SEARCH RESULTS

Collins English Dictionary defines the term “intelligence” as “the ability to think, reason, and understand instead of doing things by instinct.” In other words, intelligence is the ability which allows us to react soundly when navigating our world in every aspect: relationships, situations, etc. Intelligence is a big part of what makes us who we are; human beings have more developed brains than other organisms; therefore, our capacity to learn and reason is bigger. However, there are a lot of debates when it comes to intelligence. Why some people seem so dim-witted or idiotic at times? Why can’t everyone learn at the same rate or at the same way? Why are some people excelling at some activities, but underachieving at others? Jason Moser, from the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University, conducted an experiment with 25 students- He glued electrodes to their skulls to monitor their brain activity during the process of an identification task; what the students had to do was to identify the central character in a group of 5, with the groups changing and alternating constantly. As expected, all 25 students made a lot of mistakes. The exact results of the experiment we will never know…and they are not important. What Moser identified from this experiment was something called ERN; this is short for error-related negativity, and was the answer to Moser’s question, “what do people think when they make mistakes?” Error-related negativity is an electrical brain signal detectible and monitored through an electroencephalogram. It is a marker thought to reflect changes in dopamine (the hormone of pleasure) when participants make errors or give maladapted responses in cognitive tasks. All 25 students had a surge of this signal .0050 seconds after making a mistake in the test. Moser believes ERN is an involuntary response of the brain, which could be identified with that feeling of shame or frustration whenever we make a mistake or mishandle a situation. But that is not the only way the brain reacts to cognitive tasks. .050 seconds after making a mistake, the opposite reaction happens: error-related positivity (ERP). When this happens, the brain is able to shift gears and see the error or mishandling as something natural, focusing on the part of their process they need to set right. What Moser’s experiment proved is that we are all prone to making mistakes, and way before you realize it, two opposite reactions happen in your brain very quickly: first, you feel ashamed or frustrated for your mistake; then, you set out to correct it. Mmm, clearly that’s just the tip of the iceberg, because not everyone reacted in the study group reacted the same way when they failed to identify the central character. There is something bigger behind this. The true purpose of the experiment was not to determine the rate at which students make errors; but rather was intended as an analysis of their mindset. Carol Dweck from Stanford identified two types of mindsets related with learning and intelligence: fixed mindset and growth mindset. A fixed mindset sees intelligence and talents as factors which are inherent and fixed, which cannot be improved or modified; therefore, people with fixed mentality believe that, if they are not good at something, they will never be good at it. The opposite is a growth mindset, which sees intelligence and talents as factors in constant evolution, something which can be improved or modified through practice, analysis, and patience. Moser found out that the students with a growth mindset showed a higher incidence of ERP; they were able to recognize the mistake they made and through the rest of the session, tried to improve themselves. Meanwhile, students with a fixed mindset failed to show ERP; one mistake and they were ready to give up in their intelligence, believing they could never do better the next time. Of course, those who believed they could do better did, and those who did not believed they could do better did not. The reason I find this experiment so interesting is in the conclusion at which Moser arrived. Intelligence is a factor all human beings share, but not all people think of their intelligence the same way; hence, not everyone reacts the same way when their cognitive abilities fail them. There are those who trust their abilities and upgrade them constantly, and those who lack the self-confidence to improve themselves, believing their abilities will remain fixed and constant. Therefore, we can conclude, the rate at which we perform in our daily tasks and the skills we acquire is not a matter of how intelligent we are, but rather how motivated we are. Motivation is the factor which truly determines how successful we will be. Think about it: it is useless to be intelligent if you don’t think we are intelligent. Similarly, it doesn’t matter how quickly we learn or how quickly we understand things; if we don’t motivate ourselves to keep upgrading said “gifts” constantly, we are just being cocky and pigheaded. Fear of failure is one of the worst advisors to let into your life. That “inner voice” which predates your mind holds you back in many areas, and if you don’t stop it, you will become the living image of your worst fantasies. The biggest mistake you can make is to be afraid to make mistakes. You learn as much as failure as you learn from success. Keep failing, keep learning from failure and lifting yourself from it; before you know it, you’ll do so much better at areas you previously thought you were terrible at! This is the best time to analyze yourself and decide how “fixed” or “growth” you are. You may be surprised by the results!

Young pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer lived in dark times. Times when incited mobs threw rocks at the windows of innocent shop owners, and women and children were cruelly humilliated in the open. And he had to bear the mental trauma of watching his own elderly father being taken away by Nazi officials. After years of trying and failing to create a mental revolution, one he saw as necessary, Boenhoffer began reflecting on how his great nation, a nation of poets, intellectuals, and thinkers, had been derided and turned into a collective of cowards, crooks, and criminals. He eventually concluded that the root of the problem was not malice, but stupidity. Bonhoffer developed his theory while imprisoned; his conclusion is that stupidity is a more dangerous ailment than evil. For evil can be exposed and prevented by the use of force. We can protest against evil, build barriers to protect ourselves and others from it, and even defeat it. But against stupidity, we are defenseless. No protest, barriers or use of force can stop it. When dealing with stupid people, all reasons fall on deaf ears, they are always right and we are made to be the ones in the wrong for challenging their preconceived judgments. Nothing can be accomplished here. The stupid individual is smug and self-righteous, and becomes dangerous when contradicted. Therefore, says Boenhoffer, stupidity calls for greater caution than malice. We often associate stupidity with an intellectual deficiency, when it is, in fact, a moral one. Indeed, psychology has proven that there are some individuals who are intellectually agile yet still stupid. The opposite is also true: some people, while being intellectually dull, are anything but stupid. While we are all born with a certain intellectual level (and also with the capacity of being evil), we allow ourselves to become stupid under certain circumstances. Stupidity is often taken as a trait, but it should be thought of more as a condition or state of being. And studies have shown that people who prefer solitude are less likely to become stupid than people who live in groups. Thus, it appears that stupidity is less of a psychological problem than a sociological one. So what happened here? It's not that individual intellect or other qualities of the like suddenly fail. It's more of a question that the appearance of certain influence causes a person to lose its inner independence and renounce an autonomous position, hence leaving stupidity as the only possible path to embrace. The fact that a stupid person is stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he's not independent. Indeed, while dealing with this kind of people, it's easy to notice that we are not interacting with the person as he is. It's more like dealing with a puppet than a human being, with catchphrases, slogans, a pitch, or a script which the person has been exposed to for a serious amount of time and have taken a hold of him. The stupid person is brainwashed and blind; he's been misused, oppressed, and controlled by a certain influence; an influence which, as long as it remains there, will drive the person to be evil in one or various ways--without realizing he's being evil. The only thing that can overcome stupidity is liberation, not instruction. The only thing left for us here is trust that an external liberation will arrive and then lead to an internal liberation of the stupid person. Until then, we must stray away from stupid people, forsake all attempts to reason with them. Bonhoffer died due to his involvement in a conspiracy plot against Adolf Hitler on April 9, 1945, at Flossenbürg concentration camp, just two weeks before the U.S. soldiers arrived and liberated the camp. He once said, "action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility. The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children."

The show “Friends” is intended to be a lighthearted sitcom about the lives of six single twenty-somethings who go through jobs, marriage, divorce, and other sorts of problems. However, historical philosophers would have a lot to say about the friends’ personalities and outlooks in life. Here are the schools of philosophy each character would represent: crédito de los iconos usados en la portada : Carrie Cristancho https://dribbble.com/shots/7054885-Friends-Icon-Set-Concept# Monica: Utilitarianism. This late-17th century English philosophical school emphasizes that actions are morally right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority. Hence, Monica is the “mother hen” of the group, the self-appointed leader, the one who always has the others’ best interests at heart. For Monica, immediate results must foster happiness and “the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people,” which is what this theory of morality is all about. Monica is obsessive about everything, but when she recognizes that her obsessions and quirks are close to hurting someone she cares about, that’s when she steps back, offers proper apologies, and sets things right with everyone. Rachel: Objectivism. Ayn Rand’s theory of personal fulfillment emphasizes that every person can achieve a self-reliant existence, free from fear or anxiety if they face reality, rather than trying to escape or modify it. So, according to this theory, Rachel begins the series as a “princess” who’s ran away from the trap which has confined her most of her life, and ends up becoming a successful career woman, in the place she truly belongs in. As Rachel learns throughout the series, life is not made to cater to your every whim, and you cannot simply wish for things to happen; you must work hard to make them happen to achieve higher purpose and meaning. By adapting to the experiences, and with a little help from the people who care for her, Rachel becomes less shallow and desperate, and learns that a life of money and luxury cannot replace a life of love, friendship, and success. Phoebe: Taoism. This Eastern school of thought could be equated to “go with the flow.” And that’s Phoebe: she’s ‘out-there,’ playing her guitar, meditating, and offering bizarre perspectives which the others don’t understand most of the time. She’s all about existing in harmony with the universe. Phoebe is a vegan, opposes animal cruelty, and has always been vocal about her belief in reincarnation. She describes herself as a “free spirit”, unafraid to be herself regardless of other people’s opinions. All of these can be considered personality traits of Taoists. Joey: Hedonism. Hedonism is, to put it simply, the seek for pleasure through immediate indulgence, and it’s clear Joey thrives in indulgence. To him, women are kissing poles; and think twice before asking him to share his food. He could spend an entire episode talking about both subjects as if they were the most important in the world. But Joey does not only apply his hedonistic philosophy so vacuously. Another aspect of his life in which he finds immediate pleasure is his friendships. Joey is perhaps the most loyal, kindhearted person in the group; he’s constantly sacrificed his needs for the well-being and happiness of his friends. Like ancient Greek hedonists, Joey is simple, genuine, and all about having a good time. He may not be the brightest, but his heart is always on the right place; and his simple-mindedness has a benefit, since it often provides a sense of relief for the others’ own cluttered headspaces, making him an intellectual of his own right. Chandler: Cynicism. The first thing I noticed about Chandler when I started watching the show is that he can’t think of anything of his that is remarkable, or a great source of pride. And if we pay close attention to Chandler’s character, we’ll notice he is, indeed, the most normal member of the ensemble. He dresses conservatively (as in a suit and tie) most of the time, and has gone for the safest professional bet, holding a tedious but high-paying position for an unspecified company. In the early seasons, Chandler’s immense levels of self-loathing (for the above reasons), lead to misguided choices. But with time, Chandler matures. He comes to accept himself for who he is and learns to take people and things seriously; thereby adopting the Cynics’ vision of virtue being the sole necessity for life. I dare to say Chandler is my favorite character of the show in terms of writing. He’s quick-witted and reliable, and had the most believable arc and development, ending the series as perhaps the most well-balanced of the six friends. Could he BE any more lovable? Ross: Epicureanism. Ross is the nerd of the group, the only one with a PhD; and this can make him extremely arrogant. But ultimately, he’s a good dad, son, ex-husband, friend, and older brother…well, at least he tries to be. Ross is a very complex character; despite being a paleontologist and tenured college professor, he lacks much needed social experience, and can be as effectively rational as he is lethally stupid. Epicureanism, unlike hedonism, focus more on intellectual enrichment than sensual pleasure. As such, Ross wants to settle for a simple lifestyle (a stable relationship, kids, and a marriage that does not end in divorce); and his quiet, intellectual interests (dinosaurs, fossils) earn him mockery from his friends. Not to mention the fact he would rather live by himself than share an apartment like the others. He is just so different from the rest of the group, which coupled with his insecurities, is perhaps the reason he does not have much luck (along with Chandler). As any good epicurean, Ross is the most likely to reveal his ideal evening plan as a symphony and a fancy five-star dinner. He always tries to do the right thing; but in many ways, he’s his own worst enemy. I thank the YouTuber “Monitor Fantasma” for laying out, in his video, the basis for this research. https://www.youtube.com/c/Monitorfantasma

“A man can be destroyed but not defeated”. A man may face strife and suffering, but courage, hope, and the strength to carry on can overcome any obstacle, no matter how big or small. Santiago, the protagonist of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, has had his share of bad luck at the start of the story, but his strength of mind and character and his many heroic attributes enable him to achieve success despite physical destruction. Through his descriptions of Santiago’s stamina, pride, and positive attributes in The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway relates his protagonist’s heroism to the philosophy that “a man can be destroyed but not defeated”. Santiago displays many of the traits associated with the conventional hero. At the start of the story, the reader has it clear that Santiago has had his share of bad luck. He has been on the water for 85 days straight without any catch, he has been getting sunburned and worn out physically. But, mentally, he possesses the strength and stamina of a thoroughbred racehorse. The opening paragraphs say of Santiago, “Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated” (2). His face may be wrinkled, and he may be worn out, but his gaze reflects unmatched mettle and optimism. Hidden beneath the outer layer of physical weakness lies a young, strong, cheerful heart beaming with pride and courage. These are qualities which he never loses and prove to be the most powerful weapons he carries with him. As a conventional hero, Santiago possesses pride and courage From the early points of the story, Santiago already shows that he is a man who, despite suffering the worst of luck, the worst of conditions, the worst of physical destruction, his spirit remains optimistic. He is destroyed, but not defeated. Santiago is a man who, throughout his journey, showcases unmatched pride and courage, and strength in the face of adversity. The situation Santiago is in requires a lot of courage from his part. Getting up every morning to get on the boat, with the sun staring down, is an extremely difficult and demanding physical and mental task. But Santiago has the courage of taking the risks and accepting whatever comes. He motivates himself to continue for the sake of what he loves. “I am not good for many more turns. Yes, you are, he told himself. You are good forever” (34). He continually self-motivates and gives himself the strength and the determination he needs to continue his quest. Being able to cope with hardship in a daily basis without giving in is proof of a truly brave and honorable person, so Santiago is brave and honorable just for having the courage to resist, and to love, and to live. Santiago lacks athletic prowess, but he compensates this with his mental ability and confidence in himself, which are qualities every heroic, worthy man possesses. His stamina, courage, and resilience are not the only qualities which accompany Santiago. The old fisherman also carries with him a lot of positive attributes fundamental to his profession and his quest. Santiago is one with the sea; he possesses unmatched knowledge and a close connection with the sea, and all its inhabitants. As a fisherman, Santiago sees the sea as his one true home and sole means of support; it gives him a purpose to carry on with life. Santiago is deeply in love with the sea. As the text describes, “He often thought of the sea as ‘la mar’ which is what people call her in Spanish when they are in love with her” (10). Akin to the conventional hero, Santiago feels a close connection and commitment to the place he frequents. He would fight and die for the sea, just as the typical hero would fight and die for his country or his beliefs. Santiago seems to have compassion for his prey; his profession is more motivated by love than by hate. He even expresses sympathy for his catches. “Blessed Virgin, pray for the death of this fish. Wonderful though he is” (25). Sympathy and devotion are as important to heroes as courage and optimism, so Santiago adds two more great weapons to his arsenal, as the archetypical hero would do, and further gains the admiration of readers. Besides his deep connection to his main place of work, Santiago also has a great dedication to mental craft and ability over material gain or loss. He is extremely dedicated to his wit, seeing it as a means of success, and maintaining a belief in being exact over being lucky. “Only I have luck no more. But who knows? Maybe today. Everyday is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready” (12). Santiago is a man who sees life as an adventure, caring more about the journey than the destination, favoring mental ability over material possessions, and making the best out of his work and his fascination with what he does. Santiago lacks physical strength or virility, but his use of wits and his favoring of brain over brawn are another proof of the undefeated nature of his spirit and further establish him as a heroic figure. To better establish Santiago’s status as a hero, a comparison is made between Santiago and another man who, in real life, was a hero too. Santiago is fond of baseball and his main sports hero is Joe DiMaggio from the Yankees. Just like Santiago, DiMaggio goes through a lot of physical pain while playing baseball. Santiago frequently talks about the great DiMaggio and compares his physical suffering to the centerfielder’s heel spurs. Santiago uses this as further self-motivation. “But I must have the confidence and I must be worthy of the great DiMaggio who does all things perfectly even with the pain of the bone spurs in his heel” (68). The inclusion of DiMaggio as Santiago’s idol is an interesting one. Hemingway is explaining that, if DiMaggio has made a name for himself as a sports legend and hero, then Santiago, who goes through the same effort and physical suffering as him without backing down, is equally, perhaps even more heroic. Hemingway has already established Santiago as a typical hero by showcasing his multiple heroic qualities. However, the character is also an unconventional hero in his own right. When the reader analyzes Santiago’s behavior and the motivations for his actions, he can realize Santiago is a complex character. He functions as the perfect combination between the experience and wisdom associated with his age, and the relentless spirit associated with youth. This perfect balance is what makes Santiago unique, what makes him stand out in virtually every area: His age, his profession, and his community. Throughout all the descriptions of his virtues and his undying optimism, Hemingway creates an unconventional hero which is the perfect summary of his philosophy: “A man is destroyed but not defeated”. Hemingway is explaining how, in a world filled with hardship and suffering, quitters do not survive. Santiago is not a quitter, so he survives and, even though he loses the big fish, his greatest triumph is the strength of his mind and his character. As Manolin tells Santiago at some point in the story, “There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only one you”. (23). Santiago is not ordinary, but rather extraordinary. He is the ultimate hero who overcomes the odds, and in the process, becomes a role model to the readers. Santiago, the protagonist of The Old Man and the Sea, is a conventional hero whose unmatched pride, abilities, and physical and mental strength, enable him to overcome his run of bad luck and prove that, indeed, a man can be destroyed but never defeated. Despite the sun burning his eyes and the skin, and the conditions which would cause someone else to back out, he does not back out, he carries on using his virtues to his advantage and focusing on the positive. In a world ruled by suffering, chaos and physical destruction, endurance, optimism and strength of spirit are enough to overcome the slightest obstacles and find success at a mental and spiritual level. Santiago never gives up on his positive attributes and fights for what he wants, and in the end his mental victories are more important than his physical victories. Through his actions he gives important lessons about endurance, suffering, and success, and becomes a role model to the readers. Do you see yourself in Santiago? Do you possess his positive attributes? Do you see him as a role model for your everyday life?

Who is the first character who comes to your mind when you hear the word “hero”? Perhaps you think of Davy Crockett or Huckleberry Finn; but the truth is, there are different types of heroes in literature and fiction. Heroes do not necessarily have to be perfect, what makes them worthy of that distinction is their common sense and the choices they make. 1984, George Orwell’s magnum opus, has an unlikely hero in the form of Winston Smith, the main protagonist of the story. Winston’s strengths and heroic qualities rely on his nonconformism, individuality, and bravery. But can Winston be considered a true hero, or is he more an anti-hero/tragic hero? Winston’s positive qualities demonstrate he exhibits the attributes of a traditional hero, while his negative qualities demonstrate that heroes make mistakes and are not perfect; but looking beyond those faults is what truly makes a hero. Winston is first described in detail during the opening chapters of the novel. The first page describes him entering his workplace in the middle of a “bright cold day in April,” “his chin nuzzled into his breast in an attempt to escape the vile wind.” He enters, but “not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.” (Orwell 1.) But this does not seem to deter him; so, from the very first description of his character, Winston is characterized as implacable and indomitable, as someone difficult to deter. This is a quality any good literary hero should possess. At the time the novel takes place, Oceania is a totalitarian state where no one has freedom of mind or character; citizens are constantly surveilled, and their thoughts monitored, through cameras and TV sets, and the Thought Police. There are a series of rules that every Oceanian must follow, and those who fail to do so are quickly vaporized and disposed of. And this is where another key feature of Winston’s character comes into play: His rebellion. From the start, Winston is characterized as a nonconformist, a freethinker who is dissatisfied with the regime, as well as a visionary who holds revolutionary goals. He wastes no time in openly showing his discomfort; throughout the novel he associates himself with the Brotherhood, a resistance group which shares his revolutionary vision; and, in a recurring image throughout the novel, he keeps a personal journal, with a vital page in which he repeatedly writes “in large, neat capitals DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER.” (Orwell 18). Winston is about to enter his forties when the novel starts and is an everyman, but he has a rebellious spirit akin to the troubled youth, and never fails to show his rebellious spirit, nonconformism, and individuality. And not only that, but he also possesses bravery, another vital feature to any literary hero. In a world where it seems everyone has lost hope or expectation for change, Winston is the only one who has the nerve to rebel against the regime, in an open, frank, ardent way. Winston seems to be the only one in the novel who is still able to function and reason like a human being, and that makes him the perfect lens towards the dangers of totalitarianism. “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two is four. If that is granted, all else follows.” He is inferring that if freedom is suppressed, everything else falls alongside it; but if freedom is respected, everything else flourishes alongside it. Winston hates totalitarian control, forced coercion, and repression, and represents the values of democracy, peace, and hope. He is a rebel, and his actions present a beacon of hope in the middle of such an undesirable world, which furthers his reputation as a hero. Another key point of Winston’s character is his fascination for the past. His work demands knowledge of the past; he revises ancient documents and moral guides and manipulates them to keep up with the Party’s current vision. However, Winston seems to be more concerned with the original and unhindered version of the documents, which shows another truth about totalitarian governments: The hinderance and manipulation of facts to keep people in check and make them more suitable for dominion. “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. History has stopped.” By showing a rapport for the past and understanding of multiple perspectives, Winston makes himself stand out from the rest of the citizens of Oceania. A true hero is supposed to stand out, so that is yet another heroic quality of Winston’s character. At this point, Winston has demonstrated that he is brave, informed, individualistic, and a rebel for the good reasons. He possesses many of the qualities of a true literary hero; because of that, he is a figure which arouses sympathy in the audience, and readers can put themselves in his place. However, Winston is not free of mistakes or poor judgement. Winston could be described as a “rebel without a cause”, defined by the dictionary as “a person who is dissatisfied with society, but does not have a specific aim to fight for.” Winston is highly idealistic, but said idealism makes him more a dreamer than a doer. He dreams of revolution but is unable to make a concise layout of what would happen after that. He is a born mutineer and insubordinate, but his rebellion ultimately amounts to nothing as he has no true power over the Party he seeks to overthrow. Coupled with Winston’s assortment of good values are intense feelings of fatalism and paranoia. These feelings are portrayed very drastically, but they are justified, considering that the Party monitors the thoughts and actions of everyone. Winston has the necessary courage and rebellious spirit to assert his beliefs but is ultimately fatalistic; and that fatalism is what fuels his risk-taking nature, convinced that, either way, he is bound for perdition. “They’ll shoot me, I don’t care they’ll shoot me on the neck.” Winston is different from most literary heroes in that his heroic qualities are more driven by fatalism than a desire to succeed, and said fatalism is what causes him to not succeed in the end. However, Winston also has a lot of common sense, accepting his fate with honor. Winston could be best described as a “tragic hero”: A literary figure who possesses many heroic attributes and arouses the sympathy of readers, but also has fatal flaws and makes careless mistakes which ultimately causes his downfall. Winston’s heroic qualities are his rebellious spirit, his bravery, and his unmatched individualism, in the middle of a world where everyone else seemed to lose these qualities. Winston may not be the first character that comes to your mind when you hear the word “hero”, but he is a hero in his own right. He is different from other heroes because of his idealism and fatalism which cause him to betray everything he once believed in. The last scene of the book is Winston in the room, playing chess and drinking gin, saying “I love Big Brother”, no longer being a threat to the system or a representative of true democratic values. 1984 is a political reflection and a tragic hero tale, which warns out about the dangers of totalitarian oppression, mind control, and fact manipulation. The protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, possesses many heroic qualities, but is ultimately clouded by his carelessness and abandons his cause proving that he is not a flawless human being. He is still a very heroic figure because, despite his failure, he did give it his best to succeed, and his stronger qualities are emphasized more heavily than his weaker ones. It is ultimately up to the reader to judge by himself whether or not he considers Winston a true hero; but he is a good demonstration that people deserve the recognition of being heroes because of the qualities they possess and the choices they make, not because of the misfortunes they suffer.

Actor Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch in the 1962 film adaptation. Photo source: Fans Share To Kill A Mockingbird, the Pulitzer winning novel by Harper Lee, is considered a classic of 20th century literature, American literature, and literature in general. The readers identify Scout Finch, the innocent and unreliable narrator, as the protagonist, through whose eyes we see the story. However, if you ask me who the true hero of the story is, I must say the honor really goes to Scout’s father, Atticus. Atticus fulfills many roles in this novel: Father, widowed husband, lawyer, friend, foe, and outcast. But regardless of which role he is currently playing, Atticus never loses the qualities which portrait him as a true hero. In the novel’s opening chapters, Atticus is characterized as the stereotypical Southern gentleman. He is the best checkers player and pistol shot in town, and a man of the highest moral standards, who knows everyone and greets them with polite, proper terms. As a lawyer, Atticus is one of the most well-off and respected citizens of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression and functions as the moral backbone of this sleepy town in such troubled times. “He is the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets”. And readers admire him for that. A widower with a very wry sense of humor, Atticus lives with his two children, Jeremy “Jem” and Jean Louise “Scout”; and Calpurnia, their domestic employee who helped him raise his children. Mrs. Finch died when Scout was two years old. We first get to know Atticus in his role as a father. Despite being respected by everyone in Maycomb, including the poor, Atticus struggles to be considered a truly exemplary figure by his own children, who initially do not hold him in the highest regard. Jem is clearly embarrassed that Atticus is not like the other fathers in town: he’s older, and he doesn’t engage in outdoors activities such as hunting and fishing. Their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, pities that he never remarried. Atticus is fully aware of the fact that his children do not idolize him consciously. But he, on the other hand, does his best to treat them with the unconditional love they deserve. Throughout the novel, Atticus preaches to Scout and Jem the ethic of patience, fairness, and moral uprightness he practices in his profession. As a father, he is quiet and sometimes strict, but otherwise loving, and sets the right example even if his children are reluctant. For example, he makes Jem read to a dying Mrs. Dubose as punishment for vandalizing her camellia bushes (even if the old lady clearly deserved it). “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand”. He also warns Scout to “keep those fists down” and not fight back despite the constant ridicule she faces at school. What I liked the most about Atticus is that he does not demonstrate his unwavering moral compass through words, but through actions. He is laconic and straightforward, speaking only what he must speak and nothing else. It is curious how he does not suffer a dramatic transformation like the rest of the characters. Harper Lee purposefully made Atticus quiet and introspective to let his positive qualities speak by themselves. His humility and unwavering moral compass already make him stand out. Perhaps, however, the aspect of Atticus’ personality which results the most endearing is his integrity. And this is a very strong point, considering he works a lawyer. It is not uncommon to see lawyers stereotyped and criticized as aggressive workaholics who will put expediency over principle when the time comes to prove their case. But Atticus does not fit this stereotype at all. He is wise and considerate, and despite days of hard work, he manages to save time for his children and himself. Throughout the entire novel, he sticks to his guns and never changes his opinions on issues. This consistency is portrayed as a positive quality rather than a negative one, even if it’s what puts him at odds with the people of Maycomb. The local judge has assigned Atticus to Tom Robinson, a black man wrongfully accused of sexual assault. Placing ourselves in the context of the novel (1930s Jim Crow South), the reaction of the people of Maycomb is instantaneous. They all want Mr. Robinson behind bars. Atticus could have kept his prized reputation by just walking away without an ounce of concern. However, he sees Mr. Robinson as more than a client; to him he is a good friend. So, he accepts the case, with the integrity that characterizes him, at the expense of being antagonized by society. He also safeguards the cell he’s staying in before the trial, reads to him, brings him food, and treats him like a fellow human being, going beyond the professional relationship and seeing him for who he is: An innocent man victim to the ingrained racial prejudice of the time. Not only is Atticus’ choice of morality over popularity incredibly admirable; it is complemented by his civilized attitude when dealing with criticism. Many characters in the novel badmouth Atticus for representing Mr. Robinson, from Scout’s cousin Francis to classmate Cecil Jacobs, to the Finch’s elderly neighbor Mrs. Dubose. For the first time, no one in Maycomb admires Atticus. But despite this, Atticus never holds a grudge against them. He is aware of the ignorance of people, especially when it comes to racial differences, but at the same time he also sees the glass half full. Atticus is fully aware of the human condition, knowing better than everyone that humans are equally generous as they can be equally cruel. It is ultimately this philosophy which leads him to do the right thing while shunning the critics in the way. He tries to pass this view to Scout. When she asks him why he is fighting Mr. Robinson’s case despite knowing he is bound to fail, Atticus ruefully reflects, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” Accepting Mr. Robinson’s case is the single most important moment in Atticus’ characterization; only someone as strong-willed but dignified as him would be able to make such a great display of courage and nobility despite the predominant majority. Another reason for the significance of this quality is because it underscores the point in which Scout’s initial view on her father changes. When she sees Atticus treat Mrs. Dubose with his usual gallant courteousness, despite her earlier badmouthing of him, she reflects to the readers, “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to wars, was the bravest man that ever lived.” Atticus, through his quiet inner strength and wisdom, has finally earned the due respect of his children. There is a moment in the novel which I found funny and awesome at the same time, a moment which once again proves Atticus’ civilized attitude when faced with disapproval. It is during the trial scene, when Mr. Ewell insults Atticus, spits on him, and uses racial slurs; Atticus, in response to Mr. Ewell’s “too proud to fight” comment, just pulls out a hanky, wipes his glasses, and replies, “No, too old”, before walking away. The reason this moment is so incredible is because it proves the point Atticus made to his son Jem about what real courage is. Atticus may be destined to lose the trial due to being unable to change the ingrained prejudice of the populace of Maycomb, especially of such a contemptible man like Mr. Ewell. But he managed to make a fool of his rival in full court without the need of violence, which is a meaningful, personal victory enough. The jury may listen to Mr. Ewell without changing the verdict, leading to a tragic conclusion for Mr. Robinson; but going back to that moment, as Atticus turns his back and walks back to his spot, it’s already clear who the stronger of the two men is. By this point, Atticus has crowned himself a champion of justice and a positive role model to his children. He is not a perfect man since he clearly carries with him the burden of losing his wife and his knowledge of the duality of human beings. But he does not let such thoughts bring him down a negative path; and in the process, he brings out the best in other people as well. Atticus is such a formidable and striking presence, in fact, that he even name-drops the novel while demonstrating the importance of never harming a fellow human. “Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” For a while, I struggled to know who my fiction hero was. A lot of people would say theirs are Superman, Flash, or Captain America, who fight crime on a daily basis, stopping their nemeses and flying towards the sundown while shouting their catchphrases. But now I know who my true fiction hero is: Atticus Finch. He feels much more comfortable holding a book over a gun. He’s defined by his emotional maturity, brutal honesty, and moral uprightness, the qualities which make up a true heroic figure. He says little but does much, guiding by example, turning loss into victory, and bringing the best in others. Atticus is debatably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, literary character of all time; and he’s become a personal favorite of mine. Atticus represents everything I want to be in my life, both personally and professionally, especially as a father to my children. Of course, he is a fictional character and lacks the complexity of a real person. As a final note, however, I can only ask: Do you consider you have something in common with Atticus? Do you know someone who is the Atticus in your life?

The neighborhood tramp The year is 1981. Reagan is at the White House. The hostage crisis at Iran ends. MTV premieres on cable television, giving music (and adolescence) a new national platform. And then there’s me: The neighborhood “tramp”, an 18-year-old awkward, pimply teenager with worn out clothes, torn jeans, and long, wavy, messy blonde hair. I had just come out of age, and yet, my journey still had a long way to go. My daily routine back then, having just completed high school, was to go knocking from door to door. I had with me my little portable stereo, playing songs by bands like Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest, among my favorites. The scandalized neighbors referred to me as an imp of Satan, but I knew what I was doing. I had dreams of stardom and was confident they would come true…and they did. But how exactly did I, in a couple years, transition from total outcast to one of the top icons of musical lore? My name is James Alan Hetfield, and this is my story. Early years Photo source: GuitarFiero.com I was born on August 1963 in the coastal beach town of Downey, California, surrounded by placid weather, sea, and palm trees. If only my childhood had been equally warm…instead it was cold and hostile. I was raised with a younger biological sister, Deanna, and an older half-brother, David. Our parents, Cynthia and Virgil, were Christian Scientists. The strictness and expectations that came with it contributed to my later personality. As the main rule of our “religion” we were not supposed to go to the doctor for medical treatment; we relied on faith to “heal” us (scoff: If only that was possible.) In high school, I was the quiet, nerdy outsider. I just went, did my work, went back home, did homework, then rested. I liked sports, but my parents were overprotective and did not let me participate. Also, as part of our “religion” I wasn’t allowed to take modern science or anatomy courses. One good thing that came out of my high school years, though, was my taste in music. First steps: Obsession David was a big fan of 60s and 70s rock music and thanks to him I discovered great bands like Black Sabbath, and especially Aerosmith. Those guys were my main motivation to become a rockstar. In high school, I formed a band called Obsession, with my buddy Ron McGovney being our road manager. We were a cover band who rocked out at house parties and talent shows at our school. Unfortunately, the band split up after my graduation, and me and Ron drifted apart. Don’t worry, we would reconnect later, just keep reading. Meeting Lars Photo source: Revolver Magazine Here we arrive to the point we were previously in. After my high school years, I remained without a band for quite some time, just hoping to make it big one day. And that is when I met this long-haired European party animal called Lars Ulrich. He was the embodiment of rock n’ roll and practically my polar opposite. Lars was loud, outgoing, and easygoing, while I was a shy kid from a tough upbringing who could barely make eye contact with strangers. We first started hanging out after discovering we liked the same bands (as well as some of the newer stuff.) He was overbearing and somewhat irresponsible but also very compelling all the same. And he immediately proposed joining him as a fellow musician in his next venture. He had secured a deal with a local underground label to record a couple of songs. I immediately accepted and began plans. I brought along my old high school champ Ron McGovney as bass player, and we also incorporated Dave Mustaine, a young talented guitar player from La Mesa. A friend of Lars gave us the inspiration for the band name. The result? Metallica. Musical legends. The birth of Metallica The path was set for rock n roll glory. Unfortunately, frictions began showing up. Since me and Lars were so different, we often clashed onstage AND offstage. To make things worse, Dave had terrible substance abuse problems, which gave way to unstoppable rage and aggression. Fed up with his foul behavior, we fired him from the band a couple months before recording our debut album. Ron quit, due to the treatment Dave put him through. We were two members short, but replacements showed up quickly. Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist from Exodus (one of me and Lars’ favorite bands) immediately accepted the offer to join the band. To finish patching things up, we also incorporated hippie vegetarian Cliff Burton as our virtuoso bassist, and moved to Los Angeles per his demands. This was the line-up that would make history in the world of music! The first three big hits Photo source: Todocoleccion.net After months locked behind studio doors, our debut album Kill ‘Em All was released in April 1983 and was an instant hit in the underground musical community. It has been said by many this album jumpstarted the commercial success of thrash metal. Thrash metal was influenced by 70s punk and was intended to be an antithesis to arena and glam rock filled with flamboyant, make-up wearing musicians. Our appearance in comparison was simplistic, rougher, and less theatrical; and our music, louder and leaner, closer to NWOBHM bands in England. It was clear: The quartet of bad boys who made up Metallica had come to Los Angeles and had come to stay. In 1984 we released our second album, Ride the Lightning, with much more emphasis on songwriting and melody. This record had two instant hits: The eponymous “Ride the Lightning”, and “Fade to Black”, the first ballad in our catalog. This album awarded us gold and platinum and increased consumers’ interests in the name ‘Metallica.’ We had originally intended to be as anti-commercial as possible, but soon, our commercial fame began. Sooner than we knew, we were touring around the world filling stadiums, and even creating music videos for MTV, which was something I promised we would never do. And with that in mind, our 1986 album Master of Puppets is now considered one of the best albums in metal history, rock history, and modern music history, in part due to its title song and the instrumental piece “Orion.” Tragedy strikes, more glory arrives Every history of glory has its moment of loss and tragedy. I guess that moment arrived in the middle of our European tour, after recording Master of Puppets. In Sweden, our driver lost control of our tour bus, waking us up at around 4:00 A.M., and the resulting crash ended with Burton flying off the window and his severed body losing conscience just seconds after the accident. We had lost our bassist, and we were considering giving up; after all, Burton was a phenomenal musician. However, in every cloud there’s a silver lining, and Metallica’s cloud still had a lot of thunder to strike and rain to pour before disappearing! Burton was replaced with Jason Newsted, a farm boy from Michigan who was more of a classic musician. With him the path to glory continued, with 1988’s …And Justice For All. With this album we really exceeded the expectations of the audience and the music industry, it was heavier in all aspects (lyrically, musically and technically). From this album comes the MTV video hit “One”, as well as my most autobiographical song up to date, “Dyer’s Eve”, my rebellious cry against my hostile, sheltered upbringing. We reached our commercial peak with our 1991 self-titled album, known for its black cover. Come on, sing with me: “Exit light, enter night…” Oof, now props if you manage to get that out of your head in the next days! Heavy metal legend Photo source: Indie Rocks! Today, if you hear the term “heavy metal”, the first band that will come to your mind probably is Metallica. And for good reason, since this name accomplished a very grandiose and important feat for the time: gather four long-haired, music-loving outcasts to give the world a thunderbolt of hope against war, greed, and superficiality, when it was most needed! Metallica still continues touring, and has reached 40 years of age with the honor of becoming one of the greatest names in music industry. And it has grown as a musical concept, experimenting with other forms of music. Who can forget our epic concerts with the San Francisco Symphonic Orchestra? If you have not, you should check them out; they are brutal! But alongside the band, my greatest achievement has been becoming a family man and a devoted father. And knowing my son is following on my rock n roll footsteps, makes me know that despite my not-so-easy beginnings, life had a breathtaking, heartwarming path set for me. Let’s continue enjoying every second of it! I am James Alan Hetfield, from Metallica, and this was my story!

Nueva York es una de las ciudades más finas, cosmopolitas e interesantes del mundo. No hay nada que no se pueda hacer ahí. Si eres turista, sin embargo, descubrirás que también es una ciudad muy…demandante. Los neoyorquinos son personas comunales de la gente de la ciudad y próxima a su área. Pero si eres turista es otra historia, ¡es más fácil que te asalten en la calle, o que los locales se pongan territoriales contigo! Uno de los mejores consejos que puedo darte es que cuando vayas a Nueva York, ¡te hagas pasar por un local! ¡Y es mucho más fácil de lo que crees! Autor: © Marco Bottigelli | Crédito: Getty Images Parte 1: El transporte Tip 1: Empecemos con lo más básico: No veras a casi nadie en Nueva York conducir un automóvil debido a que es impráctico por la falta de espacio para tráfico automotriz. La mayoría de los habitantes se transportan a pie, a bici, o en transporte público (bus o metro). Si quieres aparentar ser un local, lo más recomendable es que, si tienes licencia para conducir, no la traigas a tu viaje. Esto te delatará al instante. Tip 2: Caminar. En Nueva York, el tráfico de personas sustituye al tráfico de automóviles. Si estás en medio de un montón de gente en una misma acera, he aquí lo que debes hacer: Camina, camina, y no dejes de caminar. Aun cuando no tengan prisa de llegar a su destino, los neoyorquinos caminan rápidamente como si tuvieran toda la prisa del mundo. Es simple y sencillamente su manera de hacerlo. Tip 3: El metro. 98% de los neoyorquinos se transportan todo el día usando el sistema subterráneo de la ciudad; el metro, como le decimos aquí en México. Una de las ventajas del Metro de Nueva York, a diferencia del de París o el de Londres, es que es un servicio 24/7. Nunca deja de estar en uso ni siquiera en días festivos. Y por eso es el método de transporte preferencial de todos los neoyorquinos. Sin embargo, también es muy demandante, debido a la gran cantidad de gente que lo usa diario. Si quieres aprender a navegar este sistema sin perderte (y para no delatarte como turista), esta miniguía te convertirá en un experto en menos de cinco minutos: foto: https://www.sightseeingpass.com/es/new-york/nyc-subway Lo indispensable para transportarse en metro es solicitar o conseguir una tarjeta MetroCard, es el abono de transporte en la ciudad. El sistema consta de 26 líneas de trenes eléctricos que circulan tanto en el subsuelo como a través de líneas elevadas en el exterior. Cuatro de los cinco distritos componen esta línea: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, y el Bronx. Staten Island es el único distrito al que no puedes llegar, para eso tomas ya sea la carretera o el ferry. Las líneas llevan por nombre ya sea un número o una letra; por ejemplo, la línea 8 o la línea Q. Cada línea también tiene un color, pero varias líneas comparten el mismo. Por ejemplo, las líneas N, Q, y R, son todas de color amarillo, y las líneas 1, 2, y 3 son de color rojo. Además, no todas las líneas del mismo color van hacia el mismo lugar. Es mejor guiarse por número o letra. Todas las estaciones tienen en la boca de entrada del túnel pantallas que indican el tiempo restante para que pase el siguiente tren, y los encargados también lo anuncian mediante megafonía. A diferencia de otros sistemas de Metro, el de Nueva York rara vez tiene la dirección marcada por la última parada de esa línea. “Uptown” y “Downtown indican las partes norte y sur de la ciudad respectivamente; las direcciones también indican hacia qué distrito se dirige el tren, y en ocasiones también contienen el nombre de la última parada de la línea como punto de referencia. Las líneas tienen dos horas pico las cuales no son recomendables puesto que los trenes estarán más llenos (a menos claro que aguantes las multitudes). La hora pico matutina es de las 8 a las 10 de la mañana, y la hora pico vespertina es de las 5 a las 7 de la noche. Lo más recomendable es tomar el metro fuera de hora pico, entre las 10 de la mañana y las 5 de las tarde. En las escaleras de entrada, posiciónate siempre a la derecha. Si el tren llega llenísimo en hora pico, déjalo pasar y espera el siguiente que seguro llegará más vacío. Todas las líneas ofrecen conexión Wifi. Tip 4: Los taxis. Todo buen neoyorquino prefiere ir en metro que en taxi independientemente de la hora. Si por cualquier razón debes usar uno esta es la guía: Nunca contrates el servicio vía teléfono. Debes pararte en la acera y solicitar al primero que veas pasar. Para esto, cuando veas que se acerca, has contacto directo con el chofer levantando la mano. Se detendrá y te abrirá la puerta para que entres. Para indicar a donde quieren ir, los neoyorquinos no usan puntos cardenales ni semáforos como referencia. En Nueva York hay 214 calles principales numeradas en orden, así como muchas otras calles y avenidas con nombres en lugar de números. El buen neoyorquino le indica al chofer la calle y la intersección calle-avenida correspondiente. Por ejemplo, “La 50 entre la Quinta y Madison.” Todos los taxis tienen en la parte de arriba unas luces. Si no hay luces encendidas significa que el taxi está ocupado. Si las luces posteriores están encendidas, significa que el taxi está fuera de servicio. Si la luz que está encendida es la del centro, representando un número, el taxí está disponible. NOTA: "SoHo" se pronuncia "SOE-HOE", no "SO-HO". Y como dato adicional, "Houston Street" debe pronunciarse "HAUS-ton", no "HIUS-ton" como el otro. Parte 2: La vestimenta Tip 1: Para encajar en la ciudad, lo más recomendable es vestir de colores y tonos oscuros pero elegantes. El negro y tonos oscuros de gris y azul es lo más seguro, pero también puedes optar por blanco y beige cuando apriete el calor. Tip 2: El calzado. No sorprenderás a ningún neoyorquino usando tenis (demasiado casuales), o chancletas (no arriesgan a empolvarse los pies en la acera). Usa calzado más robusto, como mocasines, botas y tacones. Parte 3: La actitud Tip 1: Nunca lleves ni mires un mapa. No en vía pública, por supuesto. Ni siquiera un mapa del metro. El verdadero neoyorquino saber ir de X a Y sin ayuda. Si por cualquiera razón necesitas echarlo un vistazo, hazlo sutilmente: ábrelo en el celular, o léelo discretamente en una cabina telefónica o en el baño de algún restaurante. Tip 2: La actitud. Los habitantes de Nueva York se hacen acreedores de ser el epítome de una actitud: Franca, certera, asertiva, e incluso grandilocuente. No te la pases sonriéndole ni mirando fijamente a nadie. Camina, pero mantente en tu rollo, revisando tu celular u hojeando el periódico. Se honesto, educado y accesible, pero evita sonreír en exceso. Si vas a pedir direcciones, no divagues, y tampoco si las vas a dar. Tip 3: No te quejes del clima extremo. Ni del frío ni del calor. Actúa como si fuera lo más normal del mundo porque en Nueva York el clima extremo es la norma. Tip 4: No te quejes de la pestilencia. Por maravillosa ciudad que sea, Nueva York es también muy pestilente, pues a diario la gente tira su basura en las calles y no levanta la popó de sus perros. Transportarse a pie es como un campo minado. No te quejes ni de las ratas ni de las cucarachas, es habitual que se metan hasta en las casas. Tip 5: Evita los “destinos turísticos”. Obviamente, esto te delatará como turista. Por mucho que tengas ganas de subirte a la Estatua de la Libertad, o maravillarte cuando los letreros de Times Square se encienden, mejor opta por lugares poco explorados. Puedes entrar en una pizzería o visitar un museo que no esté catalogado como “destino turístico” en Nueva York. Es más, por mucho que sea parte de su cultura, los neoyorquinos locales odian Times Square. Tip 6: Nunca mires hacia arriba. Los neoyorquinos nunca miren hacia arriba. Por algo nadie notó cuando King Kong escaló el Empire State. Esto es recomendable no solo para pasar como local si no también para tu salud. Por mucho que quieras admirar los rascacielos, pronto tendrás dolores de cuello muy molestos de tanto mirar hacia arriba. Tip 7: Anda siempre con un café en la mano. Un básico de su alimentación. Un bagel, un hot dog, o una pizza que cuesten menos de 100 dólares son indispensables también… ¡aunque provengan de un 7 Eleven! Tip 8: Cosecha un estilo de vida nocturno. No por nada se le llama “la ciudad que nunca duerme”. En Nueva York hay gente en los bares y clubes a las 11 de la noche, así que cosechar un estilo de vida nocturno es indispensable para encajar. ¡Sobre todo si odias cuando los restaurantes se llenan de papás y niños! Tip 9: La comida. Como ya mencioné arriba, los neoyorquinos comen comida muy barata, a menos de 100 dólares. ¡Y comen con la mano! Sí, en tu casa podrás parecer un animal, pero comer con la mano es la norma en Nueva York. Como lo es también comer en la calle. En Nueva York hay puesto tras puesto de comida callejera y ser vendedor de comida ambulante es una profesión tan apreciada como ser profesor universitario. ¡Inclusive hay una entrega de premios anual para el mejor vendedor! Tip 10: ¡Vuelve pronto! ¡Ahora que completaste tu curso de introducción, la ciudad quiere saber más de ti! Agradecimientos a los siguientes sitios web: https://www.traveler.es/viajeros/articulos/como-ser-un-neoyorquino-en-29-pasos/4651 https://www.wikihow-fun.com/Act-Like-a-New-Yorker https://www.anuevayork.com/guia-metro-de-nueva-york/ Foto: https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/355291858082241409/

Late Night Movie Magic A poem by Sebastian Diaz As the sunlight lets out an evening flare. And the smell of cigars and popcorn fills the air. What a perfect place to fall in love again. With that late-night movie magic that has come to reign. Waiting impatiently on the line to the bathroom. The kids hurrying so as to not miss the cartoons. What a perfect place to feel like a child again. With that late-night movie magic that has come to reign. But that was 40 years ago, when the projector still ran. Now the place’s run-down and closed due to the change of plans. Mother Nature’s reclaimed her rightful place. Yesterday was crowded but today that’s not the case. No better place for a summer wrap-up. Comfy in the van with family, spirits up. Their innocence alluring, her eyes two topazes blue. On for a night of fun, to chase away the blues. What a perfect place to enjoy life again. With that late-night movie magic that has come to reign. Yesterday it was possible to stay until the end. But today that magic’s gone, thanks to shifting trends. The parking lot has reclaimed its rightful place. And that late-night movie magic has finally lost the race. But I still live in the past. I don’t feel the need to age so fast. And sometimes after work, I hurry, take the train. And come here to feel like a child again. Youth memories flash before my eyes. The smell of the food and the dance of the fireflies. Popcorn, Reese’s and some Kool-Aid. Late-night movie magic well-earned and well paid. Magic dreams projected onto giant screens. Their wonder delighting, her eyes two sapphires green. Late-night movie magic well-spent and well-meant. The MGM lion and the shark from “Jaws”. Back when special effects were just becoming the law. “Porky’s”, “St. Elmo’s” and “The Breakfast Club”. Late-night movie magic that was sent from above. I can still quote the classics and sing the tunes. But that magic’s now lost in time’s everchanging dunes. I can still find appreciation in the oldies and goodies. As I dream in big like the actors in the movies. But the passage of time sure hurts like a knife. While people go on with their daily lives. Places get closed and people age too fast. And just like your favorite movie, nothing’s meant to last. The experience is gone but the memory remains. Of that late-night movie magic, coming to you again.

ILUSTRATION: Ilya Bond en behance The year is 1615. Somewhere in Europe, there is an outdoors outpost for members of the scientific community. Astronomers, mathematicians, biologists, paleontologists, botanists, anatomists…all the great scientific disciplines gather in the same place, in hopes of getting their manuscripts published by the wealthy editors of the time. Among these men is a middle-aged German, spindly, carrying the single existing copy of his work on planetary motion and planetary laws. In that moment, however, he gets a letter from his sister, telling him that their widowed mother is on trial for witchcraft. Sadly, he considers himself guilty for that fact. The middle-aged man described in this scene is Johannes Kepler, a mathematician who applied rules of trigonometry to further Nicolaus Copernicus’ work on the heliocentric model of the Solar System, as well as describing the orbits of planets and the laws of planetary motion. Like many other scientists of the era, this earned him persecution from the Catholic Church of the time, which supported the geocentric model of the Solar System. But this was not the only thing which earned him a name in the Church’s blacklist. Kepler was not only a famous mathematician, he has also been credited as the true inventor of the genre of science fiction, WAY before Jules Verne or H.G. Wells. Kepler’s short written narrative was intended as a clever allegory advancing the Copernican philosophy. It was groundbreaking in many ways: Describing the effects of gravity decades before Sir Isaac Newton described such a force; envisioning speech synthesis centuries before computers; and presaging space travel three hundred years before Neil Armstrong and the Apollo Moon Landing. Kepler was a pioneer in astrophysics and lunar astrology. The plot of the short story concerns a young Icelandic boy and his mother, a medicine woman, who were modeled after Kepler and his own mother. Kepler loves reading volumes of ancient magic and ancient sorcerers, and then has a dream of this island which he had read of in one of them. The dream contains various scientific algorithms which would be furthered through the work of later scientists: How solar eclipses would look like from the moon; how planets vary in size due to the Moon’s distance from earth; an idea about the size of the Moon and the presence of craters on the Moon, etc. The moon is painted as an island kingdom with inhabitants, life conditions, and a life-and-death cycle, which give it its science fiction turn. Kepler published the work as an allegory of his own scientific work based on logic and observation, not as a tenant for superstition. But when he was about to publish Somnium, the first science fiction narrative, a German multimillionaire stole his copy (the only one, and there wasn’t even copyright), and started to spread oral word around towns, barbershops, flea markets, etc. He spread word that Kepler was a kook and that his mother was a witch who, among other things, appeared through magical doors; paralyzed a schoolmaster with a drink of wine; and cursed a young girl with a simple elbow rub, causing inhuman pain. 69-year-old Katharina Kepler was to put on trial for witchcraft. Johannes was only 41 at the time. Throughout the trial, Kepler acted as a defender of her mother, using science and proofs of his own work to disprove the superstitious allegations of the court. The trial went on for six years, and despite all of Kepler’s hard work, Katharina was given a lifelong sentence. In a small victory, Kepler managed to have his mother moved to a new prison to improve her incarceration conditions. 14 years later, ill-will had soothed a bit and she was released, but the stigma of a witchcraft accusation is magnanimous. Katharina was forbidden to return to her village and died six months after her release; and Kepler never told any of his friends in the scientific community why he had been called away from his work. Kepler died believing his magnum opus would never be published, but fortunately, his son Ludwig made it his task to make sure the book went to the printers, rescuing all of his father’s hard work and kickstarting a new literary trend in the process. Throughout the decades and centuries to come, scientists such as Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein furthered Kepler’s investigation, describing gravity as the fundamental force of attraction between any two objects in the universe, and developing formulas to describe said attraction. The case of Katharina Kepler has been a source of deep investigation in the modern century. In 2015, 400 years after the trial, German Cambridge graduate and cultural historian Ulinka Rublack published the book The Astronomer and the Witch: Johanne’s Kepler Fight for his Mother. Science divulgators such as Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov have referred to Johannes Kepler’s Somnium as one of the earliest, if not the earliest, works of science fiction. But interwoven with scientific pioneering is the story of a man who lived a time when superstition, paranoia, and irrationality clouded judgement and fear of the new. The same superstition, paranoia, and irrationality that dominates politics and society today. If anything, Kepler was not only a scientist and a pioneer: He was a true connoisseur of human nature, and I can only dare to say we need more people like him in the present era: researchers driven by curiosity, logic and common sense who are willing to break barriers and even with the balls of risking their own lives for the sake of truth. Sources https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/12/26/katharina-kepler-witchcraft-dream/?fbclid=IwAR3hoB1SWhr7xpmQRMWCkjkhUcu-EK2wRCSmTBgBy6Xn_y_gUzYv3WduxLs, accessed May 11th, 2021. https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/johannes-kepler-mother-witch-180957616/, accessed May 14th, 2021. https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201508/physicshistory.cfm, accessed May 13th, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somnium_(novel), accessed May 16th, 2021.

Smaug the Magnificent Far over the Misty Mountains cold Sights made only for the brave and bold A landscape as beautiful as it can be Mountains extend as far and wide as the eye can see Durin sitting in his mighty throne And the craftsmen chatting in their halls of stone But things would soon take a different course And the kingdom would be stricken with a dangerous curse The Necromancer had been slain in the mountain of fire The Rings had been lost but things were still dire For a cloud of smoke suddenly emerged from the sky And the dwarves held on for dear life Smaug the Magnificent came riding down Wings spread wide open he came riding down The trembling of the ground, the rise of seas Fire and foulness tinted the serene summer breeze Smaug was no friend, he was a threat The face of evil, the master of dread Scales bursting blood, eyes flashing fire As smoke and foulness spread across the night sky Smaug the Magnificent came riding down Wings spread wide open he came riding down The spread of death and the burning of trees Fire and foulness tinted the serene summer breeze Smaug was no friend, he was a threat The face of evil, the master of dread Mountains of gold and a bed of feldspars As doom and blackness obscure an endless sea of stars The Ballad of Strider and Evenstar Aragorn, son of Arathorn, son of Arador Descendant of kings and the heir to Arnor Most people talk about how far he’ll get While the Steward of Gondor only sees him as a threat But a secret that few people know Is that his background is not all that matters, no For, deep down in his soul, there’s room for love There’s a very fair soul which he loves Arwen Undómiel, Half-Elven, the kind you only see in movies Long black hair and blue eyes, a being of unprecendented beauty But deep inside, she feels torn She runs to the corner and lets her maiden soul mourn She’s trying so hard so that her family can be pleased But what she wants is a heart filled with love and peace Her father wants her to take the ship Should she listen to her heart or let her happiness slip? Her father wants her to leave these shores He fears for her mortality, but what for? Who cares about mortality, when you’ve got love? And the blessing of your ancestors from above? Will this story have a happy finish? Or will the Evenstar’s grace and happiness diminish? SVD copyright 2021

November 2019: Hi! My name is Dylan, I am 16 years old, and I live in New York City. This happened to me just 2 weeks ago, and boy, it is still imprinted on my mind due to how awkward, crazy and I even dare to say life-threatening it was. My biggest quality? I always take my time to help others. When a little child’s ice cream cone melts, I purchase him a new one. If there is a kitten stuck on a tree, I climb the tree to get it down and then I go searching for his owner all through town. I always rewarded for my good deeds, but I expect nothing back. And that time I am about to tell you about that is particularly true, because things took a turn they never should have taken. And to think how a small action can turn such a big turn. I was walking through Brooklyn Heights, one of the most crowded neighborhoods in the city, and I noticed a frail old lady who was struggling to carry her groceries and to even put a foot outside of the sidewalk. The traffic was very intense, and I was worried she would end up squished on the floor. My instincts activated; I spring towards action and asked to carry the groceries for her, and then with my other hand I helped her get to the other side safely. The old lady told me, “Bless you, young man. Bless you.” She shook my hand in gratitude. “I feel so lucky the world still has nice and courteous people like you.” I grinned bashfully at that comment as the lady got out a couple coins from her purse. “Here.” But I refused to accept it. “I did it out of kindness, I do not need money,” I said humbly. She understood and put the coins back in her purse before we both waved farewell. “Thanks again, young man!” “A pleasure. Stay safe!” I grinned proudly at myself for one more good deed. And that moment, things transitioned into a total mess. As I turned back to return to my house, I could notice that, blocking my path, was a tall swarthy girl with glasses, a sailor shirt, and Nordstrom boots, around the same age as me, who was holding her cellphone up to the same height as my face. And she just got closer and closer, until the rainbow kitty sticker was poking my nose and looking me straight in the eyes. I tried to get away, but the girl just followed me everywhere I went, recording my every move. Then, this guy who looked like LeBron, but way shorter, appeared. I was quick to conclude he was the girl’s father. “Aaliyah”, he said with a thick, booming voice. “Quit flirting with that boy, time to go home.” Without saying a word or stopping the recording, Aaliyah waved goodbye enthusiastically. I waved back half-heartedly, as I was weirded out and uncomfortable with the entire thing. The next day, while surfing through YouTube, I stumbled upon a channel owned by someone named “LeeleeExplorer04”. The description of the channel said, “16-year-old teenager, love to travel the world with my friends, be on the lookout for new adventures.” Her videos showed her travelling the world and taking pictures in front of various landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Disneyland castle, while holding and petting her grumpy pet Himalayan cat. That was cool, but I experienced a déjá vu. The girl in the videos looked familiar, like I had only seen her yesterday. And boy, was I right. Her latest video had just been uploaded just 10 minutes ago, and when I clicked on it, boy, was I shocked. It was none other than me yesterday helping the old lady cross the road, and the whole exchange with her, as my face got closer to the shot and I heard that booming voice. And then, it all hit like a boxing glove: “LeeleeExplorer04” was actually the Aaliyah who recorded me yesterday, and she uploaded it to YouTube without my consent! But that was not the worst part. I checked into the comment section (5 minutes and already over 200 commentaries). The uppermost were from the girls in Aaliyah’s friend circle, who commented things such as, “What a gentleman!” “I want him as my boyfriend!” “I want him as my husband!” “WHERE DO YOU LIVE?!” Feeling uncomfortable, I quickly shut my laptop. I went upstairs to shower and shave, and hopefully the hot water will get that out of my mind. But the nightmare had just begun. The next day, I went to do the groceries, and while the guys and adults minded their own business, all the girls stopped their shopping carts to look right at me. I started to sweat knowing I was the center of attention, and not in a desired way. Every aisle I went to, all the girls would whisper that I was cute, whistle at me, take pictures of me with their cellphones, blow me kisses, and even toss me papers with their numbers and addresses. I could even swear I saw hearts forming in their eyes. This was insane! I helped an old lady with an act of generosity expecting nothing in return, and now all these girls who do not even know my name or where I live were treating me like I was Ryan Gosling! And the worst part is, I DO have a girlfriend, a beautiful French-Canadian called Danielle, who was very possessive towards me. How would she react to this? I did not feel like staying at that supermarket for 10 more minutes. Not even 5. So, I rushed through the list, a nervous wreck, and finally went to the checkout, hoping that would be the end of it. But that was where the worst part of my experience happened. While the checkout lady determined the price of my stuff, I started to feel a lot of footsteps walking in my direction. They stopped after 10 seconds, and I felt like a lot of eyes were on me. Indeed, like 90 eyes were on me. Girls, girls everywhere! Aaliyah and her friends and many others. I was surrounded by the smell of cherry lipstick, woolen clothing, and Calvin Klein Euphoria. It was overwhelming, and it would have been pleasant if not for the awkwardness of the moment. One of them started to clap, then more joined her, and in less than 5 seconds, it was Beatlemania all over again. Gorgeous but crazy chicks screamed, whistled, and fainted in my arms. “MY HERO!” one of them shouted. “MARRY ME!” another one hollered. This scene attracted the attention of the entire supermarket. “He is mine!” “No, he is mine!” “Why, you…” the girls started to punch each other on their faces before one of them started to pull my vest. About five more followed. “Please stop, you’ll rip it!” I begged. But they did not listen, and in a couple seconds, they ripped my best vest in half. They also took away my scarf. They continued to fight for me. One of them, a nerdy redhead with freckles, glasses, a white woolen sweater, and Mary Janes, pulled me close, and…kissed me straight on the lips, leaving a HUGE mark of strawberry lipstick on my face. ‘That’s it! I am dead! Danielle will kill me, but not if these lunatics kill me first!’ I immediately dropped my groceries and started to run for my life, as the girls followed me to the outside of the store. They cornered my car and started to take pictures with their phones like paparazzies surrounding the President’s limo. I started to drive away but the same girl who kissed me opened the co-pilot door and entered, as the others yelled in protest. “Finally! You are mine, Dylan!” she shouted. “How do you even know my name?!” For a minute I considered going back to reclaim my scarf, but it was not worth the risk. I can always buy another one. I turned my car around the block, and we stopped at a traffic light. I pulled out my cellphone and texted Danielle about how that girl kissed me and that now she was sitting next to me at my car. And as I expected, she was not happy at all about it. She told me she was driving to my house and we would talk there. I did not like her tone. ‘I am dead.’ The traffic light turned to green, and as I continued my drive home, this girl kept asking, “Kiss me again, Dylan! Kiss me again!” She showed me her laptop, the screen had anime-style versions of both of us and the caption below read, “DYLAN X RUBY. A match made in heaven.” I gulped and tugged my shirt collar. This was getting worse every passing second! After 15 minutes of enduring this torture, I arrived home. Danielle’s car was parked outside too. “What should our crush name be? Rubylan? Dyluby? Or maybe mix them: Rudylanuby!” I covered my ears. Ruby had not stopped talking ever since we left the store! She puckered her lips ready to kiss me again, but then I heard another female voice, with a marked accent. “Don’t even think about it, honey!” It was Danielle, and she was furious! “He has a girlfriend already.” “Danielle!” I sighed in relief. She pulled me close and inspected my face. “Show me what that lourdaude made with her lips! Show me!” I pointed to the mark next to my lips. Danielle, furious, grabbed Ruby by the arm and pulled her out of my car. “Listen, airhead! You will not get close to my boyfriend ever again! Do you get it?!” Ruby nodded, genuinely intimidated by Danielle, who towered 5 inches above her. “Now go!” Danielle loosened her grip on Ruby, and she went away. Then Danielle turned to me, arms crossed, her toe tip went up and down repeatedly. I chuckled nervously, but I knew there was no way out of this. “Explain yourself. NOW!” I explained everything to her, and Danielle told me to go upstairs, brush my teeth, change my clothes, and wash away that Ruby lipstick mark. I went upstairs and I did just that and then we reaffirmed our love for each other with an authentic kiss. I swear, I would have enjoyed the strawberry taste in my lips, had it not been completely insane. Thankfully, after that, I never got into a rundown with crazy girls ever again. SVD copyright 2021