Monday, December 8, 2014

Newport News

Every year millions of people fill out applications at the post office for a passport. They clamor to tie up loose ends and put the final touches on their trips. They will have stamps from visa check points at Charles De Gaulle, Heathrow, and Leonardo Di Vinci International. They like many tourists will seek excitement, culture, and adventure in the major cities of the international world. Also like many tourists they will miss all of the beauty here in their own backyard.  Don’t get me wrong I love to travel internationally. I could go on and on about the beauty of the world abroad. As a seasoned traveler it is my belief that everyone should experience the major cities for themselves. But I am also aware that people believe that there is little to no culture to be experienced outside of the major cities of the world. As if the small towns of America are somehow lacking. I don’t judge though, I was at one point one of them.
For all intents and purposes I thought that small town America was backwards, uncultured and had nothing of value to offer anyone other than rest stops and gas stations. This all changed my senior year of high school. My friends and I decided to take a road trip instead of heading to Ocean City for senior week like everyone else.
Our first stop was Newport News Virginia. Newport News was gorgeous; its streets were adorned with beautiful art work. The entrance to downtown was marked with a beautiful miniature Arc De Triumph, surrounded by what I can only describe as the world’s most beautiful garden. The city center was the most magnificent water fountain I have ever been to. The circular masterpiece covered about a 8th of a mile. It was filled with crystal clear water that reflected beautiful rays of sunlight. Evenly spaced apart in the fountain were spouts that shot water far into the air. Each spout worked in conjunction with the others creating what looked like a choreographed dance number.
The Newport News Living Museum is absolutely wonderful. The zoo is filled with native and exotic creatures form land, sea, and air. The museum embodies the very philosophy of Thomas Jefferson. It is informative, educational and filled with inquisitive young minds. My personal favorite exhibit was the sea turtle tank. The majestic creatures swam through the water like birds fly through the air.  They occasionally swim over to the glass to greet the people at the outside of the tank.
Newport News’s culinary culture is that of every down south town. They served well prepared, home cooked meals. The Hampton roads area of Virginia is world famous for its food trucks and Newport News is no exception. Stuft a Mexican food truck is probably the most famous in the area. The aromas wafting from the vents of the truck lore in hundreds of patrons a day, I was one of them. The mobile kitchen is pulled by a silver pickup truck and operated by a chef with a perpetual smile on his face. The best part about Stuft is the fact that they serve beer on the truck. That’s right. You didn’t miss read that. They serve an array of Mexican beers to compliment each dish. Their meats are slow cooked, the food is made to order, and the salsa and spices are homemade. Stuft is by far one of my favorite restaurants and is probably is the best culinary experience in the area.   
 The city is small, and had it not been for our road trip I would have never visited. The beauty of the small town is that every bit of the culture is real. It has not been watered down or gentrified to seem appealing. Newport News will forever remain a vivid memory in my mind. 


 

RA Sushi

            Sushi a culinary dish consisting of raw fish, rice, and vegetables. The rice is cooked in vinegar and the raw fish is carved that day to ensure freshness. While traditionally Japanese, sushi is a cultural experience enjoyed by many around the world.  I myself, while being a novice sushi lover, have enjoyed it time and again.
            Baltimore is known for its delicious seafood, sitting at the crown of the Chesapeake Bay, we have hundreds of seafood restaurants that everyone should try. RA Sushi has become part of that great tradition. Located in the Inner Harbor, RA sushi is one of my favorite sushi restaurants. It is a popular with many residents in the area. RA Sushi was nominated and won The City Paper restaurant of the year.
            The building itself is gorgeous. It has all the aesthetic trappings one would expect from a traditional Japanese sushi bar, with modernity of 21st century restaurant. The bar has an exquisite marble counter, and comfortable leather barstools. Behind you will find a selection of domestic and Japanese beers, liquors and juices. The tables are adorned with quilts that are hardly distinguishable from beautiful masterpiece artworks. All the dishes are served on beautiful porcelain plates accented with Japanese kanji. The kitchen, visible from just about every inch of the RA sushi, is spotless. Knives hanging from racks shine in the light, the sounds of meat searing in pans fill your ears, and the smell of ginger wafting from the kitchen permeates the entire restaurant. The hostess, waitresses and bartenders are dressed to the nines. The place is visually stunning in every aspect.

            The Menu is amazing to say the least. Filled with a collection of both traditional Japanese and Americanized dishes, there is something for everyone. My personal favorite is the dragon roll. It is filled with raw yellow tale tuna, delicious vegetables, and eel. The dish is topped off with avocado, and ghost pepper sauce. Lastly it is garnished by a ginger sauce and crunchy rolls. The dragon roll comes in many variations, and is prepared satisfy the tastes of each person who decided to order it. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Chicago Blackhawks Season Outlook

Sean Brown
Chicago Blackhawks Season Outlook    
     

          The Chicago Blackhawks are what many would consider a dynasty. They have five Stanley Cups, a deep and talented roster and a rich history and tradition. The Blackhawks, fresh off a Stanley Cup victory in 2013, are looking to make another appearance after losing in the playoffs last season.  They return a talented team with names like Crawford, Kane and of course team captain Toews.
Chicago has had a rough going in the beginning of this year’s season. They are on a sixaway game road trip. This is taxing for any team in any sport. They are playing teams at their home stadiums, with few days of rest in between each game.
The Blackhawks traveled to Anaheim to play the Ducks and then to Los Angeles to play the Kings. They managed to survive the test and proved themselves to be road warriors according to Bleacher Report:


“He{Toews} also knew the biggest test was coming at the tail end of the trip, when the Blackhawks would face the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center. The Kings, as every Blackhawks fan knows, ended Chicago's season last year with a seventh-game overtime victory in the Western Conference Final at the United Center.
The challenge of playing the Kings appeared to be a difficult one because it was coming just one day after facing the Ducks. While the travel from Anaheim to Los Angeles was not a problem—unless you look at freeway traffic as an issue—the lack of preparation and recovery time was something Quenneville and his player had to overcome.”
       


                The Blackhawks were not what many fans expected last season. They finished fifth5th in the division last season and barely made the play-offs. Once in the play-offs, many picked them as the team to win the Stanley Cup. This was not the case. In a seventh7th game thriller, the Los Angeles Kings knocked the Black Hawks out of the pPlay-oOffs and went on to win the Stanley Cup against the New York Rangers. This was hard to accept for many fans, but Chicago has retooled and is back for a second attempt. The Blackhawks overcame a tough challenge with grace and ease. Chicago crushed the Ducks and the Kings 4-1 with only a day of rest in between both games. They went on to send an even more powerful message to the rest of the NHL by shutting out the Minnesota Wild in a decisive 5-0 victory.
       
              The Blackhawks are 15-8-1 and have 58 games left in the season. The squad is as talented as ever. Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Toews, and Corey Crawford are the weapons Chicago needs to win them a sixth6th Stanley Cup Championship.  It is a long road to playoffs but if any team has a shot it’s the Chicago Blackhawks.


12/4/2014

12/4/2014
Has anyone ever done you a favor, or assisted you in someway, that has helped to change your life for the better? Who was it? What did they do? When did they do this? Why do you think they did it? How did your life change?


Yes, coming from the airport I missed the bus from Philadelphia going to Williamsport. I was going to be stranded there for an entire night. I don't have any close family in Philadelphia and would have had to sleep on the streets. My cousin who goes to school in York drove all the way to Philadelphia and then drove me here to Lycoming College. Had it not been for him who knows what would have happened.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

12/2/2014

12/2/2014
How do you feel about the holidays? Is this a time of great joy for you? Do you enjoy spending it with friends and family? Or do you often feel alone and sad during the holidays? What would make this the best holiday of your life?

I feel like its a task or chore almost. It's hard to deal with some family members for long periods of time. They always seem to want to know what your doing or what your plans for the future are. It's kind of overwhelming honestly. I have no idea why they are so interested at the holidays and not the other 364 days of the year.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

A Day With Tonya Anderson

A Day With Tonya Anderson
Sean Brown






Tonya Anderson, former chief of staff for Rick Maribito, is an interesting woman. She is a Republican who works for a Democrat. She is a Christian who practices meditation in Hindu temples. Anderson a veteran but seems to be an active member of pacifist communities. It seems rather odd that a woman of so many contradictions seems so at peace with herself.
Andersonwas born Nov. 18, 1962 to two teenage parents. Her father took the only course of action available to someone in his position; he joined the U.S. Armed Forces. He made the decision to save his family from a life of hardship by joining the U.S. Navy. Anderson speaks vividly of her time traveling and growing up as a Military Brat.
Deciding to continue her life of travel, Anderson decided to become a flight attendant. She fondly recalls all of the places she has been. She speaks of her life as a flight attendant with the same fervor the same way a sports announcer celebrates a home run.
        Anderson, a graduate University of Hawaii and former student at the U.S. Naval Academy at one point, is by far the most interesting person we have interviewed. After she graduated from the University of Hawaii, she decided to work on the 2004 Kerry Presidential Campaign. After losing, she was offered a job by Pennsylvania State Representative Rick Maribito, who initially rescinded the offer because of her spiritual beliefs. After failing to find anyone better, Maribito made a compromise and hired her despite her beliefs. After coming to Williamsport, Anderson also decided to work as a domestic and sexual violence counselor. When asked why, she said that she herself was a victim of sexual violence and wanted help make a difference.
Anderson is also a proud mother. Her son, despite having a health disability, became a police officer in Millersville. . On his first day on the job, he saved a woman’s life and was honored for his brave and timely actions. Anderson says that she raised her son to follow his dreams and she is happy that he has done just that.
Anderson is a multifaceted individual with so many stories to tell and so much knowledge to offer. I wish we had spent more time interviewing her. I hope that others will be as fortunate as us to hear her story.       


11/20/2014

Think of a wild coincidence that has occurred in your life. Now write three-four paragraphs and develop the incident, giving us the necessary background information and specific details.

The setting is Williamsport Pa. Lycoming College to be exact. Sitting in the AC waiting for my French class to start. The professor who was normally on time. While waiting, me and my class mates were discussing the news from the weekend. There is a huge car crash the same weekend that the suspension on my license was lifted. Apparently there was a cop chasing a car through a stop sign. He hit a bystanders car which killed him, but that's not all. The bystander car hit a power line which knocked power out. The live wire fell onto the roof of a home which caught fire.