"Josh Hamilton to Keep Up Fan Interaction"

http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7405296/texas-rangers-josh-hamilton-plans-continue-tossing-balls-fans


     Many of you probably heard about the Rangers fan who unfortunately died after falling 20 feet at a Rangers game when Hamilton tossed him a foul ball.  According to the mother of Shannon Stone, the man who passed away, she hopes that Josh Hamilton will continue to throw balls to fans.  The article quoted Hamilton saying that he intends to continue tossing baseballs to fans and he will be mindful to do so at appropriate times.  SuZann Stone was quoted to have said, "I just didn't want him to stop, how sad that would be because that's what little boys and their daddies go for.  This was just an accident."  I think it was very brave of her to say such things because she is still coping with the loss of her son.
     The author of this article, Richard Durrett, uses pathos throughout the article to cause the reader to feel bad for the the Stone family.  he did a very good job  at this and he summarized the topic well by including the opinions of both SuZann Stone and Josh Hamilton.

Bless Me, Ultima Chapters 13-16

     Within these four chapters there were several instances presented that both supported and went against my original prediction that Antonio will grow up on the llano as his father would like.  The first example came in Chapter "Catorce" or 14 on page 167.  In this point in the book Antonio is on his way home after witnessing Narciso warn Andrew that Tenorio is going after Ultima.  At this time there is a great storm which lowers visibility tremendously and causes it to be very difficult for Antonio to get home.  Yet, when reaching the light posts of the bridge Antonio said, "They signaled the dividing lie between the turbulence of the town and its  sins and the quiet peace of the hills of the llano" and "Beyond was home and safety, the warm arms of my mother, the curing powers of Ultima, and the strength of my father" (Anaya 167).  Not only do these statements suggest that Antonio wishes to live in the llano in the future, but it once again identifies the three most important influences in Antonio's life: His father, his mother, and Ultima, each with their different interpretations of life and how to live.  The next example, also in Chapter 14 goes against my original prediction as it foreshadows that Antonio will become a priest as his mother desires.  At this point in the book, Antonio has just witnessed Tenorio shooting Narciso and Antonio is debating what he should do.  He realizes that Narciso will die but there is no time to get a priest to give Narciso confession.  At first Antonio says "I am not a priest" (Anaya 170), but then he goes on to give narciso confession in a very professional manner (as if he were a priest).  obviously, Anaya is hinting that Antonio will become a priest yet he previous example goes against this.  Despite this, the next major example once again goes against my original prediction by suggesting that Antonio will follow the wishes of his mother.  It occurs when Antonio is reciting his catechism to his mother.  At this time, she says, "I hope you will use your knowledge to carry out God's will.  You are a very bright boy, you understand so much, you can be a great leader, a priest-I do not want you to waste your life in dreams, like your father.  You must make something of yourself, you must serve the people.  The people need good leaders, and the greatest leader is a priest-"(Anaya 179).  As if this wasn't a strong enough foreshadowing, Antonio agrees with his mother by saying yes.  The reason for this may be that Antonio hopes to please his mother in that moment yet there appear to be more and more hints as to Antonio becoming a priest and therefore, I predict that he will do just that.  Nonetheless, I have not forgotten influence o both his father and Ultima and I would not be surprised if my prediction was not correct.

"For Illegal Immigrant, Line is Drawn at Transplant"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/nyregion/illegal-immigrants-transplant-cheaper-over-life-isnt-covered.html?hp


     The article discusses a waiter in his 30's who needs to replace his failing kidneys.  His younger brother volunteered to donate a kidney to Angel yet the government won't allow for this to happen.  The reasoning: Angel is an illegal immigrant.  Therefore, the government will pay for a lifetime of dialysis, costing $75,000 a year but will not pay for the $100,000 transplant.  For two years now him and his brother have been trying to find a way to get the transplant yet they continue to run into laws, private insurance conundrums, and ethical quandaries.  They have come to the national impasse between health care and immigration policies, a very interesting paradox.  Who knows what will happen next but personally I think we should ship Angel him back to Mexico.  I know that sounds heartless, and it may be, but if he had come into this country legally, there would be no problems whatsoever and this article wouldn't exist.
     The author mostly appealed to the rhetorical strategy of pathos.  He did so by causing the reader to feel bad for Angel, or at least that is what he intended.  In my case I was not persuaded but Bernstein, the author, made a few good points as to why we should care for  him.  First off, she pointed out the fact that it would be cheaper to give Angel a transplant rather than dialysis for the rest of his life.  Also, she especially appealed to emotion by saying that American "nurses and doctors and technicians are morally obligated, and legally obligated, to provide that life-saving care".  This really makes you feel bad for Angel, but it is kind of his own fault.

"Ohio State Receives One-Year Bowl Ban"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/sports/ncaa-hands-ohio-state-one-year-bowl-ban.html?hpw



     According to author Pete Thamel, "Ohio State's football team will not play in the postseason next year, and the program will lose nine scholarships over the next three years as a result of a scandal that cost Coach Jim Tressel his job in the spring".  The punishments were given because the NCAA found out that Ohio State did not monitor the football program and provided extra benefits for many of its players.  Although Ohio State administrators were surprised by the strict penalties, they decided not to appeal the findings.  Tressel received the worst of the penalties as he was given a five-year "show cause" penalty which will most likely prevent him from coaching in college during that time.  Apparently, Tressel "failed to bring forward information about his players at least four times".  I think Tressel and the Ohio State football team deserve such strict consequences.  In a way, they were cheating and cheating isn't allowed in any sport.  College scandals seem to happen all the time, yet Ohio State has a great football program so this event will most definitely hurt them.
     Thamel wrote about the event with no mercy for the team and Tressel.  He appeared happy with the turnout and provided a sense that there was almost no hope for the team.  Obviously Thamel is not a Ohio State fan, but his article was informative, well written, and insightful.  His lack of the use of pathos is effective in creating an article that resembles a textbook.

Bless me, Ultima Chapters 8-12

     Despite reading these 5 chapters, Ultima is just as mysterious as before.  She presents a different view of life to Antonio that confuses him, yet their relationship continues to grow stronger, especially when Antonio helps her cure Maria's younger brother.  I felt that this part and Antonio's dream in Chapter 9 were the most important parts of this portion of the book.  In chapter 9 Antonio dreams that his brothers want him to go into "the house of sinful women" but he resists.  Antonio says "I cannot enter, I cannot think those thoughts.  I am to be a priest" (Anaya 70).  This may appear as a simple statement yet it hints that Antonio wants to be a priest and it foreshadows that he will be.  His brothers protest by saying that Antonio will eventually enter because he is a Marez.  What this represents is Gabriel's side of the family, one that is not devoted to God.  The dream then shifts to the topic of innocence as Andrew says he will not enter until Antonio has lost his innocence.  In the dream, Antonio's mother claims that he has already lost his innocence because he is a Marez.  Then, Ultima appears in the dream saying "There where the lonely wind of the llano sang to the lover's feat of your birth, there in those hills is your innocence" (Anaya 71).  This foreshadows that Antonio will live in the llano and that is where he will be happiest.  This contrasts the occupation that his mother wants for him to be (a priest).
     The other part of this portion of the book that I felt most important was when Antonio helped Ultima cure the very sick younger brother of Maria  (Lucas Luna).  At this part of the book Antonio is very religious yet he is faced with many contrasting beliefs and ideas of both his parents and Ultima which continue to confuse him.  It causes him to question his faith.  This  confusion gets worse when Ultima is successful in curing Lucas.  It appears that she used the power of nature to help lucas since she is not devoted to God.  She is then accused of being a witch but she passes a test that suggests she is not.  Nonetheless, the accusation is still out there and the people, including Antonio, aren't exactly what or who she is.  Nobody (except maybe her owl) understands her and she doesn't give away many hints as to what she knows.

"As War Ends, Young Veterans Return to Scant Jobs"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/business/for-youngest-veterans-the-bleakest-of-job-prospects.html?hp




     This article discusses the problem of veterans having little opportunity to get jobs in the United States.  The author, Shaila Dewan, wrote about Cpl. Clayton Rhoden who earned "$2,500 a month jumping into helicopters to chase down improvised explosive devices or check out suspected bomb factories".  Despite the fact that he is risked his life, Rhoden is now living with his parents, sells his blood plasma for $80 a week, and works whatever extra duties he can get for his Marine Corps Unit.  Although, Rhoden is just one of so many veterans that can't find a steady job and the future looks bleak.  The joblessness is concentrated among the young and those that are still serving in the National Guard or the reserve.  According to the article "The unemployment rate for veterans aged 20 to 24 has averaged 30 percent this year, more than double that of others the same age, though the rate for older veterans closely matches that of civilians.  Personally, I feel that veterans should have priority over regular citizens f the US since they have directly served the country, sacrificing their time, and risking their lives.
    Dewan appeals to ethos by suggesting that, as Americans, we should be more respectful to veterans and provide them with more benefits than they have as of right now.  She hopes to persuade her readers that veterans have given a lot more to their country than the normal citizen.  She appeals to pathos by making the reader feel bad for the 30 percent of veterans who are not employed.  She hopes that we will act on her emotional appeals.  I am sure this article would be even more emotional for those that know or are related to an unemployed veteran.  I know we won't completely solve this problem, but I hope that we will lower the percentage of veterans that are jobless.

    

"High Schoolers Banned for Tebowing"

The article and video are on from this website: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/7357978/high-school-athletes-suspended-tebowing




     According to the article, written by Christopher Hunt, a group of high school students were suspended because they replicated Tim Tebow's popular pose in the hallways of their school.  The four boys-Jordan Fulcoly, Wayne Drexel, and brothers Tyler and Connor Carrol- were given a one day suspension from school "after three days of taking a knee with their foreheads resting on their fists, the same way Tebow does in the end zone and on the sidelines".  The superintendent of the school system said that the students were not suspended for bringing religion into school but for blocking the hallways.  The students claimed that they did it only as a joke, paying homage to one of the NFL's best role models.  District officials told the student that Tebowing was making it unsafe for students walking in the halls in between classes.  I found this very funny because I don't understand how anyone could get hurt from kids kneeling down in the hallway.  This article was very funny and based on the information that Hunt presented, the superintendent didn't really have a reason for suspending the students other than the fact that they had been told to stop not once, but twice.  If this was true, than the worst justifiable punishment would be a detention.
     I found this article hilarious.  Hunt appeared very sarcastic throughout the article and appeared to be against the suspension.  He seemed to be on the high schoolers side, and, in a way, he questioned the reasoning for the superintendent's decision.  It was exactly the way I felt about the incident.  Hunt's sarcastic tone made the article enjoyable  and i like how he wrote the article as if the incident was a really big deal...cause it really isn't.

Bless Me, Ultima Chapters 1-7

 



     To be honest, the beginning of this book has not been bad to read.  The only disadvantage of the text is the use of the Spanish language for many statements and conversations.  The plot is interesting and there seems to be several conflicts at once, both inside Antonio's mind and within his family.  His mother, Maria, hopes for Antonio to grow up and become a priest while his father hopes that he will grow up on the llano working off the land.  The religious tension within the family is caused by Maria's complete devotion to religion while Gabriel appears to be "sort of" religious.  The parents have even more differences, including the families that they are from.  This is identified when Antonio asks Ultima "Why are they [the Lunas] so strange and quiet? And why are my father's people so loud and wild?" (Anaya 41).  Ultima can only answer this question by saying it is part of their heritage, it is in their blood.  Another interesting aspect of Bless Me, Ultima is Ultima herself.  She appears mysterious and won't exactly say what Antonio's destiny is, yet she and Antonio appear similar in many ways and they form a strong friendship.
     I think that Antonio will end up living in the llano for the rest of his life as his father wishes.  I made this prediction based on the evidence in the beginning of Chapter 4.  At this part of the novel, Ultima and Antonio are in the hills of the llano gathering herbs and plant.  They are enjoying themselves  and they don't appear to have a care in the world.  Within this part, Anaya wrote "In the hills Ultima was happy" (Anaya 40).  Not only is Ultima happy in the llano but it is clear that Antonio enjoys it greatly also.  He likes gathering the herbs and learning there uses.  I think that this is a sign that he will remain in the llano.  In argument to this, someone could point out the fact that Antonio is religious, loves the Virgin Mary, and therefore will become a priest.  Despite this, Antonio and Ultima are similar enough that I think Antonio will live a life similar to Ultima's, one that avoids civilization and a full devotion to God.

"A New Worry for Soccer Parents: Heading the Ball"

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/a-new-worry-for-soccer-parents-heading-the-ball/


     Many people, including myself, have wondered if it is bad to head a soccer ball, and what the effects are, if there are any at all.  This article discusses a study that was performed by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.  They recruited 34 adults, men and women, who "had played soccer since childhood and now competed year-round in adult soccer leagues".  They filled out a questionnaire, participated in computerized memory tests, tested their cognitive skills, and had their brains scanned.  In the data that the researchers presented, the players "who had headed the ball more than about 1,100 times in the previous 12 months showed significant loss of white matter in parts of their brains involved with memory, attention, and the processing of visual information, compared with players who had headed the ball fewer times".  According to the author, this pattern of white matter loss is similar to those seen in the brains of people who have had a traumatic brain injury.  The researchers who performed the experiment also stated that the players who had headed the ball about 1,100 times or more in the past year were a lot worse at recalling lists of words read to them or forgetting/fumbling the words compared to the soccer players that had headed the ball less.  Personally, this article was very interesting since I play soccer.  Also,  I wonder how the effects of heading the ball get worse due to old age, after the players have stopped playing soccer.
     The article was presented in a factual manner which was useful in displaying the information in an easy-to-understand way.  The author explained the problem, the experiment, and the conclusion.  he did not display much bias as to what his opinion on the subject is, but rather gave all the information he had gathered in a carefully written essay.  The author wanted to make sure this article was read by many people.  By the way he wrote, it was apparent that he believed that the subject was very important to those playing soccer.

"Japan Split on Hope for Vast Radiation Cleanup"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/world/asia/japans-huge-nuclear-cleanup-makes-returning-home-a-goal.html?_r=1&hp


     According to the article, written by Martin Fackler, the town of Futaba, Japan is completely deserted.  The traditional wooden homes that remain have "begun to sag and collapse since they were abandoned in March by residents fleeing the nuclear plant on the edge of town that began spiraling toward disaster".  The villagers that left Futaba are among 90,000 people that evacuated the 12 mile area around the Fukushima Daiichi plant, along with another Northwestern area, that were contaminated due to scattered radioactive cesium and iodine from the plant.  As of right now the Japanese are working on cleaning up the area, hoping that those who once lived there can move back.  Despite this, there is much debate as to whether or not the area should be repopulated.  Unlike the Chernobyl accident which the Soviet Union faced, the japanese must clean up the contaminated area because their country is more densely populated and needs the land.  The article itself is very depressing because so many families were forced to leave their homes.  The article also spoke of some residents who had lived in Futaba or other surrounding areas for many generations.  It must have been very difficult for them to leave.
     The author of the article appealed to the emotions of the reading, causing them to feel very bad for those that were effected by such a disaster.  Also, when reading the article, i looked for signs of bias as to whether the author supported repopulation or not.  Apparently, he did a good job in displaying both sides of the debate as I could not find which side he supported more since there were no hints or suggestions as to his opinion.
     

"College Athletes Move Concussions Into the Courtroom"

(Derek Owens of Central Arkansas)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/sports/ncaafootball/college-players-move-concussions-issue-into-the-courtroom.html?_r=1&hp



     This article, by George Vecsey, explains how Derek Owens was hit after receiving a punt during a game.  He was hit so hard that he received a concussion.  Despite this, he immediately got up and headed to the sidelines.  Vecsey didn't just "get his bell rung" but actually he will unfortunately never be allowed to play a contact sport again.  Before all of Vecsey's concussions he was a three-sport athlete who got A's.  After, his grades fell drastically and he had much trouble with memorization.  The article also discussed a suit filed in the US District Court which represents Owens and a few other players.  Many people, including NFL players claim that the college leagues were negligent in handling brain trauma.  The suit has grown to include concussions in sports other than football.  I hope that the league will do something to eradicate dangerous hits.  I like football a lot and it is always entertaining to see a big hit, yet many athletes are getting hurt and in many cases it is ending their careers.
     The author appealed to the emotions of his readers by discussing Owens and how his football hopes were dashed by these concussions and the league has done little to help.  Like me, I am sure many of the people who read this article felt bad for Owens and the other athletes discussed.  It convinced me that the rules must be amended.  Football can still be violent, which is what fans want, but that doesn't mean people have to get hurt.

U.K. Public Workers Begin Biggest Strike in Decades

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/30/border_staff_teachers_join_one_day_uk_strike/

     This article, by David Stringer, discusses the strike occurring in the U.K.  According to the article, "U.K. border staff joined teachers, hospital workers and weather forecasters Wednesday in Britain's largest strike in decades".  Labor unions claimed that up to 2 million public sector staff joined the strike also making this strike the largest one since the Winter of Discontent in 1979.  The protest was due to the "government demands that public sector staff work longer before receiving a pension and contribute more money each month", sharp public spending cuts, and pay rises will be limited to 1% through 2014.  The protest cause many airline delays and many of the protesters wore t-shirts saying, "Get Angry and Fight Back".  In a way this protest relates to the "Occupy" movement in the Unites States.  They are similar in the fact that they are extremely popular.  In a way though, unlike the "Occupy" movement, the protest in the U.K. appears to have a major amount of people that have a reason for protesting yet many of those in the U.S. protest appear to be protesting without reason.
     Stringer used pathos by appealing to the emotions of his readers.  He made them feel bad for those that are protesting.  He appeared to display his bias by hinting that he wants the protesters to be successful.  He did so by getting direct quotes from protesters that make the reader want to help them.  For example one woman said, "I'm worried about my pension. I'm worried about my son's future".  This causes the reader to feel sympathy for these people.

     

Workers Feeling Squeezed by the NBA Lockout

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/25/sports/basketball/in-newark-nba-lockout-costing-arena-workers-much-needed-income.html


     This article discussed the problem that many of ticket-takers, security guards, ushers, and concessionaires are struggling with due to the NBA lockout.  Simply, they are out of a job and many of them are having a difficult time making ends meet.  Many of these jobs don't pay particularly well, yet the fact that the workers aren't getting payed at all is most definitely a problem.  The article also provided many examples such as Scott Gold, who works at Prudential Center supervising the ushers.  Gold talked about how his job helped pay bills, especially around the holidays.  The reason that I chose this article is because I was actually thinking the same thing.  I wondered who the NBA lockout would affect, especially those that are affected directly, like all of the workers at the arena.
     The author made me have a lot of sympathy for all the workers out of a job.  I felt bad for all these people and it gives just another reason to hurry up and fix the lockout.  Before reading this article, I couldn't have cared less when the NBA lockout was resolved.  I enjoy a Celtics game once in a while but I am not much of a fan of basketball.  After reading the article, I was convinced that the owners and players must resolve the lockout in order to help these people.

Legal Battle Ignites Over Jesus Statue in Montana

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/25/us/in-montana-jesus-statue-is-focus-of-legal-battle.html?hpw


     The article discusses a debate over whether a six-foot statue of Jesus Christ should be allowed to remain on Whitefish Mountain Resort, which is federal property.  The statue was erected over 50 years ago "by the local Knights of Columbus chapter in honor of the soldiers from the 10th mountain Division who told of seeing similar shrines in the mountains of Italy during World War II".  The statue is causing much controversy though due to the legality of such a symbol.  An atheist group claims that the statue is in violation of a constitutional principle of separating church and state since it sits on federal property.  I am a Catholic so obviously I have no problem with the statue remaining where it is but I do understand the arguments of the atheists and other religious groups.  For example, I would probably want a Buddha statue to be removed,  although I wouldn't care too much.  The statue represents Jesus Christ obviously, yet i think it represents even more than that.  It represents what WWII (and other war) veterans did for our country and the memories that the are forced to hold for helping their country.  They should decide whether or not the stature should remain.  Nonetheless, the statue is significant so I believe it should stay.
     I think the author did an excellent job in providing both sides of the argument.  He wrote about the atheists who wanted to remove the statue and the Kalispell Chapter of the Knights of Columbus who want the statue to stay.  This strategy of presenting the story to the reader was effective because it allowed the reader to make a decision.  I spoke about my opinion in this blog and provided my argument  but I am sure their are many counter arguments that could be presented.

Hip Procedure Grows Despite Doubt

     
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/health/hip-impingement-grows-popular-but-remains-unproven.html?_r=1&hp


     The article, by author Gina Kolata, discusses hip impingement or bone shaving surgery.  In this type of surgery bumps and irregular shapes in the hip bone are shaved away in an effort to prevent the hip from rubbing against soft tissue in the joint, which would cause tendons to fray and muscles to tear.  According to the article many, many athletes, including Tyson Gay and Alex Rodriguez have done the procedure and it is growing in popularity.  Nonetheless, many people, including surgeons and doctors, believe that the procedure is unnecessary and does nothing to help athletes.  Although many have said that the surgery has helped them, they might just think so.  Actually, it hasn't even proven to be effective even though so many super-star athletes are doing it.  personally, pro athletes have a lot of money, so, even if the procedure doesn't work, it won't effect them.  Although, there could be negative health effects that the doctors and surgeons do not know of yet.
     Kolata did a great job in questioning the procedure and debating if it is a good decision.  This allowed reader to see both points of view yet it was easy to see that Kolata thinks hip shaving surgery is unnecessary and could be a risk to a persons health.  She hinted this throughout the article with rhetorical questions and suggestions of doubt.  This strategy did not fully persuade me yet it gave me new opinions and ideas.

Secret Service Says bullet hit White House

http://www.salon.com/writer/associated_press/

     According to the article, "The Secret Service says a bullet hit an exterior window of the White House and was stopped by ballistic glass".  Also, some rounds of ammunition were found on the White House property along with an AK-47b that was found in the area.  The person suspected for the suspected for the felony is Oscar Ortega-Hernandez and there is a warrant out for his arrest.  Hopefully the government will be able to quickly find this man and lock him up.

     The author of the article was extremely brief in his approach.  This was effective in giving the reader the information very quickly yet I would have liked a bit more information on the incident.  This approach also made the accident appear somewhat menial in the whole scheme of things and it made it seem that the president in his family were in no danger at all.  If this was not true than the only other option was that the author of the article doesn't really care about the event, but I highly doubt that.  

The Natural

     The Natural by Bernard Malamud is an inspiring novel about Roy Hobs, a character who appears heroic up until the end of the novel yet encounters countless problems in his quest to be "the best there ever was in the game".  The book, written in 1952, was made into a movie that I remember watching when I was little.  I don't remember much from the movie except for the iconic Roy Hobbs played by Robert Redford.  In a way I was glad that I didn't remember the movie so that it wouldn't spoil the novel for me.  Although it was Malamud's first book, I felt that it was well written and I am sure that most people would agree as The Natural is one of the most famous baseball-related books of all time.  The book follows Roy Hobbs in his attempt to reach the majors, except for skipping over 15 years, which placed much emphasis on the fact that Roy was very old when he finally made it to the bigs.  The exception of this 15 year period was caused by the largest problem Roy faced, one that affected him all throughout the book, and even in the end.  First off, at the beginning of the novel Roy is a young man who hopes that he will one day (as I mentioned previously) be the best in the game.  He is on his way to try out for the Chicago Cubs and everything is going well until he meets a girl on a train en route to Chicago.  As innocent as this girl, Harriet, appears, she actually is deranged in a way that causes her to purposely shoot Roy for no reason other than to prevent him from being the best there ever was.  About 15 years later Roy shows up to Pop Fisher, coach of the utterly failing New York Knights.  At 34 years old, Roy Hobbs is looked upon with disgust by most people and considered too old...but when Roy finally gets his chance to play he wows everyone with his "natural" skill.  Yet not all is good for Roy as he encounters several relationship problems but all along he loves Memo, the niece of Pop.  Other than this, Roy falls into a slump, gets a women pregnant, eats so much that he has to go to the hospital, and strikes out causing his team to lose the pennant.  In the end Roy almost can't handle the fact that he could have been in the majors since he was 20 had it not been for Harriet.  In the end Roy visits the stingy judge, who is the owner of the Knights and has been paying Roy very little even though he is the best player on the team.  Roy beats up the judge and Gus, a man Roy is jealous of, and calls Memo a whore.  He also sees a newspaper claiming that there was a suspected sellout, meaning that Hobbs had lost the game on purpose to make more money.  This was not true but there is nothing for Hobbs to do but weep.  In fact the last sentence of the book occurs after a newspaper boy asks Roy if the sellout is true: "When Roy looked into the boy's eyes he wanted to say it wasn't but couldn't, and he lifted his hands to his face and wept bitter tears".

     The ending was so tragic since I was imagining so many other endings that could have occurred. For example, I figured Roy would have hit a home run to win the pennant for the Knights.  This would have been the perfect happy ending since the whole book appeared to lead up to this point.  Roy insisted that he go in the game to hit, and I was sure he would hit a home run to win the game, even though he was still injured.  Despite that, "He struck out with a roar".  It was such a disappointment.  When Roy wasn't the hero in the end, I figured that he would at least end up marrying Memo rather than calling her a whore and leaving her for good.  Roy Hobbs ended up with nothing...no women to love, not much time left in his life for baseball, not much money, a scandal that scarred his fame, and so much more.  The line that captured Roy Hobbs and the character he represented was the last line on page 230 and it read:  "He [Roy] thought, I never did learn anything out of my past life, now I have to suffer again."  The Natural, as the author of the introduction puts it, is an antiheroic tale about a baseball player whose ambitions and desires are constantly thwarted".  Roy Hobbs wants to be the best, yet he never will be and he doesn't realize this until the end of the book when everything appears to take a turn for the worse.

     The Natural was such a sad novel as I felt bad for Roy Hobbs since he was such a confident, seemingly nice, ballplayer who, although quite arrogant, loved the game of baseball and wanted his team to win no matter what.  Don't get me wrong, Roy did care about other things, particularly Memo, but it just didn't turn out for him.  I greatly enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to anyone, as it involves baseball, romance, and a gut-wrenching story that both inspires and saddens readers. 

"In Tebow Debate, a Clash of Faith and Football"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/sports/football/in-tebow-debate-a-clash-of-faith-and-football.html?pagewanted=1&hp

     The article discusses the debates over whether Tim Tebow is a good quarterback or not and whether his religious views should be openly displayed.  I enjoyed the article because there has been so much hype around Tebow since his college days and I have always wondered if he would be successful in the NFL.  Personally, I figured he wouldn't do too well because college football is a lot different than the pros.  Nonetheless, Tebow has been doing well this season since becoming the starter for Denver.  As a Catholic I think he is doing a good job in being truthful about his faith and I feel that there is no problem with him openly displaying his religious views.

     It was extremely difficult to see which side of the debates that the author of the article took a side on.  This provided the article with a fair discussion of the debates surrounding Tebow and let the reader make a choice based on the information.  Due to this lack of bias I think the reader is able to use the evidence within the article to decide whether Tebow should display his religious views and if Tebow is a good NFL quarterback.  In most articles that I have read in the past there has been clear bias by the author along with countless hints and suggestions displaying his or her opinion, yet with this article I really couldn't find much that proved the perspective of Greg Bishop, the author.  This strategy was useful for the subject being discussed and caused the article to be both long and enjoyable.

"A Champion Who Won Inside the Ring and Out"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/sports/joe-frazier-a-champion-who-won-inside-the-ring-and-out.html?hp

     I heard about the death of Joe Frazier, the famous boxer, on TV and I wanted to find out more about him and this article was able to provide me with a good amount of information.  The article discussed the many fights that Frazier was in with Muhammad Ali and the author also briefly spoke about the life of Frazier and where he came from.  I enjoyed the article and I think the author did an excellent job in glorifying Frazier.

     The author of the article, Dave Anderson, praised Joe Frazier and the influence he has had in boxing.  He spoke of Frazier as more than just a boxer, but also a class act who was respectful of all people, even his most dangerous opponent, Ali.  In comparing Ali and Frazier, Anderson even wrote "I've always believed that each at his best, Joe Frazier, who died Monday night at the age of 67, was the better fighter.  And the better man."  He appealed to the emotions of the reader by writing about memories in Joe's life such as when he was a little kid picking vegetables in Beaufort, S.C.  This made the reader sad yet it also made the reader feel that Joe Frazier made a big difference in the world of not only boxing, but also sportsmanship.  

Peyton Manning: Neck Healing Slowly

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7185916/peyton-manning-indianapolis-colts-wants-play-11-feasible

     Although Peyton Manning had neck surgery on September 8 he and Jim Irsay believe that "The Manning Era isn't over in Indianapolis".  Manning believes that he will return to practice late this season.  He may be healing up well yet Manning is old and the Colts have some big decisions to make.  First off, if Indy gets a high draft pick next year than they have to decide what quarterback to draft as Manning's heir in the future.  They definitely a good quarterback if they are willing to contend because as of right now their record is 0-8 with quarterback Curtis Painter under center.  Personally, I would have to say that I would like Manning to come back yet In a way I hope he doesn't because of the rivalry between him and Tom Brady.

     The author of the article does a good job of appealing to the emotions of the reader and making them feel bad for the Colts and Peyton Manning.  Obviously he hopes that Peyton Manning comes back and he may in fact be a Colts fan.  His use of many quotes from Irsay and Manning supported the article and provided evidence in regard of his opinion.

Punishing Poverty

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/opinion/punishing-poverty.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=punishing%20poverty&st=cse

     According to the article some states and cities, including New York City, are "inflicting punitive measures on people who seek government help".  The author provided several examples of this including how Rick Perry passed a law for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program which required people to submit a urine sample and pass a drug test.  Also, New York City insists on electronic fingerprints by people applying for food stamps.  This often causes people to not receive food as they are afraid to give their fingerprint.  

     I thought the author did an excellent job in persuading the reader that cities and states must stop making laws and such that deter the needy from receiving benefits such as food stamps.  I don't think there is anything wrong with letting all the poor people in the US to receive such benefits.  Once in a while there might be some jerk who falsely receives benefits by pretending to be poor yet that will be on his conscience and I am sure that wouldn't happen often. 

Good Services for bad times: Mortgage field services

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/good-business-for-bad-times-mortgage-field-services/2011/10/24/gIQA2FTlPM_story.html?hpid=z3


    Robert Klein grew up in Brooklyn and drove a taxi for five years.  He then went to a suburb near Cleveland, bought a produce company from his uncle, sold the produce company, and started Safeguard Properties in 1990 with a single employee.  The company grew tremendously due to the economic downturn and the rise in foreclosures.  The company does such things for foreclosed houses as mow grass, replace windows, clean vacant houses, and also prepare homes for resale.  It is very sad to think that so many families are having their homes foreclosed and going bankrupt, yet it is good to know that at least some people are living the American dream and in this article, that person is Robert Klein.
     The author does his best in this article to look at the bright side of things in such an economy as we have today.  In a way, it gives the average American hope that there will always be opportunities out there no matter what.  Although the article surrounds something bad, I liked it because it discussed the life of a regular guy who used what he knew to make opportunities for himself.  I think that the main point of the article is that there will always be a chance for success, especially in America.

12 Americans Die as Blast Hits Bus in Afghanistan

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/world/asia/deadly-attack-strikes-nato-bus-in-kabul.html?hp


     According to the article, military officials stated that "At least 12 Americans were killed when a Taliban suicide car bomber attacked an armored shuttle bus in Kabul on Saturday".  It is considered to be the deadliest attack on Americans in Kabul which makes the event even more disheartening.  It wasn't just Americans that were killed in the blast, but also a Canadian and some Afghan civilians.  The article also discussed US foreign affairs and some options for the war in the Middle East as the Obama Administration is facing budget problems and pressure to keep a timetable that originally predicted forces to be leaving around 2014.  Although the event itself is extremely sad, I believe that the article itself is significant as it provides evidence for opinions as to what decisions the government should make.
     The author discusses the article in a way that questions the decisions of the US government.  In a way he appears to be debating why US forces are still in the Middle East and what good they are doing there.  In doing so, the author does an excellent job of suggesting hints of his own opinion in order to convince the reader.  He does so by using the horrific event in order to prove a point and provide some evidence to his own beliefs.               

Oh my God, they're duct-taping our plane!

http://life.salon.com/2011/10/27/ryanair_duct_tape_controversy/

     This article talks about a Ryanair 737 plane that appeared to be duct-taped as shown in the picture above.  According to the author, "passengers watched with reported "horror" as a problem with the jet's windscreen was repaired using what they took to be duct or gaffer's tape."  Overall, I found the article extremely funny as the author explained in chronological order what circumstances occurred.  The plane was fixed with "duct-tyape", took off from Riga, Latvia, and returned to Stansted 20 minutes later.  Although the material looked a lot like duct-tape, the company claimed it was actually heavy-duty aluminum bonding tape known as "speed tape". Apparently, this type of tape is extremely expensive, strong, and is used to bond things temporarily until better materials are found.  According to the veterna airline mechanic, Charlie, "We never use, and don't even stock, duct tape".

     The author made the article appear extremely ironic and funny by first writing, "Ryanair maybe a "low-cost" airline, but trust me, it's not using duct tape to repair its planes, even temporarily".  Throughout the article he continually appeared to joke around about the incident making the article itself very enjoyable to read.  He did a great job in writing it in appealing to the ethos of rhetoric by humor.

Libya officials: Gadhafi killed

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/20/libya_officials_gadhafi_captured_possibly_killed/

     I thought that this article was informative and contradictive, in a good way.  The article explained how Moammar Gadhafi was captured and possibly killed in his hometown of Sirte.  During the fighting "a NATO airstrike blasted a fleeing convoy that fighters said was carrying Gadhafi."  Despite this, his death is not yet confirmed by the government.  Much of the information by witnesses suggests that he is dead, as many of them said they saw his body, yet there is still much controversy as "Libyan officials have said they believe he's hiding somewhere in the vast southwestern desert near the borders with Niger and Algeria.  I personally thought that it was a good idea to include both sides of the argument.

     By the way in which the author, Christopher Gillette, presents the article it appeared that he agrees that Gadhafi is dead.  He did so by stating the information from witnesses and such that claimed Gadhafi had been captured and killed.  Despite his viewpoint, Gillette included information in the article that suggests that Gadhafi could be alive.  This slightly confused me but I think that Gillete wanted the reader to realize that there will always be conspiracies about politicians, their deaths, and the influence of government and politics in the media.   

    

Obama’s crackdown on medical marijuana

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/15/obamas_crackdown_on_medical_marijuana/singleton/

     The article discusses the debate over allowing medical marijuana and focuses on the state of California, where it is legal.  According to the subtitle presented by the author "the Justice Department shifts course and goes after California's lucrative pot industry".  Much of the article included an interview between Justin Elliott, the author, and Bob Egelko, "a veteran reporter who covers courts for the San Francisco Chronicle and has been following the story".  I thought the article was somewhat brief yet well written and I think that the interview was necessary to provide enough information to the reader to be satisfied.
     It was difficult to see what side the author was taking- whether he thought a crackdown on marijuana was necessary or not.  If I had to take a guess though I would say that he supported the crackdown as he made no hints or suggestions as to his opinion of the story but rather wrote down the facts of the story and the opinions of Bob Egelko.  It appeared to be a more factual article than I thought as I was expecting an article based wholly upon opinion.  Nonetheless, Elliott asked Egelko simple questions in which Egelko expanded on greatly with his opinion.  In a way I think that Elliot presented our culture in a good light rather than demoralizing us for the illegal use of marijuana outside of its medical use.

"The Unconquered": Tracking isolated Indians in the Brazilian Jungle

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/15/the_unconquered_tracking_isolated_indians_in_the_brazilian_jungle/

     The article talks of Scott Wallace's book The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes.  It is an interesting article that captivates the reader's attention as it explains the book in a brief summary.  According to the article the book is about Sydney Possuelo's expedition into Brazil's Javari Valley which is off-limits to all people but the indigenous tribes that live there.  The book documents the expedition in what the author says is a "novelistic" style.  The second half of the article contains an interview between Emma Mustich, the author, and Steve Wallace.  Personally, I thought that this was the best part of the article because it allowed me to see into the thoughts of Wallace.
     Overall, Mustich attempted to glorify Scott Wallace and his book, which she obviously liked very much.  She appeared extremely enthusiastic which made the article itself more enjoyable and actually made me want to read the book.  Within Mustich's in-depth interview with Wallace she asked extremely inquisitive questions that intrigued the reader and made the reader want to know Wallace's answer.  In a way, the questions messed with the mind of Wallace by debating issues within the book, and asking him to explain certain events and such that were unclear to the reader.  I also noticed how Mustich asked several questions about how Wallace managed to write the book-(it appeared very difficult as they were trekking through the rain forest during their expedition and taking notes and such would not be such an easy task).  This demonstrated the interest that Mustich had in the book and hinted that she was encouraging anyone reading her article to try reading it also.

Jobs' Super Bowl ad Changed the Game

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Steve-Jobs-visionary-Apple-Super-Bowl-ad-changed-the-game-100611

     Just about everyone knows about the recent death of Apple's Steve Jobs and since I don't know much about him I decided to choose this article.  The article focused on how Steve Jobs changed sports and entertainment and it was an extremely interesting article that did good in glorifying Jobs and how he influenced American lives.  It made me think about how he has affected me directly; for example it made me think of the mac I have at home, the mac I am using right now at school, and the iPod in my pocket.  I also liked how the author of the article integrated key examples of Jobs' and Apples influence in sports.  For example he writes “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, among other teams, use iPads for their playbooks”.  This convinced the reader that the author was telling the truth and had facts to prove it.  Also, the article made it seem that Jobs was the hero of Apple and the backbone that held it together.  "It started with the Super Bowl in 1984, when Jobs went against the advice of Apple’s board and ran a 60-second movie-quality commercial, playing off George Orwell’s novel, "1984," to help introduce his new Macintosh home computer. They didn’t have commercials like that before."  Jobs, according to the author "changed the technological world".  He was, and forever will be, an American icon that influenced almost every aspect of our lives even areas that would not appear to need technology.

Shooting An Elephant Journal Entry

Do you think Orwell is a coward? Do you think he is a racist?  Explain your feelings.

     I think that George Orwell is somewhat of a coward as he decides to kill the mad elephant based solely upon avoiding to look like a fool in front of the 2,000 Burmese citizens.  You may argue that Orwell had reasoning to kill the elephant because it had killed a Coolie, yet he could have just waited for the mahout (the keeper and driver of the elephant) to come back and control the elephant.  Orwell actually explained that the elephant could "merely wander harmlessly about until the mahout came back and caught him".  Also, at the time when Orwell shot the elephant it was "peacefully  eating" and "looked no more dangerous than a cow".  I would have to admit though that it would be difficult not to shoot the elephant as the Burmese would picture you as a fool.
     I don't believe that Orwell is a racist even though he refers to the Burmese people as "yellow"  For example he wrote "I looked at the sea of yellow faces..."  Rather, even though the Burmese hate him and the British people as a whole, Orwell likes them more than the British because he is aware that the British are imperialistic and are oppressing the people of India.  Although, the civilians do not know this and constantly harass Orwell because, as a policeman, he is an easy target.