Lingering effects of the power-outages

Due to Hurricane Sandy, Northeastern states along the coastline, and even further mainland, towards the Great Lakes, suffered tremendous losses and hardships. Homes and businesses lost power for days, tolling on each person differently. Some families took the loss of electricity as an opportunity to return to a time where electricity hadn't been created, and entertainment was sought from board games, while others traveled to places with TV, plugs to charge their electronics, and working AC. Businesses were forced to shut down for a period of time due to the lack of power, and the floods and destruction surrounding them. Many had branches and trees cause major devastation to their workplaces and their cities. With the hurricane storming for several days, many areas experienced severe flooding, rising up to 15 inches off the ground, only further hindering business owners from re-opening their stores. Needless to say, the ruin caused by Hurricane Sandy was severe, and continues to impact many households, and will do so even after the electricity returns.

Jonathan Fahey and Scott Mayerowitz started the article with brief simple sentences explaining the main gist of the rest of the report. This encourages the readers to continue reading, to see just how people dealt with this disaster. They continue by giving the facts, all details known as of the time the report was written. They include all the data known about families without power, the spread of the hurricane's effect, and then ease into what people are actually facing with, and how they are reacting to each problem. They describe the less significant issues such as lack of cellphones and television, and follow with the more critical problems such as families having no available food, or people with medical conditions not having access to necessary resources, such as insulin for diabetics, stored in refrigerators. The authors talk about the good and bad about the storm: the unity of people sharing their resources, or people exploiting the storm and using it to benefit themselves. They constantly alternate between the pro's and con's of the hurricane, but end it with a con, quoting a man who's business is forced to stay closed due to the storm, but with the lasting effects, may have a huge impact on the future clientele. Ending with a con proves that though some people may have been brought together because of Sandy, it was overall bad, and recovering from such damage will require many days, and weeks.

http://news.yahoo.com/blackouts-linger-northeasterners-try-adjust-220200751.html

For Flood Victims, Another Blow Is Possible

With the recent tragedy of Hurricane Sandy, I have been very interested in reading the countless articles and reports on the effects on the east coast.  When searching for my articles I have begun to always look to the New York Times.  I find that these articles not only are intriguing and well written, but include a good amount of facts to build a complete story. In the article "For Flood Victims, Another Blow is Possible," the author provided logos through stating facts and explaining certain situation, but included ethos through different quotes and pictures of the statement.  For example, the author states that there is $18 billion dollars of damage, which is a shocking number.  This fact combined with the picture on the cover of the article results in a mixture of logos and ethos.  This tactic is what makes the New York Times so captivating to me.  I am able to relate to the stories emotionally and personally, while also gaining a concrete knowledge about the event.

After Storm, Businesses Try to Keep Moving

By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ

This article pertains to the repercussions of Hurricane Sandy on the financial district of New York City. While most were worried about the effects that it would have on the city's electric circuit and all different parts of transportations, the financial district was worried about the effect on the stocks. The author of the article opens it up with an anecdote about a businessman's factory in Fairfield, New Jersey. By doing this, he brings the reader into the piece by giving an example of a small business then moving towards a larger business such as JP Morgan and Verizon in New York. He helps the reader understand how big the storm was by saying how important such companies are in the grand scheme of things. He ends the article with a quote stating the importance power has not only in the financial district, but also the world and that without it, we won't be able to function. Overall, Scwartz does a good job portraying the importance of all aspects of electricity showing the repercussions of Hurricane Sandy.

Storm Pushes Aside Presidential Politics, Mostly

In this current events article, Michael Barbaro seeks to explore the reactions of the presidential candidates to Sandy.  I found that an underlying purpose made his article biased though he tries to balance it out. He begins by introducing a scene in which Mitt Romney is in a high school gym collecting food supplies while a campaign video is playing in the background. I find Barbaro’s article to be one sided and biased, pinning Romney as a selfish politician. Though he is supposed to stay neutral, Barbaro’s dislike for Romney is seen when he says, “His campaign called it a “storm-relief event,” even though it was at the same gym where he was previously set to hold a traditional campaign rally.” Barbaro insinuates that Romney did not put effort into helping those who were to be affected by the storm. He is trying to convey that Romney simply changed the name of the event and used it as a means to gain people’s approval. Barbaro also points out other things that incriminate Romney as a presidential candidate such as his doubts in FEMA which heads relief projects after such storms as Sandy. Barbaro’s opinions are subtlety stated through facts but there is no doubt of his favoritism of Obama. Though he rarely mentions Obama in the article it is obvious that Barbaro does not favor Romney.  To make it seem unbiased, Barbaro uses quotes such as “‘He wants to help people,’ Ms. Flaum said. She peered around the room. ‘This is a nonpartisan event. But most of us are Republicans.’” Even this quote holds a level of distaste for Romney as seen in the second half of the quote. Barbaro also tries to prove he is unbiased by including a portion about a shirt that says “Obama, you’re fired”. He does not back this opinion though, he simply states what the shirt says.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/us/politics/storm-pushes-presidential-race-from-spotlight.html?ref=politics&_r=0

Will the election date be extended?

This article mainly addressed the efforts from both President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney toward hurricane relief funds. Although only congress can extend the election date, both candidates are expressing concern that New York and other states without power will not have the ability to vote. Both Obama and Romney have put off politics to aid people in need, however they have been strategizing nonetheless. Governor Romney showed his campaign video to a crowd of people helping people who have been affected by hurricane Sandy. Obama canceled his visits to two swing states in order to devote his time to hurricane relief. Both candidates however are working political strategies to get elected in their efforts to help with the current situation.

Is 160 enough? One Indian man's family

A few years ago I stumbled upon an article about an Indian man who boasted the largest family in the world. According to the article, Ziona in 2011 had 39 wives, 86 children, and 35 grandchildren, a grand total of 160. I found it fascinating that in a poor village in India, a man would willingly provide for so many people. The article does not use a distinct voice to convey a message but rather relies on facts and quotations to communicate the point that this family is unique. Ziona founded a Christian sect that promotes polygamy, a practice shunned in most western countries. However, according to some articles Ziona is actually showing compassion to these women by taking them in, because without his support many of them would have no means of support. Ziona is portrayed as a benefactor rather than a man obsessed with women. Although polygamy often apparently involves problems with favoritism shown to particular wives and children, all 39 of Ziona’s wives get along perfectly well. The article uses quotes from various wives to establish this point. The wives also manage a large household efficiently. In many photographs, Ziona looks proud surrounded by his large family. In other photos his wives smile before the camera while holding chickens they are going to cook for dinner. According to the pictures, the entire family seems happy and gets along well. Are the photos authors romanticizing the situation? Could 39 wives really all live together in harmony?

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-10-31/asia/world_asia_india-record-family_1_ziona-cook-bedrooms?_s=PM:ASIA

Pictures of Sandy

On Time.com there is a series of photos and captions of the effects of Hurricane Sandy and the preparations people are taking. It starts with Obama stepping off a plane in the middle of a rainstorm and then continues with pictures of the Hudson river, traffic free Manhattan  cape may, subway stations. flooded fenwick island, sea foam in Nags Head, evacuation centers, boarded up buildings. and even more. I included the link so you can see all the pictures. The north east coast rarely has hurricanes and we have actually paused to prepare ourselves for this hurricane. The choice of both rural, urban, and beach photos contrasts what sandy effects really are. There are a few rural photos and then some urban ones. Almost alternating. To me it represents that this disaster can bring us all together. From New York to South Carolina everyone is hunkering down and preparing ourselves. My favorite picture is photo 11 of the piles of sea foam in North Carolina. This photo preceded by the empty grand central station shows the calm and the unrest caused byt he storm. Its like emptiness and then a dock piled high with creepy sea foam. I just think this is the best way to communicate Sandy's effects. Because we can read about its effects all we want but until we see them we do not really think it will affect us.

http://nation.time.com/2012/10/29/hurricane-sandy-bears-down-on-east-coast/

In debate over offensive Halloween costumes, where's the line?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/27/living/halloween-ethnic-costumes/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

This article speaks out against controversial Halloween costumes in today's society. Many people wear costumes that play on cultural stereotypes that can be racist, sexist, or just downright offensive. The author cites a campaign called "We're a culture, not a costume" that was created by a student group at Ohio University. The campaign features posters of various racial stereotypes that are often made into insensitive Halloween costumes. The author also points out the over- sexualization of female costumes- the sexy barmaid, the french maid clad in fishnets and garters, cat-woman in skintight spandex,  a scantily-dressed geisha. A woman wearing any of these kinds of costumes is not only objectifying herself, but reinforcing the image of women as sex objects. As a reader, this article made me really think about the deeper meaning behind things that I had previously regarded as cultural norms. Although Halloween is just a silly holiday that should not be taken too seriously,society must think of a bigger picture; if this is how people really see other cultures and genders then perhaps the American ideal of an unprejudiced and accepting society is merely illusory.

Colon Free Zone: Panama debates land sale law repeal

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20106765
     The article shows the anger of Panama citizens, living in the Colon Free Zone, after the government passed a law that issued the sale of land in the region. It had to be repealed, because of the protests and negative responses. Though the articles is about the repealing of the law, it focuses more on the outraged citizens. It appeals to pathos, as the author clearly wants people to identify with the outrage of the citizens. As well as see their government being wrong for passing such a law, that cheats an already poor region out of jobs. The sale of the land to a private company had no benefit to its inhabitants, but claimed that it would boost the regions development. Though the author begins and expresses a lot about the riots, he establishes his ethos by using quotations from the president of Panama, who speaks on how it was repealed because the citizens were not happy. This is opposed to interviewing an upset protester, who could speak on its affects in the region. This show their credibility, but also that they are favorable toward the government for acting on the people's reaction.      

Update: Hurricane's death toll rises to 65 in Caribbean

The journalist opens the article by discussing how the United States is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.  However, he proceeds to explain that Caribbean islands such as Cuba and Haiti have already been hit hard by the hurricane.  He communicates the severity the hurricane by first stating the known death tolls on such islands.  The journalist then uses logos to explain the damage, such as collapsed bridges, ruined crops, and homes buried underwater.  These descriptions also appeal to the emotions of the readers because it helps to give them a visual of what has happened to the Caribbean islands and creates worry for what is to come in the United States.  He then uses pathos to evoke sympathy for Haiti when he brings up the incident of the 2010 earthquake.  This helps the audience to remember the devastation Haiti has suffered in recent years, and how much the hurricane will continue to negatively affect them.  He concludes the article using more logos, stating that deaths and other destruction have been reported in Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.  The article serves its purpose to warn the United States of the dangers of Hurricane Sandy, but also conveys that the Caribbean has suffered the worst of it, so as to evoke sympathy and less self-centeredness in the United States.
 




link to article: http://news.msn.com/world/update-hurricanes-death-toll-rises-to-65-in-caribbean

Urgent Warnings as Hurricane Sandy Heads Northeast

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/us/hurricane-sandy-on-collision-course-with-winter-storm.html

As Hurricane Sandy approaches the East Coast, news sites have been keeping a close eye on this tropical storm. In the New York Times, a reporter wrote this article using dramatic diction to emphasize the hype of the hurricane that is nearing. He uses diction such as "massive", "collision", and "impact" to describe the storm which makes it sound powerful. The author then uses logos to show the hysteria that people on the East Coast are falling into by mentioning the purchases of generators and batteries, and the evacuation of low-lying areas. He continues to be factual in everyone's preparation for the hurricane with how the states are readying themselves. State by state, he lists the precautions that people are taking to prove both how much people are concerned but also the impending impact that Hurricane Sandy will have on the East Coast. Finally, the author ends with pathos by relating to the victims of Hurricane Irene by saying that it is predicted that Hurricane Sandy will be worse, and finally with a quote of a concerned bystander saying, "We learned our lesson from Irene and are better prepared,” he said. “I’ve got the generator and the gas. Now I’m just worried about the roof."

Undecided Voters, This Is Obama vs. Romney: Countdown Day 9

As the presidential election of 2012 draws near, many articles concerning President Obama and Governor Romney are released. In particular, Howard Fineman addresses the issues regarding undecided voters. The election, according to some televised polls, is very close. Several states bounce back and forth from "lean Obama" to "lean Romney. Undecided voters could change and sway the election for one candidate to win.

In this article, Fineman gives ten different tips to guide an undecided voter on his or her choice for the election. Fineman uses many direct quotes and statistic for each candidate when addressing the main questions an undecided voter should ponder. These questions include, abstract questions such as "How full is the economic glass?" opinionated questions like, "Who is best (for you) on the social issues of abortion, contraception and gay rights?" and even reflection on the past questions such as "Was the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler a good idea?" By providing many voters with these types of questions, Fineman is able to help each voter make the best possible choice for this 2012 election. Through Fineman's information regarding each candidate on current and past topics, he inevitably sways the voters into choosing a candidate and helping the election progress. 

Link to article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-fineman/undecided-voters-guide_b_2025750.html

Samar Badawi Takes a Stand

CNN journalists Rima Maktabi and Schams Ewazer reported Samar Badawi's story last Wednesday. Badawi is a 30 year old mother from Jeddah Saudi Arabia that was jailed last year for 7 months. You may be asking yourself what is the reasoning for this? She was jailed for disobeying her father; she disobeyed Saudi Arabia's guardianship laws, which require women to gain permission from their father, husband, brother, or even adult son for to do daily activities. Human Rights Watch reported that Badawi was physically abused by her father from the age of 14, after her mother died of cancer. At the age of 25, she decided to take a stand and ran away to a women's shelter. Her father charged her with disobedience due to her refusal to return to his abuse. In this case, she was charged and imprisoned for 7 months. Badawi got a ruling to transfer her guardianship to her unlce, and filed a suit against her father's refusal to allow her the right to marry; She was released last year after an online campaign. Badawi states, "I came out victorious and was very proud of myself that I was able to handle those seven months. It wasn't easy. When I was alone, I would remember the injustice from my father, from the judge who was horrible to me, and the society that didn't spare me." She does not ask for changes within the laws, but asks for better awareness. she states, "Our laws are fair. Very fair, It not for the law, I would not have been able to escape the difficult situation I was in. The problem is that there is no legal culture here. Women here are from various backgrounds, aren't aware of rights, there is no awareness."
Badawi was presented with an International Women of Courage award by U.S First Lady Michelle Obama and U.S Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on March 8, 2012. This award is presented anually to women who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights. In Saudi Arabia, Women's rights is a very controversial topic, and there are a range of views, both from men and women.
Maktabi and Ewazer, use pathos to connect with their targeted audience (women). These journalists outlined their story heavily with details, which helps the readers connect to Badawin and become aware how severe this was and is in the Middle East. However, I wanted to know more about the online campaign. I had no idea what that meant or is. These journalists successfully share Badawin's story, while creating awareness of women's oppression in the Middle East and they teach that women are capable for standing up for themselves.

Anxiety over losing connections as Sandy approaches

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/weather/bs-md-marbella-storm-anxiety-20121027,0,5247616.story In this article the author uses first person to relay her worries and anxious feelings about the possibility of losing power from the upcoming storm, Sandy. She uses pathos as she explains how she quickly becomes obsessed with certain things and most recently, she has become obsessed with gaining information. She then continues to show how so many other people need their laptops and cell phones in order to feel connected the world and informed about current events. The author uses logos as the scientific term for this obsession is included along with her conversation with an expert on this topic. She attempts to sooth nerves and surpress the anxiety of her readers as she concludes her article with a quote from someone from the Center for Severe Weather Research, implying that there is a possibility that the storm could move out to sea and this area might not become affected at all.

Felix Baumgartner's Jump

John Tierney wrote an article on Felix Baumgartner's jump, breaking the sound barrier and records set by Joe Kittinger half a century earlier. Tierney first describes the glory of the jump, listing the records broken, and the fame that comes with it. He then proceeds with the more statistical aspect of the jump, and the science that had gone in behind the five-year project. This jump wasn't to showcase the bravery of one man, it was to blaze the trail for future astronauts that may employ the prototype suit, or pilots that may find themselves in a harmful situation similar to the one presented. Tierney uses pathos before logos, so that he can draw in the audience with the feelings of courage and humility that Baumgartner describes facing, and then he includes the facts surrounding the descent, such as the data collected, the benefits it will reap, and the psychological and medical research that helped Baumgartner with this risky feat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/felix-baumgartner-skydiving.html?_r=0

P-tech Schools

This article is about "P-tech" schools that are spreading around the country. Instead of graduating high school in four years with skills in math, history, English, and science, students at these schools are learning different types of material that apply more to modern society. They teach mostly about technology, but offer other courses that the institution believes will help these kids find more jobs. Due to the economy and unemployment rate, the popularity of these types of schools are rising because of the courses they have to offer. They have found that many recent college graduates cannot find jobs that directly relate to their majors or focus, and are forced to sacrifice their passion in order to find a job. These schools are very effective because they are teaching kids exactly what they need to know for a life outside of high  school.

Earth Sized Planet Found Outside of Solar System

A team of European astronomers have just recently found a planet outside of our solar system that is the same size and distance from a star that earth is.. The one problem is that the surface is too hot that we may never be able to land on it. It is also 25 trillion miles away making the journey almost impossible. The good news however is there may be planets circling the star. So scientists are still searching for a planet within the Goldilocks Zone, somewhere that's not too hot and not too cold.

This article is quite short and straight to the point. The title grabs our attention because the way it is phrased it seems the planet might be inhabitable, however in the article they discuss how it is not. The article has a hint of humor too it keeping what could be a dry subject interesting. The author says "they found it circling a star right next door — 25 trillion miles away."In the second paragraph he says it is uninhabitable but in the third he continues to say there may be other planets circling that star so keep your hopes up. His organization is what mostly influences the readers mood. We are excited, then disappointing, and then excited again. Our mood changes with each paragraph. The length encourages one to read it because it is short so it does not take long and the subject matter is interesting enough that you will take 5 minutes out of your day to actually read and article in Time magazine

Hollande's No Homework Pledge No Joke

Jonathan Tobin’s article uses an innocent tone to convey a complex and controversial message about governmental control over education and children. He creates a new story about French President Hollande’s proposal to abolish homework in French schools. Tobin uses his daughter’s story as a stepping stone to bigger issues regarding socialism and the ways in which a new program would ruin “individual initiative.” Tobin keeps the article light by being sarcastic and humorous. For instance, he says that Hollande created the proposal to try to win support from the much younger generation who are unfortunately too young to vote. By opening the article with his daughter’s personal view of Hollande and the no-homework policy, Tobin establishes himself as a concerned father who cares about politics. Tobin throughout the article references his daughter and children in order to make the article more personal and not simply another dull article on politics.



http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/10/17/francois-hollande-no-homework-pledge-no-joke-socialism-education/

Language Development

A recent article by Elizabeth Landau, reporter for CNN, described the conclusions of an experiment which explored the link between language development of babies, and depression during pregnancy and early motherhood.  The article begins with the use of pathos, as it engages the reader by discussing the supernatural ability of infants to learn language at an incredible rate, and also their ability to interpret  the different tones of a native, and nonnative speaker of a language. As the article begins to progress, the author uses a lot of logos as it goes on to explain the methods of the performed experiment. The researchers made three categories of participants. One group of pregnant women was depressed, but did not take medication for it. the second group of pregnant women was also depressed, but DID take medication, and the third group of pregnant women served as the control group, as they did not have symptoms of depression. The results of the experiment were that the infants born in the control group were in their prime for learning a language at approximately 6 months, children born from non-medicated mothers with depression were in their prime at approximately 10 months, and children who were born from mothers who medicated for their depression had already reached, and passed their prime time for developing language by the time they underwent their first screening at 6 months. Author Elizabeth Landau ends her report with rhetorical questions, encouraging readers to think into what this research could mean for the future. There were no official conclusions drawn from this research so far, so the author engages the interest of the readers by using the element of mystery to conclude her article.

Mermaid: Body Found

July 12, Discovery Channel released a documentary on the discovery of "mermaids" based on real events and scientific theories. Scientists believe this mystical creature is not so mystical after all. Journalist Jason Robey states, "Throughout history, people from nearly every culture have independently described the same half-man, half-fish anomaly. What if there’s a kernel of truth behind the legend of this mythic creature? Is the idea of mermaids really so far-fetched?" This documentary discusses the theory of the aquatic ape. This theory derives from evolution. Scientists believe that before apes evolved into humans, there were two groups due to a separation. This separation was caused by natural disasters and erosion. One group remained on land, while the other group adapted to water life. Eventually, the aquatic group evolved into mermaids. Robey's article does not describe the details of this theory. I attained this knowledge myself from watching the actual documentary, which was very interesting. However, Robey's article was pure lothos and did not do the documentary justice. He failed to mention details such as the actual evidence, description of the body found, where the body was found, and the names of the scientist's that came up with these theories. Do you believe the idea of mermaids is far fetched?

‘Worried Sick’: Meningitis Risk Haunts 14,000

This article was published today in the New York Times and focuses on the possibility of patients being infected with meningitis as a result of being injected with a certain steroid drug. Certain batches of these steroids resulted in patients being contaminated by a mold that could lead to meningitis.  Denise Grady, the author, draws the reader in by starting with a personal account of the situation.  The inclusion of this story starts the article off with pathos.  The article begins to transition when Grady states, "So far, 282 have contracted meningitis, and 23 have died, in a national outbreak linked to a contaminated drug made by the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass."  She begins to back up her story with facts and statements from doctors. The article then shifts from logos back to pathos as Grady ends the article with another personal story.  By framing the article with two personal stories, she is able to express how deeply this scenario has begun to effect the lives of multiple Americans.  The personal stories but a meaning behind all of the facts and show the severity of the situation for those infected. Her tactic is very effective because it relays the importance of this medical mistake, while also establishing credibility behind the stories.

Jihadi terror suspect could face tough odds in court

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/opinion/bergen-terror-arrest/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

This article is about the unlikelihood of Jihadist terrorism subjects gaining sympathy from jurors, especially after 9/11.The article begins with Peter Bergen establishing his ethos as a security analyst and writer. He uses logos when he cites statistics to further his argument, stating that the convictions of 100% of Jihadist terrorism subjects as opposed to 70% of Non-Jihadist terrorism subjects after 9/11 proves that not only using entrapment as a defense is  ineffective. Bergen goes on to imply that many Americans are still unsympathetic, even prejudiced, to suspected Arab terrorists over a decade after 9/11. He also uses logos as he cites specific examples of trials where jihad terror suspects have been convicted despite using entrapment as part of their defense. 

Gender Gap

With the election around the corner many articles discuss the outcome of the election and which way portions of the population will vote. In this article, Nate Silver discusses the fact that the gender gap in voting may be the greatest it has ever been. He begins by relating the women’s choice for president compared to the men’s choice and how it would effect this year’s election if only a single gender voted. Naturally readers question why this gap occurs and as if he expects this question he moves onto discuss the history of the gap. Silver dates it back to the decision in the Roe v. Wade case in 1973. Once reviewing the history he returns back to the current situation during this election year. With his readers educated, Silver is able to continue his article with a greater depth that his readers can now understand. He ends the article stating that the gap is hard to judge but that with the growing difference in the candidates’ conflicting ideologies, the gender gap will be most likely to grow.

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/gender-gap-near-historic-highs/?hp

Armstrong Appeals to Cancer Supporters

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/us/lance-armstrong/index.html

In recent events, Lance Armstrong has been accused of doping and there has been a lot of evidence that proves him guilty. Many people such as Daniel and Connie Roddy who have donated thousands of dollars to the Livestrong franchise feel betrayed and are demanding their money back. They believe that since Armstrong has been titled as a fraud, that the Livestrong company is also unreliable. The fact is that Armstrong has more than just his own reputation to worry about, but is also responsible for a huge cancer charity company. Since his accusation, the company has lost sponsorships such as Nike. However, the author of the article reminds the readers that Livestrong is about more than the success or failures of Armstrong, but about taking a stand to cancer. Armstrong himself has been elusive with matters pertaining to his doping, but has spoken out about still supporting the movement to end cancer. The author includes both sides of the argument, but ends with the conclusion that people should still support Livestrong because it is an important cause and that is what people should pay attention to, not the scandal that arises from Armstrong.

For President, a Complex Calculus of Race and Politics

By Jodi Kantor
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/us/politics/for-president-obama-a-complex-calculus-of-race-and-politics.html?hp&_r=0

This article is an extremely interesting and new kind of article portraying the idea of race and the effect it has had on Obama's presidency. Before, I had considered race to be irrelevant to any sort of political campaign or election, but this article has relayed the idea that that is not the case and it in fact plays a great role in it. It opens up giving Obama's typical line when speaking in front of other African-Americans about the upcoming election. He always opens with the same line "I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you", and then the article goes on to explain many different situations in which he has said this. Ms. Kantor continues to explain that in interviews and the news, Obama rarely ever talks about his race and the fact that he is the first black president, because instead of being proud of this, he feels as though it is not what people should be focusing on. He in fact dislikes how his race affects others opinions of him when making laws and working on different political actions. I had thought that he had used his race to his advantage in being the first to do something and making it a historical landmark, when really he wants his race to have no effect on his political life. The author of the article did an excellent job in portraying the actual opinion Obama has through her use of quotations and examples from his presidency. I walk away after reading it feeling like I have been enlightened on all accounts when considering the upcoming election.

Cuddle Your Kid!

Nicholas Kristof published this article in his Op-Ed column in the New York Times yesterday. The article addresses a key social problem in our society: the cycle of poverty. Kristof uses a recent study of rats at McGill university to further support his claim that attentive parenting at a young age can increase test scores, and willingness to learn. He establishes his voice as a rhetor first with logos, using the experiment conducted by Michael Meaney, a neurologist at McGill. After analyzing the experiment and pointing out that rats who were nurtured by their mothers were able to complete mazes faster, live longer, and were more social and curious, he asks the question if this conclusion can be applied to humans, specifically, when addressing poverty. Kristof uses pathos to describe how hard being an impoverish single mother can be, and how the mothers stress transfers to the child, who, in theory, will behave the same way when he/she decides to have children. He continues using pathos by relating this theory to the upcoming presidential election, and uses the argument as a possible solution to the poverty rate in America. By founding new parenting programs, Kristof suspects that the number of american citizens in poverty will drastically decrease because of the results of the rat experiment. He closes with an example of a girl named Kewauna, who began high school with a C average and an arrest, and how participating in one of the programs helped her achieve all A's her senior, get into college, and receive an A+ in biology. Kristof uses Kewauna as a metaphor to our society, showing that there is always room for improvement as long as you work hard enough for it.

Sailabration drew more than 1.5 million visitors

Jamie Smith Hopkins, the author of this articles, mainly focuses on the facts and statistics regarding the event, "Star-Spangled Sailabration" held last June rather than a personal experience.  Hopkins neither gives a personal story nor employs quotations from the visitors of the event. In fact, Hopkins only uses quotations and analysis from the standpoint of economic interest rather than personal pleasure or appeal. Hopkins' economic approach is successful due to the fact that he emphasizes the positive economic impact on the metro area from the event. Even though Hopkins, mainly stresses the facts and statistics, he paints a picture of the congested atmosphere and the success of the event when he says, "Baltimore's weeklong Star-Spangled Sailabration in June drew more than 1.5 million people — some 435,000 from out of state." Later, Hopkins continues to reiterate the popularity of the event when he quotes a restaurant owner about crowd being a "higher volume than we've seen in many, many, many years." finally, Hopkins ends with a description of the next "Sailabration" event being held in 2014. Overall, Hopkins uses quotations, facts and statistics to highlight the success of the "Star-Spangled Sailabration" event in hopes of bringing more to the next celebratory "Star-Spangled Sailabration."


Link to Article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sailabration-impact-20121018,0,6567550.story

$2 million prize announced for cure for blindness by 2020

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/maryland-health/bs-md-hopkins-blindness-20121019,0,3138923,full.story In this article, the author begins with explaining the terms of the prize itself along with the research involved in order to complete the cure. They then go on to explain how the date the prize was announced and the deadline set purposefully has the same amount of days between the time President Kennedy challenged to put a man on the moon to the day Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. The author continues on to explain how those aiding with the prize have been affected by blindness, incorporating pathos. Logos is then included as experts in the area of ophthalmology explain possible causes and diseases that cause blindness. Local residents affected by different degrees of blindness are interviewed, telling the interviewer what it would mean for them if there would be a cure for blindness one day. As the article concludes, the author includes statistics of some of people's top fears; one of them is becoming blind.

Family Charged In Death Of 9-Year-Old That Puzzled Police For a Decade

Aidan Gardiner, the author of this article, discusses the arrest of three people who murdered a young girl ten years ago.  He discusses the struggle the police have endured for the last decade in trying to solve this case.  He is able to convey the seemingly hopelessness of the case by describing how the police turned to "America's Most Wanted" and still ended up with little to no leads on the case.  However, Gardiner then includes a piece of information from the young girl's sister, saying just when she was killed, which was the big break on the case.  Gardiner then appeals to the sympathy of the reader when he describes how the girl was mentally and physically abused as a child and then unfolds the graphic story of how she was killed by close relatives and then her body dumped near the New Jersey Turnpike.  He concludes the article with the charges against the accused.  Through his inclusion of the facts of the case and information about the abuse the young girl suffered throughout her short life, he appeals to the audience logically and sympathetically so they are informed of the details of the incident and feel an emotional reaction to the tragic murder.



Link to article: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121011/east-harlem/family-charged-death-of-9-year-old-that-puzzled-police-for-decade

Indian rickshaw-puller forced to take baby to work

               This article gives a brief story about a man in India, whose wife died in child birth, and because of this death he now must carry his baby daughter to work everyday. His job is to taxi people in a rickshaw; he must pedal the wheels of the rickshaw, with one hand on the handle bars, and the other carrying his baby girl. People around the world have all types of situations similar to this, and what choice do they have but to endure. This man is receiving help to care for his child, because of the publicity from articles about his situation. Otherwise, he most likely would not have received any sort of aid. The article also says how Mr. Jatav struggles to pay 500 rupees for rent each month (equivalent to $6), as well as the 30 rupees he must pay to continue to use his rickshaw. As a 16 year old in America I posses enough money, simply lying around, to pay this man's rent  for at least the next 3 years. People live on less than a dollar a day. For men like Bablu Jatav, his only hope seems to lie within his arms.  

Bullied Girl Runs for Homecoming Queen

Dylan Stableford, a journalist for Yahoo, wrote an article Tuesday, September 25 about inspirational Whitney Kropp. Whitney Kropp, a 16 year old that currently attends Ogemaw Heights High School in West Branch, Michigan, is an ordinary teenager that was bullied to the point where she considered suicide after being elected to the homecoming court as a joke. This prank has turned into a positive thing; Kropp has decided to run for homecoming queen in spite of her bullies. Residents of her community have quickly gathered around her for support. A facebook page was launched to support this bullied teen (like the page to support her), and a hair salon and dress shop have donated their services to help dress the teen appropriately for the event. In Stableford's article, he uses both logos and pathos. He syntax consists of organized details about the event. Before reading this article, I read an article about the same event that was composed by People magazine. People failed to mention specific details and focus more on pathos, which I do not like. Stableford uses diction such as encouraged, hoax, and happy ending to show his support for Kropp. Through his diction, he is able to connect with the audience. After reading this article, I too am a Kropp fan.

No Reservations

In No Reservations: Saudi Arabia, Anthony Bourdain uses the exploration of food to also investigate and clarify stereotypes of the religion of Islam and the Saudi people.  He begins the episode by setting the scene in Saudi Arabia and introduces the woman who will be guiding him around the area.  Right away, Bourdain defies a stereotype of Saudi Arabian culture by showing the inside of Danya's home.  By showing her flat screen TV, her selection of DVDs and other modern commodities, Bourdain shows that Saudi Arabians have normal lives like Westerners, reflected through the insides of their homes.  However, his explorations through town do confirm the clothing that many expect women to wear.  The women are mostly covered, if not completely covered, but other than that, the marketplace appears like other markets around the world.   Later, when searching for fish for food, they spend a day in the water.  This excursion defies another stereotype that Saudi Arabia is completely desert.  It is, in fact, a fertile place that does have water.  The food, however, does reflect Arabian culture.  It consists of a lot of rice, a full lamb, and they must wait for the call to prayer before they begin eating dinner.  This meal is the first explicit example of differences between Saudi Arabian culture and typical Western culture, as in Saudi Arabia, their Muslim faith drives their many actions, such as eating a meal.  As Danya proceeds to guide Bourdain around town, she continues to prove just how similar Western and Middle Eastern culture actually are, contrary to popular belief.  Danya states that she wishes people would stop viewing Saudi Arabia as simply a desert land, so she takes Bourdain to the mall.  This being a typical activity, she establishes a connection between the two cultures that are typically viewed as completely different.  Bourdain uses the exploration of the cuisine to bring up cultural conversations and controversies with Danya.  Danya discusses that Islam is not specifically segregating women, but they are also separating men from the rest of culture.  It is not that women are repressed, it is that both of the sexes are segregated from one another.  However, Danya believes that the culture is okay the way it is--as a family centered society that could be improved if the situation permits.  I enjoyed the excursions through the different landscapes and culture to defy the common stereotypes of Islam and Saudi people.  He explains that the Saudi culture cannot be summed up in a few stereotypical phrases, accusations or judgments, but is a much more complex culture that is under-appreciated by Western culture.    

No Reservations

I thought this video was incredibly interesting due to the incorporation of food as a common ground for all cultures.  This video dives into the daily life of Danya, a Saudi Arabian woman film maker She explains to Bourdain that Islam is a religion, which does not define one's entire life. She shows her flat screen TV and DVD's to demonstrate that their lives are do not differ as greatly as other's might think. In order to understand this culture it is crucial for an outsider, especially a westerner, to see that there are many types of people who follow this religion. There will always be extremists and people who take holy scriptures very literally, and there are also people who loosely interpret everything the religion has to offer.

No Reservations

I loved the way that No Reservations uses food to explain a specific culture.  Through exploring the cuisine, Bourdain is able to make the viewer feel immersed in the society in a very specific way.  This unique approach portrays countless aspects of a culture in a way I had never been taught before.  By having Dana, a member of the Saudi Arabian society, lead the episode, Bourdain is able to evoke pathos, as I constantly found myself relating to her and attempting to understand her situation.  She was able to show that she maintains her western roots, while also being a part of the community in Saudi Arabia. However, Dana is not a typical Saudi Arabian woman since she was the first woman in the country to run her own company without the presence of a man. By having Dana host the episode, No Reservations was able to depict a unique perspective of Saudi Arabian culture by accessing it through food and the eyes of a leading figure in their community.  As the episode continues, Bourdain points out nuances of the culture that relates directly to western culture. He and Dana do this in an effort to show the similarities of the two societies.  Although there are drastic fundamental differences, it is clear that Saudi Arabia is more "normal" than most would imagine. The process of explaining this unique society through various meals and restaurants was a succesful way to present facts about the country while also activating pathos in order to make the experience more personal. Overall, I found the episode very captivating.  No Reservations had a way of teaching about the culture in a way that kept me interested and learning without even realizing it.

Russian Opposition Weak at Polls

Kathy Lally writes this article for the Washington Post, published today, regarding the lacking numbers of the opposition party to Putin's United Russia administration. Lally writes that although the opposition was a strong force in the public eye last December, the numbers seen then have not been appearing at the polls for city council members, senate members, governors, and mayors today. Generally, Lally uses a lot of logos within this article, and considering it's a political article regarding a foreign country, that's a good thing. With the use of logos, Lally is able to tell the facts without presenting them with any bias towards a specific political party in Russia. Her use of statistics and quotes brings a credible sense to the article, and also allow people to form their own opinions on the matter instead of believing her opinion.

No Reservations

    Anthony Bourdains’s No Reservations filmed in Saudi Arabia focused mainly on food, but the program discussed some aspects of Saudi Arabian culture. The show highlighted the life of one woman, Bourdain’s hostess, who seemed quite westernized in her ideas and customs. I thought that perhaps more than one woman should have been shown. Bourdain’s hostess was not at all traditional in the way she dressed and in her comments on Muslim values. She seemed to imply that Saudi culture is outdated and that change will take a long time. I thought it was interesting that she was one of the few women not fully covered in black and that she was walking around the city with a strange western man and a film crew. I doubt that more traditional people would have been pleased. Bourdain’s guide made reference to the fact that the men are able to wear light and airy clothes while the woman have to wear black ones that trap the heat. She also brought up segregation among men and women; she said that in her mind she thinks of it as the men being separated, not the women being isolated. The TV show emphasized the friendliness of the Saudis and the appeal of their fascinating culture and country.

No Reservations

I have never seen No Reservations before and I found it extremely interesting and intriguing how Anthony Bourdain explores the cultures of other countries through food. I believe that the focus of this episode is to open a window through which non-Muslims can view a culture that they do not fully understand. The episode opens when Bourdain is first welcomed into Danya's house. She explains that she is just like westerners, pointing out to Bourdain her collection of dvd's, her flat screen television and her couches. Making this connection is key in order for outsiders to relate and in order for them to begin to understand that Islam is a religion and like any religion, is divided into many variations. There are many instances in which Bourdain tries to illustrate the fact that all of Saudi Arabia does not follow strict Muslim rule and that they are just like any other population of people with a set of beliefs. He comments on the fact that they are people, they have a sense of humor, and that outsiders' perceptions are skewed. Bourdain talks to Danya and Danya reveals that she does not feel that as a woman she is segregated from men but that the men are segregated from the women. Bourdain focuses on emerging  himself in the culture and he purchases a white robe that men in Saudi Arabia wear. He wears it around, stating that he feels free. Perhaps this is to highlight the idea that the women in Saudi Arabia feel free though from our perspective they seem oppressed. Bourdain discusses that there is a bigger picture that is not seen by outside populations which is why the perception of Saudis and Islam is so skewed. 

No Reservations

The No Reservation's episode exposes Saudi Arabia and the side of its culture that most Westerners do not expect. In a place that most Western culture believes to be discriminatory to women, it is surprising to have a women outreaching to show the world how Saudi Arabia is actually like. The interaction between the host woman and Anthony shows that women and men do intermingle, even though we think that this never happens. Also since Western culture depicts Saudi Arabia as serious and strict, it is unexpected that there is so much laughter and fun. Even though Bordain briefly discusses the accusations that Westerners have against Saudi Arabia of unequal treatment to women, many of the other taboos and stereotypes are not mentioned. The episode instead focuses on the similarities that our countries share rather than the obvious differences that have pitted our nations against each other. The conclusion of the episode I found to be true when Bordain says that there is a bigger picture that we are not seeing of Saudi Arabia, that we instead, are focusing on the worst parts of the situation. Shows such as No Reservations not only are interesting, but are important to enlighten the ignorance of our country.

Money, Politics: Find a Way to Mix

By Brody Mullins
The Wall Street Journal (Print)

This article's subtitle states: "Campaign-finance laws can't stop the rich and powerful from influencing elections". Such subtitle basically sums up the authors message for the entire story. He opens up with giving a background about how the government created rules on how much citizens could donate to particular candidates for their campaigns. He then introduces his own opinion with a rhetoric question asking why all the sudden it seems that it is all changing. He then continues with the rhetoric question answering it with "It's an excellent question...and one that will surely be discussed by policymakers...no matter who wins in November" which introduces the rest of his article. He establishes his trustworthiness by giving background information dating back to the 1970's with data and statistics. When reading the article, there is no question to whether or not he is biased to one political party or another because of his ability to appear on both sides of the argument. He gets his point across by the end of the article stating that he believes that the rules will change and laws will be removed because of the system of aid in campaigns ending with a powerful closing sentence leaving the reader worried and anxious about the election.

Through Our Stomachs

The episode starts with presenting Muslims as ordinary people. They watch Scrubs they sit on couches. Bourdain even says he could have been in the Mid-West it wasn't that much different. He established Danya (spelling?) as an important woman by saying she is the only woman granted permission to run a production company. Basically establishing she knows what she is talking about.  Bourdain balances the information with snarky comments. So it’s funny and informative. He points out the differences between the cultures for example in dress and food, but he also shows the similarities of family values and entertainment. When talking about clothes the conversation could have gotten uncomfortable but it wasn't a big deal to Danya. She laughed it off. Also when they were on the boat Danya wore bright colors showing women don’t only wear black. “Faith Governs Life”  Bourdain does state that it is weird for westerners to grasp that concept but if you just observe the experience and remove your opinion its beautiful. Throughout the episode he shows all the food, but he also seeks to show the culture and prove some stereotypes wrong. They go to the mall. Saudi Arabia is not just desert. And women don’t just wear abayas (spelling?) I know about this because of Nine Parts of Desire, but for people who have not read that book that part is a little bit of a culture shock. Their audience is just your common man watching the travel channel so the education received from this episode could be shocking. And judging from Bourdain’s language he seeks to shock. The trip to the fast food restaurant shows that they eat food just like we do but the restaurant is separated into families and the singles section (aka the men). Bourdain asks a lot of question that the common westerner would ask which is a great way to prove many assumptions wrong.  I also really appreciate Bourdain wearing the thobe (spelling?) and driving around in the desert. Another commonality between western culture and Saudi Arabia except we don’t do it in the desert.  Lastly when they show all the women they prove for a fact that Saudi Arabians do actually wear western clothes and the men do too. He concludes by saying the news doesn't present the whole picture and what he saw were a great set of people that are more like us than we think. 

No Reservations

In this episode, Anthony Bourdain explores Saudi Arabia in order to learn about its rich cultural traditions through food, fashion, and societal norms. What surprised me was the normalcy of the life of Bourdain's host. Some of her female relatives sat unveiled as they ate dinner with Bourdain.She shook hands with Bourdain. She had a western style home with couches and a flat screen and even watched American shows on T.V. She did not cover her face or her eyes and actually smiled. She was her husband's only wife. She could leave her home. She had an independent job. She laughed among male friends and spoke with a voice above a whisper. She walked the streets alone with Bourdain, an unrelated male. She even ate pizza.

This was all shocking because the idea I had gotten from Nine Parts of Desire was a Saudi Arabia that repressed its women to the point where they were brainwashed into thinking they had chosen to be repressed. I had pictured an image where Saudi Arabia was the most strict and oppressive country in the Middle East. But this video shows a different side of Saudi Arabia. I thought it was very interesting how there was a family side of a restaurant and a single male side of the restaurant. Brooks might say it was to cater to single males, while Danya asserts that it is to protect the family, which Islamic culture values highly(which Brooks would disagree with citing a woman's lack of custody of her children in the case of divorce). Brooks believes women are pressured into veiling and wearing the heavy, hot abayas, while Danya believes they protect a women's purity.

It is difficult to coincide  these two very different realities of Saudi Arabia, and of the Middle East in general. Perhaps Saudi Arabia has drastically changed in the almost 25 years since Brooks last visited; or perhaps Danya's life is an exception to the norm.

No Reservations

          It was really great getting another up close look at the culture, through food. The way the traditional Saudi foods bring family together is a beautiful thing and just gives more insight into how limited our knowledge is of their culture. The video showed how much respect they have for each other as families all coming from the same root. Even Bourdain was a bit taken back by the joy, humor, and simple love of life that many people in Saudi Arabia have; in exact contradiction to what one would like to assume about Saudi Arabia especially after reading Nine Parts. We also see that it is not only women there who are asked to dress in modesty, though a different color, men in Saudi Arabia were wearing very similar outfits to the women, covering their bodies from head to toe. Going into the culture is what actually allows you to learn, as westerners we seem to always look into things through a hypothesis. A hypothesis being a a statement or guess we make based on observation, we then investigate looking to prove what we already think. This is opposed to simply going in and trying to learn about something. Opening your arms to a situation is the most effective way to actually learn.

No Reservations- Saudi Arabia (Observations)

In this particular episode of No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain travels to Saudi Arabia. His host, a Saudi women, shows him the culture through participating in different activities. In the beginning, she shows Bourdain her home. Interestingly, her home is is decorated with modern furniture and technology such as couches and television. Another shocking observation was when Bourdain's host
took him on a journey to the ocean to catch fish. While there, Bourdain notices that women's standard of dress affects their life on land and also extends to their water outfits. Again, the standard of dress is discussed when Bourdain's host takes him to the mall and explains the importance for style underneath the black cloak. Finally, when Bourdain went to a local fast food restaurant with his host, they discussed separation and the Saudi culture. When entering the restaurant, Bourdain's host signaled to the signs "singles section" and "family section." Interestingly, the singles section is only for men while the family section is for everybody else. Bourdain's host admitted that she never thought anything of the separation, she believed the men are the ones who are being secluded, not women. Overall, Bourdain's episode of No Reservations in Saudi Arabia broke various stereotypes and misconceptions of women and the Saudi culture.

No Reservations - Saudi Arabia

In this video, Anthony Bourdain expresses his feelings about Saudi Arabia before, during, and after his trip there. He asks his host about her feelings towards the societal norms there and is surprised by her answers about how she believes that it is the men who are separated from society, not the women. Bourdain's host shows how Saudis can do many of the things that Westerners can do, just dressed differently and in a different way. Stereotypical conceptions of Saudis are excluded in this episode as the audience follows the life of a typical woman in that society. I also found this picture on Tumblr and I thought that it was pretty relevant to the topic of what is considered women exploitation.

source:http://coconutdreamin.tumblr.com/post/29229247921/thought-provoking

News blog post 10/13-14: Alternate assignment

This week, instead of reading your own news story, watch No Reservations episode with Anthony Bourdain in Saudi Arabia (you can search on youtube; there are five pieces of the episode). Record observations on our blog!

Attention Disorder or Not

This week I read another article from the New York Times called “Attention Disorder or Not, Children Prescribed Pills to Help in School.”  This article concerns the legal and illegal use of A.D.D.  medicine.  It interested me because throughout the past years many of my friends have been taking or started taking this medicine.  I have never completely understood the effects of the medicine and wanted to learn more about the increasing use. The author uses specific examples from Dr. Anderson to explain common situations with this medicine.  These stories are then backed up by specific facts given by the author.  This combination was an effective way of relaying the message about this medicine.  The author then transitioned into stories about patients using the medicine to give different perspectives.  I think this method made the article believable and captivating at the same time.