New York vs California

            Of all fifty of the United States the two most known are New York and California. They are states seen positively, for the most part, in the eyes of the people, and they provide hope for starving artists and opportunities for the “average Joe” to become famous. These states are on opposite sides of the country and therefore differ in stereotypes, law making, and daily life, however they do share similarities in fashion, wealth of their citizens, and the amount of celebrities in their area.

California and New York are two of the most well known places on the globe, but even so, their stereotypes are completely opposite. California is known for being a laid-back, sunny, beach environment where everyone surfs and looks like a model. New York is quite the opposite with its fast-pace movement and industrial feel. People are thought to be rude, and New York is the “city that never sleeps”. Perhaps, these stereotypes come from the states being on opposite sides of the country, but either way the areas and people make for the different stereotypes given to each place.

In the United States, laws can differ from state to state, such as California and New York. For one, in California, capital punishment is still taking place today. Since 1976, California has performed 13 executions and currently has 721 inmates on death row. In New York, capital punishment has been deemed unconstitutional and no longer takes place. Another difference in the law exists regarding divorces. In California, divorce laws state that community property acquired during a marriage has to be split equally between the couple. In New York, it does not have to be divided equally, unless the couple has entered a prenuptial agreement.
            The people living in the state of California and the people living in the state of New York, being on different coasts, have very different lifestyles. From the weather, to transportation, to the pace of the city, both states differ greatly. To start off, New York is very fast-paced as opposed to California, which is more laid-back. Also, in New York public transportation is very common. Subways, buses, and cabs are used daily by almost everyone in New York City and not many people who live their own their own cars. On the other hand, in California, most people own their own cars and public transportation isn’t used as often. The weather in both states greatly affects the daily life. Being that it is warm all year round in California, people have the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and on the beach, and wear lighter clothing. Meanwhile, New York experiences only a few months of warm weather, restricting outdoor activities and forcing the citizens to wear heavier clothing.

Even though the differences of the two states seem to be overwhelming, similarities like fashion play a major role in people’s everyday lives, and is very evident in the states of New York and California. Between Rodeo Drive in California and Fifth Avenue in New York, it is evident that these two states can be considered to be headquarters in the fashion industry. Both of these streets feature high-end stores that set the tone for fashion. Also, both of these areas are very common when choosing the location for award shows. At these award shows, fashion is one of the most talked about things. Magazines and tabloids have a blast writing about what to wear and what not to wear, based on what is worn at these awards shows.

New York and California are considered to be very wealthy places and have two of the wealthiest zip codes in America. Zip codes 90210 (Beverly Hills, California) and 10014 (New York, New York) are ranked the first and fourth most expensive places to live, respectively. In Beverly Hills and New York the houses average at about $4 million dollars and their owners usually own about twelve properties each. Not only do people live in huge houses, but the most popular vehicles in these places are BMWs, Aston Martins, and the Toyota Prius. Each car can range from approximately $71,000-$200,000 depending on model and year of construction. Even so, New York and California sip codes 90210 and 10014 have their citizens living the most luxuriously out of the whole country.

When celebrities are spotted it’s usually in well-known areas. Social media is always looking for a new story and the paparazzi never sleep. Obviously, in order to find celebrities to write about, they visit well-known areas that always have famous people wandering around. New York and California are two areas that are notorious for having Hollywood celebrities in their states. For example, hit show on BravoTV, the Real Housewives has sets in California and New York. Not only that, but in California the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame can be found and New York is known for having numerous films made in its city streets while also hosting movie premieres, concerts, and art festivals. Celebrities are so highly populated in New York and California because of these special events that are held. Some of the most famous New Yorkers are Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Scarlett Johansson, and Liv Tyler. From California, their most famous native born people are Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe, Jerry Garcia, Angelina Jolie, and Kim Kardashian.

All in all, California and New York are on opposite sides of the United States, but they are similar and different. They differ in their lifestyles, laws, and stereotypes, but they prove that they are states in the same country because they have the wealthiest zip codes, share the same passion for fashion, and are known for being the best places to spot celebrities.

Spike Out Cancer

On Thursday, October 6^th 2011 at 4p.m., Staten Island high school, St. Joseph Hill Academy hosted an event known as the Spike Out Cancer Game. This was the second year in a row that the high school participated in this event. This event was a volleyball game that was played in order to bring awareness to and raise money for breast cancer research. The opposing team, from Susan E. Wagner High School, also played a major role in raising money for the cause. Virginia Mayrose, the coach for St. Joseph Hill Academy High School, brought it to my attention that “the game was played at Susan E. Wagner High School the previous year, and we [Mayrose and Marco Altieri, Susan E. Wagner coach] agreed to alternate the location of the event each year.”

As we all know, breast cancer is a very common and deadly form of cancer that affects not only women, but also men all over the world. The fatalities from breast cancer have decreased over the years, largely due to the fact that more and more people are becoming aware of the disease, along with early detection, which plays a major role in overcoming the disease, and new research. A large portion of the money used for research comes from the many groups and organizations that have committed themselves to sponsoring events for breast cancer and raising money for cancer research. The volleyball game between St. Joseph Hill Academy High School and Susan Wagner High School is a great example of an event that it used to raise money for breast cancer. It was only fitting that this volleyball game took place during the month of October, which is known as breast cancer awareness month.

Participating in this event was a big deal for both of the volleyball teams and meant a lot to each player that was involved. “This game is played to get the message about breast cancer out and to hopefully find out more about the prevention and early detection of the disease”, said St. Joseph Hill Academy coach Virginia Mayrose. Mayrose has also encountered a personal connection with breast cancer. “I have known people who have been affected by breast cancer. A former volleyball player of mine lost her mother to breast cancer and a good friend of mine has a sister in law who is a breast cancer survivor. I, myself, have also had some minor surgery due to breast cancer prevention,” she said. “Coaching a team from an all-girls school, I want the girls to be aware of the disease and to not be afraid to talk about it.” The girls on the team all looked forward to participating in the game and getting involved in raising money for such a great cause. As their coach and teacher, Virginia Mayrose was very elated with the way the girls showed their support.

            The players on the team also share the same enthusiasm as their coach. “Playing in this game meant a lot to me. Knowing that all of the donations and money raised are going to a great cause and knowing that we were able to have fun while raising the money, makes me proud and happy that I was able to be a part of it,” said St. Joseph Hill sophomore Tatiana Perone. “Personally knowing someone that has been diagnosed with breast cancer motivated me even more. Knowing what she went through made me want to help and raise money so that hopefully they can find easier ways to cure this form of cancer.”

Perone wasn’t the only player to express her excitement on participating in this event. Senior, Jacqueline Solomon, agreed with her teammate. “I have participated in many fundraisers that have been held at St. Joseph Hill Academy and this is my second time playing in the breast cancer awareness game. However, being a woman and knowing that at any time I, myself, could develop breast cancer, gives this specific event more meaning to me. This game means so much to me, knowing that my participation may help someone overcome this disease. This game brings the team closer together, as we all encourage each other and work together to make this event successful and raise a lot of money for breast cancer. Even though we lost the game, we had so much fun playing the sport that we love and are very proud to be apart of a team that is willing to help out others.”

            It is easily visible that the entire St. Joseph Hill volleyball team, as well as opposing team Susan E. Wagner High School, enjoys playing in this game. All of the players on both teams wore special pink breast cancer jerseys, pink socks, and some even wore pink face paint. The gym’s normal blue and white walls were covered with an array of pink decorations, from streamers to posters and even pink balloons. Not only do the players enjoy participating in this event, other students from the school find it important to attend. Many other students volunteer their time to work the snack stand and sell the baked goods to the spectators. Other students volunteer to work the clock, and keep the score of the game. Without these other students volunteering, the game would not be possible.

The stands were full of parents, family members, and supporters cheering the teams on. One particular spectator, Carol Giza, was thrilled to be able to attend this event. Carol Giza, who knows what it is like to live with breast cancer, is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. She has been fighting this horrible disease for the past two years. “Seeing all of the work and the dedication that the girls put into making this event possible, brings a tear to my eye. The fact that they are willing to raise money for something that is so personal to me, and that their help may possibly lead to a cure for myself and so many other women is wonderful,” said Carol. “If this type of dedication had occurred years ago when I was in high school, breast cancer research could have been years ahead of its time. Hopefully none of these girls will ever have to go through what I am going through, and I want them all to realize how much, even a small event, helps when it comes to finding a cure for this disease. 

The money that was raised at this event came from several different sources. A five-dollar admission fee was charged at the door. Also, 50-50 raffles were sold during the game with half of the money obtained from the raffle going to breast cancer research. The students at St. Joseph Hill Academy and their parents baked cupcakes, cookies, and other treats and sold them the day of the game. Pink, breast cancer tee shirts that were designed by the members of the St. Joseph Hill Academy volleyball team were also sold in order to raise money. These shirts were available to the entire school, family members, friends, and spectators at the game. The students who purchased a shirt were able to wear them every Friday in October, in place of their regular uniform shirt. Both coaches verified that they were very happy and pleased with the outcome of this event. One of their goals was to raise more money than they did the previous year. When this event was over, they achieved their goal and the two teams were overwhelmed and excited to have raised one thousand five hundred and sixteen dollars for The American Cancer Society for breast cancer research.

This years Spike Out Cancer Game was a tremendous success and the team’s goal of raising more money than last year’s event was accomplished. Both coaches, Virginia Mayrose of St. Joseph Hill Academy and Marco Altieri of Susan E. Wagner are already looking into the future. They have already committed to participating in the event next year and trying to make it even bigger and better. Seeing how much the girls love being involved in the event, they are thinking of possibly turning the game into a multiple high-school tournament. This will allow more than two schools and many more girls the opportunity to participate in such a great and meaningful event. With an increase in the number of teams, players, and spectators participating, there are high hopes of raising even more money for breast cancer than they did this year.

            

Compare and Contrast

Life can be very different depending on where you live. From your home, to the clothes you wear, to the way you talk, even to the food you eat is determined by the area that you are living in. There are many options as to where you can be living. Two choices include the city and the farm. Living on a farm and living in the city, though similar, have many aspects that differentiate them from each other.

            Living on a farm is a way of life that many people all over the world choose. Life on a farm is usually very simple and slow-paced. When you live on a farm, your day typically starts very early in the morning and you go to sleep early at night. Another aspect of living on a farm is that many of the things that you eat are home grown or come from the animals that you are raising. Farmers tend to grow all of their own crops, including corn, wheat, and other fruits and vegetables. They obtain a large portion of their meat from the animals that are raised on the farm, including cows, chickens, and pigs. Not only do they eat what they produce on the farm, many times this also serves as their source of income. Most times, the entire family works on the farm. Each member of the family usually has their own set of jobs to do on the farm. Living on a farm is also a basic type of life style without many high priced amenities. Even though most farms are very large in size, farmers tend to live in close-knit communities where everybody knows one another. The environment has a great aspect on farming. A year with a heavy drought or an excess of rain can ruin a farmer’s season causing them to lose their income.

            Living in the city is another way of life that you can choose. Life in the city is usually very complicated and fast-paced. Living in the city can also be quite expensive, even if you cook your own food at home you still have to purchase it from different stores. Housing is also usually very expensive and a typical family with few children would pay very high rent due to the fact that they need several rooms in their apartment. There is more of a nightlife when living in the city, and people tend to go to sleep later even if they have to wake up early for work. The source of income for people who live in the city depends on the type of job that you have, out of the many possibilities. Traveling in the city is usually very easy, with public transportation such as buses, trains, and taxis.

            Living on a farm tends to be very different from living in a city. To start off, farm life is more slow-paced, while city life is more fast-paced. On a farm, people depend on owning their own vehicle for travel due to the fact that everything is spread out, including schools and stores. In the city, many people don’t even own a car. Public transportation is easily accessible to take you places and most stores and schools can be within walking distance of where you reside. Another difference between the two ways of life is that the farmer lives in a close-knit community where he knows all of his neighbors. In the city, you can live in the same apartment building as someone your entire life and not even know who he or she is. People on farms depend on what they grow as their source of food, whereas people in the city buy their source of food from the stores. The weather has a great impact on a farmer’s life and normally does not affect the life of someone in the city. The standard of living also tends to be different between the two. Things are more expensive in the city and people tend to send money on more extravagant things like designer brands. Living on a farm, they tend not to care as much about these high priced amenities.

            Though these two styles of living are very different, they are also very similar. No matter where you live, members of the family must have some type of job as a source of income. Children, no matter where they live, are required to attend school. Also, in both places people are able to interact with other individuals in a social setting.

            Though there are many differences between the two areas, life goes on no matter where you live. People must still work, eat, and interact with others. There is definitely a difference in the way they live, work, and travel, yet there are many aspects that connect them to each other.

  

New York Times vs. New York Post

The New York Times and The New York Post are two very common newspapers that people all over New York read every day. They have many things in common, but they also have a numerous amount of differences between them.

The New York Times and the New York Post both report information to their readers, as all newspapers should do.  Both of the newspapers include articles about events that are going on not only in New York State or the United States, but also all around the world. They also both are able to appeal to the people that they want to read their articles.

            Both the New York Times and the New York Post are able to attract people into wanting to read their newspaper; they just go about it in a different way and attract a different audience. The main difference between the two newspapers is the types of articles that they choose to put more of an emphasis on. The New York Times is more of a typical newspaper, while the New York Post is more of an entertainment source. The New York Times newspaper includes more serious and formal articles that refer more towards political events. On the other hand, the New York Post contains more information regarding entertainment and is much less formal. For example, in the back of the New York Post there is a colorful section that includes the guide for all of the shows that are going to be on television. There is no such section like this in the New York Times. The most form of entertainment in the New York Times is included in a section entitled “The Arts” and focuses on events such as operas and a symphony. However, in the New York Post there are articles about celebrities and other forms of entertainment throughout the entire newspaper.

            In both of these newspapers, we found an article referring to the New York Jets football team and how they released one of their players. Derrick Mason, an offensive player for the New York Jets was sent to the Houston Texans. We get basically the same information about this topic from both of the newspapers. However, in the New York Post, the article was much longer and went into more detail regarding this issue. In the New York Times, they briefly talked about the issue and then moved on to other things. Also, in the New York Post the picture that was included was very vibrant and colorful, drawing the reader’s attention towards it. This also shows how the New York Post puts more of an emphasis on entertainment. The picture that was included in the New York Times was in black and white, showing that they don’t put as much attention towards this article as they did for their other articles. 

Advance

On Thursday, October 6^th 2011 at 4p.m., St. Joseph Hill Academy High School located at 850 Hylan Boulevard, will be hosting their annual breast cancer awareness volleyball game. This event is known as the Spike Out Cancer Game. This year’s opponent will be fellow Staten Island high school, Susan Wagner.

            Breast cancer is a very common form of cancer that affects not only women, but also men all over the world. According to breastcancer.org, in the United States alone, about one in eight women will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. With these odds, every one of us will have a family member, co-worker, neighbor, or friend who will eventually be diagnosed with breast cancer.  According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 40,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer within the year 2011. There is only one other type of cancer, lung cancer, which is held accountable for more deaths in women. This alarming number, however, is actually a decrease in the number from past years. One of the major reasons for this decrease is due to the advancement in technology, which gives us the ability to find the cancer at its earliest stages where it is most treatable. However, all of this research can become very expensive. A large portion of the money used for research comes from the many groups and organizations that have committed themselves to sponsoring events for breast cancer and raising money for cancer research.

            October is a month that is very commonly known as breast cancer awareness month. Throughout the month, pink will be the color that you see everywhere, as groups and organizations all over the world host events with the intention of raising money for breast cancer. You can sit back and watch television and see many famous athletes on professional sports teams wearing pink on their uniforms, showing their support for breast cancer.  However, this support for breast cancer is not limited to just professional teams, famous athletes, or well-known celebrities. It can also be seen at all different sporting levels including college sports, high school sports, and even elementary school sports.

            St. Joseph Hill Academy High School is an example of a high school that supports many different organizations, including breast cancer awareness. This is why they host their annual breast cancer awareness volleyball game. During this event, they will raise money, with all the profits going to breast cancer research. The money will be raised through the selling of tickets to the game, t-shirts, raffles, and baked goods made by the players and their parents. As seen in previous years, the players show their support by wearing special pink uniforms for the game. They also wear pink accessories including socks and face paint. The players also go out of their way to invite their friends and families to attend the game in hopes of raising more money for this cause. In the years past, it has always been a successful and fun event to attend whether you know someone playing in the game or not.

            Take a few hours out of your day on Thursday, October 6 and show your support for Staten Island’s high school girl athletes, who are doing their best to raise money for breast cancer awareness. Not only will you be supporting a great cause, but you will also be entertained with a fast paced, action packed volleyball game. After the final point has been scored and the game is over, you will leave elated, knowing that you just witnessed a great game and did your part to help raise money for breast cancer awareness. 

NOT A REAL OBITUARY- SCHOOL PROJECT

    Amanda DiPaolo, long-time pharmacist, died at her home on Saturday after encountering a strange situation. She was 87 years old.

    DiPaolo, a life-long resident of Staten Island, had a stroke after reading a premature obituary of herself that she had written in an English class when she attended St. John’s University.

    “She was willing to help anyone,” Amy Favale, a co-worker of hers, said. “ She was very thoughtful and a great friend. If you ever needed comic relief, Amanda was the person to go to. ”            

    The wake will be held on Monday and Tuesday from 3-5p.m and 7-9p.m. at Matthew’s Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9a.m.

    DiPaolo was born and raised in Staten Island. She attended St. Joseph Hill Academy High School, graduating in 2011. She then attended St. John’s University and in 2017 she received her Ph. D in Pharmacy.

    She married David Wright, professional baseball player, two years later.

    She worked as a pharmacist for 50 years before retiring in 2067 at the age of 68. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling the world with her husband and attending her grand-children’s and great-grand children's activities.  

    DiPaolo is survived by her husband, David Wright; one daughter, Alexa Wright; two sons, David Wright Jr. and Joseph Wright; 7 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

    In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to St. John’s University so that they will be able to come up with different writing assignments, preventing this from happening to anyone else. 

Advertisement Dissection and Analysis

In this Levi advertisement, there is the quote "If mother nature didn't like curves, she would've made the world flat." This is an ad that is inspiring people to believe that they don't have to have the perfect body and it is okay to have curves. It is telling people that they don't have to look perfect to be happy and the world was never meant for people to feel like they need to look this way. This ad is written in the present time, in which many people feel like they need to maintain a specific image. The facial and body language of the girl in the ad show that she is confident in the way she looks while wearing this jacket. This advertisement is selling clothes for people that aren't perfect. What interests me most about the advertisement is that it is not your typical ad. Usually, ads encourage people to look like the models do and have the perfect body. However, this ad is telling people that it is okay to be curvy. This ad is very inspiring for girls.

English Assignment #1

            It was the first time that I was going to be driving for a long distance by myself. I was so excited and I loaded my car with essentials for my trip, including a full tank of gas, a GPS and lots of great music. I was going to visit my friend Nicole at her college in Massachusetts, about four hours away. On my way there were many unexpected things that occurred.

I must have been on the road about an hour when I suddenly heard sirens behind me and as I looked into my rearview mirror I saw flashing lights.  A million thoughts went through my mind as I thought about what I could have done. I pulled over towards the side of the highway and waited for the police officer to approach my car. He told me that I was driving twenty miles over the speed limit and asked me for my license and registration. I handed these items to him and explained to him that both of my parents were police officers. Thankfully, he didn’t give me a ticket and he let me go with only a warning.

            As I continued driving on, the crazy woman on my GPS told me to get off at the next exit. I knew this wasn’t the exit I needed, but I decided to follow the GPS anyway. I drove on side streets for what seemed like forever before I realized that the GPS was set to avoid toll roads and it was taking me out of the way. I changed the settings and headed back in the right direction. At this point I never though that I would make it to Massachusetts and frustration was starting to set it from all of the delays.  

            Just when I thought that my trip couldn’t get any worse, I felt an uncontrollable shaking of the car that I had never felt before. I pulled over to the side of the road to find out that I had a flat tire. I called home and my father told me to call AAA to see if they would come and tow my car. It took them forty-five minutes to show up.

            Even though what should have taken me only four hours ended up taking me seven hours, I finally made it to my destination. I was so excited to see my friend and her new dorm that I forgot about everything that happened earlier.