Parenting styles Essay Example for Free

Parenting styles Essay 1.What are the different parenting styles used by families? Which do you think is better? Why? The three different parenting styles used by familes are authoritarian style, permissive style and democratic style. In my opinion, the better style of the three is the democratic style. Reason being, I believe kids should be disciplined and learn how to behave in a controlled environment for the future, but I also believe children should have their voices heard. I also believe that kids should make their own decisions in life because they wont have their parents their whole lives and need to learn how to live and make decisions on their own. The democratic style of parenting allows this to come into play. It is stern with the rules, but allows freedom for the children to make their own life choices, within reason. 2.What makes a person ready for parenthood? When should an individual consider entering parenthood? Who should postpone parenthood? Should everyone become a parent eventually? Do you think some people should not become parents altogether. A person whos ready for parenthood is one who has a stable job and income. One who can support the financial and emotional needs of a child and one who is ready to take on the responsibility of a life. An individual should consider taking on the task once they have a stable income, job and can provide for the child. One should also consider becoming a parent when he/she feels it is the correct time to do so. One should postpone parenthood if they feel as if they cannot be there 100% for their child. If they cannot financially support themselves, then they should not take on the responsibilities of caring for another life, especially one who cannot care for themselves. I don’t believe everyone should become a parent eventually. If you are not the caring and nurturing type of person and would not be  content with caring for another life, I do no think it would be a good idea to have a child. Some people are just not cut out for parenthood. Becoming a parent takes a lot of sacrifice. Whether it may be holding off on climbing the ladder of success or taking personal time away, parents are always sacrificing themselves for their children. If one is not ready for that type of commitment, then they should not enter the world of parenthood.

Toxic Metals in Traditional Chinese Medicine Determination

Toxic Metals in Traditional Chinese Medicine Determination Determination of toxic metals in Traditional Chinese Medicine samples by atomic emission spectrometry Traditional Chinese Medicines(TCM) have gained increasing attention worldwide because of their effectiveness and small side effects[1]. The excess of toxic metals in these medicines have become one of the biggest problems that affected their export and hindered their introduction to the world[2]. In recent years, many domestic and abroad testing organizations paid great attention to the toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicines. Generally, toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicines including Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury, Copper and so on[3], sometimes people also prefer including Arsenic as toxic heavy metal. Different types of heavy metals in human effect different parts or systems, and the symptoms of poisoning can be on the nervous, digestive, hematopoietic systems or people’s metabolism and other body damage. So to accurate detect and limit the content of toxic metals is the key to protect the people of medication safety, to promote the internationalization of t raditional Chinese medicines. Recently, themost commonly used detection methods of detection of toxic metals include colorimetric assay and instrumental analysis[4]. With the increasing requirements for toxic metal limits, instrumental analysis method has become the primary means of detection of heavy metals. In this paper, the determination of toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicine samples by atomic emission spectrometry technology are reviewed. 1. The national limits for toxic metals in herbal medicines and product In general, quantitative tests and limit tests accurately determinate the concentrations of toxic metals in the form of impurities and contaminants. The latter are unavoidably present in the samples being tested. Member states can elect to use either quantitative tests or limit tests and their choices will be influenced by the nature of the sample and the contaminants or residues, assessed on a case-by-case basis. Another factor would be that the methods identified, and chosen to be applied to control toxic metals, should be relevant and should meet the requirements at a regional and national level. Some examples of proposed national limits for arsenic and toxic metals in various types of herbal products are shown in Table 1[5]. Table 1. Example of national limits for arsenic and toxic metals in herbal medicines and products 2. The sources of toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicine samples The toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicines can be from the soil where is contaminated, in the processes of collection and production. 3. Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is a method of chemical analysis, when the analyte atoms in solution are aspirated into the excitation region(flame, plasma, arc, or spark at a particular wavelength) and underwent desolvated, vaporized, atomized, these high-temperature sources provide sufficient energy to promote the atoms into high energy levels, after decaying back to lower energy levels by emitting light, the wavelength of the atomic spectral lines gives the identity of the element and the intensity of light proportional to the concentration of atoms, this can be used to determinate the quantity of elements in a sample. Since all atoms are excited simultaneously, they can be detected simultaneously. 3.1 The classification of AES Flame atomic emission spectroscopy(FAES) The energy source is flame, a sample is brought into the flame by a nebulizer in the form of gas, sprayed solution. A flame provides a high-temperature source for desolvating and vaporizing a sample to obtain free atoms for spectroscopic analysis. For atomic emission spectroscopy the flame must also excites the atom to higher excited states. Then subsequently emit light when they returning to the ground electronic state. Each element emits light at a characteristic wavelength, which is dispersed by a grating or prism(monochromator) and detected by photo detector. Due to its low temperature(1700~3200 °C), nitrous oxide-acetylene is the best flame as this gives the highest temperature. FAES used mostly for determination of alkali metals and occasionally calcium, and need internal standard to correct for variations flame[6]. So FAES is always used with FAAS together to determinate the content of metals in a sample. Slavica RaÃ…Â ¾iÄâ₠¬ ¡ used FAAS/FAES to determinate the elements of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, K, Ca, Mg in some of herbal drugs[7]. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy(ICP-AES) Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy(ICP-AES) uses an inductively coupled plasma as thermal source to excite atoms and ions to their excited energy levels and emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths characteristic of a particular element[8]. ICP-AES has a lot of advantages such as low inter-element interference, multi-element capability, high sensitivity, high concentration range, low chemical interference, with stable and reproducible signal and high degree of selectivity, precision and accuracy(0.3~3%), can use with gas, liquid or solids samples. Disadvantages are serious spectral interferences(too many emission lines), procedures complicated, consume large Ar gas and operating expense, not possible to determinate the elements of H, N, O, C or Ar in trace levels as they are used in solvents and plasma, and also not possible to determinate F, Cl and noble gases at trace levels as they require high excitation energy. Spark and arc atomic emission spectroscopy For solid samples, spark or arc atomic emission spectroscopy is used for the analysis of metallic elements. 4. Determination of toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicine by ICP-AES Because of its high sensitivity, low detection limit, high precision, wide linear range, multi-element analysis, small matrix effects and many other advantages for the detection of most of the metallic elements. ICP-AES has become the most effective method that was widely used in all kinds of traditional Chinese medicines in the determination of toxic metals[9]. Yan Qing-hua used ICP-AES to determinate 14 kinds of elements Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, As, Cd in traditional Chinese medicines for clearing heat and detoxification. Showed the determining elements in traditional Chinese medicine by IPC-AES saving time and effort, reducing environmental pollution, good stability, high sensitivity and multi-element simultaneous analysis[10]. Liu Er-dong used ICP-AES to determinate metallic elements for quality control of Chinese herbal medicines showed this method is accurate and rapid[11]. 4.1 Sampling process With the development of separation science, sample preparation methods have also been substantially developed, especially the sample preparation method for complex material systems, which has gained more attention in recent years. The specific method requires special preparation methods or combination methods according to the specific nature and status of the sample preparation. The traditional Chinese medicines samples are very complicated[12], the preparation method usually includes conventional extraction methods such as steam distillation, water extraction, and alcohol precipitation, alcohol precipitation of water, organic solvent extraction, fractionation, absorption. For the determination of toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicine samples, people have made a lot of work in improving the equipment, good analysis methods to improve the experimental measurements. But always overlook one more important factor, sampling. So how to improve the accuracy of sampling is also one of the most important topics to be studied. 4.2Digestion condition Digestion is an important process in the determination of toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicines. The general methods of digestion including ashing, wet digestion, microwave digestion, combustion method and high pressure dissolving. But all of these methods have their limitations: (1) can’t be guaranteed fully adapted to all organic samples; (2) the waste of analyte; (3) perchloric acid is flammable and explosible. Li Yang compared the digestion methods of dry ashing, wet digestion and microwave digestion in the process of determination of elements in periostracum serpentis and periostracum cicadae[13]. The results showed the microwave digestion with the highest efficiency. The samples of traditional Chinese medicine are always cleaned the sediment and washed with tap water, rewashed with de-ionized water, dried under 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ smashed and filtered through 40 mesh sieve, dried under 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ again for 1h, put into drier for using. 4.2.1 Ashing digestion Ashing digestion is digest samples at high temperature, this is used to find the total mineral content of a sample. Kuziemska Beata used ashing digestion method to determinate the contents of toxic metallic elements in red clover biomass[14]. Normal procedure as follows: Weighed dry sample 1g (wet 2~4 g), put it in porcelain crucible, charring with low heat , then ashing in furnaces at 450à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ for 3 hours, cooled and added a little distilled water, heated slightly to dry, then placed in a high temperature furnace ashing completely, cooled, add 1: 1 HNO3 1.0 ml, dissolved with heating, set the volume to 25ml. 4.2.2 Wet digestion In the process of wet digestion, normally use the solvent of acid or oxidant to digest the samples. The commonly used acid and oxidant are as follows: Nitric acid: The most commonly used acid in the process of digestion, it is also a strong oxidant which is widely used to dissolve trace elements in plant samples, get their soluble nitrate. Xue Yan used nitric acid as digestion reagent to detect chromium in medical materials showed the detection limit was 1.42 ng/mL, and the deviations were 1.43%~1.79%[15]. Perchloric acid: Can decompose organic component completely, which is used when the other reagents can not digest. However, the heat concentrated perchloric acid is explosible when contact with organic components, so the operator must be very careful. Aqua regia: It is a strong oxidant, can applied to digest inorganic components, such as gold and platinum. Tahar Kebir used aqua regia to digest food plants near a polluted site for the measurement of toxic metals(Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cd, Mn, Cr and As) and got excellent results[16]. Hydrofluoric acid: It is an efficient reagent to dissolve silicon-containing material. It can change silicate into SiF4, which is used to digest silicon samples completely. When mixed with nitric acid, could digest TiO2, W, Zr et al. Hydrogen peroxide: It is one of the most commonly used oxidants, if combined with HNO3, HCIO4, HCI or mixed acid, the efficiency could be better. Sulfuric acid: Strong acid and oxidant. The capacity of these acid and oxidant are different. In the practical applications, normally use the mixture of two or more inorganic acids with different proportion(HNO3-H2SO4, HNO3-HCIO4, H2SO4-HNO3-HCIO4). It has proven that the optimal digestion reagents are the mixture of HNO3-HCIO4, could digest multiple components simultaneously. Tong Wen-jie used HNO3-HCIO4 to digest sunflower(Helianthus annuus L) and analyzed the mineral elements content[17]. Cai Yanrong also used HNO3-HCIO4 as digestion reagents in the study of trace elements(Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, K, Na, Ba, Sb, Pb, As) in hair samples[18]. 4.2.3 Microwave digestion Microwave digestion requires only a small amount of sample and can digest in short time. It is a widely used digestion method in the determination of elements in herbal drugs. Li Feng-xia used microwave digestion method to test and analyze of inorganic elements in 466 traditional Chinese medicines[19] showed that the measurements of each element are within the reference range, and RSD of determination is less than 10% for most of detected elements. In Yan Qing-hua’s study, his experiments also used microwave digestion technology, the recovery of the element reach 96.79%~103.47% and RSD less than 5.0%[10]. Zhang Sheng-bang used HNO3-H2O2 as solvents, microwave digestion to study multi-elements in traditional Chinese medicine Ophiopogon japonicus and Lotus seeds by ICP-AES[20]. Conclusion and outlook In recent years, the toxic metals in traditional Chinese medicines are concerned increasing all over the world. The methods of determination of toxic metals are not yet fully unified and also lack of regulation, scientific and systemic research. In the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2010 version), in addition to the classical colorimetric method, more and more inclined to the using of high sensitivity and precision instruments measurements. ICP-AES has proven to be a quick, high sensitive and multi-elements analysis method. But there are still a lot of problems to be solved, new methods of determination of toxic metals are required, we hope there is a even faster and cheaper method to satisfy the measurements of toxic metals for TCM’s quick check in the process of import and export. Of course, the determination of toxic metals in Chinese medicine samples is a long-term work, with the development of detection technology, the detectable levels of toxic metals in traditional Chinese medic ines will be increased, thereby enhancing their safety. References: [1] T. J. Zhang. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs, 2011, 42, 1–9 [2] P. C. A. Kam; S. Liew. Anaesthesia, 2002, 57, 1083–1089 [3] Catherine Buettner; Kenneth J.; Mukamal; Paula Gardiner; Roger B. Davis ScD; Murray A. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2009,24(11),1175-1182 [4] Anna Filipiak-Szok; Marzanna Kurzawa; Edward SzÅ‚yk. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 2014, ASAP [5] Patel Parthik. IJRAP, 2011, 2(4), 1148-1154 [6] Anderson S. Ribeiro. J. Braz. Chem. Soc., 2012, 23(9), 1623-1629 [7] Slavica Raziˆ¡c ´; Antonije Onjiab; Svetlana à ogo; Latinka Slavkovic ´; Aleksandar Popovic. Talanta, 2005, 67, 233–239 [8] A. Stef†²ansson. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2007, 582, 69–74 [9] Mao L; Tan MX; Chen ZF; Liang H. Guang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi, 2009, 29(9), 2568-70. [10] Yan Qing-hua; Yang li; Wang Qing; Ma Xiao-Qin. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society, 2012, 16, 287–290 [11] Liu Erdong; Zheng Yong-jun. Asian Journal of Chemistry, 2011, 23(3), 1091-1094 [12] Fang, Luo; Yang, Guonong; Song, Yu; Li, Fanzhu; Lin, Nengming. Journal of Separation Science, 2014,37(22),3245-3252 [13] Yang, Li; Li, Yanlan; Xj, Guoxj; Ma, Xiaoqin; Yan, Qinghua. Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society, 2013, 58(3), 1876-1879 [14] Kuziemska, Beata; Kalembasa, Stanislaw. Archives of Environmental Protection, 2009,35(1),95-105 [15] Xue Yan. Huaxue Fenxi Jiliang, 2012, 21(5), 52-53 [16] Tahar, Kebir; Keltoum, Bouhadjera; Abderrazzak, Baba Ahmed. International Journal of Research and Reviews in Applied Sciences, 2014, 18(1), 51-58 [17] Tong, Wen-jie; Chen, Fu; Wen, Xin-ya. Guangpuxue Yu Guangpu Fenxi, 2014, 34(1),231-234. [18] Cai Yanrong. Biological trace element research, 2011, 144(1-3), 469-474 [19] Li Feng-xia; Ouyang Li; Liu Ya-qiong; Zeng Jing; Yan Lai-lai; Wang Jing-yu. China journal of Chinese materia medica. 2011,36(21),2994-3000 [20] Zhang Sheng-bang; Ji Xiao-wu; Liu Cui-ping. Advanced Materials Research (Durnten-Zurich, Switzerland), 2012, 535-537

Traffick :: essays papers

Traffick This saga of the so-called "war" on drugs is a masterwork of superb performance, smart writing--and, most of all, the mark of a director who not only knows what he wants, but also exactly how to make his ambitious vision a glorious reality. Unlike most multicharacter pastiches, such as the ones made by Robert Altman, or Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, the characters of Traffic's three tales don't constantly crisscross, nor are they all brought together by a big event. Intersections are rare in Traffic, and the junctions that do occur are often fleeting. Yet the stories are strongly linked by their greater thematic concern: to vividly illustrate how the drug problem touches all corners of the country, all walks of life, from people on the harsh urban streets to those in lavish upper-class neighborhoods. Soderbergh and writer Stephen Gaghan, working from the '80s British miniseries Traffik, steadfastly refuse to force easy, comforting conclusions from difficult and complex situat ions; as in real life, one is left to decide for oneself who or what is right, and what it all means. While Traffic is essentially about the war on drugs in America, the film's starting point is the almost-exclusively south-of-the-border (and nearly-completely Spanish-language) story of Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro, doing away with his annoying tics and delivering a career performance), an average Tijuana State policeman who is given the opportunity for greater prestige by working for General Salazar's (Tomas Milian) efforts against the drug cartels. Just north of the border in San Diego is the setting for another thread, in which very pregnant European à ©migrà © Helena Ayala (Catherine Zeta-Jones, her real-life condition adding a deeper layer to her role) learns that the pampered lifestyle provided by husband Carlos (Steven Bauer) comes from dabblings in drugs, not legit business ventures. The film also travels a bit northwest to Cincinnati, the third central locale, where Caroline (Erika Christensen), the teenage daughter of newly-appointed U.S. drug czar Robert Wakef ield (Michael Douglas), brings her father's enemy much closer to home than he could have ever imagined. Soderbergh effortlessly weaves the individual strands into a tapestry that is at once cohesive and characterized by its contrasting colors. The latter can be taken in a literal sense--Soderbergh, under the pseudonym "Peter Andrews" (his father's name), shot the film himself, and he gave each part of the film its own distinct look: grainy, washed-out yellow for Mexico; a solemn blue sheen for Cincinnati; sun-drenched full color for San Diego.

Global Health Threats Assessment Essay -- Climate Change

Until recently, disaster scholars have been scarcely engaged in climate change debates. Absent from disaster management discussion, scientific assessments on climate change have mainly involved scientists and experts in environment and energy posing key questions including whether or not climate change is systematic or accidental? And what role can be attributed to emissions of greenhouse gases caused by humans? Which models can tell us about future developments? And how much reduction in emissions is necessary to mitigate the risks of climate change? Further, these scenarios are typically taken in the context of 50–100 year time scales and for large areas such as â€Å"Europe† or â€Å"North America.† These projections about globally significant changes are difficult to comprehend and not easy for people translate into real life (1). More importantly, it has become more evident that climate change will not express itself primarily through slow shifts in conditio ns over a long period of time, but instead in more imminent climate related disasters. The need for action has become more necessary than ever as an increasing human population puts more and more people and their assets in the path of these disasters, raising the economic risk of such events (2). Maarten van Aalst (3) discusses mounting evidence that it is more imminent events such as floods, droughts and heat waves that society must quickly prepare for. Already in the past ten years, weather-related natural hazards have been the cause of 90% of natural disasters and 60% of related deaths and have been responsible for 98% of the impacts on disaster-affected populations, the majority in developing countries (4). The World Meteorological Organization reported (5) that the year 2005 b... ...logical Organization, 2006. 6. Hyogo framework for action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. Kobe, Hyogo, Japan: United Nations Internation Strategy for Disaster Reduction, 2005. 7. Hilhorst D Bankoff G. Mapping vulnerability: Disaster, development and people. London: Earthscan; 2004. 8. Schipper L Pelling M. Disaster risk, climate change and international development: Scope for, and challenges to, integration. Disasters. 2006;30(1):19-38. 9. Rodolfo KS Siringan FP. Global sea-level rise is recognised, but flooding from anthropogenic land subsidence is ignored around norther manila bay, philippeines. Disasters. 2006;30(1):118-39. 10. Thomalla F Downing T, Spanger-Siegfried et al. Reducing hazard vulnerability: Towards a common approach between disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. Disasters. 2006;30(1):39-48.

Finding James Cains Life in Mildred Pierce Essay -- Biography Biograp

Finding James Cain's Life in Mildred Pierce      Ã‚   An individual is greatly influenced by his/her environment, life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   challenges, and experiences. As a result, in addition to imagination, a   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   novelist uses his life experiences to create his/her books. The influence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of James Cain's life in his writing is obvious.   In Mildred Pierce, James   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cain utilized his characters to portray the hardships suffered in the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Great Depression, characteristics that impressed him about his mother, and   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  his experience with love.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   James Cain employed his experience of the Great Depression as a context of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mildred Pierce. Like any American who lived during this period, he   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   suffered from this economic slowdown. In November 1931, Cain came to   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hollywood to start a six-month contract with Paramount; however, "within   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   six months of his arrival in Hollywood, Cain was out of job in the middle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of the Depression"(Contemporary Authors Online). Layoffs were common   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   because of the bad recession. Thus, although James Cain attained a job at   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Columbia, he quickly lost it (Skenazy 12). Consequently, Cain used the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   effects of the late 1920's market crash to create the story of Mildred   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pierce. Bert, Mildred's husband, lost all his invested money in the AT&T   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   stock on "Black Thursday of 1929, and his plunge to ruin was so rapid he   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   could hardly see Pierce Homes disappear on his way down" (Cain 10).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Similar to Bert, Cain was financially unstable, with a wife and two   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   children to support. Cain wrote some stories and essays; nevertheless, the... ...pedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 19.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gale Group, 1999. Reproduced in Biography Resource   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: The Gale Group 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (http://www.galenet.com/servlet/BioRC)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hoopes, Roy. Cain: The Biography of James M. Cain. Southern   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Illinois: University Press, 1987.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marling, William. Hard-Boiled Fiction. Case Western Reserve   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   University. Updated 2 August 2001.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (http://www.cwru.edu/7177060/artsci/engl/marling/hardboiled/Cain%20James.HTM)      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Murray, Bill.   James M. Cain: July 1, 1892 - October 27,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1977.(http://www2.rmcil.edu/users/dhaynes/hum120/caincainbio.htm)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Skenazy, Paul. Cain James M. (James Mallahan), 1892-1977.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New York: Continuum, 1989.      

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse EPILOGUE – CHOICE

JACOBBLACK â€Å"Jacob, do you think this is going to take too much longer?† Leah demanded. Impatient. Whiney. My teeth clenched together. Like anyone in the pack, Leah knew everything. She knew why I came here – to the very edge of the earth and sky and sea. To be alone. She knew that this was all I wanted. Just to be alone. But Leah was going to force her company on me, anyway. Besides being crazy annoyed, I did feel smug for a brief second. Because I didn't even have to think about controlling my temper. It was easy now, something I just did, natural. The red haze didn't wash over my eyes. The heat didn't shiver down my spine. My voice was calm when I answered. â€Å"Jump off a cliff, Leah.† I pointed to the one at my feet. â€Å"Really, kid.† She ignored me, throwing herself into a sprawl on the ground next to me. â€Å"You have no idea how hard this is for me.† â€Å"For you?† It took me a minute to believe she was serious. â€Å"You have to be the most self-absorbed person alive, Leah. I'd hate to shatter the dream world you livein – the one where the sun is orbiting the place where you stand – so I won't tell you how little I care what your problem is. Go. Away.† â€Å"Just look at this from my perspective for a minute, okay?† she continued as if I hadn't said anything. If she was trying to break my mood, it worked. I started laughing. The sound hurt in strange ways. â€Å"Stop snorting and pay attention,† she snapped. â€Å"If I pretend to listen, will you leave?† I asked, glancing over at the permanent scowl on her face. I wasn't sure if she had any other expressions anymore. I remembered back to when I used to think that Leah was pretty, maybe even beautiful. That was a long time ago. No one thought of her that way now. Except for Sam. He was never going to forgive himself. Like it was his fault that she'd turned into this bitter harpy. Her scowl heated up, as if she could guess what I was thinking. Probably could. â€Å"This is making me sick, Jacob. Can you imagine what this feels like to me? I don't even like Bella Swan. And you've got me grieving over this leech-lover like I'm in love with her, too. Can you see where that might be a little confusing? I dreamed about kissing her last night! What the hell am I supposed to do with that?† â€Å"Do I care?† â€Å"I can't stand being in your head anymore! Get over her already! She's going to marry that thing. He's going to try to change her into one of them! Time to move on, boy.† â€Å"Shut up,† I growled. It would be wrong to strike back. I knew that. I was biting my tongue. But she'd be sorry if she didn't walk away. Now. â€Å"He'll probably just kill her anyway,† Leah said. Sneering. â€Å"All the stories say that happens more often than not. Maybe a funeral will be better closure than a wedding. Ha.† This time I had to work. I closed my eyes and fought the hot taste in my mouth. I pushed and shoved against the slide of fire down my back, wrestling to keep my shape together while my body tried to shake apart. When I was in control again, I glowered at her. She was watching my hands as the tremors slowed. Smiling. Some joke. â€Å"If you're upset about gender confusion, Leah . . . ,† I said. Slow, emphasizing each word. â€Å"How do you think the rest of us like looking at Sam through your eyes? It's bad enough that Emily has to deal with your fixation. She doesn't need us guys panting after him, too.† Pissed as I was, I still felt guilty when I watched the spasm of pain shoot across her face. She scrambled to her feet – pausing only to spit in my direction – and ran for the trees, vibrating like a tuning fork. I laughed darkly. â€Å"You missed.† Sam was going to give me hell for that, but it was worth it. Leah wouldn't bug me anymore. And I'd do it again if I had the chance. Because her words were still there, scratching themselves into my brain, the pain of it so strong that I could hardly breathe. It didn't matter so much that Bella'd chosen someone else over me. That agony was nothing at all. That agony I could live with for the rest of my stupid, too long, stretched-out life. But it did matter that she was giving up everything – that she was letting her heart stop and her skin ice over and her mind twist into some crystallized predator's head. A monster. A stranger. I would have thought there was nothing worse than that, nothing more painful in the whole world. But, if he killed her . . . Again, I had to fight the rage. Maybe, if not for Leah, it would be good to let the heat change me into a creature who could deal with it better. A creature with instincts so much stronger than human emotions. An animal who couldn't feel pain in the same way. A different pain. Some variety, at least. But Leah was running now, and I didn't want to share her thoughts. I cussed her under my breath for taking away that escape, too. My hands were shaking in spite of me. What shook them? Anger? Agony? I wasn't sure what I was fightingnow. I had to believe that Bella would survive. But that required trust – a trust I didn't want to feel, a trust in that bloodsucker's ability to keep her alive. She would be different, and I wondered how that would affect me. Would it be the same as if she had died, to see her standing there like a stone? Like ice? When her scent burned in my nostrils and triggered the instinct to rip, to tear . . . How would that be? Could I want to kill her? Could I not want to kill one of them? I watched the swells roll toward the beach. They disappeared from sight under the edge of the cliff, but I heard them beat against the sand. I watched them until it was late, long after dark. Going home was probably a bad idea. But I was hungry, and I couldn't think of another plan. I made a face as I pulled my arm through the retarded sling and grabbed my crutches. If only Charlie hadn't seen me that day and spread the word of my â€Å"motorcycle accident.† Stupid props. I hated them. Going hungry started to look better when I walked in the house and got a look at my dad's face. He had something on his mind. It was easy to tell – he always overdid it. Acted all casual. He also talked too much. He was rambling about his day before I could get to the table. He never jabbered like this unless there was something that he didn't want to say. I ignored him as best I could, concentrating on the food. The faster I choked it down . . . â€Å". . . and Sue stopped by today.† My dad's voice was loud. Hard to ignore. As always. â€Å"Amazing woman. She's tougher than grizzlies, that one. I don't know how she deals with that daughter of hers, though. Now Sue, she would have made one hell of a wolf. Leah's more of a wolverine.† He chuckled at his own joke. He waited briefly for my response, but didn't seem to see my blank, bored-out-of-my-mind expression. Most days that bugged him. I wished he would shut up about Leah. I was trying not to think about her. â€Å"Seth's a lot easier. Of course, you were easier than your sisters, too, until . . . well, you have more to deal with than they did.† I sighed, long and deep, and stared out the window. Billy was quiet for a second too long. â€Å"We got a letter today.† I could tell that this was the subject he'd been avoiding. â€Å"A letter?† â€Å"A . . . wedding invitation.† Every muscle in my body locked into place. A feather of heat seemed to brush down my back. I held onto the table to keep my hands steady. Billy went on like he hadn't noticed. â€Å"There's a note inside that's addressed to you. I didn't read it.† He pulled a thick ivory envelope from where it was wedged between his leg and the side of his wheelchair. He laid it on the table between us. â€Å"You probably don't need to read it. Doesn't really matter what it says.† Stupid reverse psychology. I yanked the envelope off the table. It was some heavy, stiff paper. Expensive. Too fancy for Forks. The card inside was the same, too done- up and formal. Bella'd had nothing to do with this. There was no sign of her personal taste in the layers of see- through, petal-printed pages. I'd bet she didn't like it at all. I didn't read the words, not even to see the date. I didn't care. There was a piece of the thick ivory paper folded inhalf with my name handwritten in black ink on the back. I didn't recognize the handwriting, but it was as fancy as the rest of it. For half a second, I wondered if the bloodsucker was into gloating. I flipped it open. Jacob, I'm breaking the rules by sending you this. She was afraid of hurting you, and she didn't want to make you feel obligated in any way. But I know that, if things had gone the other way, I would have wanted the choice. I promise I will take care of her, Jacob. Thank you – for her – for everything. Edward â€Å"Jake, we only have the one table,† Billy said. He was staring at my left hand. My fingers were clamped down on the wood hard enough that it really was in danger. I loosened them one by one, concentrating on that action alone, and then clenched my hands together so I couldn't break anything. â€Å"Yeah, doesn't matter anyway,† Billy muttered. I got up from the table, shrugging out of my t-shirt as I stood. Hopefully Leah had gone home by now. â€Å"Not too late,† Billy mumbled as I punched the front door out of my way. I was running before I hit the trees, my clothes strewn out behind me like a trail of crumbs – as if I wanted to find my way back. It was almost too easy now to phase. I didn't have to think. My body already knew where I was going and, before I asked it to, it gave me what I wanted. I had four legs now, and I was flying. The trees blurred into a sea of black flowing around me. My muscles bunched and released in an effortless rhythm. I could run like this for days and I would not be tired. Maybe, this time, I wouldn't stop. But I wasn't alone. So sorry, Embry whispered in my head. I could see through his eyes. He was far away, to the north, but he had wheeled around and was racing to join me. I growled and pushed myself faster. Wait for us, Quil complained. He was closer, just starting out from the village. Leave me alone, I snarled. I could feel their worry in my head, try hard as I might to drown it in the sound of the wind and the forest. This was what I hated most – seeing myself through their eyes, worse now that their eyes were full of pity. They saw the hate, but they kept running after me. A new voice sounded in my head. Let him go. Sam's thought was soft, but still an order. Embry and Quil slowed to a walk. If only I could stop hearing, stop seeing what they saw. My head was so crowded, but the only way to be alone again was to be human, and I couldn't stand the pain. Phase back, Sam directed them. I'll pick you up, Embry. First one, then another awareness faded into silence. Only Sam was left. Thank you, I managed to think. Come home when you can. The words were faint, trailing off into blank emptiness as he left, too. And I was alone. So much better. Now I could hear the faint rustle of the matted leaves beneath my toenails, the whisper of an owl's wings above me, the ocean – far, far in the west – moaning against the beach. Hear this, and nothing more. Feel nothing but speed, nothing but the pull of muscle, sinew, and bone, working together in harmony as the miles disappeared behind me. If the silence in my head lasted, I would never go back. I wouldn't be the first one to choose this form over the other. Maybe, if I ran far enough away, I would never have to hear again. . . . I pushed my legs faster, letting Jacob Black disappear behind me.

Academic excellence guarantee successful life Essay

Nowadays academic excellence among the young is given much importance. While it is perfectly acceptable to strive to achieve good academic results, the notion that only academic excellence guarantees a successful life is not true. Students are pressured into taking more subjects than they can handle and this causes immense pressure among our young. The question is can this endeavour absolutely confirm a dynamic future? I disagree that academic excellence guarantee our successful life. This is because without academic excellence, people still can success in their life. With business also human can success. For example Bill Gates is the first founder of Microsoft in operating system computer. With create of the Microsoft computer and sell it he can become a successful businessman. Besides that, people can success with through use their talent that they have. For example, Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza our first singer in Malaysia become success with only use her talent without have academic excellence. From nothing, become popular and success as we know and see now. Besides as a singer, she also have own company. She also be the ambassador of beauty product. Finally, someone also can successful in life without high education through family background. For example someone that born of wealth families, that have own company. Without excellence academic around this line of business can still succeed as long as they can in good governance. Through family-owned business also someone still can success in their life. Overall, not necessarily without academic excellence a person can’t success in their life. That has other way someone can success without academic excellence such as through talent,business or with background family.