The Controversy on Eugenics in the American Culture Essay

Heredity improvement by genetic control. Why would people want to control heredity? What exactly is genetic control? These are some things that people have been questioning for decades. Eugenics can not be ignored because it is suddenly coming up everywhere. People are experimenting and taking huge risks not to their knowledge. At one point in time it was said that eugenics could change the world for the better. That is how some people could look at it, and others frightened that it would change the entire universe. Early in the twentieth century science had to deal with the conditions that improve the inborn qualities of a race. Eugenesists not only wanted to improve the well-being of others, but enclose to fewer races and†¦show more content†¦The Boston Globe also found, in a call in telephone poll, that 49% supported sterilization of the mentally ill. Other people feel that eugenics is what will in plain terms, make the world a better place. Its been said that using a eug enics program will rid people of future diseases, and other illnesses. That is why many think that using this procedure is good for all, but in fact it comes along with many hidden deformities and abnormalities. Some people believe that improving genetic control is a commendable idea, but others think that it seems a little immoral to try to change something, that in the long run is better left alone. This is where the arguments against eugenics programs come in. Government power over private citizens lives does not usually go over well. US state run programs have had problems with some sterilizations that were not for good eugenic reasons.(Reilly, S.)Women were being sterilized so they were not able to conceive. Government programs have made mistakes and have suffered from some corruption. It has not always been known to which traits were genetically influenced. Some people feel that there have been some sterilizations done that have not contributed to improving genetic stock. There is still no knowledge of which genes influence particular traits. A concern that has crossed many minds is that many traits may be influenced by pleitropic genes. Which means that selecting a beneficial trait could alsoShow MoreRelatedEugenics: Improving The Human Race? Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pagesoffspring is called eugenics. It is better understood as the process of selective breeding can improve human society. The term eugenics is from the greek, meaning â€Å"well-born†. The idea of eugenics is to have a society be abundant with many wanted traits, during a movement called the melting pot where people tried to solve their problems with the use of technology. Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development, is the book in which Sir Francis Galton first mentioned the term eugenics. In the book heRead MoreEugenics : An Unorthodox Twist2386 Words   |  10 PagesTejes Gaertner Senior Division Eugenics: Science with an unorthodox twist Historical Paper Word Count: 1605 Modern day eugenics has the ability to fix faulty characteristics such as baldness, height, and genetic diseases. On the other hand, eugenics has the possibility of defining a person’s value based on heredity. The term Eugenics derives from the Greek word eu meaning good and well, and genos meaning offspring (Modern Eugenics). The ideas rooted in this paradigm have beenRead MoreEugenics : Past Shames, Future Hopes2185 Words   |  9 PagesAntelope Valley College â€Æ' Eugenics: Past Shames, Future Hopes MY PICK After perusing the suggested articles, I decided on this article for my journal review because of the many facets of its colorful history in addition to its fascinating, and vastly growing, advancements in the area of eugenics. The imminent debates resulting from the conflicting moral and ethical implications arising from the inception, development and evolution of eugenics past and present are of interest. A.R.TRead MoreCritical Analysis Of The Mead-Freeman Debate1283 Words   |  6 PagesNature versus Nurture Controversy: Critical Analysis of The Mead-Freeman Debate Research Topic Outline In 1983, Derek Freeman challenged Margaret Mead’s 1928 ethnographic work Coming of Age in Samoa, Freeman asserted that Mead’s conclusion of adolescent behavior conflicted with important facts within the social sciences. Freeman’s critique sparked an intense controversy in anthropology regarding the concept of nature versus nurture. Freeman claimed that Boasians’ insisted on separating cultural determinismRead MoreEugenics And The Eugenics Movement3686 Words   |  15 Pageshave always been interested in success, in making sure they survive, and creating new tools and technology to enable them to reach these goals. So it should come as no surprise that eugenics follows this same guideline in human history. A term originally coined by Francis Galton, first cousin to Charles Darwin, eugenics simply means that the â€Å"best people† in society with the most â€Å"healthy† â€Å"normal† genes should continue to reproduce and pass on their â€Å"goodness† to the next generation, while the individualsRead More Immigration Discrimination Essay2706 Words   |  11 Pageshowever, came for economic reasons and were part of extensive migratory systems that responded to changing demands in labor markets. The American economy needed both skilled and unskilled workers through much of the 19th century. But after the 1880’s the demand was almost exclusively for unskilled workers to fill the growing number of factories in the American Northeast.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Southern and Eastern Europeans dislocated from their land and possessing few skills were attracted to the rapidly increasingRead MoreThe Psychological Characteristics Of Breast Cancer1406 Words   |  6 Pagesintelligence testing (particularly on separated twins and adopted children). A modern proponent is the American psychologist Arthur Jenson. Finding that the average I.Q. scores of black Americans were significantly lower than whites he went on to argue that genetic factors were mainly responsible – even going so far as to suggest that intelligence is 80% inherited. The storm of controversy that developed around Jenson’s claims was not mainly due to logical and empirical weaknesses in his argumentRead MoreEthics at the Beginning of Life: Prenatal Genetic Testing3950 Words   |  16 PagesAt worst prenatal genetic testing can be used to apply discriminatory selective tactics or a process known as eugenics. Because of this, prenatal genetic testing should be limited to testing for diseases, birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, or genetic diseases and should be regulated to not allow abuse of screening for non-disease conditions, such as selection for sex and for eugenic purposes. Comprehensive Description Every parent-to-be anticipates a healthy baby, but it can be hard not toRead MoreThe Science Of Genetic Manipulation2094 Words   |  9 Pagesoriginal† (Cambridge 1). Currently, scientists are able to duplicate animals like mice, goats, and monkeys with reasonable success. However, this field of science is highly restricted and bottlenecked because of its legal, moral, and religious controversy, and thus the days of human cloning with success will not come around for a long time. A genetically cloned puppy, however, is something one could order themselves today if they want authentic purebred pet, or an exact duplicate of their last.Read MoreGenetic Testing : The Silicon Valley Company 23 Me3202 Words   |  13 Pageshistory and geographic location (D. Sorani, 2014, p. 1). As genetic testing becomes cheaper and main stream (Berdik, 2010, pr. 30), the argument of whether or not insurers and employers have the right to access this data remains a question. The controversy is over employers’ and insurers’ rights to have access to all obtainable data in order for them to come up with a better risk assessment and how this could affect the current markets and business models. Is the test result reliable enough to be

Is Prostitution Bad or Good - 1617 Words

Prostitution Is prostitution bad or good? Well I say it is bad because there is a lot of harm involved in this â€Å"occupation† and also it is not legal in many places to start of with. What is prostitution? Well prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual relations in exchange for payment or some other way of payment. Prostitution is also sometimes described as commercial sex. Prostitution is sometimes referred to as â€Å"The worlds oldest profession†. The word â€Å"Prostitute† comes from the Latin word prostituta. A person who works in this â€Å"profession† is called a prostitute, and is a kind of sex worker. Prostitution is one of the branches of the sex industry. Is it legal some people may ask well the legal status of prostitution is very different from country to country, from being permissible but unregulated, to an enforced or unenforced crime or to a regulated profession. Estimates place the annual revenue generated by thi s profession to be upwards of 100 billion worldwide each year. Prostitution happens in a wide variety of forms. There are something called brothels which are establishments specifically dedicated to prostitution. In another type of prostitution called escort prostitution, the act may take place at the clients residence or hotel room also referred as a â€Å"call out†, or at the prostitute’s house or a hotel room rented for the occasion by the escort also called a â€Å"in call†. Another form of prostitution is called street prostitution where aShow MoreRelatedLegalizing Prostitution : The Good, The Bad And The Ugly1638 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing Prostitution: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Prostitution, as stated by Rudyard Kipling, is considered to be known as â€Å"the world’s oldest profession,† and for good reason. Zac Fanni, a writer for Sabotage Times, wrote a documentary based on the history of prostitution and its origins. The sex-trade began with the Sumerians, who, in ancient times, worshiped Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. They believed that every morning she was â€Å"born anew as a maiden,† and every day the sky fellRead MoreProstitution : The Issue Of Prostitution1401 Words   |  6 PagesProstitution â€Å"There is no clear boundary† between voluntary and involuntary prostitution says Janice Raymond of the University of Massachusetts.(341) Prostitution as the society knows the women that sell themselves on the street as, is presented as a debate around the world, whether it be legalized or not. In the article â€Å"Decriminalizing Prostitution† Sarah Glazer reports on the views people have towards prostitution in their cities. Many people have different opinions on this debate such asRead MoreShould Prostitution Be Legalized?1188 Words   |  5 PagesShould Prostitution be legalized? Prostitution is defined as the engaging in, or agreeing to engage in, sexual conduct for a fee. Women are pushed into entering prostitution for many reasons including lack of education, poverty, and personal choice. Prostitution is currently illegal, but there is much controversy surrounding this issue. Picture in your mind this scenario: Jane is a 26 year old single woman who makes her living working the streets as a prostitute. She is clean, and is tested regularlyRead MoreProstitution Is A Big Controversy Around The World1033 Words   |  5 PagesProstitution is a big controversy around the world. Many debate about whether prostitution should be legalised due to the person being old enough to make the right decisions for themselves and for their body. Many choose this career as a way to make a living because they choose its right to. Others on the other hand do not agree. The opposing side say that prostitution should not be legal due to so much violence and abuse that a prostitute goes through. Many do not choose the lifestyle to becomeRead MoreProstitution Is The Practice Of Performing Sexual Activity1625 Words   |  7 Pages Prostitution is the practice of performing sexual activity to get paid. This practice has existed for centuries and yet the question remains – is prostitution moral? It is because prostitution involves selling something very personal to earn money. Many people think that prostitution encourages slavery for women and selling body in return for money is very wrong while others think that prostitution is just like any other service so there is nothing immoral about it. In this paper, I will argue thatRead MoreThe Rights Of The United States1261 Words   |  6 Pagesright to do what you want with your body, as long as you don’t hurt anybody else. This is considered a basic human right and is provided for in the constitution. One example of where you should be able to do whatever you want with your body is prostitution. The government always has too much power over our health. It can draft us and make us go into internment camps like the Japanese in WW2. It certainly s houldn’t say whether or not we have the right to pay for sex with a consenting adult. ForRead MoreFreedom of Women to Be Prostitutes Essay1440 Words   |  6 PagesFor centuries, women have been selling their bodies, in most cases prostitution, but it is not world’s oldest profession. Nevertheless, for as long as history states, prostitution has been around for as long as the oldest professions in the world. Every aspect of history asserts even the slightest things about prostitution existing. Prostitution has been a long-term profession through out several decades, whether it varies from being an adult star, escort, prostitute, a stripper etc†¦ As long as theyRead MoreThe Effect of Legalizing Prostitution on the Economy1359 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effect of Legalizing Prostitution on the Economy Our Nation has been under immense fire lately. This is mainly because Americas Government is over a trillion dollars in debt. We are in one of the worst recessions that America has ever been and in danger of creating a double dip recession. Jobs are nowhere in sight. People continue to get laid off and even worse people who have been laid off are losing their unemployment benefit. The unemployment rate is through the roof and nobody can findRead More Prostitution Should be Legalized Essay560 Words   |  3 PagesProstitution Should be Legalized I think that prostitution should be legalized because it is no different than any other service that we pay to receive. Besides, there are far more serious crimes that require the full attention of our police force than prostitution; therefore, policing it is a costly waste of time and police resources. Furthermore, prostitution is already legal in Singapore, Denmark, and a part of the United States as well. In this Essay, I will discuss these ideas;Read MoreThe Movie Running Scared By Paul Walker922 Words   |  4 PagesOleg. Oleg is seen as the growing boy in the house, not yet the man, but he wants to care for his mother and protect her. This poses a problem: he wants to save his mother but in order to do that he must â€Å"eliminate† his dad. Though his intentions are good his actions are illegal. He also stole the gun, which is wrong. Stealing and attempting to murder fall under the three universal values that James Rachels outlines in the text (Rosenstand, 2013, p. 142). Almost all cultures, civilized or not, have

What Was the Ecclesia in Sparta

In A History of Greece, to the Death of Alexander the Great, J. B. Bury says the Spartan Assembly or Ecclesia was restricted to Spartiate men of at least 30* years of age, who met when summoned by the Ephors or Gerousia. Their place of meeting, called the skias, refers to a canopy, and possibly the name of a building. They met monthly. Sarah Pomeroy, in Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History, says they met outdoors monthly at the full moon, but this is controversial. They might have met at the new moon and indoors, although since this was before street lights, and since the moon in some aspect comes into the picture—therefore, you have a night scene—Pomeroys position makes sense. We dont know for sure if the ordinary Spartan had the right to debate. Pomeroy says not. Speeches were made by kings, the elders, and ephors. This limits the democratic nature of the Spartan mixed government. The men of the ecclesia could only vote yes or no and if crooked, t heir vote by shouting could be vetoed by the Gerousia. Also Known As:Â  Apella Alternate Spellings:Â  Ekklesia Aristotle on the Spartan Ecclesia Here is what Aristotle has to say about the Spartan Ecclesia (Politics 1273a) The reference of some matters and not of others to the popular assembly rests with the kings in consultation with the Elders in case they agree1 unanimously, but failing that, these matters also lie with the people2; and when the kings introduce business in the assembly, they do not merely let the people sit and listen to the decisions that have been taken by their rulers, but the people have the sovereign decision, and anybody who wishes may speak against the proposals introduced, a right that does not exist under the other constitutions. The appointment by co-optation of the Boards of Five which control many important matters, and the election by these boards of the supreme magistracy of the Hundred, and also their longer tenure of authority than that of any other officers for they are in power after they have gone out of office and before they have actually entered upon it are oligarchical features; their receiving no pay and not being chosen by lot and other similar regulations m ust be set down as aristocratic, and so must the fact that the members of the Boards are the judges in all lawsuits, [20] instead of different suits being tried by different courts as at Sparta. But the Carthaginian system diverges from aristocracy in the direction of oligarchy most signally in respect of a certain idea that is shared by the mass of mankind; they think that the rulers should be chosen not only for their merit but also for their wealth, as it is not possible for a poor man to govern well or to have leisure for his duties. If therefore election by wealth is oligarchical and election by merit aristocratic, this will be a third system exhibited in the organization of the constitution of Carthage, for there elections are made with an eye to these two qualifications, and especially elections to the most important offices, those of the kings and of the generals. But it must be held that this divergence from aristocracy is an error on the part of a lawgiver; for one of the most important points to keep in view from the outset is that the best citizens may be able to have leisure and may not have to engage in any unseemly occupation, not only when in office but also when living in private life. And if it is necessary to look to the question of means for the sake of leisure, it is a bad thing that the greatest offices of state, the kingship and the generalship, should be for sale. For this law makes wealth more honored than worth, and renders the whole state avaricious; and whatever the holders of supreme power deem honorable, the opinion of the other citizens also is certain to follow them, and a state in which virtue is not held in the highest honor.... * There are different opinions on this subject. Some modern writers say 18; some 30, and going from Cartledges 2003 The Spartans, it could even be 20. Here is what Cartledge writes: What was this damos or Assembly? In Classical times it consisted of all adult male Spartan warrior citizens, those who were of legitimate Spartan birth, who had been through the prescribed state upbringing, who had been selected to join a military-style mess, and who both were economically capable of meeting their minimum contributions of produce to their mess and had been guilty of some act of cowardice or other disqualifying public crime or misdemeanour. Kennells Spartans: A New History, says that once a hebon (for ten years, up to age 30), a Spartan became a Spartiate and eligible for the sussition. This is significant because adult male Spartan citizens are said to have been members of the Assembly, so if theyre deemed Spartiates they should be members. Sources Bury, John Bagnell. A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great. Classic Reprint, Paperback, Forgotten Books, October 20, 2017. Spartan ReflectionsBy Paul Cartledge Aspects of Greek history, 750-323 BC: A Source-Based ApproachBy Terry Buckley Ancient Sparta: A Re-Examination of the EvidenceBy Kathleen Mary Tyrer Chrimes Atkinson. SpartaBy Humfrey Michell Pomeroy, Sarah B. Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History. Stanley M. Burstein, Walter Donlan, et al., 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, July 3, 2017.

Techniques Used For Extracting Useful Information From Images

The main objective over here focusses on the enhanced image searching which can be carried out by performing few of the existing techniques used for extracting useful information from images. These techniques include image classification, Feature Extraction, Face detection and recognition and image retrieval etc. 4.1 Image Classification After the image has been processed using the 3 frameworks proposed the image needs to be classified which is done using the image classification technique of image mining. Classification can be carried out by applying the method of supervised classification and unsupervised classification but here we will mainly focus upon supervised classification. Supervised Classiï ¬ cation Supervised classification is†¦show more content†¦Various trees for example R-tree, R*-tree, R+tree, SR-tree etc are used in such cases. 4.5 Face detection and Recognition The face plays an important role in today’s world in the identification of the person. Face recognition is the process concerned with the identification of one or more person in images or videos by analyzing the patterns and comparing them with one another. Algorithms that are used for face recognition basically extract facial features and compares them to a face database to find the best and suitable match. Application of face detection and recognition includes biometrics, security and surveillance systems. V. RESULT AND ANLYSIS We have taken six images which includes two Face based image, two Content based image, and one feature based image and the last image which is a combined image which includes all three types i.e. Face, content and feature. The search results obtained when the above mentioned six images were searched for on a search engine is shown in Table I. The following table shows the time taken in the searching process of the images: Image Type of Image Time taken for searching Image1 Face based 5 seconds Image2 Content based 4 seconds Image3 Feature based 5 seconds Image4 Face based 3.5 seconds Image5 Feature based 6 seconds Image6 Combined 7 seconds Table I: Time taken for Image search From the results obtained from the above searches we canShow MoreRelatedComputational Advances Of Big Data1147 Words   |  5 Pages– the data we create and copy annually – will reach 44 ZB, or 44 trillion gigabytes [1]. Under the massive increase of global digital data, Big Data term is mainly used to describe large-scale datasets. Big data is high-volume, high-velocity and high-variety information assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making [2]. Volume of Big Data represents the magnitude of data while variety refers to the heterogeneity of the data.Read MoreMethods of 3D Image Analysis1809 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Since the late 1980s, arguably the most successful method of 3D image analysis has been the model-based segmentation approach. This approach, in its most mature form, matches 3D image information to models which describe not only the expected shape and appearance of a structure, but also statistically-based information about common variations in the structure of interest. In this way, the natural deviations in organic structures are accounted for in the statistical shape model, or SSMRead MoreThe Problems Encountered By Web Mining Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pagesand removed everyday and it handle huge set of information hence there is an arrival of many number of problems or issues. Normally, web data is highly dimensional, limited query interfaces, keyword oriented search and limited customization to individual user. Due to this, it is very difficult to find the relevant information from the web which may create new issues. Web mining procedures are classification, clustering and as sociation laws which are used to understand the customer behavior , evaluatedRead MoreThe Technology And Artificial Intelligence1002 Words   |  5 Pagesrange of techniques, which can be applied to a very wide range of application areas. (Russell, Stuart J.; Norvig Peter et al.,2003). Also, evidence will focus on the knowledge acquisition, data mining, computer vision and the search. An artificial intelligence system is intelligent not only of banking and sharing data, but also of acquiring, representing, and manipulating knowledge. (Buchanan. et al., 1983). 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The Lost Symbol Chapter 67-70 Free Essays

string(292) " figure with giant wings, seated in front of a stone building, surrounded by the most disparate and bizarre collection of objects imaginable–measuring scales, an emaciated dog, carpenter’s tools, an hourglass, various geometric solids, a hanging bell, a putto, a blade, a ladder\." CHAPTER 67 West of Embassy Row, all was silent again inside the walled garden with its twelfth-century roses and Shadow House gazebo. On the other side of an entry road, the young man was helping his hunched superior walk across an expansive lawn. He’s letting me guide him? Normally, the blind old man refused help, preferring to navigate by memory alone while on the grounds of his sanctuary. We will write a custom essay sample on The Lost Symbol Chapter 67-70 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Tonight, however, he was apparently in a hurry to get inside and return Warren Bellamy’s phone call. â€Å"Thank you,† the old man said as they entered the building that held his private study. â€Å"I can find my way from here.† â€Å"Sir, I would be happy to stay and help–† â€Å"That’s all for tonight,† he said, letting go of his helper’s arm and shuffling hurriedly off into the darkness. â€Å"Good night.† The young man exited the building and walked back across the great lawn to his modest dwelling on the grounds. By the time he entered his flat, he could feel his curiosity gnawing at him. The old man clearly had been upset by the question posed by Mr. Bellamy . . . and yet the question had seemed strange, almost meaningless. Is there no help for the widow’s son? In his wildest imagination, he could not guess what this could mean. Puzzled, he went to his computer and typed in a search for this precise phrase. To his great surprise, page after page of references appeared, all citing this exact question. He read the information in wonderment. It seemed Warren Bellamy was not the first person in history to ask this strange question. These same words had been uttered centuries ago . . . by King Solomon as he mourned a murdered friend. The question was allegedly still spoken today by Masons, who used it as a kind of encoded cry for help. Warren Bellamy, it seemed, was sending a distress call to a fellow Mason. CHAPTER 68 Albrecht Durer? Katherine was trying to put the pieces together as she hurried with Langdon through the basement of the Adams Building. A.D. stands for Albrecht Durer? The famous sixteenth-century German engraver and painter was one of her brother’s favorite artists, and Katherine was vaguely familiar with his work. Even so, she could not imagine how Durer would be any help to them in this case. For one thing, he’s been dead more than four hundred years. â€Å"Durer is symbolically perfect,† Langdon was saying as they followed the trail of illuminated EXIT signs. â€Å"He was the ultimate Renaissance mind–artist, philosopher, alchemist, and a lifelong student of the Ancient Mysteries. To this day, nobody fully understands the messages hidden in Durer’s art.† â€Å"That may be true,† she said. â€Å"But how does `1514 Albrecht Durer’ explain how to decipher the pyramid?† They reached a locked door, and Langdon used Bellamy’s key card to get through. â€Å"The number 1514,† Langdon said as they hurried up the stairs, â€Å"is pointing us to a very specific piece of Durer’s work.† They came into a huge corridor. Langdon glanced around and then pointed left. â€Å"This way.† They moved quickly again. â€Å"Albrecht Durer actually hid the number 1514 in his most mysterious piece of art–Melencolia I–which he completed in the year 1514. It’s considered the seminal work of the Northern European Renaissance.† Peter had once shown Katherine Melencolia I in an old book on ancient mysticism, but she didn’t recall any hidden number 1514. â€Å"As you may know,† Langdon said, sounding excited, â€Å"Melencolia I depicts mankind’s struggle to comprehend the Ancient Mysteries. The symbolism in Melencolia I is so complex it makes Leonardo da Vinci look overt.† Katherine stopped abruptly and looked at Langdon. â€Å"Robert, Melencolia I is here in Washington. It hangs in the National Gallery.† â€Å"Yes,† he said with a smile, â€Å"and something tells me that’s not a coincidence. The gallery is closed at this hour, but I know the curator and–â€Å" â€Å"Forget it, Robert, I know what happens when you go to museums.† Katherine headed off into a nearby alcove, where she saw a desk with a computer. Langdon followed, looking unhappy. â€Å"Let’s do this the easier way.† It seemed Professor Langdon, the art connoisseur, was having an ethical dilemma about using the Internet when an original was so nearby. Katherine stepped behind the desk and powered up the computer. When the machine finally came to life, she realized she had another problem. â€Å"There’s no icon for a browser.† â€Å"It’s an internal library network.† Langdon pointed to an icon on the desktop. â€Å"Try that.† Katherine clicked on the icon marked DIGITAL COLLECTIONS. The computer accessed a new screen, and Langdon pointed again. Katherine clicked on his choice of icon: FINE PRINTS COLLECTION. The screen refreshed. FINE PRINTS: SEARCH. â€Å"Type in `Albrecht Durer.’ â€Å" Katherine entered the name and then clicked the search key. Within seconds, the screen began displaying a series of thumbnail images. All of the images looked to be similar in style–intricate black-and-white engravings. Durer had apparently done dozens of similar engravings. Katherine scanned the alphabetical list of his artwork. Adam and Eve Betrayal of Christ Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Great Passion Last Supper Seeing all the biblical titles, Katherine recalled that Durer practiced something called Mystic Christianity–a fusion of early Christianity, alchemy, astrology, and science. Science . . . The image of her lab in flames rushed through her mind. She could barely process the long-term ramifications, but for the moment, her thoughts turned to her assistant, Trish. I hope she made it out. Langdon was saying something about Durer’s version of the Last Supper, but Katherine was barely listening. She had just seen the link for Melencolia I. She clicked the mouse, and the page refreshed with general information. Melencolia I, 1514 Albrecht Durer (engraving on laid paper) Rosenwald Collection National Gallery of Art Washington, D.C. When she scrolled down, a high-res digital image of Durer’s masterpiece appeared in all its glory. Katherine stared in bewilderment, having forgotten just how strange it was. Langdon gave an understanding chuckle. â€Å"As I said, it’s cryptic.† Melencolia I consisted of a brooding figure with giant wings, seated in front of a stone building, surrounded by the most disparate and bizarre collection of objects imaginable–measuring scales, an emaciated dog, carpenter’s tools, an hourglass, various geometric solids, a hanging bell, a putto, a blade, a ladder. You read "The Lost Symbol Chapter 67-70" in category "Essay examples" Katherine vaguely recalled her brother telling her that the winged figure was a representation of â€Å"human genius†Ã¢â‚¬â€œa great thinker with chin in hand, looking depressed, still unable to achieve enlightenment. The genius is surrounded with all of the symbols of his human intellect–objects of science, math, philosophy, nature, geometry, even carpentry–and yet is still unable to climb the ladder to true enlightenment. Even the human genius has difficulty comprehending the Ancient Mysteries. â€Å"Symbolically,† Langdon said, â€Å"this represents mankind’s failed attempt to transform human intellect into godlike power. In alchemical terms, it represents our inability to turn lead into gold.† â€Å"Not a particularly encouraging message,† Katherine agreed. â€Å"So how does it help us?† She did not see the hidden number 1514 that Langdon was talking about. â€Å"Order from chaos,† Langdon said, flashing a lopsided grin. â€Å"Just as your brother promised.† He reached in his pocket and pulled out the grid of letters he had written earlier from the Masonic cipher. â€Å"Right now, this grid is meaningless.† He spread the paper out on the desk. Katherine eyed the grid. Definitely meaningless. â€Å"But Durer will transform it.† â€Å"And how might he do that?† â€Å"Linguistic alchemy.† Langdon motioned to the computer screen. â€Å"Look carefully. Hidden in this masterpiece is something that will make sense of our sixteen letters.† He waited. â€Å"Do you see it yet? Look for the number 1514.† Katherine was in no mood to play classroom. â€Å"Robert, I see nothing–an orb, a ladder, a knife, a polyhedron, a scale? I give up.† â€Å"Look! There in the background. Carved into that building behind the angel? Beneath the bell? Durer engraved a square that is full of numbers.† Katherine now saw the square that contained numbers, among them 1514. â€Å"Katherine, that square is the key to deciphering the pyramid!† She shot him a surprised look. â€Å"That’s not just any square,† Langdon said, grinning. â€Å"That, Ms. Solomon, is a magic square.† CHAPTER 69 Where the hell are they taking me? Bellamy was still blindfolded in the back of an SUV. After a short stop somewhere close to the Library of Congress, the vehicle had continued on . . . but only for a minute. Now the SUV had stopped again, having again traveled only about a block. Bellamy heard muffled voices talking. â€Å"Sorry . . . impossible . . .† an authoritative voice was saying. † . . . closed at this hour . . .† The man driving the SUV replied with equal authority. â€Å"CIA investigation . . . national security . . .† Apparently the exchange of words and IDs was persuasive, because the tone shifted immediately. â€Å"Yes, of course . . . service entrance . . .† There was the loud grinding of what sounded like a garage door, and as it opened, the voice added, â€Å"Shall I accompany you? Once you’re inside, you won’t be able to get through–â€Å" â€Å"No. We have access already.† If the guard was surprised, it was too late. The SUV was moving again. It advanced about fifty yards and then came to a stop. The heavy door rumbled closed again behind them. Silence. Bellamy realized he was trembling. With a bang, the SUV’s rear hatch flew open. Bellamy felt a sharp pain in his shoulders as someone dragged him out by his arms, then lifted him to his feet. Without a word, a powerful force led him across a wide expanse of pavement. There was a strange, earthy smell here that he could not place. There were footsteps of someone else walking with them, but whoever it was had yet to speak. They stopped at a door, and Bellamy heard an electronic ping. The door clicked open. Bellamy was manhandled through several corridors and could not help but notice that the air was warmer and more humid. An indoor pool, maybe? No. The smell in the air was not chlorine . . . it was far more earthy and primal. Where the hell are we?! Bellamy knew he could not be more than a block or two from the Capitol Building. Again they stopped, and again he heard the electronic beep of a security door. This one slid open with a hiss. As they pushed him through, the smell that hit him was unmistakable. Bellamy now realized where they were. My God! He came here often, although never through the service entrance. This magnificent glass building was only three hundred yards from the Capitol Building and was technically part of the Capitol Complex. I run this place! Bellamy now realized it was his own key fob that was giving them access. Powerful arms pushed him through the doorway, leading him down a familiar, winding walkway. The heavy, damp warmth of this place usually felt comforting to him. Tonight, he was sweating. What are we doing here?! Bellamy was halted suddenly and seated on a bench. The man with the muscles unhooked his handcuffs only long enough to reaffix them to the bench behind his back. â€Å"What do you want from me?† Bellamy demanded, heart pounding wildly. The only response he received was the sound of boots walking off and the glass door sliding shut. Then silence. Dead silence. They’re just going to leave me here? Bellamy was sweating more heavily now as he struggled to release his hands. I can’t even take off my blindfold? â€Å"Help!† he shouted. â€Å"Anybody!† Even as he called out in panic, Bellamy knew nobody was going to hear him. This massive glass room–known as the Jungle–was entirely airtight when the doors were closed. They left me in the Jungle, he thought. Nobody will find me until morning. Then he heard it. The sound was barely audible, but it terrified Bellamy like no sound he had ever heard in his life. Something breathing. Very close. He was not alone on the bench. The sudden hiss of a sulfur match sizzled so close to his face that he could feel the heat. Bellamy recoiled, instinctively yanking hard at his chains. Then, without warning, a hand was on his face, removing his blindfold. The flame before him reflected in the black eyes of Inoue Sato as she pressed the match against the cigarette dangling from her lips, only inches away from Bellamy’s face. She glared at him in the moonlight that filtered down through the glass ceiling. She looked pleased to see his fear. â€Å"So, Mr. Bellamy,† Sato said, shaking out the match. â€Å"Where shall we begin?† CHAPTER 70 A magic square. Katherine nodded as she eyed the numbered square in Durer’s engraving. Most people would have thought Langdon had lost his mind, but Katherine had quickly realized he was right. The term magic square referred not to something mystical but to something mathematical–it was the name given to a grid of consecutive numbers arranged in such a way that all the rows, columns, and diagonals added up to the same thing. Created some four thousand years ago by mathematicians in Egypt and India, magic squares were still believed by some to hold magical powers. Katherine had read that even nowadays devout Indians drew special three-by-three magic squares called the Kubera Kolam on their pooja altars. Primarily, though, modern man had relegated magic squares to the category of â€Å"recreational mathematics,† some people still deriving pleasure from the quest to discover new â€Å"magical† configurations. Sudoku for geniuses. Katherine quickly analyzed Durer’s square, adding up the numbers in several rows and columns. â€Å"Thirty-four,† she said. â€Å"Every direction adds up to thirty-four.† â€Å"Exactly,† Langdon said. â€Å"But did you know that this magic square is famous because Durer accomplished the seemingly impossible?† He quickly showed Katherine that in addition to making the rows, columns, and diagonals add up to thirty-four, Durer had also found a way to make the four quadrants, the four center squares, and even the four corner squares add up to that number. â€Å"Most amazing, though, was Durer’s ability to position the numbers 15 and 14 together in the bottom row as an indication of the year in which he accomplished this incredible feat!† Katherine scanned the numbers, amazed by all the combinations. Langdon’s tone grew more excited now. â€Å"Extraordinarily, Melencolia I represents the very first time in history that a magic square appeared in European art. Some historians believe this was Durer’s encoded way of indicating that the Ancient Mysteries had traveled outside the Egyptian Mystery Schools and were now held by the European secret societies.† Langdon paused. â€Å"Which brings us back to . . . this.† He motioned to the slip of paper bearing the grid of letters from the stone pyramid. â€Å"I assume the layout looks familiar now?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Four-by-four square.† Langdon picked up the pencil and carefully transcribed Durer’s numbered magic square onto the slip of paper, directly beside the lettered square. Katherine was now seeing just how easy this was going to be. He stood poised, pencil in hand, and yet . . . strangely, after all this enthusiasm, he seemed to hesitate. â€Å"Robert?† He turned to her, his expression one of trepidation. â€Å"Are you sure we want to do this? Peter expressly–â€Å" â€Å"Robert, if you don’t want to decipher this engraving, then I will.† She held out her hand for the pencil. Langdon could tell there would be no deterring her and so he acquiesced, turning his attention back to the pyramid. Carefully, he superimposed the magic square over the pyramid’s grid of letters and assigned each letter a number. Then he created a new grid, placing the Masonic cipher’s letters in the new order as defined by the sequence in Durer’s magic square. When Langdon was finished, they both examined the result. Katherine immediately felt confused. â€Å"It’s still gibberish.† Langdon remained silent a long moment. â€Å"Actually, Katherine, it’s not gibberish.† His eyes brightened again with the thrill of discovery. â€Å"It’s . . . Latin.† In a long, dark corridor, an old blind man shuffled as quickly as he could toward his office. When he finally arrived, he collapsed in his desk chair, his old bones grateful for the reprieve. His answering machine was beeping. He pressed the button and listened. â€Å"It’s Warren Bellamy,† said the hushed whisper of his friend and Masonic brother. â€Å"I’m afraid I have alarming news . . .† Katherine Solomon’s eyes shot back to the grid of letters, reexamining the text. Sure enough, a Latin word now materialized before her eyes. Jeova. Katherine had not studied Latin, but this word was familiar from her reading of ancient Hebrew texts. Jeova. Jehovah. As her eyes continued to trace downward, reading the grid like a book, she was surprised to realize she could read the entire text of the pyramid. Jeova Sanctus Unus. She knew its meaning at once. This phrase was ubiquitous in modern translations of Hebrew scripture. In the Torah, the God of the Hebrews was known by many names–Jeova, Jehovah, Jeshua, Yahweh, the Source, the Elohim–but many Roman translations had consolidated the confusing nomenclature into a single Latin phrase: Jeova Sanctus Unus. â€Å"One true God?† she whispered to herself. The phrase certainly did not seem like something that would help them find her brother. â€Å"That’s this pyramid’s secret message? One true God? I thought this was a map.† Langdon looked equally perplexed, the excitement in his eyes evaporating. â€Å"This decryption obviously is correct, but . . .† â€Å"The man who has my brother wants to know a location.† She tucked her hair behind her ear. â€Å"This is not going to make him very happy.† â€Å"Katherine,† Langdon said, heaving a sigh. â€Å"I’ve been afraid of this. All night, I’ve had a feeling we’re treating as reality a collection of myths and allegories. Maybe this inscription is pointing to a metaphorical location–telling us that the true potential of man can be accessed only through the one true God.† â€Å"But that makes no sense!† Katherine replied, her jaw now clenched in frustration. â€Å"My family protected this pyramid for generations! One true God? That’s the secret? And the CIA considers this an issue of national security? Either they’re lying or we’re missing something!† Langdon shrugged in accord. Just then, his phone began to ring. In a cluttered office lined with old books, the old man hunched over his desk, clutching a phone receiver in his arthritic hand. The line rang and rang. At last, a tentative voice answered. â€Å"Hello?† The voice was deep but uncertain. The old man whispered, â€Å"I was told you require sanctuary.† The man on the line seemed startled. â€Å"Who is this? Did Warren Bell–† â€Å"No names, please,† the old man said. â€Å"Tell me, have you successfully protected the map that was entrusted to you?† A startled pause. â€Å"Yes . . . but I don’t think it matters. It doesn’t say much. If it is a map, it seems to be more metaphorical than–â€Å" â€Å"No, the map is quite real, I assure you. And it points to a very real location. You must keep it safe. I cannot impress upon you enough how important this is. You are being pursued, but if you can travel unseen to my location, I will provide sanctuary . . . and answers.† The man hesitated, apparently uncertain. â€Å"My friend,† the old man began, choosing his words carefully. â€Å"There is a refuge in Rome, north of the Tiber, which contains ten stones from Mount Sinai, one from heaven itself, and one with the visage of Luke’s dark father. Do you know my location?† There was a long pause on the line, and then the man replied, â€Å"Yes, I do.† The old man smiled. I thought you might, Professor. â€Å"Come at once. Make sure you’re not followed.† How to cite The Lost Symbol Chapter 67-70, Essay examples

Gang Leader For Day free essay sample

The author of â€Å"Gang Leader for a Day†, Sudhir Vankatesh, delivers an intimate look into a world most people would prefer to ignore. In the book, the graduate student formed a friendship with a local gang leader and was able to get the inside information of the gang’s role in the Chicago housing projects. ABC’s 60 Minutes and National Geographic have made outstanding videos describing in great detail, gang life. Girls in the Hood, by ABC, informs that the notion of only males in gangs is false; that there are strong female leaders that are much involved in the gang as much as males. â€Å"Maximum Security†, by 60 Minutes, informs the audience about how gang leaders turned Pelican Bay, a prison fortress, into their own head courters of criminal activity. â€Å"World most Dangerous Gang†, by National Geographic, describes how important it is to deal with violent gangs and not make the same mistake twice. Sudhir Vankatesh is a brave sociologist who wanted to live the life of the very thing he studied. In 1989, Vankatesh was a graduate student from University of Chicago and for his research he had come to spend time with the Black King gang. The author stayed in the Robert Taylor housing project which was next to the university; although, the staff of the university made it clear that these areas were places to be avoided. He started to attend seminars that analyzed typical sociological enquiries which he felt did not portray an accurate sociological prospective of the people who lived in the projects. He liked the questions the researchers were asking, but compared them with the vibrant life he saw on the streets of Chicago, the discussion of these seminars seemed cold and distant. The author decided to go with the direct approach in which he had a firsthand experience in his research, instead of a more common approach of using surveys and questionnaires. The biggest reason why Vankatesh did not want to base his research on surveys is because their validity is not one hundred percent accurate. Vankatesh’s research method was not clear to him when he approached Hyde Park for the first time. It is understood that throughout the book he used the participant and observation method: seeing people face to face. He meets J.T at the park and soon realizes that he is a Black King Gang member. They form an unusual friendship because they are both intrigued with each other. J.T. has a college degree and he had a job but he felt that  he could not grow within the workforce due to his ethnicity. The blue-collar occupation that J.T. worked at could not promise better pay so he had to go back to the projects where he grew up and ran the Black King Gang. His authority was easy to achieve because he was well known throughout the project community. He mostly dealt with people like a business man but sometimes he had to put people in line through brutal violence. The Robert Taylor homes housed many poor African Americans which results in de facto (‘in actual fact†) segregation. The occupants consisted mainly of single parent homes which attributed to their socio financial status. The deprived African Americans experience hypersegregation because of the geo-political region. The local law enforcement’s lack of presence encourages locals to seek the Black King Gang for justice. J.T, gang’s leader, regulates the kind of punishment suitable for each situation. After Brass and C-Note went against J.T.’s rule to make Vankatesh leader for a day they were brutally assaulted. The consequence of their behavior resulted in punishment sanction that encouraged conformity to the gang’s cultural norms. The Black King Gang organizes itself to efficiently perform responsibilities. The bureaucratic gang has a â€Å"Board of Directors† at the top of it hierarchy that oversees the grand operation. J.T. is an instrumental leader because he focuses on completing tasks. His take charge attitude and outgoing personality are all traits of a born leader. As a leader he had to keep the gang motivated to keep sell the illegal substances. J.T. understands the consequences of breaking the law so he never carried a gun or drugs because it would send him to prison. The people of the Robert Taylor Homes value the hierarchy of the gang because it serves them as protection. Squatters, people who sleep in the halls, usually cause a lot of trouble because of their alcohol and drug abuse. The female tenants feel comfortable enough to tell J.T. if the squatters are harassing them. Being organized allows the gang to run more efficiently when performing tasks. In chapter four of â€Å"Gang Leader for a Day† the author gets a chance in a lifetime: he was appointed leader of the gang for one day with, of course, help from J.T., T-Bone, and Price. They discuss the ongoing problem of rival gangs wanting to take their territory explained that he pays the local homeless of the area to keep an eye out just to have a second reference, when a problem occurs. The author concludes that his peers, other sociologist, have a false  understanding of the kinds of positive outcomes gangs bring to The Robert Taylor community. The latent function of the gang’s role is that they try their best to protect the men and women who do not abuse drugs and are too poor to care for themselves. Girls in the Hood put together a lot of videotape shot over a four month period by Mara and Jokey, two female gang associates in East Los Angeles. Mara is one of the leaders of Tapa 13. Tapa is the name of her neighborhood and 13 stands for the south. Jokey is a member of the drifters in East L.A. She has stolen cars, sold drugs, and shot at her enemies. They acclaimed this life style because they are in it for the thrill and danger. Even though they do all these not so great things they value religion. In the video there is a clip of a mural of the Virgin Marry spray painted as a totem to the Neighborhood. Mara explains that this sacred symbol is presented in an area where acts of crime are ordinary. The community values religion and believes in biblical figures yet still acts in atrocious behaviors. As for Jokey, stealing and selling drugs is norm. During the Rodney King riots in 1992 Jokey looted local shopping malls and was scorned by her father. They both explain that their gang is like a second family. The major function of this family is the social placement of one another. Its main focus is to have social organization and pass down race, ethnicity and religion. The video â€Å"Maximum Security† explained how gang members live in the Security Housing Unit (SHU). Prisoners are locked in their cells 23 hours a day. For the hour outside their cells the prisoners are allowed out in the yard to do some form of exercise. In their cells they communicate with each other through the drains. Inside the SHU, gangs find new ways of collaborating because it’s the best way to keep under the radar of the guards or other gang members. The language used here is not used by the average citizen in the United States. The system of symbols such as hand gestures and sign language are specifically understood by the members of the gang. The gangs are able to send out orders to murder and money launders from within this metal fortress. In their cells however it is much harder to converse in SHU through hand gestures, so they started fishing. Fishing is when a person from a cell writes a note and attaches it to a line, made out of bed sheets, and launches it hoping it lands in the right place. If it goes off course or one of the guards picks it up they just make another one because they have a  lot of time on their hands. The Guards consider â€Å"fishing† a nuisance and in a sense a folkway of inmates. The video â€Å"World’s Most Dangerous Gang† focuses on the notorious MS-13 which is 10,000 foot soldiers strong and spanning from El Salvador to Canada. Originating in East Los Angles, MS-13 acts like an underground business or black market that defends its territory through ruthless violence. To stay in business, the gang must keep their coldblooded reputation and it is considered a norm to kill. This allows the gang to keep their profits coming in. A former gang member is interviewed in the short film; his name is Jester; when he was only eight years old he was jumped in. To be jumped in is to undergo a vicious beating for no more than 13 seconds. This gang is involved in more crime than any other gang in the world. The U.S Government decided to send captured MS-13 members to El Salvador in attempt to get rid of the problem. This caused the gang to become stronger and larger because the officials in El Salvador are not as strong as the officers in the U.S. The sociological theory of deviance best explains gang life is differential-association theory. According to Edwin Sutherland â€Å"a person’s tendency toward conformity or deviance depends on the amount of contact with others who encourage or reject conventional behavior† (Macionis). The differential-association theory applies to many kinds of deviant engagements. For example, MS-13 provides conditions in which young individuals learn to become lawbreakers. This gang defines itself as countercultural and glorifies viciousness, vengeance, and corruption as means to achieving social status. Gang members learn to be deviant as they embrace and conform to their gangs norms. It focuses on evolving the nature of criminality because adolescents usually learn deviance from the people who spent the most time with it. Fortunately none of my family members are involved in any gang or criminal activity. I do understand that being in a gang gives people the sense that they belong to group. I have a fairly large family and we are very close. If I did not feel like I belonged to my family there would have been a big chance that I would have spent more time with negative influences. ABC’s, 60 minutes, and National geographic did an excellent job in getting the inside story of gangs and the life. It breaks the false interpretation mass media gives to the general public. Maximum Security, by 60 minutes, informs the audience on how the gangsters in Pelican Bay send out orders to do heinous activity. â€Å"World’s most Dangerous  Gang†, by National Geographic, describes how important it is that law enforcement deal with violent gangs and not send them to another region of the world to wreak havoc. Sudhir Vankatesh lived in the shoes of a gangster’s life for one day to personally experience the culture poor African Americans live in.