#2 Location Feature Article (Art. 4)

Now for the second half of the trip i chose Rome, Italy. It is an all around exotic and memorable place to visit and there is truly something new to be see and to try every time you visit. With about 2-3 Million people living in Rome it is quite a site to see and experience which is why i chose it. Italy just like Spain is a beautiful place from its attractions and lodging you can really soak it all in. It’s breathtaking view doesn’t disappoint whether your in Rome or another part of Italy.

To start off Italy is mainly known for its cuisine and what better place to go for Italian food then Italy itself. Housing thousands of Restaurants to choose from you really cant lose. From restaurants like Babette, Ristorante Life, Antico Arco, and many more you can’t complain. Also just like Spain you can not only get Italian food but other nationality cuisines as well such as Japanese, Vegetarian, and different types of seafood. So there are endless possibilities when it comes to dining in Italy whether it’s indoors or out. It just all depends on what you feel like eating.

Next onto lodging and places to stay in Italy. There are many hotels, motels, and small apartments to rent and stay in while visiting in Italy. Many of these places are decent priced when only staying for a week or two. For instance you have some like the Pantheon Hotel, Courtyard Rome Central Park, Rome Marriott Park Hotel, and dozens more to fit to your personal liking. These places range from around $90 to $200 depending on the room, the level, and how many beds you may need. Many of them are very well built in structure and are just flat out amazing when looking at them in person. Many of these hotels have views that are simple breathtaking when looking. Many see over the city of Rome and show you how truly extraordinary this place is.

Lastly we have the attractions within Rome. There are to many to name because there is truly so much to do when visiting Rome. So i decided to choose 4 main attractions that caught my eye the most. The first is the well known Colosseum. It stands in the center city of Rome, Italy and is one of it’s biggest historical figures within the whole country. It is enormous standing at a towering 157′ and was originally constructed in 70 AD. I chose this because just the pictures that you see of this is truly what draws you in and the history round it is just incredible. The next attraction i chose was the Trevi Fountain. It is world wide famous and another huge attraction that is a must see when visiting Italy. There is a full on tour of this beautiful masterpiece complete with food and drink during your time witnessing it and learning all about it.  The third attraction i chose is the Pantheon. It is another historical building with much history behind it being built and constructed. It is a good learning ground and starting point into Rome’s ancient history so why not take a stop to see it. Finally the last attraction i chose was the Roman Forum. Now this is probably one of the most historical parts in Italy because of how much business was going on, what was being sold and bought, the news and education that would go on in the Roman Forum. The landscape itself is truly a remarkable sight to see and is worth visiting before leaving Italy. The history, cement, and detail that is in the Roman Forum is fantastic and a great place to experience and see for yourself. All these attractions are perfect and is why i chose them and why i chose Italy for my other half of the trip to visit.

#1 Location Feature Article (Art. 3)

I went and searched through many different other articles, reviews, comments, and people who have actually experienced the places i wanted to choose to go to and at the end i decided to choose Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy. These two countries caught my eye the most with there attractions, scenery, and the overall comments about them both. Now to start my trip i chose to go to Madrid, Spain. This country is enormous with many things to do and see. With so much food and different costs for different things that aren’t that expensive. Hotels and rooms to stay in that are absolutely breathtaking in view. So both countries for me were very good choices.

My first stop and choice for the first half of the trip was to Madrid, Spain. Now to start off best is places to stay in Madrid Spain. Now since I’ve chosen to go to two different countries for the trip i would choose a decent priced hotel for me to stay at for about a week and a half. There are so many nice and decent priced hotels such as Jerez, Ayre Gran Hotel Colon, Holiday Inn Madrid, and many more. They are huge and very well built. With great one and two bedrooms with fantastic views of Madrid, Spain.

Next is food and Spain is well is probably one of the best countries if your looking for a gourmet Spanish meal. With restaurants like Botin, Malacatin, La Cocina del Desierto Restaurant, and even more to choose from you will never go hungry in Spain. Also serving not only Spanish food but all sorts of different nationalities of meals. From Indian, Brazilian, Chinese, and even Italian. Which is a plus if your ever in the mood for something other then Spanish food.

Last but not least the attractions and if these won’t drag you to go then i don’t know what else to say. With all sorts of attractions from exhibits, statues, historic’s, and much more they take the cake for Madrid Spain. The first attraction that i would go see is the Plaza Mayor which is a huge walk way to go to restaurants, cafes, stay at hotels, and see many monuments inside. It is located in Madrid’s main square. From reviews it is a must see and people seem to enjoy going so i bet i would to. Next on my list of attractions for Spain would be the Museo Nacional Del Prado. It is a great place to stop capture some culture from Spain and learn about the story behind Spain. This link is a great video explaining the musuem and what you would expect from it (https://youtu.be/TmFPV8qlZfg) . Thirdly on my trip i would find a way to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid. Now even the name is enough to drag you in. The Palace is the home to Spain’s royal family. It is a great sight to see and take pictures of and if you get a chance you could actually go inside on certain days so why not try your luck to go. Finally my last attraction to visit in Spain would be the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. It is located near the Prado Museum and there not that far away. Now this museum basically has the same concept as the Prado. But focuses a bit more on the artistry and historians of Spain. It is a very good site to see and another good way to learn about the history and culture of Madrid Spain.

Packing for Spain and Italy (Art. 2)

Since both countries that in chose to visit and take the 3 week trip to are relatively warm and sunny most of the time so i would be packing about the same amount of clothes for the trips. to start with my personal belongings i chose…

• Soap & Shampoo
• My own toothbrush
• Laundry Detergent

Now i chose these items to bring with me on the trip because for one i wouldn’t like to use any soap or shampoo on me or my personal belongings that i wouldn’t recognize. I would feel more comfortable knowing what I’m using works for me and my clothes then wondering and buying stuff i know nothing about in a completely different country.

My next list of items is primarily clothes and outerwear. For this i chose a…

• Jacket/Hoodie
• Plenty of Underwear and Undershirts
• 3 Pairs of sneakers
• 1 Pair of Dress shoes
• 3 Packs of Socks
• Slides
• Shorts & Long Pants

The reason i chose these clothes is because for instance the jacket/hoodie and long pants is just in case it is cold or gets cold at any point while I’m on the trip. Now i chose a lot of under clothes and socks because you could never know what happens whether in be accidents, spills, etc. You never truly know what you may encounter so i feel it is better safe then sorry. For the shoes and sneakers i like to change outfits during trips and don’t like wearing the same shoes everyday so i would mix it up. The dress shoes would be for if i would spend a night out or try to look fancy. The slides and shorts would be for me being comfortable and walking around just admiring the countries.

My last personal items would be things to just keep me entertained while i was on the trip but also for my own personal use during the trip. So i chose…

• Headphones & Ipod
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Blistex
• Regular Backpack
• Spanish and Italian Dictionary

These last items i chose to help me get through the trip but also learn and keep memories as well. For example the headphones and ipod are for me when i want to just relax with some music or take a walk around. Speaking of walking around this is where the dictionary comes in. Now I’m not bilingual so just in case i got lost at any point in time i could use the dictionary and help me out in case of emergencies but also to learn and use the language of the country. The camera would be for my pictures and my backpack would be for any materials or souvenirs i would want to buy. Lastly the sunscreen and blistex would be for me so i wouldn’t burn in the sun and keep my complexion.

These items all serve there own purpose personally to me. That is why i chose them. They would all benefit and help me to have a good trip to these countries.

Backpacking Route Start & End (Art. 1)

For the start of my backpacking route i chose Madrid, Spain. It is a unique and extraordinary place to visit. Whether you hear reviews about it or personal experiences they are always positive no matter who you hear them from. From the scenery, the activities, attractions, people, the history, and even the food it all makes it feel like you can’t go wrong when visiting Madrid Spain because you wont be disappointed. It is a beautiful country and everything about it is what makes it so great and such a top pick to choose when going on a trip abroad. Now i only chose Spain for the first half of the trip and for the rest of it i decided to choose Rome, Italy. There are so many things about Italy that would make you wanna go there no matter what age you are. The way people describe it and over all what you hear about Italy just urges you to want to experience it yourself. If the breath taking view around Italy isn’t enough then surely the food and many attractions will definitely reel you into going and seeing this magnificent country. Its historical stature is truly mesmerizing and truly a good way to study if you are going abroad. What also puts Italy on the top list is it’s cuisine and if you are a fan of Italian food then the home of Italian food is the way to go. Every detail about these countries is great and that’s why I felt it would be a good way to end the 3 week trip. That is why i chose Madrid, Spain to start and Rome, Italy to end. Madrid,Spain

Rome, Italy

2nd Feature Writing

1. The name of the article is The Passion of Nicki Minaj.

2. The name of the author who wrote the article is Vanessa Grigoriadis.

3. The source of the article is The New York Times.

4. The author wants is aiming for an audience that follows Nicki Minaj and also the Pop Music Industry.

5. The purpose of this article is for annoying wanting to know about Nicki Minaj and also whats been going on in the Pop Music Industry.

6. Some details that help understand the purpose is at the beginning when the author writes “Nicki Minaj is the world’s biggest female hip-hop star, a top pop star and the first woman to achieve success in both genres.” Another is when the author writes “Pop music is dominated almost exclusively by the female star — Beyoncé, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift,MILEY CYRUS, Lady Gaga and, as always, Madonna.”

7. The article tries to hook your interest by putting an attracting attention getter which was “The world’s biggest female rap superstar has meticulously crafted
her own image — and maintained it with uncompromising control.” Which also leaves you wondering how?

8. Some details and information that help make the article more interesting is when many pop stars give their own opinions about their lifestyles and just what goes on in the big moments such as award shows, concerts, and morning and late night shows.

9. I thought the first strong point in the article was the attention getter by the author because of how it was said and how persuading it is. Another strong point is how even thoughthe title focuses on Nicki Minaj it is still able to broaden horizons and use opinions from other pop stars. One last strong point is that the author is able to talk about many topics and doesn’t stick to just one.

10. The author concludes the article by showing how things got a little personal towards the end of their interview. She talks about the details and how Nicki looked when the interview started to heat up. Afterwards she ends it with how the author goes about her way and makes her way home after the interview and how she feels it went.

Feature Writing

1. The title of this article is called A Very Revealing Conversation with Rihanna.
2. The author of this article is Miranda July.
3.  The source of this article is The New York Times.
4. The author would want the audience to be any people following Rihanna and her fan base.
5. The purpose of this article was to inform her fans and many teens or adults who find Rihanna interesting about her and some crucial or demeaning details towards her.
6. Some details that can support the purpose are when it is stated that Rihanna said

   ‘‘Oh, random things. Like I will be sitting around Googling childbirth.’’ also when she explains that ‘‘Guys need attention,’’ she explained. ‘‘They need that nourishment, that little stroke of the ego that gets them by every now and then. I’ll give it to my family, I’ll give it to my work — but I will not give it to a man right now.’’

7. The article tries to hook your interest by putting a very discrete title and a short hook about what are the topics that are being talked about.

8. Some text features that the author uses is small rebuttals and captions that lead to other questions.
9. I thought that the first feature that was very important and strong was the title because that can drag a reader in automatically no matter if you like Rihanna or not. Another strong feature was the explanation before the interview when the author talks about how she got prepared to meet Rihanna. One more strong feature was the author’s ability to keep the conversation going. To not give to much information to lead to the next question.
10. The author brings the article to a conclusion by having a not written conversation with Rihanna and then ends by briefly explaining how the author felt while talking to Rihanna.

International Political Cartoons

The name of the cartoonist that created this cartoon is Oliver. The country of Origin for this cartoon is Vienna Austria. The message that this cartoon is trying to portray and give is about peace in Syria. The cartoon portrays about there being no peace within Syria and if there is , it’s not free. Some of the visual elements that are used within the cartoon are irony being the percentage and sale signs. Another element that was used is symbolism which is the sales woman and the people asking for the peace.

 

The name of the cartoonist who created this cartoon is Kichka. The country of origin for this cartoon is Jerusalem Israel. The message that is portrayed or being brought to attention is the racial discrimination going on in the United States. Especially between the white cops and black society. Some of the visual elements used in this cartoon are symbolism for one because Obama represents and symbolizes the black community. Also this cartoon uses labeling from the whip and the white police officer because in the world today it seems every week there is a new crime of a white officer killer or severely injuring a African American citizen.

 

Political Cartoon Analyze

1. This political cartoon was inspired by the drastic climate change that we have been experienced through these last few months.
2. The images that are portrayed in this cartoon are what it looks to be is God wearing oven mitts while holding the earth above him.
3. Some of the techniques used by the artist are irony, labeling, and symbolism. The artist is trying to show the reader the irony towards the climate change on earth and sort of symbolism whats going on.
4. The cartoonist point of view seems not to be to serious towards the situation. From the irony and exaggeration of getting the oven mitts and the climate change box. Its nothing to important or major that the cartoonist is trying to portray.
5. No this cartoon is not persuasive because of the given situation of the climate change there really is nothing or anybody to persuade using this cartoon.
6. The artist could’ve maybe used some more exaggeration towards the cartoon to make it a more serious matter.

Traditional Holiday Treats Listicle

1. Gingerbread men and houses are the first to come to many peoples minds when they think about the holidays and different treats to eat.   
2. Another big treat that you always tend to see is holiday cookies. From snow men, trees, reindeer, and even Santa Claus.
3. Now even though holiday cookies are very festive. No one can go wrong with the always pleasuring and original chocolate chip cookie and a little bit of milk.
4. Another treat that you don’t see very much of but will always have its own part in the holidays is cupcakes and cakes.
5. Egg Nog is a classic that will never go out of style and is practically something that you can use for many different foods and drinks. But for the holidays many use it as a simple drink or mix it with other drinks.

Abduction & Torture in Israel

 

Abduction and torture is a horrible ordeal to think about or even imagine happening. But in Israel it is consistent to the point where everyday people are getting tortured and kidnapped. A local resident named Mohammad Mahsiri is an actual survivor of one of these horrific events that occurred. While on the streets he was suddenly screamed at and told to get on an unsuspecting jeep and taken away without a reason why or where he was being taken. “I was taken to a detention center and interrogated. The interrogation would begin at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and would finish after eleven pm. I was beaten all the time, especially if the soldiers did not get the answers they wanted. I was sent to be beaten by other soldiers and forced to stand in the rain with only thin clothes on. They would try to convince me that I did something that I did not do in order to get the confession they wanted. After being tortured at the detention center for one month, I was in prison for 13 months.” Mohammad explains. Now torture and abduction are two very serious cases in which have grown drastically in Israel and aren’t planning on stopping what so ever. It is an epidemic around the country and is just plain horrific what is going on in the Israel. According to the latest figures offered by an independent group, there are 398 Palestinian children currently inside Israeli detention centers and prisons. Ayed Abuqtaish, research co coordinator with Defense for Children International’s Ramallah offices, told IPS that the youngest child being held in prison is just 14 years old. Many of the younger children of Israel are kidnapped or abducted and put into prisons and cages with little food and things to drink but with continuous torture throughout stays in these prisons. No one can truly imagine the terror of being thrown in a cage or prison at 11 to 14 years old let alone being starved and beaten. Now some organizations have heard about these Cruel times for the Israeli people. Such as The NGO who called for Israel’s definition of torture to be changed after children were kept in outdoor holding pens during winter in a practice which had been going on for months. The PDO decided to take visit and see whats really going on within these prisons. “It turns out that this procedure, under which prisoners waited outside in cages, lasted several months, and was verified by other officials.”  Also The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) published a report which claimed children suspected of minor crimes were subjected to public caging, threats and acts of sexual violence and military trials without representation nor legal trials or answers of why any of these things were happening to them. Children of Israel are often brought to these prisons and cages to face Military trials in Military courts to be prosecuted for interference within the system. The Defense for Children International Palestine stated in one section that “No Israeli children come in contact with the military court system.” So it seems that all it is is an excuse to torture these poor souls. Some more things that these Israeli and Palestinian children and adults are often charged with is throwing stones and physical violence during arrest. These people are just trying to fight for there lives because without an explanation there lives are at stake once realizing where they are going. A report by the United Nations lists around 200 methods of torture. Now Fouad Khuffash, director of the Ahrar Centre for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights did a report on the torture in Israel and stated that “Torture in Israeli prisons is systematic and starts from the moment a prisoner is arrested, not from the moment they begin interrogation. This is a premeditated and staged scenario that changes according to the case of the detainee and the nature of their file. Investigators alternate and play various roles assigned in advance to each investigator.” There was found to be over 200 methods of torture that these guards portray upon these people. From breaking backs, pulling fingers apart and even twisting testicles. According to statistics around 72 prisoners were killed as a result of torture in Israeli prisons since 1967 out of a total number of over 200 prisoners who died behind bars. So as you can probably tell this has been going on for decades. Many still have tried to combat this epidemic going on in Israel and though many have not been very successful organizations continue to fight such as Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies and Human Rights, The University of Jerusalem’s Abu Jihad Center for Prisoner Affairs, and even international organizations have tried to step in. Now even though the Israeli people who keep taking these civilians and brutality torturing them are trying to find laws and other ways around there horrific behavior. They aren’t able to run from the big question. Which is Why? These people haven’t given a single answer in decades since this began. The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel has had a big role and participation in trying to stop and end this travesty . They have come back with useful and quite shocking information. They reported that of fifty-one instances of torture, there were 19 complaints of sleep deprivation, 18 of tying, 12 of beatings and 2 of shaking. In 2014 saw 59 torture complaints, which is a rise, compared to 2013 (16 instances of violent means), 2012 (30), and 2011 (27).Twenty-three Palestinians sent a number of complaints of torture they had suffered in 2014 by Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service. Each of the plaintiffs said they experienced several methods of torture. These numbers are extraordinary in these cases. More needs to be done and more organizations need to be involved with this terrible tragedy going on in Israel. This is not a big topic going on right now but as time goes something needs to be said and done. It has to stop because everyday millions of men, women, and children are being victims of these abductions and torture for no reason at all. No one deserves what these people are being put through everyday.