Biography of Meyer Lansky

Meyer Lansky was a powerful member of the mafia during the early to mid-1900s. He was involved with both the Jewish mafia and the Italian mafia and is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"Mob’s Accountant.† Meyer Lansky’s Personal Life Meyer Lansky was born Meyer Suchowljansky in Grodno, Russia (now Belarus) on July 4, 1902. The son of Jewish parents, his family immigrated to the United States in 1911 after suffering at the hands of pogroms (anti-Jewish mobs). They settled in New York City’s Lower East Side and by 1918 Lansky was running a youth gang with another Jewish teen who would also become a prominent member of the mafia: Bugsy Siegel. Known as the Bugs-Meyer Gang, their activities began with theft before expanding to include gambling and bootlegging. In 1929 Lansky married a Jewish woman named Ana Citron who was a friend of Bugsy Siegel’s girlfriend, Esta Krakower. When their first child, Buddy, was born they discovered that he suffered from cerebral palsy. Ana blamed her husband for Buddy’s condition, worrying that God was punishing the family for Lansky’s criminal activities. Though they went on to have another son and a daughter, eventually the couple divorced in 1947. Not long afterward Ana was placed in a mental hospital. The Mob’s Accountant Eventually, Lansky and Siegel became involved with Italian gangster Charles â€Å"Lucky† Luciano. Luciano was behind the formation of a national crime syndicate and allegedly decided to murder Sicilian crime boss Joe â€Å"The Boss† Masseria on the advice of Lanksy.  Masseria was gunned down in 1931 by four hitmen, one of whom was Bugsy Siegel. As Lanksy’s influence grew he became one of the mafia’s major bankers, earning him the nickname of â€Å"The Mob’s Accountant.† He managed mafia funds, financed major endeavors and bribed authority figures and key individuals. He also channeled a natural talent for numbers and business into developing profitable gambling operations in Florida and New Orleans. He was known for running fair gambling houses where players did not have to worry about rigged games. When Lansky’s gambling empire expanded to Cuba he came to an agreement with the Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista. In exchange for monetary kickbacks, Batista agreed to give Lansky and his associates control of Havana’s racetracks and casinos.   He later became interested in the promising location of Las Vegas, Nevada. He helped Bugsy Siegel convince the mob to finance The Pink Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas – a gambling venture that would ultimately lead to Siegel’s death and pave the way for the Las Vegas we know today. World War II During World War II, Lansky reportedly used his mafia connections to break up Nazi rallies in New York. He made it a point to discover where rallies were taking place and would then use mafia muscle to disrupt the rallies. As the war continued, Lansky became involved with anti-Nazi activities sanctioned by the US Government. After trying to enlist in the US Army but being rejected due to his age, he was recruited by the Navy to take part in an initiative that pit organized crime leaders against Axis spies.  Called â€Å"Operation Underworld,† the program sought the aid of the Italian mafia that controlled the waterfront.  Lansky was asked to speak with his friend Lucky Luciano who by this point was in prison but still controlled the Italian mafia. As a result of Lanskys involvement, the mafia provided security along the docks in New York Harbor where ships were being built. This period in Lansky’s life is portrayed in the novel â€Å"The Devil Himself† by author Eric Dezenhall. Lansky’s Later Years As Lansky’s influence in the mafia grew so did his wealth. By the 1960s, his empire included shady dealings with gambling, narcotics smuggling and pornography in addition to legitimate holdings in hotels, golf courses, and other business ventures. Lansky’s worth was widely believed to be in the millions by this time, a rumor that no doubt led to his being brought up on charges of income tax evasion in 1970. He fled to Israel in the hopes that the Law of Return would prevent the US from trying him. However, though the Law of Return allows any Jew to settle in Israel it does not apply to those with a criminal past. As a result, Lansky was deported to the US and brought to trial. He was acquitted in 1974 and resumed a quiet life in Miami Beach, Florida. Though Lansky is often thought of as a mafia man of considerable wealth, biographer Robert Lacey dismisses such ideas as â€Å"sheer fantasy.† To the contrary, Lacey believes that Lansky’s investments didn’t see him into his retirement years, which is why his family didn’t inherit millions when he died of lung cancer on January 15, 1983. Meyer Lansky’s Character in Boardwalk Empire In addition to Arnold Rothstein and Lucky Luciano, the HBO series â€Å"Boardwalk Empire† features Meyer Lansky as a recurring character. Lansky is played by actor Anatol Yusef and first appears Season 1 Episode 7. References: Lacey, Robert. Little Man: Meyer Lansky the Gangster Life. Random House: New York, 1993.History.com (Meyer Lanksy article on History.com is no longer available.)Time.comBio.com

Modern Day, The Green Living Movement - 994 Words

In today’s modern day, the green living movement â€Å"intersects local state and federal politics. it impacts business practices, art and the media, education and health in the united states† (Gordon). The green living movement’s purpose is to control pollution or protect plant and animal diversity. In the 1960’s until the present, there has been a lot of controversy. Fallout from testing air pollution from millions of factories, cars belching chemicals into the atmosphere, and deliberate destruction of pristine rivers and lakes (such as Ohio’s Cuyahoga River, that famously caught fire). These disasters, including the disappearance of farmland and forests under suburban development, were a concern to many citizens. These concerns are still†¦show more content†¦This book was a pivotal instrument to ecology. As time went on more environmental issue emerged, environmentalist advocated and protested the green living movement so much that it received public recognition on the political stage. 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California raised a lot of attention and then governor Gaylord Nelson was determined to do something about it. â€Å"He could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a â€Å"national teach-in on the environment† to the national media† (Earth Day). It became highly publicized in this time period. The Green Living Movement went from being a major concern to citizens to being campaigned by senators and presidents. The movement was so important, more awareness was in the works and innovative symbols began to be created. â€Å"The ecology symbol, [was] created in 1969 by Ron Cobb, a political ca rtoonist and artist. His symbol combined the letters E and O, the initials of â€Å"environment† and â€Å"organism,† with the idea of an ellipse and a circle† (Patton) . This symbol caught the attention of many, as it brought a visual effect to go with the name of the movement. The movement was soShow MoreRelatedOscar Wilde’S The Importance Of Being Earnest Was Written1600 Words   |  7 PagesOscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest was written during the Modernism movement. Modernism was a literary movement that pushed back against the movement previously: Victorian/Realism. Wilde suggests that keeping up appearances was so significant during the Victorian ages that men engaged in bunburying: the idea that people take on a different persona, whether real or imagined, as an escape from their current life or in order to portray themselves in a better light. 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Making Important Choices Essay Example For Students

Making Important Choices Essay People make choice every day. Students choose the class in school. Little children choose the activity they like to do after homework. Graduators choose the job and future. Some choices have good effect in the future life, also some choices are bad. More importantly, some choices will cause huge changes in our lives. Just like in the article â€Å"The Joy of Reading and Writing Superman and Me† which was written by Sherman Alexie. In his story, he made an extremely important choice in his life. He decided to save his life by refusing failing in the school work. In his growing environment, Indian students did not have a fair competition with the non-Indian students. They always want Indian students to be quiet in the classroom. Sherman did not like that. He thought he was smart and chose to change his life. He read more books and believed that he could save his life by books. Finally, he succeed. After reading his story, I remember that I did some important choice when I was young. In my situation, some choices are quite helpful in my future. I think that a great choice is just a start. The motivation for the choice, family’s support, and the faith of never give up will assist you to make that great choice into success. The motivation which push you to fight for the choice can support people achieve their goal. In the other words, it is you want that achievement. For example, I am an international student. It is hard to a little boy to decide go aboard for study. Like a little bird. He leaves from the cover of their parents, familiar nest, and comfortable life. He spreads his little wings and flies to the spacious sky. I was confused that time. I do not know my choice to go the USA is correct or not. In the inside of me, I figure that I want to see the outside of the world. I want to increase the value of me. So, I decided that I am going to fight for my choice. During the time of fight, I lost myself once. It is difficult to go to the USA. You need to practice your English skills everyday and get a higher grade in the placement test. I read the English book, finished the reading homework, and wrote the essay over and over again. My friends always suggest me to get some rest. They think I am almost crushed by English. In my mind, I believe that I can still do it well. Like Sherman said in his story â€Å"I am smart. I am arrogant. I am lucky. I am trying to save our lives†. He used all his time read books, studied on the school works. He knew that was only way he can change his life. I tried my best to prove my choice was right. Finally, it worked. I pass the placement test and came to the USA. I am glad that I choose to challenge myself to get higher goal. The choice that I made can be success my family’s support is extremely important. That was a undisputed fact. In many cultures, family always occupies a unique position. Family is the most soft part in people’s heart. People think that home is always the heaven for soul. That is the reason for why family played in an important role in every society. Family help people to surmount the obstacle and chase the dream by financially support. In my own experiences my father support me to go to the college in the USA by pay the money for everything I cost in here. Before I came here, in the airport, my father told me, â€Å"Son, you do not need to worry about the money. You choose this road. You mother and I cannot help you oversea. The only thing we can do is pay the money for you. .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d , .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .postImageUrl , .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d , .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:hover , .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:visited , .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:active { border:0!important; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d { 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; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:active , .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .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; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u28b7f4c9f606928cd1c7fbdac2e39c6d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Marketing Research EssayBelieve in your parent†. I was almost going to cry. I was impressed by my father’s saying. That was the first time for me to think about the family’s importance in my lives. My mother is a sensitive person. She is not as logical as my father on deciding. When I faced some obstacles that I could not over, my mother always gave some useful advise they I can use it to solve the same type question. Like Amy Tan was written in the â€Å"Mother tongue†, I want to capture what language ability test can never reveal: her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thought. One time, I did not get a good grade in my math class. I was upset and stressful. Most of my classmate got a great score in the test. I confused by the reasons I did not get the point. Later, I talked to my mother. She thought a while; she said that I gave myself too much pressure. â€Å"You need to know how to relax yourself in this situation. Your father and I already know that you are pushed yourself so hard. You also feel that you tried you best in the study. People are difference. Maybe you are not good at math. We do not want you to be the best in the school. We hope you try your best in anything. Then you will not get regret in your life†. We as human beings do whatever it takes to protect and provide for the good of our family. A faith of never give up also gave me a lots of helps on the way of success. Never give up. These words describes what inside of me and the ways about I doing things. Person has some dreams in his or her life and his or her dream to make it real. Achieving the dream is the most important part of life. Life is of no meaning without dream. I have already made my choice. All I need to do is working on it and never give up. Maybe I will success or possibly I will fail in the way. At least I tried, I will not regret of that. In China, almost every one told me that the American’s maths class is easy to the Chinese students. I believed that in the China. After I took a math class in college and finally realized that I was wrong. Indeed, the thing teacher taught us in the class that was so easy. The difficult part is I cannot understand what the meaning of the question. I did not do well in the first two test. My math teacher suggested me that to drop this class. In her thought, she felts that my English skills was pulled me back. I said: â€Å"thank you for the concern. But I will fix that. Please give three weeks. † I never give up. I will show that I can do it. In those three weeks, I felt like a month. Everyday, I learn the math three times. One time is in Chinese. The second time is in English. The third time is for review. In the weekends, I went to the church to practice my listening and speaking skills. I also attended a math club in school. My club friends assisted me a lot. They helped me to understand to questions quickly and told me some trick in the test. Three weeks later, I changed. I finally follow the class. My English were not pulled me back again. Choice is very important for every individual person in the world. Sometimes if person makes a choice which was against the value of the people, that person will be isolated in his community. I do not know whether my parents agree my choice or not. From now, I can say that at least they are not disagree. I am glad that my parent supporting when I was outside. Also, the inside of me, motivation and a faith make me believe that I did not choose wrong.