Amanda’s Blog

             New York is a city of dreams. Just about everyone who has come to live in New York City does so because they are chasing a dream. They all want to have success and with New York’s anything-can-happen atmosphere people are attracted like moths to a flame. Hundreds of people come to the big apple with hopes of making it big. They all want to be successful like the doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and even celebrities who live here. But very few people would consider themselves successful. So then what makes someone successful and how does one know when they have officially “made it”?
           Some are quick to answer that money and fame brings about success. However, we all have heard of the well known phrase: money doesn’t buy happiness, and we incessantly hear various celebrities complain about how they hate feeling like they are under a microscope constantly. Considering that I am neither abundantly wealthy nor am I famous in any sense of the word I cannot really agree or disagree with this; however I have figured out the common denominator to success. The one thing that you must have in order to make it on critical streets of New York City and anywhere else in life is happiness.
People are different, especially in New York. There are no two people who are identical, so the idea of success will vary form person to person. To a dieter passing up the chance to eat a slice of delicious chocolate cake equals success; however in my eyes the same action would be viewed as an epic failure. But the one thing that everyone in the entire world desires is happiness. Everyone craves that harmony between themselves and the lives they lead, and they want success because they feel that it will make them happier. Failing to understand that happiness is what will lead to their success, many people find themselves prisoners of an endless loop, trying to obtain success in order to reach happines.
            When one is happy doors seem to fly open for them. In fact, recently there have been numerous studies preformed on the correlations between success and happiness. And all of the investigations basically have come up with the same findings: happiness is what will lead to your success. “Scientists reviewed 225 studies involving 275,000 people and found that chronically happy people are in general more successful in their personal and professional lives” (livescience.com). Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside has even dedicated a great deal of her time and efforts to further exploring positive psychology, which deals with how happiness affects your success. When you are happy your mind is open to new opportunities in all aspects of life, a happier more positive outlook is what will lead to your success regardless of who you are.
Its seems like happiness would be the obvious answer to what leads to success, yet so many people over look it. They focus on other attributes such as acquiring money and fame through hard work and a good education. Although these qualities are important the can sometimes lead you to unhappiness. However, if New York can teach you anything its lesson would be that life are meant to be lived and experienced and you can make it by simply living life to the fullest. An important thing to always remember when chasing success is that “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” (Albert Schweitzer

            It is clear to see that blogs have now become one of the most popular forms of information retrieval on the internet.There are blogs on virtually every topic, however the challenge becomes separating the good blogs from the bad. A good blog should be interesting and promote debates among its followers. But first and foremost a good blog should inform you on the topic of your interest. One topic that I have always found intriguing was animals, in particular the treatment of animals. Although there are numerous blogs on this topic, finding a reputable blog that is interesting, informative, unique, and honest can be somewhat difficult. However, when going through searches for blogs about animals it’s virtually impossible not to stumble upon PETA.
             PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is one of the world’s most successful and effective advocacy organizations. PETA has long been an authority on this topic and their style and ideas have been used and reused for many different blogs who hope to follow in PETA’s impressive footsteps. Their blogs are teeming with information and their writers are extremely knowledgeable on the subject of animal rights and the protection of animals. The authors of these blogs dedicate their time and effort to finding out as much information on animals as possible. Unlike some blogs which are just hobbies of their creators, the authors of PETA’s blogs treat it as something more. They have devoted themselves to the rights of animals and their mission is to make people aware of unknown injustices many animals endure.
          PETA definitely has a unique voice. Their blogs are full of loud in-you-face opinions. They are not afraid of stepping on toes and they make sure to get their point across even if they may be a bit overly blunt at times. Although PETA’s brazen style is revered by some it can be viewed as a little too straight forward by others, but there straight forward style is one of the many characteristics that make PETA so unique.
            The design of their page is highly navigate-able, which is another feature I like so much about their website. Some blogs are too boring and can not hold your interest, while other blogs are too busy and you can’t tell what it is you are attempting to do. However, with PETA’s blog they forgo the fancy background and letter coloring and keep it simple. PETA’s design doesn’t distract from their blog which some blogs tend to do, but they do keep it visually stimulating with plenty of pictures. Also conveniently placed links to the right make it easy to find different entries; there are even links to blogs that give you vegetarian recipes.
            Aside from all the other things that make PETA’s blog a good blog, one of its most favorable attributes is what you take away form the blogs. PETA’s blogs are packed with information. They tell you ways you can incorporate their message of love for animals into your everyday life. Their blog raises an awareness of how poorly some animals are treated. It is clear to see that the goal of PETA’s blog to educate people on animals, because they realize that change and improvement begins with knowledge.
            One of the attributes that make blogs so popular is that they never stop growing. New information keeps accumulating especially with all the comments and discussions that are opened up to the public, making a blog like a journey of discovery with friends. PETA’s blog does exactly this with its captivating and bold topics. Although finding a blog that is at the top of its game can be difficult, once you find one it will become one of your most valuable sources for information and entertainment on the topic of your interest.

http://blog.peta.org/

          I love New York. It is such an interesting city. In New York something is always happening, no matter what time it may be. However as great as NYC is, it is far from being perfect. There are so many different things that should be improved in this busy city that picking just one issue is somewhat difficult. But one of New York’s biggest and most apparent problems is its pollution.

          New York isn’t known for its greenery or efflorescent flora. New York is associated with tall industrial buildings, taxi cabs and traffic, and hundreds of people on crowded streets, and in a city like this pollution is inevitable. However, with global warming becoming an increasingly popular topic of discussion among newspapers and blogs, being environmentally conscious is now in style. With ads everywhere and a constant increase of various celebrity endorsements commanding you to “Go Green”, people are now beginning to shy away from flashy gas guzzling vehicles and embrace flashy fuel efficient hybrids. Even fashion trends have “gone green”, with reusable shopping totes and recycled clothing made from a hemp-bamboo mix that undoubtedly cost more than your “un-green” clothes.

          This newer “green” trend is unquestionably healthier than a few of the older trends New York has fell victim to, yet in order to better the environment you don’t need to buy a new wardrobe, or car. Sometimes throughout all the hustle and bustle and constant trend setting and following, New York seems to forget about simplicity. New York’s atmosphere can be bettered by simple everyday actions such as actually throwing away trash in the proper receptacles and choosing to walk or take public transportation instead of driving. Also unplugging electronics that are not in use and turning of lights when no one is in the room can help the environment. In a city with a population of over 8 million people, if everyone decided to follow these few simple steps, pollution would be reduced by over 50%. Hopefully this trend will be a lasting change instead of the latest fleeting fad.

            New York is famous for its vast array of food choices, and with so many different kinds of food in one city, finding something to eat doesn’t pose much of a challenge. However, even with the multitude of choices NYC has to offer, Pizza is arguably one of the top food choices for New Yorkers and tourists alike. In fact, in the phone book, Pizza is the only food that has its own category, instead of simply being listed under the generic heading “restaurants” (Miller, “American Pie.”). Pizza was first created in Naples, Italy and was considered to be the food of the poorer citizens. But since its introduction to the United States, pizza is no longer considered to be the food of the lower class. Just about everyone has enjoyed a slice of pizza at one point or another in their lives. Pizza is the quintessential food of the true New Yorker.
            New York City has its own beat, a unique rhythm that is unlike anywhere else in the entire world, so of course, New Yorkers demand a food staple that can keep up with their busy life styles. When you are on the go and demand something quick and easy, you pick up a slice of pizza. Board meetings and overtime workers typically depend on some form of delivery food to satiate their hunger and keep them focused on the task ahead of them, and pizza is usually their preferred choice. Unlike other foods, such as Chinese take-outs, which can disrupt meetings with excessive sprints to the lavatory if it doesn’t sit well with you, pizza is a safe choice for almost all.  
               Besides being a fast and easy choice for on-the-go people, another characteristic that makes pizza so appealing to the masses is its variety. With such a varied assortment of pizzas, even the most finicky of eaters can find something they like. Like New York, Pizza has something for everyone. Taking that first bite of a hot, or sometimes cold, slice of pizza is a mouthwatering experience that can be described with many different words such as scrumptious delicious, and without overlooking simplicity, yummy. However two words that have never been associated with pizza is hard work, but maybe it should be. Very few people stop to think exactly how that slice of pizza they are enjoying came to be.

 
              The dream of many new comers to the big apple is to be able to make something of themselves, and in 1895, Gennaro Lombardi arrived form Italy with this exact dream (Miller, American Pie). This poor Italian immigrant was the first man to introduce pizza to the United States, and what better way to do so than in the trend-setting streets of New York? This man came to America with nothing but a dream and ended up fathering a cultural phenomenon. Tourists from all over the world come to New York City and need to have that iconic slice of authentic New York Style pizza. Although it is world famous, New York style pizza would not be so amazing if the people making it didn’t work twice as hard as the people craving it.
               Having worked in a pizzeria for some time, I can attest to the fact that it is no easy job. Working in a pizzeria requires diligence, the ability to multitask, and the ability to perform under pressure. The employees of New York’s pizzerias mostly consist of some teenagers and other people who are not opposed to working hard. Although pizza orders don’t start arriving till around noon, pizzeria workers can begin working around six in the morning depending on what their positions are. Some preparations are even made the day before.

              Most teenagers who work in pizzerias arrive around noon because their job is usually delivering the pizza, which depending on their mode of transportation can be a difficult task. A slightly more challenging position is the cashier, whose job is slow at times and then extremely fast pace and hectic at others.  The cashier is forced to deal with the crowds of ravenous, and sometimes cranky and impatient, customers. The cashier must also put in all the orders as quickly as possible and do it all with a smile and a good attitude.
              As difficult as the job of a cashier may be, the hardest worker in a pizzeria is without a doubt the people who actually make those appetizing pies.  Although they are not really considered chefs, I feel that they are just as hard working if not more than the chefs in those fancy restaurants. Most chefs in pizzerias begin working there because they need to support their families. But if you ask about their pizza backgrounds you might be surprised to find that most have fathers or uncles who have been cooks and mothers or aunts who make pizza at home. Just about all of the cooks in pizzerias do not possess much education, or have various degrees from culinary institutes, but they all take great pride in their work. And many of the chefs in pizzerias are more than willing to share their secret pizza recipes with you, and are only too happy to show off their skills.

 
               Like the cashiers and the delivery boys, the chefs spend hours at a time on their feet, however, unlike the cashiers and the delivery boys they must also stand in front of a 450 degree oven while making pies for hundreds of hungry customers, catering to each individual need and making special slices for those who want there pizzas with special toppings or cooked in a certain way. The cooks at pizzerias are also prone to burns while working with those monstrous ovens. These workers must also arrive hours earlier to prepare the pizzas for the day.
            Watching a chef at a pizzeria is like watching a line of factory workers all rolled into one body. He rolls the dough, adds the sauce, the cheese, and then toppings with such skillfulness it truly is amazing to watch. Some cooks can even get fancy with the dough and toss it high in the air, but those moves are usually saved for competitions because tossing dough too much creates overly dry pizza. The pizza is a direct representation of the chef’s skills. And if made correctly, the fresh warm golden brown crust with the zesty tomato sauce and hot melted cheese on top should produce a memorable taste experience that will keep the customer coming back for more.
            I doubt there is anyone that will question the hard work ethic of all those involved in the pizzeria business, like New York the pizzeria business if full of hard working people who are hoping to better themselves. But what really makes pizza the quintessential food of New York is the fact that it began from humble beginnings and grew into something much more. Every New Yorker is trying to build themselves up and make it to the top. They yearn to make life struggles worth while and to feel as though they have finally accomplished something. This is the true essence of New York. Especially now with the economic recession, no one is unfamiliar with tough, difficult times. Living is expensive and pizza is a cheap and easy answer to help lighten the financial burden of delicious meal that you don’t have to take time out of your busy life to make yourself. Since pizza is also iconic of a good time, it can serve as comfort to those who may be feeling a little down.
            Pizza is the quintessential food of New York City. It is readily available, easy to afford, and well-known. Pizza is the most popular food offered in NYC, next to burgers and hot dogs from the corner vendors. It captures the New York spirit the most because it began with one dream. Everyone is working towards a goal and trying to make it in their own way. For those people who need to eat on the run, pizza is there for them, quickly and simply obtained, so they can continue on trying to strive for something that makes them matter and stand out. Gennaro Lombardi did it when he came to New York all those years ago and with nothing but an idea and a dream; he ended up changing the way people looked at foods not only in New York, but throughout the United States.

Sources:

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2006/2/2006_2_30.shtml

History and Legends of Pizza

http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/pizza.htm

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/12-facts-about-pizza.htm