Kingpin

drugs, specifically cocaine and marijuana, are smuggled across the United States-Mexican border each day. Although enhanced border control prevents some drugs from entering the United States, it is not completely successful. Notorious drug cartel kingpins and officials, such as Jorge Costilla-Sanchez (known as “El Cos” in both the Gulf and Los Zetas cartels), Edgar Valez Villarreal (known as “La Barbie” in both the Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva cartels), Joaquín Guzmán (known as “El Chapo” in the…

Rise of Crime In January of 1919, the 18th amendment was passed which stated “ … The manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors … For beverage purpose is hereby prohibited” (Constitution). Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many counties and some states were already dry. Even though the 18th amendment was to stop drinking all together, it did not even come close. Prohibition created a large number of bootleggers, which are people that sell alcohol illegally.…

Rebellion in “A&P” and “Greasy Lake” Rebellion is an overarching theme in both John Updike’s “A&P” and T. Coraghessan Boyle’s “Greasy Lake.” A sense of rebellion and a primitive urge to break free of society’s expectations and standards as well a shared sense of antiestablishmentarianism afflicts both narrators. However, the motives for their behavior are different, and they are drawn to a rebellious lifestyle for different reasons. For Sammy from “A&P,” he decides to rebel because of the appeal…

The end of slavery in 1862 was supposed to signify the end of the forced free labor of African American people and their right to live freely as human beings. Unfortunately for African American people, some white Americans could not fathom the idea of black people having equally opportunities. Thus begins the cycle of never ending oppression of black people. Black codes, segregation, the influx of crack in to black communities, and the era of mass incarceration are all tell tale signs of…

The CIA’s Shadow: Contras, Drugs and Lies By the mid-80s, a series of official and journalistic investigations that assured the involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with the Nicaraguan Contra and cocaine trafficking, came to light. This studies claimed that the government of Ronald Reagan, US President at the time, had illegally helped an army of counterrevolutionary mercenaries in Central America. However, and despite the conclusive evidence, the intelligence service executed a…

The Classic Hollywood System is a reference to the Hollywood Studio system, which were a small number of studios that dominated the industry from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. The major studios that profited and controlled this system were the “Big Five” studios which included Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, RKO Pictures, Warner Bros, and Metro Goldwyn Mayer. The studios themselves used a form of vertical integration and controlled the film industry. Some practices that were done in order…

Contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. Those who pursue wealth fall into temptation, harmful desires, ruin and destruction; for the love of money is the root of all evil (The New American Bible). This excerpt from the bible still holds true today. Some people in their effort to become wealthy will do anything to achieve wealth. The society today still equals wealth with power. Wealth in itself is not evil, it is the love of it that is…

Walter White is one of the main characters in the TV series Breaking Bad. In the first season, the character of Walter White undergoes a tremendous transformation. In general, the first season is about discovering how close Walter White can get to “Breaking Bad”. This growth and development of his character are critical because the life he embarks on is one that demands that he adapts to new traits to prosper and most importantly, to survive. For example, for the transformed from a poor…

She made history by performing alongside hip hop and rap kingpins Jay-Z and Eminem at the Yankee Stadium on 13th September 2010. Other famous artists who were present included 50 Cent, Chris Martin, Dr. Dre, Drake, and B.O.B. She is a dog person Nicki Minaj has been on record stating that she dislikes cats.…

“There needs to be competition because this clown thinks he’s the kingpin around here. He’s got everyone by the short hairs and has been price gouging all of us for far too long.” “Well, there’s nothing we can do about that tonight,” contested Anna, “So, we might as well just suck it up and go deal with the Devil.”…