. This situation is similar to that of a park near by my house. There is a significant amount of pollution in it and there seems to be no action to clean it up or stop the act all together. The community needs to act together in order to resolve the problem.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD-105-19

Terry Tempest Williams explains in her essay that the United States Government put its priorities in protecting the entire country by testing nuclear bombs. But the government did it on land that didn’t belong to them and the radiation that emanated from the test sites in Utah caused cancer in the author’s family. She received no recompense for the wrongful act when the U.S Government was exonerated under the “legal doctrine of sovereign immunity”, which is a practice from the English Monarchy and the King. This situation is similar to one near my hometown. The love canal was a site where a chemical plant dumped tons of toxic chemicals. Years later the plant went out of business and the canal was covered up with dirt. A school was built on the site along with a community and there were many cases of birth defect in the subsequent years. The government didn’t do anything to prevent the situation however the land as of recent has been evacuated. I don’t believe a situation like this would happen again because there are many proponents of preventing government negligence.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD105-19 Scientific Writing

3D Printed Bones

Cassie Martin demonstrates her ability to write an effective public-facing science article in her piece, “Superflexible, 3D Printed Bones Trigger New Growth”.  Her article expresses a very relevant topic that may intrigue both experts in the medical field and those who are less knowledgable with the subject. The concise nature of the article gets straight to the point that this new material can pose a number of advantages over the traditional natural bone grafting material. The fact that the article delves into the main points keeps the reader from getting confused or distracted by unnecessary verbiage. The author also references to the inventor of the material and the constituents that make it up. She seems well read on this material and this acts as a way to fortify her credibility with the audience. Also, to make the article more noteworthy, she adds effective videos that demonstrate the flexibility and strength of the material.  Actually seeing the material in action is a good way to draw the audiences attention. The author also gives a relevant finding in an actual experiment with a monkey and how the material integrated new bone into its skull within a few months. The experiment acts as proof that the material is effective. Overall the article gives the audience the impression that this new material is an important innovation that can make the bone healing process less grueling and less expensive than traditional methods.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/superflexible-3-d-printed-%E2%80%9Cbones%E2%80%9D-trigger-new-growth?tgt=nr

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD-105-19

Many people would say that The Grand Canyon, The Red Woods, and Mount Mckinley are places where you can truly view wilderness, however this should not be the case. Wilderness could be found anywhere as long as the individual possesses the ability to see it. When one sees The Greek Tree, they may think that its wildness is diminished because of the countless layers of paint. But, underneath the countless layers of paint lies a tree just as organic as any other; even as organic as the mighty red wood. Of course, many will probably disagree that The Greek Tree is respected by those who are in sororities and fraternities that paint on it. But how could they disrespect The Greek if it is viewed as a campus landmark. It is protected from being cut down strictly based on it’s iconic value.

Alec Toufexis

agt9@geneseo.edu

INTD-105-19

Cronan claims that “the tree in the garden is in reality no less other, no less worthy of our wonder and respect, than the tree in an ancient forest…” While this is an accurate statement, I don’t believe Cronan would see this in practice with The Greek Tree. By focusing on respect from an environmental standpoint, Cronan overlooks the fact that the Geneseo community tends to The Greek Tree differently than they tend to the trees in their back yards or the trees in a nearby forest.

Although sororities and fraternities decorate the tree with an absurd amount of paint to assert Greek Life dominance, it doesn’t mean the tree isn’t respected or marveled at. I would predict that if there were plans to cut down the tree, the Geneseo community would be on edge. This indicates that there is a deep emotional connection between the campus and a seemingly “cultural invention”. In this way, Cronan’s idea of respect towards a non-sublime natural object is upheld. Also, those with “a clear heart and open mind” can view The Greek Tree as an object that is just as wild as “the tree in the ancient forest”.