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Ellis Island is located on the Hudson River in Manhattan.  Immigrants would come from all over the World to America, just so they can escape to a better life and live the American Dream.  Years have passed, and Ellis Island is merely a tourist attraction now.  However, there are other means for immigrants to become citizens.  Yet the ideals of achieving the American Dreams lives on.  Success is a difficult term to define.  There are many variant ways to apply the word “success” to different situations.  The reason for this is because of the variables that come into when defining success, such as happiness, wealth, health.  The most realistic definition of success in New York during present times is, being able to live comfortably and there are criteria to be met to achieve success. Success in my opinion is, in a socioeconomic sense, being able to reach middle-class status.  The ways to be successful in New York are, attaining a good education, being a hard worker, and being creative.  Among other reasons those three are the most important ways to make it in New York City.

            One of the secrets to success in New York is a good education.  Since chances of winning the lottery is very slim, most people have to go through steps to obtain an income.  An average income comes from a job which derives from having a good education. Bernard Baruch is an example of a person who has obtained a good education and became very successful.  According to knowitall.org, Baruch was born in South Carolina, Graduated from City College of New York, from there he became a renowned broker on Wall Street, and later a financial advisor to the President.   A good education can be the very start to living a successful life in New York, as well as nearly anywhere in the World.  In addition, a college graduate can make significantly more money, and have a higher starting salary, than a person with a High School Diploma or GED. 

            The second secret to becoming successful in New York would be being a hard worker.  Both diligence and persistence apply to being a hard worker.  “If at first you do not succeed, try, try again,” The standard staying for success which applies to being persistent.  We see them every day, the people on the streets, in the subways, doing their skits, trying to receive whatever change they can.  Naturally, being exposed to it all the time, we do not always give what they are looking for, if anything at all. However these people have the persistence to continue going from corner to corner or from car to car receiving what they can every once-in-awhile. Those who are diligent enough to persist through any obstacle that is present before them and work around, or through, it can become successful. 

            The third and final way of becoming successful in New York is creativity.  Creativity, in this sense, can be used also in many different ways.  One general definition of being creative is, being able to think outside the norms.  One example of success from creativity is from the invention the Personal Computer, or PC.  Without creative and idealistic people such as Steve Jobs, we would not have PC’s today.  Very innovative and revolutionary products, which made people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates very rich, now have flooded the market with newer fashions and better performance and are constantly producing an income.  This is one way creativity can be used, for the production of a good or service.  Another way, which can be very helpful in an average white or blue collar job, is through lateral thinking.  When a difficult situation presents itself where normal procedure will not overcome, those who can think quickly can prove to be a very valuable employee.  

            With so many people constantly working, the level of competition is high, and to become successful there are several criteria needed to be met, having a good education, being creative, and being a hard -worker.  A good education can lay the foundation to finding a good job, where one must be a hard worker, and to keep up and come out on top of other co-workers, one must be creative.  Success can only be defined and met until after the goals are established.  Success in New York City, in my opinion, is the ability to live comfortably.  That is being able to obtain middle-class status.  Most importantly and ideally, obtain success from what you truly love doing, a personal and back it up with the three criteria.

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Blogs are taking over the internet.  People are following their favorite blogs on their desktops, laptops, cell-phones, and other means.  With thousands of possibilities for blog ideas, its possible for almost anyone to start one.  However, there are right and wrong ways to do anything, and it is possible to make a blog incorrectly.  There are blogs that can be viewed to give ideas to establish new ones, so that these new blogs will be effective and efficient.  Wowgrrl.com is a blog that I feel does many things right that all blogs should do so it can be as successful as possible, such as, being helpful, having a community focus, using expert knowledge, easy navigation, and a stylish design.

            An eye-catching design and navigation should be the first qualities seen when looking at a blog.  A catchy design and background will be more appealing to the eye.  Wowgrrl.com uses some borders and graphics making the page more attractive. In addition, to make it more personal to the writer, Wowgrrl has added a picture of her online character.  The writer of this blog also has easy to follow links to various sites.  There are links to her previous posts, certain categories, ways to access her site through other sites, and links to additional world of warcraft blogs.  With similar qualities, another blog can attract viewers to follow with any new posts.

            The next qualities a blog should have go beyond the website and into every word posted.  A helpful blog allows visitors to feel welcomed when they have a question to pose.  From add-on’s, in-game modifications, to strategies for those ever-stronger raid bosses, Wowgrrl supplies blogs with this information and allows comments so that helpful hints, or other questions for visitors to post.  Another important quality a Blog should have is a community focus, a generalized site may prove to be difficult to follow up and keep the attention of readers, so a more focused demographic will be make the blog more successful.  With over 11 million active accounts for the massively-multi-online-role-playing game, World of Warcraft, the community is sufficient enough to respond to a blog such as this one or any similar one.  Finally, expert knowledge, from either first-hand experience or research, is  what can help make an effective blog.  Wowgrrl states that she has been playing the game since December 2005, and with these years of experience, she can provide knowledge to those who are just beginning as well as those curious on certain subjects. 

            Wowgrrl provides what I think a good blog should have helpful insight, a community focus, expert knowledge, easy navigation, and a stylish design.  She provides videos for both raiding and comedy reasons.  Those who wish to play, or are one of the millions currently playing, World of Warcraft can appreciate the design of the website.  Even if there isn’t something there for a visitor, the provided links to other WoW blogs can lead to what a visitor is specifically looking for. Wowgrrl.com is a prime example of an effective and efficient blog, for those who wish to begin one, to model after. 

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                Roosevelt’s New Deal was set on restoring the United States Economy.  Today’s stimulus package presented by President Obama is planning something very similar.  One major issue that both men present is the infrastructure of America, the roads, bridges, buildings, etc.  New York City is beautiful at a distance, and by far my favorite city, my home.  However, up close a person can see all the potholes in the roads, the chipping paint on a bridge, and several housing projects and buildings are in need of renovation.  One way to improve New York is to restore its infrastructure so that it is a more livable place to be, more attractive place to bring tourists, and a beautiful city from a distance and up close.  Franklin D. Roosevelt as well as President Obama has dedicated billions of dollars in order to repair the infrastructure of the Nation’s cities, this includes New York City.  This is one way in order to improve New York.  With the many commuters in cars, and businesses using trucks to deliver goods, the roads are beaten down daily, thus creating potholes.  The quality of a bridge also depends on the paint used, and properly coated periodically.  Housing will provide for more people to live in homes of sorts.  In order to do this, the money used is converted to jobs for workers to restore these many points of the City,  more jobs yields more money, more money yields more consumers, and the chain will continue.  While stimulating the economy and improving the city, restoring New York City’s infrastructure can be very beneficial for those who live here.  This is my home, and as my home I would like to see it at its best for the time I plan on residing here.  Many tourists come to New York hoping to see its magnificence, whether it be Time Square or Central Park they come here to see this amazing city.  Presenting the City the best we can is what we should do for those to enjoy themselves while they’re here, and envy us when they leave.

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Imagine a beach.  The sand is a smooth, bright tan.  The dunes are perfectly shaped and the water is completely clear, to the point where you can see your feet.  The fish are all of exotic shapes and sizes.  Now revert back to New York City and your standing at the Hudson River, not as appealing.  Only in appearance is this true.  There are many other aspect to which the Hudson River is almost an entity itself and it lives cooperatively with the island of Manhattan.  Recreation such as fishing, boating, and tour groups all take place on the waterfront.  In addition to recreation, fishing also supplies food for restaurants to cook and sell to customers.  Home to various fish, as well as people who live on boats they own.  Such an important contributor to New York City, the Hudson River has Organizational groups come together to try and preserve this body of water and protect it from pollution and the growing epidemic of overfishing.  These organizational groups such as the Clearwater hold importance in rejuvenating and sustaining a great land mark of Manhattan. 

                The Hudson River, to clarify, is not actually a river, it is actually an estuary.  An estuary has one or more sources of water flowing into it, is partially enclosed, and has access to the sea.  The Hudson River is 315 miles long beginning in the Adirondacks, and emptying out into the Atlantic ocean from the New York City bay (Clearwater.org).  “The river was observed by Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524 as he became the first European to be credited with entering Upper New York Bay,” (Wikipedia.org).  Later, after Manhattan had been colonized as New Amsterdam, the River was renamed after the English explorer Henry Hudson.

                Unfortunately, Manhattan’s Hudson River was deemed the thirty-third most polluted river in the United States (web.bryant.edu).  Toxic contaminants such as Polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB,  and DDT were dumped into the river by General Electric’s facilities located close to the estuary.  Roughly 200 miles of the river from the Hudson Falls to the New York Harbor have been polluted to do GE, (web.bryant.edu).  Both PCB and DDT are very toxic to a wide range of animals and have been known to lead to several forms of cancer.  In addition, pregnant women who are exposed to such toxins, from sources such as fish exposed to either contaminant or from contaminated drinking water from the Catskill and Delaware watersheds, have a higher probability in having children being born with birth defects.  “These contaminants are also known to cause damage to the nervous system, immune system, and the reproductive system,” (web.bryant.edu).  With risks like these pollution seems as a horrible alternative to paying to properly dispose of wastes other than dumping them into the Hudson River.

                As a result of GE’s disregard to properly dispose waste for thirty years, from 1947 to 1977, the Hudson River was severely polluted.  “GE’s Hudson Falls and Fort Edward facilities discharged between 209,000 lb and 1.3 million lb of PCBs into the river from 1947 to 1977. In 1976 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) banned all fishing in the Upper Hudson due to health concerns with PCBs,” (Wikipedia.org).  However due to proper planning and dedicated individuals the Hudson River has been on its way to recovery.  The EPA declared that it was necessary to clean up the 200 mile stretch, from the Hudson Falls to New York City, (Wikipedia.org).  Organizations have begun to clean the river as well as provide knowledge of the river, one such organization is the Clearwater Organization. 

                Overfishing is another epidemic that is not only disturbing the Hudson River but as well as bodies of water all over the world.  “Overfishing can be defined in a number of ways. However, everything comes down to one simple point: Catching too much fish for the system to support leads to an overall degradation to the system. Overfishing is a non-sustainable use of the oceans,”

(overfishing.org).  The reason linked to overfishing is due to the over abundance of those taking an overabundance of fish from the oceans.  Popular fishing methods also can cause the death of unwanted fish, or fish who are thrown back.  “Popular” never necessarily means the best.  Fishers are removing more fish from the water than that can be produced to keep a proper equilibrium.  According to overfishing.org; 52% of fish are fully exploited, 20% are moderately exploited, 17% are over exploited, 7% are depleted, and 1% are recovering from depletion.  If this continues entire ecosystems will collapse, such as the ones that exist in the Hudson River.  This also means that we are in danger of “losing a valuable food source many depend on for social, economical and dietary reasons,” (overfishing.org).  It is common knowledge that roughly 75% of the World is covered by bodies of water, such as Oceans.  The massive amount of species and ecosystems are depleting rapidly due to the lack of management, lack of self-control. 

                With the Hudson River slowly recovering due to organizations that care such as Clearwater, there is a higher probability of the Hudson River’s survivability.  Fish are returning and reproducing and is now home to over 200 species of fish.  Clearwater is a non-profit organization is filled with devout volunteers and supporters who have the common goal to defend and restore the Hudson River.  They state their mission on their website:  “to investigate and research conduct research into any causes or sources of contamination and destruction of this river, its tributaries and similar river systems;  To inform the public of such dangers and to assist the public in taking such measures to stop such contamination; To educate the general populace as to the importance of preserving the Hudson River, its tributaries and other similar river systems; To foster the historic and cultural heritage of the Hudson River Valley from the mountains to the sea; To protect the well-being of individuals who dwell along its banks and related areas; To protect and restore other great waterways; to conduct other actions that will enhance and improve the environment of the Hudson River Valley and surrounding areas,”

(Clearwater.org).  The Clearwater has also accomplished many achievements such as building and sailing the quaint sloop, having the first on-board environmental classroom open to all who wish to learn of this organization and the river itself.  Other accomplishments include, the rescuing a part of the Hudson River shore from development which now stands as a park, being an incubator for environmental scientists, activists, and community leaders, and much more.  “…Most important of all, the many, many small, everyday victories that occur, one acre, one species, and one person at a time,” (Clearwater.org).

                Unfortunately, chaotic events such as pollution and overfishing have proven to be an epidemic to the citizens as well as the fish of New York City.  The Hudson River’s history tells us of a trading port of the newly colonized New Amsterdam, we now know this as Manhattan, the center of business and trade.  Letting the problem such as pollution and overfishing affect the river as well as the City itself is unforgivable.  However, there are many hard at work to restore the Hudson River to reach a new prime, and slowly the restoration is working.  Organizations such as the Clearwater are effective, efficient, and a very good way to become involved in the rescuing of natural beauties such as the Hudson River.

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There is a saying that goes, “the problem with common sense is, its not so common,” the same can be said about common curtsey.  The word hero varies depending on the person who is using it.  Hero is a personal word and the definition changes between each person.  Superman can be a hero to people, a parent can be a hero to someone, etc.  However in my opinion, its not necessary to stop a speeding bullet to be considered a hero.  The smallest of gestures, both documented and undocumented, come into my definition of a Hero.  New York City is filled with people who are willing to take a moment of their time to help another person.

             Both big and small gestures are significant to the person being helped.  We see them, the people walking the subways, homeless and otherwise, asking for handouts for whatever reason they may give.  Granted there will be people naturally looking the other way, however there are still those people reaching for their pocket, giving a dollar or what change they have on them to spare.  People race to subways and busses to ensure they have a seat and the moment they see an elderly or injured person hobbling onto the bus to see they’re just too late.  Once again there are people who will ignore their pain for whatever reason they may have but there are others who are quick to get up and offer their seats so that one other person can be comfortable.  I feel I’ve seen these gestures more from people in New York than I have to any other country I’ve visited.  There are even people who have put their lives on the live to save others from harm.  One such account of this is from New Yorker Wesley Autrey.  Literally putting himself on the train track with a man having a seizure as a train pulls in over them.  Another account includes Chad Lindsey, a man who jumped down onto a subway track to save an injured man.  With a train coming into the station, he got the man and himself out, with plenty of time to spare.

            Heroic acts that can get a person’s name put into newspapers or put a smile on someone else’s face.  These gestures, big and small, help someone else.  That’s my definition of a hero, a person willing to go out of their way to help someone else, out of the kindness of their heart.  I’ve seen people generously giving money to the poor, or to street performers.  The selfless people of New York who are willing to give that moment of their time rarely have the mentality of “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.”  Common sense may be lacking sometimes, however common curtsey still exists in places of New York.

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Under the busy streets of New York there are a series of tunnels, a labyrinth.  This massive maze has some areas dimly lit and others are pitch-black.  These are the famous New York City subway tunnels that extend all throughout the five boroughs of the massive city.  Above ground there are a fleet of busses that transport commuters for their destination of choice.

The architectural ingenuity that went into the foundations of the subway tunnels was new to the times during the Industrial Revolution.  The thought put into the web of bus routes, that now transport many passengers daily, makes this mass-transit efficient.  The skyscraper, which was also born during the time of the Industrial Revolution, could not be filled to capacity at the designated hours set for works and businessmen without these innovative forms of transportation.  Though the MTA was the not the first supplier of mass transportation, today it lays as one of the greatest, in the grandest City, New York City.  The MTA does not only hold significance in the past, but also in the present, what it represents.  With so many users of the service the MTA provides because of the business of the city, there are naturally rules to everyone gets to their destination safely.

            During the Industrial Revolution, predecessors of the MTA used the idea of mass-transit to accommodate the population of Cities which were growing exponentially.  Prior to 1953, there were various private and public transportation systems.  June 15, 1953 is the date when New York State Legislature established the New York City Transit Authority (TA), now known as the

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which was responsible for managing and operating all city owned busses, trolleys, and subway routes, according to the MTA’s website.  The MTA was offering its services to the young and growing city.  Even to the more immediate past, the day the Twin Towers were destroyed the MTA provided its services to the city.  September 11, 2001 many of the workers in the area used busses to reach safe distances,  and subways were used to transport workers and supplies to ground zero within hours of the horrific incident occurring.  The MTA was with the citizens of New York City for such a long time and it has grown well with the people.   Regardless of those off-days where a line is down, a bus is late, etc. the MTA has been an important part the growing city.

            Periodically, extensions were added to Subway lines.  Bus routes were weaved in and out of the already complicated web.  The timeline on their website illustrates key events revealing its origins and more recent events which may instill nostalgia to those who experienced the events.  From tickets, to coins, to the metro-card, and everything that lies between, are all found on the timeline.  It can make a person glad of what they have now opposed to the past. 

            Beyond the well-known “never touch the third rail” there are sets of rules that the MTA established to keep transportation safe opposed to complete chaos.  Rules, such as never moving between subway car doors, are set for our safety, and not to put bags, feet, or take up multiple seats, is both a rule and simply courtesy.  The other more bold offenses such as jumping a turnstile, not paying a fare, and damaging property are more likely to catch the eyes of police

officers and attendants.  Some of these rules are posted in the busses and subway cars. A complete list of these rules can be found on their website. 

            There is no other subway system as large as the one New York City has created.  The subway system has 468 stations set in various different areas of New York, which is the largest number of stations than any other public transportation system in the world, according to the MTA website.  For the year 2007 1,562,515,065 passengers entered the subway system.  The

average on a week day was 5,042,263 passengers, on a Saturday the count was 2.917,270 passengers, and on Sundays 2,211,502 people.  The numbers for busses are just as impressive.  For the 2007 year 738,039,531 passengers entered a bus.  2,356,301 people entered a bus on weekdays.  The average for a Saturday was 1,468,222 and for Sundays were 1,081,197.  These subway cars and busses are pulling these enormous numbers across their routes, miles of tracks and roads they cross countless times.  These large numbers can give the idea of how many of the people who live in the City use these magnificent machines.  There are no higher-class cars and lower class cars, all of these riders enter the cars as equals, The only requirement asked of each is to pay the fare. 

            To accommodate the City that Never Sleeps, these subway cars and busses are running 24-hours-a-day throughout the five boroughs of New York.  MTA has the largest fleet of subway cars in the world and more busses than other public agencies in the United States.  Ridership reaches seven million daily and two billion annually.  To run this major operation requires many works, and MTA employs nearly 47,000 workers. The Metropolitan Transit Authority has a history and a future.  The MTA works to get every colored-eyed, -skinned, -haired, body to where they have to go, and they only require the passengers to pay the set fee.  For the billions of

people who use the MTA’s services annually, they have rules set to keep us protected and to make sure people can be as comfortable as possible.  A person can look at the map of subway lines and bus routes and be befuddled by the numerous lines, but a New Yorker can tell that same person without as much as blinking.  As New Yorkers we have mastered this maze, this labyrinth, and we know each route like the lines on the palms of our hands.

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Under the busy streets of New York there are a series of tunnels, a labyrinth.  This massive maze has some areas dimly lit and others are pitch-black.  These are the famous New York City subway tunnels that extend all throughout the five boroughs of the massive city.  Above ground there are a fleet of busses that transport commuters for their destination of choice.

The architectural ingenuity that went into the foundations of the subway tunnels was new to the times during the Industrial Revolution.  The thought put into the web of bus routes, that now transport many passengers daily, makes this mass-transit efficient.  The skyscraper, which was also born during the time of the Industrial Revolution, could not be filled to capacity at the designated hours set for works and businessmen without these innovative forms of transportation.  Though the MTA was the not the first supplier of mass transportation, today it lays as one of the greatest, in the grandest City, New York City.  The MTA does not only hold significance in the past, but also in the present, what it represents.  With so many users of the service the MTA provides because of the business of the city, there are naturally rules to everyone gets to their destination safely.

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            One of the most basic intuitions of mankind, to move faster than a crawl but slower than a run, is walking.  This speed is completely unique to each pair of feet. The result, it gets one from point A to point B.  For something that comes so naturally, literally without thinking.  The destination can be almost entirely insignificant compared to the actual journey.  Most walk without having to think about it, but as humans we have five senses that we will always subconsciously have active.  In this innovative world, nothing seems to be in more use at a single time than the sidewalk, to accommodate the trotters of a city.   We have even integrated technology to make walking an at-home pastime, the treadmill. 

Manhattan, a titan of a city, extends outward occupying an entire island and extending vertically taking up heights that in the past would have been unheard of.  It would obviously take nothing less than two capable feet to maneuver through this wonderful labyrinth.  The City Hall area vividly illustrates the essence of New York City better than some of the more obvious sites of Manhattan.  The diverse crowds, the surrounding main streets, the hidden backstreets, the near-by schools, and the Brooklyn Bridge, are all found within the City Hall area. 

            Emerging out of the steep staircase connected to one of Manhattan’s wonders, the subway.  Light is breaking through the surrounding buildings.  Taking the moment to absorb the site, you will either be the reason for a ‘traffic-jam’, or the victim of a terrible accident.  The

single way that every person is the same is by every last one of them being different.  This is how we are connected in Manhattan, through our individuality.  A new comer could not conform to this kind of society.  The diversity would not allow it.  Suits of the work and work-out kind are moving by quickly.  On a corner, desirable sights and sweet scents are consumed through my own nose to the point where I could taste what the vendor is selling before buying the product. This is all within sight of that top step.

            A person can take their first step onto the hard pavement and begin walking.  Without thinking there’s forward motion, though forward isn’t the only way to go.  City life is already alive, the army of suits march down towards City Hall itself.  The couples walk hand-in-hand catching the view on the way to their destination.  There are people proud to wear the colors of their home country.  The streets themselves are filled to capacity with a slowly moving traffic.  The only wind is not that produced by the cars inching forward, but the swift pedestrians making their way through their own journey. 

Up until this point I have only seen several buildings and shops, however there is now a new form of life in the area, not with flesh but with bark.  Tall trees with the perfect shade of green painted into their leaves.  This park sets a completely different tone, the adrenaline of time is still pulsing, but the serenity of the area, makes the seconds seem longer.  I was no longer in the City I knew, but in a small forest, still with concrete, but now there was a complete change of scenery.  Tourists and the small groups of friends take pictures with those in their party.  Benches are set for those who wanted rest.  There are many different faces and styles that grace the grounds with their appearance.  I could not help but to try and look at every entity who passes by. 

Across the street, again the essence of Manhattan is brought back to its lively side.  Large herds of people moving in a synchronized-disarray.  The bus route is present, and these long steel dragons of the city haul those who appeal to its appetite, the metro-card.  Once again the elegant sites of New York shops are near-by with consumers walking in and out. 

            It was invisible, the side of the city that is hidden by tall buildings.  The backstreets of the area.  This only further contributes to depicting the essence of diversity New York City.  Manhattan is not only an island with tall buildings, the stock market, Madison Square Garden, Time Square, etc.  It houses the small business owners, bodegas, small clothing shops, and most importantly, different types of culture.  The small pizza shop is next to the Middle Eastern restaurant.  This is no longer the area with franchises but “mom and pop” stores and restaurants.  If you look hard enough, you will find something from every side of the world taking home on these streets. 

            Turning around, back to the park, around its corner there are students walking and jogging to their classes of the near-by college.  Not even moments later, the Brooklyn Bridge.  At the correct times, you can witness some of the most romantic sights of the city.  Bridges like this one supply New York with many of the visitors and workers.  This monument of steel and pavement disappears into the horizon where it meets this city’s extensions, New York City as not just the island, but its other boroughs as well flow the life that animates the city.

            In a journey, that would not take more than the recommended amount of daily exercise, through the City hall area you can get a taste of the many different sides of the world.  The essence of Manhattan is hidden in many different areas of the City.  Here it seems more potent to myself, a student making my way to and from school.

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