Stop Chopping My Salad

Wickman writes that the trend of chopped salads has been getting out of hand lately and that it needs to stop. He finds the idea of chopped salad, despite the "few defenses" some chopped-salad enjoyers offer of this new trend. The idea of chopped salad is compared to a bag of Chex Mix stomped on, leaving the chips in a homogeneous mixture, without any separate chips.

Chopped salads are becoming a little overrated, especially with mezzalunas, salad-chopping knives, becoming even more advanced with the addition of extra blades. It's ridiculous that people now don't find enough time to even eat a salad in its proper form. How is it that a simple dietary dish is now being compared to fast-food? However, Wickman's fear of chopped salad developing into a drink is unnecessary considering that we already have such drinks. We already have such "salad juices," which are even sold in stores or juice stores, such as Jamba Juice. In fact, juiced fruits and veggies offer more benefits than eating a salad in a bowl. For example, half a cup of veggie juice would offer the same amount of nutrients a bowl of salad would. Though the idea of chopped salads is a little terrifying considering the defenses that some people are giving for it, salad in a cup is much more beneficial.

The author's use of diction in this article gives off a feeling of great importance for stopping chopped salads. It's very funny to read how serious the author makes customary salad seem. For example, claiming that chopped salads take away our "freedom of choice" exaggerates the benefits of customary salad. Overall, this article had a very humorous tone to it, where I often thought that the author was being satirical with the topic.

Article: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2013/07/against_chopped_salad_traditional_salad_is_great_and_the_chop_t_trend_is.html

Putin Urges Snowden to Leave Russia

Edward Snowden recently leaked top-secret U.S. government information to the public and immediately took refuse in Russia. There he contacted a couple of prominent Russians to help him gain asylum in Russia. However, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, himself wants Snowden to leave the country and find refuge elsewhere as soon as possible. There are ties with America that he does not want to break and he fears that Snowden's stay, if prolonged, will most likely ruin their relations. 

Putin's desire to have Snowden leave Russia is entirely reasonable. Russia and America have only kept good relations for a few years now and it would be hard to keep the balance if something so crucial as a traitor against America is being supported and received refuge in Russia. Especially with America recently accusing Russia of "organizing a "propaganda platform" for Mr. Snowden," misunderstandings can sprout between the two countries and can once more cause conflicts, as such during the Cold War. Putin's indifferent attitude towards Snowden and his consequences themselves are interestingly honest, however. Though he doesn't like the idea of having a man wanted in America in Russia, he definitely has neither any ideas nor sympathy for Snowden. It's a little perplexing that Putin wants Snowden out to be able to keep good relations with America yet has so little care for Snowden and the issue he caused in America. Perhaps Putin could gain a little more interest in the government issue going on in a country that he wishes to keep a steady relationship with. As for Snowden, if he wants to "continue [his] activities..to fight for human rights" because he feels that "the U.S. is violating certain international norms, is intruding into private life and [his] goal is to fight against this," he should do this in the U.S., where the "unfair" activities are happening in, instead of seeking refuge in other countries, creating problems for them and sending mixed messages to the audience. 

Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323394504578607911467319492.html?mod=WSJ_World_LEFTSecondNews