Facebook Quiz and Gift Application

Quiz: What is your Personality?

1. If you are at a party, where are you most likely to be found?
a. on the dance floor
b. joking around
c. trying how to best fit in
d. sitting back and relaxing

2. If you were on a baseball team, what position would you play?
a. starting pitcher
b. relief pitcher
c. catcher
d. position player

3. What drink do you prefer?
a. water
b. Soda
c. Wine
d. Beer

4. Which would be your preferred job?
a. business owner
b. newscaster
c. travel agent
d. engineer

5. What activity would you most likely be doing?
a. taking a nature walk
b. surfing the net
c. playing sports
d. hanging out with friends

6. Which of the following describes you the best?
a. quiet
b. calm
c. active
d. loud

7. What is your favorite movie genre?
a. adventure
b. action
c. mystery
d. comedy

8. What is your favorite room in the house?
e. bedroom
f. living room
g. kitchen
h. backyard



Results

Dominant-You have do always be doing something, always on the move.
1-a 2-c 3-b 4-a 5-c 6-c 7-b 8-d

Expressive-You have to be the center of attention, always talking and always involved.
1-b 2-a 3-d 4-b 5-d 6-d 7-d 8-b

Analytical-You are always thinking and analyzing each situation.
1-c 2-b 3-a 4-d 5-b 6-b 7-c 8-a

Solid-You always relax and just take life as it happens.
1-d 2-d 3-c 4-c 5-a 6-a 7-a 8-c

Profile Paper

Daniel Conrad
Professor Yerks
Comp 106
30 March 2009
Profile Paper
One day, as a child, Bernie Conrad was out fishing on the Wabash River with his two sisters and brother. One of his sisters fell out of their small fishing boat and into the river. She was able to swim, but she got caught in the undertow. Without hesitation, Bernie took action and dove into the water after her. He was putting his own life on the line to save somebody else. He managed to pull her out onto the bank. This heroic act showed the enormous potential for someone of his character.
Bernie was born in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 1942. He grew up on a small farm just outside of town. Every morning he would get up at sunrise to complete his chores before walking three miles to get to school. After school, he would go horseback riding, shooting his dad’s rifle, or playing basketball with his older brother. In high school, he was captain of the basketball and baseball teams, while also playing football. There were numerous activities he enjoyed doing, “One of my favorite things to do was to go out into the cattle fields and shoot my dad’s rifle. Me and my brother had lots of fun taking target practice, even though he was always a little better then me.” Bernie had a lot of friends and was one of the most popular kids in school. He will be the first to admit it did get to his head, “I was very arrogant and wasn’t exactly the best kid in the world. I did a lot of things that I regret.” However, the important thing is that he learned from his mistakes and was able to become a better person.
Bernie Conrad was introduced to sports at a young age. His father had played college basketball before him, but it would be a long, hard road if he was going to follow in those footsteps. He practiced his long ranged shot by playing in the barn where mud would get on the ball making it heavier, and in turn making him stronger and more accurate. Along with basketball, he would also play baseball in the fields with his brother and cousins. He was exposed to a variety of sports early and often, “I remember being only six years old when my dad taught me to throw horseshoes. I couldn’t screw up. Quitting or failing wasn’t an option, my dad wouldn’t allow it.” He took this attitude and used it to become a great player and leader, eventually earning a sports scholarship to Purdue where he played both baseball and basketball. He was a backup point guard in basketball and rarely got in the game, but when he did get in it was for his defensive tenacity. On the baseball team, he started in centerfield his junior and senior years and batted seventh in the lineup. He was never a star, but he worked hard to be the best he could possible be.
On the academic side, he was just an average student through high school, but still got into Purdue University for his college education. At Purdue, along with playing basketball and baseball, he got through his first four years with a degree in agricultural economics. After graduating, he started working for a small farming firm. Shortly after he went back to school to get a degree in accounting. After receiving his second degree, he got a job working for Chrysler in Detroit. He left his home town and family farm behind. After working for Chrysler for a while, he decided he wanted more out of life. “The work I was doing was just an everyday routine, there was no excitement and so I though maybe I should try something else.”
Once again he decided to go back to school, this time it was for law school. With three years of studying at Wayne State University under his belt, he started to practice law. However, being a lawyer was not what it seemed. As a lawyer he expected to be upholding laws and the constitution, establishing justice for those who had been taken advantage of, and protecting the weak. In reality, he discovered a world of greed and selfishness. Everybody around him was all in it for themselves. He hated the work and the people so he quit, “Being a lawyer isn’t what it is cracked up to be. You pretty much have to be a jerk to be any good and make money. It just wasn’t for me.” In the end, he landed back with Chrysler and got his life long career going. Due to the tough economic times and all the job cuts at the car companies, he retired the day before thanksgiving in 2008. He has lived out his short retirement reading numerous books that he never got a chance to read in the past.
Bernie is also a family man. He got married to his wife Anne, and had two kids. He has raised his kids to be the best they can be. He teaches them the ways he learned to be successful, but also telling them to have fun and just be themselves. “I try to teach my kids to be great people, and the foundation of that is being a good Christian. Following the ways of Jesus Christ and constant prayer with the Lord is where it all starts. From there I teach them to work hard, be honest, and be respectful of the people around them.” Bernie grew up in a Catholic family and continues the traditions his parents taught him.
For someone to come so far there must be stops along the way that make that person who they are. Bernie’s greatest experiences came as a college student, “My greatest experiences happened during college. I learned countless lessons and really matured from an irresponsible kid into an adult.” There were certain moments that stood out in his life both as a student and as an athlete. “Graduating was my greatest achievement. I was sort of a fool back in those days and wasn’t too serious at all. So just getting out of there successfully at first was a great achievement in itself….as an athlete it was just getting into games and playing.” All of these defining moments paved a path for a man who would grow up to be loved by his family and friends, and honestly, it can’t get much better than that.

Podcast Script

Daniel Conrad

The Student Athlete

Complete Show Length in Minutes: 6:30

Episode 1: Topic: The affects of being a student athlete.

Intro Music Clip: Title: “Roundball Rock” Minutes: 30 sec

Intro: The Bernie Conrad experience. Minutes: 1min

Hello and welcome, I’m Daniel Conrad and I will be telling you all about the experience of the student athlete. In this pod cast we will explore all the excitement and work that goes into being both a student and an athlete at college. I will address questions about the athletic, academic, and social life of student athletes. As the NCAA commercials say, most of these athletes will go pro in something other than sports; we will show how true this is. Usually, they stand out at these other professional levels and within their communities. In a little while we will be getting first hand knowledge from a man who experienced this from 1961-1965. His name is Bernie Conrad, and he will explain to us what life was like being a college student while being on both the basketball and baseball teams at Purdue University. He will also explain how collegian athletics have changed since he played, and how there is much more pressure on students to win nowadays. This is an extraordinary man with extraordinary talents who has much experience and is a valid source for this pod cast. As a student myself I know how much time and effort it takes to study and keep my grades up. I can’t imagine playing a sport and getting all my academic work done as well.

Segment Music Clip: Title: “Eye of the Tiger” Minute: 4

Segment: Being a college athlete. Minutes: 3:45

So we are now joined by Bernie so that he may share his thoughts with us. Please tell us about the overall experience as a student athlete? “Well, looking back I’ve got to say that it was a lot of fun. It took a lot of hard work and determination to maintain grades and also, be able to play on sports teams. I was on both the basketball and baseball teams at Purdue. I probably wasn’t as focused on my school work as I should have been. I was like any other student and liked to party and just have fun.” How have these experiences in college helped to define you as a person? “Playing sports at such a high level helped prepare me for the real world more than I ever thought it would. It taught me the proper work ethic, leadership, and how to work with teammates. No matter what career you pursue you’ll have to work with other people, and playing a sport in college allowed me to know how to handle my co-workers and bosses.” What do you feel are the greatest accomplishments as both a student and an athlete? “As an athlete it was definitely in basketball when I was in a game for more than five minutes. I didn’t play that much, but in that game against Michigan, the two point guards ahead of me got into foul trouble, so I got the nod. Academically it would have to be graduating and knowing that all of my hard work had paid off.
I also talked to him about the differences in college athletics today as compared to when he played back in the sixties. He said that today’s athletes are under so much pressure to win. The fellow students and alumni from major schools and programs demand success. Almost all games are televised, with players getting interviewed, and attention from different media outlets. With the way the games are played, basketball has changed dramatically. When Bernie played, there was no shot clock and no three point line. The college games were low scoring and a lot more focused on playing as a team and the right way. Today, you just need one stud on your team and you can be successful. The biggest difference in baseball is that everybody today, is bigger and stronger. Players can pitch faster and hit the ball harder. Back when Bernie was playing, teams played “small ball,” where you would do things like sacrifice bunt, and hit the other way in order to manufacture runs. Now, all players do is swing for the fences. Even though styles of play have changed, the challenges to a student athlete are the same. They must succeed academically and be able to perform in whatever sport they are a part of.
In America there are almost four-hundred thousand student athletes. They are able to compete and perform at a very high level, while keeping their grades up. When glancing at the benefits of playing sports in college, it would seem that people just do it for fun. However, most of the time there is a lot more to it. The student athlete usually has a drive to achieve great things. They are hard workers and will run through walls for their teammates. They need a tough mentality to be able to focus and keep themselves from being distracted. The final thing we asked Bernie was about distractions. “It is hard not to be distracted with the pressure of your social life and trying to fit in. It can all become overwhelming sometimes. You have to keep your head on straight and be able to stay close to earth. As long as you don’t get too big of a head you should be fine.” So there it is, words from a man who has been there and seen it.

End Segment Music Clip: Title: “Hail Purdue” Minutes: 1:15

Ending: The dedication of the student athlete. Minutes: 1

Although collegian sports have changed over the decades, the principles they teach young people all over this country hasn’t. Student athletes gain a unique experience that teaches them teamwork and leadership. It also does a lot to help prepare them for their future in any career they choose to pursue. These talented athletes need to be able to perform in the class room along with on the gridiron in order to succeed and make it through college. Another quality that becomes imprinted within the players is dedication. They are dedicated to there teammates and learn what it is like to work in a group. This can then de translated to the real world when working with family and co-workers. All of the things that student athletes learn from the college experience can help develop them into better people, and better citizens. I want to thank Bernie Conrad for allowing me to interview him, and for his appearance in this pod cast.

Podcast Photos

Organic Food

Daniel Conrad
Professor Yerks
Comp 106
23 February 2009
The Truth about Organic Food
You have probably been told that organic food is great for your health, and great for the environment. You need to reconsider. A lot of evidence, from many different sources, shows that buying organic food actually does more harm to our planet, than good. A study conducted by the University of Alabama talks about the distance organic food travels, and how it can be very harmful to the planet by contributing to the depletion of the ozone. Also, many scholarly articles have been written about the affects of growing organic food on the environment. One article explains that in Denmark, growing organic food is harmful to the soil and thus, hurts the surrounding environment. On the other hand, growing organic is good for the environment by preventing the chemicals used in pesticides from getting into the soil and water supplies. However, the overall environment is more important. An investigation into the details on the subject proves that growing organic food causes more environmental harm, than environmental benefit.
The study done by the University of Alabama shows that buying organic produce is actually, more harmful for the environment, than buying regular, non-organic produce. When deciding whether or not to go green, it is very important to know how far the food has traveled before it arrives on your table. The study led by Vicki Burt, compared the “food miles” organic crops and regular crops. Food miles are defined as the distance that the food will travel from the field to the store counters. The results of the experiment showed that organic food travels just as far, if not farther, than regular produce. It really depends on what product you’re talking about. Organic mangoes and peppers, in particular, travel much farther than regular mangoes and peppers. In the United States and Canada, we get our organic mangos and peppers from South American countries as opposed to the regular ones from Mexico. The variance in those distances adds up to many thousands of kilometers. With this extended distance that organic food travels, more carbon dioxide is produced from trucks, planes, and ships, than the carbon dioxide produced when transporting non-organic foods. So in the end, it is far more harmful to buy organic food because of there high food miles, which leads an increased output of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and this ultimately leads to global warming (Science Daily).
An article written by Birgitte Hansen, Hugo Fjelsted, and Erik Steen Kristensen, helps to explain the environmental impact of growing organic food. The content is based on information coming from the European country of Denmark. This article points out that organic food, despite having many benefits, also can produce negatives for the environment. Many current farming practices are used because they are fast, safe, and efficient. However, modern farming can have a significant impact on the ecosystem. Organic farming can drain more nutrients from the soil, than regular farming, if it is not done at the proper time of year. Significant evidence from Denmark shows that, nitrogen, and other key chemicals that are essential to plants growth, are wasted, or used up when growing food organically. This leads to farmers using more land to grow less. Also, they end up using a wider range of crop rotations, meaning a lot of land is left empty and wasted during certain years. In order to keep production at its highest point, more farmlands have to be created. This rips into already existing ecological niches. Although, growing organic can help in certain ways with the ecology and biodiversity of local farming areas, it is more harmful by taking away the usable, natural land. Organic and non-organic farms affect the soil, water, and ecosystem in many different ways, both types of farming have some benefits, and both do some harm to the environment around them (Fjelsted).
There is a lot of other evidence and facts out there that shows how organic food can harm the environment. It has also been shown that faming organic produce, can lead to both a lower quantity of crop yields, as well as lower quality of crops. Also, some organic food is improperly labeled. You might think that what you’re buying doesn’t use chemicals, but farmers lie and twist their information around. To go along with that, there are many questions about how much affect chemicals and pesticides actually have on the environment. If used safely, and in the correct way, they actually pose little threat to the surrounding areas. Farmers need to be aware of current research of how and when to plant there crops properly, regardless of whether it is organic or not. Growing non-organic foods really doesn’t destroy the environment as much as many groups and organizations may lead on (Recipe 4 Living).
Despite common thoughts, growing organic foods is harmful to the environment. It increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere because of the carbon dioxide produced from the trucks, planes, and ships that carry it from the field to the store. Organic food needs more land to grow because it uses the nutrients in the soil too quickly. Due to crop rotations, less organic food is able to be grown at one time. So in the end, if you care about the environment, you should buy locally grown food, from your own garden, or from local markets. Buying organic foods is either a neutral or negative on the environment, and this evidence should be an influence on your decision making the next time you are in the grocery store.

Works Cited
Fjelsted, Hugo, Birgitte Hansen, and Erik Steen Kristensen. “Approaches to assess the environmental impact of organic farming with particular regard to Denmark.” Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 83 (2001): 11-26. Science Direct. Elsevier Science B.V. 2001. .
Organic Food Miles Take Toll On Environment. Science Daily. 7 June 2007 < http://www.sciencedaily.com>.
Your “Organic” Food Hurts the Environment. 10 July 2007. Recipe 4 Living. < http://www.recipe4living.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=55594>.

Organic Food Visual

Activity 1

Visual Glossary:

Rhetoric: Exaggerated use of language, or use of effective and persuasive speech.

Icon: An image or picture that can stand in or represent something else.

Design (Noun): A projection or plan that outlines or represents something, an organized creation, or structure to some object.

Design (Verb): To create or conceive some sort of plan or creation. To form, or plan, the structure or outline of something.

Representation (Noun): An object, person, symbol, or image that stands in place of and gives the same meaning as the entire thing it is taking the place of.

4c. Tags: grand theft auto, busy town, videogame, game, animated design.

6. Each logo does work to make the website visually appealing. They can’t be too simple or too complicated. They are supposed to draw the user back to the website in the future and make there website the most attractive. Google uses different colors to try and do this, Yahoo a unique font and style, while AltaVista uses a symbol above there wording. They all are effective logos and do the work they are suppose to.

I like the Google logo the best. It is a simple design but the colors are creative and cool. The biggest reason I like it the best is probably because I use it the most and am most familiar with it.

I like the AltaVista logo the least because I am not at all familiar with it and had not used it before this activity. Visually they are similar so popularity really determines what you like and don’t like.

13. Advice for validity of general research:
1. Try to avoid .com, use things like .edu, .org, or .gov because the information on these sites is much more likely to be accurate and meaningful. They are much better for an educational or professional setting.
2. If the content has grammatical and punctuation errors then the creator of the site didn’t take care to have there work carefully looked over, and therefore isn’t very professional.
3. Is the content of the website relevant? Can you understand and use the information that is provided?

Advice for validity of visual research:
1. If it looks professional and well thought out it is probably valid. If it looks sloppy and quickly thrown together then it is more likely to not be as trustworthy.
2. Is the visual content useful? If it is not relevant to the website then it is unlikely to be at a professional level.
3. If it satisfies common sense criteria. If it makes sense and is appropriate for the context of the website.

Project 1 Reflection

The goal of this project was to advocate for or against a specific topic. For me, the hardest part was to choose what that topic should be. I am not very creative and rather someone tell me what to do. After going through many different ideas, I chose to advocate for the awareness of the problems in Darfur. Darfur is a region in Sudan where mass killings have taken place, but awareness and action has been limited and the people continue to suffer. This topic is important because we talk about the importance of human rights in the world, but in this case no action has been taken. the goal of advocation for awareness is that the more people that become educated on the topic, the more pressure we can put on world leaders. This hopefully, will lead to action. To advocate for Darfur awareness I created a website as my form of visual composition.
The visual composition that i chose was a website. I chose the website for a couple of reasons. First, is because I have never done one before and I thought it would make this project fun. The other major reason is that the internet is a place where many people might happen to come across my site. A powerpoint or slideshow has a limited audience, and I wanted the message that I was advbocating for to reach as many people as possible. My audience, specifically, is intended for college students. A website will allow students all over the country to be able to here my arguement, as opposed to just those in our class.
My website consists of five different pages. the first is the home page, which shows the overlying problems in the Darfur region. the next page describes th esituation and goes into specific questions like who and why. the genocide page gives the official definition of the word, and discusses the arguments over wehter or not the crisis in Darfur should be called a genocide. Another, talks about what people, governments, and organizations have done to adress the problem at hand. Finally, the last page of the website talks about what each of us can do to help the people of Darfur. This page also has the references to thge pictures and facts that I used through the entire site. I made my website easy to navigate, and I tried top puit it together in a way that would grab the audience's attention. The website really helps to advocate and promote the awareness of Darfur.
For this project, it was important to use a visual composition to advocate for my topic of Darfur awareness. This website was hard to create because I was not very educated on how to make a website. It took a long time to figure out how everything worked. I was unable to make it just how I wanted and as a result it does look a little unprofessionsl. However, I gave a lot of information and included important facts. Advocating is something everybody does alll the time, but putting it all together helps organize and present your message.

Advocation Proposal

In this project i'm advocating for the awareness of college students about the genocide in Darfur. In the darfur region in sudan human rights are being violated as a conflict between ethnic groups as lead to violence and maascre. We all know about the genocide of the jews in WWII and the genocide in rewanda, but not much attention is being paid to Sudan and the Darfur region. It is important to advopcate this topic because i believe in freedom and freedom for all can't exist when masses of people are being killed for ther ethnicities. I think it is a good topic for me to advocate because pretty much everybody will support what i support but the hard thing is educating people and informing them on what is happening.

The intended audience for this project would be college students and getting them involved and aware of the terrible violation of human rights in the region. The young people in the world make up the next generation that hass to lead the world and make it a better place. Protecting huiman rights is an important thing to all people, but seems to be emphasized to our generation. The form that i will advocate in is a website. The website will include all the data and information the someone would need to realize that something needs to be done. Some kind of action has to take place, and the more people that become aware then the more people can force government into action. A website will be effective because many people from all over will be able to access it easily and quickly.

Screen Shot Reflection

When I saw my screen shot it made me think of how it resembles me as a person. I was outlining a debate for another class while also looking at a sports web page. This represents me because i work hard to do my homework and study, but at the same time I like sports and looking up the predictions of the Michigan recruiting class. While writing papers or doing other homework, i always am multi-taksing and doing other "fun" stuff at the same time. By just doing simple things like this we can learn about ourselves even though things like your screen would normally unnoticed.

Composing changes when it is digital because the audience is likely to be much broader and bigger. It allows much more to get done, and much faster. The composing doesn't really change in the composers feelings or output, but it may be easier to be interpreted by the reader or audience. We can better understand digital composing through education. By exposing more and more people to different kinds of composition it will allow them to understand the different ways for people to express themselves and there thoughts. Using digital composing is a good way because putting something somewhere like the internet allows many people to access it, and see the work quickly.

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>.