"Civilization gets a prehistoric reboot in "Terra Nova""

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/terra_nova/index.html?story=/ent/tv/feature/2011/09/26/terra_nova_season_one_premiere_pilot

                                 

     One of the articles I chose this week, by author Matt Zoller Seitz, was basically a review of the new television show Terra Nova.  The review makes the show seem very interesting for people that enjoy science fiction films or works of Spielberg.  Knowing that I like many of Spielberg's movies  I may try out the show.  The downfall of it appears to be its lack of special affects.  This is disappointing as viewers like movies to be as realistic as possible.  Although, I don't expect new T.V. shows to have high budgets and the author specifically wrote, "The special effects and production design suggest a discount version of Spielberg's "Jurassic Park"..."
  In a way the author seems to hint that he does not have any interest in the show.  For example the author wrote "like most premieres, it's mostly exposition wrapped in spectacle, and it has other problems".  In a joking way, Seitz, attempts to tear apart the show by presenting several rhetorical questions at the end of the article.  This implies that he believes that the show is too unrealistic to appreciate.  Terra Nova could be another "Lost" based on popularity and fan hype or, as Seitz appears to suggest, it could end up as a sci-fi flop

"Munch ado about Doritos, one man’s iconic snack"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/munch-ado-about-doritos-one-mans-iconic-snack/2011/09/26/gIQAFuHH0K_story.html?hpid=z4
By: Monica Hesse

     Unfortunately, the article that I am speaking of is somewhat disappointing especially if you enjoy Doritos.  Last week the inventor of the Dorito, Arch West, died in Dallas at the ripe old age of 97.  Like most Americans this was somewhat disappointing to me as Doritos are my favorite type of chip.  It may seem silly to think about it this way but Doritos are part of American culture.  Not only are they unhealthy but they are a part of everyday life.  (I mean, you can buy them for lunch at school, right?)  I don't intend to offend the family and friends of West but it was also kind of funny when the author wrote that the family "planned to sprinkle his urn with the flavored tortilla chips before burying it in dirt".
     The author, Hesse, employed several rhetorical tactics in order to make the reader have sympathy for Arch West, and these strategies definitely worked, at least on me.  This use of pathos almost makes the reader sad even though all the man did was create a different type of chip.  Although, it wasn't just a chip according to the author.  For example the author wrote, "The Dorito is our cultural legacy, carefully rationed out by Mom, instant popularity in Ziploc bag" and "The Dorito is what you bring to a barbecue when you forget to bring anything else.  The Dorito is the intersection of taste and shame.  The Dorito represents the proud audacity of slovenliness".  Truely, the author wants to get the point across that the Dorito is an American food icon that will be around for a long time.

"2 US hikers freed from Iran after 2 years say, ‘We were held because of our nationality’"

     This article describes how two 29 year-old men, Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer were freed from an Iranian prison on a $1 million bail after supposedly illegally crossing the border from Iraq.  I felt bad for these men as it seems they meant no harm whatsoever to Iran but were merely hiking.  Despite that, it does appear a bit odd that Americans would be hiking in the middle east.  Although, the three of them (there was a girl with them, Sarah Shourd, but she was released a year ago) were hiking "in Iraq's relatively peaceful Kurdish region along the Iran-Iraq border when Iranian guards detained them".  Apparently, they had unknowingly wandered into Iran after taking a wrong turn.
  The author does an excellent job in convincing the reader that the Iranians had no right in doing such a thing.  He also suggest that the hikers may not have even been in Iraq in the first place and the whole ordeal was caused by the fact that the hikers were American.  The author included influential quotes from the two men highlighting this fact.  For example, "From the very start, the only reason we have been held hostage is because we are American; Iran has always tied our case to its political disputes with the U.S."  The authors use of rhetoric is significant as it questions the truth, convinces the reader, and glorifies America.

"Simmonds targeted during shooutout"

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/Wayne-Simmonds-NHL-preseason-Red-Wings-edge-Flyers-092211


     This article describes how Wayne Simmonds, one of the few black players in the NHL, had a banana thrown at him during an exhibition game in Canada.  It seemed interesting to me as history almost appears to repeat itself as African Americans have been targeted in just about every major sport.  Personally, I felt that Simmonds did a good job shrugging off the incident.  He even said, “I’m not going to dwell on that.  It’s over with now.”  Also, the banana was thrown at him during a shootout and he actually ended up still scoring despite the Flyers still losing.  Overall, the authors point is that racism is a terrible thing and that, by the modern era, we should have moved past this already. Yet, by simple, stupid acts such as this, we are still working to eradicate prejudice.  It is amazing that in the most powerful country in the world, one that glorifies itself as the land of the free, continues to show signs of our scarred past.
     The author used a few examples of rhetoric in his article.  First off, in explaining the incident, the author suggested to the reader that the act of throwing a banana at a black player was "an apparent racist gesture". Also, I believe that when the author said Simmonds was "targeted" not only did he mean that the fruit-thrower was taking aim at Simmonds but also trying to target all African-Americans mentally.  Lastly, the journalist uses the ever-so-important 5 W's in explaining the curent event.  By doing so I, the reader, was able to fully comprehend the complete situation within a few minutes or less by reading the article.