How Does Alan Bennett Reveal The Speaker in A Lady of Letters Essay Example For Students

CORPORATE LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

CORPORATE LAW - Essay Example The all out worth (counting premium) of the new issue will be  £ 6500. The significant lawful situation in such manner is as under: The chiefs of a constrained organization can settle terms of reclamations of offers just when they are enabled by the Articles of relationship of the organization to do as such. In any case the terms endorsed in the articles are to be followed. Likewise the procedure of recovery to be trailed by Mirza Plc will rely on the terms either gave in its Articles of affiliation or settled by the goals of the board just when articles explicitly engage chiefs to do as such. The terms of reclamation of offers must be set down before the issuance of such redeemable offers. At the end of the day Mirza Plc can reclaim shares just at a top notch when such term existed before issuance of its redeemable offers. By no means Mirza Plc can settle new terms of recovery of offers after issuance of such offers. That is the reason the law gives that the terms, conditions, and habits of reclamation must be expressed in the announcement of capital required to be recorded with enlistment center. According to arrangement of the Companies Act, 2006, Mirza Plc may recover the offers out of undistributed benefit. However,it may fund the reclamation out of a new issue. Apparently Mirza Plc has chosen to utilize both the alternatives. As the necessary recovery sum is  £ 15000 (counting premium) and new issue will bring just  £ 6500 (counting premium), plainly Mirza Plc will likewise be utilizing aggregated benefits to pay some portion of reclamation obligation. One of the conditions endorsed by the Companies Act, 2006 is that premium on reclamation can be paid just when offers were initially given at premium. Mirza Plc satisfies this condition as redeemable offers were given at a higher cost than expected of  £ 2500. The law necessitates that recovery must be made out of undistributed benefits, yet continues of new issue made for reclamation can be

The Benefits of Meditation for Stress Management

The Benefits of Meditation for Stress Management Meditation Print An Overview of Meditation By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on May 03, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 14, 2019 RunPhoto/Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Meditation Happiness Stress Management Spirituality Holistic Health Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All In This Article Table of Contents Expand What Does Meditation Involve? Stress Management More Benefits Meditation vs. Other Methods Pros and Cons Things to Keep in Mind Getting Started View All Back To Top Meditation has become one of the most popular ways to relieve stress among people of all walks of life. This age-old practice, which can take many forms and may or may not be combined with many spiritual practices, can be used in several important ways. It can be a quick-fix stress reliever to help you reverse your bodys stress response and physically relax.It can be a part of your daily routine and help you build resilience to stress.It can be a technique you use to get centered when youre thrown off by emotional stress. ? A form of meditation can even be used for weight loss and healthier eating. By learning to calm your body and mind, your physical and emotional stress can melt away. This leaves you feeling better, refreshed, and ready to face the challenges of your day with a healthy attitude. With regular practice over weeks or months, you can experience even greater benefits. What Does Meditation Involve? Meditation involves sitting in a relaxed position and clearing your mind, or focusing your mind on one thought and clearing it of all others. You may focus on a sound, like ooommm, or on your own breathing, counting, a mantra, or nothing at all. A common thread among the many meditation techniques is that the mind stops following every new thought that comes to the surface. 17 Highly Effective Stress Relievers It’s generally necessary to have at least five to 20 distraction-free minutes to spend, though meditation sessions can really be any length. Longer meditation sessions tend to bring greater benefits, but it is usually best to start slowly so you can maintain the practice long-term. Many people find that if they try to meditate for too long each session or create a perfect practice it can become intimidating or daunting, and they find it more challenging to keep as a daily habit. It is far better to create the habit and work it into a more thorough version of that habit. It’s helpful to have silence and privacy, but more experienced meditators can practice meditation anywhere. Many practitioners of meditation attach a spiritual component to it, but it can also be a secular exercise. Really, there is no wrong way to meditate. What Can Meditation Do for Stress Management? Throughout the day, when we experience stress, our bodies automatically react in ways that prepare us to fight or run. This is your bodys stress response, otherwise known as your fight-or-flight response. In some cases of extreme danger, this physical response is helpful. However, a prolonged state of such agitation can cause physical damage to every part of the body. Meditation affects the body in exactly the opposite ways that stress doesâ€"by triggering the bodys relaxation response. It restores the body to a calm state, helping the body repair itself and preventing new damage from the physical effects of stress. It can calm your mind and body by quieting the stress-induced thoughts that keep your bodys stress response triggered. There is an element of more direct physical relaxation involved in meditation as well, obviously, so this double dose of relaxation can really be helpful for shrugging off stress. A greater gain that meditation can bring is the long-term resilience that can come with regular practice. Research has shown that those who practice meditation regularly begin to experience changes in their response to stress that allow them to recover from stressful situations more easily and experience less stress from the challenges they face in their everyday lives. Some of this is thought to be the result of the increase in positive mood that can come from meditation; research shows that those who experience positive moods more often are more resilient toward stress. Other research has found changes in the brains of regular meditation practitioners that are linked with a decreased reactivity toward stress. The practice of learning to refocus your thoughts can also help you redirect yourself when you fall into negative thinking patterns, which in itself can help relieve stress. Meditation offers several solutions in one simple activity. How Your Good Mood Can Combat Stress More Benefits of Meditation The benefits of meditation are great because, among other things, it can reverse your stress response, thereby shielding you from the effects of chronic stress. When practicing meditation: Your heart rate and breathing slow down.Your blood pressure normalizes.You use oxygen more efficiently.Your immune function improves.You sweat less.Your adrenal glands produce less cortisol.Your mind ages at a slower rate.Your mind clears and your creativity increases. People who meditate regularly find it easier to give up life-damaging habits like smoking, drinking, and drugs. They also find it easier to stop rumination from ruining their day. It helps many people connect to a place of inner strength. Numerous studies have found that, in diverse populations, meditation can minimize stress and build resilience. Meditation research is still relatively new, but promising. Quick and Simple 5-Minute Meditation for Stress Relief How Does Meditation Compare to Other Stress Reduction Methods? Unlike some medications and herbal therapies, meditation has few potential side effects.People with physical limitations may find it easier to practice than strenuous physical exercise for stress relief. Plus, no special equipment is required.Unlike enlisting the help of a professional, meditation is free.It does take discipline and commitment to make meditation a regular habit. Some people find it more difficult to maintain as a habit than methods that enlist the help of someone or something outside themselves for added motivation. (If you are one of these people, finding a meditation group may be the perfect solution.)Some people may find it more difficult to free their minds from the thoughts of the day. This may make it more difficult than methods that involve focusing on these events, like journaling, or methods that are distracting, like physical exercise or the use of humor. The Pros And Cons of Meditation Meditation is wonderful in that it’s free, always available, and amazingly effective in short-term stress reduction and long-term health. The benefits can be felt in just one session. An experienced teacher can be helpful but isnt absolutely necessary. You can learn many effective meditation techniques from a book or from the meditation resources right here on Verywell. Ultimately, if you can focus on your breath, on the present moment, or on any one thing for a while, you can now meditate. It does often take some practice, however, and some people find it difficult to get it in the beginning. Meditation also requires a little patience and may be difficult for people with little free time (like some stay-at-home mothers who get very little privacy from small children). However, the time and effort it takes to learn and practice is well worth it in terms of the benefits it provides. 4 Things to Keep in Mind About Meditation Consistent practice matters more than long practice. This means that its better to meditate for five minutes, six times per week than for 30 minutes once a week. The former can calm your bodys stress response several times in a week, while the latter may calm your body into a deeper state of relaxation, but it will only reverse your stress response once. In addition, you are more likely to stick with a regular meditation practice if you can start with short, daily sessions than if you feel you need to find time for longer sessions in order to practice. It is more likely that this self-imposed pressure will lead to you not finding time for it, then losing the motivation to try.Regular practice matters more than perfect practice. This means that, rather than concerning yourself too much about what position to sit in, what technique to try when you sit, how long to sit, or what time of day, you should just sit and meditate. The rest will fall into place if you just begin, but if you fee l the need to work these details out before you can start, you may find it more challenging to get started at all. There really is no wrong way to meditate anyway; any meditation is better than none.If you notice your mind wandering, thats good. Meditation can be challenging for some people, particularly perfectionists. We sometimes fall into the trap of wanting to do it right and becoming frustrated with ourselves when our mind drifts off. The thing to remember is that if you notice this happening, thats a good thingâ€"you noticed. Noticing and redirecting your thoughts back to the focus of your meditation (your breath, the present moment, or whatever you are choosing as your focus) is the real point of meditation. Its virtually impossible to prevent your mind from wandering anyway.Even long-time meditation practitioners find it challenging. This may come as a surprise, but even those who have been meditating for years can find it hard to stay present. This is perfectly normal for anyone. Its all part of meditation, so dont let it discourage you. How to Label Your Thoughts for Inner Peace Get Started With Meditation There are many forms of meditation that bring these fantastic benefits. Some may feel more comfortable for you to practice than others, so its a great idea to try a sampling of them and repeat the techniques that seem to fit best for you. If you practice meditation while you are not in the midst of a stressful situation, you will find it easier to use it as a calming technique when you need it. Even if you plan to use it only as needed and not as a daily exercise, it is a good idea to practice meditation when you arent feeling particularly stressed first, rather than trying it for the first time when youre feeling overwhelmedâ€"unless, of course, you cant find a time when you dont feel this way. The most important thing to remember is to practice meditation for a few minutes per day and to try to sit for at least five minutes each session. If you dont know where to start, you may simply focus on listening to your breathing for five minutes. To do this, relax your body, sit comfortably, and notice your breath. If you find yourself thinking of other things, simply redirect your attention back to your breath. Another simple strategy is to count your breaths. When you inhale, count one in your head, and then count two as you exhale. Keep going as you breathe and start over at one if you notice youve become distracted by other thoughts. (Some people will find this easier to practice than the simple breathing meditation, and others will find it more challenging. Remember, your best meditation techniques are the ones that resonate with you.) May you find the relief you seek. Simple Meditations to Relieve Stress

Violent Nature Of Flannery OConnorrs Novel - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1421 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/05/31 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay Did you like this example? A Good Man is Hard to Find dramatizes what happens when an escaped convict, and his companions murder an entire family as a result of a thousand mistakes of an antiquated and prejudicial Grandmother. The author establishes the Grandmother as a nervous and confused character who often wonders why tradition and the old way of life could not have been preserved. Extremely selfish and vain, the Grandmother also demonstrates obvious class and racial prejudice both through her actions and words, yet an entire lifetime of prejudicial perceptions and attitudes is erased by the end of the narrative when she comes to the realization that she is, indeed, helpless in the face of violence. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Violent Nature Of Flannery OConnorrs Novel" essay for you Create order Moreover, the discriminatory views that she has towards inferiorities directly relate to the shocking behavior of the Misfit. What is so fascinating about this short story is that OFlannery wrote during a time in which the violence and general nastiness of her characters were often not admired coming from a ?lady writer (Flaig). The theme of violence serves the purpose of violence is to, finally, make the Grandmother see just how hateful her bias towards others really is, as it is only when her entire family is murdered that she can create any meaningful connection with another person and accept the grace of God. As such, it is through violence that the Grandmother ironically experiences a rebirth as she realizes that it is the very bigotry she conveyed throughout her life that incites the Misfits to murder her family. The violence is, thus, used to critique society and is base for the redemption that the Grandmother experiences by the end of the short story, as it hints how Christia nity profoundly influenced OConnorrs writings. The short storyrs false and extremely unrealistic plot figure in the authorrs ability to mock society and develop the themes of redemption and forgiveness achieved through the encounter of violence. A family comprised of a husband and a wife, their two children, and a grandmother, who also sneaks her cat into a basket, all embark on a road trip to Florida even though the grandmother makes loud efforts to change the road trip to Tennessee rather than to Florida. She also tells her family about the Misfit, a serial killer who she claims is on the loose in Georgia, which means that they will be traveling right into his path of violence. Upon stopping at a barbecue joint that Red Sammy owns, Red Sammy discusses how two men had previously stolen some gas from him for their Chrysler, asserting that a good man is hard to find (OConnor). The Grandmother feels jubilant and takes pleasure in another person feeling mournful about the present, and expanding nostalgia about the past. While the family continues their road trip, the Grandmother convinces both the son and the father to go down a side of the road since she is convinced that there is an old plantation there that possibly has a treasure, an idea that the kids are attracted by. After unsuccessfully searching for the plantation, the grandmother suddenly remembers that the plantation she is thinking about is not even in Georgia but rather is located in Tennessee, which causes her to startle the cat in the basket, which in turn causes a car wreck. After the family climbs out of the car, injured, dazed, and confused, only to see another car carrying the Misfit and his cronies; although everything is initially okay, the criminals ultimately murder the family after the grandmother claims that she recognizes them. Ultimately, everyone but the cat is murdered by Misfit and his partners. The entire plot presents a sarcastic view into American society during the period of time in which the short story was written, and it was through the grandmotherrs discussion with the Misfit about her life that she actually evolves as a person and moves towards redemption. The Grandmother character undergoes a profound character transformation in the face of violence, which is why her character deserves a closer examination to better understand how violence brought about her rebirth after a lifetime of prejudice and strict devotion to an old way of life. She constantly expresses her frustrations with the world in which she lives, and her words, combined with her inability to articulate her perceptions and feelings, portray her quite despisable to the reader. As Claire Katz states, words themselves, when they are tools of intellect and not magical incantations, are presented as worse than meaningless, a preparation for actions never taken, a symbol of naivete if not cowardice (Katz 66). Indeed, the grandmother demonstrates this attribute, as she provides a never-ending commentary of the weather and the scenery as the family drives to Florida. None of her other family members care about the information that she gives, as the two children are preo ccupied with their comics while the wife dozes off (OConnor 650). More significantly, the Grandmother attributes morality in what people from her generation would do, thereby believing her nostalgic opinions are more important and supreme over those of her family (650). The entire story presented demonstrates the Grandmotherrs racism and classism that indirectly frames her as a whiner who deserves no pity or mercy. Yet, in the face of violence, the Grandmother undergoes a profound transformation that conveys a message about the power of forgiveness and salvation in the face of violence. Critics have described A Good Man is Hard to Find as a sarcastic and brutal representation of the murder of an entire family that embodies the Christian realism that influenced many writings of Southern authors. In her book entitled Writing Against God: Language as Message in the Literature of Flannery OConnor, Joanne Halleran McMullen asserted that the main characters in the short story†the grandmother and the serial killer†are unnamed and are referred to by what they are rather than who. McMullen writes: [The Misfit] has no Christian name; it is his depravity that has become specifically ?incarnate in OConnorrs world (McMullen 20). It is only at the end when the Christian belief of grace manifests in the final scenes of the short story that the Grandmother attempts to touch the Misfit, but he flinches in the same way a person would if they were bitten by a snake. McMullen points out that this action alludes to a biblical symbol that is contradictory to grace. OC onnor herself described the Misfit in a lecture that she delivered as being a prophet gone wrong who would have transformed into an actual prophet had he accepted the touch of the grandmother. However, it is hard to catch sight of this in the story the way it is written, since there is very little context for such interpretation. Nonetheless, as McMullen notes, the characters in this short story appear only as humans who have personalities that deserve the readerrs or even the authorrs consideration, sympathy, or even dislike. Carol Kaplan states that at the moment of death [the grandmother] truly embraces the Christian mystery in her triumph. Although, in Christian terms, such a moment is always a gift, it is one for which the recipient has prepared throughout her life (Kaplan). In the face of violence, it is the maternal compassion that the Grandmother possesses that ultimately leads to her moment of revelation in which she realizes that she is part of the reason the Misfit has turned into a murderous psychopath (Kaplan). The mixture of Christian symbols and themes further contribute to the idea that violence†like the ever-present violence in the Old and New Testaments before humanity became redeemed, and Christ was redeemed†marks a rebirth. It took the Grandmother being directly confronted by v iolence and the thought of her death before her stubborn ways changed, and she found grace. The violent nature of Flannery OConnorrs A Good Man is Hard to Find, is enhanced as a serial killer, nicknamed the Misfit, who lacks any emotion, murders an entire family. Despite the bizarre and seemingly unrealistic plot, it becomes clear that the author uses violence, gore, and shock to critique society through her examination of the theme of redemption by exposing the readerrs own bias to and cravings for violence. While it may seem contradictory to include so much violence in a story about redemption and salvation, the Christian religion itself helps makes sense of OConnorrs approach to the short story, as violence forms the foundation of Christianity as perceived in the crucifixion of Christ. With violence and sacrifice comes redemption even though the Grandmother is ultimately murdered as well.

Essay on Michelangelo The Gates of Paradise - 1737 Words

Michelangelo, renowned Renaissance painter and sculptor, called the doors â€Å"The Gates of Paradise,† a golden gateway leading into the Heavens. The name stuck, but more so because of the significance of the doors’ location at The Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, Italy, where during the Middle Ages, converts came yearly at the parade dedicated to St. John the Baptist, to be anointed and earn paradise; hence, the â€Å"paradise† in The Gates of Paradise (â€Å"Baptistery of San Giovanni†). Before naming the work of art though, it had to have first been built. Commissioned to goldsmith Lorenzo Ghiberti in 1425 by the Arte di Calimala, a guild of wool merchants in Florence, the golden-bronze doors took twenty-seven years to construct and were†¦show more content†¦The revival of antiquity allowed Greek and Roman influences to appear in Renaissance art as references to the ancient civilizations’ mythology or the reappearance of their ar chitecture. Other characteristics of Renaissance art include humanism and realism. Humanism in art meant the depiction of more human-centered worlds or subjects, and the idea of human individuality (often expressed through portraitures or a broader exploration of the arts). Realism, otherwise known as naturalism, meant a new emphasis on the imitation of reality and the use of mathematical concepts, like the laws of perspective, to achieve that goal. Considering that Lorenzo Ghiberti’s The Gates of Paradise includes all three characteristics of Renaissance art: Greek and Roman antiquity, humanism, and realism, one can further deduce that The Gates of Paradise is a prime example of the prevailing art style of the Renaissance. Greek and Roman influences are often seen in Renaissance art due to the resurrection of the classics during that time period; Ghiberti, being an artist from the Renaissance, followed the renewed interest in classical antiquity and included several aspects of the ancient civilizations’ culture in The Gates of Paradise. Content-wise, there are several references to the classics. Among the many busts and statues surrounding the ten gilded panels, some are recognizedShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Lorenzo Ghibertis Genesis From TheGates Of Paradise942 Words   |  4 Pages In Lorenzo Ghiberti’s â€Å"Genesis from the ‘Gates of Paradise’† (c.1435)(fig.1), Giacomo Balla’s â€Å"Swifts: Paths of Movement and Dynamic Sequences† (c.1913) (fig.2) and Alexander Calder’s â€Å"Untitled† (c.1972)(fig.3) there is a theme of movement or more specifically flight. Each artwork portrays flight, however each has their own interpretation, use of medium, and innovation of their time period. Flight is a very broad term that can be defined in various ways. In the piece Swifts: Paths of MovementRead MoreAlthough Eichendorff’s story displays religious elements, the pious facets take on a different form1600 Words   |  7 Pagesfriend Angelo reveals this by exclaiming, â€Å"Why you have sinned against god and thrown away his divine gift, wasted your wonderful talent!† The young artist commits another deadly sin separate from Florio and that is envy. He dreams of the life Michelangelo and Raphael live with their masterpieces and recognition. The discontent he feels towards the talent of the famous artists causes him to continuously break down his clay moldings as he is always unsatisfied. On the other hand, Florio’s lack ofRead MoreArt of the Italian Renaissance 1394 Words   |  6 Pagesof the reasons Ghiberti won; he recreated a turbulent biblical scene with grace. When Lorenzo Ghiberti had won the contest and finished the east doors, Michelangelo stated his doors were â€Å"so beautiful that they would do well for the gates of Paradise.† (Kleiner, 566) Ever since then, these magnificent doors have been titled The Gates of Paradise (21-9). Another famous artist from this period is Donatello, one who specialized in sculpture and sculpture relief. Some of his works shown in thisRead MoreRenaissance Artists: Lorenzo Ghiberti795 Words   |  4 Pagesinfluenced by the 11th century Arab polymath Alhazen, whose Book of Optics, about the optical basis of perspective. Ghiberti incorporated these techniques into the baptistery next set of bronze doors, considered his greatest work. Dubbed the â€Å"Gates of Paradise† by Michelangelo, each door portrays five scenes from the Old Testament. In the individual panels, Ghiberti used a painter’s point of view to heighten the illusion of depth. He also extended that illusion by having the figures closer to the viewer extendRead MoreAncient Greek And Roman Art1711 Words   |  7 Pagesbrought joy and accomplishment to the community. The doors were considered masterpieces and a great success and because of this he was commissioned to design another set of doors for the church. Michelangelo named these doors â€Å"The Gates of Paradise†. After Ghiberti’s great success with the Gates of Paradise, he went on to become one of the most important early Renaissance sculptor. There was something about renovating ancient art that gave Ghiberti a sense of pride and desire to continue. He wentRead MoreArt And Its Impact On Art Essay1023 Words   |  5 Pagesof art began, also known as Baroque art. Artworks from this time included landscapes, still life, and theatre. These artworks also showed images of faith. Several artists lived during the time of the Renaissance, including Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Donatello. Donatello was an Italian sculptor born in the city of Florence, Italy in 1386. He was the son of a craftsman, and received his education from the home of a family of wealthy Florence bankers, the Martellis. ThereRead MoreThe Life and Works of Michelangelo2455 Words   |  10 PagesLa vita di Michelangelo Michelangelo, one of the greatest artist of all time, he is a man whose the word virtuoso is imprinted in his name itself. Michelangelo began his artistic career being apprenticed to a great master of the arts. His master, who taught him the art techniques, was Domenico Girlandaio. After watching the talented young apprentice, Girlandaio sent him to the city of Florence, to learn from Lorenzo de Medici. School of Lorenzo de Medici, Michelangelo remained for two years (1490-1492)Read MoreA Study On Getting Started Essay2422 Words   |  10 Pagesthemes used in the art—biblical stories. Biblical stories have been used in a wide array of art since the Roman ages, and artists continued to use them throughout the renaissance. They can be seen in pieces like â€Å"David†, â€Å"The Annunciation†, â€Å"Gates of Paradise†, and â€Å"The Tribute Money†. These pieces, while revolutionary in so many other ways, were still a product of what humans used to pu t their faith in. A fine example of this would be Fra Angelico. Known as a brother of the church, Fra Angelico wasRead MoreLate Medieval Italy ( 13th And 13th Centuries )1868 Words   |  8 Pagesthe very first artist to come upon these ideals but he has given this mantle by Giorgio Vasari in his book written in 1550 titled â€Å" The Lives of the artists†. Vasari was contemporary to many famous Renaissance artists that we know about including Michelangelo. Giotto’s Early work is seen in the freshness of the upper church of San Francisco in Assisi. It is possible that he worked on the upper church with his teacher Cimabue. Giotto took the expertise of his teacher and refined it into more naturalisticRead MorePurgatorio Essay4430 Words   |  18 Pagesthat misunderstanding. Shakespeare, of course, shared with his fellow Elizabethans a characteristic misunderstanding of, and hostility toward, things uniquely Popish.) Rather, everyone who enters Purgatory eventually gets into Heaven; therefore, the Gate of Heaven is found not in Paradiso, but in Purgatorio, canto 9. All people are sinners deserving damnation, unless they achieve reconciliation, generally through the sacrament of penance or confession. The Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 had insisted

The Twilight Saga 2 New Moon Chapter 6 FRIENDS Free Essays

THE MOTORCYCLES DIDN’T NEED TO BE HIDDEN ANY further than simply placing them in Jacob’s shed. Billy’s wheelchair couldn’t maneuver the uneven ground separating it from the house. Jacob started pulling the first bikethe red one, which was destined for meto pieces immediately. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 6 FRIENDS or any similar topic only for you Order Now He opened up the passenger door of the Rabbit so I could sit on the seat instead of the ground. While he worked, Jacob chattered happily, needing only the lightest of nudges from me to keep the conversation rolling. He updated me on the progress of his sophomore year of school, running on about his classes and his two best friends. â€Å"Quil and Embry?† I interrupted. â€Å"Those are unusual names.† Jacob chuckled. â€Å"Quil’s is a hand-me-down, and I think Embry got named after a soap opera star. I can’t say anything, though. They fight dirty if you start on their namesthey’ll tag team you.† â€Å"Good friends.† I raised one eyebrow. â€Å"No, they are. Just don’t mess with their names.† Just then a call echoed in the distance. â€Å"Jacob?† someone shouted. â€Å"Is that Billy?† I asked. â€Å"No.† Jacob ducked his head, and it looked like he was blushing under his brown skin. â€Å"Speak of the devil,† he mumbled, â€Å"and the devil shall appear.† â€Å"Jake? Are you out here?† The shouting voice was closer now. â€Å"Yeah!† Jacob shouted back, and sighed. We waited through the short silence until two tall, dark-skinned boys strolled around the corner into the shed. One was slender, and almost as tall as Jacob. His black hair was chin-length and parted down the middle, one side tucked behind his left ear while the right side swung free. The shorter boy was more burly. His white T-shirt strained over his well-developed chest, and he seemed gleefully conscious of that fact. His hair was so short it was almost a buzz. Both boys stopped short when they saw me. The thin boy glanced swiftly back and forth between Jacob and me, while the brawny boy kept his eyes on me, a slow smile spreading across his face. â€Å"Hey, guys,† Jacob greeted them halfheartedly. â€Å"Hey, Jake,† the short one said without looking away from me. I had to smile in response, his grin was so impish. When I did, he winked at me. â€Å"Hi, there.† â€Å"Quil, Embrythis is my friend, Bella.† Quil and Embry, I still didn’t know which was which, exchanged a loaded look. â€Å"Charlie’s kid, right?† the brawny boy asked me, holding out his hand. â€Å"That’s right,† I confirmed, shaking hands with him. His grasp was firm; it looked like he was flexing his bicep. â€Å"I’m Quil Ateara,† he announced grandly before releasing my hand. â€Å"Nice to meet you, Quil.† â€Å"Hey, Bella. I’m Embry, Embry Callyou probably already figured that out, though.† Embry smiled a shy smile and waved with one hand, which he then shoved in the pocket of his jeans. I nodded. â€Å"Nice to meet you, too.† â€Å"So what are you guys doing?† Quil asked, still looking at me. â€Å"Bella and I are going to fix up these bikes,† Jacob explained inaccurately. But bikes seemed to be the magic word. Both boys went to examine Jacob’s project, drilling him with educated questions. Many of the words they used were unfamiliar to me, and I figured I’d have to have a Y chromosome to really understand the excitement. They were still immersed in talk of parts and pieces when I decided that I needed to head back home before Charlie showed up here. With a sigh, I slid out of the Rabbit. Jacob looked up, apologetic. â€Å"We’re boring you, aren’t we?† â€Å"Naw.† And it wasn’t a lie. I was enjoying myselfhow strange. â€Å"I just have to go cook dinner for Charlie.† â€Å"Oh well, I’ll finish taking these apart tonight and figure out what more we’ll need to get started rebuilding them. When do you want to work on them again?† â€Å"Could I come back tomorrow?† Sundays were the bane of my existence. There was never enough homework to keep me busy. Quil nudged Embry’s arm and they exchanged grins. Jacob smiled in delight. â€Å"That would be great!† â€Å"If you make a list, we can go shop for parts,† I suggested. Jacob’s face fell a little. â€Å"I’m still not sure I should let you pay for everything.† I shook my head. â€Å"No way. I’m bankrolling this party. You just have to supply the labor and expertise.† Embry rolled his eyes at Quil. â€Å"That doesn’t seem right,† Jacob shook his head. â€Å"Jake, if I took these to a mechanic, how much would he charge me?† I pointed out. He smiled. â€Å"Okay, you’re getting a deal.† â€Å"Not to mention the riding lessons,† I added. Quil grinned widely at Embry and whispered something I didn’t catch. Jacob’s hand flashed out to smack the back of Quil’s head. â€Å"That’s it, get out,† he muttered. â€Å"No, really, I have to go,† I protested, heading for the door. â€Å"I’ll see you tomorrow, Jacob.† As soon as I was out of sight, I heard Quil and Embry chorus, â€Å"Wooooo!† The sound of a brief scuffle followed, interspersed with an â€Å"ouch† and a â€Å"hey!† â€Å"If either of you set so much as one toe on my land tomorrow† I heard Jacob threaten. His voice was lost as I walked through the trees. I giggled quietly. The sound made my eyes widen in wonder. I was laughing, actually laughing, and there wasn’t even anyone watching. I felt so weightless that I laughed again, just make the feeling last longer. I beat Charlie home. When he walked in I was just taking the fried chicken out of the pan and laying it on a pile of paper towels. â€Å"Hey, Dad.† I flashed him a grin. Shock flitted across his face before he pulled his expression together. â€Å"Hey, honey,† he said, his voice uncertain. â€Å"Did you have fun with Jacob?† I started moving the food to the table. â€Å"Yeah, I did.† â€Å"Well, that’s good.† He was still cautious. â€Å"What did you two do?† Now it was my turn to be cautious. â€Å"I hung out in his garage and watched him work. Did you know he’s rebuilding a Volkswagen?† â€Å"Yeah, I think Billy mentioned that.† The interrogation had to stop when Charlie began chewing, but he continued to study my face as he ate. After dinner, I dithered around, cleaning the kitchen twice, and then did my homework slowly in the front room while Charlie watched a hockey game. I waited as long as I could, but finally Charlie mentioned the late hour. When I didn’t respond, he got up, stretched, and then left, turning out the light behind him. Reluctantly, I followed. As I climbed the stairs, I felt the last of the afternoon’s abnormal sense of well-being drain from my system, replaced by a dull fear at the thought of what I was going to have to live through now. I wasn’t numb anymore. Tonight would, no doubt, be as horrific as last night. I lay down on my bed and curled into a ball in preparation for the onslaught. I squeezed my eyes shut and the next thing I next I knew, it was morning. I stared at the pale silver light coming through my window, stunned. For the first time in more than four months, I’d slept without dreaming. Dreaming or screaming. I couldn’t tell which emotion was strongerthe relief or the shock. I lay still in my bed for a few minutes, waiting for it to come back. Because something must be coming. If not the pain, then the numbness. I waited, but nothing happened. I felt more rested than I had in a long time. I didn’t trust this to last. It was a slippery, precarious edge that I balanced on, and it wouldn’t take much to knock me back down. Just glancing around my room with these suddenly clear eyesnoticing how strange it looked, too tidy, like I didn’t live here at allwas dangerous. I pushed that thought from my mind, and concentrated, as I got dressed, on the fact that I was going to see Jacob again today. The thought made me feel almost hopeful. Maybe it would be the same as yesterday. Maybe I wouldn’t have to remind myself to look interested and to nod or smile at appropriate intervals, the way I had to with everyone else. Maybe but I wouldn’t trust this to last, either. Wouldn’t trust it to be the sameso easyas yesterday. I wasn’t going to set myself up for disappointment like that. At breakfast, Charlie was being careful, too. He tried to hide his scrutiny, keeping his eyes on his eggs until he thought I wasn’t looking. â€Å"What are you up to today?† he asked, eyeing a loose thread on the edge of his cuff like he wasn’t paying much attention to my answer. â€Å"I’m going to hang out with Jacob again.† He nodded without looking up. â€Å"Oh,† he said. â€Å"Do you mind?† I pretended to worry. â€Å"I could stay† He glanced up quickly, a hint of panic in his eyes. â€Å"No, no! You go ahead. Harry was going to come up to watch the game with me anyway.† â€Å"Maybe Harry could give Billy a ride up,† I suggested. The fewer witnesses the better. â€Å"That’s a great idea.† I wasn’t sure if the game was just an excuse for kicking me out, but he looked excited enough now. He headed to the phone while I donned my rain jacket. I felt self-conscious with the checkbook shoved in my jacket pocket. It was something I never used. Outside, the rain came down like water slopped from a bucket. I had to drive more slowly than I wanted to; I could hardly see a car length in front of the truck. But I finally made it through the muddy lanes to Jacob’s house. Before I’d killed the engine, the front door opened and Jacob came running out with a huge black umbrella. He held it over my door while I opened it. â€Å"Charlie calledsaid you were on your way,† Jacob explained with a grin. Effortlessly, without a conscious command to the muscles around my lips, my answering smile spread across my face. A strange feeling of warmth bubbled up in my throat, despite the icy rain splattering on my cheeks. â€Å"Hi, Jacob.† â€Å"Good call on inviting Billy up.† He held up his hand for a high five. I had to reach so high to slap his hand that he laughed. Harry showed up to get Billy just a few minutes later. Jacob took me on a brief tour of his tiny room while we waited to be unsupervised. â€Å"So where to, Mr. Goodwrench?† I asked as soon as the door closed behind Billy. Jacob pulled a folded paper out of his pocket and smoothed it out. â€Å"We’ll start at the dump first, see if we can get lucky. This could get a little expensive,† he warned me. â€Å"Those bikes are going to need a lot of help before they’ll run again.† My face didn’t look worried enough, so he continued. â€Å"I’m talking about maybe more than a hundred dollars here.† I pulled my checkbook out, fanned myself with it, and rolled my eyes at his worries. â€Å"We’re covered.† It was a very strange kind of day. I enjoyed myself. Even at the dump, in the slopping rain and ankle-deep mud. I wondered at first if it was just the aftershock of losing the numbness, but I didn’t think that was enough of an explanation. I was beginning to think it was mostly Jacob. It wasn’t just that he was always so happy to see me, or that he didn’t watch me out of the corner of his eye, waiting for me to do something that would mark me as crazy or depressed. It was nothing that related to me at all. It was Jacob himself. Jacob was simply a perpetually happy person, and he carried that happiness with him like an aura, sharing it with whoever was near him. Like an earthbound sun, whenever someone was within his gravitational pull, Jacob warmed them. It was natural, a part of who he was. No wonder I was so eager to see him. Even when he commented on the gaping hole in my dashboard, it didn’t send me into a panic like it should have. â€Å"Did the stereo break?† he wondered. â€Å"Yeah,† I lied. He poked around in the cavity. â€Å"Who took it out? There’s a lot of damage† â€Å"I did,† I admitted. He laughed. â€Å"Maybe you shouldn’t touch the motorcycles too much.† â€Å"No problem.† According to Jacob, we did get lucky at the dump. He was very excited about several grease-blackened pieces of twisted metal that he found; I was just impressed that he could tell what they were supposed to be. From there we went to the Checker Auto Parts down in Hoquiam. In my truck, it was more than a two hour drive south on the winding freeway, but the time passed easily with Jacob. He chattered about his friends and his school, and I found myself asking questions, not even pretending, truly curious to hear what he had to say. â€Å"I’m doing all the talking,† he complained after a long story about Quil and the trouble he’d stirred up by asking out a senior’s steady girlfriend. â€Å"Why don’t you take a turn? What’s going on in Forks? It has to be more exciting than La Push.† â€Å"Wrong,† I sighed. â€Å"There’s really nothing. Your friends are a lot more interesting than mine. I like your friends. Quil’s funny.† He frowned. â€Å"I think Quil likes you, too.† I laughed. â€Å"He’s a little young for me.† Jacob’s frown deepened. â€Å"He’s not that much younger than you. It’s just a year and a few months.† I had a feeling we weren’t talking about Quil anymore. I kept my voice light, teasing. â€Å"Sure, but, considering the difference in maturity between guys and girls, don’t you have to count that in dog years? What does that make me, about twelve years older?† He laughed, rolling his eyes. â€Å"Okay, but if you’re going to get picky like that, you have to average in size, too. You’re so small, I’ll have to knock ten years off your total.† â€Å"Five foot four is perfectly average.† I sniffed. â€Å"It’s not my fault you’re a freak.† We bantered like that till Hoquiam, still arguing over the correct formula to determine ageI lost two more years because I didn’t know how to change a tire, but gained one back for being in charge of the bookkeeping at my houseuntil we were in Checker, and Jacob had to concentrate again. We found everything left on his list, and Jacob felt confident that he could make a lot of progress with our haul. By the time we got back to La Push, I was twenty-three and he was thirtyhe was definitely weighting skills in his favor. I hadn’t forgotten the reason for what I was doing. And, even though I was enjoying myself more than I’d thought possible, there was no lessening of my original desire. I still wanted to cheat. It was senseless, and I really didn’t care. I was going to be as reckless as I could possibly manage in Forks. I would not be the only keeper of an empty contract. Getting to spend time with Jacob was just a much bigger perk than I’d expected. Billy wasn’t back yet, so we didn’t have to be sneaky about unloading our day’s spoils. As soon as we had everything laid out on the plastic floor next to Jacob’s toolbox, he went right to work, still talking and laughing while his fingers combed expertly through the metal pieces in front of him. Jacob’s skill with his hands was fascinating. They looked too big for the delicate tasks they performed with ease and precision. While he worked, he seemed almost graceful. Unlike when he was on his feet; there, his height and big feet made him nearly as dangerous as I was. Quil and Embry did not show up, so maybe his threat yesterday had been taken seriously. The day passed too quickly. It got dark outside the mouth of the garage before I was expecting it, and then we heard Billy calling for us. I jumped up to help Jacob put things away, hesitating because I wasn’t sure what I should touch. â€Å"Just leave it,† he said. â€Å"I’ll work on it later tonight.† â€Å"Don’t forget your schoolwork or anything,† I said, feeling a little guilty. I didn’t want him to get in trouble. That plan was just for me. â€Å"Bella?† Both our heads snapped up as Charlie’s familiar voice wafted through the trees, sounding closer than the house. â€Å"Shoot,† I muttered. â€Å"Coming!† I yelled toward the house. â€Å"Let’s go.† Jacob smiled, enjoying the cloak-and-dagger. He snapped the light off, and for a moment I was blind. Jacob grabbed my hand and towed me out of the garage and through the trees, his feet finding the familiar path easily. His hand was rough, and very warm. Despite the path, we were both tripping over our feet in the darkness. So we were also both laughing when the house came into view. The laughter did not go deep; it was light and superficial, but still nice. I was sure he wouldn’t notice the faint hint of hysteria. I wasn’t used to laughing, and it felt right and also very wrong at the same time. Charlie was standing under the little back porch, and Billy was sitting in the doorway behind them. â€Å"Hey, Dad,† we both said at the same time, and that started us laughing again. Charlie stared at me with wide eyes that flashed down to note Jacob’s hand around mine. â€Å"Billy invited us for dinner,† Charlie said to us in an absentminded tone. â€Å"My super secret recipe for spaghetti. Handed down for generations,† Billy said gravely. Jacob snorted. â€Å"I don’t think Ragu’s actually been around that long.† The house was crowded. Harry Clearwater was there, too, with his familyhis wife, Sue, whom I knew vaguely from my childhood summers in Forks, and his two children. Leah was a senior like me, but a year older. She was beautiful in an exotic wayperfect copper skin, glistening black hair, eyelashes like feather dustersand preoccupied. She was on Billy’s phone when we got in, and she never let it go. Seth was fourteen; he hung on Jacob’s every word with idolizing eyes. There were too many of us for the kitchen table, so Charlie and Harry brought chairs out to the yard, and we ate spaghetti off plates on our laps in the dim light from Billy’s open door. The men talked about the game, and Harry and Charlie made fishing plans. Sue teased her husband about his cholesterol and tried, unsuccessfully, to shame him into eating something green and leafy. Jacob talked mostly to me and Seth, who interrupted eagerly whenever Jacob seemed in danger of forgetting him. Charlie watched me, trying to be inconspicuous about it, with pleased but cautious eyes. It was loud and sometimes confusing as everyone talked over everyone else, and the laughter from one joke interrupted the telling of another. I didn’t have to speak often, but I smiled a lot, and only because I felt like it. I didn’t want to leave. This was Washington, though, and the inevitable rain eventually broke up the party; Billy’s living room was much too small to provide an option for continuing the get-together. Harry had driven Charlie down, so we rode together in my truck on the way back home. He asked about my day, and I told mostly the truththat I’d gone with Jacob to look at parts and then watched him work in his garage. â€Å"You think you’ll visit again anytime soon?† he wondered, trying to be casual about it. â€Å"Tomorrow after school,† I admitted. â€Å"I’ll take homework, don’t worry.† â€Å"You be sure to do that,† he ordered, trying to disguise his satisfaction. I was nervous when we got to the house. I didn’t want to go upstairs. The warmth of Jacob’s presence was fading and, in its absence, the anxiety grew stronger. I was sure I wouldn’t get away with two peaceful nights of sleep in a row. To put bedtime off, I checked my e-mail; there was a new message from Renee. She wrote about her day, a new book club that rilled the time slot of the meditation classes she’d just quit, her week subbing in the second grade, missing her kindergarteners. She wrote that Phil was enjoying his new coaching job, and that they were planning a second honeymoon trip to Disney World. And I noticed that the whole thing read like a journal entry, rather than a letter to someone else. Remorse flooded through me, leaving an uncomfortable sting behind. Some daughter I was. I wrote back to her quickly, commenting on each part of her letter, volunteering information of my owndescribing the spaghetti party at Billy’s and how I felt watching Jacob build useful things out of small pieces of metalawed and slightly envious. I made no reference to the change this letter would be from the ones she’d received in the last several months. I could barely remember what I’d written to her even as recently as last week, but I was sure it wasn’t very responsive. The more I thought about it, the guiltier I felt; I really must have worried her. I stayed up extra late after that, finishing more homework than strictly necessary. But neither sleep deprivation nor the time spent with Jacobbeing almost happy in a shallow kind of waycould keep the dream away for two nights in a row. I woke shuddering, my scream muffled by the pillow. As the dim morning light filtered through the fog outside my window, I lay still in bed and tried to shake off the dream. There had been a small difference last night, and I concentrated on that. Last night I had not been alone in the woods. Sam Uleythe man who had pulled me from the forest floor that night I couldn’t bear to think of consciouslywas there. It was an odd, unexpected alteration. The man’s dark eyes had been surprisingly unfriendly, filled with some secret he didn’t seem inclined to share. I’d stared at him as often as my frantic searching had allowed; it made me uncomfortable, under all the usual panic, to have him there. Maybe that was because, when I didn’t look directly at him, his shape seemed to shiver and change in my peripheral vision. Yet he did nothing but stand and watch. Unlike the time when we had met in reality, he did not offer me his help. Charlie stared at me during breakfast, and I tried to ignore him. I supposed I deserved it. I couldn’t expect him not to worry. It would probably be weeks before he stopped watching for the return of the zombie, and I would just have to try to not let it bother me. After all, I would be watching for the return of the zombie, too. Two days was hardly long enough to call me cured. School was the opposite. Now that I was paying attention, it was clear that no one was watching here. I remembered the first day I’d come to Forks High Schoolhow desperately I’d wished that I could turn gray, fade into the wet concrete of the sidewalk like an oversized chameleon. It seemed I was getting that wish answered, a year late. It was like I wasn’t there. Even my teachers’ eyes slid past my seat as if it were empty. I listened all through the morning, hearing once again the voices of the people around me. I tried to catch up on what was going on, but the conversations were so disjointed that I gave up. Jessica didn’t look up when I sat down next to her in Calculus. â€Å"Hey, Jess,† I said with put-on nonchalance. â€Å"How was the rest of your weekend?† She looked at me with suspicious eyes. Could she still be angry? Or was she just too impatient to deal with a crazy person? â€Å"Super,† she said, turning back to her book. â€Å"That’s good,† I mumbled. The figure of speech cold shoulder seemed to have some literal truth to it. I could feel the warm air blowing from the floor vents, but I was still too cold. I took the jacket off the back of my chair and put it on again. My fourth hour class got out late, and the lunch table I always sat at was full by the time I arrived. Mike was there, Jessica and Angela, Conner, Tyler, Eric and Lauren. Katie Marshall, the redheaded junior who lived around the corner from me, was sitting with Eric, and Austin Marksolder brother to the boy with the motorcycleswas next to her. I wondered how long they’d been sitting here, unable to remember if this was the first day or something that was a regular habit. I was beginning to get annoyed with myself. I might as well have been packed in Styrofoam peanuts through the last semester. No one looked up when I sat down next to Mike, even though the chair squealed stridently against the linoleum as I dragged it back. I tried to catch up with the conversation. Mike and Conner were talking sports, so I gave up on that one at once. â€Å"Where’s Ben today?† Lauren was asking Angela. I perked up, interested. I wondered if that meant Angela and Ben were still together. I barely recognized Lauren. She’d cut off all her blond, corn-silk hairnow she had a pixie cut so short that the back was shaved like a boy. What an odd thing for her to do. I wished I knew the reason behind it. Did she get gum stuck in it? Did she sell it? Had all the people she was habitually nasty to caught her behind the gym and scalped her? I decided it wasn’t fair for me to judge her now by my former opinion. For all I knew, she’d turned into a nice person. â€Å"Ben’s got the stomach flu,† Angela said in her quiet, calm voice. â€Å"Hopefully it’s just some twenty-four hour thing. He was really sick last night.† Angela had changed her hair, too. She’d grown out her layers. â€Å"What did you two do this weekend?† Jessica asked, not sounding as if she cared about the answer. I’d bet that this was just an opener so she could tell her own stories. I wondered if she would talk about Port Angeles with me sitting two seats away? Was I that invisible, that no one would feel uncomfortable discussing me while I was here? â€Å"We were going to have a picnic Saturday, actually, but we changed our minds,† Angela said. There was an edge to her voice that caught my interest. Jess, not so much. â€Å"That’s too bad,† she said, about to launch into her story. But I wasn’t the only one who was paying attention. â€Å"What happened?† Lauren asked curiously. â€Å"Well,† Angela said, seeming more hesitant than usual, though she was always reserved, â€Å"we drove up north, almost to the hot springsthere’s a good spot just about a mile up the trail. But, when we were halfway there we saw something.† â€Å"Saw something? What?† Lauren’s pale eyebrows pulled together. Even Jess seemed to be listening now. â€Å"I don’t know,† Angela said. â€Å"We think it was a bear. It was black, anyway, but it seemed too big.† Lauren snorted. â€Å"Oh, not you, too!† Her eyes turned mocking, and I decided I didn’t need to give her the benefit of the doubt. Obviously her personality had not changed as much as her hair. â€Å"Tyler tried to sell me that one last week.† â€Å"You’re not going to see any bears that close to the resort,† Jessica said, siding with Lauren. â€Å"Really,† Angela protested in a low voice, looking down at the table. â€Å"We did see it.† Lauren snickered. Mike was still talking to Conner, not paying attention to the girls. â€Å"No, she’s right,† I threw in impatiently. â€Å"We had a hiker in just Saturday who saw the bear, too, Angela. He said it was huge and black and just outside of town, didn’t he, Mike?† There was a moment of silence. Every pair of eyes at the table turned to stare at me in shock. The new girl, Katie, had her mouth hanging open like she’d just witnessed an explosion. Nobody moved. â€Å"Mike?† I muttered, mortified. â€Å"Remember the guy with the bear story?† â€Å"S-sure,† Mike stuttered after a second. I didn’t know why he was looking at me so strangely. I talked to him at work, didn’t I? Did I? I thought so Mike recovered. â€Å"Yeah, there was a guy who said he saw a huge black bear right at the trailheadbigger than a grizzly,† he confirmed. â€Å"Hmph.† Lauren turned to Jessica, her shoulders stiff, and changed the subject. â€Å"Did you hear back from USC?† she asked. Everyone else looked away, too, except for Mike and Angela. Angela smiled at me tentatively, and I hurried to return the smile. â€Å"So, what did you do this weekend, Bella?† Mike asked, curious, but oddly wary. Everyone but Lauren looked back, waiting for my response. â€Å"Friday night, Jessica and I went to a movie in Port Angeles. And then I spent Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday down at La Push.† The eyes flickered to Jessica and back to me. Jess looked irritated. I wondered if she didn’t want anyone to know she’d gone out with me, or whether she just wanted to be the one to tell the story. â€Å"What movie did you see?† Mike asked, starting to smile. â€Å"Dead Endthe one with the zombies.† I grinned in encouragement. Maybe some of the damage I’d done in these past zombie months was reparable. â€Å"I heard that was scary. Did you think so?† Mike was eager to continue the conversation. â€Å"Bella had to leave at the end, she was so freaked,† Jessica inserted with a sly smile. I nodded, trying to look embarrassed. â€Å"It was pretty scary.† Mike didn’t stop asking me questions till lunch was over. Gradually, the others were able to start up their own conversations again, though they still looked at me a lot. Angela talked mostly to Mike and me, and, when I got up to dump my tray, she followed. â€Å"Thanks,† she said in a low voice when we were away from the table. â€Å"For what?† â€Å"Speaking up, sticking up for me.† â€Å"No problem.† She looked at me with concern, but not the offensive, maybe-she’s-lost-it kind. â€Å"Are you okay?† This is why I’d picked Jessica over Angelathough I’d always liked Angela morefor the girls’ night movie. Angela was too perceptive. â€Å"Not completely,† I admitted. â€Å"But I’m a little bit better.† â€Å"I’m glad,† she said. â€Å"I’ve missed you.† Lauren and Jessica strolled by us then, and I heard Lauren whisper loudly, â€Å"Oh, joy Bella’s back.† Angela rolled her eyes at them, and smiled at me in encouragement. I sighed It was like I was starting all over again. â€Å"What’s today’s date?† I wondered suddenly. â€Å"It’s January nineteenth.† â€Å"Hmm.† â€Å"What is it?† Angela asked. â€Å"It was a year ago yesterday that I had my first day here,† I mused. â€Å"Nothing’s changed much,† Angela muttered, looking after Lauren and Jessica. â€Å"I know, I agreed I was just thinking the same thing.† How to cite The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 6 FRIENDS, Essay examples

Technology Helpful Or Hurtful Essays - Emerging Technologies

Technology: Helpful Or Hurtful? Technology; Helpful or Hurtful? Everyday we hear about the astounding technological advances discovered year after year. Thirty years ago, who would have thought that we would soon be able to communicate with a person half way around the world through a computer? The possibilities of technology are endless and beyond belief, but are these possibilities always beneficial in society, or are they causing more harm then help? Authors Pete Hamill, Grant Fjermedal and Roger Rosenblat take a look at certain forms of technology and the beneficial and detrimental aspects that have and will come from its advances. The family television is one of the oldest, most loved pastimes, and is thought to be one the greatest inventions. By the push of a button a person can leave their problematic life and live the perfect one of their favorite soap star, action hero or villain. In other words, with the push of a button a person is simply taken out of reality. Pete Hamill, the author of the article, Crack and the Box, dives further into the effects of the invention of the television and influence it has the generation raised with it. Hamill relates the drug epidemic of today with the increase of televisions believing they work on the same level. Like television, drugs take their user out of reality and into a different world. Hamill is a firm believer that televisions have had a dominant role in the great increase in current drug use. In 1955, when televisions were less than six times the number they are today, there were a mere 1,234 felony drug arrests; in 1988 that number rose to 43,901 (Hamill 374). That could coincidence of facts but according to Hamill our cherished television is to blame. TV is just one of the millions of pieces of technology. It is in no way as sophisticated as others, like the computer, yet it may be a prominent cause for one of the worlds largest problems, drug abuse. If something as old and simple as the television may have had such an impact, just imagine what harm will come from recent and even future forms of technology. Roger Rosenblatt, author of Who Killed Privacy, states, This is the age where everything is known, everything told (Rosenblatt 378). This observation could not have been said any better. In our day and age everybody has to know everything about everyone. Privacy is no longer existent; technology has taken all forms of it away from us. An Atlanta mail-order house offers a product called Listenaider, which amplifies nearby sounds and is designed to look like a Walkman (Rosenblatt 379). Avid movie watchers are quite familiar with what a voice changer is. To disguise your voice all you would need is one of these. Speak into a small device and you are instantly transformed into a man, woman or, as in the movies, a killer. For those nosey people who have to know every conversation on every home phone, a scanner is now available. What happened to privacy?!? As Rosenblatt states privacy was killed by the all too popular technology. How can any of this be beneficial to society? It is sad that a person cant have a phone conversation without worrying that somebody is listening in. It is frightening about what is out there and what can be done. It gets more and more complicated and sophisticated everyday. It is even more frightening about what the future holds. Grant Fjermedal, author of the essay Artificial Intelligence, looks into the future with technology and what we have to look forward to. Fjermedal gives a very vivid description of what our lives will be like in the future: You are in the operating room. A robot brain surgeon is in attendance. Your skull but not your brain is anesthetized. You are fully conscious. The surgeon opens your brain case and peers inside. Attention is directed to a clump of neurons. The surgeon determines the three-dimensional structure and chemical makeup of the neural clump. A program is written that models the behavior of the clump and starts running on the computer sitting next to you. That computer is your new brain (535-534). Fjermedal looks into the