Down the River Essay Example for Free

Down the River Essay Edward Abbeys essay Down the River reveals his strong belief that the existence of life revolves around nature itself. Abbey conveys these views through syntax, imagery, and his choice of structure. Abbey’s varying detail and syntax in the first half of the passage conveys an amazement toward nature. He states while gazing at the lion that there was a â€Å"mutual curiosity: [he] felt more wonder than fear†. His unexpected reaction to the mountain lion when they shared â€Å"mutual curiosity† implies that man is not alone in this journey towards knowledge, and there is a deep connection between man and nature. He varies the syntax from short to complex sentences with distinct differences in clauses. He states that later on they â€Å"see no mountain lions,† and the following sentence in a series presents all of the other wildlife that has been observed in great detail instead of the lion. He describes these plants and animals with enthusiasm and also calls Aravaipa â€Å"full of life† and extremely â€Å"beautiful†. The impression is that even though the lion that drew the explorer in is nowhere to be seen, there is still a vast amount of beauty in the desert. The structure is meant to contrast the two types of nature, urban nature and nature in Aravaipa. We see an immediate switch in tone when Abby says, â€Å"We stumble homeward over the stones, and through the anklebone-chilling water. † Abbey displays a hint of bitterness towards his home that is so bad even the journey to get there is torturous. He discusses the stars and how they seem to fade when he leaving the desert, as if the world he is used to has no stars, no beauty, no life. Abby then states that the memories of the beautiful desert are enough to keep him satisfied for days to survive the â€Å"urban life†. Nature is so rich in details and relationships and so wonderful and mysterious that it is impossible to completely understand it. This incomprehensibility can provide an unlimited source of learning that will eventually redeem us from a lifeless urban existence.

Power Of The Few Over The Many :: essays research papers

The Eleventh Commandment portrayed the state church as being the supreme dictator. It is through the eleventh commandment that the church held it's power and control over the masses. Without the church and it's leaders to guide the masses, their society would have collapsed. However, compared to Brave New World, the whole society is conditioned to "work for everyone else"(Huxley 67) by the abuse and daily consumption of soma. Without the drug called soma, their society would have also collapsed due to withdrawal symptoms. The underlying reality between the two societies is that the masses are manipulated, controlled, and brainwashed, without resistance, to obey and follow their leaders through various methods of enforcement. The Brave New World is controlled by a select few who call themselves Resident Controllers and Directors. These elite few are able to control the production and selection process of societies masses. Mustapha Mond, Resident Controller for Western Europe, and the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, oversee the conditioning of embryos. Their powers and control over these particular jurisdictions gave them great power, and with that the ability to manipulate others. "'You ass'... said the Director,... 'Hasn't it occurred to you that an Epsilon embryo must have an Epsilon environment as well as an Epsilon heredity'"(Huxley 23). Through a hierarchy of Alaphas and Betas down to the lower cast Epsilon, everyone was suited for their job. The Director however, through his position of authority, was able to "... condition the masses to hate the country,"(Huxley 30). In doing so, the Director succeeds in creating an obedient society, which obeys and bows to every whim of his commands. The Resident Controller and Director were two authoritative figures that were able to control whomever and whatever each person worked at, even before they were conceived. Each cast had pre-conceived morals preached to them through conditioning, and to this end effectively brainwashed to the point of utter obedience. The outcome of this brainwashing by conditioning sets forth a society that exists in two tiers, the guardians and the domesticated animals. [who? why?->BNW] [who? why?->11th C] The church and it's head archbishops are able to control and manipulate the masses in North America by preaching the eleventh commandment through strict laws and enforcement practices. The eleventh commandment ordained that every man and women must be fruitful and multiply. Because of this commandment and of the militant ruling religionist enforcement, North America alone had four billion people, and yet the church continued to preach the eleventh commandment and it's practices. The competition between continents was the driving force behind the eleventh commandment. If it was not the competitiveness between ruling church states,

Deception Point Page 1

Prologue Death, in this forsaken place, could come in countless forms. Geologist Charles Brophy had endured the savage splendor of this terrain for years, and yet nothing could prepare him for a fate as barbarous and unnatural as the one about to befall him. As Brophy's four huskies pulled his sled of geologic sensing equipment across the tundra, the dogs suddenly slowed, looking skyward. â€Å"What is it, girls?† Brophy asked, stepping off the sled. Beyond the gathering storm clouds, a twin-rotor transport helicopter arched in low, hugging the glacial peaks with military dexterity. That's odd, he thought. He never saw helicopters this far north. The aircraft landed fifty yards away, kicking up a stinging spray of granulated snow. His dogs whined, looking wary. When the chopper doors slid open, two men descended. They were dressed in full-weather whites, armed with rifles, and moved toward Brophy with urgent intent. â€Å"Dr. Brophy?† one called. The geologist was baffled. â€Å"How did you know my name? Who are you?† â€Å"Take out your radio, please.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Just do it.† Bewildered, Brophy pulled his radio from his parka. â€Å"We need you to transmit an emergency communique. Decrease your radio frequency to one hundred kilohertz.† One hundred kilohertz? Brophy felt utterly lost. Nobody can receive anything that low. â€Å"Has there been an accident?† The second man raised his rifle and pointed it at Brophy's head. â€Å"There's no time to explain. Just do it.† Trembling, Brophy adjusted his transmission frequency. The first man now handed him a note card with a few lines typed on it. â€Å"Transmit this message. Now.† Brophy looked at the card. â€Å"I don't understand. This information is incorrect. I didn't-â€Å" The man pressed his rifle hard against the geologist's temple. Brophy's voice was shaking as he transmitted the bizarre message. â€Å"Good,† the first man said. â€Å"Now get yourself and your dogs into the chopper.† At gunpoint, Brophy maneuvered his reluctant dogs and sled up a skid ramp into the cargo bay. As soon as they were settled, the chopper lifted off, turning westward. â€Å"Who the hell are you!† Brophy demanded, breaking a sweat inside his parka. And what was the meaning of that message! The men said nothing. As the chopper gained altitude, the wind tore through the open door. Brophy's four huskies, still rigged to the loaded sled, were whimpering now. â€Å"At least close the door,† Brophy demanded. â€Å"Can't you see my dogs are frightened!† The men did not respond. As the chopper rose to four thousand feet, it banked steeply out over a series of ice chasms and crevasses. Suddenly, the men stood. Without a word, they gripped the heavily laden sled and pushed it out the open door. Brophy watched in horror as his dogs scrambled in vain against the enormous weight. In an instant the animals disappeared, dragged howling out of the chopper. Brophy was already on his feet screaming when the men grabbed him. They hauled him to the door. Numb with fear, Brophy swung his fists, trying to fend off the powerful hands pushing him outward. It was no use. Moments later he was tumbling toward the chasms below. 1 Toulos Restaurant, adjacent to Capitol Hill, boasts a politically incorrect menu of baby veal and horse carpaccio, making it an ironic hotspot for the quintessential Washingtonian power breakfast. This morning Toulos was busy – a cacophony of clanking silverware, espresso machines, and cellphone conversations. The maitre d' was sneaking a sip of his morning Bloody Mary when the woman entered. He turned with a practiced smile. â€Å"Good morning,† he said. â€Å"May I help you?† The woman was attractive, in her mid-thirties, wearing gray, pleated flannel pants, conservative flats, and an ivory Laura Ashley blouse. Her posture was straight – chin raised ever so slightly – not arrogant, just strong. The woman's hair was light brown and fashioned in Washington's most popular style – the â€Å"anchor-woman† – a lush feathering, curled under at the shoulders†¦ long enough to be sexy, but short enough to remind you she was probably smarter than you. â€Å"I'm a little late,† the woman said, her voice unassuming. â€Å"I have a breakfast meeting with Senator Sexton.† The maitre d' felt an unexpected tingle of nerves. Senator Sedgewick Sexton. The senator was a regular here and currently one of the country's most famous men. Last week, having swept all twelve Republican primaries on Super Tuesday, the senator was virtually guaranteed his party's nomination for President of the United States. Many believed the senator had a superb chance of stealing the White House from the embattled President next fall. Lately Sexton's face seemed to be on every national magazine, his campaign slogan plastered all across America: â€Å"Stop spending. Start mending.† â€Å"Senator Sexton is in his booth,† the maitre d' said. â€Å"And you are?† â€Å"Rachel Sexton. His daughter.† How foolish of me, he thought. The resemblance was quite apparent. The woman had the senator's penetrating eyes and refined carriage – that polished air of resilient nobility. Clearly the senator's classic good looks had not skipped generations, although Rachel Sexton seemed to carry her blessings with a grace and humility her father could learn from. â€Å"A pleasure to have you, Ms. Sexton.† As the maitre d' led the senator's daughter across the dining area, he was embarrassed by the gauntlet of male eyes following her†¦ some discreet, others less so. Few women dined at Toulos and even fewer who looked like Rachel Sexton. â€Å"Nice body,† one diner whispered. â€Å"Sexton already find himself a new wife?† â€Å"That's his daughter, you idiot,† another replied. The man chuckled. â€Å"Knowing Sexton, he'd probably screw her anyway.† When Rachel arrived at her father's table, the senator was on his cellphone talking loudly about one of his recent successes. He glanced up at Rachel only long enough to tap his Cartier and remind her she was late. I missed you, too, Rachel thought. Her father's first name was Thomas, although he'd adopted his middle name long ago. Rachel suspected it was because he liked the alliteration. Senator Sedgewick Sexton. The man was a silver-haired, silver-tongued political animal who had been anointed with the slick look of soap opera doctor, which seemed appropriate considering his talents of impersonation. â€Å"Rachel!† Her father clicked off his phone and stood to kiss her cheek. â€Å"Hi, Dad.† She did not kiss him back. â€Å"You look exhausted.† And so it begins, she thought. â€Å"I got your message. What's up?† â€Å"I can't ask my daughter out for breakfast?† Rachel had learned long ago her father seldom requested her company unless he had some ulterior motive. Sexton took a sip of coffee. â€Å"So, how are things with you?† â€Å"Busy. I see your campaign's going well.† â€Å"Oh, let's not talk business.† Sexton leaned across the table, lowering his voice. â€Å"How's that guy at the State Department I set you up with?† Rachel exhaled, already fighting the urge to check her watch. â€Å"Dad, I really haven't had time to call him. And I wish you'd stop trying to-â€Å" â€Å"You've got to make time for the important things, Rachel. Without love, everything else is meaningless.† A number of comebacks came to mind, but Rachel chose silence. Being the bigger person was not difficult when it came to her father. â€Å"Dad, you wanted to see me? You said this was important.†

The Female Who Is Twenty One Years Of Age - 929 Words

The next interviewee is a female who is forty-one years of age. Let us begin with, her most pleasant and positive healthcare experience, which was with a Breast Oncologist, Dr. Howard Burstein at Dana Farber. The staff at Dana Farber goes over and beyond to make every one of their patients feel comfortable. The staff welcomes the patients in a cordial way and helps them with any given question or concern. The registration (front desk) provided her with a badge to wear after checking in for her appointment. This badge can locate your whereabouts for the staff. This is to a great degree accommodating and the staff informs the patient if the doctor they are seeing is running behind, this allows the patient to get a bite to eat at the†¦show more content†¦This provides comfort, which aided her through such a difficult time. The medical professionals were involved, as far as calling and emailing to see how she was feeling during chemotherapy treatments. Having assigned medical pe rsonnel close by during the duration treatments was beneficial because they would get to know you so if you have a reaction to your treatment they can detect it instantly. (D. Walenten, 2014) The most unpleasant healthcare experience was with a plastic surgeon at Faulkner Hospital. This was her first time at this healthcare professional’s office, in which she was visiting for a biopsy on a lump located in her right breast. The reason for this visit being the worst experience was not completely to do with the hospital or its staff; it was the consequences of the biopsy. She was exceptionally apprehensive and on edge while she was, sitting tight waiting to be seen for the biopsy procedure and the staff was not very comforting. (D. Walenten, 2014) She was feeling a range of emotions due to fear and she was in a sense powerless. This is the point at which the staff ought to be consoling for the patient’s sake. The staff member lacked empathy, which is critical. (Communicating about health., 2014) The nurse practitioner then proceeded to call her and bring her to an examination room, where the biopsy took place. The nurse practitioner was