Good Food Review

When I first walked into Palace Grill the first thing I noticed was the atmosphere. The authentic décor of the restaurant made you feel like you’re in a 1950’s, American diner.  Since I’m a fan of retro things and themes, this was one my favorite things about Palace. Also, the people there made you feel welcome and made sure you were happy.  I have had met too many staff members of restaurants that hurry you along or they don’t even care about what you thought of the food. It was refreshing to see a restaurant think so highly of their customers.

Now, let’s get to the food.  I ordered the Denver omelet with hash browns with orange juice.  I have to say that it was best Denver omelet I have had.  I love Denver omelets and Palace knows how to make it right. The Denver omelets I have had in the past make the ingredients barely noticeable and you feel ripped off and that’s not the case with Palace. Every bite was full of chunks (not pieces) of fresh and premium ham, onions, and green bell peppers.  Everything was freshly made after I ordered so it wasn’t warmed up. Also the freshly squeezed orange was a plus. It’s a small thing that many restaurants forget that I love.

Even though I enjoyed Palace it has a couple of flaws.  Palace is a little pricey (the meal was almost 15 dollars) and its classic and authentic environment could be interpreted as dull or unoriginal so it may not be for everyone. However, these are small shortcomings for a great and authentic American diner.

King Still King?

Every third Monday in January we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day but is the king is still king? Of course he is. Just because we don’t celebrate him with rituals and decorations like Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving he has lost any significance. The fact that he is one of the 3 people with a national holiday shows his significance.  

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was a hero of modern American liberalism and arguably the greatest spokesman for the civil rights movement, which successfully protested against racial discrimination in federal and state law.  Thanks to African American civil rights movement, the Civil Rights Act was passed; banning discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in employment practices and public accommodations and the voting rights of all people were protected and restored.

Many people would argue that he has lost significance because we don’t honor him but I believe that that when that descendants of those who were discriminated against vote or further themselves academically, they honor the wishes of Martin Luther King Jr and this has happened and is continuing to happen.  I for one will definitely honor Rev. King by voting and exercising my right to vote

I am a shoe

I am a shoe

People use me

People walk on me

When they don’t want me

They hide me

I am a shoe

Damaged, lost, forgotten

Suffering is all I know

All and I do is sit and wait

To be used and abused

I am a shoe

When my time is done

I am replaced

The use ends

I rest

I am a shoe 

Winter Poem

She is winter    

Cold     

Relentless     

Unforgiving    

I love her  

Lost    

Optimistic    

Hopeless  

I always will  

As the yellow falls and the white grows  

As the days grow shorter  

As the warmth escapes  

She hates me  

Unresponsive

Majestic

Godly

I don’t care

Blind

Forgiving

Understanding

I’m happy

As the animals sleep

As the nights lengthen

As I stay awake

Globalization

One of the most debated and controversial subjects in the modern world, globalization is something that effects us all. Globalization is basically the unification of regional economies, societies, and cultures through communication, transportation and trade.  When said like that, it doesn’t really sound controversial or bad at all. What’s so bad about nations, big and small, connecting with each other? Its almost like world peace.

Sadly, globalization is not all good and peaceful. In theory, it should be a step towards world peace since the nations of the world are connecting and working together but like most human ideas it is often applied wrong and or exploited by human greed. Businesses could use globalization to remove cultures and traditions with their efficiency and image, exploit foreign and impoverished workers, and replace domestic workers with foreign workers in low cost locations who will work for cheaper wages.

What do I think of globalization? I am leaning towards the constructive opinion of the debate which means that I support global cooperation but I still recognize and am against the negative aspects of globalization.  I believe that almost all of the negative aspects of globalization are the result of greed.  Businesses remove cultures and traditions; exploit foreign and impoverished workers etc. to save money.  Globalization isn’t all bad since it does unite the world and bring jobs and prosperity to impoverished nations and people but it can be an instrument of greed.  In other words, I am against this current incarnation of globalization but I support what globalization should do for the world.

Sports in My Life

Sports? Ha, what’s that? I don’t really follow sports but the sports conversations and paraphernalia always surrounds me.   I could never get into watching large men play like children and the simplicity of it but that’s just me. Sports are a big part of many people’s lives and sometimes I get awkward views because of my opinions on them. I don’t hate sports however. I do find some aspects interesting.

 It’s almost like their modern day gladiators because of their feats of athleticism and the strategy behind their actions.  It’s kind of funny that a lot people love sports but they can’t get into a lot of nerd associated things.  When you think of it most sports are just a RTS or real time strategy game because in a RTS you have to develop strategy with a team that has different soldiers with each having their own strengths, weaknesses and a specific role to play against another team. That’s really the basic premise of coaching. But you wouldn’t see a football coach play Starcraft II or a gamer try coaching.

I also enjoy the energy and environment around you when you are at a game.  It’s like this contagious energy that makes you and everyone else pumped. When I’m at a game, I start to feel excited and I actually care if my team wins and I don’t even follow sports.  It’s like the enthusiasm of sports fans can be transferred into anyone, fan or not. I don’t think there is an activity that can do such a thing.

Thankful for A Classmate

I wish to thank the students who make school much more bearable. It’s the underappreciated funny kids, best friends, and even the class clowns that I want to thank. The long days of study and lecture can really get to a kid and some would go crazy without these people.

I think every kid knows at least one kid that can always make them laugh.  They appreciate this someone who can always brighten their days with their jokes or unique input on things but are they ever thanked? I wish to thank these underappreciated funny kids who make these long days of school that more bearable with the memories and quotes they create.  

What about the best friends? Does anyone ever thank them? I know a teacher would say something oh but school isn’t for socializing but what if a student has no interest in the class at least something would get them to stay and best friends usually make the best group projects and they can support each other in the class. I wish to thank my best friends and the best friends others for the support and care they have shown.

Finally, I would like to thank the class clown.  I think that for something to truly work that there always needs to be a balance. And what can balance the seriousness and order the teacher often presents? The chaos and comedy presented by the class clown of course.  I wish to thank the class clowns for balancing out the teacher and being the center of attention.

Defend the Poet/Dinosauria, We

Dinosauria, We is a poem depicting the world before, during, and after the apocalypse by German- American poet and novelist Charles Bukowski.  The poem opens with many references to many controversial American subjects to depict how the world is now. Then as the poem progresses the poem talks about mass chaos and violence to depict the world during the apocalypse. Finally the poem ends with the end of all life and a curiosity for what’s next.

I enjoyed how the poem cleverly addressed a variety of problems and subjects like finding work, war conspiracies, medical expenses, large jail populations and the national debt of America.  Also I enjoyed Bukowski’s vivid description of a sci-fi and chaotic apocalypse.  Bukowski’s apocalypse depicts robot men fighting, radiated men cannibalizing each other and mass murder and chaos while the rich and powerful are able to avoid this apocalypse and watch as the world burns safely in space.  

But what I found most interesting is that the current problems that we have combined with the ending seem to make the apocalypse seem like a good thing. It’s almost like the apocalypse isn’t a dreadful end but a new beginning or an end to all these problems we have now.  Despite all the dread and pessimism found early in the poem, there is still optimism.  I enjoy endings like that where the situation progresses to something entirely different instead of where the situation starts good or bad and ends good or bad.

Open Letter to Cormac McCarthy

Dear Cormac McCarthy

I loved your novel, The Road. It’s refreshing yet depressing interpretation of the apocalypse really appealed to me.   So much of post-apocalyptic fiction only gets its appeal due to being sci-fi or fantasy. The characters are often unrealistic and neither the story nor the characters make you think.  I am happy to say I did not have those problems with The Road.

The Road didn’t show a large amount of survivors banding together to overcome the harsh conditions provided by their post-apocalyptic world but instead it showed 2 survivors who seem to be the only good people left in the world. This is refreshing when most of the post apocalyptic fiction that I have read only shows the first interpretation that I mentioned.  It’s more realistic to have a great majority of evil human beings than scared and noble human beings because historically we have done more evil  things than good things to each other.

I did have a few questions however.  Can you tell me a little more about the circumstances and mythology the boy and the man faced? For example, I was unsure if most forms of food were destroyed or was it just agriculture and livestock were destroyed so stored forms of food could still be around. Also, what are some of the theories that caused this apocalypse and what were the events that characterized this apocalypse in the road? I am curious to what the people in the novel thought may have caused this and I am curious to know what is unique about the Road’s version of the apocalypse.