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.

Huck Finn Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Huck Finn Persuasive Essay My heart wuz mos broke bekase you wuz los,(Pg. 85) was what Jim told Huckleberry when he found him again after they had been separated. This is a perfect example of how much Jim sincerely cares about Huck. Huck definitely has a very close and father-like relationship with the runaway slave, Jim. On the other hand, his real father, Pap, is less of a father figure to Huck than a runaway African American slave. Pap is very violent and abusive towards Huck. By looking at Hucks relationships with Pap and Jim and how they are different and similar in some ways, Hucks relationship with Pap, and Hucks relationship with Jim the reader can see how they all relate. Although the relationships between Huck and Pap and Huck and Jim may seem extremely different, they are also quite similar in some ways. Both are father figures for Huck in a way. Although Huck is related to Pap through blood, Jim, who is a slave, cares more for Huck and is more nurturing than Pap is. Come in, Huck, but doan look at his face its too gashly. (Pg. 50) Jim said this as he found the body of Hucks father, Pap. This shows how Jim didnt want Huck to be upset by knowing that his father is dead. Also, Huck is in danger staying with both of these people. With staying with Pap, Huck is in danger because of his fathers abusiveness. Jim and Pap are also alike because of the fact that both of these people dont like their place in society. Pap wants to be wealthier and higher up in society, whereas Jim only wants to escape slavery and own himself. Pap is a very violent drunk. He lives on the outskirts of town, and goes into town only to get alcohol and become intoxicated. I borrowed three dollars from Judge Thatcher, and pap took it and got drunk, and went a-blow-ing around and cussing and whooping and carrying on; and he kept it up all over town, with a tin pan, till most midnight; then they jailed him, and next day they had him before court, and jailed him again for a week., (Pg. 21). This shows further how Pap is a horrible role model for Huck and a drunk. One night, because of his drunken stupor, Pap tried to kill Huck and almost succeeded. He chased me round and round the place with a clasp-knife, calling me the Angel of Death, and saying he would kill me,, (Pg. 29). Huck has grown up with this kind of abuse all of his life and fears his father. I used to be scared of him all the time, he tanned me so much. (Pg. 18). Not only is Pap abusive, he also does not wish for Huck to go to school or become educated. And looky here you drop that school, you hear? (Pg. 19). He also threatens to hit Huck if he catches him at school. Jim, however, is almost the very opposite of Pap. Huck has a very strong relationship with Jim. It is almost like a father-son relationship between the two. Although it may seem strange, Jim is Hucks only friends, and vice versa. Even though Huck could face serious trouble for helping a slave run away, Jim is like a father and best friend to Huck and he sticks with Jim the whole way. People would call me a low-down abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum.. ., (Pg. 43). Not only does Huck care deeply for Jim, Jim also sincerely cares about Huck. .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 , .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .postImageUrl , .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 , .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:hover , .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:visited , .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:active { border:0!important; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:active , .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8 .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udae41be5d9b32b993cbfba9b3e3298f8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Closet Essay Come in, Huck, but doan look at his face its too gashly., (Pg. 50). This is what Jim told Huck when they found Paps dead, naked body laying in an empty house. Pap didnt reveal to Huck that it was his Pap until he knew he would no longer be sad about his fathers death. Although during these times the kind of relationship that Huck and Jim had was completely unheard of, it definitely had a great affect on both of them. It gave each of them a friend and their adventures together made their dreams come true. In a way, Hucks relationship with Pap also had a good effect on Huck, giving him the ability to get out of messy situations and also the independence and self-reliance that he possesses. Now that we have looked at the similarities between Pap and Jim, one can come to realize the differences between them as well and how they affected Huckleberry Finn.

Algaziyev Assylbek Essays - Contract Law, Law, Money, Finance

Algaziyev Assylbek Essays - Contract Law, Law, Money, Finance Algaziyev Assylbek BIB A4007536 The issue which needs to be discussed is whether how Archie, Bob and Pat can get their original debts back from Esenes. Before I will give some advises for Archie, Bob and Pat I would explain what means accord and satisfaction, consideration and accord as an equitable defense. Accord and Satisfaction Accord and satisfaction is a contract law concept about the purchase of the release from a debt obligation. The payment is typically less than what is owed and is not paid by the actual performance of the original obligation. The accord is the agreement to discharge the obligation and the satisfaction is the legal "consideration" which binds the parties to the agreement. If a person is sued over an alleged debt they bear the burden of proving the affirmative defense of accord and satisfaction Consideration In an accord contract it is typical that the consideration supplied is less than bargained for in the original contract. In accord contracts that require an amount of consideration that is less than the original, the consideration must be of a different type, i.e. instead of money, debtor offers a car or a boat. Accord as an Equitable Defense A valid accord does not discharge the prior contract, it suspends the right to enforce it in accordance with the terms of the accord contract, in which satisfaction, or performance of the contract will discharge both contracts (the original and the accord). If the creditor breaches the accord, then the debtor will be able to bring up the existence of the accord in order to enjoin any action against him The accord agreement must be transacted on a new agreement. It must therefore have the essential terms of a contract, (parties, subject matter, time for performance, and consideration). If there is a breach of the accord there will be no "satisfaction" which will give rise to a breach of accord. In this instance the non-offending party has the right to sue under either the original contract or the accord agreement Advises In the first case with Archie we can see a negotiable instrument. A negotiable instrument can function as a substitute for money or as an extension of credit. For example: when buyer writes check to pay for goods, the check serves as a substitute for money. When a buyer gives a seller a promissory note in which the buyer promises to pay the seller the purchase price within sixty days, the seller has extended credit to the buyer for a sixty days, the seller has essentially extended credit to the buyer for a sixty day-period. For a negotiable instrument to operate practically as either a substitute for money or a credit device, or both, it is essential that the instrument be easily transferable without danger of being uncollectible. This is a fundamental function of negotiable instrument. A s Archie gladly accepted an invitation to the launch party instead of payment negotiable instrument can be seen. M oreover Archie was in accord and satisf ied which does not give him chance to sue and win a court Esenes therefore get the original debt from Esenes. In the second occasion with Bob as case Foakes v Beer states that " Mrs. B obtained a judgment for debt against Dr F in the sum of 2,090. The parties agreed that if Dr F paid 500 at once and the balance by installments Mrs . B would not take "any proceedings whatever on the judgment debt. Dr. F paid 2090 but Mrs. B then claimed interest on the judgment debt. Dr F had to pay the interest. The agreement between the parties did not help him because it was unsupported by consideration " according to that case as Bob reluctantly agreed to accept it in full and final payment of her debt there was no consideration between Bob and Esenes therefore it enables Bob to get the original debt and interest as well. For a Pat I could advise to refer to Hirachand Punamchand v Temple case which states that "Creditor accepted a smaller sum from the debtor's father in full settlement. The creditor could not sue the debtor for the balance as it would be a fraud on the father to

Battle of the Eastern Solomons - World War II Battle of the Eastern Solomons

Battle of the Eastern Solomons - World War II Battle of the Eastern Solomons Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Conflict: The Battle of the Eastern Solomons was fought during World War II. Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Date: American and Japanese forces clashed on August 24-25, 1942. Fleets Commanders: Allies Vice Admiral Frank J. FletcherVice Admiral Robert Ghormley2 fleet carriers, 1 battleship, 4 cruisers, 11 destroyers Japanese Admiral Isoroku YamamotoVice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo2 fleet carriers, 1 light carrier, 2 battleships, 16 cruisers, 25 destroyers Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Background: In the wake of the Allied landings on Guadalcanal in August 1942, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and the Japanese high command began planning Operation Ka with the goal retaking the island. As part of this counter-offensive, a troop convoy was formed under the command of Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka with orders to proceed to Guadalcanal. Departing Truk on August 16, Tanaka steamed south aboard the light cruiser Jintsu. This was followed by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumos Main Body, centered on the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, as well as the light carrier Ryujo. Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Forces: Both of these were supported by Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abes Vanguard Force consisting of 2 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, and 1 light cruiser and Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondos Advance Force of 5 heavy cruisers and 1 light cruiser. The overall Japanese plan called for Nagumos carriers to locate and destroy their American counterparts which would allow Abe and Kondos fleets to close and eliminate the remaining Allied naval forces in a surface action. With Allied forces destroyed, the Japanese would be able to land reinforcements to clear Guadalcanal and retake Henderson Field. Opposing the Japanese advance were Allied naval forces under Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher. Centered around the carriers USS Enterprise, USS Wasp, and USS Saratoga, Fletchers force returned to the waters off Guadalcanal on August 21, to support US Marines in the wake of the Battle of Tenaru. The following day both Fletcher and Nagumo launched scout planes in an effort to locate each others carriers. Though neither had success on the 22nd, an American PBY Catalina spotted Tanakas convoy on August 23. Reacting to this report, strikes took off from Saratoga and Henderson Field. Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Exchanging Blows: Aware that his ships had been sighted, Tanaka turned north and successfully evaded the America aircraft. With no confirmed reports about the location of the Japanese carriers, Fletcher released Wasp south to refuel. At 1:45 AM on August 24, Nagumo detached Ryujo, along with a heavy cruiser and two destroyers, with orders to attack Henderson Field at dawn. As the light carrier and its escorts sailed away, Nagumo had the aircraft aboard Shokaku and Zuikaku prepared to launch immediately upon receiving word about the American carriers. Around 9:35 AM, an American Catalina spotted the Ryujo force en route to Guadalcanal. Through the rest of the morning, this report was followed by sightings of Kondos ships and a cover force sent from Rabaul to protect Tanakas convoy. Aboard Saratoga, Fletcher was hesitant to launch an attack, preferring to husband his aircraft in case the Japanese carriers were located. Finally at 1:40 PM, he ordered 38 planes from Saratoga to take off and attack Ryujo. As these aircraft roared off the carriers deck, the first strike from Ryujo arrived over Henderson Field. This attack was defeated by planes from Henderson. At 2:25 PM a scout plane from the cruiser Chikuma located Fletchers flattops. Radioing the position back to Nagumo, the Japanese admiral immediately began launching his aircraft. As these planes were taking off, American scouts spotted Shokaku and Zuikaku. Reporting back, the sighting report never reached Fletcher due to communication problems. Around 4:00 PM, Saratogas planes commenced their attack on Ryujo. Hitting the light carrier with 3-5 bombs and possibly a torpedo, the American planes left the carrier dead in the water and on fire. Unable to save the ship, Ryujo was abandoned by its crew. As the attack on Ryujo was beginning, the first wave of Japanese planes was detected by Fletchers force. Scrambling 53 F4F Wildcats, Saratoga and Enterprise began evasive maneuvers after launching all of their attack aircraft with orders to seek targets of opportunity. Due to further communication issues, the fighter cover had some difficulty intercepting the Japanese. Commencing their attack, the Japanese focused their assault on Enterprise. Over the next hour, the American carrier was struck by three bombs which caused heavy damage, but failed to cripple the ship. By 7:45 PM Enterprise was able to resume flight operations. A second Japanese strike failed to locate the American ships due to radio issues. The final action of the day occurred when 5 TBF Avengers from Saratoga located Kondos force and badly damaged the seaplane tender Chitose. The next morning the battle was renewed when aircraft from Henderson Field attacked Tanakas convoy. Heavily damaging Jintsu and sinking a troop ship, the strike from Henderson was followed by an attack by B-17s based at Espiritu Santo. This raid sank the destroyer Mutsuki. With the defeat of Tanakas convoy, both Fletcher and Nagumo elected to withdraw from the area ending the battle. Battle of the Eastern Solomons - Aftermath The Battle of the Eastern Solomons cost Fletcher 25 aircraft and 90 killed. In addition, Enterprise was badly damaged, but remained operable. For Nagumo, the engagement resulted in the loss of Ryujo, one light cruiser, a destroyer, a troop ship, and 75 aircraft. Japanese casualties numbered around 290 and included the loss of valuable aircrews. A tactical and strategic victory for the Allies, both commanders departed the area believing they had won a victory. While the battle had few long-term results, it did force the Japanese to bring reinforcements to Guadalcanal by destroyer which severely limited the equipment that could be transported to the island. Selected Sources CV-6.org: Battle of the Eastern SolomonsWorld War II Database: Battle of the Eastern SolomonsCarriers Meet Again: Battle of the Eastern Solomons

Qualitative and Quantitative Article Review Essay

Qualitative and Quantitative Article Review - Essay Example en forge ahead to outline the various steps that people can take in order to balance between work and home, amidst all the difficulties (Kreiner & Hollensbe, 2009). In order to obtain appropriate data, the authors made up their mind to use several relevant methods of data collection. They began by conducting a case study about the topic. In this way, they used social construction approach which enabled them to realize that individuals have control over their experiences. This approach is in total disagreement with other theories that have it that human beings are passive reactors to their environment. The second approach that was used was direct observation. They studied parish priests because despite them having families to take care of, they still had a tacit mandate of serving their people. The third approach put in place was participant observation in which they attended various meetings for the clergy. The above methods of data collection work hand in hand with the costructivist theory (Scandura, 2000). In this case, the authors created the data they analyzed through their interaction with those who were being interviewed and observed. There were several results found from the different approaches. For instance, they realized that work-home boundary incongruence resulted into boundary violations which later led to work-home conflict. In addition, they noticed that boundary violations increased work-home conflict in the society. The Impact of Techno stress on Role Stress and Productivity is a great article. The authors attempts to determine stress created by computer and technology in general. They derive their concepts from both sociotechnical, and role theories to look deeper into the overall stress created by information (Tarafdar & Ragu-Nathan, 2007). The authors developed a research model based on both role and sociotechnical theory (Trochim, 1999). Three hypotheses were then developed. The first hypothesis inquired whether techno stress could be

Understanding Whiteness or white identity Annotated Bibliography

Understanding Whiteness or white identity - Annotated Bibliography Example Banks explains that in order to define whiteness, African Americans were necessary. This is because constructing other racial categories helped as a source of identification for powerful main groups like whites (p.22). In this article, bank has discussed racial theories developed by intellectual leaders and also explains how Franz Boas, Robert E Park and African American scholars and social scientist strived for racial reconstruction. Banks’ article helps student to realize how racial knowledge is constructed and how it is evolved over time. Banks also emphasises the importance of having transformative teaching and learning. Ralph Linton’s article â€Å"The one hundred percent American† humorously describes that most of the things an American use in everyday life are originated from other countries. Linton brilliantly analyses that majority of materials a typical American uses are un-American, and yet they consider themselves as â€Å"one hundred percent American†. Linton has explained almost every routine including activities like waking up, taking shower, having breakfast, going out in rain, catching train and reading paper, and finds out that American uses un-American materials for all these needs. This includes a pyjama he wears which is of East Indian origin or bed he sleeps which is from Persia or Asia Minor (p.1). Linton shows us that most of the American way of doing things exists because of the other countries which invented them. For students, this article is really informative and may help them understand the extent to which American culture is unique. The article â€Å"Do we need a common American identity?† discusses about the complex issues in American identity. The title question is supported by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr (1992) who asserts that multiculturalism is a threat for basic values of Americans. While Michael Walzer (1990) opposes the title question and suggests that multicultural identity cannot be avoided in America. According to