Rediscovering the Link between Traditional and Modern Shamanism Research Paper

Rediscovering the Link between Traditional and Modern Shamanism - Research Paper Example Since the rituals of the shaman are very specific and distinctive it is difficult to identify which one deserves restoration. Shamanism is flexible and open, which allowed an interaction between, for instance, Buddhism and shamanism in Mongolia (Witzel 2011: 44). Hence it would nowadays be hard to identify whether the practices of a shaman in Mongolia are inspired by centuries-old Buddhist rituals or whether Buddhist practices are rooted in shamanic beliefs. This paper analyzes the changes that traditional shamanism went through in order to adapt to contemporary needs, and the impossibility of restoring the pure, original form of shamanism. Contemporary Shamanism The 20th-century shamans in Japan or Siberia embrace the belief that they are merely a rough version of past events. The shaman has evolved and thus has his/her advocates and their needs. Shamanism in post-Reformation Europe appears to thrive in its neo-shamanic form because people can create an interpretation of supernatura l occurrences which are difficult to understand or explain in the perspective of the Protestant church (Jakobsen 1999: 209). Likewise, as stated in the accounts of Laura Kendall, shamanism attracts mostly Korean housewives. Contemporary shamanism thus has gone through transformations which have matched it to the users’ needs and focuses on prophecy and the family. ... Coercion of individuals by several shamans is common in all shamanic cultures. A number of scholars, such as Hahm Pyong-choon, emphasize this point since shamanism is threatened by the exact causes of neo-shamanism’s success in the Western world. Apparently, the current threats to shamanism are major perils to its survival. Worldwide occurrences, especially industrialization, urbanization, modernization, technological and scientific progress, the powerful spread of Christianity, and westernization have all created serious threats (Meadows 2011: 105). As the heightening of individualism and disintegration of the family persist shamanism will undoubtedly be threatened further. The dissimilarity between neo-shamanism and contemporary Korean shamanism is that in the latter the bond to the deceased family members and their impact on the lives of the living is the emphasis. The core element is the family. In neo-shamanism the person focuses on those who need attention and it is thus better adapted to contemporary Western urban culture (Gallagher 2006: 82). In South America, certain healers still perform some of the healing methods of the earlier shamans but it is a quite special challenge that shamans have to face in an urban environment. Nowadays, healers act in response to immorality in urban areas, to issues of drug addiction, domestic violence, child abuse, family disintegration, and prostitution. The morality of the healer, his spiritual defenses and his capacity to change the spirit domain for the benefit of his audiences is similar to early Amazonian practices (Adlam & Holyoak 2005: 531). His healing practices definitely are different from those of the mainstream medical procedures offered, for a fee, in urban areas. The urban

The History of Cell Theory in the Last 200 Years Essay Example for Free

The History of Cell Theory in the Last 200 Years Essay The last two centuries present significant advancement in the study of cell development in biological science since the term was first coined by Robert Hooke in 1665. Although Hooke first observed the presence of cells in matters it was Jean Baptiste De Lamarck (1744 1829), a French scientist, who initiated early steps in recognizing the concept of the cell as a biological element in living things while carrying out extensive works in evolution and classifications in the animal kingdom. This is similar to the Rene Dutrochet’s pronouncement in 1824 that the structure of a living body’s fundamental elements is the cell, created through the process called juxtaposition or combination, producing both animals and plant forms. Several assumptions followed which serves as basis for the modern cell theory including Ludolph Christian Treviranus’s (1779-1864) proposition that a cell can be further separated into even smaller components by its intracellular space or individual units comprising the cell itself particularly in plants. Building on this concept, Robert Brown (1773-1858) published a paper naming one of these units â€Å"cell nucleus† in 1883. Although scientifically accepted as fact today, Brown together with Bauer, at that time, never thought the idea of cell nucleus to be universally present in all living things and limit the concept to monocotyledons (also called monocots), one of the major groups of angiosperms or flowering plants. Amidst the numerous assumptions and differing opinions of their times three names excel in the field of cell science: Theodor Schwann (1810-1882), Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804-1881) and Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902). Schwann discovered what is called Schwann cell or neurolemnocytes, glial cells supplying vitality to peripheral nerve fibers. Together with Schleiden they concluded that all living things are composed of cells and published their findings in a paper called Microscopic Investigations on the Accordance in the Structure and Growth of Plants and Animals. Almost their contemporary, Virchow further improved the idea into a wider and more scientific scale stating that cells come from cells of the same kind, refuting the theory of Spontaneous Generation. Virchow was also one of the very first scientists to apply existing cell theories together with findings he himself formulated in medicine that led to the discovery of leukemia cells and a deeper understanding of lung cancer and other deceases related to cell formation and their behavior. In 1855, Virchow states that cells replicate through the process called â€Å"cell division†. Together, Schwann, Schleiden and Virchow are the three considered to be the key figures and originator of the basis for the concepts of modern Cell Theory. Development in the Cell Theory in the 1900’s is not as numerous as that of the 1700’s and 1800’s. One discovery, however, worth mentioning is the finding made by James D. Watson and Francis Crick regarding the double-helix structure for DNA in the 1953. 2. Membranous Organelles of Eukaryotic Cells †¢ Chloroplast (plastid). Chloroplasts are present in eukaryotic a cell which main function is to capture light energy to conserve free energy in the form of ATP moderating Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADP) and requires NADPH as a reductant in a reduction-oxidation (redox) reaction. †¢ Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) forms the network of tubules, vesicles and cisternae in cells necessary for protein synthesis ( the process where cells proteins), protein folding and transport, secretion or exocytosed, and manufacture and storage of glycogen, steroids and macromolecules. †¢ Golgi Apparatus or Golgi Complex deals with the processing of proteins and lipids after synthesis before transporting (e. g. secretion) †¢ Mitochondrion generates the cell’s energy (i. e. chemical energy) and produce majority of its Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) †¢ Vacuole is an enclosed water filled compartment within a cell containing enzymes and various natural and inorganic molecules. †¢ Nucleus contains majority of the cell’s genetic materials organized in a multiple long linear Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). It is considered to be the cell’s control center. 3. Methods in Molecular Exchange †¢ Diffusion. Diffusion balances the degree of concentration of molecules from a region with higher concentration to a region with lower concentration as a reaction to thermal motion. It plays a vital role in the distribution of oxygen, nutrients and other molecules across the capillary walls and across membranes. An diffusion equilibrium is said to be attained when the amount of molecule between two regions are equal and no diffusion movement occurs, or the net flux is at zero rate. The degree of concentration, temperature, and room affects the direction and extent of net flux related to the process. †¢ Endocytosis. Endocytosis takes place when cells suck up molecules from the outside of the cell by swallowing it up using their cell membrane. †¢ Exocytosis. Exocytosis is the reverse process of endocytosis where a cell releases the contents accumulated by the secretory vesicles out of the cell membrane. 4. Catalyst and Enzyme Catalysts are substances that make a chemical reaction faster than its normal rate. Catalysts inhibit changes in matters acted upon (substrate) but remain unchanged on the final output of the reaction (end product). Enzymes are types of catalyst that are almost always in protein form and are used in biochemical (living) reactions. 5. Enzyme-Controlled Reaction During an enzyme-controlled reaction, the enzyme’s key portion called â€Å"active site† interacts with the substrate. The substrate begins reacting to the enzyme entering a stress state. Upon reaching the necessary stress rate, the substrate changes in form or state (or both) producing the end product. The resulting end product is said to â€Å"drift away† and the enzyme is then free to perform the same procedure in the chemical reaction until no reactible substance is left, concluding the process. 6. Enzymes, Coenzymes and Vitamins The primary function of vitamins in living organisms is to serve as cofactors for chemical reactions involving enzymes. Although a cofactor is a non-protein chemical compound, cofactors are tied to a protein and is necessary for proteins to perform its biological functions. These types of proteins are almost always a kind of enzyme and cofactors can be thought as of â€Å"helpers† in performing its transformation. Vitamins or derivatives of vitamins make up an organic cofactor. 7. Chemosynthesis is the process by which organisms generate their own energy through chemical reaction rather than sunlight. This process converts carbon substances and nutrients into organic form (hydrocarbon) by oxidation as an energy source. 8. In the process called Glycolysis, requires two ATP’s to break down glucose into phosphoglyceraldehyde (2 PGAL). In the 2nd stage of glycolysis, the 2 PGAL’s are then broken into 2 pyruvates. This stage produces 4 ATP’s and 2 NADH’s. The net ATP production is 2 ATP’s as in the same case with the Krebs Cycle. 9. Stages in Photosynthesis The process of photosynthesis starts with the accumulation of substances needed by the process. These substances are carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and, of course, sunlight to be processed in the leaf’s chloroplasts. Sunlight then is converted into an energy form called ATP and NADPH. The sunlight absorbed through the stomata follows as certain chain of processing and results in the production of ATP, NADPH and oxygen. This process is called light reaction. Utilizing the ATP and NADPH, carbon dioxide is then converted into sugar. The resulting sugar is then broken down into two molecules called glucose and fructose, molecules that make up sucrose and sugar. The process is called dark reaction. 10. Assuming Photosynthesis I and Photosynthesis II refers to Light Reaction and Dark reactions: During light reactions electrons react as light strikes the chlorophyll. This results to the formation of ATP and NADPH. Also, water undergoes chemical reaction splitting oxygen and hydrogen. Carbon dioxide is accumulated from the atmosphere, hydrogen is added producing carbohydrates. This process is called carbon fixation. In the case of dark reactions, carbon dioxide is accumulated by a 5-C chemical called ribulose biphosphate (RuBP). Six molecules of carbon dioxide go in the Calvin Cycle, creating a glucose molecule. TP and NADPH created is used to attach phosphates into the PGA. Residual PGAL molecules are converted to reform 6 molecules of RuBP repeating the cycle again. REFERENCES Enger, E. D. , Ross, F. C. , Bailey, D. B. (2009). Concepts in biology (13th ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill. Turner W. (January 1890). The Cell Theory, Past and Present BIOS 100 Lecture Material Online. Fall 2004. Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, and other Energy-Releasing Pathways. May 15, 2009. http://www. bio. miami. edu/~cmallery/255/255hist/cell_theory. htm

Correct Structure Of Business Letters Commerce Essay

Correct Structure Of Business Letters Commerce Essay Few business transactions are carried through successfully without correspondence at some point. Enquires must be answered, quotation given, order placed, complains dealt with, transport and insurance arranged and account settled. Letters must be written to customers, salesmen, agents, suppliers, bankers, shipowners and many others; they cover every conceivable phase of business activity. They are the firms silent salesmen and, often enough, represent its only contact with the outside world. Hence the need to create a good impression, not only of the writers firm, but also of the writer himself as an efficient person eager to be of service. In our Business courses that follow are to be found over hundred specimen letters dealing with a comprehensive range of transactions of the kind handled in business every day. They are presented, not as models to be copied, for no two business situations are ever quite alike, but rather as examples written in the modern English style to illustrate the accepted principles of good business writing. For those wishing to use the collection as business tool, consisting of headings under which letter are classified and grouped according to subject matter, supplies a convenient and useful source of reference. Every business letter is written to a purpose; each has its own special aim, and one of the features of this course is its use of explanation to show how the various letters set out to achieve their aims. Basic legal principles relevant to different types of transaction are also touched upon, but only where there is a need to clarify legal relationships. The exercises the means for students to apply in practice what they have been taught. The many letters included are written in straightforward and meaningful style of the modern age and should be of special help to the overseas user, and especially to students from Raffles College where commercial correspondence is taught either as a general business accomplishment or as a preparation for the various examinations. Business letter/e-mail writing Structure of The business letter Letter promoting good will Enquires and replies Quotations, estimates and tenders Sales letters and voluntary offers Orders and their fulfillment Complaints and adjustments Invoicing and settlement of accounts Letters requesting payment Credit and status enquires Agencies Foreign trade Banking (1) home business Banking(2) payment in foreign trade Transport (1) road and rail Transport (2) sea and air Insurance Personnel Travel and hotels Miscellaneous correspondence A typical business transaction Essential Qualities The business letter is the principal means used by a business firm to keep in touch with its customers; often enough it is the only one customers form their impression of the firm from the tone and quality of letters it sends out. Good quality paper and an attractive letter head play their part in this, but they are less important than the message they carry, but it does require us to express ourselves accurately in plain language that is clear and readily understood. Writing plainly does not mean that letters must be confined to a mere recital of facts, in a style that is dull and anattractive. When we write a letter we enter into a personal relationship with our reader. Like us he has feelings and we cannot afford to disregard them. This is a necessary reminder because many people who are warmand friendly by nature become persons of quite another sort when they sit down to write or dictate a business letter. They seem to think that business letter call for a special kind of Business English. They forget that they are holding conversations by post and make use of impersonal constructions that produce a cold and aloof tone. They prefer to write your letter has been received rather than the warmer and homelier I have received your letter, and your complaint is being looked into rather than I am looking into your complaint. They often refer to themselves as the writer and say. The writer visited your showrooms, when they should say I visited your sh owrooms. Personal constructions, with the emphasis on YOU and I or WE, help to produce the warm and friendly tone more suited to letter writing. The whole secret of good business letter writing is to write simply, in an easy and natural way like one friendly human being talking to another. Make your letter or e-mail, then sound as much as possible like good conversation. You wouldnt say on the phone It is regretted that the goods cannot be delivered today. You would say I am sorry we cannot deliver the goods today, so why not say it when you write a letter? SOME RULES OF GOOD WRITING 1- Think first of the reader and address yourself to his interests. Tell him all he wants to know and dont leave him to guess between the lines 2-Adopt a tone suited to the occasion and purpose of the letter 3- Write naturally, as you would talk, using plain and familiar words 4- Write clearly and to the point. The dominant need in all business writing is exactness expressed in language that is absolutely clear 5-Write courteously and make your letter sound friendly and sincere 6- Avoid wordiness, but at the same time remember that it is more important to be clear and courteous even if it means using more words 7- Avoid commercial jargon with its roundabout and meaningless forms of expression 8- Write effectively by using simple language, by being consistent and precise 9- Avoid monotony by introducing variety 10- Write to a plan if your letter is long or especially important 11- Pay special attention to the opening and closing paragraphs first and last impressions leave a special mark on the reader 12- Check your letter or e-mail All these are matters of importance and we shall now take a closer look at each one of them. Study your readers interests The letters you send out must create a good first impression.To achieve this,put yourself in your readers shoes and try to image how he will feel about what you write.Ask yourself constantly ,what are his needs,his wishes,his interests,his problems,and how can I meet them?;What would be my own feelings if I were to receive a letter of kind I propose to write? Try to image that you are receiving rather than sending the letter and emphasize the you attitude rather than the I or We. Adopt the right tone If a letter is to achieve its purpose,its tone must be right.Before beginning to write think carefully about the way in which you want to influence your reader.Ask yourself,what do I want this letter to do?and then express yourself accordingly,being persuasive,apologetic,obliging,firm and so on,depending on the effect you want to produce. Write naturally and sincerely When you sit down to write or dictate a letter,try to feel a genuine interest in the person you are writing to and in his problems.Say what you have to say with sincerity and make sure that it sounds sincere.Express your thoughts in your own words and in your own way.Be yourself.Write so that what you say would sound natural if read over the telephone.

In Defense of the Study of Cryonics Essay -- Healthcare, Science

Ferraris, Corvettes, large estates, gold dusted ice creams, or even hundred dollar socks all have something in common: they are all luxurious desires. However is cryonics, the process of preserving one's body for the hopes of future medical treatments to save, a mere luxury? Can no one find a real need to utilize cryonics? Does cryonics have any intrinsic value to society as a whole? Many believe that cryonics is just an â€Å"indulgence [for] rich people† (Alcor). Cryonics, in fact, can do much more than fulfill one's self interest. Cryonics is the process in which anti-freeze like liquid is circulated through the body and then frozen in order to preserve a human body at low temperatures for an indefinite amount of time. The frozen body can then be brought back and worked on if medicine advances to the point of reviving a dead body. Cryonics, including the money and research gained through it, can help beyond the individual and all the way to the advancement of the field of medicine. The problem with cryonics, however, is not cryonics itself but the lack of knowledge of the benefits of it. Due to this lack of knowledge, many people develop negative views on cryonics which include the assumption that cryonics is primarily self-indulgent, as stated above. These negative views, which have been around since the very beginning, allow for the dismissal of cryonics as a luxury that can be defined simply as â€Å"the preservation of dead bodies† and, as a result, many are turned off by it and its principles (Alcor). If this problem persists, not only does the field of cryonics suffer, the medical field does to. By utilizing techniques found in cryonics, certain aspects of the medical field can advance at the same rate as cryonics. The solut... ...l, the public will gain knowledge that is often neglected when the opposition talks against cryonics: that of the benefits of cryonics. Additionally, negative views on cryonics will be amended through an increase of knowledge in cryonics and, ultimately, cryonics will gain more supporters. If a gain in supporters of cryonics occurs, more research and money can be put into advancing the techniques of cryonics. As a result of this, other disciplines of medicine, such as organ transplanting, can utilize techniques in cryonics and further develop their own methods to benefit society. Nothing should be judged without having all the information about it presented, cryonics is no exception. Make this education available, and much more comprehensive views will be gained. Don't you think it's time to stop focusing on the negativity and start learning about the benefits?

The Indigo Spell Chapter One

THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME I'd been pulled out of bed for a crucial mission. It was, however, the first time I'd been subjected to such a personal line of questioning. â€Å"Are you a virgin?† â€Å"Huh?† I rubbed my sleepy eyes, just in case this was all some sort of bizarre dream that would disappear. An urgent phone call had dragged me out of bed five minutes ago, and I was having a little trouble adjusting. My history teacher, Ms. Terwilliger, leaned closer and repeated the question in a stage whisper: â€Å"I said, are you a virgin?† â€Å"Um, yes. . .† I was fully awake now and glanced uneasily around my dorm's lobby, making sure no one was around to witness this crazy exchange. I didn't have to worry. Aside from a bored-looking desk attendant on the far side of the room, the lobby was empty, probably because no sane person would be up at this time of night. When Ms. Terwilliger's call had woken me, she'd demanded I meet her here for a â€Å"life-or-death† matter. Getting interrogated about my personal life wasn't quite what I'd expected. She stepped back and sighed in relief. â€Å"Yes, of course. Of course you're a virgin.† I narrowed my eyes, unsure if I should be offended or not. â€Å"Of course? What's that supposed to mean? What's going on?† She immediately snapped back to attention and pushed her wire-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose. They were always slipping down. â€Å"No time to explain. We have to go.† She grabbed hold of my arm, but I resisted and stayed where I was. â€Å"Ma'am, it's three in the morning!† And then, just so she'd understand the severity of the situation: â€Å"On a school night.† â€Å"Never mind that.† She turned in the direction of the desk attendant and called across the room, â€Å"I'm taking Sydney Melrose with me. Mrs. Weathers can argue with me about the curfew tomorrow.† The attendant looked startled, but she was just some college student who'd been hired to sit there overnight. She was no match for the formidable Ms. Terwilliger, with her tall, gangly stature and birdlike face. The real authority keeping girls in my dorm was the security guard outside, but he simply nodded in a friendly way when Ms. Terwilliger dragged me past. It made me wonder just how many girls she'd abducted in the middle of the night. â€Å"I'm in my pajamas,† I told her. It was the last protest I could offer as we reached her car, which was parked in a fire lane. She drove a red Volkswagen Beetle with flowers painted on the sides. Somehow, this didn't surprise me in the least. â€Å"You'll be fine,† she said, fishing car keys out of her massive velvet purse. Around us, the desert night was cool and silent. Tall palm trees created dark, spiderlike shapes against the sky. Beyond them, a full moon and smattering of stars glittered. I wrapped my arms around myself, touching the soft fabric of my microfleece robe. Underneath it, I had on full-length striped pajamas paired with fluffy beige slippers. The ensemble worked well in my cozy dorm room but wasn't exactly practical for a Palm Springs night. But then, going out in pajamas wasn't really practical in any place. She unlocked the car, and I stepped gingerly inside, having to dodge empty paper coffee cups and old issues of Utne Reader. My neat sensibilities cringed at that kind of mess, but it was the least of my worries right now. â€Å"Ms. Terwilliger,† I said, once we were driving through the suburban streets. â€Å"What's going on?† Now that we were out of the dorm, I hoped she'd start talking sense. I hadn't forgotten her â€Å"life-or-death† comment and was beginning to grow nervous. Her eyes were on the road ahead of us, and lines of worry marked her angular face. â€Å"I need you to cast a spell.† I froze as I tried to process her words. Not long ago, this proclamation would've sent me into protests and fits of revulsion. Not that I was comfortable with it now. Magic still freaked me out. Ms. Terwilliger taught at my private high school, Amberwood Prep, by day and was a witch at night. She said I, too, possessed a natural affinity for magic and had managed to teach me some spells, despite my best efforts to resist. I actually had a few good reasons for wanting to avoid anything arcane. Aside from inborn beliefs about magic being wrong, I simply didn't want to get caught up in any more supernatural affairs than I had to. I already spent my days as part of a secret society that kept vampires secret from the human world. That and my schoolwork were enough to keep anyone busy. Nonetheless, her magical training had gotten me out of some dangerous situations recently, and I was no longer so quick to dismiss it. So, her suggesting I perform magic wasn't the weirdest thing going on here. â€Å"Why would you need me for that?† I asked. There were few cars out, but occasionally, passing headlights would cast a ghostly light over us. â€Å"You're a million times more powerful. I can't cast a fraction of the things you can.† â€Å"Power is one thing,† she admitted. â€Å"But there are other limitations and factors at work here. I can't cast this particular spell.† I crossed my arms and slouched back in the seat. If I kept focusing on the practical aspects, I could ignore how worried I was growing. â€Å"And it couldn't have waited until morning?† â€Å"No,† she said gravely. â€Å"It could not.† Something about the tone of her voice sent chills down my spine, and I fell silent as we continued our drive. We were headed outside of the city and suburbs, into the wilds of the true desert. The farther we drove from civilization, the darker it became. Once we were off the freeway, there were no streetlights or houses in sight. Spiky desert shrubs created dark shapes along the side of the road that put me in mind of crouching animals, ready to pounce. There's no one out here, I thought. And no one back at Amberwood knows you're here either. I shifted uneasily as I recalled her virgin question. Was I going to be a sacrifice in some unholy ritual? I wished that I'd thought to bring my cell phone – not that I could have told my organization, the Alchemists, that I was spending so much time with a magic user. And not just any magic user – one who was teaching me to become one too. Better to risk being sacrificed than face the Alchemists' wrath. Twenty minutes later, Ms. Terwilliger finally pulled to a stop along the side of a dusty one-lane road that seemed to be a direct route to nowhere. She got out of the car and motioned for me to do the same. It was colder here than it had been back at Amberwood. Looking up into the night sky, I caught my breath. Free of the city lights, the stars were now out in full force. I could see the Milky Way and a dozen constellations usually hidden to the naked eye. â€Å"Stargaze later,† she said curtly. â€Å"We need to hurry, before the moon progresses much further.† A moonlight ritual, a barren desert, virgin sacrifice . . . what had I just foolishly walked into? The way Ms. Terwilliger pushed me into magic always annoyed me, but I never thought she posed a threat. Now I berated myself for being so naive. She tossed a duffel bag over one shoulder and headed off into a desolate stretch of land, dotted with rocks and scraggly vegetation. Even with the brilliant celestial display there wasn't much light out here, yet she walked purposefully, as though she knew exactly where she was going. I dutifully followed, wincing as I crossed the rocky ground. My fuzzy slippers had never been intended for this sort of terrain. â€Å"Here,† she said when we reached a small clearing. She carefully set down the duffel bag and knelt to rifle through it. â€Å"This'll do.† The desert that was so mercilessly hot in the day became cold at night, but I was still sweating. Probably my own anxiety had more to do with that than the temperature or heavy pajamas. I retied my robe more tightly making a perfect knot. I found that kind of detail and routine soothing. Ms. Terwilliger produced a large oval mirror with a scalloped silver frame. She set it down in the middle of the clearing, glanced up at the sky, and then shifted the mirror over a little. â€Å"Come here, Miss Melbourne.† She pointed to a spot opposite her, on the other side of the mirror. â€Å"Sit there and make yourself comfortable.† At Amberwood, I went by the name of Sydney Melrose, rather than my true one, Sydney Sage. Ms. Terwilliger had gotten my made-up name wrong on the first day of class, and it, unfortunately, stuck. I followed her directions, not that I could really get all that comfortable out here. I was pretty sure I could hear some large animal scuffling out in the brush and added â€Å"coyotes† to my mental list of dangers I faced out here, right below â€Å"magic use† and â€Å"lack of coffee.† â€Å"Now then. Let's get started.† Ms. Terwilliger peered at me with eyes that were dark and frightening in the desert night. â€Å"Are you wearing anything metal? You need to take it off.† â€Å"No, I – oh. Wait.† I reached around my neck and unfastened a delicate gold chain that held a small cross. I'd had the necklace for years but had recently given it to someone else, for comfort. He'd given it back to me recently, by way of our mutual friend Jill Mastrano Dragomir. Even now, I could picture the angry look on her face as she'd stormed up to me at school and thrust the cross into my hand without a word. I stared at the cross now as it gleamed in the moonlight. A queasy feeling welled up in the pit of my stomach as I thought about Adrian, the guy I'd given it to. I'd done so before he professed his love for me, something that had caught me totally off guard a few weeks ago. But maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised. The more I looked back – and I did so all the time – the more I began to recall telltale signs that should have tipped me off to his feelings. I'd just been too blind to notice at the time. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered if I'd seen it coming or not. Adrian was totally unsuitable for me, and it had nothing to do with his many vices or potential descent into insanity. Adrian was a vampire. True, he was a Moroi – one of the good, living vampires – but it made no difference. Humans and vampires couldn't be together. This was one point the Moroi and Alchemists stood firmly together on. It was still amazing to me that Adrian had voiced those feelings to me. It was amazing that he could even have them or that he'd had the nerve to kiss me, even if it was a kiss that had left me dizzy and breathless. I'd had to reject him, of course. My training would allow nothing less. Our situation here in Palm Springs forced the two of us to constantly be together in social situations, and it had been rough since his declaration. For me, it wasn't just the awkwardness of our new relationship. I . . . well, I missed him. Before this debacle, he and I had been friends and spent a lot of time together. I'd gotten used to his smirky smile and the quick banter that always flowed between us. Until those things were gone, I hadn't realized how much I relied on them. How much I needed them. I felt empty inside . . . which was ridiculous, of course. Why should I care so much about one vampire? Sometimes it made me angry. Why had he ruined such a good thing between us? Why had he made me miss him so much? And what had he expected me to do? He had to have known it was impossible for us to be together. I couldn't have feelings for him. I couldn't. If we'd lived among the Keepers – a group of uncivilized vampires, humans, and dhampirs – maybe he and I could have . . . no. Even if I had feelings for him – and I firmly told myself I didn't – it was wrong for us to even consider such a relationship. Now Adrian spoke to me as little as possible. And always, always, he watched me with a haunted look in his green eyes, one that made my heart ache and – â€Å"Ah! What is that?† I squirmed as Ms. Terwilliger dumped a bowl full of dried leaves and flowers over my head. I'd been so fixated on the cross and my memories that I hadn't seen her coming. â€Å"Rosemary,† she said matter-of-factly â€Å"Hyssop. Anise. Don't do that.† I'd reached up to pull some of the leaves out of my hair. â€Å"You need that for the spell.† â€Å"Right,† I said, getting back to business. I set the cross carefully on the ground, trying to clear my mind of green, green eyes. â€Å"The spell that only I can do. Why is that again?† â€Å"Because it has to be done by a virgin,† she explained. I tried not to grimace. Her words implied that she was not a virgin, and even if that made sense for a forty-year-old woman, it still wasn't a thought I wanted to spend a lot of time on. â€Å"That, and the person we're looking for has shielded herself from me. But you? You she won't expect.† I looked down at the shining mirror and understood. â€Å"This is a scrying spell. Why aren't we doing the one I did before?† Not that I was eager to repeat that spell. I'd used it to find someone, and it had involved me staring into a bowl of water for hours. Still, now that I knew how to do it, I knew I could perform it again. Besides, I didn't like the idea of walking into a spell I knew nothing about. Words and herbs were one thing, but what else might she ask of me? Endanger my soul? Give up my blood? â€Å"That spell only works for someone you know,† she explained. â€Å"This one will help you find someone you've never met before.† I frowned. As much as I didn't like magic, I did like problem solving – and the puzzles magic often presented intrigued me. â€Å"How will I know who to look for, then?† Ms. Terwilliger handed me a photograph. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and I looked into the face of a pretty young woman. There was a striking resemblance between her and my teacher, though it wasn't initially obvious. Rather than Ms. Terwilliger's dull brown hair, this woman's was dark, nearly black. She was also much more glamorous, dressed in a black satin evening gown that was a far cry from Ms. Terwilliger's usual hippie attire. Despite those ostensible differences, the two women shared the same high cheekbones and aquiline eyes. I glanced back up. â€Å"She's related to you.† â€Å"She's my older sister,† Ms. Terwilliger confirmed, her voice remarkably flat. Older? I would've guessed this woman was at least ten years younger. â€Å"Is she missing?† I asked. When I'd scried before, it had been to find a kidnapped friend. Ms. Terwilliger's lips twitched. â€Å"Not in the way you're thinking.† From the never-ending duffel bag, she produced a small leather book and opened it to a marked page. Squinting at where she indicated, I could make out handwritten Latin words describing the mirror and herbal concoction she'd dumped on me. Following that were directions on how to use the spell. No bloodletting, thankfully. â€Å"It sounds too simple,† I said suspiciously. I'd learned that spells that only had a few steps and components usually required a lot of mental energy. I'd passed out from the other scrying spell. She nodded, guessing my thoughts. â€Å"It takes a lot of focus – more than the last one. But, as much as you don't want to hear this, your strength has grown enough that you'll probably have an easier time than before.† I scowled. She was right. I didn't want to hear that. Or did I? Part of me knew I should refuse to go along with this madness. Another part of me worried she'd abandon me in the desert if I didn't help. And still another part was insanely curious to see how this would all work. Taking a deep breath, I recited the book's incantation and then set the picture in the middle of the mirror. I repeated the incantation and removed the picture. Leaning forward, I stared into the shining surface, trying to clear my mind and let myself become one with the darkness and moonlight. A hum of energy coursed through me, much more quickly than I expected. Nothing changed in the mirror right away, though. Only my reflection peered back at me, the poor lighting dulling my blond hair, which looked terrible both from sleeping on it and having a bunch of dried plants hanging in its strands. The energy continued to build in me, growing surprisingly warm and exhilarating. I closed my eyes and sank into it. I felt like I was floating in the moonlight, like I was the moonlight. I could've stayed that way forever. â€Å"Do you see anything?† Ms. Terwilliger's voice was an unwelcome interruption to my blissful state, but I obediently opened my eyes and looked into the mirror. My reflection was gone. A silvery gray mist hung in front of a building, but I knew the mist wasn't physical. It was magically produced, a mental barrier to keep me from seeing the image that lay beyond it. Strengthening my will, I pushed my mind passed that barrier, and after a few moments, the mist shattered. â€Å"I see a building.† My voice echoed oddly in the night. â€Å"An old Victorian house. Dark red, with a traditional covered porch. There are hydrangea bushes in front of it. There's a sign too, but I can't read it.† â€Å"Can you tell where the house is?† My teacher's voice seemed very far away. â€Å"Look around it.† I tried to pull back, to extend my vision beyond the house. It took a few moments, but slowly, the image panned out as though I were watching a movie, revealing a neighborhood of similar houses, all Victorian with wide porches and creeping vines. They were a beautiful, perfect piece of history set in the modern world. â€Å"Nothing exact,† I told her. â€Å"Just some quaint residential street.† â€Å"Go back further. See the larger picture.† I did, and it was like I drifted up into the sky, looking down upon the neighborhood the way some soaring bird would. The houses extended into more neighborhoods, which eventually gave way to industrial and commercial areas. I continued moving back. The businesses became more and more densely packed. More streets crisscrossed between them. The buildings grew taller and taller, eventually materializing into a familiar skyline. â€Å"Los Angeles,† I said. â€Å"The house is on the outskirts of Los Angeles.† I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by: â€Å"Thank you, Miss Melbourne. That will be all.† A hand suddenly waved across my field of vision, shattering the city image. Also shattered was that state of euphoria. I was no longer floating, no longer made of light. I came crashing down to reality, down to the rocky desert landscape and my stuffy pajamas. I felt exhausted and shaky, like I might faint. Ms. Terwilliger handed me a thermos full of orange juice, which I drank greedily. As the nutrients hit my system and strengthened me, I began to feel a little better. Intense magic use depleted blood sugar. â€Å"Does that help?† I asked, once I'd downed the thermos. A nagging voice inside me started to chastise about how many calories were in orange juice, but I ignored it. â€Å"Was that what you wanted to know?† Ms. Terwilliger gave me a smile that didn't extend to her eyes. â€Å"It helps, yes. Was it what I wanted?† She stared off into the distance. â€Å"No, not exactly. I was hoping you'd name some other city. Some city far, far away.† I picked up my cross and refastened it around my neck. The familiar object brought on a sense of normality after what I'd just done. It also made me feel guilty, looking back on the euphoric high the magic had given me. Humans weren't supposed to wield magic – and they certainly weren't supposed to enjoy it. Running my fingers over the cross's surface, I found myself thinking of Adrian again. Had he ever worn it? Or had he just kept it around for luck? Had his fingers traced the cross's shape like mine often did? Ms. Terwilliger began gathering her things. When she stood up, I followed suit. â€Å"What does it mean exactly, ma'am?† I asked. â€Å"That I saw Los Angeles?† I followed her back toward the car, and she didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was uncharacteristically grim. â€Å"It means that she's much closer than I would like. It also means, whether you want to or not, you're going to have to work on improving your magical skills very, very quickly.† I came to a halt. Suddenly, I felt angry. Enough was enough. I was exhausted and ached all over. She'd dragged me out here in the middle of the night and now had the presumption to make a statement like that when she knew how I felt about magic? Worse, her words frightened me. What did I have to do with this? This was her spell, her cause. Yet, she'd given the directive with such force, such certainty, that it almost seemed as though I was the reason we'd come out here to this wasteland. â€Å"Ma'am – † I began. Ms. Terwilliger spun around and leaned toward me so that there were only a few inches between us. I gulped, swallowing whatever outraged words I'd been about to utter. I'd never seen her look like this. She wasn't scary, not exactly, but there was an intensity I'd never seen before, far different from the usual scattered teacher I knew. She also looked . . . frightened. Life or death. â€Å"Sydney,† she said, in a rare use of my first name. â€Å"Let me assure you that this is not some trick on my part. You will improve upon your skills, whether you like it or not. And it's not because I'm cruel, not because I'm trying to fulfill some selfish desire. It's not even because I hate seeing you waste your ability.† â€Å"Then why?† I asked in a small voice. â€Å"Why do I need to learn more?† The wind whispered around us, blowing some of the dried leaves and flowers from my hair. The shadows we cast took on an ominous feel, and the moonlight and starlight that had seemed so divine earlier now felt cold and harsh. â€Å"Because,† Ms. Terwilliger said. â€Å"It's for your own protection.†

Free Essays on Video Games And Children

Videao Games and Chilren By: Sue G. A recent survey found that 92 percent of U.S. kids, ages 2 to 17 play video games. Parents bought 225 million video games last year. (â€Å"Virtual†) These numbers show how many people are affected today by the technology of video games. More and more people are buying and playing video games. Although children are not the only people playing video games, they do make up the largest percentage of players. Video games are a very controversial subject. There is both good and bad in video games. Video games can help improve hand eye coordination and strategic skills. However, I have also heard of the vibrations from the controller causing damage to children. Many believe that video games lead to violent behaviors. They also could be a cause of obesity in the children of today. As a child, I spent my days outside playing games. During the summer, I was found at the swimming hole or at the park. Other times I was with a group of friends on the street corner playing baseball. During the winter, sledding and snowball fights were the sport. Everywhere you went there were kids playing outdoors. Today when I walk out my door, it seems as though there are less kids found outside. The children of today are often found indoors playing an electronic game. They have their eyes glued to the television set watching for where the next hit or miss will be. When walking, they are not always watching where they are going because they are busy pushing buttons on their game boy. Children are interacting less with each other and more with their electronic games. As stated by Brent Stafford, a recent graduate of the masters in communication studies program at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., the $17-billion a year video game industry has become the number one form of entertainment for children. Parents, he says, should know what their kids are playing. The parent should also recognize when a game becomes a c... Free Essays on Video Games And Children Free Essays on Video Games And Children Videao Games and Chilren By: Sue G. A recent survey found that 92 percent of U.S. kids, ages 2 to 17 play video games. Parents bought 225 million video games last year. (â€Å"Virtual†) These numbers show how many people are affected today by the technology of video games. More and more people are buying and playing video games. Although children are not the only people playing video games, they do make up the largest percentage of players. Video games are a very controversial subject. There is both good and bad in video games. Video games can help improve hand eye coordination and strategic skills. However, I have also heard of the vibrations from the controller causing damage to children. Many believe that video games lead to violent behaviors. They also could be a cause of obesity in the children of today. As a child, I spent my days outside playing games. During the summer, I was found at the swimming hole or at the park. Other times I was with a group of friends on the street corner playing baseball. During the winter, sledding and snowball fights were the sport. Everywhere you went there were kids playing outdoors. Today when I walk out my door, it seems as though there are less kids found outside. The children of today are often found indoors playing an electronic game. They have their eyes glued to the television set watching for where the next hit or miss will be. When walking, they are not always watching where they are going because they are busy pushing buttons on their game boy. Children are interacting less with each other and more with their electronic games. As stated by Brent Stafford, a recent graduate of the masters in communication studies program at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., the $17-billion a year video game industry has become the number one form of entertainment for children. Parents, he says, should know what their kids are playing. The parent should also recognize when a game becomes a c...