President Bush's Speech

President Bush's speech was very strong. It made me realize that our country has just encountered a huge hardship and that justice would be served. He let everyone know that everything would be fine and that we need to be united in this horrible time. September 11, 2001 was the worst attack ever on the United States. President Bush was a brand new President when that attack occured, and I feel that he did a good job in making the American people feel secure. I feel he spoke with great confidence and determination.

MoneyManDefinition

MoneyManEvaluation

MoneyManCausal

Definition Essay

Definition Essay

At some point in our lives, we find ourselves. We find the person we want to be and the determination to do what it takes to become that person. Along the way we also find those people who have the greatest impact on our lives, our friends. You don’t necessarily realize at that moment that you’ve reached this stage of your being, but when you look back at that time in your life, you just know. Well, I have just come to the realization that I reached this point last summer. For me summer was a three month long mess of laughter and tears, where in the chaos of it all my friends and I found each other and ourselves.

For my high school it is somewhat of a ritual for the graduating seniors to rent a house down the shore with their closest friends. It is the last time that we all have the chance to be together before college. My friends and I rented a yellow house on the corner of Spencer and Atlantic, in Wildwood, NJ. This four bedroom one bathroom, two-story house was to be our home for the next twelve weeks.

We all awaited Memorial Day weekend with great anticipation until, finally, we had the freedom and independence away from parents. Our house consisted of ten guys, eight full-timers and two weekenders. Memorial Day weekend proved to be as amazing as we had expected, three full days of the beach and parties. Everyone headed back home on Monday for our graduation ceremony that took place on that up coming Tuesday. Reality didn’t set in for the next two weeks. We went on senior week to the Bahamas and lived it up at the shore.

Then came the time to find jobs. I had a little more trouble than the rest of my roommates. Three of the guys were going to work at a new restaurant on the boardwalk, while the fourth roommate sold telescope pictures. After a week or so of looking with no luck, my roommate Smitty called and said I could work at the restaurant and had to be in at five o’clock that night. With hardly any training I was thrown into the world of being a waiter, which proved to be a little more challenging than I expected. I desperately wanted to quit my job, but knew I that I desperately needed the money. Throughout these difficult trials I learned that with the support of friends you can get through any complex times that you are to face in life. I began to get the hang of serving, and ended up loving my job, my boss, and the people I worked with.

One of my favorite times was when we all went to the beach together. The eight of us would sit on the beach either playing baseball or fishing. We didn’t have a care in the world.

When we first talked about getting a shore house we all decided it was not going to be a party house. We did not want to have to deal with the clean up afterwards or the police. Well, that decision didn’t last very long, the first night of Memorial Day weekend and almost every night after that we had people over. Whether it was seventy people or ten people there was always a mess awaiting us the next morning. This caused a few little quarrels in the house. We would fight over the disgusting dishes, who had to mop the floor, and which one was going to take out the trash. This was by far the worst part of having our own house, but it taught us responsibility. We knew that we had to work together to make our home livable. And even though we fought over who did what we always got over it, this is what strengthened our relationships even more.

At first it was hard for us all to adjust to our different life styles. There were numerous fights over the bathroom, clothes on the floor, using someone else’s bath towel, parking spots, and even beach chairs. Over the course of the summer we were able to learn how to deal with each other. Whatever arguments that went on were always forgotten about when we shared the moments I will never forget.

When I look back at my time down the shore what I miss most is the little things. I miss Kaelin coming in from the night not being able to talk because he was so drunk. I miss Smitty running to steal the shower from me just as I was about to get in. I miss Ronnie complaining about clothes on the floor and towels on his bed. I miss Roche’s high-pitched voice when he yells. I realize that these tiny annoyances are what makes you love the people you live with. The summer taught me to let the little things go, don’t start a fight with someone over something caddy or small. We all knew the summer and our time together wasn’t going to last forever, so we learned to live life in the moment for all that’s it worth.

Even though the past summer looks like it was all fun, I know it taught me more than I ever knew. Over those twelve weeks we learned to make our living arrangement work, we learned how to support each other, and we learned what true friends really are. Towards the end of the summer, it was hard to say good bye and go off to college. Two of my best friends came to Penn State with me and the other two stayed in the Philadelphia area. And the other three continued playing football at Lycoming. For the three of us here it feels like a part of us is missing.

A UCLA study on friendship among women suggests, “Friendships between men are special. They shape who we are and who we are yet to be. They soothe our tumultuous inner world, fill the emotional gaps in our marriage, and help us remember who we really are.” So, with the summer long gone, I look back and realize these guys are not only my friends but they are also my family. They know everything about me and never judge me for any wrong that I may have done. They are my shoulder to cry on. These are the people that have made me the person I am today. They push me to succeed and make me laugh when I want to cry. Without them my life would not be complete. Concerning friendship Aristotle once said, “...Friendship... is a virtue or implies virtue, and is besides most necessary with a view to living. For without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods; even rich men and those in possession of office and of dominating power are thought to need friends most of all; for what is the use of such prosperity without the opportunity of beneficence, which is exercised chiefly and in its most laudle form towards friends?” People always say that if you find one true friend in your life you are lucky, well this summer I found eight. I found eight amazing people that I can share all the joys of my life with.

Mark Wyszynski

English 015

Evaluation Essay

Which fast food restaurant has the best food and service in the city of Philadelphia? Is it Burger King or White Castle? At Burger King it is a very clean and up to date with all of the facilities. They have a good crew of workers on and a manger who always has a smile and enjoys serving you. They make a great burger and it is big enough to fill you. They use a grill with fire instead of frying their food like most other restaurants. They have a great taste when you receive them hot and just like they came of the grill at home. Their burgers are always juicy and made neatly; I can’t stand when burgers are all over the place with the lettuces and tomatoes. Their fries are outstanding never have I received soggy fries from BK they are always crispy and hot. They have an amazing chicken sandwich that is made differently then any other fast food restaurant around. They lay is on a long roll instead of a round with the perfect amount of lettuce and tomatoes and to top of all off you put their mouth watering honey mustard sauce on top. Wow! They also have great dipping sauces that consist of honey mustard, BBQ, and zesty fire sauce, which is out of this world. They are in a little container that you can actually dip your food in. They don’t have them little packets where you have to squeeze little amounts on your wrapper to have a sauce to dip in. Their deserts are so good that you will get an extra every time you eat the first. The Hershey pie is so good and it is only a dollar you can never go wrong with a little chocolate and the end of a meal.

White Castle is another restaurant in Philadelphia that is popular but I don’t think is to good. Every time I go in there it seems like they never clean it. It has this dull appearance to it. The workers never seem happy and always have a bad attitude toward you when you order. It seems as they were in prison instead of work. I don’t know if it’s just my luck or it happens all the time but my order always seems to be incorrect. I never get what I order. The burgers have to be the tiniest things ever. They are not made properly and always sloppy. Another thing about the workers is a lot of them who prepare the food are not wearing gloves. You have to eat three to four burgers to full. Their fries are never crispy always soggy and dead. You get lucky when you receive a large fry and half of them actually taste like fries. After eating there I don’t feel satisfied. I have times where I walked out of there still hungry. After eating at both of these fast food restaurants I would be able to almost guarantee that any person would defiantly pick Burger King over White Castle.

Mark Wyszynski

Casual Argument

Growing Up City or Suburb

Growing up in Philadelphia I was exposed to many of the famous trademarks of the town. Philadelphia may be the best living textbook available for understanding the history of our nation. The roots of American democracy are found in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were not drafted here by accident. Instead, they stand as the most recognized symbols of the American Enlightenment. Because of our forefathers, we are all able to experience history through sites such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

In addition to the history behind the city, I have also learned so much about diversity and culture. Often considered a “melting pot,” Philadelphia is city with the Eagles, cheese steaks, and friendships that’s makes everyone family.

A person from the city’s favorite Philadelphia sandwich is the cheese steak. Too many people, a sandwich is a sandwich and cheese is just cheese, but for us it’s different. Many local pizza shops or restaurants argue that they have authentic Philly cheese steaks, but until you have had one, you do not realize what you are missing out on. Many people living in the suburbs don’t know the right way to make the sandwich. The main difference between a “real” Philly cheese steak and a phony is in the two obvious ingredients, the cheese and the meat. In Philadelphia, steak meat is sliced and grilled, while others chop the meat. Furthermore, the only cheese accepted by true Philadelphians is Cheese Wiz. Although these two factors may not contribute entirely to my opinion on the cheese steak, ordering techniques, atmosphere, and timing all play a huge role into reasons why Philadelphia is so well-known for this food.

Pat’s is a Philly favorite residing in the heart of South Philadelphia. Opened 24 hours a day, Pat’s attracts thousands of visitors each day. I still remember the first time I went down to Pat’s Steaks with my friends. With the line wrapped around the block, and loud Eagles fans lining the street, I felt right at home. This seemed more than a late night snack, it was the beginning of a tradition. Ordering the steak was an adventure in itself. In Philadelphia cheese steak ordering has a lingo of its own. I ordered a “wiz with.” This implied that I would like a steak with Cheese Wiz and fried onions. Saying the name of cheese choice as well as “with” or “without” is all they need to know. In a matter of minutes my sandwich was done and I became a loyal customer. Whether my favoritism of the Philly cheese steak has to do with how the steak is prepared, the quality of ingredients, or the roll on which it is served, I am not sure. All I know is that others do not compare.

Growing up an Eagles fan in the city was great. Going to the games was a great deal to someone in the city. They are wearing your city across their chest, not some little suburb. The Philadelphia Eagles was a franchise born in 1946. The franchise had some early accomplishment, winning three championships in 1948, 1949 and 1960. In recent years, the Eagles have jumped back on the charts as one of the league’s most dominating teams. Led by quarterback Donovan McNabb, they have reached the NFC Championship Game each of the last four years before this one. Two seasons ago, the Eagles cruised to a 13-3 record in the regular season and finally reached the Super Bowl again in January 2005, only to see their dramatic fourth-quarter comeback fall just short. Even though the Eagles have been great they still have to be up to par when it comes to the fans. The past four years watching the Birds has made friendships grow and families get closer. You could count on Sunday for people to be sitting around in groups watching their team play and win. People partied when the Eagles were on. It was a given when a big play arrived or when Donovan hit Terrell Owens for another touchdown that everyone got up and gave high fives and hugs. Being an Eagles fan is the pride and joy of many people who live in the city of Philadelphia.

Another great part about the city is everyone knows everyone from the neighborhood. The city is much more of a family of friends then the suburbs.Growing up playing sports is what most children do in my part of the city. When children reach the age five they are playing baseball, basketball, and football. The neighbor hoods have this bond to their organization where they treat each other like family. They take care of each other and there is always someone there that will help you with anything.

It is always a great feeling when you can go around the block to the local playground and see millions of friends. Every time you are board you can count on the playground and basketball courts to have people there doing something. On the other had you don’t have the unity the city has when you are form out side the city.

All the rural areas around the city are very nice and load with rich million dollars homes but the suburbs just don’t come close to the city. Everything is different. You can’t just get up and walk to your friend’s house or walk to the corner store to get something to drink or an ice-cream cone. You have to drive everywhere. The difference too is the whole friendship atmosphere. Many people out side the city don’t have to bond the people inside do. I love the city.

Mark Wyszynski

Proposal Argument

Who was your role model as a child? Many kids will answer that in different ways. Some will say their mother or father and some will say a professional athlete. Like it or not, most kids involved in sports look up to professional athletes as their role models. I believe that young people need athletes to portray themselves as better role models. A lot of today’s athletes aren’t fulfilling that obligation to today’s youth. When I pick up the paper in the morning I can’t tell whether I am reading the sports page or the crime report. I believe it is negatively affecting our children and teenagers and the way they act.

A role model is a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others. Role models feel the obligation to do work to benefit the society. Role models can work through challenges, and are committed to what they do. They set goals and set out to achieve them and are admired for their courage and strength. An athlete fits all of these categories of a role model.

Many athletes have a charity they sponsor in their name that they do work for to benefit society. An example is Warrick Dunn, a running back from the Atlanta Falcons, who buys houses for single mothers who are raising families in troublesome conditions. Athletes also work through challenges; such as, Terrell Owens last year in the Super Bowl coming off of an ankle injury and having a great game. Athletes set goals such as reaching the Super Bowl and set out every year to achieve that goal. Fans admire athletes that play through pain and suffering to win the championships in their sport. So, it is a fact that athletes are viewed as role models in our society. The problem is not all of today’s professional athletes are projecting themselves as good role models.

Last year it was said that 32% of the NFL players were playing with a criminal record. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/) There has been example after example of athletes being charged with criminal activity. There are three main criminal acts that professional athletes are committing that are affecting the youth in our society the most. They are illegal use of drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, driving under the influence of alcohol, and the use of steroids. Five years ago Correll Buckhalter, a current Philadelphia Eagle, got caught smoking marijuana while waiting in traffic. This may be a low degree of crime, but in my opinion it has a definite negative affect on young people. The reason for this is if a high school athlete who is feeling peer pressure to drink and smoke marijuana sees an athlete like Correll Buckhalter do it, they start to believe that if he smokes marijuana and is in the NFL, then it wont’ affect my play if I smoke marijuana.

The case that got the most national coverage obviously was Ricky Williams who quit football because he believed smoking pot was more important than making a living. Before that, he was regarding as a compassionate man and a great football player. Now, what kind of example is he setting by quitting football to smoke marijuana? The most recent case dealing with athletes and marijuana was with Randy Moss. He is regarded as the number one wide receive in the NFL, and has one of the most highly sold jerseys in the league. About three months ago Randy Moss was interviewed and admitted that smoking marijuana was okay and the he has smoked marijuana on more than one occasion. It is obvious that many kids look up to him as an athletic role model, so you tell me, is it okay for him to publicly say that smoking marijuana is all right? It’s wrong, and it is having a strong affect on high school athletes and kids dealing with drugs and sports.

Another problem with professional athletes portraying bad examples is drunk driving. Since week one of the NFL season there has been at least one athlete in the paper who has been arrested for driving under the influence. To me this is the biggest problem in the NFL. Athletes win games then go out to bars and clubs after the game and feel it’s all right for them to get in their car and drive home. That, in my opinion, most negatively affects high school athletes. It is sending the wrong message to these kids at a critical time in their lives.

The hottest issue in sports right now, mainly in Major League Baseball, is the use of steroids. Professional athletes are using steroids and the results are significant. Steroids help enhance your athletic performance. Professional athletes that use steroids are portraying dishonesty in the game. They are cheating their way to greatness instead of earning it the hard way. When young athletes hear that Barry Bonds has been using steroids, they automatically think, WOW, if I use steroids maybe I will be able to play like Barry Bonds.

Professional athletes set the standard for young athletes. So, if they are using steroids, smoking marijuana, or driving under the influence, it is going to rub off on the youth of our society in a negative manner.

I believe the media plays a big part in portraying these athletes as role models or villains. The media tends to down play the good things athletes do and blow up the bad things they take part in. I think the media should take some responsibility in helping to portray athletes as good role models. The media should focus more on all of the good things the athletes are doing. They should publicize how athletes take part in different types of charity events. They should put more focus on athletes that denounce the uses of steroids and marijuana and send a stronger message to young athletes to make the right choices. That would help change how professional athletes are viewed, and their role model status would flourish.

Society could also play a big role in helping athletes become better role models by having higher expectations of them. A recent example plays into this perfectly. The NBA just changed their dress code. All players must show up to games and NBA events in dress clothes and suits. They no longer can show up in thug apparel and casual dress. This will most certainly portray a better image to young athletes.

I grew up deeply involved in sports so some of my role models were sports figures. Luckily I looked up to a local professional athlete, Frankie Wycheck, a tight end on the Tennessee Titans. I do believe he played a positive role in my life. He was truly a professional on and off the field. He always showed good sportsmanship. Every time I met him, he always embedded in me to work hard for everything you want, not to cheat or take the easy way out.

If professional athletes become better figures to look up to, the way young athletes interact on and off the field will change for the better.

Being an athlete myself I can see how the professional athletes can play a big part in someone life. From my own experience of a friend using steroids, I can see how the faults of the athletes can lead the youth down the incorrect path. From the bad temper and depression it is simple to say that using a drug to become a better athlete is not a smart choice.

“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whenever I was in a slump feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” (http/www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hankaaron125240.html) Hank Aaron’s quote is not only portraying to not give up in a baseball game, but to never quite in life always keep trying when it does seem to get better. Today’s athletes need to follow the actions of the greats before them to help the youth today. Hank Aaron has set many records from pure talent and hard work. He did not need to use a drug to make him stronger so he could hit the ball farther. He played the game for enjoyment and respect. The professional athletes need to realize how the youth does look up to them and need to make sure they portray their best example at all times. One single person can make a huge impact.

(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/)

(http/www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hankaaron125240.html)

BLOGS

2/1/06

President Bush's speech was very strong. It made me realize that our country has just encountered a huge hardship and that justice would be served. He let everyone know that everything would be fine and that we need to be united in this horrible time. September 11, 2001 was the worst attack ever on the United States. President Bush was a brand new President when that attack occured, and I feel that he did a good job in making the American people feel secure. I feel he spoke with great confidence and determination.

2/3/06

I have to tell you about my cat Nicky. He is black and white and ways close to twenty pounds. I got him 8 years ago for Christmas. When I got him he was a little kitten. Me being an only child, he is a good pet to keep me company. Nicky is always running around and playing, but his favorite thing to do is eat. I am getting worried because he is becoming unhealthy. I want him to live forever. The doctor said to put him on a diet so we did. I feel bad for him because he is always so hungry. I wish they came out with a good food that actually made him full. He is my boy!

2/6/06

This weekend I went home to Philadelphia. It was a good weekend. My friend had a party on Saturday night and it was fun. We stayed up all night and I had the longest day on Sunday. I woke up at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and walked back to my house. When I got there my mom started yelling at me about something and then I had to pack my stuff to come back to school. After that my mom dropped me off at the train station, where I got on the train and took it downtown to get on the Greyhound to come back up. I got on the bus at 6 o’clock and I didn’t end up getting back to school until 11:30. I was freaking out. That’s the last time I am taking the bus.

2/8/06

High school football was a great experience for me. It taught me many things. It gave me discipline, taught me hard work, and also gave me many friendships. I played all four years of high school. I played linebacker. My team was alright. We played in a hard league. The only thing I didn’t really like about it was my coach. He was a jackass. He didn’t like me for some reason. He would always find something about me to nag about. But overall football was awesome. I miss football now and I wish I was good enough to play for Penn State. I could not even imagine that.

2/10/06

The city of Philadelphia needs to win a championship very badly. I have never seen any of my teams win in my lifetime. I think the last Philadelphia team to win a championship was the 76ers in 1983. In 1993 the Phillies went to the World Series and lost, in the mid 90’s the Flyers went to the Stanley Cup and got swept, in 2001 the Sixers went to the finals and lost, and finally last year the Eagles went to the Super Bowl and lost. people in the city are starting to go crazy. I know I am. I hope we win one soon.

2/13/06

School is going pretty well for me so far. The only thing that I might have to drop is Math 22. It is very hard. I did pretty well in Math 21 last semester but this is very hard to understand. My teacher can barely even speak English. That pisses me off because why would you hire a Chinese kid to teach something if nobody can understand him. Besides that my classes are going well and I am enjoying it more up here than I did last semester. I am more used to it.

2/15/06

I talk to my girlfriend for about 5 hours a day on the phone. It gets annoying at times but overall I like being able to talk to her when I can. I am glad that I like talking to my girlfriend. I know some people that don’t like talking to their girlfriends at all. They are always fighting and just hang up the phone. I guess I have to talk to my girlfriend to keep the relationship strong. If I didn’t have my phone I probably wouldn’t have her. My roommate says I should just sew the phone to my ear I am on it so much.

2/17/06

My roommate is a friend of mine that I have known from high school. I played football and lacrosse with him. We were also in a couple of classes together. I like having him as my roommate. We get along well. I do not think I would be able to last up here if I roomed with a kid I did not know. I am not a shy person but I don’t like a lot of people. My roommate and I like a lot of the same things and I think that makes us not fight about stupid things. We are going to get an apartment together next year in Ceaderbrook. I can not wait until I have the apartment next year and I am out of the dorms.

2/20/06

I went home again last weekend. Not too much really went on. I just went home to see my girlfriend. The highlight of my weekend was going out to eat at the Rib Rack. It is the best place for ribs. The meat just slides off the bone and the barbeque sauce they use is the best. It also comes with a corn muffin, piece of watermelon, and a side of cheese fries. I also got some wings for an appetizer. They had to roll me out by the time I left.

I was so full.

2/22/06

My mom got a new car the other day. It is a certified pre owned 2004 Honda Civic. It is all black with black tinted windows. It only has 8000 miles on it. It also came with alloy wheels which is good because my mom usually looses her hub caps. I can not wait until I get my license so I can give it a spin. She actually probably won’t even let me drive it for a while. When she does I will be cruising.

2/24/06

My mom’s boyfriend is having trouble with his heart again. It all started 2 years ago when we went to the Eagles game. After the game was over we all went to use the bathroom and when I got out I saw him sitting on the ground holding his chest. He had a heart attack. He got rushed to the hospital and he pulled through. It was very scary. The only thing that was good about it is that I got to meet the players after the game because the ambulance was parked in the parking lot where all the players park before the game. But anyway he is getting checkups now and the doctor says he has to take it easy. He is always stressed out and running around. He also bought these pills that he can take if he ever has a heart attack again that will save him. They cost $600 and you could barely even see them they are that small.

2/27/06

I went back to Philly again this weekend. It was my cousin’s birthday and there was a big party for her. I saw my family and they were happy to see me. The last time I saw them was when I went home for Christmas. They all asked the same questions about school. I enjoy my family. They are some of the goofiest and funniest people I know. I drank some beers with them and talked about my mom and my aunts when they were growing up. I found out some surprising things about my mom. They got into some trouble.

3/1/06

I would usually be starting lacrosse today. Every year on March 1st I get to lacrosse. I miss not playing this year. Lacrosse is a fun game. I have been playing it since 4th grade. I was the first kid from my neighborhood to start playing. Lacrosse is getting much more popular. You see kids all over my neighborhood carrying lacrosse sticks now. In high school I made all catholic every year. When I was a freshman I played more years than the seniors. Playing lacrosse in high school was fun. We played a lot of games and practices were fun. Our coaches were cool and they were more of a friend. I think I might get in shape and tryout next year.

3/3/06

Today I am going home for spring break. I am getting a ride from my friend. I can’t wait to get home. I need a break from school for a week. I hope you enjoy yours because I will enjoy mine.

3/13/06

Back to school again. Spring break was fun. I had a good time hanging out with my friends and relaxing. I went to the aquarium while I was home. It was fun. I went with my girlfriend and her niece and nephew. I definitely had more fun than anyone else. I think fish are beautiful. I also love the penguins. I went to the Camden Aquarium in New Jersey. I also enjoyed the hippos and there is a hallway surrounded by water and the sharks swim all around you. It was a good time.

3/15/06

I went to the South Commons for the first time yesterday. It is amazing. They have so many more places to eat than east. I was amazed. They have anything you want to eat and it is actually good. Last night they had shrimp, fried shrimp, lobster bisque, lobster tail, salmon, steak, and baked potatoes. They also have a place called city grill which has all the grilled food which is really good. Next year when I am in my apartment I am going to get a meal plan and go to South everyday.

3/17/06

HAPPY ST. PATRICS DAY! EVERYONE IS IRISH TODAY! GET DRUNK!

3/20/05

I was in a darts tournament last night. I played at my friend’s apartment. We played count up to 400 points. It was 10 bucks to get in on it. There ended up being 8 people in the tournament. Four people shot in the first game and four shot in the second. The first two people to reach 400 in the first and second game met in the final. I played in the first game and came in second so I moved on to the final round. In the final round I shot real good but my friend got lucky and beat me on his last shot. I am still pissed off. I was so close to winning all that money.

3/22/06

It was my girlfriend’s birthday yesterday. She turned 19. She was kind of mad at me because I didn’t come home for it. I couldn’t because I had a test. Then she got mad at me because I was falling asleep on the phone last night. I didn’t make her day to happy and that made mine not to good. I am going to go home this weekend and give her, her present so she will be happy again. I got her a subscription to US Magazine and a necklace. She is going to love them.

3/24/06

SCHOOL SUCKS! Going home today. SO HAPPY!

3/27/06

This weekend was fun at home. I chilled with my girl and celebrated her birthday. I took her to dinner and then we went to see a movie. After that we went to my house and I gave her my presents. She liked them a lot. After that we drank some wine and after that we did our thing. It was a very nice night.

3/31/06

I am going to be my cousin’s sponsor for the sacrament of Confirmation. It happens at the end of April. I remember when I made my Confirmation. All we did in school was study the questions that the Bishop was going to ask us. When the day of the Confirmation came I was ready. The Bishop only ended up asking us a couple questions. I told my cousin the other day that he asks all the questions and if no one raises there hand, he just calls on people. I think I made him nervous but that is alright. I hope there is good food at my aunt’s house after it.

4/1/06

APRIL FOOLS

4/10/06

I went to the 76ers game this past weekend. My friend’s mom lives in Chicago and she came to town for it because they played the Bulls. The Sixers won the game. It was a very fun time. They have the best nachos at the Wachovia Center. I ate so many of them. My friend’s mom is also my mom’s best friend. It was good to see my mom have a fun time. My friend’s mom moved to Chicago because that is where she is from, but Sean stayed in Philly and is living with his dad. We also went out to eat at Chickies and Petes before she left. That is a sports bar that is one of the best in the country.

4/19/06

Today is my birthday. I am now 19 years old. I feel so much older. I am going to go fishing in a little bit and tonight I am going to the lacrosse game. I also got my license the other day finally. I took driving lessons for two weeks and then she took me to take my test on the 11th. I got 16 points taken off because of a wide turn but I passed and I am so happy. I never thought this day would come. I am going to be able to do so much more now. The only thing that sucks is I got to pay my mom a $100 a month now for insurance. O well.

Mark Wyszynski

Final Project

5/1/06

I am sure most of you have heard of the concept of “going wireless”. Wireless is much easier than anything else. Wireless systems were first adopted by businesses, but more and more college campuses are now taking advantage of the new technology. Many issues surround the concept of wireless networks; convenience, cost, accessibility and security are all major issues to take into consideration before going through with a wireless network. I am aware that no one is going to be thrilled when having to put a substantial amount of money into a project, but a wireless network is an investment that will pay off greatly. These networks are beneficial to everyone in a college campus. Campuses across the U.S are prime examples of how a wireless campus is better than a wired campus in many ways. Technology is always advancing and with every year comes a smaller, more efficient piece of equipment.

Laptops are taking over college campuses. Students are attracted to the mobility and size of laptops. Many students have chosen laptops as their primary computer and many students have a laptop as their secondary computer. People are always striving to have the latest technology and laptops are seem to be favored much more among today’s computer users. For example, when I was standing in line down at Rescom to get my computer set up, I saw that more than half of the students in line had laptops. Wireless networks provide easy access and tremendous convenience for laptop users.

Wireless networks are much more convenient for users than the old wired systems. Students and teachers are capable of Internet use everywhere. Instead of being confined to a dormitory room or office, students and teachers are able to go to more comfortable study and work environments. People naturally want to get out of their rooms for various reasons, whether it is because of noise pollution, small space, or other personal reasons. For me it is impossible to write a paper in my dorm room. It is very hard for me to concentrate. My roommate is always in the room. If he is in there he is either watching television, listening to music on his computer, or talking to his girlfriend on the phone. I need silence with no distractions. If I am in the computer lab it is also hard to concentrate. There are always people talking and the constant sound of computer keys getting tapped is very annoying. Wireless systems are very helpful to those who don’t want to be confined to their rooms or offices.

Wireless networks are primarily based on access points or AP’s as they are commonly called. AP’s are crucial when it comes to mobility because they can be set up anywhere. These access points revolve around a HUB that serves as the base for all AP’s. AP’s are easy to set up and they can be put anywhere. AP’s allow easy access to network users and have great coverage. Wireless fidelity or WiFi is said to pose a problem to accessibility because wireless systems run on two main types of networks. 802.11 is the transmission that a wireless network uses, however there are two types that are commonly used: 802.11a and 802.11b. When people hear that there are two different transmissions and that most WiFi compatible computers only use one they panic. Problems can occur if a network runs solely on 802.11a or 802.11b, but there is a solution. Dual band networks allow WiFi computers to access the system with 802.11a or b. This solution leaves no problems in terms of accessibility within a wireless network. However, a problem does arise when people outside the network try to hack into the system.

Computer hackers have always been a problem in the computer world and there has always been a solution. Privacy and security within a network is very important, being that there is a variety of personal information at stake. Wireless systems are no more vulnerable to hackers than a wired system. The technique for hacking into a wireless system may be different but the damage that can be done is not. Wired systems have hundreds of different security systems to prevent hackers from accessing network capabilities, yet I have still been very unlucky. I have lost two documents while I have been here at Penn State in the computer lab. I have also had many problems with my computer at home. I had to buy two computers in two years because of hackers. My computers were so messed up. As wireless systems evolve better security becomes available. Like all security programs, some are more effective than others.

A popular form of security within a wireless network is the Wired Equivalent Privacy or the WEP algorithm. The WEP algorithm has been criticized for its incapability to provide sound security for a wireless network. These accusations are not entirely false when said in the right context. WEP, like most effective security programs in a wired system, is not meant to be used alone. WEP is an advanced security program and is very effective but it is vulnerable when it stands alone. The WEP program should be used in addition to several other security programs such as access control, password protection, firewalls and other forms of encryption to ensure security. When all of these programs are used with WEP the accusations against the program are no longer true.

People seem to think that a wireless network is expensive to set up and too time consuming. Wireless systems are extremely easy to set up and they can be ready in very little time. Wired systems are very difficult to set up and there is a lot of labor involved in doing so. In a wireless network there is no need for a massive amount of electricians and there is no need for tunneling through walls and ground to set up the AP’s. When setting up a wireless system there is no disturbance to the building or the activities that go on in the building. Because a wireless system does not require such a bulky work force and lengthy time period to set up there is a sufficient amount of money being saved. Equipment for wireless systems is also cheaper than thousands of wires running through a building. Excessive amounts of equipment are required to set up a wired network compared to a wireless system that require very few pieces of equipment. Wired systems also require expensive equipment where as wireless systems cost anywhere from two hundred dollars to one thousand dollars for state of the art systems, which is substantially lower compared to all of the money required to set up a wired network.

Wireless networks are becoming the fast, easy, cheap, and convenient alternative to wired networks. They provide so many options to students and teachers and are much more convenient than wired systems. Campuses that have gone through with the wireless process have seen the effects and are pleased to have made such a decision. Ratings for schools go up, costs go down, and members of the college or university are all pleased. Investing in a wireless network is an effective way to keep ahead of competitors and to attract more students.