Economic Geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Economic Geography - Essay Example The most important factor, after taking into account the use of technology, is the availability of labor at reasonable cost. The main reason for outsourcing American businesses, including manufacturing, has been the relative lesser cost of production. This was due to the availability of labor in countries like China at a friction of American cost. Apart from this, available of quality services at the selected location is another factor, which manufacturers would like to consider. The other factors that go into making manufacturing location decisions include, business environment, easy access to raw material and components, overall quality of life at he selected location and marketability of the finished goods. Availability of labor This is related to the type of goods to be manufactured. For products, which require quantity output in limited time, the manufacturing becomes labor-intensive with high turnout, to achieve bigger sales volumes. In such cases, locations that can provide la bor at considerably lesser cost remain the favorite of any manufacturer. This was the case of China getting most of the world’s manufacturing business, about two decades ago. ... American manufacturers are finding it difficult to maintain their facilities, as the cost advantage is vanishing. This is truer for high turnout goods.(Hanink) The case of Foxconn manufacturing facility in China is an ideal example of the labor cost relation with the manufacturing location. China never wanted to display the living conditions of its citizens, particularly the factory workers. However, these conditions have been worse, if not inhumane. People had to huddle together for sleep in bunkers and dormitories. Wages like $400 per month were paid to a worker who would put around 50 hours a week on the plant job. People would go to market in factory uniform only. Foxconn recruited most of its interns and apprentices from the boys belonging to age group of 14-15 years, to reduce further the cost of labor.(Fallows) However, things are changing in China very rapidly. With the living conditions, as detailed above, reports of suicide attempts were frequent. That was the reason for Fo xconn to introduce†suicide nets† for prevention of such attempts. Things could not be stopped there. The factory owners had to increase wages three to four times during last three years. It has created serious problems for the manufacturers and exporters. Chinese goods have been selling throughout the world, due to their lower prices. That advantage is now vanishing. American manufacturers are feeling the cost pinch from such outsourced units. Labor is available at competitive cost in America now. Reverse shifting has begun.(Fallows) Technology plays an important role in availability of adequate services The manufacturing activities for new start-ups relate to an idea, which is converted into the marketable product. In older days, the original idea

Burn Norton (T.S. Elliot) Essay Example for Free

Burn Norton (T.S. Elliot) Essay Describe the sound and pace of the opening section of Burnt Norton, and compare those qualities to the meters and language used in section II. Why do you suppose that the first stanza of section II is a tetrameter with a rhyme scheme, while the stanzas before and after forgo rhyme and use a variety of time lengths? What might those variations suggest about the tone of the poems opening and the psychological or spiritual content? The first stanza of section II is a tetrameter with a rhyme scheme because each of its lines was composed of eight syllables, four of which are stressed or accented (eHow. com, 2009). In sharp contrast, the stanzas before and after did not adhere to this structure. They were made up of lines that appeared to be more of spoken language than verses of poetry. It would be fair to say that the stanzas before and after the first stanza of section II are free verse forms of poetry. Such a variation is not without purpose – it was intended to highlight the nostalgic and apprehensive tones of the poem’s opening. The poem’s opening was mainly about the speaker’s feelings about the concepts of time and change. He or she was torn between holding on to treasured memories of the past and submitting to the inevitable arrival of change. The spiritual content of the poem likewise reflected the aforementioned conflict. It was revealed in the end of the first stanza that although the speaker finally acknowledged the inseparability of change in all aspects of human existence, he or she did so with a heavy heart. 2. The word â€Å"time† appears over and over again in Burnt Norton. How is time invoked or described at various points in the poem? Is there an interesting progression or change in these references? What lines strike you as especially odd or mysterious? What is their effect? Singly or together? Indeed, the word â€Å"time† appears over and over again in Burnt Norton. But the speaker has diverging descriptions of time in the poem. At the beginning of the first stanza, for example, he or she invoked time as an adversary: All time is unredeemable. What might have been is an abstraction Remaining a perpetual possibility Only in a world of speculation. What might have been and what has been Point to one end, which is always present. (n. pag. ) But towards the last stanza of section V, the speaker finally realized the futility of trying to make time stop in order to maintain a cherished status quo: Desire itself is movement Not in itself desirable; Love is itself unmoving, Only the cause and end of movement, Ridiculous the waste sad time Stretching before and after. (n. pag. ). The above-mentioned insight stemmed from the fact that ideals such as love and desire were attained mainly because there were individuals who willingly abandoned convention in order to pursue them. I myself initially found these lines to be odd – the speaker suddenly changed his or her views on love and desire after agonizing about their inevitable loss for the most part of the poem. But these lines also had a single effect on me – they enlightened me on the real nature of love and happiness, as well as how they are truly attained. 3. Read the first ten lines of section V, and consider them as possible commentary on poetry – and on this poem in particular. What is suggested here about the importance of â€Å"Words, after speech† or â€Å"the form, the pattern† that can â€Å"reach/The stillness†? What inferences do you draw from these lines about what Burnt Norton is attempting to achieve? The first ten lines of section V suggested that the things which people appreciated (poetry, music, etc. ) became what they are mainly because people had the opportunity to look back and realize their value long after they had been created. A given piece of literature, for instance, can be appreciated only after it has been read or heard. A certain artwork can be judged to be of value only after its completion. The inevitable passage of time allowed people to come up with ideas on what is beautiful, ugly, good and bad. The first ten lines of section V are implying that change should be welcomed instead of shunned. The passage of time brings about change that an institution needs to survive. This change can come in the form of the discovery of new ideas, principles and beliefs. A form of music that was dismissed as scandalous a century ago could be now deemed as sophisticated. Would these be possible if time was stopped just to preserve a treasured status quo? References eHow. com. (2009). How to Write in Iambic Tetrameter. Retrieved June 16, 2009, from http://www. ehow. com/how_4392330_write-iambic-tetrameter. html Tristan. Icom43. net. (2000, June). Burnt Norton (No. 1 of â€Å"Four Quartets†). Retrieved June 16, 2009, from http://www. tristan. icom43. net/quartet

Review on the Biomedical Importance of Taurine

Review on the Biomedical Importance of Taurine M.K.Vanitha, K. Baskaran, K.Periyasamy, D.Saravanan, A.Ilakkia, S.Selvaraj, R.Venkateswari, B.Revathi Mani, P.Anandakumar, D. Sakthisekaran ABSTRACT Objectives: To briefly outline the effects of taurine on different organs, in order to elucidate the biomedical importance of taurine. Summary: Taurineis a sulfur-containing amino acid that is found in mammalian tissues.Taurinehas different biological and physiological functions. It is a component of bile acids, which are used to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins. It also helps regulate the heartbeat, maintain cell membrane stability and prevent brain cell over-activity. In addition,taurine chloramine, an endogenous product derived from activated neutrophils, has been reported to suppress obesity-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in adipocytes. Conclusion: This review is an attempt to reveal the biomedical importance of taurine including its effect on heart, lung, kidney, bone, fetal tissue, retinal photoceptors, oxidative stress and cancer. Key words:taurine, endothelium, lung, kidney, antioxidant 1. INTRODUCTION Taurine originated from the Latin word taurus, which means bull or ox, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.1 It is often considered an amino acid in scientific literatures. It is a vital nutrient for cats, and probably also for primates, since it is essential for the development and survival of neural cell.2 In healthy humans, dietary foodstuffs are the main sources of taurine. High concentrations of taurine are found in animal sources whilst undetectable in vegetables.3 Figure 1: Structure of taurine Since vegetarians have no dietary intake of taurine and often eat low sulphur amino acid diets, plasma concentrations are lower in vegetarians. Methionine and cysteine are precursors of taurine, however synthesis ability varies widely amongst species, the maximal human synthesis rate is unknown. The average daily synthesis in adults ranges between 0.4 1.0 mmol (50-125 mg) 4 under stress the synthesis capacity may be impaired; therewith some authors consider taurine as a conditionally essential amino acid, whereas for others it remains non essential. Fish is a good source of taurine and tests for taurine content for a variety of fish have been conducted. Figure 2: Biosynthesis of taurine 2. CHEMISTRY OF TAURINE The molecular formula of taurine is C2H7NO3S and its molecular weight is 125.15. It has a pKa of 1.5 (at 25 Â °C) and a melting point of 300 Â °C (decomposition) and shows a bulk density of 0.65–0.75g/cm3 and a density of approximately 1.7g/cm3. It is soluble in water (10 g dissolves in 100 mL at 25 Â °C) and insoluble in ethanol, ethyl ether and acetone. The pH of a 5 % solution in water is 4.1 – 5.6. Taurine is a white crystalline powder that is almost odourless but with a slightly acidic taste. It contains by specification at least 98.0 % taurine in dried substance. Taurine is a monobasic acid that has unique physical constants compared to other neuroactive amino acids. The uniqueness of taurine is mainly due to the functional group containing sulfur, the sulfonic group, unlike the carboxylic group typical of all the other natural amino acids. This difference may provide the rationale behind the unique biological nature of taurine which is not shared with other ne uroactive amino acids. With its sulfonate group, it is a stronger acid (pKa 1.5) than glycine, aspartic acid, ÃŽ ²-alanine, and ÃŽ ³-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Similarly, having a pKb value of 8.82, it is less basic than GABA, ÃŽ ²-alanine and glycine. Its solubility in water is 10.48g/100mL at 258Â °C, which is lower than that of ÃŽ ²-alanine, GABA or glycine. Table 1: Properties of taurine 3. BIOMEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF TAURINE 3.1 TAURINE IN FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND NEONATAL GROWTH The human fetus has no ability to synthesize taurine, but considerably high levels of taurine have been recorded, and this may be due to a very efficient placental role of taurine in disease prevention. The amount of taurine was found to be very high in human breast milk compared to cow’s milk, on which a large portion of infants are fed, and this may be due to the high concentration of taurine in placenta. Thus, taurine is now added to many infant formulas to provide improved nourishment.5 Several types of organ dysfunction develop from abnormalities of taurine levels in growing children. In neonatal cardiomyocytes (as in adult ones), taurine functions as an organic osmolyte. During pregnancy, taurine accumulates in the maternal tissues, from where it is periodically released to the fetus via the placenta. In infants, taurine is acquired through the mother’s milk. This is the stage when taurine accumulates more in fetal and neonatal brain. A low maternal taurine concen tration will lead to low fetal taurine concentration.6 3.2 TAURINE AND THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in the brain after glutamate, and it is found in all cell types in the CNS. A high concentration of taurine occurs in the developing brain, but with maturity, its levels fall to 30%.7 Taurine is extensively involved in neurological activities, including protection, modulation of neural excitability, maintenance of cerebellar functions and modulation of motor behavior through interaction with dopaminergic, adrenergic, serotonergic and cholinergic receptors and through glutamate.8 Free radicals are particularly detrimental to brain tissue where there is a high concentration of lipids, suitable target for oxidation. Taurine is now being explored for its capacity to protect tissues against oxidative stress. In cerebellar neurons, stimulation by excitatory agents was effectively countered by taurine. While taurine may not directly decrease the levels of free radicals, it does increase cell viability. This may become an important alternate protective mechanism against free radical damage to brain cells. 3.3 TAURINE AND THE LIVER Liver synthesizes bile, which is a mixture of bile acids, salts, bilirubin, cholesterol and fatty acids, stored in the gallbladder. It is also responsible for the detoxification of harmful substances, but only if available in sufficient quantities. The bile acids act as detergents to solubilize or emulsify food into digestible components. This detergent action is due to the presence of both lipophilic and hydrophilic ends in the bile acids. The hydrophilic regions include sulfonates or carboxylate backbones. Mammals mainly use taurine and, to a lesser extent glycine, as the major amino acids that conjugate with bile acids to form biliary salts. Among the tauro-conjugates, taurocholic acid (TC), taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC), taurolithocholic acid (TLC), and taurocheno- deoxycholic acid (TCDC), can act as cholagogues (agents that promote the flow of bile into the intestine) or choleretics (agents that stimulate the liver to increase production of bile). The ratio between tauro-conjugate s and glycocholate in humans is about 3 : 1 and this ratio is adversely affected in cases of low taurine supply. In the absence of TC, bile salts can precipitate and form gallstones.9 3.4 TAURINE AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA In blood, cholesterol is carried in low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Elevated LDL levels are implicated in a range of heart and vascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (heart attack) and atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries). Taurine can attenuate the increased levels in total and LDL cholesterol in animals consuming a high fat, high cholesterol diet.10 High fat diets produce hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and accumulation of lipids on the aortic valve of the heart. Dietary taurine supplements are known to be beneficial in situations when the body cholesterol status is high, as well as normal. In particular, it has been demonstrated that taurine is capable of reducing plasma lipid concentration and visceral fat in diabetic rats as well as in obese humans.11 3.5 TAURINE AND OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIVER DAMAGE Exposure to toxic chemicals, which is a common hazard for industrial workers, has been linked to birth defects, sterility, headache, chronic fatigue, arthritic-like inflammation and many other symptoms. These chemicals have a deleterious effect on the liver and taurine is able to moderate the extent and severity of their side. Furthermore, it reduces the number of cancer antigen-positive hepatocytes and in several cases of chemical exposure, taurine also protected against DNA damage.12 3.6 TAURINE AND DIABETES Type II diabetes mellitus is one of the most common human diseases and its prevalence is constantly growing. This pathology is characterized by the reduced sensitivity of the cellular targets, mainly adipose and muscle cells, to insulin stimulation. Such alteration can lead to insulin resistance, hyper-insulinemia, hyperglycemia, and several other metabolic dysfunctions. Lifestyle, dietary habits, and environment can influence the appearance of diabetes.13 Taurine supplements administered to patients with type 2 diabetes were proven to be beneficial. Also, taurine alleviates clinical complications of diabetes, having beneficial effects on nephropathy and retinopathy. In animal models of experimental insulin resistance, it has been demonstrated that the metabolic alterations associated with diabetes are ameliorated by taurine administration.14 3.7 TAURINE AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Taurine concentration is found to be high in the mammalian heart. The maintenance of cardiac taurine content is governed by a series of processes, which include transport, accumulation, binding, release, as well as metabolism. The availability of taurine in cardiac tissue is generally dependent on the transport process, because of its limited ability to be effectively synthesized in the cardiac tissue. Taurine deficiency may possibly be linked to cardiomyopathy, as it has been well reported in cats. Furthermore, conclusive evidence of the relationship between taurine and heart health was provided by studies with transgenic mice knocked out of its taurine transporter.15 3.8 TAURINE AND ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION Endothelial dysfunction is common among cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and it is known as one of the primary events in the development of atherosclerosis and diabetic angiopathies.16 Taurine has been shown to be a protector of endothelial structure and function after exposure to inflammatory cells, their mediators, or other chemicals. Treatment of activated macrophages with taurine inhibits the generation of NO and other inflammatory mediators, which is present in high amounts in inflammatory cells, seems to be uniquely capable of modifying homeostasis in both target and receptor cells through antioxidant calcium flux and the osmo regulatory pathway. Finally, taurine was proven to protect endothelial cells from damage induced by hyperglycemia and oxidized LDL.17 3.9 TAURINE AND LUNG FUNCTION The depletion of taurine is particularly harmful to pulmonary tissue. Alveolar macrophages, which reside on the surface of lung alveoli, ingest inhaled particulates to clear the alveolar spaces. However, alveolar macrophages, much like the general macrophages, become more susceptible to ROS and more pro-inflammatory when deprived of the antioxidant protective capacity that taurine provides. Fibrosis may also result from toxic chemical exposure. There are numerous factors responsible for toxin-induced damage to lung cells and tissue in animal models of induced interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. In several cases, the administration of taurine, niacin or a combination of both, yielded promising results, and can reverse increased lung lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the ability to scavenge ROS and to stabilize cell membranes contributed to the suppression of lung collagen accumulation and oxidative stress damage. Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by bronchial obstruction and airwa y hyper reactivity with neutrophil accumulation. There is increasing evidence that excessive production of ROS along with defective endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms may be responsible for asthma. In an animal model of allergic asthma, taurine content was found to be reduced and oral treatment with taurine produced anti-inflammatory responses. Similar effects have also been demonstrated in humans.18 3.10 TAURINE AND THE KIDNEY In the kidneys, taurine is found at a high concentration, which is regulated by the reabsorption at the modulating proximal tubule according to its dietary intake. In alleviating the diabetic nephropathy, taurine serves as an osmolyte, an endogenous antioxidant and an inhibitor of phosphokinase C (PKC) in mesangial cells. The beneficial effects of taurine may be due to its well-known anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.19 3.11 TAURINE AND RETINAL PHOTORECEPTOR ACTIVITY The common eye disease cataract demonstrates the importance of lens condition. It is speculated that cataract formation may be largely due to the oxidation of protein in the lens. Consequently, a lack of antioxidants could be a major factor in the development of cataracts. Since taurine acts as an antioxidant directly, it prevents changes in the levels of glutathione, ATP and insoluble proteins, molecular factors that predispose to cataract formation.20 Furthermore, taurine plays a critical role in the structure and function of the photoreceptors, specifically rods, which are responsible for seeing in both low illumination and night conditions. The promotional effect of taurine in cellular regeneration is compromised with drugs that induce the activation of PKC or phosphate inhibitors.21 Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by visual field loss and night blindness. Nutritional factors are now recognized as important factors in the reversal of RP. Experimental finding suggests t hat RP patients recover their visual capacities with the addition of nutrients, including taurine, which has been found to be beneficial. Taurine and zinc interact with each other to influence the development of the retinal structure and function in the eye. Both molecules promote the healthy oscillatory potentials necessary for vision. Deficiency of taurine has been identified as the cause of all these diseases and clearly demonstrates its vital role in vision.22 3.12 TAURINE IN BONE TISSUE FORMATION AND INHIBITION OF BONE LOSS Bone tissue contains cells and the extracellular matrix, which is composed of collagen fibers and noncollagenous proteins. In bone tissue, taurine is found in high concentration, similar to that found in the liver and kidneys. This taurine-bone interaction is one of the latest added to its long list of actions.23 In bones, taurine acts as a double agent. It is involved in both bone formation and inhibition of bone loss. In addition to these two major actions, taurine has beneficial effects in wound healing and bone repair. 3.13 ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF TAURINE Taurine has been found that taurine has radio protective properties and anti-mutagenic effect, reducing nucleic acid damage. The chemo-preventive activity of taurine and, in particular, 1-(2-chloroethyl)- 3(2-dimethyl sulfony) ethyl-11-nitrosourea derivative (e.g., tauromustine), have been used against colon and hepatic cancers. In hepato-carcinogenesis, the degree of membrane damage and the fall in glutathione function were reduced when oral taurine was given prior to exposure to carcinogens. These findings suggest that taurine, by inhibiting lipo-peroxidation and preserving the glutathione antioxidant system, offers protection against membrane breakdown.24 Recombinant interleukin-2 immunotherapy is utilized as a therapeutic approach in certain types of cancers. However, it may produce a cytotoxic effect on both tumor cells and healthy vascular endothelial cells. In such cancer therapy programs, taurine reduces interleukin endothelial cell cytotoxicity without compromising the antitumor activity of the immunotherapy. In addition, when taurine is used in conjunction with interleukin, it actually increases the tumor cytotoxicity. For the treatment of intra peritoneal (abdominal) tumors, researchers have studied a taurine derivative, taurolidine, as both an alternative and an adjunct to heparin, a standard substance used to prolong the clotting time of blood. In certain cancers, the amino acid profile yields data about the disease that is useful to better assess the therapeutic approach. Colorectal cancer patients exhibit a characteristic amino acid profile with significantly lower intracellular levels of taurine, glutamic acid, methionine , and ornithine and elevated levels of valine. Likewise, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck exhibit a profile that is marked by decreased taurine.25 4. CONCLUSION This review highlights the divergent effects of taurine on different tissues. Thus, further studies on taurine could exemplify the beneficial role of taurine in human health and disease. 1

Aspects and Impacts of Generational Diversity Essay -- Law Enforcement

Aspects and Impacts of Generational Diversity This paper examines several aspects of generational diversity and its impact on law enforcement organizations. As the law enforcement profession prepares to move into the future it must also make ready for a changing of the guard, which will soon take place. The Traditionals and Boomers have been joined by two younger and vastly different generations of employees who bring new perspectives to law enforcement. This paper briefly discusses a few of the characteristics most commonly associated with each generation and how generational diversity will: Æ’Â ¶ CREATE CHANGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS. Æ’Â ¶ AFFECT RECRUITING ACTIVITIES. Æ’Â ¶ AFFECT HOW TRAINING IS VIEWED BY MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL. Æ’Â ¶ REQUIRE NEW SKILLS AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES TO MOTIVATE A DIVERSE WORK FORCE. Æ’Â ¶ RESULT IN CHANGING THE DYNAMICS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT AND CULTURE. Managing generational diversity will be a challenge that will have a tremendous impact on the future of law enforcement. Organizations will adapt out of necessity, to meet the challenge of successfully integrating four generations. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Generational diversity is an emerging issue for law enforcement. Today ¡Ã‚ ¦s workforce is different from any other in history now that four generations are working side-by-side. Law enforcement managers will have to learn to recognize the changing dynamics of personnel and develop strategic new approaches to old problems. Traditionals were simply grateful for jobs and focused on stability, they were not inclined to question authority. Boomers inherited the need for stability and wanted a better life; many focused so much energy on work that it became their identity. Generation X was the first group to question authority, they want to be involved in the decision making process and are unwilling to wait until retirement for their rewards. Generation Y also wants to be more involved in decisions, have more flexibility, and like Generation X see work as the means to support their lives, not as a basis for self-image as the Boomers did. Creative new recruitment and motivational techniques become critical as the number of applicants drop and the need for qualified personnel increases. Younger members of Generation X and Generation Y are becoming more and more val... ...or Smaller Police Departments. Goodrich, J. (2004, Summer). Making the Most of Generational Differences [Electronic version]. The Criminal Justice Institute ¡Ã‚ ¦s Management Quarterly. Hatfield, S.L. (2002, Jul/Aug). Understanding the Four Generations to Enhance Workplace Management [Electronic version]. AFP Exchange. 22, 72-74 Homer. (800 B.C.  ¡V 700 B.C.) The Iliad. Epic Greek poem. Lancaster, L. & Stillman, D. (2002) When generations collide. New York: Harper Business Leo, J. (2003, November 3). The good-news generation [Electronic version]. U.S. News & World Report. 135 (15) p60, 1p, 1c Segal. (2002, February). Providing public sector services in a time of change: The total rewards perspective. [Electronic version]. Public Sector Letter. 2-4. Southard, G. & Lewis, J. (2004, April). Building a Workplace That Recognizes Generational Diversity. Public Management (PM) Magazine. 86 (3) Retrieved October 14, 2004 from http://www2.icma.org/pm/8603/southard.htm Tulgan, B (2002). Managing the generation mix, four generations in conflict [excerpt video overview]. RainmakerThinking, Inc. Retrieved October 22, 2004 from http://www .rainmakerthinking.com/mixtrng.htm

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 17

Micha I called my dad from the road and got his address. He tried to talk to me a little bit, but I hung up on him. Confronting him for bailing is not something I'm going to do over the phone. He lives about two hours away, which pisses me off. Two hours away and he hasn't stopped by once. When I pull up to his house, my hands nearly choke the life out of the steering wheel. He lives in a two-story white-brick mansion. The neighborhood is nice with gigantic houses and people walking their dogs along the sidewalk. There's no drug dealings going on, no fights, no junky cars parked in the front yard. I sit in my car staring at the red door with a big â€Å"Welcome† sign hanging on it. There are flowers around the front of the yard and the grass is green and cut. Is this why he left us? Because he wanted a fancier life. Why the fuck couldn't he do that with us? My phone beeps in my pocket and I turn it off. It's Ella and I can't talk to her right now. The front door opens and a man in his forties steps out onto the porch. His hair is the same color of blonde as mine, but thinner. He's wearing a black suit and looks like an arrogant prick. He scoops up the newspaper from the ground and squints at my car as he trots off the porch. I count to five in my head, force my hands away from the steering wheel, and get out of the car. He recognizes me immediately and his face drains of color. â€Å"Micha?† He tucks the newspaper under his arm. â€Å"Is that you?† I take another deep breath and walk across the front lawn. â€Å"I don't even know why I'm here.† â€Å"Why don't you come inside so we can talk?† he suggests. I follow him into the house that's even nicer on the inside; hardwood floors, a massive chandelier, and freshly painted walls with family pictures on them. â€Å"You have a family?† He tosses the newspaper onto a table and motions for me to have a seat in the living room. â€Å"Yeah, a daughter that's twelve and a son that's eight.† Feeling awkward, I sit down in a chair that's decorated with frilly pillows. He seats himself across from me, seeming like he has no idea what to do or say next. â€Å"So how have you been?† â€Å"Super.† There's a large portrait on the wall taken in a church of him and his wife on their wedding day and I stare at it, doing the math. â€Å"How long have you been remarried?† He fidgets uncomfortably as he leans back in the chair and stations his foot onto his knee. â€Å"Micha, look I'd rather not get into this.† â€Å"What did you do? Like run out on us and marry the first person you came across?† Anger burns in my voice. He looks away toward the window and I get it. â€Å"You were seeing her while you were still with mom, weren't you?† He makes eye contact with me again, with eyes exactly like mine. â€Å"Look Micha, there were things going on between your mother and I that you don't understand†¦ I wasn't happy.† â€Å"There were things going on between you and me, too,† I snap. â€Å"So what's your excuse for that one?† He rubs a hand across his face and lets out an exhausted sigh. â€Å"I'm sorry.† I clench my hands into fists, fighting the urge to jump off the couch and strangle him. â€Å"You're sorry? Great answer, asshole.† He snatches a manila folder out of the drawer of the end table and slams it down on the coffee table between us. â€Å"Your grandfather left you some money in his will.† My eyes flash from the folder to my father. â€Å"Is that why you brought me here?† He opens the folder and takes a small stack of papers out. â€Å"I thought maybe you could use it to go to college or something. That would be nice, wouldn't it?† Shaking my head, I get to my feet. â€Å"I'm not going to college and you'd understand that if you knew me past the age of six.† He slides the papers across the table and sets a pen next to them. â€Å"Please just take the money, Micha. I want to know that you're taken care of otherwise it'll haunt me.† I pause. â€Å"Are you planning on ever seeing me again?† His silence gives me the only answer I need. â€Å"I don't want your God damn money.† I throw the papers at him and storm for the front door. â€Å"Give it to one of your real kids.† He doesn't call after me when I stomp out the door and he doesn't chase me down. I march straight for my car, getting more furious with each step, and I slam my fist into the driver's side window. It doesn't break, but a couple of my knuckles pop. â€Å"Fuck!† I shout, clutching my hand and the old lady across the street, who's working in her garden, scurries inside her mansion. I jump in my car and speed off down the road with no idea where the hell I'm going.

My Best Friend

â€Å"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never ever the same† (Unknown). What is a â€Å"best friend†? Almost everyone has one, and almost everyone is one. There’s something about a best friend that cannot be duplicated. Everyone has their own definition of what their own best friend is like and what an impact he or she has made in their life. In this essay I would like to take a better look at some of the simple things that we might take for granted when we think of our best friends. A best friend is a title held for the few and privileged.The term cannot be thrown around loosely. Not just anyone can be called your best friend. A best friend has to first meet several qualifications and have many outstanding characteristics to have the honor of holding such a prestigious title. Being a best friend is more than someone that you’ve seen everyday and grown up with. A best friend can be someone with whom you’ve known since childhood but can also be someone that you’ve just met, and similar to â€Å"love at first sight,† you just click with. The true definition of a best friend is someone that knows you inside Do you have a true best friend?I sure do. _____ is truly my best friend. She is always there for me. She knows everything about me; even my secrets. I can’t keep anything from her! She is the person who will help me when I am down, turn my frown upside-down, and make me feel better about myself. I can’t imagine any better of a friend. I love her more than anything and I would die for her. Megan and I are always together; no matter where we are! We go to places like the mall and movies, to the mountains and lakes! Together we go most everywhere! A few days ago we got Pose pictures together! We always go shopping My Best Friend My best friend Everybody always has friend or friendship. There are a lot of kinds of friends. We have friends, close friends and best friends. It is said a friend needs to be a good friend but it hard to find a best friend. Best friends need to know about certain qualities of each other. Best friends are always there for you when you’re down or having problems. A best friend is the person you can always rely on for anything no matter what. Best friends stick up for you even if you are wrong. Best friends have equal honesty for one another. There is no lie between two friends is just together.The last few years, I was in my country, I had one best friend. He is a nice person who I spent a lot of my time with. I spend a lot time with him more than another friend. I noticed he was the best friend for me. He was always truthful to me in everything that I told him. He never hesitates or confirm me what I did. He would always support and help me all the time. We never lie to each o ther. Sometime, someone asked him â€Å"why you always trust your friend all the time and anything? † Maybe, they were jealous of me because I had such a good friend in him.A best friend is a friend who spends more time than anyone together. He always went anywhere where I needed to go. I always ask him to go with me all the time. He never refused my request, even at night or when he was very busy. We always hang out together after school. We had fun together during we spent time together. He always told fun stories to me all the time. His stories were always fiction stories; what he had imagined by himself, but they were always little bit crazy and funny. I like to spent time with him more than other friend. Releted essay –  An Empty Purse Frightens Away FriendsI never took care of him at all. It may have not fair to him. He might think he wasted his time when he spent time with me. He could not do whatever he wants for himself. He might need his time with another friend. He is a kind person. He always helps me when I had problems. I always talk about my problems to him when I didn’t know how to solve it. He never leaves me alone. Sometime, I didn’t have enough money to buy something, he always share his money to me. Other way, I need to give back to him because I thought best friend never want something from another one.We need to help together when we have problems. It might hurt another one’s feeling who was his friend, and he could not do anything with them. A best friend is the best relationship between two peoples. There is need to do something and helping together. It can be happiness or give hand to another one. It cans honesty and trusts together wh en we do something and don’t lie to another one. Best friend can make us have fun and happiness in our life. It is the best memory when we thinking about our friend. My Best Friend My Best Friend Everyone has memorable experiences. It could be happiness, sadness, or tragedy. Of course I have memorable experiences. It must be the one who was involved in those cases. She is my best friend, Febri Afifah. I really admire her because she is very humble and helpful. I have many experiences with her. Because of that, I really know about her kindness and badness. In this essay, I will talk about her who was involved in one of my memorable experiences. Our relationship is always good.It might be because she is very patient with me, although I often made her disappointed. I have known her since I was a child. My house is close to hers, she is my neighbor. Her childhood was not as lucky as me, but she never gave up and she always looks happy. Unfortunately, she never went to kindergarten. At that time, her family did not have enough money to pay school fee. They spend their money to treat her mother. Her mother got an accident that made her legs could not run normally.Whe n I went to elementary school, she went to elementary school too. But we studied at the different school. Returning from school I played with her at my house, sometimes we studied together. We grew up together and we always have unforgettable experiences day by day. I remember, at that time we went to her new house. The traffic was jammed and we had to crossing the road. When we were crossing the road, I accidentally stepped on her sandals and then her sandals runaway from her feet.When we reached the other side of the road, she returned to the middle of the road to pick up her sandals. That moment made some cars honked, she was really surprised and I just could laugh to see her. I have many funny moments with her. She always makes me laugh when I need to laugh. If I cry because of some problems, she will be beside me and tells some jokes. It has always been a weapon to restore my mood. She is funny, cheerful, and always looks happy. It can make people very comfortable. I'm lucky pe rson because i know her. My Best Friend â€Å"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never ever the same† (Unknown). What is a â€Å"best friend†? Almost everyone has one, and almost everyone is one. There’s something about a best friend that cannot be duplicated. Everyone has their own definition of what their own best friend is like and what an impact he or she has made in their life. In this essay I would like to take a better look at some of the simple things that we might take for granted when we think of our best friends. A best friend is a title held for the few and privileged.The term cannot be thrown around loosely. Not just anyone can be called your best friend. A best friend has to first meet several qualifications and have many outstanding characteristics to have the honor of holding such a prestigious title. Being a best friend is more than someone that you’ve seen everyday and grown up with. A best friend can be someone with whom you’ve known since childhood but can also be someone that you’ve just met, and similar to â€Å"love at first sight,† you just click with. The true definition of a best friend is someone that knows you inside Do you have a true best friend?I sure do. _____ is truly my best friend. She is always there for me. She knows everything about me; even my secrets. I can’t keep anything from her! She is the person who will help me when I am down, turn my frown upside-down, and make me feel better about myself. I can’t imagine any better of a friend. I love her more than anything and I would die for her. Megan and I are always together; no matter where we are! We go to places like the mall and movies, to the mountains and lakes! Together we go most everywhere! A few days ago we got Pose pictures together! We always go shopping