Professional Resume and Cover Letter Essay

Create a professional resume and cover letter for a position within your selected industry, and attach a copy to this discussion forum. Respond to at least three of your classmates’ posts by Day 7, providing both positive and constructive feedback. If you do not have a resume or cover letter, you may access helpful resources by logging into your Ashford University Student Portal. From the Student Portal homepage, locate Career and Alumni Services (look for the blue â€Å"Career† word cluster image) and click on the link to My Career: Career and Professional Development Center to review resume and cover letter resources. If you would like additional assistance, Career Services is available to critique your resume and/or cover letter. You may contact Career Services directly at careerservices@ashford.edu, or call the appointment line at 1.866.711.1700, ext. 1876. Please allow adequate time (2-3 business days) for a Career Services Specialist to respond to your request. Ashford 3: – Week 2 – Assignment Critiquing Internet Sources Today, the Internet provides an unprecedented amount of information by way of blogs, videos, and podcasts. Conduct a critique of one blog, one video, and one podcast, which provide information that addresses the topic of your Final Research Paper. Assess the authors’ use of bias, validity, and applicability of information. Examine the influence of web-based information on global citizenship and multicultural understanding. Then, compile a list of three factors you believe should be considered when evaluating Internet sources for use in researching information. The paper must be three to four pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style. In addition to the three multimedia sources you are analyzing, support your points with at  least two scholarly sources. One of the scholarly sources must be from the Ashford Online Library. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar.

About being a Police Officer Essay

If you are interested in becoming a police officer, you must be aware of how tough it is to get the job. You have to go through hard mental and physical screening and training, and for good reason. Police work is a noble career, but it can also be a difficult life. I choose this topic because I know much about it already but I want to learn more because I might end up being in Law Enforcement. Being a Police Officer is not as hard as it looks you having to be fit. To become a police officer, you must pass a fitness test, and you will be required to accomplish various fitness challenges at the police academy. It’s not all action all the time. You will need to write reports of what happened, and those reports must be accurate and detailed because they can be used as evidence in court. See more: Old Age Problem essay Crime won’t stop when you’re off duty. You may be called upon to assist with a situation at any time. However, these extra hours often come with overtime pay. The community’s safety is in your hands, and your work will not always be respected. You have to be able to tolerate people not trusting you because of the actions of other police officers, and you may find yourself rebuilding trust on a regular basis. Not only will you work on a daily basis with your partner, but you must also represent the police to the community. Your every action will be under scrutiny, either by your supervisor, your peers or the public at large. This is what I know before I start learning more about being a Police Officer.

Assessment Essay Example for Free

Assessment Essay Initial assessment- the starting part, used to decide what is known, what needs to be taught and what can be assessed. Formative assessment- this stage is where the learner is still in training and requires feedback on how they are progressing. Summative- used to judge completion. Whether you have passed or not. Holistic- clustering of assessments based on the grouping of a work role, rather than stand alone. Functions of assessment in training – Identify the skill gap – Design the training – Deliver the training – Plan the assessment – Assess – Feedback – Either move on to the next part of training or go back and re do the previous assessment. This starts from the minute you get a new learner signed on. I do this by, setting out a training plan, giving the training, deciding with the learner when we both feel they are ready to be assessed and then do the assessment. With Sonya, she came from another salon where she had already done her level 2, she was about to be signed on to level 3. Before we got her signed on we done an assessment on a colour and a cut to make sure she was competent at level 2. 1:2 Key concepts and principles of assessment Reliability: By using the criteria and qualification and credit framework any assessor working independently should come to the same decision when assessing a learner. The learner should have been given the appropriate training and be competent to do the assessment. Validity: Is the work valid to the unit? The learner should be watched at all times to make sure the work is authentic. Assessments show us, what the learner is capable of and where further training would be required. It would also show if the learner needed any extra help. 1:3 Responsibilities of the assessor – Make sure the candidates logbook is marked of when an assessment has been passed. – Provide opportunities for assessment and make sure you book time out in your column. – Be fair to all candidates, avoid any discrimination, comparing one against the other. – Assess the learner against the national occupational standards and not your own opinion of what the standards should be. – Consider the needs of the individual candidates; one might have a different learning style to the other. Learning difficulties should also be taken into account and help appropriate given where needed. – Plan and assess assessments with candidates. Make sure learner and assessor think it is the right assessment to be done and that the learner is capable of doing the assessment. – Place the learner under no undue pressure. If the candidate does not feel good about doing the assessment you should encourage them, if as an assessor you think they are capable of passing the assessment. But do not apply pressure as this could make the learner worry or feel stressed out by this. – Check and ensure all the evidence is valid, authentic, current, sufficient and reliable. Make sure the work is valid to the unit and accurate, the learners own work, the work is consistent and of the appropriate nvq level criteria and is not a fluke. The work should also be current, i.e. if the learner has transferred salons and had some assessments already signed off you should make sure they are currently competent. – Give constructive feedback. Using â€Å"complement sandwich† Positive comment Critical comment Positive comment Make sure you include the learner to give self assessment so you know how they think they have done. When giving your feedback always start with â€Å"how do you think you did?† Always give feedback promptly and record all assessment decisions and evidence clearly and fully so that everyone can always look back and see what has been said and done. Also in case there are any disagreements on the outcome you can look back at the records. – Agree future action plans with the learner so that both the learner and assessor know what the next stage will be. – Any discussions with the learner should be carried out in a professional manor. During meetings with the learner you should review the progress of assessment plans and determine where additional learning and training is required. I have recently had an issue with one of my trainee’s, she did not want to be taught anymore, and just wanted to be assessed on her cutting. She felt she had had enough training , although I didn’t. As she felt very strongly about this I allowed her to do a model we were going to use as training as an assessment, I did this so she would understand that she needs more training. Once she had completed the assessment I checked the cut, and explained to her where she had gone wrong, and also explained to her that with a little bit more practice she would be able to be assessed on models similar to what she had done and would be able to be marked off on them. She has agreed to have a little bit more training and agreed we will decide together in future when she will be assessed so as not to waste models. 1:4 Regulations and requirements relevant to assess hairdressing. – Realistic working environment. Must develop realistic management procedures that incorporate a ‘salon image’. – All assessments must be carried out under realistic commercial pressures and on paying clients. Assessments should be completed within the commercial timescale. Candidates must be able to achieve a realistic volume of work. – The space per working area conforms to health and safety legislation. – The range of services, professional tools, products, materials and equipment must be up to date and available for use. A reception area for clients to be greeted must be available. It must also include a payment facility. – A retail facility must be provided. Assessment. (2016, Sep 20).

Database systems and Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Database systems and Administration - Essay Example These three tables handle information regarding products being developed by the organization, countries in which it operates and employees that work for the organization. Since the organization sells various kinds of batteries it is evident that to maintain the record of the sales it makes it would need a sales table. The organization would also have to maintain the record of inventory and the products that are available. Finally to maintain records regarding the wages and designation of each employee a separate table of Job is created to help evaluate the position of an individual within the organizational structure. To help distinguish each entity from the other each record within each entity is assigned a unique alphanumeric character that helps in distinguishing one record from the other. Other entities that is present within a certain table further help in elaborating the data regarding a particular record. For example in the country table the attributes of country name and coun try description allows an individual to understand what the country ID stands for. These fields can significantly aid the organization when they are carrying out a presentation or are creating their annual reports that need to be presented to the organizational heads of the organization. Integrity rules: The relational tables are shown below: Product Inventory No Attribute name 1 Inventory ID 2 Product ID 3 Country ID 4 Quantity Sales No Attribute name 1 Transaction ID 2 Money Obtained 3 Products shipped 4 Product ID Employee Country No Attribute name 1 Country ID 2 Country Description 3 Country Name Department No Attribute name 1 Department ID 2 Department Name 3 Country ID Job No Attribute name 1 Job ID 2 Description 3 Qualification required 4 Salary The rules of integrity are given as follows: Primary keys for each record must be unique, cannot be null and must be in accordance to the data variable set for it. A unique primary key helps in distinguishing one record from the other . The value of a foreign key that is present within another table must be in accordance to the value that is present in the table where that particular field is the primary key. In short the value placed in a foreign key field must also be present in the field where it is a primary key. An employee cannot be assigned more than one country ID against his or her record. This means that an employee would only be assigned the country ID in which he or she works. This would help prevent any confusion that may arise from the fact that an employee is incharge of two departments that exist in different countries. Issues due to the use of un-normalized tables: The use of un-normalized database may cause a great deal of confusion while updating the data. If one of the users has accessed a particular record that is present i

Psychological theories of crime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Psychological theories of crime - Research Paper Example Most governments in the contemporary societies are secular in nature; however, they uphold the dictates of religions that also consider such acts unethical thus referring to them as sins. Various psychologies provide varied explanations on criminal behaviors thus their prevalence as explained in the essay below. Governments provide elaborate definitions of crime with the view of upholding the liberties enjoyed by the population. In order to uphold, the liberties, the government spells out the actions that constitute a criminal activity and enforces adherence to such guidelines. Acting in a manner contrary to the existing laws earns an individual a prison term with effective punishment and compensation to the offended arties. However, in doing so the government must uphold ethical standards and maintain a level of credibility. Most governments in democratic societies treat offenders as innocent until proven guilty after which the law provides for appropriate punishments. The existence of such legislations coupled with the effective and efficient enforcement mechanisms thus make the prevalence of violent activities attitudinal. As psychological products, several psychologists analyze the prevalence of crime in an attempt of analyzing the origin of the defiant attitude that compels one to beak all the laws and moral dictates to commit a crime (Grimm, Pianta & Konold, 2009). Key among the theorists is Sigmund Freud. Often considered the father of modern day psychology, Freud has postulated various theories all of which strive to explain the nature and prevalence of crime (Rosenberg & Turner, 1990). The personality psychologist seeks to explain the nature and prevalent of crimes in his psychodynamic perspective which he asserts explains the changes in a people feelings and psychological perspective. In his theory of psychoanalysis, Freud explains that all human behaviors are products of the unconscious mind. This he explains includes aggressive and violent behaviors . Feud explains that several forces in an individual’s unconscious mind the result of which are the varied human behaviors. Additionally, he explains that childhood experiences are also equally important influencers of an individual’s behavior in adulthood. According to Freud’s explanation, development of a multi staged process with each stage having unique requirements. The successful growth of an individual from one stage to another creates a uniform growth pattern and a peaceful succession into adulthood. However, such cases are rare with most people failing to overcome the challenges presented by every stage. This results in the recurrent of the stage challenges in progressive stages thus creating a growth crisis. Freud thus believed that the conflicts that people face in their different psychosexual stages of life influence their behaviors in adulthood. With such elaborate explanations, understanding waves of violence and criminal activities become easier ( Grisso & Steinberg, 2005). Such are products of the forces in the unconscious state of mind. A normal human being with effective understanding to the social and moral standards with a basic knowledge of the operations of the government especially concerning violence and crime should therefore overcome acts of aggression thus containing them within themselves. However, the failure by the unconscious m

Crime in a Christian Worldview Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Crime in a Christian Worldview - Research Paper Example This paper seeks to investigate and explain the laws governing assisted suicide and the Biblical approach to this matter. Behind Assisted Suicide Assisted suicide, or specifically physician-assisted suicide, goes along with words like ‘mercy-killing,’ ‘the last resort,’ ‘relieving the suffering,’ or what is commonly known as ‘euthanasia’. Actually, it means the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals...in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy (â€Å"Euthanasia,† n.d.). As technology advances, the more the breakthroughs on science are invented. Indeed, technology particularly medical technology invented by the experts has the power to save lives, as much as it begets power to sustain lives, or what others call the ‘prolonging of life.’ Unlike before where there was no immediate aid available, now the patients could be possibly (if the illness is curable by medicine) healed and revived. Despite this fact, still many would choose to end the suffering of their patients--physician-assisted suicide comes in. Proponents of physician assisted suicide argued that patient's free choice, individual rights, and moral autonomy must be observed (Salem, 1999). However, this practice was done in order to avoid torture, abuse, or slavery on the part of the patient (Roth, 2011). The Biblical Approach on Assisted Suicide â€Å"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him† (Genesis 1:27), this biblical verse declares that human life is valuable and sacred, as it is given by God--a truth that must be announced to all humankind. Man’s creation in the likeness or image of God is the core principle against murder, as (Genesis 9:6) states, â€Å"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.† No one has the authority over the life of other, as he ha s no authority over his own. God upon creation of man and ever since before man existed on earth; his divine authority over man’s life is supreme. â€Å"Life is God-given and therefore has intrinsic sanctity, significance and worth† (Russel, 2008). Truly, those that advocate assisted suicide, or physician-assisted suicide do not adhere to this divine belief, instead deny it. Moreover, the boundaries of the life of men are determined solely by God--the author of birth and death of man. A biblical perspective that Christ identifies with suffering humanity, affirms suffering humanity, and heals suffering humanity. â€Å"Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price† (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). God forbid the claims of others against another person’s life and the claims of man on their lives (â€Å"A Biblical Perspective,† n.d.). In addition, the Baptist contended that assisted dying violates the sanctity of human life, (â€Å"What are Christian,† 2009.) while, Roman Catholic firmly opposed to both suicide and euthanasia (â€Å"Euthanasia and Christianity,† 2011). The Laws Regarding Assisted Suicide In the United States of America, since the legalization of abortion was ratified, it opened the door for public debate--including leaders of some religious groups. Since the protections for the unborn were uplifted, it paved the way for a different view regarding the sacredness of life. There are over 34 states that have built a law

Are eating disorders directly connected to the media Term Paper

Are eating disorders directly connected to the media - Term Paper Example Role models represented in the media are often mostly appearance and too often, little substance. According to perceptions precipitated by the media girls are ideally blonde, tall and slim with unblemished complexions. The idea of the ‘Barbie complex,’ propagated primarily by the media, positions the ‘norm’ of society at practically impossible standards. This has fashioned a culture that is exceedingly focused on appearance to the great disadvantage of most persons within it. There is an obvious connection between many aspects of the ‘appearance culture’ and increased instances of negative self-image and peer acceptance leading to eating disorders among teenagers. Girls who enter school without an already chubby figure start to think of themselves as being overweight, a perception that becomes increasingly cemented into their minds as their peers also start making these same associations. A continuous cycle begins causing the child to gain addit ional weight as a consequence of the emotional distress they feel because they are physically handicapped and can’t compete with other kids on the playground or sports field. Additionally, they don’t conform to the social ideals. ... einforce their child’s perception of themselves by unconsciously or consciously expecting them to be less active and less intelligent than their peers, again judging the child by their looks. The spotlight on beauty as a means of acquiring society’s approval is also emphasized by adults, mainly women, who think plastic surgery is a suitable means of getting it. Desiring to emotionally break away from the harassment of their childhood, many teenagers wish to have body altering surgery performed as well. In a study involving 2,000 girls, average age of 14, â€Å"four out of ten said they would consider plastic surgery to make themselves slimmer† regardless of their existing weight status (Gustafson, 2005). For those who either can’t afford or are repulsed by the thought of plastic surgery, the only choice they see available often emerges as a type of eating disorder, most frequently bulimia, a pattern of indulgent eating followed by forced vomiting, or anore xia, a sustained routine of deliberate starvation. Often thought to be based within issues of appearance and ‘not fitting the mold’, these unhealthy patterns become issues in and of themselves. A variety of factors play a role as to why a child may become overweight, but the perception they develop of themselves is rooted chiefly on how closely they and their peers consider they measure up to a social standard. The media plays the most active role in constructing this social standard and therefore the perception of self for many people. People need to only glance quickly into a mirror to understand how well or inadequately they correspond with the ideal personas they view on TV. This is an automatic and natural process. There are many arguments that indicate people do and always will focus on outward

Assessment one - The role of ethics in Journalism Essay

Assessment one - The role of ethics in Journalism - Essay Example Umpteenth number of times the media has been blamed to be inaccurate and biased (â€Å"Ethical Issues in Journalism†). Englehardt and Barney express that utilitarianism â€Å"declares an action, intention or principle should be judged by the overall immediate outcomes† (16). The theory of utilitarianism rests on the principle of utility, where every action is approved or disapproved as per the propensity it seems to have with the purpose of augmenting or diminishing happiness of the part whose interest is in question (Harrison 67). Petrick & Quinn (48) suggest that utilitarianism signifies that the ethical value of an action is dependent on yielding the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Applying this concept to journalism ethics involves the practice of journalism in a technical sense into conflict with the corporate values (Breit 213). Although journalism regards ethical value on the basis of its effect on journalists’ potential to supply information, the media corporation calculates ethical values from the viewpoint of maximizing investor wealth (Breit 213). As per Sta tman, living according to utilitarianism implies â€Å"caring about principles, rules and obligations, not about real human beings† (7). According to Mills, the principle of utilitarianism is that the purpose of ethics is to direct people in performing things that will result in making the world a better place (Smith 47-52). In short, the utilitarians expect people to endeavor to perform in a manner that will yield â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number† (Smith 47-52). What actually matters is the consequences of our actions and not our motives or intentions (Smith 47-52). However, it is not always possible to determine the consequences of our actions (Smith 47-52). For instance, a reporter may think that a story about teen suicide may enable the schools and the public to understand and

Chemical castration and pedophiles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Chemical castration and pedophiles - Essay Example While many times the law enforcement agencies and the justice system have been in support of chemical castration in dealing with paedophiles, human rights activities have come up strongly to oppose the method, with claims that it amounts to a gross violation of the universal human rights. It is, however, emergent that the act does not violate human rights as is echoed by many proponents (Meiesenkothen, 1). These human rights are spelt out in both the constitutions of respective countries and the United Nations. This paper shall be focused on why chemical castration is a necessary measure in dealing with the matter of paedophilia. Thus this paper shall be written on the basis of the thesis statement that reads thus: While some people bear the claim that chemical castration amounts to a violation of human rights, chemical castration can serve as an effective measure in the rehabilitation of paedophiles, especially paraphilia, by mitigating to a significant level the sexual urges of off enders and in the same sense avoiding more instances of sexual abuse (Fond, 18). The employment of chemical translation can be traced back to 1944. Back then, a chemical called the diethylstilbestrol was used to manipulate the hormonal reactions of sexual offenders by lowering their levels of testosterone. The trend has continued to be widely debated all over the world, with debates being held all over the world by legislators and governments so as to explore the possibilities of employing chemical castration in punishment of sexual violence perpetrators. Paedophilia is a major problem for many countries. Paedophilia is a case where an adult involves a child under the age of maturity in sexual activities. In some cases, this kind of an offence is seen as a medical condition of a psychological nature. In most cases of paedophilia, the courts instruct that the suspect undertakes an examination to determine the status of their mental health. In law, it has become

Use of Ace Inhibitors for Treatment of Hypertension Essay Example for Free

Use of Ace Inhibitors for Treatment of Hypertension Essay The prevalence of hypertension globally has sparked much research on medications and ways to cure it. Although there are varieties of medications available in the market to control hypertension, there are still none that can actually cure it. Until the time a drug to cure hypertension emerges, hypertension will be controlled by the use of antihypertensive drugs. Among the few well known classes of antihypertensive drugs is a group of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors are a fairly recent addition to the antihypertensive drug class and have been widely used since then due to its many potential benefits. ACE inhibitors are indicated for many conditions which include hypertension, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders, and prevention of nephropathy in diabetes mellitus. When used in hypertension, it is done so in combination with diuretics with fairly good results. (Merck, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of ACE inhibitors is especially useful for congestive heart failure patients. Therefore, it is indicated in cases where hypertension exists in correlation with congestive heart failure. There has been a significant decrease in the overall morbidity and mortality rates of patients suffering from both the conditions when using ACE inhibitors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The mode of action of these drugs is many fold, and for that reason very effective in the treatment of hypertension. For instance, it acts on the vascular system to reduce vascular pressure, which allows for less arterial pressure, combined with more venous capacity, thus immediately reducing the blood pressure. Alongside, it increases cardiac output and cardiac index and stroke volume. The main function of the ACE inhibitors, however, is the inhibition of the ACE enzyme, which is responsible for increased vascular pressure, ventricular remodeling, production of aldosterone and vasopressin respectively. (Katzung, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Such drugs however, require careful dosage regimes based on extensive studying of the case, as there are many side effects associated with these drugs. The most common of these include hypotension, due to the vasodilator effect of the drugs.(Merck, 2003)   The second most common problem is the development of persistent cough in such patients, which leads to reduction in patient compliance. The bid and tid dosage regimes also reduce the patients’ compliance. Due to its renal effects, ACE inhibitors must be used carefully in cases where damage to the kidney is expected or the kidneys are functionally impaired. For example, in patients with renal artery stenosis, the use of these drugs can lead to renal impairment. The prevention of release of aldosterone caused by these drugs impairs excretion of potassium in the body, which can lead to hyperkalemia. Increased levels can also lead to the development of angioedema, which can be life threatening. ACE inhibitors are also contraindicated in patients who are pregnant as it is teratogenic in nature. (Kaplan and Rose, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the mode of activity of these drugs, the ACE inhibitors become contraindicated in cases of history of angioedemas or renal artery stenosis, compromised renal functioning capacities, aortic valve stenosis and in patients suffering from hypovolumia. (Klabunde, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many drugs now belong to this category, however, the paper will discuss three of these, captopril, enalapril and lisinopril.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Captopril main mode of action lies in the suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. By inhibiting the ACE inhibitor, angiotensin I is prevented from converting into angiotensin II.   Captopril enjoys universal attention due to the fact that it is the first ACE inhibitor introduced. Its mode of action and its effect were considered a breakthrough at the time of its conception. Its action is two fold. Firstly, it helps in dilating the vessels, thereby helping reduce blood pressure. Secondly, it has shown very good performance in the cases of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. And thirdly, it has shown good results in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy. (www.rxlist.com)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is very little difference in the working of all the ACE drugs, however, captopril differs in this respect due to its shorter duration of action and increased chances of adverse effects.   This intensity of side effects potentiated further research, the result of which was the introduction of enalapril in the market, and still further drugs subsequently. Regardless of the drug, the ACE inhibitors generally take several weeks of administration to give full effectiveness and results. When used with thiazide diuretics, the results achieved are even more.(Merck, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Captopril is administered one hour before meals to achieve maximum peak volume concentration, which is reached within an hour of ingestion of drug. Initial dosage may be as low as 25 mg bid or tid, and gradually can be increased to double dose bid or tid. The addition of thiazide diuretics is usually carried out when using captopril alone at 50 mg alone does not sufficiently control blood pressure.(Katzung, 2004) This range can be increased to 150 mg per day, provided the use of a thiazide diuretic is also carried out. The administration of drug results in the lowering of blood pressure within one hour. Renal blood flow is increased; however, the GFR remains unchanged. When used with digitalis, captopril shows good efficacy in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Its use has been very favorable in patients who had previously suffered from myocardial infarction, or those with left ventricular dysfunction. In case of LVD and CHF or MI, the usual starting dose is 50 mg target dose. (Kaplan and Rose, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚     Captopril has shown to increase the risk of developing neutropenia and agranulocytosis and therefore, full blood picture is mandatory for patients using captopril for a prolonged period. Also, since mode of elimination from the body is through the kidneys, the use of captopril becomes contraindicated or at least under observation in cases of renal impairment or dysfunction. (Katzung, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enalapril is the second drug introduced in the ACE inhibitor series. The main reason for its production was to eliminate the problems seen with the use of captopril. As in captopril, the drug utilizes the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Production of enalapril involved changing the molecular constitution of captopril, and therefore, the final result was the first dicarboxylate- containing ACE inhibitor, or enalaprilat. However, this modification limited the use of this drug as intravenous injection only. Further modifications in this structure led to the oral form by the name enalapril. (www.rxlist.com)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enalapril works by converting itself through hydrolysis into enalaprilat in the body. Enalaprilat then inhibits the ACE enzyme. The peak serum levels are reached within an hour of administration of the drug. As opposed to captopril, enalapril absorption is independent of gastric contents; rather it is dependant on the urinary recovery. In hypertensive patients, the dosage of enalapril results in both supine and standing but not orthostatic hypotension. This effect is not seen in case of captopril. The antihypertensive activity becomes visible within one hour of administration of the drug. This effect then remains for around 24 hours. Similar to captopril, enalapril shows improved hypertensive control when administered with a thiazide diuretic. it is also indicated for cases suffering from heart failure, and asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. (Kaplan and Rose, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Unlike captopril, which can be administered simultaneously with a preceding diuretic, enalapril can only be started after cessation of the diuretic after two to three days. This is essential to minimize the risk of developing hypotension. If this is not possible a test dose of 2.5 mg is given for at least two hours under observation, and the drug administered accordingly. The usual dosage regime may vary from 10 to 40 mg per day, and that is if the patient is not on a diuretic. Dose adjustment becomes necessary for patients who have impaired renal function, which may require reduction of the dose to almost half of the average 5 mg. this dosage is amenable to changes based on the blood pressure response seen. (www.rxlist.com)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enalapril is highly favored over captopril as it has lesser side effects than its predecessor. It has a well toleration response, and the adverse effects are very mild in nature. Patients may complain of fatigue, asthenia, diarrhea and nausea, headache and dizziness, cough and skin rash. These symptoms can be present with varying degrees according to the reason why the drug is being administered. For example in heart cases, it can also lead to syncope symptoms and some differences in the special sensory perceptions. Angioedema is perhaps the most serious side effect of enalapril, with severity seen more in blacks than in non-black populations. This can be very fatal should laryngeal angioedema ensue. Initial doses can lead to fall of blood pressure and hypotension, which must be monitored very closely. Hyperkalemia, increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinin levels, and decrease in hematocrit and hemoglobin can also be seen. Liver enzymes can also become elevated. (Merck manual, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The effects of enalapril were much improved and effective with lesser side effects when compared to captopril, however, the speed of effect was still high in the case of captopril. The third drug to get introduced in the series of ACE inhibitors became lisinopril. The drug was important as it was the first hydrophilic ACE inhibitor introduces, with longer half life and penetration in the tissue. The drug remains the same even after excretion from the body, and is indicated for all the conditions mentioned above for which ACE inhibitors are introduced. While captopril and enalapril were made for bid and tid dosages, lisinopril, due to its longer half life, is generally administered once a day, helping aid patient compliance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The mode of action is similar to its sister drugs, that is the drug acts by inhibiting the ACE enzyme. The peak serum concentration of this drug however, is reached after 7 hours, compared to one hour of both captopril and enalapril. When used for hypertension, it results in the reduction of both standing and supine hypertension, with â€Å"no compensatory tachycardia†(Rx list, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The dosage of lisinopril is given according to the drug history of the patient. Patients with no use of diuretics are given 10 mg per day as initial dose. This can be increased from 20 to 40 mg as the case may need. In diuretic using patients, the protocol for the administration of lisinopril is the same as for enalapril. The diuretic is stopped two to three days prior to the administration of lisinopril, and observed for signs of hypotension. Dosage is then adjusted according to the body response of the patient. This drug should not be given along with any potassium supplements as it can lead to hyperkalemia. Renal status similarly, addresses the dosage of the drug, with 10 mg as standard for normal kidney function, 5 mg for moderate to severe renal impairment, and 2.5 mg or so for dialysis patients after proper observation and blood pressure response. (Klabubde, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Side effects of lisinopril are not so different from the side effects seen in the case of enalapril and captopril. However, cough becomes the primary side effect of this drug along with fatigue and asthenia etc. In all cases of ACE inhibitors, the side effects must be monitored closely and managed accordingly should the need arise. (ACE Inhibitors, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, the introduction of ACE inhibitors has been a welcome addition in the antihypertensive drug family and is now used widely due to its excellent prognosis in patients with concurrent heart conditions. Its use with thiazide diuretics has been widely documented and further studies will help in the introduction of much improved brands of ACE inhibitors. References ACE inhibitor drugs. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from www.rxlist.com ACE inhibitors, 2004. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from http://www.chfpatients.com/ace_old.htm Norman A Kaplan and Burton D Rose, 2007. ACE inhibitors in the Treatment of Hypertension. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=hyperten/10107#1 Richard E. Klabunde, 2007. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from http://cvpharmacology.com/vasodilator/ACE.htm Bertram G. Katzung, 2004. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, ninth edition. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Second Home Edition. Section III, Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders.

Clinical Objectives Of The Operating Room Nursing Essay

Clinical Objectives Of The Operating Room Nursing Essay The Pre-operative nurse has many duties to perform for their patients prior to surgery. Patients usually go through the Assessment Clinic prior to being transported to the Outpatient facilities. However, if patients do not go through the Assessment Clinic, it is the pre-operative nurses duty to gather this information. The information to be gathered prior to surgery is as follows; past medical history, last flu/pneumonia vaccination, prior surgeries, assessment of various pre-existing disorders/diseases processes (such as hypertension, migraines, diabetes, heart trouble, etc.), current medications (dosage, frequency, last dose taken), name and phone number of a family member, pain assessment, NPO status, assessment of any metal in or on the patients body (can it be removed), alcohol/tobacco/drug use, if the patient has any dentures, glasses, or contacts that need to be removed prior to surgery, and what procedure is being done and the location of the body the procedure is to be done on. When all of the Administration Assessment is complete, the nurse then starts to prep the patient for surgery according to her duties. The pre-operative nurses have many duties. The nurse is to start by checking the physicians orders against the chart for the specific procedure being done. The nurse must also ensure any lab work ordered is with in normal limits for that patient. If there is previous history of heart conditions, the patient must be cleared through radiology prior to surgery; the nurse is responsible for making sure all appropriate forms from radiology are present and signed accordingly. Prior to being administered any medications or having any invasive procedures (IV), the nurse explains the procedure to the patient and makes sure they have no questions. The nurse then ensures that all surgery consent forms are present and signed by the patient. For any female patients that are not post-menopausal or has not had a hysterectomy, the nurse must get a urinalysis to rule o ut possible pregnancy prior to surgery. The nurse applies Sequential Compression Devices (SCDs) to the patients calves to help prevent blood clots during surgery. The patients respiratory status is confirmed through obtaining RR, HR and BP. The pre-operative nurse does not typically obtain these vitals as the OR aids are responsible for this; however, the nurse is responsible for making sure the vitals are within normal ranges for that patient and that the patients vitals are charted. The nurse then starts the patients IV. Prior to injecting the Jelco, the nurse administers 0.1 ml of lidocaine, intro-dermally to numb the area. This helps calm the patients anxieties due to the thought of the smaller needle delivering a numbing agent before the big needle is inserted. If the physician has ordered a catheter prior to surgery, the nurse is responsible for carrying out these orders. This is a sterile procedure and can be performed by the pre-operative nurse. After all of these duties have been performed, the nurse does another pain assessment on the patient. If it is deemed necessary for pain medication administration, the nurse will notify the physician by phone and the nurse takes a telephone medication order. It is the nurses responsibility to make sure the physician comes back and signs the telephone medication order that was given over the phone as well as to carry out the orders as soon as she can so the patient is not in any pain. Antibiotics are almost always ordered prior to any surgery. If antibiotics are ordered, the nurse will administer through IV already established. All duties performed must be charted prior to patient being transferred to the operating room. The nurse will continue to check in on the patient periodically until the patient is taken back into surgery. Duties of the Intra-operative Nurse Once the patient is ready for surgery, they are transferred to the intra-operative nurse. The intra-operative nurse does a pre-op interview asking the patient of any allergies, any metals in or on the body, and if these metals can be removed. If the metal can be removed, it is the intra-operative nurses responsibility to remove it and secure it to either a family member or where ever determined appropriate by said nurse. The intra-operative nurse is responsible for the patient during surgery and until they are transferred to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). The intra-operative nurse must maintain a log of times for entering the OR, intubation, anesthesia administration, Foley catheter insertion, when surgery starts, and when surgery stops. The intra-operative nurse is the only personnel in the operating room that is not sterile and therefore can leave the operating room during surgery to obtain any supplies needed such as extra sutures, emergency supplies in case a patient codes , etc. For this reason the intra-operative nurse is called the Circulator. The intra-operative nurse assists the anesthesiologist with placements of the intubation tube and the naso-gastric tube. Blood pressure cuff, EKG (3 Lead), and Pulse Ox are all attached to the patient by the intra-operative nurse. The nurse applies a sticky Bovie pad to the patients outside, upper thigh. The Bovie sends probes of electricity through the patients body during surgery which cauterizes the patients veins and helps minimize bleeding. This is the reason for removing any metal prior to surgery. Once the patient is under anesthesia, the nurse is responsible for correctly positioning the patient on the operating table according to the procedure being performed and maintaining the patients safety during surgery. Once positioning is correct, the nurse begins to prep the patient for surgery. This includes cleaning the surgical area, as well as, any areas nearby that could contaminate the surgical procedure or compromise the sterile field. The prep solution of choice for this facility is Betadine. The nurse cleans the surgical site and surrounding areas three times with the prep solution, using a fresh prep sponge each time and patted the area with sterile drape cloths in between each cleansing. The intra-operative nurse also hooks up the suction canisters and preps a bag of normal saline used for irrigation. The intra-operative nurse is also responsible for counting all instruments and sponges before surgery, before suturing, and after suturing. All of these duties are performed before the attending physician enters the operating room. Once the surgeon enters the room, the intra-operative nurse assists him/her with donning sterile gloves, gown, and mask and a Time Out is performed. The Time out procedure consists of specific verbal reports between the intra-operative nurse, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon. Patient ID is established through chart, arm band, and stating aloud by the intra-operative nurse. The procedure is read aloud from the informed consent. Any imaging required prior to surgery is confirmed labeled and stated to be present. Pre-procedure antibiotics, dosage, and route are stated aloud by the intra-operative nurse. Any safety precautions such as history of drug allergies, medication uses, etc. are stated aloud by the intra-operative nurse. Once all of this information has been stated aloud, the intra-operative nurse says, Does everyone agree? at which time all personnel must say aloud, Agreed. Once surgery has begun, the nurse calls a friend or family member to inform them surgery has begun. The nurse is to call the family every hour that the patient is in the operating room. During surgery, the nurse is responsible for answering the phone, turning lights off and on, adjusting the heating or air conditioning, positioning any unsterile equipment, removing and reapplying any sterile garments, keeping track and charting what supplies were used for that patients procedure, and any extra equipment needed by surgical personnel during surgery for billing purposes. Also during surgery, the intra-operative nurse is to chart all times logged, any specimens (body parts) removed, sutures used, anyone present in the operating room, amount of any fluids collected through suctioning, and who performed what procedures. If any specimens were removed, the intra-operative nurse is responsible for labeling and delivering to the lab. Once all supplies are accounted for and the patient is released from the operating room, the patient is transferred to the PACU. duties of the PACU nurse I was not able to observe a nurse performing duties in the PACU, however, one of the nurses was kind enough to sit with me and explain some of their duties. Once a patient is transferred to the PACU, the PACU nurse applies a face mask delivering oxygen and vitals are obtained every ten minutes. The vitals obtained include blood pressure, pulse ox and EKG readings. The PACU nurse must monitor the patients temperature, as well as patients hemodynamics for any rhythm changes according to the patients medical history. Patients are set up with a Patient controlled analgesic unit (PCA unit) to deliver pain medication PRN as deemed by the patient at the push of a button. The PCA unit is designed to only deliver a specific amount of pain medication regardless of how often the patient pushes the button therefore the patient is not at risk of overdosing and doesnt have to wait on the nurse to administer pain medication. If a Foley catheter hasnt been inserted yet, the PACU nurse will perform this duty as the patient will not have bathroom privileges until they are Post-op. PACU nurses cannot intubate, however, they can ex-tubate. The PACU nurse is also responsible for discontinuing arterial lines, inserting nerve blocks for pain management, and filling out all proper forms and charting. PACU nurses can only care for a maximum of two patients at a time. However, if the patient is less than eight years of age or an Intensive Care Unit patient, then that will be the PACU nurses only patient until they are transferred to post-op. Once the patient is awake and determined to be stable, they are transferred back to Outpatient where they were prepped Pre-op. DUTIES OF THE PRE-OPERATIVE NURSE Once patients are transferred back to Outpatient area, a Pre-operative nurse assumes responsibility for the patient until discharge, but performs post-op duties. Vitals are obtained every thirty minutes by the outpatient aids, but are charted and monitored by the post-operative nurse. The nurse assesses the surgical site for bleeding or excess swelling if the site is visible. The patients pain is assessed and the PCA button is placed well within reach for the patient. The post-operative nurse checks physicians orders for discharge pain medications and calls the order into the patients personal pharmacy of choice. The nurse discontinues the patients IV, catheter, and SCDs. The family or whoever is providing transportation home for the patient is notified and allowed to return to the Outpatient prep area until patient is discharged. The post-operative nurse also gathers any discharge instructions as ordered by the physician and sets the post-op follow-up appointment prior to discharge. The physician will specify the criteria in which the patient must fulfill before the patient is discharged. For example, if kidney stones were zapped, the patient must void freely at least once before discharge. The post -operative nurse is responsible for ensuring that all required information in regards to forms being signed and paperwork required in medical record is present, and all charting required is complete for that patient. ONE ASPECT OF PATIENT TEACHING One aspect of patient teaching that I identified was during post-op and prior to discharge. The example I observed was when the post-operative nurse specified to the patient what she should expect in the days to come, specifically how to wipe after going to the bathroom, as well as specific warning signs of complications that would need immediate attention. WHAT WERE MY STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES I believe my strengths were first and foremost my previous, in-class instruction. I felt very informed and knew what supplies were needed and how to start an IV. Secondly, I believe my willingness to learn whatever the staff wanted to teach me without reserve is another one of my strengths. My weakness was my not understanding the jargon used by everyone. I had to repeatedly ask what all of the acronyms used stood for. It seemed that they had an acronym for everything. I believe the more clinical hours I am able to participate in, the more jargon I will learn. I also believe that taking a medical terminology class would be a tremendous asset to my education investment.

What I’ve learned in EGEE :: Energy Educational Reflective Essays

What I’ve learned in EGEE When I was first told in class that I had to write my first essay in EGEE about what I knew about energy, I figured it would be easy. I knew what everyone knew about energy: some comes from the sun, some is used to make machines work, and some is used to make our bodies work. However, after the first four weeks of EGEE I’ve learned more about energy than I learned in four years of high school. I’ve learned definitions of energy, power, and heat to name a few, and I’ve also learned different units of energy and power measurements. The first things we learned in EGEE I thought I already knew, but I only had superficial knowledge about such things energy, heat, and radiation. For example, I thought that energy was simply the ability to work. However I learned that it is the capacity to do work (Kraushaar and Ristinen 8), generating heat, and emitting radiation (lecture 1/9/02). I also learned that the formula for energy is work = force x distance (1/9/02). Heat, we learned, is the ability to change the temperature or phase of a substance; radiation is energy emitted in the form of waves traveling at the speed of light (1/11/02). I always thought that heat was the temperature of something, and radiation was emitted from microwaves and nuclear waste. Now I know more about these things than I did before. I also learned about the units of measurement for energy, power, and temperature. The btu, or British thermal unit, is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit (Kraushaar and Ristinen 13-14) and the Calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius (1/11/02). A joule is the energy unit for the metric system, and 1055 joules = one btu = 0.252 Calories (1/11/02). Also, we learned that one gallon of gasoline is equal to 124,000 btus, one pound of coal is equal to 13,000 btus, and one cubic foot of natural gas is equal to 1,000 btus (1/11/02).

The system I am designing for MR Cork can be done by using many :: Computer Science

The system I am designing for MR Cork can be done by using many different solutions. The different solutions and both their good and bad points are mentioned below. Possible Solutions Solution for current system After reviewing the way in which the current system operates in the analysis section, I believe that by organising the current diary system and making it more organised would be a major benefit to Mr Cork. A folder of customer details can be implemented into the system and would store such information customer details, including phone numbers, addresses and any other relevant information required by Mr Cork. Information on bookings made by customers can also be stored in these files and the cost of the jobs as well in order for bills and receipts to be produced more efficiently and accurately. Advantages - · The system and the process of customer detail storage is more organised leading to it being more efficient. - · End user will not need to learn any special computer skills or go through any computer training in order to benefit form this solution. - · This solution would add minimal additional costs to the end user as no specific machinery is needed for it to be implemented. Disadvantages  · As documents are being stored in manual files and in the form of paper work and not stored on a computer database or spreadsheet then the end user may have an overload of paper documents especially if Mr. Cork holds many customer's details.  · This approach does not really modernise MR Corks approach to doing things more efficiently.  · Talking in terms of speed and organisation is still not as efficient as a computerised system.  · Computer system would give the company a better image. Solution using Microsoft Access Microsoft access is a form of relational database management system. A database can be defined as a collection of data which can be shared amongst different applications. As a result of this electronic data store relationships between data entities can be formed. When two different entities can be related to one another a link can be made. As a result of this data redundancy is minimalised, which involves repeating data. By using Microsoft access the user is able to produce reports forms and tables as well. Advantages . Developing or modifying the data stored in Microsoft Access can be done much easier than if database was conducted manually. - Reports can be also be added, modified, or new ones created based on already existing data. - The way in which data is added to the database is reasonably easy

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema Essay -- Anthropology

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema What is the precise geographical location of this strange tribe, the Nacirema? The Nacirema is a North American group living in the territory between the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Arawak of the Antilles. Little is known of their origin, though tradition states that they came from the east. What are the private and secret shrines of the Nacirema? In the Nacirema, the belief is that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. Every household has one or more shrines devoted to the hope that mans body will be changed through the use of the powerful influences of ritual and ceremony. Each family has at least on such shrine; the rituals associated with it are not family ceremonies but are private and secret. The rites are normally only discussed with children, and then only during the period when they are being initiated into these mysteries. The focal point of the shrine is a box or chest which is built into the wall. Many charms and magical potions without which no native believes he could live. These preparations are secured from a variety of specialized practitioners. The most powerful of these are the medicine men, whose assistance must be rewarded with substantial gifts. Who are the Nacirema’s holy-mouth-men? In the hierarchy of magical practitioners, and below the medicine men in prestige, are specialists whose designation is b...

Formats of Income Statement and Balance Sheet Essay

Income statement: In the case of sole proprietary and partnership concerns there are no prescribed forms of the income statement and balance sheet. Their preparation is also desirable but not compulsory. However, they are generally prepared. In the case of trading concern, a trading account and in the case of a manufacturing concern, a manufacturing account and a trading account can also be prepared. In such a case, the account heading is mentioned as follows: Manufacturing/trading and profit and loss account. In the case of joint stock companies’ preparation of the profit and loss account and balance sheet every year is compulsory. There is no prescribed form (except in the case of banking and insurance companies) of the income statement or profit and loss account. The account is titled as â€Å"Profit and loss account† The results of manufacturing and trading activities may; however, be shown separately in the account. The profit and loss account is usually prepared in a T shape. In the case of joint stock company, the manufacturing, trading and profit and loss account is prepared in the above format except with three modifications: I.The heading given is only â€Å"Profit and loss account† for taxation in the profit and loss account; II.The net profit is shown after making provisions for taxation in the profit and loss account; III.Figures, for the previous period, if any, have also to be given. Profit and loss appropriation account: In the case of joint stock companies, a profit and loss appropriation account is also prepared. It explains as to how the profit earned during the period has been distributed. Balance sheet: There is no prescribed form of balance sheet for a sole proprietary or a partnership concern. However, the assets and liabilities may be shown in any of the following orders: I.Liquidity order II.Permanency Order In case the concern adopts liquidity order, the assets which are more readily convertible into cash are taken into account initially and those which are not so readily convertible are taken into account subsequently. Similarly those liabilities which are payable first are taken into account initially and those payable later on are taken into account subsequently and so on. In the case of permanency order, the reverse order is followed. As per the law applicable to some governments, every balance sheet of a company shall give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year. Similarly, every profit and loss account of a company shall give a true and fair view of the profit or loss account of the company for the financial year.

Hazrat Ali Essay

Amongst the descendants of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S., Hazrat Ali A.S. belonged to the line of Quraish. He was the son of Abu Talib R.A., son of Abdul Muttalib of the distinguished tribe of Bani Hashim. Only one step above his lineage coincided with that of the Prophet S.A. of Islam. The latter being Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib and the former Ali bin Abi Talib bin Abdul Muttalib. It was his father Abu Talib who had nourished and brought up the Prophet (PBUH) His mother Fatima bint-e Asad was also a noble lady belonging to the tribe of Bani Hashim whom the Prophet (PBUH) regarded as his own mother. Birth Date & Place When the Prophet (PBUH) of God was thirty years old, Ali (A.S) was born on 13th of Rajab in the 30 year of Aamul Feel inside the sacred Kaaba. Family Background Amongst the descendants of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S., Hazrat Ali (A.S) belonged to the line of Quraish. He was the son of Abu Talib, son of Abdul Muttalib of the distinguished tribe of Bani Hashim. His mother Fatima bint-e Asad was also a noble lady belonging to the tribe of Bani Hashim whom the Prophet (SAW) regarded as his own mother. His Upbringing The responsibility for bringing him up devolved directly on Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) who devoted all his time and attention towards nurturing. It was owing to his inherent merit and capabilities coupled with the privilege of being brought up by the exalted personality of a guardian like the Prophet (SAW) that when the Prophet (PBUH) announced his Prophet hood Hazrat Ali (A.S)., though only ten years old, became his foremost follower and testifier of his claim. Marriage The first thing that the Prophet (PBUH) did on his arrival in Medina was to solemnize the marriage of his only daughter, Fatima Zahra with Ali A.S. The Prophet (PBUH) deeply loved his daughter and had so much respect for her that whenever she came to him he used to stand up in reverence. It was in the first year of Hijrah when the Prophet (PBUH) chose Ali A.S. for this honor. The wedding rites were performed with utmost simplicity. (a) He got three sons (Hasan, Husain and Muhsin), and two daughters (Zainab & Umm-i-Kulthum) from her. The youngest son, Muhsin died in childhood. After the death of Hazrat Fatimah he married a number of wives from time to time: (b) Umm al-Banin bin Hizam from whom he got ‘Abbas, Ja’far, ‘Abdullah and Uthman. All of these except Abbas were martyred at Karbala. (c) Saila bint Mas’ud who gave birth to ‘Ubaidullah and Abu Bakr. They were martyred at Karbala. (d) Asma bint Umais who gave birth to Yahya and Muhammad Asghar. (e) S ahba bint Rabi’a who gave birth to Umar and Ruqayyah. (f) Amamah bint Abil ‘As: She was daughter of Zainab (R.A.), daughter of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi we Salaam). Hadrat Ali got Muhammad Aswat from her. (g) Khaulah bint Jalfar who gave birth to Muhammad ibn (h) Umm-i-Sa’id who gave birth to Ummul Hasan and Ramlah Kubra. (i) Mahyah bint Ummul Qais, she gave birth to a daughter who died in childhood. Jihad In first battle of Islam, which is known as the battle of Badar Hazrat Ali had his first experience of fighting a battle? At that time he was He was only twenty-five years old. There were important battles of Uhud, Khandaq, Khaibar and lastly Hunain in which Ali A.S. accompanied the Prophet (SAW) and exhibited his incomparable valor as a warrior. Almost in all these battles Ali (A.S) held the office of standard-bearer also. In all these battles he exhibited indomitable valor and steadfastness. In these engagements, as in others, he showed utmost firmness, tolerance and nobility of character. Title Because of his bravely Hazrat Ali was popularly called â€Å"Asadullah†(The Lion of Allah). He was also known as Al-Murtaza, Al-Amir-ul-Mo’mineen. As Caliph Hazrat Ali (RA) was elected as Fourth Caliph after, the martyrdom of Hazrat Usman (RA), at a time when the world of Islam was in great turmoil In 35 A.H. the Muslims offered the office of Islamic Caliph to Ali (A.S). At first he refused, but when the insistence on part of the Muslims increased, he accepted it on the condition that he would rule strictly in accordance with the precepts laid down in the Quran and the Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet (SAW) without favor and partiality towards anybody. He was the greatest Mujtahid and jurist of his time and one of the greatest of all times. Justice was part of his soul and spirit and was attached to his heart. His administration steered clear of partisanship, favoritism or nepotism. * He was particularly severe on his Governors and kept a regular watch on their actions. * He reprimanded his own friends, governors and employees even if they accepted bread as bribe. * To him wealth was for the use of other needy persons and not for himself and his family. * He never hid his earnings because the purpose of his earning was to help the needy and the oppressed and to save them from the exploitation of the tyrants and to make their lives happier. His Services Besides participating in Jihad he was never averse to do anything for the sake of the Prophet S.A. and Islam. The tasks that he had to perform were of diverse nature. He was responsible for writing down treaties and letters. He was also the custodian of the recorded portions of the Quran. Besides, he was deputed to Yemen by the Prophet (SAW) for the propagation of Islam. As a result of his successful preaching, the entire Yemen embraced Islam. Martyrdom Alas, this protagonist of peace, equality and Islamic values could not escape the malicious designs of the worldly people. In the morning of 19 of the month of Ramadan 40 A.H. while offering prayers in the mosque he was fatally wounded by a sword dipped in poison. Ali A.S. spent two restless days on his sick bed in extreme pain and distress. Eventually the poison spread all over the body and he breathed his last on 21 of Ramadan at the time of morning Prayer. Hasan A.S. and Husain A.S. performed the funeral rites and that prince of humanity was buried at Najaf at the back of the city of Kufa. Distinguishing Publications NAHJAL BLAGHA AL- SAHIFAYE ALAVIYA The two mentioned books consist of sermons, letters, and sayings of Hazrat Ali (A.S). Nahj al-balaghah comprises various issues that cover major problems of metaphysics, theology, tafsir, hadith, prophetology, imamate, ethics, social philosophy, politics, administration, civics, science, literature, etc. Most of the discussions about various theological issues and philosophical notions in Islam have their origin in very book. The book not only reflects the spirit of early Islam and the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet (saw) in the proper perspective, but also serves as a guide to traverse the future in the light of these teachings. The importance of the Nahj-ul-Balagha lies in two dimensions. First, it speaks about the fundamental of Islam such as the matters concerning God, the human being, Islamic views of humanity, prophet hood and its position in human history a means of understanding Islam and thus necessary for us to study. Secondly, the Nahj-ul-Balagha refers to the social problems of a hypocritical society with which we deal today. Accordingly, this book can be a source of Inspiration for us as regards to the social and political problems of life and the possible solutions to them. It is a matter of regret that Nahj al-balaghah was not properly utilized by the Muslims as a source book of Islamic philosophy, kalam, fiqh, and ethics due to misconceptions about its attribution to Hazrat ‘Ali (A.S) In the presence of strong and sufficient evidence in support of the contents of the book being authentic, it was sheer prejudice and lack of the spirit of inquiry that was responsible for neglecting such a reliable source of Islamic ideas. Thoughts on Principal Subject Hazrat Ali’s letter to Malik-e-Ashter throws light on the importance of the principles of administration and justice as dictated by Islam. The following instructions in the form of a letter were written to him by Hazrat Ali, when he appointed him as Governor of Egypt. Highlights It (the letter) deals with the duties and obligations of rulers, their chief responsibilities, the question of rights and obligations, dispensation of justice, control over secretaries and subordinate staff. In it Hazrat Ali advises Malik: * To fight corruption and oppression amongst the officers; to control markets, imports and exports; to curb evils of profiteering and hoarding and of cornering and black marketing. In it he has also explained stages of various classes of society, the duties of government towards the lowest class, how are they to be looked after and how are their conditions to be improved. * He has also commented upon the rights of rulers over the ruled and of the ruled over the rulers. * There is a main central idea running all through these instructions, it is that of the Creator. The government is of God, the governors and the governed are both the creatures of God, their respective duties are laid down by God. * In short this letter is on the one hand the gospel of the principles of administration as taught by Holy Quran; a code to establish a kind and benevolent rule throwing light on various aspects of justice and mercy. On the other hand it is a thesis on the higher values of morality.

A Letter from the Trenches

I had attended to write earlier, however the Germans had us covered with the constant rain of shells falling, we had to stay on Guard duty to make sure they did not get here. On the way back, Zack got caught in a mudslide after one of the bombs hit the nearby hill. He went out like the others. My company just acquired some new novices to fight and obviously they hadn’t seen rats before, consequently they were scared and it wasn’t helped by our stories of how the brown rats ripped through the Germans brains and was still hungry. In fact, he got scared so much, we tried to hide in No Man’s Land to get away but their snipers shot through him quite literally.By the time it was safe, we had finished breakfast from the last of our uncontaminated supplies. And just after that we got on ‘Lice Duty’, picking out all those eggs was futile, as there were some hidden in the seams of the clothing. Those slugs and beetles were worse than ever, crowding the walls o f the little area for themselves. Just got a haircut so I am bald again so I have avoided the new nits problem.During when I am free, I like to do loads of stuff but I decided to make a war poem, I mean everyone else does. How does it sound? (Extract from Jesse Pole, ‘The Cole’)Who's for the trench– Are you, my laddie? Who'll follow French– Will you, my laddie? Who's fretting to begin? Who's going out to win? And who wants to save his skin– Do you, my laddie?What I am not going to include, is that rat problem. It is just to insensitive in my opinion as they killed 1.7million people so far because of their diseases and their extremely high fertility rate makes it almost impossible to get rid of them. Them are like a swarm of bees they will constantly annoy you. You know that trench foot I had, I finally got rid of it, I am cured no more shall those fungi on the side of the wall get the better of me.Stand to and Morning Hate wasn’t any differen t, repairing those bayonets. Those 3 hours of peace while breakfast was just amazing, the relief of not having to be in a trench, but there is Guard duty. You know, when someone out of each company waits behind at the machine guns, it’s yet to be me, but I’ve leaving the front line soon thankfully it’s been 70 days and the whole trench cycle thing will take over and I’ll be free for a year.Our platoon is quite lucky in my opinion as we are being provided free rum for our duty along with breakfast, because some of the others don’t get anything. Breakfast is during stand to and morning hate. Just cause the guns stopped firing, doesn’t mean there is rest, I mean if you come here, you will find yourself scurrying across like a mouse, because of the cleansing and checking of equipment. Both of the sides unofficially declare a truce I think, I mean at the time we are most off-guard; there is no gunfire. Just wait until a SO, senior officer, finds out that it happened again, he will send out one company to the German’s trenches through No Man’s Land and deserters were just killed.The kind of things we have to do after breakfast can be tiring I mean it is fun refilling sandbags and repairing duckboards but the amount of time it takes is forever. We would normally find out what we do by our NCOs. They’d assign us each a chore everyday just to try and make it more comforting to stay. After another heavy storm last night, I suspect we have to spend at least 2 hours reshaping the walls of the trenches to the correct shape because what usually happens is that the rain deforms the walls and makes the floor super muddy and almost impossible to work in. But that is not as hard as it seems, the equipment here is actually quite good compared to back out at home. The pumps functioned and all the muddy water was taken away without all the hard labour. There were a few other small roles that the NCOs would give us, tha t is to repair the trenches from yesterdays shelling  for todays and also to prepare all the ammunition.The main problem out here is boredom, the snipers on the Germans side look out over the 500 yard gap between us and them so it is almost impossible to move during daylight, otherwise you would be ‘moving’ ducks. Whilst stand to and morning hate was going on, if you finished your chores you do personal stuff like reading or writing letters back home. Most of them are censored, luckily being an Officer, I can write these types of things.Today I’m on patrol duty so I’ve been training in hand to hand combat skills such as knifing and boxing because whilst patrolling if we find a German patrol, we would have to either fight or run, and to me, running is not an option. Out on No Man’s Land, there is a variety of things to do such as repairing barbed wire and going to listening posts. However the most gruesome thing you could possibly do out there is r etrieve the dead bodies,, I mean that is gross.When you see dusk coming, you know you have to get ready for a big fight or probably a small battle, you would know it’s coming cause the general will launch a special cannon into No Man’s Land just to tell you to get ready. During these times supplies are normally shipped over because you would be likely to see enemy and friendly movement, and also that crawling over long grass to repair barbed wire can make a lot of sound and theoretically, get you killed Sometimes, lucky men would be sent to the supply trenches to pick up rations and ammo, whilst we are all on firing duty.During these times there is some one normally operating a machine gun for 2 hours. Any longer and they’d fall asleep. If they did, the penalty of risking the lives of everyone, is getting killed by the firing squad, but I don’t see how that is fair, I mean we are all sleep-deprived.Men were relieved form their roles as marksman and ground troops at night as well, these men would then cross the maze of networks to get back to safety. It once took an hour or two, because our equipment is heavy and it takes forever to actually get anywhere.Something you’ll have to get used to around here is that horrid smell. When something dies, it rots away and if not disposed of, it can really stink. Once, I heard this story that at the Somme Line, approximately 200 000 men were killed and it stank out the entire place, I mean dead corpses and noses just don’t go together well. The smell of creosol in the morning is OK now but when I first came, I almost killed myself.Well that’s all I can think of on the top of my head right now, got to go and do morning hate soon you know. Writing whilst I am meant to be sleeping doesn’t exactly help my sleeping problems but it does comfort in me knowing I’ll have the time to write it. You could come and help out one day, I mean they don’t ‘need†™ you back home working with the land girls and business men to grow and sell the food that you are making on mom’s farm.You’re sincerelyChristopher, your dear Brother A Letter from the Trenches My Dear BrotherI had attended to write earlier, however the Germans had us covered with the constant rain of shells falling, we had to stay on Guard duty to make sure they did not get here. On the way back, Zack got caught in a mudslide after one of the bombs hit the nearby hill. He went out like the others. My company just acquired some new novices to fight and obviously they hadn’t seen rats before, consequently they were scared and it wasn’t helped by our stories of how the brown rats ripped through the Germans brains and was still hungry. In fact, he got scared so much, we tried to hide in No Man’s Land to get away but their snipers shot through him quite literally.By the time it was safe, we had finished breakfast from the last of our uncontaminated supplies. And just after that we got on ‘Lice Duty’, picking out all those eggs was futile, as there were some hidden in the seams of the clothing. Those slugs and beetles were worse than ever, crowd ing the walls of the little area for themselves. Just got a haircut so I am bald again so I have avoided the new nits problem.During when I am free, I like to do loads of stuff but I decided to make a war poem, I mean everyone else does. How does it sound? (Extract from Jesse Pole, ‘The Cole’)Who's for the trench– Are you, my laddie? Who'll follow French– Will you, my laddie? Who's fretting to begin? Who's going out to win? And who wants to save his skin– Do you, my laddie?What I am not going to include, is that rat problem. It is just to insensitive in my opinion as they killed 1.7million people so far because of their diseases and their extremely high fertility rate makes it almost  impossible to get rid of them. Them are like a swarm of bees they will constantly annoy you. You know that trench foot I had, I finally got rid of it, I am cured no more shall those fungi on the side of the wall get the better of me.Stand to and Morning Hate wasnâ₠¬â„¢t any different, repairing those bayonets. Those 3 hours of peace while breakfast was just amazing, the relief of not having to be in a trench, but there is Guard duty. You know, when someone out of each company waits behind at the machine guns, it’s yet to be me, but I’ve leaving the front line soon thankfully it’s been 70 days and the whole trench cycle thing will take over and I’ll be free for a year.Our platoon is quite lucky in my opinion as we are being provided free rum for our duty along with breakfast, because some of the others don’t get anything. Breakfast is during stand to and morning hate. Just cause the guns stopped firing, doesn’t mean there is rest, I mean if you come here, you will find yourself scurrying across like a mouse, because of the cleansing and checking of equipment. Both of the sides unofficially declare a truce I think, I mean at the time we are most off-guard; there is no gunfire. Just wait until a SO, seni or officer, finds out that it happened again, he will send out one company to the German’s trenches through No Man’s Land and deserters were just killed.The kind of things we have to do after breakfast can be tiring I mean it is fun refilling sandbags and repairing duckboards but the amount of time it takes is forever. We would normally find out what we do by our NCOs. They’d assign us each a chore everyday just to try and make it more comforting to stay. After another heavy storm last night, I suspect we have to spend at least 2 hours reshaping the walls of the trenches to the correct shape because what usually happens is that the rain deforms the walls and makes the floor super muddy and almost impossible to work in. But that is not as hard as it seems, the equipment here is actually quite good compared to back out at home.The pumps functioned and all the muddy water was taken away without all the hard labour. There were a few other small roles that the NCOs w ould give us, that is to repair the trenches from yesterdays shelling  for todays and also to prepare all the ammunition.The main problem out here is boredom, the snipers on the Germans side look out over the 500 yard gap between us and them so it is almost impossible to move during daylight, otherwise you would be ‘moving’ ducks. Whilst stand to and morning hate was going on, if you finished your chores you do personal stuff like reading or writing letters back home. Most of them are censored, luckily being an Officer, I can write these types of things.Today I’m on patrol duty so I’ve been training in hand to hand combat skills such as knifing and boxing because whilst patrolling if we find a German patrol, we would have to either fight or run, and to me, running is not an option. Out on No Man’s Land, there is a variety of things to do such as repairing barbed wire and going to listening posts. However the most gruesome thing you could possibly do out there is retrieve the dead bodies,, I mean that is gross.When you see dusk coming, you know you have to get ready for a big fight or probably a small battle, you would know it’s coming cause the general will launch a special cannon into No Man’s Land just to tell you to get ready. During these times supplies are normally shipped over because you would be likely to see enemy and friendly movement, and also that crawling over long grass to repair barbed wire can make a lot of sound and theoretically, get you killed Sometimes, lucky men would be sent to the supply trenches to pick up rations and ammo, whilst we are all on firing duty.During these times there is some one normally operating a machine gun for 2 hours. Any longer and they’d fall asleep. If they did, the penalty of risking the lives of everyone, is getting killed by the firing squad, but I don’t see how that is fair, I mean we are all sleep-deprived.Men were relieved form their roles as ma rksman and ground troops at night as well, these men would then cross the maze of networks to get back to safety. It once took an hour or two, because our equipment is heavy and it takes forever to actually get anywhere.Something you’ll have to get used to around here is that horrid smell. When something dies, it rots away and if not disposed of, it can really stink. Once, I heard this story that at the Somme Line, approximately 200 000 men were killed and it stank out the entire place, I mean dead corpses and noses just don’t go together well. The smell of creosol in the morning is OK now but when I first came, I almost killed myself.Well that’s all I can think of on the top of my head right now, got to go and do morning hate soon you know. Writing whilst I am meant to be sleeping doesn’t exactly help my sleeping problems but it does comfort in me knowing I’ll have the time to write it. You could come and help out one day, I mean they don’t ‘need’ you back home working with the land girls and business men to grow and sell the food that you are making on mom’s farm.You’re sincerelyChristopher, your dear Brother

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 15 PRESSURE

IT WAS SPRING BREAK IN FORKS AGAIN. WHEN I WOKE UP on Monday morning, I lay in bed for a few seconds absorbing that. Last spring break, I'd been hunted by a vampire, too. I hoped this wasn't some kind of tradition forming. Already I was falling into the pattern of things in La Push. I'd spent Sunday mostly on the beach, while Charlie hung out with Billy at the Blacks' house. I was supposed to be with Jacob, but Jacob had other things to do, so I wandered alone, keeping the secret from Charlie. When Jacob dropped in to check on me, he apologized for ditching me so much. He told me his schedule wasn't always this crazy, but until Victoria was stopped, the wolves were on red alert. When we walked along the beach now, he always held my hand. This made me brood over what Jared had said, about Jacob involving his â€Å"girlfriend.† I supposed that that was exactly what it looked like from the outside. As long as Jake and I knew how it really was, I shouldn't let those kinds of assumptions bother me. And maybe they wouldn't, if I hadn't known that Jacob would have loved for things to be what they appeared. But his hand felt nice as it warmed mine, and I didn't protest. I worked Tuesday afternoonJacob followed me on his bike to make sure I arrived safelyand Mike noticed. â€Å"Are you dating that kid from La Push? The sophomore?† He asked, poorly disguising the resentment in his tone. I shrugged. â€Å"Not in the technical sense of the word. I do spent most of my time with Jacob, though. He's my best friend.† Mike's eyes narrowed shrewdly. â€Å"Don't kid yourself, Bella. The guy's head over heels for you.† â€Å"I know,† I sighed. â€Å"Life is complicated.† â€Å"And girls are cruel,† Mike said under his breath. I supposed that was an easy assumption to make, too. That night, Sam and Emily joined Charlie and me for dessert at Billy's house. Emily brought a cake that would have won over a harder man than Charlie. I could see, as the conversation flowed naturally through a range of casual subjects, that any worries Charlie might have harbored about gangs in La Push were being dissolved. Jake and I skipped out early, to get some privacy. We went out to his garage and sat in the Rabbit. Jacob leaned his head back, his face drawn with exhaustion. â€Å"You need some sleep, Jake.† â€Å"I'll get around to it.† He reached over and took my hand. His skin was blazing on mine. â€Å"Is that one of those wolf things?† I asked him. â€Å"The heat, I mean.† â€Å"Yeah. We run a little warmer than the normal people. About one-oh-eight, one-oh-nine. I never get cold anymore. I could stand like this†he gestured to his bare torso†in a snowstorm and it wouldn't bother me. The flakes would turn to rain where I stood.† â€Å"And you all heal fastthat's a wolf thing, too?† â€Å"Yeah, wanna see? It's pretty cool.† His eyes flipped open and he grinned. He reached around me to the glove compartment and dug around for a minute. His hand came out with a pocketknife. â€Å"No, I do not want to see!† I shouted as soon as I realized what he was thinking. â€Å"Put that away!† Jacob chuckled, but shoved the knife back where it belonged. â€Å"Fine. It's a good thing we heal, though. You can't go see just any doctor when you're running a temperature that should mean you're dead.† â€Å"No, I guess not.† I thought about that for a minute. â€Å" And being so bigthat's part of it? Is that why you're all worried about Quil?† â€Å"That and the fact that Quil's grandfather says the kid could fry an egg on his forehead.† Jacob's face turned hopeless. â€Å"It won't be long now. There's no exact age it just builds and builds and then suddenly† He broke off, and it was a moment before he could speak again. â€Å"Sometimes, if you get really upset or something, that can trigger it early. But I wasn't upset about anythingI was happy.† He laughed bitterly. â€Å"Because of you, mostly. That's why it didn't happen to me sooner. Instead it just kept on building up inside meI was like a time bomb. You know what set me off? I got back from that movie and Billy said I looked weird. That was all, but I just snapped. And then II exploded. I almost ripped his face offmy own father!† He shuddered, and his face paled. â€Å"Is it really bad, Jake?† I asked anxiously, wishing I had some way to help him. â€Å"Are you miserable?† â€Å"No, I'm not miserable,† he told me. â€Å"Not anymore. Not now that you know. That was hard, before.† He leaned over so that his cheek was resting on top of my head. He was quiet for a moment, and I wondered what he was thinking about. Maybe I didn't want to know. â€Å"What's the hardest part?† I whispered, still wishing I could help. â€Å"The hardest part is feeling out of control,† he said slowly. â€Å"Feeling like I can't be sure of myselflike maybe you shouldn't be around me, like maybe nobody should. Like I'm a monster who might hurt somebody. You've seen Emily. Sam lost control of his temper for just one second and she was standing too close. And now there's nothing he can ever do to put it right again. I hear his thoughtsI know what that feels like â€Å"Who wants to be a nightmare, a monster? â€Å"And then, the way it comes so easily to me, the way I'm better at it than the rest of themdoes that make me even less human than Enbry or Sam? Sometimes I'm afraid that I'm losing myself.† â€Å"Is it hard? To find yourself again?† â€Å"At first,† he said. â€Å"It takes some practice to phase back and forth. But it's easier tor me.† â€Å"Why?† I wondered. â€Å"Because Ephraim Black was my father's grandfather, and Quil Ateara was my mother's grandfather.† â€Å"Quil?† I asked in confusion. â€Å"His great-grandfather,† Jacob clarified. â€Å"The Quil you know is my second cousin.† â€Å"But why does it matter who your great-grandfathers are?† â€Å"Because Ephraim and Quil were in the last pack. Levi Uley was the third. It's in my blood on both sides. I never had a chance. Like Quil doesn't have a chance.† His expression was bleak. â€Å"What's the very best part?† I asked, hoping to cheer him up. â€Å"The best part,† he said, suddenly smiling again, â€Å"is the speed.† â€Å"Better than the motorcycles?† He nodded, enthusiastic. â€Å"There's no comparison.† â€Å"How fast can you ?† â€Å"Run?† he finished my question. â€Å"Fast enough. What can I measure it by? We caught what was his name? Laurent? I imagine that means more to you than it would to someone else.† It did mean something to me. I couldn't imagine thatthe wolves running faster than a vampire. When the Cullens ran, they all but turned invisible with speed. â€Å"So, tell me something I don't know,† he said. â€Å"Something about vampires. How did you stand it, being around them? Didn't it creep you out?† â€Å"No,† I said curtly. My tone made him thoughtful for a moment. â€Å"Say, why'd your bloodsucker kill that James, anyway?† he asked suddenly. â€Å"James was trying to kill meit was like a game for him. He lost. Do you remember last spring when I was in the hospital down in Phoenix?† Jacob sucked in a breath. â€Å"He got that close?† â€Å"He got very, very close.† I stroked my scar. Jacob noticed, because he held the hand I moved. â€Å"What's that?† He traded hands, examining my right. â€Å"This is your funny scar, the cold one.† He looked at it closer, with new eyes, and gasped. â€Å"Yes, it's what you think it is,† I said. â€Å"James bit me.† His eyes bulged, and his face turned a strange, sallow color under the russet surface. He looked like he was about to be sick. â€Å"But if he bit you ? Shouldn't you be ?† He choked. â€Å"Edward saved me twice,† I whispered. â€Å"He sucked the venom outyou know, like with a rattlesnake.† I twitched as the pain lashed around the edges of the hole. But I wasn't the only one twitching. I could feel Jacob's whole body trembling next to mine. Even the car shook. â€Å"Careful, Jake. Easy. Ca in down.† â€Å"Yeah,† he panted. â€Å"Calm.† He shook his head back and forth quickly. After a moment, only his hands were shaking. â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Yeah, almost. Tell me something else. Give me something else to think about.† â€Å"What do you want to know?† â€Å"I don't know.† He had his eyes closed, concentrating. â€Å"The extra stuff I guess. Did any of the other Cullens have extra talents? Like the mind reading?† I hesitated a second. This felt like a question he would ask of his spy, not his friend. But what was the point of hiding what I knew? It didn't matter now, and it would help him control himself. So I spoke quickly, the image of Emily's ruined face in my mind, and the hair rising on my arms. I couldn't imagine how the russet wolf would fit inside the RabbitJacob would tear the whole garage apart if he changed now. â€Å"Jasper could sort of control the emotions of the people around him. Not in a bad way, just to calm someone down, that kind of thing. It would probably help Paul a lot,† I added, teasing weakly. â€Å"And then Alice could see things that were going to happen. The future, you know, but not absolutely. The things she saw would change when someone changed the path they were on† Like how she'd seen me dying and she'd seen me becoming one of them. Two things that had not happened. And one that never would. My head started to spinI couldn't seem to pull in enough oxygen from the air. No lungs. Jacob was entirely in control now, very still beside me. â€Å"Why do you do that?† he asked. He tugged lightly at one of my arms, which was bound around my chest, and then gave up when it wouldn't come loose easily. I hadn't even realized I'd moved them. â€Å"You do that when you're upset. Why?† â€Å"It hurts to think about them,† I whispered. â€Å"It's like I can't breathe like I'm breaking into pieces†It was bizarre how much I could tell Jacob now. We had no more secrets. He smoothed my hair. â€Å"It's okay, Bella, it's okay. I won't bring it up again. I'm sorry.† â€Å"I'm fine.† I gasped. â€Å"Happens all the time. Not your fault.† â€Å"We're a pretty messed-up pair, aren't we?† Jacob said. â€Å"Neither one of us can hold our shape together right.† â€Å"Pathetic,† I agreed, still breathless. â€Å"At least we have each other,† he said, clearly comforted by the thought. I was comforted, too. â€Å"At least there's that,† I agreed. And when we were together, it was fine. But Jacob had a horrible, dangerous job he felt compelled to do, and so I was often alone, stuck in La Push for safety, with nothing to do to keep my mind off any of my worries. I felt awkward, always taking up space at Billy's. I did some studying for another Calculus test that was coming up next week, but I could only look at math for so long. When I didn't have something obvious to do in my hands, I felt like I ought to be making conversation with Billythe pressure of normal societal rules. But Billy wasn't one for filling up the long silences, and so the awkwardness continued. I tried hanging out at Emily's place Wednesday afternoon, for a change. At first it was kind of nice. Emily was a cheerful person who never sat still. I drifted behind her while she flitted around her little house and yard, scrubbing at the spotless floor, pulling a tiny weed, fixing a broken hinge, tugging a string of wool through an ancient loom, and always cooking, too. She complained lightly about the increase in the boys' appetites from all their extra running, but it was easy to see she didn't mind taking care of them. It wasn't hard to be with herafter all, we were both wolf girls now. But Sam checked in after I'd been there for a few hours. I only stayed long enough to ascertain that Jacob was fine and there was no news, and then I had to escape. The aura of love and contentment that surrounded them was harder to take in concentrated doses, with no one else around to dilute it. So that left me wandering the beach, pacing the length of the rocky crescent back and forth, again and again. Alone time wasn't good for me. Thanks to the new honesty with Jacob, I'd been talking and thinking about the Cullens way too much. No matter how I tried to distract myselfand I had plenty to think of: I was honestly and desperately worried about Jacob and his wolf-brothers, I was terrified for Charlie and the others who thought they were hunting animals, I was getting in deeper and deeper with Jacob without ever having consciously decided to progress in that direction and I didn't know what to do about itnone of these very real, very deserving of thought, very pressing concerns could take my mind off the pain in my chest for long. Eventually, I couldn't even walk anymore, because I couldn't breathe. I sat down on a patch of semidry rocks and curled up in a ball. Jacob found me like that, and I could tell from his expression that he understood. â€Å"Sorry,† he said right away. He pulled me up from the ground and wrapped both arms around my shoulders. I hadn't realized that I was cold until then. His warmth made me shudder, but at least I could breathe with him there. â€Å"I'm ruining your spring break,† Jacob accused himself as we walked back up the beach. â€Å"No, you're not. I didn't have any plans. I don't think I like spring breaks, anyway.† â€Å"I'll take tomorrow morning off. The others can run without me. We'll do something fun.† The word seemed out of place in my life right now, barely comprehensible, bizarre. â€Å"Fun?† â€Å"Fun is exactly what you need. Hmm† he gazed out across the heaving gray waves, deliberating. As his eyes scanned the horizon, he had a flash of inspiration. â€Å"Got it!† he crowed. â€Å"Another promise to keep.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† He let go of my hand and pointed toward the southern edge of the beach, where the flat, rocky half-moon dead-ended against the sheer sea cliffs. I stared, uncomprehending. â€Å"Didn't I promise to take you cliff diving?† I shivered. â€Å"Yeah, it'll be pretty coldnot as cold as it is today. Can you feel the weather changing? The pressure? It will be warmer tomorrow. You up for it?† The dark water did not look inviting, and, from this angle, the cliffs looked even higher than before. But it had been days since I'd heard Edward's voice. That was probably part of the problem. I was addicted to the sound of my delusions. It made things worse if I went too long without them. Jumping off a cliff was certain to remedy that situation. â€Å"Sure, I'm up for it. Fun.† â€Å"It's a date,† he said, and draped his arm around my shoulders. â€Å"Okaynow let's go get you some sleep.† I didn't like the way the circles under his eyes were beginning to look permanently etched onto his skin. I woke early the next morning and snuck a change of clothes out to the truck. I had a feeling that Charlie would approve of today's plan just about as much as he would approve of the motorcycle. The idea of a distraction from all my worries had me almost excited. Maybe it would be fun. A date with Jacob, a date with Edward I laughed darkly to myself. Jake could say what he wanted about us being a messed-up pairI was the one who was truly messed up. I made the werewolf seem downright normal. I expected Jacob to meet me out front, the way he usually did when my noisy truck announced my arrival. When he didn't, I guessed that he might still be sleeping. I would waitlet him get as much rest as he could. He needed his sleep, and that would give the day time to warm a bit more. Jake had been right about the weather, though; it had changed in the night. A thick layer of clouds pressed heavily on the atmosphere now, making it almost sultry; it was warm and close under the gray blanket. I left my sweater in the truck. I knocked quietly on the door. â€Å"C'mon in, Bella,† Billy said. He was at the kitchen table, eating cold cereal. â€Å"Jake sleeping?† â€Å"Er, no.† He set his spoon down, and his eyebrows pulled together. â€Å"What happened?† I demanded. I could tell from his expression that something had. â€Å"Embry, Jared, and Paul crossed a fresh trail early this morning. Sam and Jake took off to help. Sam was hopefulshe's hedged herself in beside the mountains. He thinks they have a good chance to finish this.† â€Å"Oh, no, Billy,† I whispered. â€Å"Oh, no.† He chuckled, deep and low. â€Å"Do you really like La Push so well that you want to extend your sentence here?† â€Å"Don't make jokes, Billy. This is too scary for that.† â€Å"You're right,† he agreed, still complacent. His ancient eyes were impossible to read. â€Å"This one's tricky.† I bit my lip. â€Å"It's not as dangerous for them as you think it is. Sam knows what he's doing. You're the one that you should worry about. The vampire doesn't want to fight them. She's just trying to find a way around them to you.† â€Å"How does Sam know what he's doing?† I demanded, brushing aside his concern for me. â€Å"They've only killed just the one vampirethat could have been luck.† â€Å"We take what we do very seriously, Bella. Nothing's been forgotten. Everything they need to know has been passed down from father to son for generations.† That didn't comfort me the way he probably intended it to. The memory of Victoria, wild, catlike, lethal, was too strong in my head. If she couldn't get around the wolves, she would eventually try to go through them. Billy went back to his breakfast; I sat down on the sofa and flipped aimlessly though the TV channels. That didn't last long. I started to feel closed in by the small room, claustrophobic, upset by the fact that I couldn't see out the curtained windows. â€Å"I'll be at the beach,† I told Billy abruptly, and hurried out the door. Being outside didn't help as much as I'd hoped. The clouds pushed down with an invisible weight that kept the claustrophobia from easing. The forest seemed strangely vacant as I walked toward the beach. I didn't see any animalsno birds, no squirrels. I couldn't hear any birds, either. The silence was eerie; there wasn't even the sound of wind in the trees. I knew it was all just a product of the weather, but it still made me edgy. The heavy, warm pressure of the atmosphere was perceptible even to my weak human senses, and it hinted at something major in the storm department. A glance at the sky backed this up; the clouds were churning sluggishly despite the lack of breeze on the ground. The closest clouds were a smoky gray, but between the cracks I could see another layer that was a gruesome purple color. The skies had a ferocious plan in store for today. The animals must be bunkering down. As soon as I reached the beach, I wished I hadn't comeI'd already had enough of this place. I'd been here almost every day, wandering alone. Was it so much different from my nightmares? But where else to go? I trudged down to the driftwood tree, and sat at the end so that I could lean against the tangled roots. I stared up at the angry sky broodingly, waiting for the first drops to break the stillness. I tried not to think about the danger Jacob and his friends were in. Because nothing could happen to Jacob. The thought was unendurable. I'd lost too much alreadywould fate take the last few shreds of peace left behind? That seemed unfair, out of balance. But maybe I'd violated some unknown rule, crossed some line that had condemned me. Maybe it was wrong to be so involved with myths and legends, to turn my back on the human world. Maybe No. Nothing would happen to Jacob. I had to believe that or I wouldn't be able to function. â€Å"Argh!† I groaned, and jumped off the log. I couldn't sit still; it was worse than pacing. I'd really been counting on hearing Edward this morning. It seemed like that was the one thing that might make it bearable to live through this day. The hole had been festering lately, like it was getting revenge for the times that Jacob's presence had tamed it. The edges burned. The waves picked up as I paced, beginning to crash against the rocks, but there was still no wind. I felt pinned down by the pressure of the storm. Everything swirled around me, but it was perfectly still where I stood. The air had a faint electric chargeI could feel the static in my hair. Farther out, the waves were angrier than they were along the shore. I could see them battering against the line of the cliffs, spraying big white clouds of sea foam into the sky. There was still no movement in the air, though the clouds roiled more quickly now. It was eerie lookinglike the clouds were moving by their own will. I shivered, though I knew it was just a trick of the pressure. The cliffs were a black knife edge against the livid sky. Staring at them, I remembered the day Jacob had told me about Sam and his â€Å"gang.† I thought of the boysthe werewolvesthrowing themselves into the empty air. The image of the falling, spiraling figures was still vivid in my mind. I imagined the utter freedom of the fall I imagined the way Edward's voice would have sounded in my headfurious, velvet, perfect The burning in my chest flared agonizingly. There had to be some way to quench it. The pain was growing more and more intolerable by the second. I glared at the cliffs and the crashing waves. Well, why not? Why not quench it right now? Jacob had promised me cliff diving, hadn't he? Just because he was unavailable, should I have to give up the distraction I needed so badlyneeded even worse because Jacob was out risking his life? Risking it, in essence, for me. If it weren't for me, Victoria would not be killing people here just somewhere else, far away. If anything happened to Jacob, it would be my fault. That realization stabbed deep and had me jogging back up to the road toward Billy's house, where my truck waited. I knew my way to the lane that passed closest to the cliffs, but I had to hunt for the little path that would take me out to the ledge. As I followed it, I looked for turns or forks, knowing that Jake had planned to take me off the lower outcropping rather than the top, but the path wound in a thin single line toward the brink with no options. I didn't have time to find another way downthe storm was moving in quickly now. The wind was finally beginning to touch me, the clouds pressing closer to the ground. Just as I reached the place where the dirt path fanned out into the stone precipice, the first drops broke through and splattered on my face. It was not hard to convince myself that I didn't have time to search for another wayI wanted to jump from the top. This was the image that had lingered in my head. I wanted the long fall that would feel like flying. I knew that this was the stupidest, most reckless thing I had done yet. The thought made me smile. The pain was already easing, as if my body knew that Edward's voice was just seconds away The ocean sounded very far away, somehow farther than before, when I was on the path in the trees. I grimaced when I thought of the probable temperature of the water. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. The wind blew stronger now, whipping the rain into eddies around me. I stepped out to the edge, keeping my eyes on the empty space in front of me. My toes felt ahead blindly, caressing the edge of the rock when they encountered it. I drew in a deep breath and held it . . waiting. â€Å"Bella.† I smiled and exhaled. Yes? I didn't answer out loud, for fear that the sound of my voice would shatter the beautiful illusion. He sounded so real, so close. It was only when lie was disapproving like this that I could hear the true memory of his voicethe velvet texture and the musical intonation that made up the most perfect of all voices. â€Å"Don't do this,† he pleaded. You wanted me to be human, I reminded him. Well, watch me. â€Å"Please. For me.† But you won't stay with me any other way. â€Å"Please.† It was just a whisper in the blowing rain that tossed my hair and drenched my clothesmaking me as wet as if this were my second jump of the day. I rolled up onto the balls of my feet. â€Å"No, Bella!† He was angry now, and the anger was so lovely. I smiled and raised my arms straight out, as if I were going to dive, lifting my face into the rain. But it was too ingrained from years of swimming at the public poolfeet first, first time. I leaned forward, crouching to get more spring And I flung myself off the cliff. I screamed as I dropped through the open air like a meteor, but it was a scream of exhilaration and not fear. The wind resisted, trying vainly to fight the unconquerable gravity, pushing against me and twirling me in spirals like a rocket crashing to the earth. Yes! The word echoed through my head as I sliced through the surface of the water. It was icy, colder than I'd feared, and yet the chill only added to the high. I was proud of myself as I plunged deeper into the freezing black water. I hadn't had one moment of terrorjust pure adrenaline. Really, the fall wasn't scary at all. Where was the challenge? That was when the current caught me. I'd been so preoccupied by the size of the cliffs, by the obvious danger of their high, sheer faces, that I hadn't worried at all about the dark water waiting. I never dreamed that the true menace was lurking far below me, under the heaving surf. It felt like the waves were fighting over me, jerking me back and forth between them as if determined to share by pulling me into halves. I knew the right way to avoid a riptide: swim parallel to the beach rather than struggling for the shore. But the knowledge did me little good when I didn't know which way the shore was. I couldn't even tell which way the surface was. The angry water was black in every direction; there was no brightness to direct me upward. Gravity was all-powerful when it competed with the air, but it had nothing on the wavesI couldn't feel a downward pull, a sinking in any direction. Just the battering of the current that flung me round and round like a rag doll. I fought to keep my breath in, to keep my lips locked around my last store of oxygen. It didn't surprise me that my delusion of Edward was there. He owed me that much, considering that I was dying. I was surprised by how sure that knowledge was. I was going to drown. I was drowning. â€Å"Keep swimming!† Edward begged urgently in my head. Where? There was nothing but the darkness. There was no place to swim to. â€Å"Stop that!† he ordered. â€Å"Don't you dare give up!† The cold of the water was numbing my arms and legs. I didn't feel the buffeting so much as before. It was more of just a dizziness now, a helpless spinning in the water. But I listened to him. I forced my arms to continue reaching, my legs to kick harder, though every second I was facing a new direction. It couldn't be doing any good. What was the point? â€Å"Fight!† he yelled. â€Å"Damn it, Bella, keep fighting.† Why? I didn't want to fight anymore. And it wasn't the light-headedness, or the cold, or the failure of my arms as the muscles gave out in exhaustion, that made me content to stay where I was. I was almost happy that it was over. This was an easier death than others I'd faced. Oddly peaceful. I thought briefly of the clichs, about how you were suppose to see your life flash before your eyes. I was so much luckier. Who wanted to see a rerun, anyway? I saw him, and I had no will to fight. It was so clear, so much more defined than any memory. My subconscious had stored Edward away in flawless detail, saving him for this final moment. I could see his perfect face as if he were really there; the exact shade of his icy skin, the shape of his lips, the line of his jaw, the gold glinting in his furious eyes. He was angry, naturally, that I was giving up. His teeth were clenched and his nostrils flared with rage. â€Å"No! Bella, no!† My ears were flooded with the freezing water, but his voice was clearer than ever. I ignored his words and concentrated on the sound of his voice. Why would I fight when I was so happy where I was? Even as my lungs burned for more air and my legs cramped in the icy cold, I was content. I'd forgotten what real happiness felt like. Happiness. It made the whole dying thing pretty bearable. The current won at that moment, shoving me abruptly against something hard, a rock invisible in the gloom. It hit me solidly across the chest, slamming into me like an iron bar, and the breath whooshed out of my lungs, escaping in a thick cloud of silver bubbles. Water flooded down my throat, choking and burning. The iron bar seemed to be dragging me, pulling me away from Edward, deeper into the dark, to the ocean floor. Goodbye, I love you, was my last thought.