Music and its Borders

I will listen to any kind of music as long as it is upbeat and positive. I listen to a little bit of everything, and especially soft rock. However,at this time of year christmas music trumps everything else. I like music that puts me in a good mood. Christmas music does this very well because it is the happiest time of the time and it just makes you feel happy. My favorite artist is probably Jack Johnson because his songs also always make you feel good. His songs might not make any sense, but they tend to put you in a good mood. My favorite song is the obviously, The Victors. Another one of my favorite songs is "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. I find the lyrics of songs to be a lot more important than the beat. I think that the words are what explores boundaries. It allows the artist to express their views and show how they feel. I think the style and songs that I like explore boundaries because it shows a part of who I am, and represents my personality. I am usually positive and very cheerful, and i think that the music I listen to is also that way.

This mans story relates to speaking the unspeakable in many ways. The government tried to censor him and keep people like him quiet, but he stood up for what he believed in and told his story. Everybody needs to know and understand all the terrible things that happened during World War II and the Holocaust. People need to speak up and say the things that people don't want to hear. The things of the past and genocide still continue today and we have to know how and why these things happened if we are ever going to try and stop the mass killings of the future. It also took courage for this man to speak about all those terrible things because it would be very difficult for anyone to recount those events. In today's world most people are only self-conscious and don't understand all the evil that still exists in the world, so people have to speak up and tell them about how the world really is.

Genocide in Sudan

The people involved are the Sudanese government and there military, as well as the civilians living in the darfur region. The things that are happening there are abuse of human rights. The civilians are the ones who the government's military goes after. The military launches ground and are assaults on different tribes and villages and in some cases will wipe the whole group out. The area of the conflict is a region of Sudan known as Darfur. This genocide has been taking place since at least 2003, but some believe that it has existed since Sudan gained its independence over fifty years ago. There are many reasons why it has happened. A lot of the natural resource that the government has is located in the southern parts of the country. The government is located in the north, so it is trying wipe out the tribal groups in Darfur to be able to use and exploit the land. Those in the north feel they are superior to the tribal people's because of the different races and ethnicity's. Another thing the government does is they try to stop any relief or aid from coming into the country. The people there need food and water and the government tries to prevent the little help they do get from happening. How this happens, is out of hatred and greed. They want the land and resources and they also hate the people of Darfur because they have different religions and ethnicity. It relates to speaking the unspeakable because the horrors that genocide produce must be told to everybody so that we can all understand it and try and do something to prevent it. I don't understand why in this country we only think of ourselves, why should we have freedom and liberties while people in place like Darfur don't have any freedom what so ever.

Purpose of Art

The purpose of art is to get across a message. That message can be an expression of the artist, politically oriented, or anything that has sends any kind of message. My perspective on art really hasn't changed, I still believe art to be a way to express a point and a form of communication ones ideas. I don't think that there is an obligation for art to improve the human condition. In some cases it does, but I don't think any artist or any of there art is obligated to do anything other than what they want. If an artist creates artwork that are designed to help the human condition, then that is a great thing. On the other hand if some creates artwork that does nothing to help humans that's okay too.

I think that Theo Jansen's creation is a remarkable thing. He combined both of jobs, physicist and artist to create a unique piece of science and art. He calls his creations animari, which use the wind to walk on the beaches. I think that it is a ingenues creation that took a lot of creativity and thought. To me this is more of science then art, and show how many different things the scientific world can do. I don't like how they talk about it as a life form or a species. It is artificially created and doesn't have any characteristics of life. The idea that it will evolve and that these things will compete and take over each others DNA seems very far fetched. His comparison between the pipe lengths and human genetics seems way off as well. Even if it could evolve I wouldn't want it to because I see all life as sacred and we shouldn't be artificially making it. The purpose of art is to create something to get across a specific message. He Theo Jansen is expressing is love of physics showing how smart he is and how science and art can go together.

I feel very disappointed in the results of the election. I believe that if anyone ever deserved to be president of the United Sates it was John McCain. He is a hero and an inspiration. He is someone who not only believed in a cause greater than himself, but showed it through his actions. I can't say how much I appreciate what he has done and how thankful i am that i got a chance to vote for one of the greatest Americans of all time. I accept Obama as my next president and will reluctantly follow his leadership into this dangerous and unknown world. It is interesting to see whether he will have policy from the middle like his campaign or if he and the democrats in congress will push through a very liberal agenda indicated by his record. Despite the Republican loses i believe this is a chance to get back to basics. Reagen built the ideals of our party based on low taxes and small government. the republicans in congress recently got away from this goals and catered to big business and special interests. This is a wake up call for conservatives to get back to how this country should truly be run. I am also disappointing in the passage of proposal two because i firmly believe a human life should not be created just to be killed through experiments. I think America wants the change that both candidates preached and I'm very proud that Americans got involved and are concerned with this country and it's direction. America is the greatest country to ever exists and i think under Obama we will continue. America means freedom and Republican or Democrat we have to work together to achieve freedom not just for people in the United Sates but every single human being on the planet. God Bless America!

Community Poem

Like most communities we have the talk,
But yet again, we fail to make the walk.
We say we will help,we say we will give,
But close-minded, selfish, and greedy we live.

Great schools, business, and homes we provide,
But behind these wonderful things we hide.
We say work together, we say act like brothers,
But no one really cares about others.

We use to have a safe place to tick-or-treat,
But now there are many dangers that kids might meet.
We are a place where there used to be care,
But now our people don't understand how to share.

There are still those who do stand strong,
But it is hard to fight all that is wrong.
These few don't talk the talk,
But they sure do walk the walk.

Resturant Review

Ginopolis’ on the Grill Review

Ginopolis’ is located in Farmington Hills, Michigan, at the corner of 12 Mile and Middlebelt. Set among a very residential community, it is easily accessible for many people. There is no particular view, but it just flows along with all the businesses and neighborhoods in the area. At around eight on the evening of Wednesday, October 15, 2008, it was a cold, quiet night, but entering Ginopolis’ brought me warmth and comfort. You are greeted by the brothers that own the restaurant, Peter and John Ginopolis’. They keep their restaurant open everyday of the year for lunch and dinner. They also do catering and banquets for any occasion imaginable.

The major cuisine served is Greek, Italian, and American. The main courses consist of steak, ribs, seafood, sandwiches, or pasta. Ginopolis serves a variety of appetizers including calamari, crab cakes, and Greek sausage. They also have all your average salads like Greek and Caesar salads. However, the real reason to go to Ginopolis’ is the specialty, the world famous Montgomery Inn Ribs. These are the same as at Cincinnati’s famous Montgomery Inn. Overall, what you can get is limited, there aren’t a lot of options, but what they do have is very diverse. It is definitely worth going because no matter what you get, you are guaranteed to enjoy it. The selection mixes some of the best of some of different cultures, and extraordinary tastes are added from the unique sauces and spices used in the Ginopolis’ kitchens.

Ginopolis is labeled as a business restaurant. A lot of the people who dine there are eating there with clients or co-workers. It is a great place to hang out for dinner after a long hard day at work. This is a high class place to eat, probably either a three or four star restaurant. On some nights, it can also have the sense of being like a sports bar. It often plays host to many professional athletes. When the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 2002 the team took the cup to Ginopolis’ to celebrate as a group. It is also the official caterer of the Detroit Pistons, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me. Reservations are only required for the two separate banquet halls. Ginopolis’ recommends calling ahead for reservations for everyday dining, but it is probably not necessary unless it is a holiday, or a special occasion.

The restaurant has a huge interior space, with a main dining hall, and two large banquet rooms. It seats over two hundred guests. Inside, it looks a lot fancier than it really is. The glasses, plates, and silverware all give the impression that you are high society. They build you up, and it’s worth it because the food is as good as the place looks. Everything is clean and tidy. To my surprise, even the restrooms were glowing in the dim light. The glasses and silverware are crystal clear as if they were brand new. It looks like they treat their restaurant with respect and admiration, the same way the guests are treated. The live classical music is soothing, and fits in well with the style. The whole place feels like a piece of history, like it is where the great people of the past came to eat. On the west wall is the wall of fame, which shows all the famous people who have dined there in the past. The tone is set when you walk in, and are greeted with the smell of freshly cooked meat, and impressed by the antiquity of the hall. The restaurant feels very spacious, and your table feels just right, neither too public nor too private. One more feature that is very important is the entire place is non-smoking, so you can enjoy yourself without worrying about the smell or your own health. If you are looking for an experience rather than just a meal, the setting at Ginopolis’ will keep you wanting to come back for more.

The food is just as good as the restaurant looks, outstanding. It all starts with the specialty, the Montgomery Inn Ribs. They are a fantastic treat that everybody needs to try at least once in their lives. The huge slab of ribs covers your whole plate. The meat is both high quality, and fresh. It is always cooked to perfection. The ribs are moist and tender, while being capped off with the perfect combination of barbeque sauce that makes your taste buds leap for joy. It isn’t just the main course that stands out; the salad is terrific as well. The fresh greens combined with your choice of dressing, creates the best combination of taste and health. However, the taste of the food comes with a price. The average appetizer costs around seven dollars, entrée at about fifteen dollars, and the deserts varies in price. It is an expensive meal, and you will be paying somewhere between twenty and thirty dollars. Everything costs a little bit too much if you value just the meal, but if you are all about the experience and service, than the food is relatively cheap considering everything that comes along with it.

The service was just as outstanding as everything else. The owners come to your table a number of times. They come at the beginning to make sure your comfortable and the also show up periodically to make sure everything is the way you want it. The waiters and waitresses are on top of your every need. They great you with a warm smile, making you feel that you belong there. They were also some of the most intelligent waiters I’ve ever met. They could answer any question about the food, or about the history of the restaurant. The service is only one aspect of the atmosphere. The food was brought to my table in only ten minutes. On most evenings they include live entertainment, usually some type of classical music. The service and entertainment make the atmosphere ideal, and contributes much to the experience.

I highly recommend Ginopolis’ on the Grill at least once. The tone is set by the greetings from the owner and waiters. They make the atmosphere warm and welcoming. It is followed up by the most outstanding meal, led by the Montgomery Inn ribs. I would definitely eat there again, but I would not go just for recreation. It is designed for business type occasions and you feel a little out of place just going for fun. If you ever need to cut a deal or suck up to your boss, Ginopolis’ is the place to take them. The only complaint I have is the food is a little over priced and wouldn’t fit most people budgets. Therefore, it has to be a very occasional trip, maybe a place to treat yourself after a achieving a big accomplishment. Overall, I thought it was excellent, the service was great, and the food was fantastic.

Work cited

1. Ginopolis’ on the Grill Home. Ginopolis’ on the Grill. 17 Oct. 2008 <http://www.ginopolis.com/ginopolis/home.htm>.

2. Banquet Room 1. Ginopolis’ on the Grill. 17 Oct. 2008 <http://www.ginopolis.com/ginopolis/banquet1.htm>.

3. Montgomery Ribs. Ginopolis’ on the grill. 17 Oct. 2008 <http://www.ginopolis.com/ginopolis/images/montgomeryRibs.jpg>.

4. Dinner. Ginopolis’ on the Grill. 17 Oct. 2008 <http://www.ginopolis.com/ginopolis/images/mainimage_dinner.jpg>.