The Invention of Lying free essay sample

Invention of Lying Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, â€Å"Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels. † There has been a lot of talk about heaven over the years. Many people who have claimed that they know what heaven is like or what we experience when we die. While this can be comforting to some, it raises questions of how they could know given the fact that one would have to either be a prophet of God or someone who has actually been there. In the Universal Pictures movie, The Invention of Lying, Mark Bellison is a man who claims to know what happens when we die. He fabricates these images for the comfort of his dying mother. His satirical dialogue on the topic jokingly mocks the parallels from the bible as well as ideas that mainstream religious â€Å"prophets† claim to know. We will write a custom essay sample on The Invention of Lying or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That being said, how do we really know what to believe? Are there prophets sent by God who know? Are there people who have been to heaven? Newsweek Magazine and a book titled, â€Å"90 Minutes in Heaven† suggest yes. Mark’s character in this movie is a nerdy single guy just trying to make it in the world. When he is down on his luck, he experiences a â€Å"switch† in his conscience that allows him to be able to lie. Prior to his shift where he begins to use it more for his own personal gain, we see him using this for others like the lonely people in his mother’s nursing home and those who are homeless. On the night that his mother takes a turn for the worst, Mark is upset to see his mother so frightened of death. Her fears of â€Å"falling into an eternity of nothingness† (Invention of Lying, Universal Pictures, 2010) prompts him to ease her fears by telling her, â€Å"You are wrong about where you go after you die. You don’t have an eternity of nothingness. You go to your favorite place and everyone that you ever loved will be there. You will be young again and you can dance. Everyone gets a mansion, to live out their eternity in happiness. †(Invention of Lying, Universal Pictures, 2010) To see her fear ease allows Mark to deal with her death. While this makes for great reviews with the box-office, there are actual stories that correspond with this ideology, minus the mansions of course. In the book, 90 Minutes in Heaven Reverend Donald Piper was struck head on by a semi-truck driven by a Texas Department of Corrections inmate. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene. In his book Piper goes on to highlight his experience in heaven citing that while he did not see Jesus Christ, he did see many of his congregation members who were committed to their faith and to God, those who had been in parts of his life and that he heard people singing numerous songs praising God. He speaks of a change in his mind where he was unable to think of bad thoughts or sad things and that he caught a glimpse of the gates of heaven, which he describes as â€Å"pearl white†. While this was going on, another minister, Reverend Dick Onrecker came to the scene and was permitted to sit in the car with Piper’s body. While he sat there he began to sing, â€Å"What a Friend We Have in Jesus†. Shockingly, Piper began to sing along. The paramedics got him out of the vehicle and to the hospital where he recovered. This is not the first flirtation with what we can expect in heaven. As the movie progresses people gather outside of Bellison’s apartment waiting for information on what happens when they die. As he emerges, his prophetic satire takes over. He speaks of the man in the sky and how he controls everything. While from an atheistic standpoint, he is mocking religion and how gullible Christians appear to be, at least he got most of it right. God does control everything, who lives, who dies etc, but what he missed in his understanding is that God created us to make our own choices. He does not decide what pair of pants we put on in the morning or whether or not we choose to rape and murder. He created us pure, and it is up to us to stay that way. He designed us for mistakes and sin, but it is up to us to accept our individual wrongdoings and ask for forgiveness. Where the movie lays claim to â€Å"the man in the sky may do bad stuff to us, but he makes up for it in the good place† (Invention of Lying, Universal Pictures, 2010) is along the right principle, they are essentially, correct, it is like a test; a test to deem us worthy of heaven. What makes us worthy of heaven? According to the movie it is simply, not doing bad things. For life in the real world sometimes those answers are not so clear cut. According to the book, Heaven: Our Fascination With the Afterlife, people can agree on one thing, that heaven is the good place you go after death as a reward for struggle and faithfulness on earth. Author, Lisa Miller, explains that people have very common conceptions of heaven, and that many are looking to reunite with loved ones who have gone before them. She goes on to outline that while there is no clear-cut answer to what guarantees our ticket to heaven, as long as you are a believer, upon your passing your soul will â€Å"leave your body to attach itself to God. † (Miller, Newsweek. com) This theory does not â€Å"wash† for everyone. Philosophers and rationalists do not buy into the theories of the soul and heaven. Miller goes on to suggest that resurrection deniers and those who believe in the afterlife take an â€Å"alternate route†. This battle for knowledge of heaven and progressive’s beliefs that it does not exist leaves much room for debate. The age old war between philosophy and logic versus that of religion and the belief of one omnibenevolent power leaves many lost. While the parallel and insinuation that lying and belief in God go hand in hand, this movie portrays how it also goes to show how powerful religion and faith can actually be. Prior to Mark’s ability to lie, the people in this movie seemed to be very dull and boring. Almost like ants just doing the same thing all day then repeating it the next day. However, after Bellison introduces â€Å"The Man in the Sky† people seem to be more enthusiastic about life and how they live it. This is a clear example of how God can affect our day to day lives. There is comfort and excitement in knowing that He is looking out for us and helping us lead our lives in a fulfilling and good way. What many fail to see is that despite the fact that Mark eventually begins to use his â€Å"gift† of lying for his own personal gain, the â€Å"Man in the Sky† helps him to become a better person. He is able to see others for more than their surface attributes but on a deeper level. This is evident during the scene in the park where he is talking to Anna. He has the opportunity to lie to her when she asks if being rich and famous changes your genetic make-up. He could have lied but he didn’t because he knew it would be wrong and because he loved her. With this bizarre way of attempting to mock religion, for me, they opened a pantheon of possibilities and thoughts of heaven and my faith. With all of the debate over whether or not heaven truly exists and what we can expect to find there, this movie made me realize the power that movies have on things such as this. Whether or not we believe in God or an organized religion, people take comfort in the thought of heaven; of a good place after we die. Perhaps not as many movies would portray it to be, laden with gold and silver over every cloud, Seraphim singing to those entering the â€Å"pearly gates† but rather a place for our souls to spend eternity. According to several polls done, almost every one wants ultimately to go to heaven. According to the Newsweek article, Heaven Help Us, many people, when asked about heaven, describe it according to things they have seen in movies related to heaven or death. Others strictly go by biblical passages or by magnificent images painted by evangelical ministers highlighting how supporting the church monetarily will get them into heaven. Author, Lisa Miller, explains that often directors have issues dealing with heaven, â€Å"It is, by tradition and in the popular imagination, a place of supernatural hyperbole. It represents whats most beautiful, most just, most perfect, most true. † (Heaven Help Us, Newsweek) Miller explains that the most profitable movies with a theme of heaven focus on only one aspect, much like that of The Invention of Lying.

Laundry Detergent Glowing Skull

Laundry Detergent Glowing Skull If you have laundry detergent, you can make a glow-in-the dark skull that you can put on your sidewalk or window that will be invisible during the day but will glow at night. Heres how you do it. Glowing Skull Materials You only need a few basic household materials for this project, plus a black light. Liquid laundry detergent or else mix powdered detergent with a bit of waterSponge or paper towelArtistic talent or else a stencilBlack light Make the Decoration Download a skull stencil pattern and print it.Cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth of the skull.Select the location for your decoration. You may wish to choose part of the front walkway near a porch light so you can switch out the normal light bulb for a black light. You could also use a black light and an extension cord to put the decoration anywhere. This project works well on a sidewalk or a wall. You could put the skull on a windowpane if you wanted.Dampen a sponge or paper towel with liquid laundry detergent. You want it wet enough to deposit the color, but not dripping wet.Place the stencil where you want the decoration.Blot over the stencil with the detergent-coated sponge to fill in the shapes of the skull. If you mess up badly, just wash it off and try again.Turn on the black light when you want to see the decoration. Turn the light off when you dont want to see it. Wash away the picture when Halloween is over. How It Works Laundry detergents contain brightening agents that glow when exposed to light. They are intended to make whites appear whiter by adding a bit of blue light to them under ultraviolet light, like in sunlight or under fluorescent lights. When you shine a black light on detergent, you get a very bright glow. The glow is bright enough that you dont need total darkness to get a nice effect.

Answers to Questions About Usage

Answers to Questions About Usage Answers to Questions About Usage Answers to Questions About Usage By Mark Nichol Many writers native English speakers and nonnative speakers alike are confounded by uncertainty or confusion about usage, the complicated issue of what, exactly, a given word means regardless of its practical or official definition. Here are some questions and comments Daily Writing Tips readers have sent me about definitions and connotations, along with my responses. 1. One of the words I hear all the time, which I believe is improperly used, is hopefully, as in â€Å"Hopefully, we’ll be successful.† I’d love to hear your thoughts about using this word hopefully, you’ll agree with me. For better or worse, in the usage you abhor, hopefully is firmly established, and employment in its original sense (â€Å"in a hopeful manner,† as in â€Å"I waited hopefully for her response†) has all but disappeared. The only thing one can do to curtail its use is avoid using it oneself, but this is a case in which the people have spoken: The new sense will prevail. 2. For the past few years, I’ve been noticing the use of â€Å"only ever,† as in â€Å"I only ever stay on the weekends.† Isn’t ever unnecessary and perhaps incorrect? Yes, ever is an extraneous intensifier. It’s not incorrect, but it should be avoided in formal writing. 3. May â€Å"Thank you for correcting me† sound ironic in Modern English? I once used it and got negative feedback. And I think it has pejorative connotation in English, though in my mother tongue it’s just a way to express gratitude or thanks. Yes, â€Å"Thank you for correcting me† looks perfectly neutral, but it’s not: In English, the notion of correcting someone has a negative connotation, like being criticized or scolded, and someone who receives that comment from you may assume that you’re resentful for the assistance. Depending on the situation, it would be better to say or write, â€Å"Thank you for providing me with the correct information† (less concise, but neutral in tone) or â€Å"Thank you for clarifying that for me.† In American English, at least, an informal, friendly way to acknowledge correction is â€Å"Thanks for setting me straight.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguageOne Fell SwoopWood vs. Wooden

Failed states should be placed in the care of the Trusteeship Council Essay

Failed states should be placed in the care of the Trusteeship Council. Discuss - Essay Example Factors like government stability and social peace are taken into consideration for deciding the status of a state, whether it is failed or not. Current paper presents the context of failed state focusing on the following issue: should failed states be placed in the care of the Trusteeship Council. The role of the above Council is reviewed and evaluated, especially in regard to the interaction of the Council with the failed states worldwide. It is made clear that the Trusteeship Council could play such role but under certain terms: that the national identity and the control over the national territory will not be threatened. 2. Failed states and the Trusteeship Council 2.1 Failed states - characteristics In order to understand the potential need of failed states to be set under the care of the Trusteeship Council it would be necessary to explain primarily the characteristics of these states. In the literature the failure of states has been extensively explored. According to Harpviken , Enjolras and Sivesind (2010) a state can be characterized as failed only if certain terms are met. Reference is made, for example, to the view of Zartman (1995) who noted that a state is considered as failed ‘when the basic functions of the state are no longer performed’ (Zartman 1995 in Harpviken, Enjolras and Sivesind 2010, p.29). A state can be also characterized as failed if ‘it has not been able to establish the features associated with statehood’ (Harpviken, Enjolras and Sivesind 2010, p.29). In other words, a state can be failed either since its beginning, if it has not managed to implement the functions required for building its identity as a state, or at a later point of time, when its functions, which have been successful implemented, become inactive. This means that for all states no guarantee can exist in regard to their success or failure. Of course, as long as a state is carefully structure and its functions are closely monitored it is quite difficult for the particular state to become a failed state. From another point of view, Rotberg (2010) noted that failed states are characterized by ‘the collapse of government’ (Rotberg 2010, p.43), as this collapse can have many consequences, such as social disorder, threats against human rights, lack of necessary food and so on (Rotberg 2010, p.43). In other words, states can be characterized as failed not only because of the status of their functions but also of the status of their politics. Naude, Santos-Paulino and McGillivray (2011) claim that failed states tend to face specific problems, such as ‘weak governance and unequal distribution of goods and wealth’ (Naude, Santos-Paulino and McGillivray (2001, p.44). On the other hand, there are states that have no government due to the lack of necessary majority of voters, as for example in the case of Belgium; also, these states continue to operate with no problem being in a pre-election period for quit e a long period of time. This means that the view of Rotberg, as presented above, that the collapse of government results necessarily to the failure of a state, is not verified. Akpinarli (2009) argues that problematic states can be categorized as follows: failed and failing, a distinction also accepted by Herdegen (Akpinarli 2009, p.97). It is explained that the criteria used by each research for describing the status of a state that faces a series of

HTM101 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

HTM101 - Research Paper Example The American accommodation industry regularly acknowledges Marriott Hotels as a leading player because of practicing grand business ethics. In addition to being an event and accommodation company, Marriott Hotels oversees the high-quality visitor loyalty initiative called Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards initiatives that collectively exceed 45 million members globally (Kuang, 2012). Before 1957, founder J. Willard Marriott, along with his spouse Alice, ran a simple root beer store in Washington D.C. that gradually grew a drive-in diner called Hot Shoppes in 1927 (Marriott Jr. and Brown, 2013). Between 1957 and 1985, Marriott created Marriott Hotels as a means of venturing into the accommodation and hospitality sector fully. This business move was historical for the company since it marked the bold application of the owner’s interest in worldwide enterprise. Before his demise in 1985, Marriott transformed the American, Mexican, and European hospitality sectors with the foundation of the pioneering and biggest motor hotel (Marriott Jr. and Brown, 2013). The takeover of Marriott Hotels by Marriott’s son, J. W. Junior, saw the inclusion of numerous new brands into the organization’s operations and partnerships as a creative model (Marriott Jr. and Brown, 2013). This model was the first of its kind since it aimed at extending stays for business visitors or guests in all Marriott Hotels. In 1993, J. W. Junior formally founds a new organization, Marriott International Inc. that takes over operational and managerial roles for all Marriott Hotels and its brands (Marriott Jr. and Brown, 2013). By 2014, Marriott International had acquired more than five accommodation companies across the world, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Renaissance Hotel Group. During the same period, Marriott International launched historic brands in European, Asian, and African markets like Bulgari Hotels & Resorts in Italy, AC Hotels

Neuroimaging Findings in Late Infantile GM1

Neuroimaging Findings in Late Infantile GM1 Gangliosidosis  Summary: Late infantile GM1 gangliosidosis is an extremely rare metabolic disorder with clinical features of seizure and progressive motor and mental retardation without facial dysmorphism or visceral organomegaly. We report the CT and MR imaging findings in one infant, which included abnormalities of the cerebral cortex, white matter, and deep nuclei. GM1 gangliosidosis is a rare lysosomal storage dis- ease characterized by a deficiency in the activity of lysosomal galactosidase, which results in increased accumulation of GM1 ganglioside and asialo-GA1 in the brain and of oligosaccharide in the visceral organs (1, 2). Patients with infantile GM1 gangliosidosis usu- ally have dysmorphic facial features, motor and men- tal retardation, seizures, and hepatosplenomegaly (2). The late infantile form of this disorder is extremely rare and has no clinical features of facial dysmor- phism or visceral organomegaly (1). Case Report An 11-month-old girl, the product of an uncomplicated full-term pregnancy, presented with complex febrile convulsion during an episode of upper respiratory infection. Physical ex- amination at first admission showed a hypotonic infant with macrocephaly (>97 percentile), normal facial features, and psychomotor retardation. Hyperactive reflexes and augmented startle response to noise were present. The abdomen was soft without hepatosplenomegaly. Examination of the eyes revealed a normal clear lens, dilatation of the pupil without light reflex in the right eye, and mild dilatation of the pupil with sluggish light reflex in the left eye. Fundoscopy showed no cherry-red  spots at the maculae. Deficient galactosidase activity and normal hexosaminidase, and glucosidase activity on lysosomal enzyme assay in cultured skin fibroblasts were documented at the patient’s second admission 3 months later for clonic-tonic seizures during another episode of acute upper respiratory infection. Radiologic investigation included chest radiography (also covering the abdomen), CT, and MR imaging, all of which were done on initial admission and again at follow-up. A bone survey was not performed owing to unremarkable somatic manifesta- tions. A CT scan of the brain at age 11 months showed in- creased attenuation of the bilateral thalami (Fig 1A). MR examinations at 11 and 14 months of age showed hyperintensity of the thalami on T1-weighted images (Fig 1B) whereas, on T2-weighted images, the signal intensity of the thalami was decreased (Fig 1C). The white matter myelination was mark- edly delayed, with only the splenium of the corpus callosum being myelinated and no interval improvement in myelination noted at the second MR study (Fig 1D). Discussion GM1 gangliosidosis is a rare inborn error of metab- olism caused by a deficiency of galactosidase activity resulting in failure of catalyzing cleavage of termi- nal link galactose from substrates, such as GM1 ganglioside, asialo-GM1, lactosylceramide, galactose- containing oligosaccharides, and mucopolysacchar- ides. The abnormally accumulated substances in the lysosomes of the affected cells in the CNS are mainly GM1 ganglioside and its asialo derivative GA1 as well as other minor glycolipids and glycopeptides. Visceral storage with oligosaccharides is variable and may cause organgomegaly. Three types of GM1 gangliosidosis, classified by age of onset, have been reported (1, 3, 4). Infantile GM1 gangliosidosis (type 1) is the most common and se- vere form, with clinical features of hypotonia, failure to thrive in the neonatal period, and clonic-tonic seizure activity. Coarse facial features, frontal boss- ing, dysostosis multiplex, hepatosplenomegaly, and hazy cornea may be present or become apparent in the first year of life (2). The late infantile or juvenile form (type 2) begins with progressive mental and motor retardation between 1 and 5 years of age. Seizures are common, and spastic tetraplegia devel- ops, with cerebellar and extrapyramidal signs. Decer- ebrate rigidity follows, and death occurs between 3 and 10 years of age, usually precipitated by recurrent bronchopneumonia. Dysmorphic facial features, hep- atosplenomegaly, corneal changes, and bony abnor- malities are usually lacking, and, when present, are due to a mild degree or absence of oligosaccharide acc umulation. Cerebral GM1 ganglioside storage is also less severe in type 2 than in type 1 disease (1, 2). A, Cranial CT scan at age 11 months shows increased attenuation of the thala- mus and decreased attenuation of the basal ganglia, which were isointense with adjacent white matter. B, T1-weighted axial MR image (600/ 20/2 [TR/TE/excitations]) obtained at the same time shows increased signal inten- sity of the thalamus. The white matter my- elination was markedly delayed. Note that only the splenium of the corpus callosum is myelinated. C, Corresponding axial T2-weighted MR image (2800/90/1) reveals hypodensity of the thalamus and normal signal intensity of the basal ganglia. The cerebrum showed almost no myelination of the white matter except the splenium of the corpus callo- sum. D, Follow-up T2-weighted MR image at 14 months of age shows persistent delayed myelination of the white matter. Note that no cortical atrophy is seen at this stage. Children or adults with chronic, or type 3, GM1 gan- gliosidoses may have a slowly progressive disorder in which dystonia, dysarthria, ataxia, myoclonus gait dis- orders, and extrapyramidal signs occur (4). Bony changes are minimal. Cherry-red spots at the macu- lae, which are found in about half the patients with type 1 GM1 gangliosidoses, are not seen in patients with type 2 and type 3 disease. The disorder can be diagnosed in several ways, including lysosomal enzyme assay of low galactosidase activity in peripheral leukocytes or cultured skin fibroblasts, detection of abnormal urinary oligosac- charide excretion, and rectal biopsy (2). Prenatal di- agnosis by measurement of enzyme activity in amni- otic fluid and cultivated amniotic fluid cells has also been established (5). Neuropathologic reports on GM1 gangliosidoses have shown diffuse neuronal storage with ballooning of neuronal cytoplasm in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex, basal ganglia, brain stem, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion in type 1 and type 2 forms, and a tendency for selective storage in the basal ganglia with neuronal loss and gliosis in type 3 disease (6, 7). The cerebral white matter is gliotic and there is loss of myelin in type 1 but not in types 2 and 3 GM1 gangli- osidoses. Neuroimaging findings in patients with type 1 GM1 gangliosidoses have been reported only in a few cases. In one case, initial thalamic hyperdensity was found on CT scans and hypointense signal of the thalami was seen on T2-weighted MR images at a later stage (3). Persistent delay in white matter myelination on serial MR studies has been described in another case (8). In type 3 GM1 gangliosidoses, the symmetrical abnormal signal intensities were more selectively seen in the caudate nucleus and putamen on T2-weighted MR images (9). To our knowledge, neuroimaging findings in type 2 GM1 gangliosidoses have not been reported previously. The CT and MR findings in our case are identical to those reported in patients with Tay-Sachs disease (GM2 gangliosidoses). This may be understood be- cause the structure of gangliosides GM1 and GM2 differs only in the terminal N-acetylgalactosamine, and they are stored together with cholesterol and phospholipid; the neuronal staining reactions and ul- trastructure are identical (7). The thalamic hyperden- sity seen on CT scans in Tay-Sachs and Krabbe lyso- somal storage disorders has been presumed to be due to calcification. Calcium deposition in the thalamus can also explain the hyperintense T1 signal and hy- pointense T2 signal on MR images, although frank calcium deposition has not been reported pathologi- cally (10). Other investigators have suggested that secondary lipofuscinosis, resulting in deposits of pigmented degradation products, occurs in the thalami and cause this appearance in GM2 gangliosidoses (11, 12). In our case, the CT study showed not only tha- lamic hyperdensity but also hypointensity of the basal ganglia, which were almost isointense with adjacent white matter (Fig 1A). The MR study verified the CT findings of abnormal thalamic attenuation but not the hypointensity of the basal ganglia. MR is the only imaging technique that is capable of demonstrating the arrested myelination of the cerebral white matter in serial examinations (Fig 1C and D). Conclusion Although the neuroimaging findings of GM1 gan- gliosidoses are unique in our case, these findings could also be identified in GM2 gangliosidoses and, to some extent, in late-stage Canavan disease. Patients with late-stage Canavan disease may have dense thal- ami on T1-weighted images, as well as white matter necrosis, resulting in cavitation, and brain stem and cerebellar atrophy, which are not observed in GM1. Other neurometabolic diseases that often manifest with macrocephaly include mucopolysaccharidosis and Alexander disease. These disorders have distinct neuroimaging features and they should be distin- guished from GM1. A definite diagnosis of this rare disorder can only be made by obtaining lysosomal enzyme assay results of deficient galactosidase and normal hexosaminidase. References 1. Gascon GG, Ozand PT, Erwin RE. GM1 gangliosidosis type 2 in two siblings. J Child Neurol 1992;7:S41–S50 2. Suzuke Y, Sakuraba H, Oshima A. Beta-galactosidase deficiency (beta-galactosidosis): GM1 gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease. In: Scriver CR, Beaudet AL, Sly WS, et al, eds. The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1995:2785–2823 3. Kobayashi 0, Takashima S. Thalamic hyperdensity on CT in infan- tile GM1-gangliosidosis. Brain Dev 1994;16:472– 474 4. Tanaka R, Momoi T, Yoshida A, et al. Type 3 GM1 gangliosidosis: clinical and neuroradiological findings in an 11-year-old girl. J Neurol 1995;242:299 –303 5. Tasso MJ, Martinez-Gutierrez A, Carrascosa C, et al. GM1-gangli- osidosis presenting as nonimmune hydrops fetalis: a case report. J Perinatal Med 1996;24:445– 449 6. Bieber FR, Mortimer G, Kolodny EH, et al. Pathologic findings in fetal GM1 gangliosidosis. Arch Neurol 1986;43:736 –738 7. Lake B. Lysosomal and peroxisomal disorders. In: Graham DI, Lantos PL, eds. Greenfield’s Neuropathology. 6th ed. London: Ar- nold; 1997 8. Kaye EM, Alroy J, Raghavan SS, et al. Dysmyelinogenesis in an animal model of GM1 gangliosidosis. Pediatr Neurol 1992;8:255–261 9. Uyama E, Terasaki T, Watanabe S, et al. Type 3 GM1 gangliosido- sis: characteristic MRI findings correlated with dystonia. Acta Neurol Scand 1992;86:609 – 615 10. Brismar J, Brismar G, Coates R, et al. Increased density of the thalamus on CT scans in patients with GM2 gangliosidoses. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1990;11:125–130 11. Lowden JA, Callahan JW, Gravel RA, et al. Type 2 GM gangli- osidosis with neuronal ceroid lipofusinosis. Neurology  1981;31:719 –724 12. Stalker HP, Jan BK. Thalamic hyperdensity: a previously unre- ported sign of Sandhoff disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1989;10: S82

Fool Chapter 14

FOURTEEN ON TENDER HORNS â€Å"I shagged a ghost,† said Drool, wet, naked, and forlorn, sitting in the laundry cauldron under Castle Gloucester. â€Å"There's always a bloody ghost,† said the laundress, who was scrubbing the lout's clothes, which had been most befouled in the moat. It had taken four of Lear's men, along with me, to pull the great git from the stinking soup. â€Å"No excuse for it, really,† said I. â€Å"You've the lake on three sides of the castle, you could open the moat to the lake and the offal and stink would be carried away with the current. I'll wager that one day they find that stagnant water leads to disease. Breeds hostile water sprites, I'll wager.† â€Å"Blimey, you're long-winded for such a wee fellow,† said the laundress. â€Å"Gifted,† I explained, gesturing grandly with Jones. I, too, was naked, but for my hat and puppet stick, my own apparel having taken a glazing of oozy moat mess during the rescue as well. â€Å"Sound the alarm!† Kent came storming down the steps into the laundry, sword unsheathed and followed closely by the two young squires he'd trounced not an hour before. â€Å"Bolt the door! To arms, fool!† â€Å"Hello,† said I. â€Å"You're naked,† said Kent, once again feeling the need to voice the obvious. â€Å"Aye,† said I. â€Å"Find the fool's kit, lads, and get him into it. Wolves are loosed on the fold and we must defend.† â€Å"Stop!† said I. The squires stopped thrashing wildly around the laundry and stood at attention. â€Å"Excellent. Now, Caius, what are you on about?† â€Å"I shagged a ghost,† said Drool to the young squires. They pretended they couldn't hear him. Kent shuffled forward, held back some by the alabaster grandeur of my nakedness. â€Å"Edmund was found with a dagger through his ear, pinned to a high-backed chair.† â€Å"Bloody careless eater he is, then.† â€Å"‘Twas you who put him there, Pocket. And you know it.† â€Å"Moi? Look at me? I am small, weak, and common, I could never – â€Å" â€Å"He's called for your head. He hunts the castle for you even now,† said Kent. â€Å"I swear I saw steam coming out his nostrils.† â€Å"Not going to spoil the Yule celebration, is he?† â€Å"Yule! Yule! Yule!† chanted Drool. â€Å"Pocket, can we go see Phyllis? Can we?† â€Å"Aye, lad, if there's a pawnbroker in Gloucester, I'll take you soon as your kit is dry.† Kent raised a startled porcupine of an eyebrow. â€Å"What is he on about?† â€Å"Every Yule I take Drool down to Phyllis Stein's Pawnshop in London and let him sing ‘Happy Birthday' to Jesus, then blow the candles out on the menorah.† â€Å"But the Yule's a pagan holiday,† said one of the squires. â€Å"Shut up, you twat. Do you want to ruin the twit's fun? Why are you here, anyway? Aren't you Edmund's men? Shouldn't you be trying to put my head on a pike or something?† â€Å"They've changed allegiance to me,† said Kent. â€Å"After the thrashing I gave them.† â€Å"Aye,† said squire one. â€Å"We've more to learn from this good knight.† â€Å"Aye,† said squire two. â€Å"And we were Edgar's men, anyway. Lord Edmund is a scoundrel, if you don't mind me saying, sir.† â€Å"And, dear Caius,† said I. â€Å"Do they know that you are a penniless commoner and can't really maintain a fighting force as if you were, say – oh, I don't know – the Earl of Kent?† â€Å"Excellent point, Pocket,† said Kent. â€Å"Good sirs, I must release you from your service.† â€Å"So we won't be paid, then?† â€Å"My regrets, no.† â€Å"Oh, then we'll take our leave.† â€Å"Fare thee well, keep your guard up, lads,† said Kent. â€Å"Fighting's done with the whole body, not only the sword.† The two squires left the laundry with a bow. â€Å"Will they tell Edmund where we're hiding?† I asked. â€Å"I think not, but you better get your kit on just the same.† â€Å"Laundress, how progresses my motley?† â€Å"Steamin' by the fire, sir. Dry enough to wear indoors, I reckon. Did I hear it right that you put a dagger through Lord Edmund's ear?† â€Å"What, a mere fool? No, silly girl. I'm harmless. A jab from the wit, a poke to the pride are the only injuries a fool inflicts.† â€Å"Shame,† said the laundress. â€Å"He deserves that and worse for how he treats your dim friend – † She looked away. † – and others.† â€Å"Why didn't you just kill the scoundrel outright, Pocket?† asked Kent, kicking subtlety senseless and rolling it up in a rug. â€Å"Well, just shout it out, will you, you great lummox.† â€Å"Aye, like you'd never do such a thing, ‘Top of the morning; grim weather we're having; I've started a bloody war!'† â€Å"Edmund has his own war.† â€Å"See, you did it again.† â€Å"I was coming to tell you when I found the girl ghost having a go at Drool. Then the lout leapt out the window and the rescue was on. The ghost implied that the bastard might be rescued by France. Maybe he's allied with bloody King Jeff to invade.† â€Å"Ghosts are notoriously unreliable,† said Kent. â€Å"Did you ever consider that you might be mad and hallucinating the whole thing? Drool, did you see this ghost?† â€Å"Aye, I had a half a laugh wif her before I got frightened,† said Drool, sadly, contemplating his tackle through the steamy water. â€Å"I fink I gots deaf on me willie.† â€Å"Laundress, help the lad wash the death off his willie, would you?† â€Å"Not bloody likely,† said she. I held the tip of my coxcomb to stay any jingling and bowed my head to show my sincerity. â€Å"Really, love, ask yourself, What would Jesus do?† â€Å"If he had smashing knockers,† added Drool. â€Å"Don't help.† â€Å"Sor-ry.† â€Å"War? Murder? Treachery?† reminded Kent. â€Å"Our plan?† â€Å"Aye, right,† said I. â€Å"If Edmund has his own war it will completely bollocks up our plans for civil war between Albany and Cornwall.† â€Å"All well and good, but you didn't answer my question. Why didn't you just slay the bastard?† â€Å"He moved.† â€Å"So you meant to kill him?† â€Å"Well, I hadn't thought it through completely, but when I sent his dagger at his eye socket I believed that there might be a fatal outcome. And I must say, although I didn't stay to revel in the moment, it was very satisfying. Lear says that killing takes the place of bonking in the ancient. You've killed a multitude of chaps, Kent. Do you find that to be the case?† â€Å"No, that's a disgusting thought.† â€Å"And yet, with Lear lies your loyalty.† â€Å"I'm beginning to wonder,† said Kent, sitting down now on an overturned wooden tub. â€Å"Who do I serve? Why am I here?† â€Å"You are here, because, in the expanding ethical ambiguity of our situation, you are steadfast in your righteousness. It is to you, my banished friend, that we all turn – a light amid the dark dealings of family and politics. You are the moral backbone on which the rest of us hang our bloody bits. Without you we are merely wiggly masses of desire writhing in our own devious bile.† â€Å"Really?† asked the old knight. â€Å"Aye,† said I. â€Å"I'm not sure I want to keep company with you lot, then.† â€Å"Not like anyone else will have you, is it? I need to see Regan before my bastard ear piercing poisons our cause. Will you take her a message, Kent – er, Caius?† â€Å"Will you put on your trousers, or at least your codpiece?† â€Å"Oh, I suppose. That had always been part of the plan.† â€Å"Then I will bear your message to the duchess.† â€Å"Tell her – no, ask her – if she still holds the candle she promised for Pocket. Then ask her if I may meet her somewhere private.† â€Å"I'm off, then. But try to manage not to get murdered while I'm gone, fool.† â€Å"Kitten!† said I. â€Å"You poxy little vermin,† said Regan, in glorious red. â€Å"What do you want?† Kent had led me to a chamber far in the bowels of the castle. I couldn't believe that Gloucester would house royal guests in an abandoned dungeon. Regan must have somehow found her own way here. She had an affinity for such places. â€Å"You received the letter from Goneril, then?† I asked. â€Å"Yes. What is it to you, fool?† â€Å"The lady confided in me,† said I, bouncing my eyebrows and displaying a charming grin. â€Å"What is your thought?† â€Å"Why would I want to dismiss father's knights, let alone take them into my service? We have a small army at Cornwall.† â€Å"Well, you're not at Cornwall, are you, love?† â€Å"What are you saying, fool?† â€Å"I'm saying that your sister bade you come to Gloucester to intercept Lear and his retinue, and thus stop him from going to Cornwall.† â€Å"And my lord and I came with great haste.† â€Å"And with a very small force, correct?† â€Å"Yes, the message said it was urgent. We needed to move quickly.† â€Å"So, when Goneril and Albany arrive, you will be away from your castle and nearly defenseless.† â€Å"She wouldn't dare.† â€Å"Let me ask you, lady, where do you think the Earl of Gloucester's allegiance lies?† â€Å"He is our ally. He has opened his castle to us.† â€Å"Gloucester, who was nearly usurped by his eldest son – you think he sides with you?† â€Å"Well, with Father, then, which is the same thing.† â€Å"Unless Lear is aligned with Goneril against you.† â€Å"But she relieved him of his knights. He ranted about it for an hour after his arrival, called Goneril every foul name under the sun, and praised me for my sweetness and loyalty, even overlooking my throwing his messenger into the stocks.† I said nothing. I removed my coxcomb, scratched my head, and sat on some dusty instrument of torture to observe the lady by torchlight and watch her eyes as the rust ground off the twisted gears of her mind. She was simply lovely. I thought about what the anchoress had said about a wise man only expecting so much perfection in something as its nature allows. I thought that I might, indeed, be witnessing the perfect machine. Her eyes went wide when the realization hit. â€Å"That bitch!† â€Å"Aye,† said I. â€Å"They'll have it all, she and Father?† â€Å"Aye,† said I. I could tell her anger didn't arise from the betrayal, but from not having thought of it first. â€Å"You need an ally, lady, and one with more influence than this humble fool can provide. Tell me, what do you think of Edmund the bastard?† â€Å"He's fit enough, I suppose.† She chewed a fingernail and concentrated. â€Å"I'd shag him if my lord wouldn't murder him – or come to think of it, maybe because he would.† â€Å"Perfect!† said I. Oh Regan, patron saint of Priapus,[38] the most slippery of the sisters: in disposition preciously oily, in discourse, deliciously dry. My venomous virago, my sensuous charmer of serpents – thou art truly perfection. Did I love her? Of course. For even though I have been accused of being an egregious horn-beast, my horns are tender, like the snail's – and never have I hoisted the horns of lust without I've taken a prod from Cupid's barb as well. I have loved them all, with all my heart, and have learned many of their names. Regan. Perfect. Regan. Oh yes, I loved her. She was a beauty to be sure – there was none in the kingdom more fair; a face that could inspire poetry and a body that inspired lust, longing, larceny, treachery, perhaps even war. (I am not without hope.) Men had murdered each other in competition for her favors – it was a hobby with her husband, Cornwall. And to her credit, while she could smile as a bloke bled to death with her name on his lips, she was not tight-fisted with her charms. It only added to the tension around her that someone was going to be shagged silly in the near future, and how much more thrilling if his life hung by a thread as he did the deed. In fact, the promise of violent death might be to the princess Regan like the nectar of Aphrodite herself, now that I think of it. Why else would she have called for my death all those years ago, when I had so diligently served her, after Goneril had left the White Tower to wed Albany. It had begun, it seems, with a bit of jealousy. â€Å"Pocket,† said Regan. She was perhaps eighteen or nineteen at the time, but unlike Goneril, had been exploring her womanly powers for years on various lads about the castle. â€Å"I find it offensive that you gave personal counsel to my sister, yet when I call you to my chambers I get nothing but tumbling and singing.† â€Å"Aye, but a song and a tumble seem all that's needed to lift the lady's spirits, if I may say so.† â€Å"You may not. Am I not fair?† â€Å"Extremely so, lady. Shall I compose a rhyme to your beauty? A ravishing tart from Nantucket – â€Å" â€Å"Am I not as fair as Goneril?† â€Å"Next to you, she is less than invisible, just a shimmering envious vacuum, is she.† â€Å"But do you, Pocket, find me attractive – in a carnal way – the way you did my sister? Do you want me?† â€Å"Ah, of course, lady, from the morning I wake, I have but one thought, one vision: of your deliciousness, under this humble and unworthy fool, writhing naked and making monkey noises.† â€Å"Really, that's all you think about?† â€Å"Aye, and occasionally breakfast, but it's only seconds before I'm back to Regan, writhing, and monkey noises. Wouldn't you like to have a monkey? We should have one around the castle, don't you think?† â€Å"So all you think of is this?† And with that, she shrugged off her gown, red as always, and there she stood, raven-haired and violet-eyed, snowy fair and finely fit, as if carved by the gods from a solid block of desire. She stepped out of the pool of bloodred velvet and said, â€Å"Drop your puppet stick, fool, and come here.† And I, ever the obedient fool, did. And oh it led to many months of clandestine monkey noises: howling, grunting, screeching, yipping, squishing, slapping, laughing, and no little bit of barking. (But there was no flinging of poo, as monkeys are wont to do. Only the most decent, forthright monkey sounds as are made from proper bonking.) I put my heart into it, too; but the romance was soon crushed beneath her cruel and delicate heel. I suppose I shall never learn. It seems a fool is not so often taken as a medicine for melancholy, as for ennui, incurable and recurring among the privileged. â€Å"You've been spending a lot of time with Cordelia of late,† said Regan, basking glorious in the gentle glow of the afterbonk (your narrator in a sweaty puddle on the bedside floor, having been summarily ejected after rendering noble service). â€Å"I am jealous.† â€Å"She's a little girl,† said I. â€Å"But when she has you, I cannot. She's my junior. It's not acceptable.† â€Å"But, lady, it's my duty to keep the little princess smiling, your father has commanded it. Besides, if I am otherwise engaged you can have that sturdy fellow you fancy from the stable, or that young yeoman with the pointy beard, or that Spanish duke or whatever he is that's been about the castle for a month. Does that bloke speak a word of English? I think he may be lost.† â€Å"They are not the same.† I felt my heart warm at her words. Could it be real affection? â€Å"Well, yes, what we share is – â€Å" â€Å"They rut like goats – there's no art to it, and I weary of shouting instructions to them, especially the Spaniard – I don't think he speaks a word of English.† â€Å"I'm sorry, milady,† said I. â€Å"But that said, I must away.† I stood and gathered my jerkin from under the wardrobe, my leggings from the hearth, my codpiece from the chandelier. â€Å"I've promised to teach Cordelia about griffins and elves over tea with her dolls.† â€Å"You'll not,† said Regan. â€Å"I must,† said I. â€Å"I want you to stay.† â€Å"Alas, parting is such sweet sorrow,† said I. And I kissed the downy dimple at the small of her back. â€Å"Guard!† called Regan. â€Å"Pardon?† I inquired. â€Å"Guard!† The door to her solar opened and an alarmed yeoman looked in. â€Å"Seize this scoundrel. He hath ravaged your princess.† She had conjured tears, in that short span of time. A bit of a wonder, she was. â€Å"Fuckstockings,† said I, as two stout yeomen took me by the arms and dragged me down to the great hall in Regan's wake, her dressing gown open and flowing out behind her as she wailed. It seemed a familiar motif, yet I did not feel the confidence that comes with rehearsal. Perhaps it was that Lear was actually holding court before the people when we entered the great hall. A line of peasants, merchants, and minor noblemen waited as the king heard their cases and made judgments. Still in his Christian phase, he had been reading about the wisdom of Solomon, and had been experimenting with the rule of law, thinking it quaint. â€Å"Father, I insist you hang this fool immediately!† Lear was taken aback, not only by the shrillness of his daughter's demand, but by the fact that she stood frontally bare to all the petitioners and made no effort to close her red gown. (Tales would be told of that day, of how many a plaintiff, having seen the snowy-skinned princess in all her glory, did hold his grievance pitiful, indeed, his life worthless, and went home to beat his wife or drown himself in the mill pond.) â€Å"Father, your fool hath violated me.† â€Å"That's a fluttering bottle of bat wank, sire,† said I. â€Å"Begging your pardon.† â€Å"You speak rashly, daughter, and you appear frothing-dog mad. Calm yourself and state your grievance. How hath my fool offended?† â€Å"He hath shagged me roughly, against my will, and finished too soon.† â€Å"By force? Pocket? He isn't eight stone on a feast day – he couldn't shag a cat by force.† â€Å"That's not true, sire,† said I. â€Å"If the cat is distracted with a trout, then – well, uh, nevermind – â€Å" â€Å"He violated my virtue and spoiled my virginity,† said Regan. â€Å"I insist you hang him – hang him twice, the second time before he's finished choking from the first – that'll be fitting justice.† I said: â€Å"What has put vengeance in your blood, princess? I was just going to tea with Cordelia.† Since the little one wasn't present, I hoped invoking her name might awaken the king to my cause, but it only seemed to incense Regan. â€Å"Forced me down and used me like a common tart,† said Regan, adding rather more pantomime than the petitioners in the hall could bear. Several began to beat their fists to their heads, others grabbed at their groins and sank to their knees. â€Å"No!† said I. â€Å"I've had many a wench by stealth, a few by guile, a number by charm, a brace by mistake, the odd harlot for coin, and, when all else has failed, I've made do by begging, but by God's blood, none by force!† â€Å"Enough!† said Lear. â€Å"I'll hear no more. Regan, close your robe. As I have decreed, we are a kingdom of laws. There shall be a trial, and if the rascal is found guilty, then I'll see him hanged twice myself. Make way for a trial.† â€Å"Now?† asked the scribe. â€Å"Yes, now,† said Lear. â€Å"What do we need? A couple of chaps to do the prosecuting and defending, grab a few of those peasants for witnesses, and with due process, habeas corpus, fair weather and whatnot, we'll have the fool dangling black-tongued before tea. Will that suit you, daughter?† Regan closed her robe and turned away coyly. â€Å"I suppose.† â€Å"And you, fool?† Lear winked at me, none too subtly. â€Å"Aye, majesty. A jury, perhaps, chosen from that same group as the witnesses.† Well, one has to make an effort. From their reaction I would be acquitted, on a â€Å"who could blame† him basis: justifiable shaggicide, they'd call it. But no. â€Å"No,† said the king. â€Å"Bailiff read the charges.† The bailiff obviously hadn't written up charges, so he unrolled a scroll on which was written something entirely unconnected to my case, and faked it: â€Å"The Crown states that on this day, October fourteenth, year of Our Lord, one thousand, two hundred, and eighty-eight, the fool known as Pocket, did with forethought and malice, shag the virgin princess Regan.† There was cheering from the gallery, a little scoffing from the court. â€Å"There was no malice,† said I. â€Å"Without malice, then,† said the bailiff. At this point, the magistrate, who normally functioned as a castle steward, whispered to the bailiff, who normally was the chamberlain. â€Å"The magistrate wishes to know how was that?† â€Å"‘Twas sweet, yet nasty, your honor.† â€Å"Note that the accused hath stated that it was [sweet and nasty], thereby admitting his guilt.† More cheering. â€Å"Wait, I wasn't ready.† â€Å"Smell him,† said Regan. â€Å"He reeks of sex, like fish and mushroom and sweat, doesn't he?† One of the peasant witnesses ran forth and sniffed my bits mercilessly, then looked to the king, nodding. â€Å"Aye, your honor,† said I. â€Å"I'm sure I have an odor about me. I must confess, I was sans trou today in the kitchen, while awaiting my laundry, and Bubble had left a casserole out on the floor to cool, and it did trip me and I fell prick-deep in gravy and goo – but I was on my way to chapel at the time.† â€Å"You put your dick in my lunch?† said Lear. Then to the bailiff, â€Å"The fool put his dick in my lunch?† â€Å"No, in your beloved daughter,† said Regan. â€Å"Quiet, girl!† barked the king. â€Å"Captain Curan, send a guard to watch the bread and cheese before the fool has his way with it.† It went on like that, with things looking rather grim for me as the evidence mounted against me, peasants taking the opportunity to describe the most lecherous acts they could imagine a wicked fool might perpetrate on an unsuspecting princess. I thought testimony of the sturdy stable boy particularly damning at first, but eventually it led to my acquittal. â€Å"Read that back, so the king may hear the true heinous nature of the crime,† said my prosecutor, who I believe butchered cattle for the castle as his normal vocation. The scribe read the stable boy's words: â€Å"Yes, yes, yes, ride me, you crashing tree-cocked stallion.† â€Å"That's not what she said,† said I. â€Å"Yes, it is. It's what she always says,† said the scribe. â€Å"Aye,† said the steward. â€Å"Aye, it is,† said the priest. â€Å"S,† said the Spaniard. â€Å"Well, she never says that to me,† said I. â€Å"Oh,† said the stable boy. â€Å"Then it's ‘Prance, you twig-dicked little pony,' is it?† â€Å"Possibly,† said I. â€Å"She never says that to me,† said the yeoman with the pointy beard. Then there was a moment of silence, while all who had spoken looked around at one another, then furiously avoided eye contact and found spots on the floor of great interest. â€Å"Well,† said Regan, chewing a fingernail as she spoke, â€Å"there is a chance that, uh, I was having a dream.† â€Å"Then the fool did not take your virtue?† asked Lear. â€Å"Sorry,† said Regan sheepishly. â€Å"It was but a dream. No more wine at lunch for me.† â€Å"Release the fool!† said Lear. The crowd booed. I walked out of the hall side by side with Regan. â€Å"He might have hung me,† I whispered. â€Å"I'd have shed a tear,† said she with a smile. â€Å"Really.† â€Å"Woe to you, lady, should you leave that rosebud asterisk of a bum-hole unguarded on our next meeting. When a fool's surprise comes unbuttered, a Pocket's pleasure will a princess punish.† â€Å"Oooo, do tease, fool, shall I put a candle in it so you can find your way.† â€Å"Harpy!† â€Å"Rascal!† â€Å"Pocket, where have you been?† said Cordelia, who was coming down the corridor. â€Å"Your tea has gone cold.† â€Å"Defending big sister's honor, sweetness,† said I. â€Å"Oh bollocks,† said Regan. â€Å"Pocket dresses the fool, but he is ever our hero, isn't he, Regan?† said Cordelia. â€Å"I think I'm going to be ill,† said the elder princess. â€Å"So, love,† said I, rising from my perch on the torture machine and reaching into my jerkin. â€Å"I'm pleased you feel that way about Lord Edmund, for he has sent me with this letter.† I handed her the letter. The seal was dodgy, but she wasn't looking at the stationery. â€Å"He's smitten with you, Regan. In fact, so smitten he tried to cut off his own ear to deliver with this missive, to show you the depth of his affection.† â€Å"Really? His ear.† â€Å"Say nothing at the Yule feast, tonight, lady, but you'll see the bandage. Mark it as a tribute of his love.† â€Å"You saw him cut his ear?† â€Å"Yes, and stopped him before the deed was done.† â€Å"Was it painful, do you think?† â€Å"Oh yes, lady. He has already suffered more than have others in months of knowing you.† â€Å"That's so sweet. Do you know what the letter says?† â€Å"I was sworn not to look upon pain of death, but come close – â€Å" She leaned close to me and I squeezed the witch's puffball under her nose. â€Å"I believe it speaks of a midnight rendezvous with Edmund of Gloucester.†