The Glory Of Life

The Empire Strikes Back

2011-10-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

One of the most highly rated films of all time. The 12th highest money making domestic film. The best Star Wars film (in my opinion, mainly because George Lucas didn't write the screenplay or direct it). I'm sure many of you were thinking about Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (and if you weren't, there's something wrong with you) when you read the title of this blog. However, this blog is not really intended to talk about this film at all. Nevertheless, it's mentioned because I'm a clever person and therefore write clever titles.

Empire Apples: a cross between a Mac and a Red Delicious

What I really wanted to talk about was a different Empire, one not so long ago and one not so far away. This Empire was established in 1945 by a man named Lester C. Anderson, a food nutritionist at Cornell University. Yes, we're talking about the infamous Empire Apple. Its parents are the McIntosh Apple, known for its red and green peel, tart flavor, and pink applesauce and the Red Delicious. The Mac was originated in Ontario, Canada (that's right avid Mac users, your technology was named after something born in Canada). The Red Delicious originated in Iowa. The Red Delicious has lost popularity, especially in the 1990s. In fact, Red Delicious farmers had to be bailed out by President Clinton. However, the Red Delicious has parented over 50 different types of apples, which goes to show that even if you don't amount to anything in life (and taste bad) you can still have very successful progenitors.

Empire Apples served with butternut squash,
green beans, and garlic pepper chicken.

I was first introduced to the Empire Apple two weeks ago. My brother and sister-in-law (who were upset that they were #10 in my "Why Rochester is Great" post, but just for clarification, those ten reasons were in no specific order) invited me to a caramel apple eating party over at their neighbors house. There were multiple labeled plates of apples at the party and by far the best apples were Empire. Since then, I have purchased many Empires at the local market and have eaten over 20 apples (if you do your math, that's more than one a day). Interestingly, researchers in Hong Kong found that flies who were fed apples lived 10% longer than flies who didn't. The proverb "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," dates back from 19th century Wales. Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. They are rich with the nutritionist loving antioxidants. The Empire Apple was named after the State of New York, The "Empire" State. The origins of this nickname are unknown, but are rumored to have been started by President George Washington. The Empire Apple is one of the many great things for living in New York State in the Fall.

For all of you Star Wars lovers who either stumbled upon this blog by putting "The Empire Strikes Back" into google and it gave you this blog, or those reading who are just Star Wars fans, here is a cool little thing I found. Some guy made this psuedo trailer for "The Empire Strikes Back" a year ago, in remembrance of the 30 year anniversary of the film. It's pretty cool. I hope that last sentence didn't declare me a nerd or geek. But really, the trailer is cool.

Why Rochester is GREAT

2011-09-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

So, many of you know that I recently moved to Rochester, NY to attend medical school. Over the next four years you may read a blog on a week before a test professing my hatred for medical school and a wish to instead become a ski bum. The next week, you may read another blog exclaiming my love for seeing patients and how medicine is the most rewarding career field ever invented. There will be time for those posts, but not today.

Many of you probably think, why in the world did you go to Rochester, NY? Didn't you already live through 22 years in the freezing desert winters of Utah and two years in the freeze-your-cahones-off winters of Ukraine? Why go to yet another cold place? Why not live in say, San Diego?? Well, sometimes I don't know why I decided to come to Rochester, but it felt right and now I love it here. So, in case you've never been to the city voted as one of the top places to raise a family (sounds great, right? too bad I'm not raising any sort of family unless you count the squirrel who urinates and seems to live on the top of my car) here are some great things about this place:

1. The Public Market

Word on the street is that the Rochester Public Market has been voted the best public market in the country. It is open year round and has been operating since 1905. You can get amazingly fresh produce (picked the day of). And just like my television hero George Costanza, I'm always looking for a good deal. Take today for example. I purchased 7 apples, 6 tomatoes, 3 green peppers,
6 nectarines, a bunch of celery, and a large butternut squash for a whopping six dollars. SIX. You can't beat that, I guarantee it.

2. Disc Golf

An avid disc golfer.

Home of the 2011 PDGA Amateur & Junior World Championships, Rochester is home to ten disc golf courses. Course maps and score cards to all Rochester disc courses and be found at http://grdgc.org/. Although I have not yet purchased a disc golf bag and towel, I do own two discs including a water-floating mid-range and putting disc. The water floating design has already saved me from losing my disc in the water more than once. I'm definitely getting the hang of it, especially after the run-in with the Monroe Community College's marquee, resulting in a huge gauge out of my disc. It seems to fly better now. I can get an amazing "glide" on my disc, even though it's not strongly built for such an endeavor. What does "glide" mean? The website http://www.innovadiscs.com/downloads/disc-selection-charts.html can tell you more.

3. Festivals

WedgeStock, located in the 'SouthWedge' neighborhood.

For all of you Cedar City, UT fans, you may think that Cedar City is Festival City USA. However, did you know that Rochester, NY has over 30 festivals during the 2011 calendar year? Yeah, baby. Such festivals include: Groundhog Day Festival, Rochester RibFest, WedgeStock, Ten Ugly Men Festival, and Palmyra Canal Days. So, if you're a die-hard festival go-er, Rochester may be the place for you.

4. Wegmans

Wegmans: When you thought a grocery store couldn't be cool.

Could you ever have guessed that one of the best parts about a city could be a grocery store? Well, I have never heard so much talk about a grocery store until I came to Rochester. One Rochesterian described to me that Wegmans will "change you life". It almost has. Wegmans has appeared on Fortune's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list since its inception in 1998, and has ranked among the top 10 for eight consecutive years. In fact, Food Network recognized it with its award for Best Grocery Store in 2001, and Consumer Reports ranked it the top large grocery chain in the United States in 2009. Wegmans is headquartered in Rochester, NY. It is a privately owned company, founded in 1916 by John and Water Wegman as the Rochester Fruit and Vegetable Company. It has an amazing selection of fruit, vegetables, and other fresh foods. In fact, I went there yesterday and they had a soda dispensing machine in which you could choose from over 100 fountain drinks. Yeah, it's that cool.

5. Palmyra, NY

I am a Mormon, or in other words, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Many of the events leading to its establishment occurred in Palmyra, NY (roughly a 30 min drive from Rochester). My belief in Jesus Christ and truths about him restored through Joseph Smith very much shape my personality, decision-making, and overall lifestyle. It is great to be near a place that is so sacred to me.

6. Rochester: The Minor-League Capital of the U.S.

Rochester Rhinos

Rochester was named the top minor league sports market in the country by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal in July 2005. Rochester has a plethora of minor-league sports teams including: Rochester Red Wings (Baseball), Rochester Knighthawks (Indoor Lacrosse), Rochester Rhinos (Mens Soccer), Rochester Rattlers (Outdoor Lacrosse), Rochester Razorsharks (Basketball), Rochester Raiders (Indoor Football), Western New York Flash (Womens Soccer), Rochester Lancers (Indoor Soccer). A few weeks ago, I attended a Rochester Rhinos game. Although I felt that I could play soccer better than half of the team, it was still a fun night overall.

7. White Hots

White Hot: A Rochester Original

Everyone loves a little BBQ, but if you haven't tried a White Hot, you haven't lived. After eating a White Hot, my big brother has been known to yell out his favorite euphemism, "Sweet Bippy!" The white hot is a variation on the hot dog found in Rochester, New York. The lack of smoking or curing allows the meat to retain a naturally white color. The white hot has become the official hot dog of the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Amerks, Rochester Rhinos and was the official hot dog of the Washington Nationals during the major league baseball team's first season. I would add that the White Hot is 100X better than most hot dogs.

8. Eastman School of Music

Kodak Theatre, Eastman School of Music

Any lover of music can appreciate free concerts. But how about free concerts from some of the best musicians in the country? Almost every evening, professors and graduate students put on free concerts for students and the community. About a month ago, I went to an African American Music Festival and it was spectacular. Some of the best music I have ever heard live. The Eastman School of Music was founded by the famous philanthropist and founder of Eastman Kodak Company, George Eastman. In the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings of specialty areas among music schools in the United States, Eastman was given the following ratings:

1st in instrumental performance
1st in piano performance
1st in music education
1st in composition
2nd in conducting
2nd in opera/vocal performanc
2nd in jazz

9. State Parks

Letchworth State Park

New York State Parks are great. There are many places to camp. In most of the parks, there are food vendors and gift shops for all of you hungry souvenir folk out there. The landscape near Rochester, NY is absolutely beautiful. I traveled to two state parks not too long ago, Letchworth and Stony Brook. Although they were not quite like Zion National Park and Bryce National Park, there are some gorgeous areas in New York State.

10. Family

Brad, MaryAnne, Annie, and James

In 2010, Forbes rated Rochester as the 3rd best place to raise a family. Although I am not raising a family here in Rochester, my older brother is. He is also a medical student at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He lives with his wife MaryAnne, and their two children, Susanna and James. Brad and MaryAnne have helped me a lot since I moved here. Rochester wouldn't be the same without them here with me. I'm happy to spend the next three years with them here on the East Coast.

Speech

2011-05-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, there was a graduation speech competition on campus. The winner would receive $300. My best friend Justin decided to enter the competition. One day, I saw him working on the speech in his office. I decided that I wanted to give him my two cents of what I thought should be said at commencement. However, my pride crumbled when he told me that he wasn't going to add in my suggestions. Writing has never really been my thing, but I felt strongly about my ideas and decided to enter the competition as well. I turned to Sam Seaborn and my West Wing DVDs for inspiration and went to work. Surprisingly, I made it through to the final round, but wasn't fortunate enough to deliver my speech to the SUU Class of 2011. So, for all three of you who read my blog, here is my commencement speech:

President Benson, distinguished faculty, parents, honored guests, and fellow graduates. It is a great honor for me to address you today. The traditions of this institution and my family roots are intertwined. My ancestors helped establish this school, my grandparents taught at this school, and my parents attended this school.

Also, my 4th great grandfather, George Hunter surveyed the land to establish Cedar City. When he came to the knoll west of town he said, “We will not survey this knoll, someday there will be a great institution of learning on it.” That great institution now stands as Southern Utah University. As graduates, we have benefitted from the traditions and heritage of this great school.

When Southern Utah State College became a University in 1991, College President Gerald R. Sherratt stated, “As we embark on our new status as a university, let us remember our past.” I would like to reflect on the past that has created Southern Utah University. SUU is filled with traditions and as soon-to-be graduates, we have kept these traditions alive. However, we must remember that traditions at SUU are more than True T-Bird Night, believing in the ghost of Old Main, or waiting to walk under the Bell Tower until commencement. Traditions are more than events or even ideas. Tradition is the embodiment of values, attitudes and principles. As Thunderbirds, we have succeeded in school and will continue to succeed in society because we have learned to live the traditions that define Southern Utah.

We face troubling circumstances. After graduation, we will enter a world consumed with poverty, political turmoil, and uncertainty. Yet, there is hope. During our tenure at SUU we have developed as individuals inside and outside of the classroom. We will become the next physicians, educators, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, and successful citizens in our society. Not only will we thrive in our post-graduation years, we will be the solution to our world’s catastrophes because we now embody the great SUU traditions of hard work, community engagement and personalization.

We, like Cornelius Bladen, demonstrate the tradition of hard work. In order to establish the Branch Normal School in Cedar City, residents were required by the state to build what is now known as Old Main. In January 1898, a team of 11 men and 21 horses led by Bladen set out to retrieve lumber from Cedar Mountain for the building. After strenuous days of cold weather and treacherous trails, Bladen exclaimed, “We are not going to quit and do not get it into your head that we are. We are going to go down and get bobsleds if we have to and then come back out here and get that lumber out!”

We, like Bladen and his team, have learned that we cannot quit. Despite rigorous academic pressures, we have juggled jobs, social engagements, family responsibilities, and civic duties. We have endured and conquered our struggles, and are now here in the Centrum ready to progress forward. As graduates of SUU, let us continue to maintain and strengthen the tradition of hard work.

We will be the CPAs that spend an extra hour in the office to help a parent find a way to fund their child’s education. We will be the artists that strike that extra paint stroke, enkindling creativity to a younger generation.

Beyond the tradition of hard work, former professor, dean, and academic vice president Conrad V. Hatch, exemplified the tradition of community engagement. During his last year of teaching, Dr. Hatch did not accept a salary. Instead, he contributed his entire year’s salary to fund two endowments: a scholarship in the physical science department and in the communications department. Dr. Hatch stated, “I do not think I will ever have a lot of money to donate to this institution, but I thought I could donate my time. “ Examples of selfless devotion to community, such as Dr. Hatch’s, surround us at SUU. As our lives have been affected by these examples, we have developed the tradition of community engagement.

My grandfather, Dr. Hatch, helped me and many others fall in love with our school and our community. Others like him have helped us appreciate the sacrifices our predecessors have made on our behalf. We now understand that if we want to change our surroundings, our circumstances, and our future, we must give back. As the Bible states, “Charity never faileth.”

We will be successful as we continually contribute to society. We will be the citizens who volunteer for political campaigns in order to change public policy and create needed political reform. We will serve on school boards to influence a child’s educational experience. We will be the nurses, dentists, and physicians that volunteer in low-income clinics to provide quality healthcare for all populations. One day, we may even make personal sacrifices in order to support future SUU students, just like Dr. Hatch, so that the tradition of community engagement may live on.

Finally, we have come to understand and exhibit the tradition of personalization. We have learned to value, showcase and highlight the individual. George W. Decker was one of the four original faculty members at this school. He had a remarkable enthusiasm for his students’ education. Professor Decker was known for providing part-time work for students and, at times, paying the tuition for underprivileged students to fund their schooling. He took a personal interest in this institution and its students. In 1904, every single student signed a petition asking the Board of Regents to consider George W. Decker as the new school president. Professor Decker became the fourth president of this institution and the great tradition of personalization was strengthened.

When many of us are asked, “Why do you love SUU?” we simply reply, “Personalization.” Our personalized education at SUU has led us to be successful students. With a high faculty to student ratio, we have developed great relationships with our faculty. However, our teachers have not only helped us with our homework and studies, they have taught us valuable life lessons. In our clubs, fraternities, sororities, and other communities of learning, we have developed a passion for people.

We will be successful because we will embody the tradition of personalization in our future vocations and relationships. We will be the public school teachers that take the time to meet with our students individually to help them reach their full potential. We will be the businessmen that create lasting relationships with clientele so that our companies shine in a dismal economy. We will be the psychologists that truly understand and care for our patients, resulting in exemplary patient outcomes.

Hard work, civic involvement, and personalization: these are traditions that are inherent at SUU. These are the traditions that will make us successful after graduation. At the time SUSC became Southern Utah University, President Sherratt also said, “I firmly believe that nothing we can foresee, or sense, or conceive is beyond SUU’s capacity to do.” I echo President Sherratt and say that I firmly believe that nothing we can foresee, or sense, or conceive is beyond OUR capacity to do, for we are SUU.

Graduated

2011-05-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well. It's now official. I have graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in Chemistry. Luckily, I haven't left Cedar City quite yet. I will be working on-campus as a tutor/mentor for the next few months before I leave to Rochester, New York for medical school. However, everyone is gone and I am alone on-campus. It's crazy how quick things change. A week ago the tutor lab was SO busy, with tons of people cramming for finals. Students were everywhere on campus. Now, I feel like the only one under the age of 25 at the school. Southern Utah has been great. It was nearly six years ago when I decided to come here, even though I received scholarships at both BYU and Utah. One of the reasons why I came here was to get to know my family better. Both my parents grew up in Cedar City. Both sets of grandparents, and the majority of my aunts, uncles, and cousins live in Cedar. It has been great to get to know them all better. I feel like I have discovered my roots, and in essence, myself while here. I have met lifetime friends here that I will never forget. To all of my fellow graduates, I wish you good luck in the real world.

Expectations

2011-03-28T20:11:00.001-07:00

Dennis Wholey, an American television host and producer, stated, "Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."

When I was fourteen, I started to volunteer in the emergency room at Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, UT. I loved shadowing the physicians, taking vital signs, talking to patients, and even some days getting lunch for the ER docs. One day, I saw a medical student from the University of Utah doing one of his rotations and thought to myself, "One day that will be me." Since that day, I have dreamed of going to the University of Utah School of Medicine.

My ten-year dream was shot down this last weekend. After waiting almost six months after my initial interview at the school, I finally received my answer. I was rejected. I didn't quite understand. In my opinion, I thought that I was an ideal candidate. I had a stellar GPA, MCAT score, and had many unique extracurricular activities on my resume. In fact, I had tailored and dedicated my life so that I could get into the University of Utah.

Now don't get me wrong. I never felt that I "deserved" to go to the University of Utah. But I sure felt that I had a pretty good chance of getting in. Living in Salt Lake would have been ideal. I would have been close to family and friends. However, it's not what is supposed to happen in my life.

Although I always knew that life wouldn't be exactly as I planned it, I am excited for what the future awaits for me. My ultimate dream of becoming a doctor will still happen. I will be attending medical school in either Rochester, NY or Houston, TX.

The West Wing: My turning to the dark side.

2010-06-27T22:11:00.001-07:00

My sister-in-law has tried to get me to watch the west wing ever since I met her. For the last two years, I told her that I would never watch the show because the whole point of the show was to "drop the democratic party poison" during the Bush years. However, as of last month I caved and began watching the show. I love it. Is it making me more moderate and moving towards the democratic side? Yes. But that's okay. Quite frankly, the republican party has made me a little mad lately. I'm not a fan of the Tea Party Movement. Nor am I a fan of Mike Lee, who will most likely be the next senator from Utah. He's a little to extreme. The West Wing is well written and a great show. I highly recommend it.

Real Salt Lake

2010-05-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Robbie Russel destroying Landon Donovan in the 2009 MLS Cup

Yesterday I attended the Real Salt Lake game, the only team in Utah to have won a national championship. Although there were over 15,000 people in attendance, I am surprised that more are not on the Real bandwagon. As a fanatic soccer fan and player, I am glad to see Real undefeated at home for the last 17 games. It was a fabulous game to watch. Five goals were scored. People who say that soccer is a boring sport need to open up their eyes and appreciate the game. I hope that the U.S. does well in South Africa and that the soccer craze in America flourishes in the next couple of weeks.

Snow in April

2010-04-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Utah in April

I commend former Vice President Al Gore for inventing the internet. Because of Al Gore, I can creep people on facebook, check espn.com every hour on the hour, as well as post this blog that three people will read. However, Al Gore was wrong on one thing. Global Warming. I as well as my conservative friends (especially the T-Party) will agree that global warming is a made up fairytale formulated to make the republicans look bad. Newsflash: It snowed today. TODAY. It's April 29th. Not only did it snow today, but it snowed six inches April 1st. It's snowed periodically throughout this beautiful month of April 2010. The liberals reading this post are probably reassuring themselves, saying, "Oh, this conservative nut job is in Canada or the North Pole. Global Warming exists." Wrong. I am sitting here in Southern Utah, land of the red rock and warm summers. I am done with finals. Winter, you should be done as well.

Bear Lake: A Haven

2009-07-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

This past month I attended a huge family reunion in Bear Lake. My grandma grew up in Laketown and we've been going there every summer since I was in diapers. We stayed at the Laketown Lodge. It used to be "The Penny Candy Store" when I was a little kid. It was the grocery store/movie rental/salon/gas station/only store in town of Laketown. My parents would give us kids all a dollar and we could get as much candy as we wanted (which was actually a ton of candy the best were the raspberry gummies). Now it's a 7,000 square foot lodge including a ping-pong table, fooseball table, pool table, air hockey table, a built-in movie theatre, and a kitchen to feed an army. It was awesome! Not to mention during the day we were chillin' on our beach front property. The weather was perfect for wave running and the water wasn't too cold for Bear Lake.

Zion

2009-07-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

This month my buddies and I visited Zion National Park in Southern Utah. Zion is a Hebrew word meaning sanctuary. This place is amazing! It wasn't my first time going, and won't be my last. First, we hiked Angels Landing, the most popular hike in the park. The last half mile you have to hold on to chains in order to make it to the top. The view from the top was splendid. We were about to feed some of the squirrels a little trail mix, but the park ranger (who was the white version of Bob Marley) said we would get the black plague and not to mention a $100 fine. Next, we hiked Weeping Rock. Two layers of shale inside the mountain create a passageway for the water and the water comes out on the side of the mountain. Apparently the water takes thousands of years to travel down the mountain. The ranger told us that they measured the age of the water to determine this. I would love to know how you can measure the age of water. Doesn't water come from rain, which is then evaporated back into the atmosphere? How can water have an age? No clue, but cool nonetheless. Our last hike was near the Temple of Sinawava, which was a sweet place as well. Zion is a sweet sanctuary that should be visited by all. Almost all of the people around us in the park were either from Europe or Asia. Crazy how we have so many sweet spots here in the US but few visit them. I mean I've never been to Yellowstone and it's a couple hours drive from my house.

The UK

2009-07-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have become obsessed with the UK. I love their music, people, and culture. This past month I have seen Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, I have begun reading the Harry Potters all over again, I went and saw Henry V, and was introduced to my new favorite band: Keane. Why is it that so many Americans share my obsession? The Beatles, Harry Potter, The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Coldplay, Tea and Biscuits, U2, Shakespeare, and now my new obesssion, Keane. Why didn't we just stay apart of the Kingdom on which the sun never set? Probably the whole money and freedom thing, the fundamentals of the American mind.

Beginnings

2009-05-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of a blogspot by Michael Hunter. I have always laughed at people making blogs. Now I'm starting one. Irony? Indeed. I hope that my blog isn't boring filled with a detailed list of everything I do each day. I hope that this blog will show people who I really am. I hope that you find joy in reading my postings, listening to the music, and spending a little time out of your day to understand the person behind the name of Michael Hunter.