"First rule of politics, kiddo: never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Nucky Thompson, Boardwalk Empire, Episode I

Wolfshiem and Rothstein

"The Great Gatsby," consists of many characters that represents one aspect of the 20s. One of these important characters is Wolfshiem, one Gatsby's associates. Wolfshiem is a character that symbolizes one of the biggest frauds of the time. Wolfshiem is a character that stands to show one of the most infamous characters of the 20s, someone who has fixed the World Series so that he could earn a lot of money for himself, named Rothstein. Even though he was never indicted by the grand jury he still is known as the one person who was able to fix the World Series and the "Black Sox Scandal" is known by many. A good example how everyone agrees on this is that Gatsby introduces this Wolfshiem as, "the man who fixed the World Series" and all readers understand that he is actually Rothstein, not Wolfshiem.

It has almost been 2 months since I have finished reading "The Great Gatsby." After finishing the book and looking deeper into it, I was intrigued by the lifestyles in the 1920s. Later on, I heard about a new TV series starting on HBO, named "Boardwalk Empire." It was about, life during the Prohibition and about an alcohol smuggler/treasurer, named Enoch Johnson. I later found out also that this series was inspired from a true story. Since the first episode, I have been hearing the name Rothstein, but I never really heeded this name since this week. I only realized Wolfshiem and Rothstein were the same characters when the subject of fixing the World Series came up. Rothstein sits at a barber and his associate comes up and asks him to do something for him which Rothstein says can not be done. Therefore this associate responds by telling him that he rigged the World Series; he could do anything.

Now this does not seem like an interesting topic but when you come to think of it, it is enough puzzle. Because you know how notorious Rothstein actually is. He plays a role in a book that was published in 1925 and he also plays a role in the TV shows that airs in our day. Talk about versatility. I was both surprised to Rothstein in Boardwalk Empire and also very intrigued about him and what he had done. Therefore I did a research and learned more about the "Black Sox Scandal." It is quite entertaining to learn about the 1920's America, where "Outlaws became kings."

Hobbit: The Hole-Dweller

After watching the whole series of Lord of the Rings movies last weekend, I was amazed by J.R.R. Tolkien's world and how he came to think of a whole new world. This world, figuratively, takes you in and puts you in the middle of the fantastic creature of the Middle-Earth. Even in the movie, which according to what my mother said was nothing compared to the books, I could feel the terror of the "Eye of Sauron." My mother also said that this was the best movie of a book she has read. She said everything single detail was a she has imagined it when she read the book in college. Different from other parents I know, my mother still had the fascination of such a great book.

A few days after we watched the movie, I could not shake the idea of the "Ring" and the "Middle-Earth." I decided that I should enter this world at some point. Like any sensible human, I decided that the best place to penetrate this world is the beginning, and hence started reading the "Hobbit." "Hobbit" I later found out was a more happier novel than the Lord of the Rings series. Considering Sauron has not regained his power yet, there is no imminent that, if not dealt with immediately, will destroy the whole Middle-Earth. Even though I am not even close finishing the book it has been my pleasure to read it everyday, at home or on the ay to school. Every time I read a little more of the book, I am reminded of the vast possibilities of the Middle-Earth: from the goblins to to the hobbits and from Gollum to Smaug. So there was one thing left in my mind after all this: what is a Hobbit and how did Tolkien create such creatures of peace and tranquility?

A hobbit literally means, as I have learned from my English teacher, a hole-dweller. It is derived from the Latin word, Holbytla. What most amazed me is aside from using the everyday fantastic creatures like elves and dwarves, Tolkien has based all his books on his own race of creatures, the Hobbits. When you look at the description of a Hobbit, you can see they are pretty much likes dwarves yet so far from them. They look like humans but differ from us in uncountable ways. Hobbits have their own understanding of the world and live in solitude from the evils of the whole world, in their peaceful little town called, "The Shire." They are fond of eating and have up to six meals per day. Hobbits are wondrous creatures of Tolkien's imagination that I will savor learning morning about them on my quest in the far reaches of the Middle-Earth.