"School Shooting Vultures"

Recently there was an extremely saddening and disheartening event in Sandy Hook elementary school in Newton, Connecticut. A 20 year-old male entered the building and killed twenty-six individuals, twenty of them children. In the aftermath of this event, the media has been undergoing a lot of scrutiny. The murderer, Adam Lanza, has had his name and face posted all over the news, making him notorious and infamous. Many argue that the media is taking advantage of this aspect of the event to obtain views and ratings, rather than focusing on the lives of the children and teachers that were lost. This cartoon depicts these stations as vultures hovering above the school. The piece was created by Daryl Cagle, founder and owner of Cagle Cartoons, Inc. It is most likely intended for Americans who are fed up with our media. Many believe it is a cause for the increase in violent shootings like this one, because the attackers name is so widely posted that they become famous. The purpose of the article may be to point out the urgency of the issue to encourage media reforms. Cagle personifies the media entities as vultures, which allows him communicate a lot through the connotations of the birds without actually saying very much. The cartoon is in black and white, which allows the message to resonate better with the average onlooker. Overall, Daryl Cagle produced a well-thought-out interpretation of the events. However, it may have been more effective if he was more specific on his message, because it seems that it could be interpreted in a multitude of ways since the birds are not specified as vultures anywhere except in the title.

To view the cartoon: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/9c209b15-4698-44ef-99a7-8e86aedaf2c7.html

Retirement options and acceptance grow for "gay boomers"

During the 1960’s, a multitude of movements occurred that concerned gay rights. During this time, the LGBT was created and championed by a very passionate group of people. Many of these people are now retiring. In the past, it has not always been easy for them to enjoy the same rights and liberties as straight Americans. For example, there are no laws that stop hospitals from not allowing a gay spouse to visit their partner. Historically, such inequalities in rights have caused many homosexuals to go back into the closet when their “health and mobility left them dependent on strangers for help.” However, as times and perceptions have changed, gay rights concerning retirement and the elderly have continued to improve. Jen Christenson, a long-time writer and producer at CNN, wrote this article. The article appeals to readers of CNN that are in support of gay marriage, as it takes a generally pro-choice stance. The backbone of the article revolves around a gay CEO considering retirement, and in this way Christensen uses anecdotes and storytelling to enhance her information. Towards the end, pathos is used effectively when the fear of a future when gays do not receive the necessary help is foreshadowed. The article intends to show the great improvements that have occurred in the way of retiring rights for gay people. However, it also shows where the shortcomings are that need to be addressed moving forward. Christensen does a good job in this piece of achieving these intentions. She cites a lot of evidence and arranges the article in an easy-to-follow, interesting manner. 

For more, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/09/health/lgbt-retirement/index.html?hpt=he_c1

The Professor and the Madman: Post 1

Simon Winchester is a prolific and esteemed British author who was educated at Oxford University. The Professor and the Madman accurately shows his extraordinary lexicographical skills as he guides readers through the interesting story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. The book opens with a jaw-dropping story of a killing in the streets of Lambeth, England. The murderer, whom it is revealed is insane, is none other than William Minor. He later becomes one of the most prominent contributors to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. This dictionary is so prestigious because it is the most full, detailed, and intricate representation of the English language. Winchester describes the dictionary as, "...a last bastion of cultured Englishness, a final echo of value from the greatest of all modern empires" (Winchester 27). The Professor and the Madman was published in 1998 by HarperCollins in New York. Winchester wrote this book to depict the perspective-altering stories of both William Minor and of the dictionary. He targets an audience of people who are interested in language and inclined to learn about its history. A wide array of sophisticated diction is used, implying the novel is more geared for the avid reader. Interesting uses of denotation and connotation are instituted in the framework of the book. At the beginning of each chapter there is the entry of a word from the Oxford English Dictionary. Throughout that chapter, the messages of the word as well as their implied connotations are explored. Parentheses are incorporated heavily throughout Winchester’s prose, used to provide a multitude of information. There are certain aspects of the book that are very effective. The anecdotes are very interesting and the syntax is extremely well developed. However the overall accomplishments are depreciated due to tangential writing. Winchester often digresses from one topic to another, oblivious to the reader’s attention span for detail.