My Restaurant Etiquette Rant...

Being in the restaurant industry for over 6 years now, I've definitely had my fair share of well.... interesting experiences. I worked my way up the restaurant chain from host, to server, to bartender, so I think it's fair to say that I know whats okay to do at a restaurant and more importantly whats not. Here are just a few server pet peeves to try and avoid next time you're dining out:

1) Ask for a table or a booth before you get to your table
Wanting a table or a booth is absolutely no big deal! When I go out I like to sit at a booth, its just about being comfortable while you are eating, totally understand. However, let the host know your preference before they take you to your table and you realize its not what you wanted. I know that it seems really easy to just take you to the table across the aisle, but its not. There's a rotation that most hosts follow in order to fairly seat each server. If you wait until you get to your table to request a different one, this throws everything off... aaaand now you're wandering all around the restaurant just to get seated. It makes your life and the hosts life easier if you just ask right away:)

2) Don't say you're ready when you actually need more time.
I understand that the menu is gigantic and you're starving so everything looks delicious, but please dont tell me that you're ready to order, and then spend 5 minutes saying "oh that looks good... actually no I think I'll try this, but wait..." If you need more time, THATS OKAY!! In the time you spent telling me all of the things that you thought looked good, I could've gotten table 61 ranch, and refilled beverages at table 4. At any given time servers have at least 5 different things that they need to be (or at least should be) doing, and I have no problem coming back to the table and giving you more time to decide.

3) Ask for everything you need all at once (if possible)
Every good server should prep the table with any condiments and/or utensils that you need before your food arrives, but if you need anything extra make sure to let them know at the same time. Please don't ask for extra ranch, and then once the server comes back to the table ask for something else, and again, and again. I once ran back and forth to the table 8 TIMES... for one table.. I think thats a little ridiculous personally. I definitely don't mind grabbing you anything that you need to enjoy your meal, but please don't make me burn 1000 calories while doing so.

4)The only time you're allowed to give me attitude is if I give it to you first.
If you're having a bad day don't come in and take it out on us. If I am being pleasant with you, there is no reason for you to be unpleasant with me. Simple as that.

5) Children....
Its not a secret that servers like to have adults at the table. Typically their meals are more expensive, therefore driving the check average up, and they don't make as much of a mess (usually). However, nothing is more exciting than having and adorable kid at your table with manners. Children with manners are the cutest and totally make up for the fact that their meal was only $5. I would rather wait on a table full of polite children, than rude adults. Its amazing how far manners go.... some people need to take notes.

6) Tip appropriately
Yes, I know. You knew at some point I was going to bring up the tipping controversy. This is all I will say. You like to get paid for doing your job correctly.... and so do we. Think of it as your quarterly bonuses you get at your fancy law firm, except we get it in smaller amounts... and pay our bills with it. If you server did a good job, and had a smile on their face... give them 18%. If they were outstanding and went above and beyond to make your experience great, give them 20%. If they sucked (which, yes there are some out there, we can't all be fabulous) I don't really know what to tell you, but NEVER EVER leave them nothing.... Thats a huge insult.

Anyone in the industry will understand these server pet peeves, and for those of you who were unaware, think of yourselves as lucky to be let in on the "secret"...... but instead of keeping it a secret lets pass it on to our friends so everyone can become educated on how to act in a restaurant. It sounds like such a simple thing, but you would be surprised....

This blog also features some interesting posts, if you're looking for more info on the topic:

http://diniquette.com/tag/dining-etiquette-blogs/

Kari

Party Planning - My All Time Favorite

I absolutely love planning parties and hope to one day turn it into a career. Ever since I can remember I loved creating things. Whether it was drawing, arts and craft or playing with Lego’s, I was doing it and loving it. As I got older I started to take my love for creating and made my birthday parties into theme parties (I mean, who doesn’t love a theme?!). My all time favorite (so far) was my 26^th birthday and the theme was Studio 54. A friend of mine is a photographer so I “hired” her to be the paparazzi for the evening which made it so I got a ton of wonderful pictures of the night.  And if I may I'd love to share some with you.

Studio 54

In order for a theme to work your guests have to dress in appropriate attire for the event. And my friends were spot on!

 
In order to make it a Studio 54 party you definitely need a red carpet and wristbands to get into the party.

 

And what party wouldn't be complete without a bubble machine! Be careful though, bubble solution on wood floors becomes very slick. We learned that the hard way.

 

I also made sure to have a disco ball piñata (filled with fake money and mini liquor bottles), plenty of decorations (as you can see in the background of most pictures), I created a VIP Lounge which lead out to our balcony and since it was Studio 54 I had to throw in candy that looked like drugs (ex. pixie sticks and mini gobstoppers in small baggies). Please note no actual drugs were present at this party. All my parties are drug free!

By the end of the night everyone had a wonderful time and that's all a host can ask for.  My place may have been a mess after it was all said and done, but it was all worth it and I'll definitely do it again.

Fur Free Alliance - Public Voice

Fur Free Alliance

Let’s be honest.  When you think of fur free the first thing that pops in your head is, “What is fur free?”  Or if you do know what it is you then think of someone throwing red paint on a woman walking down the street in a fur coat.  Am I close?  While it may be amusing to witness this act the truth of the matter is the fur free issue is a lot larger than you can even imagine.  The Fur Free Alliance (FFA) is an international coalition of animal protection organizations working to bring an end to the exploitation and killing of animals for their fur.

“Each year more than 75 million animals are killed for fashion – for a product that nobody needs” (2013, retrieved from http://www.infurmation.org/index.php/issues).  Regardless of how the fur is used it still represents senseless pain, cruelty and suffering for these animals.  Today we have so many other means of fashion that fur does not need to be a part of it.

There are two ways in which fur is obtained: trapping and killing animals in the wild or rearing and killing animals on fur factory farms.

Trapping

“Millions of wild animals, including bobcats, coyotes, foxes, lynx, raccoons and wolves suffer and die in traps each year, mainly in the US, Canada and Russia, although trapping does occur in other countries too on a smaller scale” (2013, retrieved from http://www.infurmation.org/index.php/issues/trapping).

Fur Farms

“85% of fur comes from fur farms, meaning more than 45 million animals worldwide, including raccoon dogs, rabbits, foxes, mink, and chinchillas, are raised in cages and killed each year for their fur” (2013, retrieved from http://www.infurmation.org/index.php/issues/fur-farms).  Animals in fur farms are undomesticated which makes them afraid of humans.  They are kept in small cages all their lives which expose them to numerous physical conditions and behavioural abnormalities.  Being in these cages also denies them of their basic natural behaviours such as running and hunting for food.  After all of this these animals are still killed by cruel methods (gassing, neck-breaking and anal electrocution) in order to preserve the pelt.

Far too many animals are being needlessly killed each year and it is up to us to stop it.  If after reading this information you are as horrified as I am and want to make a change there is a way, several in fact.  You can take the Fur Free Pledge (http://www.infurmation.org/index.php/take-action/fur-free-pledge), spread the message to your friends, family and beyond (via social media!), become an activist and simply become more informed.  The Fur Free Retailer program (http://www.furfreeretailer.com/) is the only international program connecting compassionate consumers with retailers who care about the ethical and environmental benefits of forgoing fur fashion.  Each of us can make a difference; we just have to take that first step towards change.

Hawaii, A Great Place to Visit

Arriving in Hawaii

Ever since I can remember I had always wanted to visit Hawaii.  The reasons are many and include things like seeing Peal Harbor, SCUBA Diving in the coral reefs, hiking through the jungle, and yes trying to surf.  In 2009 my wife and I took a trip to Honolulu, HI with some friends of ours.  We stayed at the Marriott Waikiki Beach, which had spectacular views of Waikiki Beach and Hawaiian coast line.  When we first arrived and got off the plane were greeted not with lays but with the warm open air concept of the Honolulu International Airport.  After a short drive to our hotel and having a brief taxi tour of Waikiki Beach I knew I was in heaven.  

Pearl Harbor

Visiting Pearl Harbor has always been on my bucket list.  I am a huge History/Military buff and to be able to see all of what that memorial had to offer was a dream come true.  When we arrived at Pearl Harbor it had just finished raining and I caught a picture of a rainbow out stretching the hallowed grounds.  

After you get to see the USS Arizona Memorial the bus takes you to tour the USS Missouri.  The USS Missouri and her crew where a very important factor in changing the tide of the pacific front of WWII.

SCUBA

I have been SCUBA certified since I have been 14 years of age.  I have dove many places to include most of the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Belize, and the Persian Gulf.  SCUBA is one of my great passions, so to have the ability and opportunity to SCUBA in Hawaii was quite wonderful.  Hawaii has some really amazing dive sights throughout the coastline.  On the bottom of the sea you can see , ships, airplanes, beautiful coral features and of course many species of sea life.  

Hiking

Another great thing that Hawaii has to offer is its Jungle!  We hiked through the Maunawili Falls park for one of the days in our trip.  We got to see some of the best looking jungles in the entire world as well as some pretty amazing wild life and landscape scenery I have ever scene.  There is a part of the hike where you are almost at the top of the moutnain and you can see almost all the way around the island, that was really beautiful.  

At the end of the hike is a waterfall/pond that you can rest or swim in after a long three hour hike up the mountain.

Ending

As you can see Hawaii has so many things it can offer for a vacation destination.  I would recommend that everyone put visiting Hawaii on their bucket list.  You will get so much enjoyment taking in the sun, culture, and wildlife.  Also Hawaii has some pretty amazing people watching if you like to do that.  

 

Dude Looks Like a Lady! Wait it IS a lady! (Intelligent filter blog)

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I wish I could…?" and in your mind you become a trapeze artist, a racecar driver, a jet pilot.  In those daydreams of wishing you could be something or do something did you ever think that the only way you could possibly do it would be to disguise your self? Did you ever think that you would have to dress or live as the opposite sex just to be an author, doctor or home owner? In history women have been driven to take desperate measures, to dress or live as a man, to own property, to fight in wars, to have a career.

One of the most famous is Joan of Arc. She disguised herself as a man to protect her virginity while she fought as a soldier with other men. When she was discovered she was tried as a heretic and burned at the stake. Later her trial was overturned as they felt she hid her identity to fight for France not deceive the men in the military.  Another famous "cross-dresser" was Mulan. Yes the one from the Disney cartoon. In actuality she was a real person who, during the middle ages, took the place of her father to fight in the Chinese army. She was in the army for twelve years, earned honors and eventually retired to her village. She was only discovered once by a doctor and he did not reveal her true gender. Disney based their movie on the poem, The Ballad of Mulan.

The most recorded number of women disguising themselves as men in each century have been women dressing as men to be soldiers.

In the Civil War, it is estimated that 150 to 400 women posed as men to fight in the war along side their husbands or on their own. Pictures of these women and articles have been written showcasing these women and the extremes they went through to fight for their country.

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After the Civil War  women would disguise themselves as their brothers or "cousins" so they didn't have to give up the land their family owned. Only men could own land so the land would fall to the son or the husband of daughters. If the daughter didn't have anyone to marry they took desperate measures to keep their land and their home. Sometime the home was the home of servants or farm workers so keeping the land was a matter of life and death for more than the owning family.

As people started heading West after the Civil War, the property laws still applied and women could not own the land on their own. However, they were handing out homestead land property very cheaply out west so women would disguise themselves as men to obtain the land and live on their own. On legend of a woman living as a man was Jo Monaghan. She lived in the Midwest on land she obtained disguised as a man. She had a Chinese cook that may have known the truth but he never revealed her gender. No one new her real gender until after her death. They never found out her real identity. There was a movie about her story called The Ballad of Little Jo.

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With all the rights that women have today, you would never think that a woman would have to stoop to hiding her gender to have a specific lifestyle. However there was a woman named Dorothy  "Tippy" Lucille Tipton who was born in 1914. Tippy studied piano and saxaphone and had an interest in jazz music.  In 1935 Tippy wanted to become a professional jazz musician but it was almost exclusively a male profession. So she adopted her father's nickname of Billy, bound her breasts and padded her crotch and became Billy Tipton.

 

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Billy came on the jazz scene and was seen as a handsome young man that was a beautiful tenor, talented pianist and a horn player.  Initially Billy was Billy Tipton at night in the jazz clubs but lived as Dorothy during the daytime. 

Eventually, as he became more successful on the jazz scene, he lived his life as a man. This included having 3 lady loves, the last one being is wife and they adopted 3 boys. Billy Tipton was known as a talented musician, successful talent agent and a great father. It wasn't until 1989, when he died that his family and most of his friends and acquaintences found out he was really a she.

 

The stories of these women all occur "back in the day" when women were seen as the inferior race. It couldn't happen now, right? But up until the 1970's women in the United States needed a father or husband to have certain things, like a bank account, health insurance and life insurance. There were laws not only preventing empowerment of their reproductive health but also their financial well being. They could have a career as a nurse, teacher, secretary or another "female" type of job but were expected to quit when they married and/or had children. When they it was found out they were pregnant they were usually let go to take care of their family.  This was happening until the 70's when the Equal Rights Amendment became a part of our United States Constitutional Amendments. It was then that women were able to sustain themselves independently, if not equally.

Today, the fight for equality still goes on in different sectors for women but do they have do disguise themselves as men? There have been women in the modern day United States that have disguised themselves as men, but the most noted has been due to some kind of trauma and not because of a social norm or pressure. However in Afghanistan, families and girls voluntarily disguising themselves as boys to bring honor to their families is still going on today. It is called Bacha Posh and it is a tradition in Afghanistan. Having a boy is a sign of honor and prestige for families in Afghanistan. So families that have all girls will dress one of the girls and have them live as a boy. They are able to work along side their father, go out to play with other boys and they can work the street to make money for the family. The boys essentially have more freedoms than the girls. The girls don't live as boys all their lives. When they come of age, at 17 or 18 they are expected to go back to dressing and living as adult women. Their freedoms are taken away, they are no longer able to work and help support their families. For some women this is a relief but for others it is a confusing time as they now know what life with freedoms is like and they are no long treated with the same respect that is given a male.

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Is there a movement to stop this? Maybe but for now the social norm is to bring honor to your family and if that means dressing one of your daughters as a boy then that is how it will be. They will eventually go back to being a woman and their womanly duty for the family.

We may not see this behavior as commonly in the United States but it is important to know that woman around the world are still fighting their equality, their identity and their freedoms in some shape or form. It doesn't matter what your political or religious background is, women throughout history have done what needed to be done for their own safety and well-being as well as the safety and well-being of their families. The desperation for U.S. women may not be the most prevalent thing today and the social norms may not be extreme but, in some ways, women are still views as inferior and are treated as such. From common sayings like, "that is a girls job…" to how much we get paid in our professional lives to traditional female practices within some of the cultural groups we live next to everyday. It's not a doom and gloom aspect for women in our country as the tide is changing for the roles of women and men to be more well rounded and healthy adults. These are the changes we have brought about over a couple of centuries, less than a half dozen decades and maybe even on a daily basis.

Let's melt those Guns!

(GP Blog Post 4)

I've been fortunate to have the much needed research at hand, since I used it for a previous class.

Every day in 2011, 23 people were killed by firearms in the US.  Of the over 8000 (eight thousand!) people killed that year, 500 were under 18 and 100 under 12.

Here are the reasons why gun control in the United States is highly inefficient: too many people die, criminals access guns too easy and, it's expensive!

To those of you who say that "people kill people, not guns", please check the numbers.  Don't tell me you could kill me with a pencil or a frying pan as easy as you could with a gun-that is an impractical fallacy, and I'm not four years old...  Kids die because their parents don't store their guns properly: in 2009, 129 people  between the ages of 1 and 19 died using guns they found in their homes (Ross, 2012 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21/child- %09gun-deaths-newtown_n_2347920.html).  US gun deaths are expected to exceed traffic fatalities by 2015.

80% of the 1.4 million guns stolen between 2005 and 2010 have not been recovered (Wood, 2013 at http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/01/17/home-gun-safety-stolen-firearms/).  The sentencing guidelines call for 2-2.5 years in jail for a straw buyer who buys and provides 12 gun to a felon.

In 2005, the economic impact of lost lives was 37 billion (Young, 2012 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/19/guns-%09deaths-sandy-hook-shooting_n_2325706.html).  This year, gun manufacturers will profit almost one billion on sales of 11.7 billions.  Who's the dummy here?

What are we to do?  Enter Australia and their sweeping 1996 gun reforms: 700,000 guns were removed and destroyed from 12 million people; private firearms sales and  possession of firearms for self defense became prohibited (Chapman, Alpers, Agho and Jones, 2006, at http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/12/6/365.full).  As a result, gun related deaths went from 627 to 332/year; suicides, the largest cause of gun deaths in AU, went from 491 to 246; and mass shootings went from 13 over 18 years to zero (none!) in 10.5 years after.  It worked!

To conclude, the sad reality is that gun owners don't store their guns safely, criminals get guns too easy, and thousands die every year while the gun manufacturers rake in billions in profits.  People should not own guns in the US just because it’s legal.  The US government will not take over and impose martial law if the civilians don't own guns, just as the middle ages are not coming back!

We need more gun control.  If you disagree, go ahead and tell that to the families of the 20 people that died from a firearm just in the past week.  Go ahead!

The Best Franchise in the NFL.

The Best Franchise in the NFL.

History.

Since the NFL inception in 1920, many teams have had there claim to the title "greatest franchise".  The Cleveland Bulldogs and Akron Pros are among some other the earlier teams that have sought this honor. Today we are bombarded by the mass media and what their ideas are for a good team.  We hear names such as Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens, 49ers and Broncos.  But what makes a good franchise?  Is it the number of championships it has, is it the number of Pro Bowl players that a franchise has had over the years, or is it the amount of money a franchise has made throughout its existence.  

What Makes a Good Franchise?

According to Pikimal, the number of Super Bowl, Conference Championship appearances, and number of play off appearances are the only true test for Franchise greatness.  Is this the only measure of a good franchise?  According to the book Playing in the Big Leagues by Glen Hodgson and Mario Lefebvre, there are four pillars that make up a successful franchise, Tradition and History, Globalization, Marketing Power and Demographics.  When i think of all these different ways to measure a franchise only a select few of NFL teams come to mind.  

The Select Few.

By using the criteria outlined above to select the top five franchises in the NFL, I come up with The New England Patriots, The Pittsburgh Steelers, The Green Bay Packers, The Dallas Cowboys, and The New York Giants.  

The Facts.

The New England Patriots:

Team Profile: Founding Year - 1960, Status - Active, Division - AFC East

Franchise Success: Number of Playoff Appearances - 18, Number of Conference Championships - 6

Number of Championships: 3

The Pittsburgh Steelers:

Team Profile: Founding Year - 1933, Status - Active, Division - AFC North

Franchise Success: Number of Playoff Appearances - 27, Number of Conference Championships - 8,

Number of Championships: 6

The Green Bay Packers:

Team Profile: Founding Year - 1921, Status - Active, Division - NFC North

Franchise Success: Number of Playoff Appearances - 28, Number of Conference Championships - 9,

Number of Championships: 15

The Dallas Cowboys:

Team Profile: Founding Year - 1960, Status - Active, Division - NFC East

Franchise Success: Number of Playoff Appearances - 30, Number of Conference Championships - 8

Number of Super Bowl Championships: 5

The New York Giants:

Team Profile: Founding Year - 1925, Status - Active, Division - NFC East

Franchise Success: Number of Playoff Appearances - 31, Number of Conference Championships - 11

Number of Championships: 8

 

The Greatest Franchise!

There is one team that stands out from the other four as the greatest franchise.  This team has been a standard on how a team should be run and built, the field is a historical monument, the financial status of the team is one of the best. This team has exceeded every pillar of success and has been a consistent contender since the 1920's.  With out out further ado or personal bias I give you:

                             CLICK HERE FOR PERFECTION

No-Kill Shelters: Not All Animal Shelters use the Same Approach

Humans have kept pets for centuries, and it comes as no surprise this trend continues today. While there is a wide variety of animals people choose to keep as companions, dogs and cats are far and away the most popular choices in the United States. While there is no shortage of ways to procure these animals (specialty breeders, adoption programs, pet stores, etc.), the free market's solution for having too many animals has generated some controversy.

Simply put, there are often more dogs and cats in the United States than there may be willing owners. Cities and states have various control programs to contain feral populations, but when animal shelters and adoption programs have more animals than there are adopters, some organizations make the decision to euthanize, or "put down" animals that people are unwilling or unable to adopt.

While no one denies the costs of housing sick or dangerous animals can be high, one theory takes the stance that animals should never have to be killed. By promoting sterilization programs that keep excess populations down, driving awareness of adoption programs rather than buying from breeders, and taking care to maximize all available space, volunteers, and resources, advocates of a "no kill" policy argue that animals need not be killed, just housed until an adoption can be made.

While there are a number of differing views, a common goal many no-kill shelters (NKS) follow is an adoption rate of at least 90%. As many larger organizations sit much lower on average (The American Humane Society averages about 50% nationwide, per their website), this approach puts more animals in adoptive homes.

NKSs may utilize a non-profit approach, be a guiding principle in city or state-run animal control programs, or even leverage foster homes for animals until permanent adoptions can be made. Sterilization programs are funded through these organizations, as well as a general awareness campaign that while breeders (and less reputable "puppy mills") create excess animals as part of a business model, NKS programs can be used to alleviate an existing issue, without needless death or suffering.

In the coming weeks, our group swill be working to drive awareness on this topic. Stay tuned!

PETA: Not The Organization You Think It Is

By now I'm sure you all have noticed that I'm a HUGE animal rights activist, but believe it or not, I never used to be this way. I mean, I definitely supported adoption and disliked puppy mills, but I really became involved in the issues when we adopted our first puppy, Simba. He was a 5-month-old Shiba Inu who was found along the highway tied to a fence, left to face the world alone. Simba was found by a lovely couple that thankfully turned him into a local no-kill shelter and from there he was nurtured back to health and we adopted him! When we brought him home he was terrified of everything that moved or made noise, and hid behind the couch for a week until he decided that it was safe to come out. He slowly warmed up to us, and is now an absolute angel! 5 years later, we couldn't be happier that we decided to adopt this shy, timid puppy that in some peoples eyes was seen as "unadoptable"

Simba at 3 years old, always smiling!

Enough of my story, lets get into the reason behind this blog post! PETA, one of the largest organizations advocating for animal rights, supports euthanasia for animals that, "are often considered “surplus” and unwanted." (Yes, their words, not mine). While yes I understand if an animal is suffering from old age, or a terminal illness, it would be inhumane to make them suffer through the rest of their life, these cases are special. I am mainly talking about the shelters that euthanize animals because of lack of space or because they deemed the animal "unadoptable. Animals with behavioral or minor health issues are not damaged goods! With the proper medical care and training they can be back on the right track and adoptable in no time! I cant imagine what would've happened if PETA had gotten ahold of Simba; his shy, timid mannerisms would've made him "unadoptable" in their eyes, and who knows where he'd be now. When I heard that PETA was known for their euthanasia practices I decided to look a little further into the issue, and I was shocked at what I found.

Euthanisia:The Compassionate Option

As I was reading the article (with an open mind) their reasons behind their support for this topic started turning into misleading facts, giving their readers a skewed and biased opinion. The first thing that really caught my attention was their numerous attempts to state all of the inhumane ways of death to animals, among these reasons were; shooting, suffocating, and electrocution. Let me just start by saying: NOBODY DOES THIS! This isn't the animal version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre! They were merely stating all of these inhumane ways to kill animals, to make their method seem like the "compassionate option." In fact, the other methods were so uncommon that I couldn't even find them anywhere else on the internet, except for websites dedicated to stopping animal abuse, and even then it wasn't pertaining to shelters, but irresponsible individuals. I also found the opening paragraph of the PETA article interesting, it states: 

"Approximately 6 to 8 million animals are handled by animal shelters in the United States each year. Even though some are reclaimed or adopted, nearly 4 million unwanted dogs and cats are left with nowhere to go.(1) Shelters cannot humanely house and support all these animals until their natural deaths—they would be forced to live in cramped cages or kennels for years, lonely and stressed, and other animals would have to be turned away because there would not be room for them "

I found their message interesting here because it focuses on the fact that other animals have to die, in order for others to live. Once again, this is not true! There are thousands of shelters across the U.S., many of them no-kill shelters, so if one shelter is "full" I'm sure there are five down the street that would be willing to help an animal in need. Overall this article is just full of misleading facts and tactics, to make readers think that their organization is doing the "right thing", when in fact they are doing the opposite, and I'm not the only one criticizing PETA for its actions. 

http://www.livescience.com/28091-peta-euthanasia.html

Marc Lallanilla is one of hundreds of journalists and concerning advocates who are exposing PETA's unnecessary euthanization practices in hopes of educating communities on this organizations underlying agenda. In the article Marc states that PETA euthanized 90 percent of the animals it took in last year (at a shelter in Virginia) , and quotes another journalist describing the shelter as a "slaughterhouse". Overall if you are concerned about animal rights and their well-being, think twice about supporting PETA. I once thought this was a great organization supporting a great cause, but after looking further into their practices I have definitely changed my mind. After reading a lot of misguided information from PETA I did find one thing that stands true: PETA is an organization that cares more about their image in the media than their companies ethical and moral standards, and that's a fact.

Concussion Discussion

Last Tuesday, May 7, due to an errant kick, a major injury shocked the entertainment world when the World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler sustained a concussion during the filming of the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestling show Smackdown for the following Friday. With the impeding pay-per-view May19 event where he was set to defend his Heavyweight title in a triple threat ladder match less than two weeks away, this was a devastating event for a superstar in the midst of his first major title run.

This injury put the WWE in a tight spot. With so much hype being put on that match and the demanding sport/entertainment culture, it would have been very easy for them to tell the champ to shake it off, tough it out, and still compete tonight. But for the long term success of Dolph's career and health, the WWE made the right choice and pulled him from the match.

Before I go any further I am sure some of you are thinking to yourself, but Bob, I thought professional wrestling was fake so how did Dolph get hurt in the first place? Well yes, in a sense that is true because the outcomes are pre-determined and the match choreographed, but there is always that possibly that mistakes could happen during a match, especially one that includes weapons like the originally scheduled ladder match. So rather than risk the possibility of making the injury worse, they smartly decided to let him rest until he is better.

You also might be asking, how do you know that they are not "faking" the injury for a storyline? Well that is a very good question, but in the WWE you can tell by what they are pushing. Earlier in April WWE Champion John Cena sustained an "injury" to his achilles tendon during their tour in Europe and ever since then it has been a huge talking point. But surprisingly he has not missed a show and they seem to be billing him as competing despite the setback and that he is strong willed/determined and will not back down from a fight. Ziggler on the other-hand has only had one article written about his injury on WWE.com, and that article appeared right after the injury happened, so I think they want us to forget about it and get excited about the new feud taking its place, which isn't easy with the high profile nature of the injury.

This situation is an example of the new tough decisions that have become more and more prevalent all across the sports/entertainment industry. The concern over concussions has gained a lot of steam in the last 6 years after studies began to be done on the brains of former football players and the findings where astounding. Players who had sustained countless concussions over the course of their careers had put themselves at an astounding predisposition towards alzheimer's, dementia, and aggressive/suicidal behavior not just later in life but even by the age of 40. Here is a report ESPN’s Outside The Lines did back in 2007 about these findings and added a wrestling connection to the debate.

Christopher Nowinski a former linebacker at Harvard, joined the WWE shortly after completing his degree. He competed for three years but then his history of concussions on both the football field and in the squared circle caught up with him. After battling post-concussion syndrome for over year, he decided to call it quits though he found a new calling examining the long term effects of head trauma. His determination and research partnership with Dr. Bennet Omalu has lead to the creation of the Sports Legacy Institute and an increased understanding of the serious long term effects of concussions.

Concussions in the WWE have not only cut the career short of Christopher Nowinski but also are believed to have aided in the murder suicide of Chris Benoit and drug overdose of Andrew Martin. With research done by the Sports Legacy Institute they found that Chris and Andrew were suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which has been found to cause dementia, aggression, confusion, and depression.

Since last November, the WWE has had a zero-tolerance policy on concussions.  They are trying to limit risks wherever they can by actions like reducing the amount of chair shots to the head. Actually yesterday as reported by the USAToday the WWE has started to fund research into the treatment of chronic brain trauma, though not everyone is convinced that it is not just a PR move. (Check out this blog)

No matter what spin you put on it, the bottom line is that I am happy that the WWE is starting to take these things seriously and keeping the World Heavyweight Champion out of action tomorrow night for his, and the fans best interest, over the long term.

To learn more about the facts and myths of concussions check out this article from the science daily:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329170220.htm

(Critical) Blog about another Blog about Seattle

(GP Blog Post 3)

In “Reasons to Visit Pike Place Market: An Enthusiastic Tourist's Thoughts on one of Seattle's Greatest Attractions”, a blog which can be found here http://cwa-mdst485.blogspot.com/2013/05/erin-fun-post.html, Erin Skolte offers a fun post aimed at the class audience, the teacher, and anyone who enjoys traveling alike.

            The introduction is great because it’s short and it draws the reader in, making us curious about Pike Place Market.

            The first reason described is Starbucks and I like that Erin reminds readers that she works at Caribou.  Contrasting is a good writing tool.

            The second reason is Rachel the Brass Pig and Erin draws a parallel with our own Twin Cities Charlie Brown statues, which everyone can relate to.  Good use of comparison there!

            She goes on to talk about the flying fish (cool!), the sweet treats (yum!), the Seattle gum wall (yuck!) and the abundance of affordable flower assortments (gorgeous!). 

            The blog is filled with good quality pictures which accompany every paragraph-or reason to visit Seattle-.  The writing is well organized, following good paragraph structure rules.  Erin uses claims of facts and evidence, since she has been there herself, as well as claims of value, since she makes it clear how much she enjoyed said market.  Her conclusion ties in well with the introduction and invites feedback.

            I met Erin during a previous class we took together, and regard her as a scary smart young lady with a pleasant smile.  That bias aside, I truly enjoyed her blog posting with the only minor stipulation that, for a blog, it may have been slightly too long.  However, it would be hard to inform the reader about a place they have never seen without offering ample details.  This is an excellent written blog and, at the same time, an easy and pleasant read!  Thank you, Erin!

The Romanian Revolution of 1989: the Power of Communication sans Social Media

(GP Blog Post 2)

My hometown of Timisoara is a cosmopolitan city situated within two hours of both the Hungarian and Yugoslavian border.  A bloody and violent event which left more than one thousand people dead, the Romanian Revolution started on December 15^th 1989 as a street protest which spread to other major cities and generated a change of political regime. 

The spark event was the imminent eviction of Hungarian pastor Laszlo Tokes from his parish.  His protesting parishioners were joined by other church members, high school and University students and the general public, to form the largest anti regime protest of the Ceausescu era.  We didn't have cell phones, Facebook or Twitter.  Word spread and people gathered.  The regime forces opened fire killing almost one hundred people in one day.  It was tense, with snipers watching every major corner.

President Ceausescu went on television on December 20^th denouncing the “terrorist” actions and organized a pro-regime demonstration in Bucharest the following day.  It backfired when people started chanting “Timisoara, Timisoara!”  On the 22^nd, the “suicide” of the prime Minister was announced.  Yet, we knew the wave has changed!

As quoted by Hall, Russell asserts that most regimes do not change without “deflection” of the armed forces.  The Army showed a lot of force but ended up joining the 100,000 demonstrators.  The President and his wife were captured and executed on December 25^th, after a summary trial that found them guilty of genocide. 

In conclusion, Romania was the only country in Eastern Europe where the regime collapse was made possible by the power of direct interpersonal communication during 1989, a time well before social media.  How’s that for word of mouth?

References

Hall, R. (2000). Theories of Collective Action and Revolution: Evidence from the Romanian Transition of December 1989. Europe-Asia Studies, 52(6), 1069-1093. doi:10.1080/09668130050143833.  Retrieved from http://ezproxy.metrostate.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=3861388&site=ehost-live 

Do the Zipper Merge!

Traffic

As we all know there are two seasons in Minnesota; Winter and Road Construction.  We deal with this every year and the insanity of traffic back-ups and nightmares seem to be increasing.  For my job I spend a ton of time on the road driving to and from appointments.  I see the traffic conditions from all aspects of weather and from all times of the day.  Traffic jams do not discriminate they happen on every road in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.  Not only do I have to deal with traffic jams for work, I have to deal with them going to school, the cabin, well pretty much all the time.

Metropolitan State

We all know that Metro State is a commuter campus, students come from all over the metro area for class.  If commuting wasn't bad enough, classes are held in 5 different locations (St. Paul Main Campus, St. Paul Energy Park Campus, Minneapolis Campus, Anoka Campus, and Maplewood) and students may need to drive to all 5 in one day depending on their major.  

Zipper Merge

We have all seen the gargantuan line that forms some twenty miles away from the lane closure barrels.  Have you been one of those people that I see pulling their hair out while driving past you in the "closed" lane?  Did you know that there is a simply way how to combat the traffic head aches that come along with the season of road construction?  According to MNDOT if we do the Zipper Merge when dealing with lane closures the number minutes if not hours that we spend in traffic will significantly be reduced by almost 40%.  Think of what you could be doing with that extra 20 minutes that you didn't have to spend in traffic.  You could be doing things around the house, exercising, watching TV or even doing a blog about how awesome the Zipper Merge is.  

Visit Pike's Place!!

Reasons to Visit Pike Place Market: 

An Enthusiastic Tourist's Thoughts on one of Seattle's Greatest Attractions

If you are a friend of mine on Facebook (if not--why aren't you?!), you can't help but notice that I do a bit of traveling.  Okay, a lot of traveling.  One of my favorite places is Seattle.  In the past 10 months I have visited this city three times.  Each time, I am more convinced that I need to live there at some point in my life.  So what is the draw to Seattle?  There are many factors, but my favorite thing about the city is the Pike Place Market.  If you haven't heard of it, drop everything you're doing and look it up.  Then put it on your list of places to see before you die.  In this very biased and enthusiastic post, I will enlighten you on what I consider to be Pike Place Market's biggest draws.

The Original Starbucks

Okay, okay, I do work for Caribou Coffee.  But this doesn't mean that I turn my nose up at other brands of coffee.  For me it's about the whole experience of going to a coffeehouse, regardless of the name.  This means that when I travel to places without a Caribou, I will happily pick up a french vanilla latte from Starbucks.  And what better place to get Starbucks than in its home city?  In Seattle there is a Starbucks on every corner.  No, seriously. Even more impressive is the fact that when you stroll down to Pike Place Market, you can visit the original Starbucks, which opened in 1971.  The line frequently runs out the front door, and street musicians are eager to entertain the waiting customers.  My recommendation?  Get your drink a block over and just visit this store.

Rachel the Brass Pig

In the middle of Pike Place Market is a big brass pig.  Her name is Rachel and she is quite a sight.  She is the unofficial mascot for the market, and according to Piggy Bank World, she weighs 550 pounds and has collected $100,000.00 for the Market Foundation since she appeared in 1986.  Remember when St. Paul had the giant statues of Charlie Brown characters around the city and different artists customized them?  Seattle did the same thing with pigs in the early 2000's, but Rachel is one of the few you'll find around these days.  Who doesn't want to take a picture with a giant brass piggy bank?

June 2012 visit to Pike's

Flying Fish

It wouldn't be a pier-front market without fish.  Pike's has no shortage of fish vendors.  A few too many for my opinion--the smell doesn't do much for me.   But it's part of the culture of the market.  Just inside the main entrance of the market, past Rachel the Pig, is Pike Place Fish.  This isn't just a place to buy something fresh to take home for dinner.  The employees at this fish merchant take pride in being hospitable Seattleites who will gladly talk to visitors about almost anything.  Visiting them is pure entertainment.  The men will revive old fisherman's chants while tossing the fish to and fro.  It's a feast for the eyes!  

Image borrowed from Pike Place Fish

Sweet Treats

I am not picky when it comes to desserts. If there is sugar in it, I will eat it.  In fact, I just polished off a bag of chocolate chips while writing this post.  But I also know a good bakery when I see it.  On my last trip to Seattle two weeks ago, I happily explored the Market on a Saturday morning.  There is nothing better for a weary traveler than a cup of coffee and a fresh bakery treat, so I anxiously surveyed all the bakery options before leaving with a chocolate-filled croissant and a bag of cinnamon sugar mini donuts.  Let me tell you, both were amazing.  This place is not lacking in talented bakers!  There are some heavy European influences at the bakeries, which makes it different than local bakeries here, but they are no less delicious.  In fact, they are probably even more so!

The Seattle Gum Wall

My knowledge surrounding the history of this next attraction is a little fuzzy.  There is a brick wall in Post Alley (which runs through the Pike Place Market area) that is covered in gum.  According to Oddity Central, the gum wall started when people waiting in line to get into theatre performances would stick their gum to the wall and then get in trouble for it.  Somehow it turned into a symbol of the area.  There's more than one story for its origin, but no matter what, it's a crazy sight.  To go to Pike Place means you have to swing by the gum wall and make an addition to the wall.  If you're really thinking ahead, you'll bring enough gum to make some cool design and take a picture of it.  Or, you'll just sit there and think about how disgusting it is...

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

Honestly, the flowers at the Pike Place Market are easily enough of a reason for you to go there, even if you didn't see anything else.  There are multiple merchants selling fresh flowers, and the sight is just incredible.  It doesn't hurt that the smell of the flowers is a nice break from the smell of the fish, either!  You can buy a gorgeous bouquet starting at just $5.  These aren't like the bouquets you buy last-minute at Cub on Mother's Day (yes, I'm talking to all the people I saw doing that yesterday).  These are bouquets that you would want to get for your wedding.  And they are just $5.  For $10, you get a bigger and even more beautiful selection of flowers.  The vendors are knowledgable and willing to let you just stand there and take pictures of their displays.  If you bring a decent camera, you will want to stay in one spot all day to capture images of these floral delights.

Everything Else

I feel like I've made my point.  Pike Place Market is great and you should go there.  But maybe you're not convinced.  Let me give you a quick run-down of what else you would experience if you went there: gorgeous fresh produce, the best Greek gyro ever (in my opinion), eclectic street vendors, a kitchen store with every gadget imaginable, great antique stores, beautiful views of the pier, and a huge variety of ethnic foods.  Next time you're looking for an adventure, consider Pike's.  Even if you can only visit Seattle for a weekend, do it.  The longest I've ever been there is two days, but it's enough to see, smell, and taste every part of the market.

Have you been to Pike Place Market?  What is your favorite place to visit?