"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. 

TOW 3: Apple adds to lawsuit with Samsung

There has been a highly publicized legal war between Apple and Samsung, two companies that are atop the list in mobile devices. Apple has recently added six products to its ongoing lawsuit with Samsung. In August, a 1.05 billion dollar was awarded to Apple concerning certain patents that Samsung copied. Now, Apple will try for the same outcome with six other products. John McCrank is the author of the article, a highly publicized journalist for “Reuters.” If a verdict is reached in favor of Apple, it will likely have a tremendous negative impact on Samsung’s business. McCrank’s intent is to inform his readers of a significant court case in the technology world. He is appealing to an audience of readers that are interested in and may use Apple and Samsung products. Additionally, the audience consists of people who have money invested in the stock of either company, since the outcome will affect the economic trends of both organizations. McCrank uses somewhat of a storytelling mode to illustrate the timeline of the recent case. The two companies are juxtaposed to show how their responses to the trials have differed. The article is effective in offering a non-bias summation of the recently renewed case between two technology giants. 

MP 2 TOW 2: The Power of Voting

This past election was an important time in American history. Two very different candidates took the stage, and voters decided the course our country will take for the next four years. However, there were also many Americans that were considering not voting at all. In this political cartoon, Jeff Parker depicts the negativity of their actions. Parker is a cartoonist for the Florida Today, and also draws for various television shows. The cartoon is entitled “What is the most powerful place in America?,” and shows the White House, The Pentagon, the U.S. Capital, and a voting booth which is the selected item. This intends to show where the power of our society truly comes from. It also is meant to encourage possible voters to exercise this power and vote. Irony is used in this cartoon, because the viewers do not expect the most powerful image to be the smallest of the group. Parker also uses color quite well. The red check next to the voting booth is the most vibrant and noticeable color of the piece, drawing attention to it immediately. While the cartoon is rather simple, Parker is quite effective in achieving his purpose. It can become very easy for Americans to forget that they hold the true power because primary elections only happen once every four years. This is instrumental in reminding Americans that their vote truly is important in the grand scheme of things. 

MP 2- TOW #1: To our veterans- thank you for your service

Today is Veterans Day, a time when we all are asked to look back and reflect on our lives, appreciate the ones who have served for us, and be grateful for the liberties and freedoms that they have protected. The title off this article nearly says it all, “To our veterans- thank you for your service.” Cathy Maxwell, a prolific writer in editorials for Fox News, gives tribute to our war veterans in this nicely written, concise yet well-spoken article. It is very important that the article is published on the Fox Website today. Many Americans take their rights and liberties for granted because they have become so accustomed to them. Veterans Day is a spot on the calendar that is set in stone for us to step back and both evaluate and appreciate our proud lives as Americans. This is what Maxwell intends to invoke in her audience of Fox readers. Parallelism of sentences is used quite effectively throughout: for the majority of the article, Maxwell begins each sentence with “Thank you.” This structure is used to show gratitude to war veterans, their spouses, their children, and their parents. Pathos is the most resonating appeal used, with sentences such as, “Thank you for sacrificing time with your families and missing those significant milestones the rest of us take for granted.” An anecdote is included at the concession of the article that serves as a window into the life of a former Air Force officer. By using these three strategies, among others. Cathy Maxwell succeeded in achieving her intentions of gratitude, reflection, and pride in her article “To our veterans- thank you for your service.” 

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/11/11/to-our-veterans-thank-for-your-service/

Outliers: the final post

In the first post, I talked about Gladwell’s unique explanations to success. In this section, he uses these ideas to talk about not only success, but failure as well. He starts by exploring the series of family feuds and deaths that occurred in the Appalachians during the 19^th century. Gladwell proposes that much of this can be attributed to the idea of “culture of honor”; that, according to cultural and geographical ramifications, violence was an acceptable solution of the time. He then explores the very controversial topic of plane crashes, and suggests that a pilot’s heritage and descent is just as to blame as his or her piloting skills. Gladwell also examines the KIPP schooling program, and how its constant focus on continuous learning has helped thousands of underprivileged youth obtain success. Malcolm Gladwell has established his presence as an influential non-fiction writer through his numerous best sellers, including Blink and The Tipping Point. Although some of the excerpts in Outliers are not necessarily related to one another specifically, Gladwell uses them to instill a sense of curiosity and interest in his readers. Due to the diverse amount of topics discussed throughout his book, he appeals to a very wide array of audiences. The people who would buy this book are most likely the ones who are interested in well-supported alternative theories. Gladwell continues to use anecdotes and logos extremely effectively. He also uses well written descriptions of each topic to introduce them, and complex yet necessary diction that is specific to each chapter. The Epilogue is what I believe made Outliers most impactful. Gladwell dares to do something very few non-fiction writers do: he uses his own personal story to enhance the points presented in the previous chapters. By relating his family’s story to the idea of “outliers”, he not only increases his credibility as an author but also as an expert in the subject area.