Сomparing and contrasting movie The return of Martin Guerre and article The Great Cat Massacre

Ð ¡omparing and contrasting movie The return of Martin Guerre and article The Great Cat Massacre Introduction Entertainment is part of human life. This is because if enables people to have an opportunity to replenish their energies as they take their time off their busy schedules. There are different types of entertainment. First, there is active entertainment and there is passive entertainment. Active entertainment involves the actual participation of the person who is being entertained. In this case, it might be sports.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ð ¡omparing and contrasting movie The return of Martin Guerre and article The Great Cat Massacre specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, passive entertainment does not involve a person who is participating. It is usually based on the person being in a position of following a series of activities without being necessarily involved. Either way, a person is being entertained. In this paper, we are going to look at a passive form of entertainment. Passiv e entertainment involves watching a movie or a program. The return of martin guerre movie: Plot This is a true story which revolves around a man named Martin Guerre. This story gives a reflection of Martin’s life which took place in the 16th century. In essence, martin decided to flee from his home town and family in 1549. This was a consequence of a seemingly difficult life that he was or had been leading in his past. Martin had faced several accusations from his father. For instance he had been accused of stealing the family grain for his gain. Martin surfaces after eight years showing great changes and progress in his life. In this case, he comes back having possessed the ability to read and write. Furthermore, he is able to impress majority of the people of Artigat with the stories about his life in the army. Martin comes back with the sole intention of possessing his family and properties back. Essentially, this new life that he represents is challenged the moment three vagabonds appear. These vagabonds identify Martin as Arnaud du Thil. That is, a young man who strove with the real Martin and who they claim was living in a place known as Flanders. This information does not bring much stir. However, the moment that Martin decides to ask his uncle how he took care of the property he had, his uncle opts to file a suit against Martin. In this case, Martin is sued for being an impostor. In this case, his uncle seems to side with the accusers which spur investigation into the claims which leads to an ultimate trail in the local parliament. The trial reflects the case of a man who is alone in the docks fighting off accusations from a group of angry peasants. This gives a reflection of a battle of wits. This court drama brings to the fore the twists and turns which are usually associated within the courts. The Great Cat Massacre This article is a reflection of life in Paris during the 18th century. It is based on the fact that in the 1730s, a group of app rentices tortured any cat that they could come across. This article narrates a story about an apprentice, which is Nicolas Contat who narrates of his experience as an apprentice in the printing shop of a man named Jacques Vincent. Contat recounts of the experiences that he had with his colleague Leveille during the apprenticeship. It was during this time that they reportedly slept in rooms that were in no condition for human habitation.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They were filthy and very cold. Finding food was not an easy task for these two. This is because they had to feed from the scraps in the kitchen instead of finding food from the master’s table. What can be recounted as the last injustice which was meted against these young apprentices is the theme has been captured as the theme of cats. In essence, cats occupied a prominent position in this article. Especially in the house of the rue Saint – Severin, the master’s wife adored the cats. During this time, it seemed as though the passion of cats had swept this era’s printing trade. This is especially regarding the master’s class and the bourgeoisie. Some have gone on record to have even kept up to twenty five cats in a home. The passion for these cats was so high such that their owners even fed them on roast fowl. On the other hand, the apprentices had a nasty experiences with the cats which were prowling almost everywhere in the alleys. The cats disturbed the peace of these young men by howling and growling at times the whole night on their room’s roof. This denied them the ability to have adequate rest at night. This was especially because Jerome and Leveille had the responsibility of opening the gates of the earliest arrivals. In spite of all their acts, the master did not even eat with them. In addition, the only time that they interacted wit h their master was when they were had confrontations from their master regarding what was supposed to be done within the shop. Having been bothered enough by these cats, Leveille decides to take a step to stop this menace. During one of the nights, he climbed on top of his room and ensured that he was almost near the master’s bedroom. During this time, he mimics the cats. He howls and meows horribly such that it denies the bourgeoisie and his wife adequate sleep during the night. After being exposed to several nights of this experience, they both agree that they have been bewitched. And in the attempt to bring this habit to an end, they opt to get rid of the cats. Happily, Jerome, Leveille and the journeymen armed with all manner of weapons pursue the cats violently with the aim of eradicating them completely. They bludgeon them heaping them in sacks and placing them in the courtyard. A mock trial is staged and the animals are pronounced guilty. During this experience, the mi stress appears and she seems to be shocked by the scene of what is taking place. However she is reassured by the apprentices that everything is in order and as such they proceed with the activity. This experience brings to the fore the hilarity which is associated with the negative state of affairs at some point. This story brings an issue to the reader. Contat’s story depicts an attack which targets a given class of people. In this case, it is an attack which targets the master and his wife. This is based on the fact that there is the denial of basic things like food, and sleeps whereby there is a great disparity between the apprentice and the working class. The injustice meted against the apprentices is shockingly noticeable.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ð ¡omparing and contrasting movie The return of Martin Guerre and article The Great Cat Massacre specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is characterized by the fact that these people seem to be considered lesser as compared to the cats of the day. In this story, the animals occupy a position at the master’s table while the boys are denied this position. In essence, this gives the reader the interpretation that the animals have a higher value than the humanity which is depicted by the boys. Although the apprentices seem to be the ones who are mostly abused, killing of the cats is an expression of hatred of the bourgeoisie. This is a hatred which is spreading among the workers. This hatred is based on the fact that since the masters love the cats, the workers hate them. In this context, Leveille becomes the hero of the shop because he was the mastermind of the whole exercise. Some historians portray the workshop as a family. This is an extended family whereby the master and journeyman labored at some point for the same objectives. Comparison The movie and the article both represent the on goings in the country of France. This captures the historical traditions of what was happening in France during this time as well as the challenges which were faced by people who were living in this era. Secondly, the article and the movie reflect a clash of interests between two parties. In this case, we have the social classes in both cases. What comes to the fore in this is the fact that these two classes have got different views about life and what life should be. In the article for instance, the apprentice who is associated with the lower class seem to be condemned to struggles and working for the bourgeoisie. On the other hand, in the movie, the peasants seem to be people who live though when it comes to seeking professional assistance, they have no choice but to run to the bourgeoisie. Both cases give a depiction of what is happening in the current society. That is, in the current age, the struggle and the conflict regarding social class are still eminent. There is a tug of war which exists between the working cl ass and the seemingly lower class. People are divided and live based on their earning ability. Those who have got a financial muscle have a better chance of making in life. This is because they have the ability to ensure that quality is achieved. For example, there are schools and locations which are associated with the affluent in the society. Lastly, both of them give a depiction of the writings of famous authors. What is captured clearly is the fact both the early and the modern society use literature to inform what is going on in the society. Through writings of famous people, people or citizens are able to associate what is going on the society. Despite the fact that there is a difference when it comes to the issues which are facing the general human race during that time and the present, the fact that still holds is that life and issues evolve with time. Conclusion In conclusion, writers give the society an opportunity to reflect where it has come from. Through the eyes of aut hors and critical analysts, one is able to understand where the society is coming from and where it is heading to and thus arrive at a conclusion as to what can be done in the same breadth. Thus, the movie and the article have enabled us to be able to associate the on goings in the French country during that time as well as the present society.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Biography on a Classmate

He currently goes to Hicks High School, where his mother graduated from. His dad, however, did not go to Hicks, but instead went to a high school in Georgia. Besides his dad, his other family members have went and graduated from Hicks. He enjoys going to school at Hicks. He likes going to learn about new things from all of his teachers. While talking to some of his classmates about him, I have learned a few things. Some say that he a very quiet guy and that he should work as a security guard for Abercrombie amp; Finch. Others say he is a good friend and funny once you get him to talk to you. Joycelyn, however, said, â€Å"Jody is very quiet in class, but outside of school when he does talk he is very funny. He also never gives anyone any trouble, and is a very easy guy to get along with. Unlike most of the guys that out there. † So if you know him out of school, then you would say that Jody is a good guy to talk too, but in school he won’t talk to you very much. He likes to play sports at his school. Jody plays baseball and runs cross country. They are the two favorite sports that he likes to play. He likes to run cross country, so that by the time it gets to baseball season he will be in shape. He also likes to run cross country because it helps get some frustration and anger out of his system. The sport that he loves the most is and will always be baseball. Ever since he was able to pick up a baseball he has played. Throughout the years and with the guidance of his cousin Aaron, saying â€Å"he would never be as good of a baseball player as he was,† must have paid off. He and his team won the Class C State Championship for the thirteenth time in 2011. Whenever he and his team won the thirteenth Class C State Championship, they experienced the best feeling that they could have ever felt in life so far. The baseball team was pretty excited about playing in the championship game again, since the last time they played the got beat out in the semifinals. Early that morning some of the cheerleaders went and set up signs along highway 28, while the baseball team ate their game-day breakfast. These were signs wishing the boys good luck and to bring home the thirteenth title for our school. When they saw what the cheerleaders had done, they told us thank you and that it made them want the championship more than ever. On the way there, they got themselves pumped and ready to play some ball. Whenever the game started, some of the cheerleaders and fans were already pumped up and cheering them on. It must have help because in the first few innings they got a big lead against Family Christian Academy. Then they started to relax and act like they had the game in the bag already. Most teams would have given up if they were in Family Christians situation. Family Christian, however, wasn’t giving up that easily. Instead, they stayed calm and fought back. Top of the ninth, Hicks was still ahead. One of our guys on the field messed up and they scored one or two runs. That gave Family Christian some faith and energy to score more runs. Two outs this would be Family Christians last batter if Hicks could get the last out. With one of their better hitters up, he swung and missed. †Strike one,† says the umpire. Our pitcher takes a few breaths, and pitches again. â€Å"Ball one,† says the umpire. The count being 1-1, Coach Gary had to make a decision. Try to get the batter to chase after something, or to let our pitcher pitch his game and pitch another strike. â€Å"Ball two,† says the umpire, now they had no decision on whether or not to pitch a strike or ball. Here comes the pitch, swung and hit to third baseman, Ty Helton. With the game on the line, Ty fielded it without any bobbles and threw to toward first baseman, Ty Williams. Ty Williams barely could think straight, knowing that if he dropped this ball and they lost the game, his teammates and coach would be upset with him. Ty ended up catching the ball and getting the last out, to end the game 10-9. As a fan of that game, I would have loved to get a picture of all the players faces after getting the last out and being astonished that they had won the thirteenth state title for their school in Class C. Like always, at the end of the game Hicks did a dog pile in the middle of the field. The joy and astonishment that was in those players will never be forgotten by them. Last year, however, they didn’t do too well. They ended up losing out second round playoffs against Converse, 3-2. This year coming up should be an awesome year for them, and they should go far. Besides going to school and playing baseball, he likes to hunt, go four-wheeler riding, hang out with his friends, play video games and also spending time with his family. Over the summers Jody and his family have traveled to all of the states, except for Hawaii and Alaska. He hopes to one day be able to explore the other two states and see how much different their way of living and how their cultures and beliefs are different from the southern states. While he was growing up he loved spending time with his grandpa. I have never heard of anyone that reminds me of him. The reason why is because his grandpa has owned more than 50 trucks at most since he was born. I would definitely think that out of all of his family members his favorite three family members would be his mom, grandpa, and his cousin Keith. The reason I would say this is because Keith played in the National Football League and of course his mom because she has always been there for him. As for his other family members, he does appreciate having them and loves them very much. When he’s around them though, his true personality comes out. He goes from being shy and not talking very much, to him being very sociable and acting like he enjoys them being there for him and having them as company. Once he warms up to the strangers and starts to get to know them a little better he won’t be as shy. His future plans are to graduate from high school, but basically to live life every day to the fullest because you never know when you last day may come. After graduating from high school, he doesn’t know what he wants to do as far as the type of job that he may want or that he may be good at. He also plans to live in Hicks, Louisiana near his parents live. He hopes that one day he may get his dream car, which is a Roadrunner, with the money from whatever job he may get. Whatever other plans he may discover or think of after high school will enable him to obtain and succeed. If Jody would apply himself to things more in school or in life, like he does in baseball he will be able to succeed in the job area or profession that would suit him well and also allow him to make him a good bit of money.

Families in a Global Context Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Families in a Global Context - Assignment Example Until the 1990s, the issue of migration of women was discussed largely in the context of sex-trafficking. But globalization has unfolded a new phenomenon of overseas migration of women as job seekers. The book, Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy edited by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russel Hochschild (2003) have revealed there is more to this phenomenon than breaking down of cultural barriers caused by communication revolution and relaxation of patriarchal restraints on the mobility of women. Exploring the avenues that lead to this social behavior, the authors have begun with the socio-economic context in which World Bank and IMF- imposed development models have forced third world governments to tighten their economies thereby leaving their citizens no other option than to leave the country to make a living (Ehrenreich, Hochschild, 2003, p.1-5). And what is peculiar about this migration is that â€Å"today half of all the world’s migrants are wo men.†( Ehrenreich, Hochschild, 1993, p.5) and they migrate mostly to take up low paid jobs as maids and nannies. The picture that emerges is that of a new kind of economic asylum seekers who are the refugees of globalization. These women, according to the book, ease a ‘care deficit’ that has emerged in the first world. This ‘care deficit’ was created in the developed world when the majority of women who used to take care of the young, aged and the sick of the society shifted their energies to paid jobs (Parrenas, 2003, p.35). Growing awareness about women’s rights and the pressure exerted by a competitive economy were the key factors behind this change. The middle class of US was finding it difficult to balance their budget without two paychecks. In the US, 65% of mothers of children aged six, are now doing paid work. (Ely, Scully, Foldy, 2003, p.404). As men were not considered sharing the domestic work even in this changed scenario, it was in evitable that substitutes had to be there to do the family scores.  Ã‚  

Newcomen, Thomas (1663) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Newcomen, Thomas (1663) - Essay Example He married only in 1705 at the age of forty-two years, after which he frequently hosted meetings at his home for dedicated Baptists. At the same time, he took great interest in the mining industry and the problem of the mines flooding frequently (Baker 278). growing coal mining industry; he also visited tin mines. From the miners he came to know that there was a requirement for a machine to remove water from the deep mines. Some of the mine shafts extending under the sea got filled with water seepage and had to be pumped out. The miners did not have access to large streams that could be used for powering water wheels, and draft animals were not strong enough to pull the water up from the great depths (Kras 22). Thomas Newcomen’s earliest experiments are not documented, because he did not belong to a group of inventors, and he did not have a wealthy patron to promote his work (Kras 23). The results of his experiments led him to design and build the first really usable steam engine. â€Å"Though it was hampered by high fuel consumption and frequent breakdowns, Newcomen’s engine became only the second self-acting machine in history (after clocks)† states Shectman (p.xxix). Even more significantly, it became the first source of energy not known since antiquity. Newcomen’s machine was entirely propelled by atmospheric pressure. A blast of steam at greater than atmospheric pressure was forced to the bottom of a brass cylinder which held the engine’s piston. According to Marshall (p.18), Newcomen created a vacuum as the steam cooled, thereby drawing down the piston as well as one arm of the heavy beam to which it was attached. The other arm of the heavy beam rose up to work the pump. After this, a jet of cold water was injected to rapidly condense the steam. The vacuum created caused the pressure of the atmosphere to slam the piston downwards, producing a

A Universe in a Pizza Box :: College Admissions Essay

A Universe in a Pizza Box In one corner of our yard, just to the right of the trash cans and behind an aging fence, there is a stack of several pizza boxes, or at least there was one until last Sunday. These pizza boxes had accumulated almost mysteriously over some weeks in a very neat stack in the dirt beside the garbage cans. They waited patiently to be put out by the curb for the Tuesday morning recycling truck. Somehow though, while the neighboring trash cans moved in and out from the curb, and various loads of glass bottles and aluminum passed through this depot, the pizza boxes remained in the dirt, alone and forgotten. The rains came and softened up the cardboard, the stack sagged in the middle, and was again stiffened by the sun. Something amazing began to happen. It was only after trying to throw out these old boxes in a fit of neatness, that I discovered the miracle that had taken place. I found when I pulled back the first layer, not just soggy cardboard, but a miniature ecosystem teeming with life. A herd of slugs meandered over the plain that read â€Å"Woodstock’s† in faded brown lettering. Suddenly exposed to light, a giant earthworm the width of my small finger writhed in the damp center. Flocks of isopod-like pill bugs dove for the corners and dodged around gleaming piles of earthworm eggs. Dashing about madly, a beetle and a confused, many-legged creature searched for a hiding place. I watched the churning scene in amazement, marveling at the microcosm that these pizza boxes had become. I couldn’t bring myself to simply toss this wealth of life in a garbage can, yet the soggy pile shouldn’t sit in the yard any longer. There were only two individuals around that would appreciate this treasure more than I, and who could actually benefit from it too. A few minutes later I watched in satisfaction as my chickens, like two stately ladies, sampled the smorgasboard I offered. This is why I study zoology, I thought, for the enjoyment of just watching life act out its strange and comedic drama. Earlier, while musing about how I came to study the animal world, I had wished I could tell of some cataclysmic event—a revelation or burning bush—that had told me that this should be my path.

Digital Fortress Chapter 115-117

Chapter 115 The emptiness in David Becker's mind was absolute. I am dead. And yet there was a sound. A distant voice†¦ â€Å"David.† There was a dizzying burning beneath his arm. His blood was filled with fire. My body is not my own. And yet there was a voice, calling to him. It was thin, distant. But it was part of him. There were other voices too-unfamiliar, unimportant. Calling out. He fought to block them out. There was only one voice that mattered. It faded in and out. â€Å"David†¦ I'm sorry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a mottled light. Faint at first, a single slit of grayness. Growing. Becker tried to move. Pain. He tried to speak. Silence. The voice kept calling. Someone was near him, lifting him. Becker moved toward the voice. Or was he being moved? It was calling. He gazed absently at the illuminated image. He could see her on a small screen. It was a woman, staring up at him from another world. Is she watching me die? â€Å"David†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The voice was familiar. She was an angel. She had come for him. The angel spoke. â€Å"David, I love you.† Suddenly he knew. Susan reached out toward the screen, crying, laughing, lost in a torrent of emotions. She wiped fiercely at her tears. â€Å"David, I-I thought†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Field Agent Smith eased David Becker into the seat facing the monitor. â€Å"He's a little woozy, ma'am. Give him a second.† â€Å"B-but,† Susan was stammering, â€Å"I saw a transmission. It said†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Smith nodded. â€Å"We saw it too. Hulohot counted his chickens a little early.† â€Å"But the blood†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Flesh wound,† Smith replied. â€Å"We slapped a gauze on it.† Susan couldn't speak. Agent Coliander piped in from off camera. â€Å"We hit him with the new J23-long-acting stun gun. Probably hurt like hell, but we got him off the street.† â€Å"Don't worry, ma'am,† Smith assured. â€Å"He'll be fine.† David Becker stared at the TV monitor in front of him. He was disoriented, light-headed. The image on the screen was of a room-a room filled with chaos. Susan was there. She was standing on an open patch of floor, gazing up at him. She was crying and laughing. â€Å"David. Thank God! I thought I had lost you!† He rubbed his temple. He moved in front of the screen and pulled the gooseneck microphone toward his mouth. â€Å"Susan?† Susan gazed up in wonder. David's rugged features now filled the entire wall before her. His voice boomed. â€Å"Susan, I need to ask you something.† The resonance and volume of Becker's voice seemed to momentarily suspend the action in the databank. Everyone stopped midstride and turned. â€Å"Susan Fletcher,† the voice resonated, â€Å"will you marry me?† A hush spread across the room. A clipboard clattered to the floor along with a mug of pencils. No one bent to pick them up. There was only the faint hum of the terminal fans and the sound of David Becker's steady breathing in his microphone. â€Å"D-David†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Susan stammered, unaware that thirty-seven people stood riveted behind her. â€Å"You already asked me, remember? Five months ago. I said yes.† â€Å"I know.† He smiled. â€Å"But this time†-he extended his left hand into the camera and displayed a golden band on his fourth finger-â€Å"this time I have a ring.† Chapter 116 â€Å"Read it, Mr. Becker!† Fontaine ordered. Jabba sat sweating, hands poised over his keyboard. â€Å"Yes,† he said, â€Å"read the blessed inscription!† Susan Fletcher stood with them, weak-kneed and aglow. Everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and stared up at the enormous projection of David Becker. The professor twisted the ring in his fingers and studied the engraving. â€Å"And read carefully!† Jabba commanded. â€Å"One typo, and we're screwed!† Fontaine gave Jabba a harsh look. If there was one thing the director of the NSA knew about, it was pressure situations; creating additional tension was never wise. â€Å"Relax, Mr. Becker. If we make a mistake, we'll reenter the code till we get it right.† â€Å"Bad advice, Mr. Becker,† Jabba snapped. â€Å"Get it right the first time. Kill-codes usually have a penalty clause-to prevent trial-and-error guessing. Make an incorrect entry, and the cycle will probably accelerate. Make two incorrect entries, and it will lock us out permanently. Game over.† The director frowned and turned back to the screen. â€Å"Mr. Becker? My mistake. Read carefully-read extremely carefully.† Becker nodded and studied the ring for a moment. Then he calmly began reciting the inscription. â€Å"Q†¦ U†¦ I†¦ S†¦ space†¦ C†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jabba and Susan interrupted in unison. â€Å"Space?† Jabba stopped typing. â€Å"There's a space?† Becker shrugged, checking the ring. â€Å"Yeah. There's a bunch of them.† â€Å"Am I missing something?† Fontaine demanded. â€Å"What are we waiting for?† â€Å"Sir,† Susan said, apparently puzzled. â€Å"It's†¦ it's just†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I agree,† Jabba said. â€Å"It's strange. Passwords never have spaces.† Brinkerhoff swallowed hard. â€Å"So, what are you saying?† â€Å"He's saying,† Susan interjected, â€Å"that this may not be a kill-code.† Brinkerhoff cried out, â€Å"Of course it's the kill-code! What else could it be? Why else would Tankado give it away? Who the hell inscribes a bunch of random letters on a ring?† Fontaine silenced Brinkerhoff with a sharp glare. â€Å"Ah†¦ folks?† Becker interjected, appearing hesitant to get involved. â€Å"You keep mentioning random letters. I think I should let you know†¦ the letters on this ring aren't random.† Everyone on the podium blurted in unison. â€Å"What!† Becker looked uneasy. â€Å"Sorry, but there are definitely words here. I'll admit they're inscribed pretty close together; at first glance it appears random, but if you look closely you'll see the inscription is actually†¦ well†¦ it's Latin.† Jabba gaped. â€Å"You're shitting me!† Becker shook his head. â€Å"No. It reads, ‘Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.' It translates roughly to-â€Å" â€Å"Who will guard the guards!† Susan interrupted, finishing David's sentence. Becker did a double-take. â€Å"Susan, I didn't know you could-â€Å" â€Å"It's from Satires of Juvenal,† she exclaimed. â€Å"Who will guard the guards? Who will guard the NSA while we guard the world? It was Tankado's favorite saying!† â€Å"So,† Midge demanded, â€Å"is it the pass-key, or not?† â€Å"It must be the pass-key,† Brinkerhoff declared. Fontaine stood silent, apparently processing the information. â€Å"I don't know if it's the key,† Jabba said. â€Å"It seems unlikely to me that Tankado would use a nonrandom construction.† â€Å"Just omit the spaces,† Brinkerhoff cried, â€Å"and type the damn code!† Fontaine turned to Susan. â€Å"What's your take, Ms. Fletcher?† She thought a moment. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something didn't feel right. Susan knew Tankado well enough to know he thrived on simplicity. His proofs and programming were always crystalline and absolute. The fact that the spaces needed to be removed seemed odd. It was a minor detail, but it was a flaw, definitely not clean-not what Susan would have expected as Ensei Tankado's crowning blow. â€Å"It doesn't feel right,† Susan finally said. â€Å"I don't think it's the key.† Fontaine sucked in a long breath, his dark eyes probing hers. â€Å"Ms. Fletcher, in your mind, if this is not the key, why would Ensei Tankado have given it away? If he knew we'd murdered him-don't you assume he'd want to punish us by making the ring disappear?† A new voice interrupted the dialogue. â€Å"Ah†¦ Director?† All eyes turned to the screen. It was Agent Coliander in Seville. He was leaning over Becker's shoulder and speaking into the mic. â€Å"For whatever it's worth, I'm not so sure Mr. Tankado knew he was being murdered.† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† Fontaine demanded. â€Å"Hulohot was a pro, sir. We saw the kill-only fifty meters away. All evidence suggests Tankado was unaware.† â€Å"Evidence?† Brinkerhoff demanded. â€Å"What evidence? Tankado gave away this ring. That's proof enough!† â€Å"Agent Smith,† Fontaine interrupted. â€Å"What makes you think Ensei Tankado was unaware he was being killed?† Smith cleared his throat. â€Å"Hulohot killed him with an NTB-a noninvasive trauma bullet. It's a rubber pod that strikes the chest and spreads out. Silent. Very clean. Mr. Tankado would only have felt a sharp thump before going into cardiac arrest.† â€Å"A trauma bullet,† Becker mused to himself. â€Å"That explains the bruising.† â€Å"It's doubtful,† Smith added, â€Å"that Tankado associated the sensation with a gunman.† â€Å"And yet he gave away his ring,† Fontaine stated. â€Å"True, sir. But he never looked for his assailant. A victim always looks for his assailant when he's been shot. It's instinct.† Fontaine puzzled. â€Å"And you're saying Tankado didn't look for Hulohot?† â€Å"No, sir. We have it on film if you'd like-â€Å" â€Å"X-eleven filter's going!† a technician yelled. â€Å"The worm's halfway there!† â€Å"Forget the film,† Brinkerhoff declared. â€Å"Type in the damn kill-code and finish this!† Jabba sighed, suddenly the cool one. â€Å"Director, if we enter the wrong code†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Yes,† Susan interrupted, â€Å"if Tankado didn't suspect we killed him, we've got some questions to answer.† â€Å"What's our time frame, Jabba?† Fontaine demanded. Jabba looked up at the VR. â€Å"About twenty minutes. I suggest we use the time wisely.† Fontaine was silent a long moment. Then sighed heavily. â€Å"All right. Run the film.† Chapter 117 â€Å"Transmitting video in ten seconds,† Agent Smith's voice crackled. â€Å"We're dropping every other frame as well as audio-we'll run as close to real time as possible.† Everyone on the podium stood silent, watching, waiting. Jabba typed a few keys and rearranged the video wall. Tankado's message appeared on the far left: ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SAVE YOU NOW On the right of the wall was the static interior shot of the van with Becker and the two agents huddled around the camera. In the center, a fuzzy frame appeared. It dissolved into static and then into a black and white image of a park. â€Å"Transmitting,† Agent Smith announced. The shot looked like an old movie. It was stilted and jerky-a by-product of frame-dropping, a process that halved the amount of information sent and enabled faster transmission. The shot panned out across an enormous concourse enclosed on one end by a semicircular facade-the Seville Ayuntamiento. There were trees in the foreground. The park was empty. â€Å"X-eleven's are down!† a technician called out. â€Å"This bad boy's hungry!† Smith began to narrate. His commentary had the detachment of a seasoned agent. â€Å"This is shot from the van,† he said, â€Å"about fifty meters from the kill zone. Tankado is approaching from the right. Hulohot's in the trees to the left.† â€Å"We've got a time crunch here,† Fontaine pressed. â€Å"Let's get to the meat of it.† Agent Coliander touched a few buttons, and the frame speed increased. Everyone on the podium watched in anticipation as their former associate, Ensei Tankado, came into the frame. The accelerated video made the whole image seem comic. Tankado shuffled jerkily out onto the concourse, apparently taking in the scenery. He shielded his eyes and gazed up at the spires of the huge facade. â€Å"This is it,† Smith warned. â€Å"Hulohot's a pro. He took his first open shot.† Smith was right. There was a flash of light from behind the trees on the left of the screen. An instant later Tankado clutched his chest. He staggered momentarily. The camera zoomed in on him, unstable-in and out of focus. As the footage rolled in high speed, Smith coldly continued his narration. â€Å"As you can see, Tankado is instantly in cardiac arrest.† Susan felt ill watching the images. Tankado clutched at his chest with crippled hands, a confused look of terror on his face. â€Å"You'll notice,† Smith added, â€Å"his eyes are focused downward, at himself. Not once does he look around.† â€Å"And that's important?† Jabba half stated, half inquired. â€Å"Very,† Smith said. â€Å"If Tankado suspected foul play of any kind, he would instinctively search the area. But as you can see, he does not.† On the screen, Tankado dropped to his knees, still clutching his chest. He never once looked up. Ensei Tankado was a man alone, dying a private, natural death. â€Å"It's odd,† Smith said, puzzled. â€Å"Trauma pods usually won't kill this quickly. Sometimes, if the target's big enough, they don't kill at all.† â€Å"Bad heart,† Fontaine said flatly. Smith arched his eyebrows, impressed. â€Å"Fine choice of weapon, then.† Susan watched as Tankado toppled from his knees to his side and finally onto his back. He lay, staring upward, grabbing at his chest. Suddenly the camera wheeled away from him back toward the grove of trees. A man appeared. He was wearing wire-rim glasses and carrying an oversize briefcase. As he approached the concourse and the writhing Tankado, his fingers began tapping in a strange silent dance on a mechanism attached to his hand. â€Å"He's working his Monocle,† Smith announced. â€Å"Sending a message that Tankado is terminated.† Smith turned to Becker and chuckled. â€Å"Looks like Hulohot had a bad habit of transmitting kills before his victim actually expired.† Coliander sped the film up some more, and the camera followed Hulohot as he began moving toward his victim. Suddenly an elderly man rushed out of a nearby courtyard, ran over to Tankado, and knelt beside him. Hulohot slowed his approach. A moment later two more people appeared from the courtyard-an obese man and a red-haired woman. They also came to Tankado's side. â€Å"Unfortunate choice of kill zone,† Smith said. â€Å"Hulohot thought he had the victim isolated.† On the screen, Hulohot watched for a moment and then shrank back into the trees, apparently to wait. â€Å"Here comes the handoff,† Smith prompted. â€Å"We didn't notice it the first time around.† Susan gazed up at the sickening image on the screen. Tankado was gasping for breath, apparently trying communicate something to the Samaritans kneeling beside him. Then, in desperation, he thrust his left hand above him, almost hitting the old man in the face. He held the crippled appendage outward before the old man's eyes. The camera tightened on Tankado's three deformed fingers, and on one of them, clearly glistening in the Spanish sun, was the golden ring. Tankado thrust it out again. The old man recoiled. Tankado turned to the woman. He held his three deformed fingers directly in front of her face, as if begging her to understand. The ring glinted in the sun. The woman looked away. Tankado, now choking, unable to make a sound, turned to the obese man and tried one last time. The elderly man suddenly stood and dashed off, presumably to get help. Tankado seemed to be weakening, but he was still holding the ring in the fat man's face. The fat man reached out and held the dying man's wrist, supporting it. Tankado seemed to gaze upward at his own fingers, at his own ring, and then to the man's eyes. As a final plea before death, Ensei Tankado gave the man an almost imperceptible nod, as if to say yes. Then Tankado fell limp. â€Å"Jesus.† Jabba moaned. Suddenly the camera swept to where Hulohot had been hiding. The assassin was gone. A police motorcycle appeared, tearing up Avenida Firelli. The camera wheeled back to where Tankado was lying. The woman kneeling beside him apparently heard the police sirens; she glanced around nervously and then began pulling at her obese companion, begging him to leave. The two hurried off. The camera tightened on Tankado, his hands folded on his lifeless chest. The ring on his finger was gone.

Are Parents Responsible for their Children’s Behavior

Are Parents Responsible for their Childrens Behavior? When children behave badly, should their parents accept responsibility for their behavior? Moreover, should the parents be punished for the bad behavior of their children? This is a seemingly difficult question to answer for many reasons. It’s because of a basic misunderstanding about the responsibility of parents in instructing their children. Many modern societies consider corporal punishment of children as unacceptable. There are laws in certain countries that can put parents behind bars for spanking their own kids. Although this is done in an effort to control child abuse, it can have a lot of negative repercussions. These laws can prohibit responsible parents from correcting their children and showing them the right way to behave in life. It is very evident that kids from dysfunctional homes, where parents have no control over their kids, end up as anti-social elements. Since there is no one to correct their behavior and show them the right way to live, they end up as drug addicts and social outcasts. Therefore, parents need the freedom to properly instruct and guide their children. But when that freedom is snatched from them, their children can often end up on the wrong side of the law. Only then, the question of parents accepting the responsibility and punishment for their children’s errors comes into the picture. If parents are given the freedom to correct their children in the way they think best, then they should be held responsible for their children’s actions. They would also have to undergo punishment if the children are too young to bear the consequences of their actions. On the other hand, if parents are