Twilight-Stephenie Meyer

Preface

I'D NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO HOW I WOULD DIE-though I'd had reason enough in the last few months- but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this.

I stared without breathing across the long room, into the dark eyes of the hunter, and he looked pleasantly back at me.

Surely it was a good way to die, in a place of someone else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.

I knew that if I'd never gone to Forks, I wouldn't be facing death now. But, terrified as I was, I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end.

The hunter smiled in a friendly way as he sauntered forwards to kill me.

Text Production Draft # 2

Global warming has been a hot issue in recent years because people in this planet start to feel the consequences of it, caused by the more erratic and serious climate change. As in the film of “Inconvenient Truth”, Al. Gore (2006) says: “The era of Procrastination, of half-measure, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In this place, we are entering a period of consequences.”However, it is better late than never. We, as civil-minded citizens of this planet, therefore, should realize the significance of knowing the perils of climate change and taking initiative to carry out efficient and prompt actions to combat this disastrous global threat.

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” (Holli Riebeek 2007) Global warming is no longer a scenario to be worried by our future generation but it confronts us right now. One of the most evident effects is the rising of sea-levels. Water expands when it is warmed up and takes up more volume, contributing to higher sea-level. Melting of glaciers and ice sheets is also believed to increase the sea-levels, threatening low-lying nations or places, such as Florida, California and Bangladesh. Scientists also believe that the sea-level will rise about 4 inches to 3 feet by 2100. (Chris Woodford 2006)

In addition, the increase in global temperature and the melting of glaciers at the Poles have tremendous impacts on the finely balanced ecosystem on earth. Polar bears depend on the ice sheets to move and hunt. The global warming causes the amount of ice sheets to decrease, resulting in the polar bears to lose their home. In the tropics, the rising temperature of the sea water has destroyed many coral reefs, putting the colourful ecosystems in danger. More importantly, human beings are also well affected by the climate change. More erratic climate change brings more storms and hurricanes. Floods are likely to take place in some countries on occasions. Some predictions say climate change flooding could make about 100-200 million people permanently homeless by 2100. (Chris Woodford 2006)

To solve this, every quarter should work hand in hand. Anyone can contribute to reduce global warming by using energy efficiently and saving energy. Energy efficiency is considered as one of the best ways to curb climate change. To do this, one can replace the incandescent lamps in his home and use energy-saving fluorescent lamps. You can also choose to walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation instead of driving your car. You can put on a sweater instead of turning on the heating and open the windows instead of using the air-conditioners. (Chris Woodford 2006)Even these seemingly little moves can help to reduce climate change greatly. Governments of the world should also reduce their carbon emission. Developing countries like China and India may argue that the reduction in their energy consumption will put them at an economic disadvantage to the other nations. However, Stern Report states that the global economic activity which is measured by Gross Domestic Product will drop up to 20% if inaction continues but this drop can be reduced to merely 1% if governments are willing to take actions now. (Chris Woodford 2006)

In conclusion, though the increase of around only a few degree centigrade in the global temperature is capable of producing significant changes in our environment and way of life and it may seem trivial for us (Holli Riebeek 2007), the fact that climate change is affecting our daily lives is undeniably true. Hence, every one of us should start to play a role in saving our Mother Earth. Knowing the consequences of climate change, we should work in a more comprehensive way and make wise use of the technology to solve the climate change. Al. Gore (2006) says everyone must have the perseverance and determination to carry out the actions to curb global warming. As the saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way”.

Text Production Draft #1

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how they can be arrested?

Global warming has been a hot issue in recent years because people in this planet start to feel the consequences of it, caused by the more erratic and serious climate change. As in the film of “An Inconvenient Truth”, Al. Gore (2006) says: “The era of Procrastination, of half-measure, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In this place, we are entering a period of consequences.”However, it is better late than never. We, as civil-minded citizens of this planet, therefore, should realize the significance of knowing the perils of climate change and taking initiative to carry out efficient and prompt actions to combat this disastrous global threat.

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” (Holli Riebeek 2007) Global warming is no longer a scenario to be worried by our future generation but it confronts us right now. One of the most evident effects is the rising of sea-levels. Water expands when it is warmed up and takes up more volume, contributing to higher sea-level. Melting of glaciers and ice sheets is also believed to increase the sea-levels, threatening low-lying nations or places, such as Florida, California and Bangladesh. Scientists also believe that the sea-level will rise about 4 inches to 3 feet by 2100. (Chris Woodford 2006)

In addition, the increase in global temperature and the melting of glaciers at the Poles have tremendous impacts on the finely balanced ecosystem on earth. Polar bears depend on the ice sheets to move and hunt. The global warming causes the amount of ice sheets to decrease, resulting in the polar bears to lose their home. In the tropics, the rising temperature of the sea water has destroyed many coral reefs, with disastrous effects on the complex and colourful ecosystems that depend on them. More importantly, human beings are also well affected by the climate change. More erratic climate change could mean more storms and hurricanes. Floods are likely to plague some countries on occasions. Some predictions say climate change flooding could make about 100-200 million people permanently homeless by 2100. (Chris Woodford 2006)

To solve this, every quarter should work hand in hand. Anyone can contribute to reduce global warming by using energy efficiently and saving energy. Energy efficiency is considered as one of the best way to curb climate change. To do this, one can replace the incandescent lamps in his home and use energy-saving fluorescent lamps. You can also choose to walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation instead of driving your car. You can put on a sweater instead of turning on the heating and open the windows instead of using the air-conditioners. (Chris Woodford 2006)Even these seemingly little moves can help to reduce climate change greatly. Governments of the world should also reduce their carbon emission. Developing countries like China and India may argue that the reduction in their energy consumption will put them at an economic disadvantage to the other nations. However, Stern Report states that the global economic activity which is measured by Gross Domestic Product will drop up to 20% if inaction continues but this drop can be reduced to merely 1% if governments are willing to take actions now. (Chris Woodford 2006)

In conclusion, though the increase of around only a few degree centigrade in the global temperature is capable of producing significant changes in our environment and way of life and it may seem remote and unimportant for us (Holli Riebeek 2007), the fact that climate change is affecting our daily lives is undeniably true. Hence, every one of us should start to play a role in saving our Mother Earth. Knowing the consequences of climate change, we should work in a more comprehensive way and make wise use of the technology to solve the climate change. Al. Gore (2006) says: “The solutions are in our hand, you just have to have the determination to make that happen.” As the saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Australia News

University students' demand for stress therapy explodes

• From:AdelaideNow
• March 04, 2010 2:43am

PRESSURE on students has risen so significantly that many seek psychological help to cope with "perfectionism syndrome".

Student demand for stress therapy at universities has exploded and many psychologists now have waiting lists.

An Adelaide education and social science expert says students are suffering under a "meritocracy" - a social system where success is based on being the best.

However, it's believed students should instead be told individual ability and effort is not the sole key to success.

University of South Australia education Professor Bruce Johnson said students were often told if they worked hard enough and put in as many hours as possible, they would "rise to the top".

"It's dangerous to constantly push kids to the point where they think they can control everything and their success depends fully on what they do," Professor Johnson said.

The university's health psychology unit is now putting on more stress management courses to avoid further waiting lists.Clinical psychologists say demand for stress therapy at the University of Technology Sydney has doubled - possibly due to the global economic crisis and new pressures on young people such as cyber bullying.

Clinical psychologist Megan Varlow from UTS said the university was now running stress programs every term.

Professor Johnson recommended students look at success and shortfalls in context of the circumstances and work on aspects of life they could control.

"Most young people cope remarkably well. But sometimes the system can wear some down," he said.

A Sydney high school has called in self-esteem expert Dannielle Miller from Enlighten Education to work with its female students under a program called "Chill Out".

"We are building resilience so students can bounce back from setbacks," she said

Critique:

It's true that students nowadays personally hope to get high achievements in every aspects of their lives despite the push from their parents or universities. It is not uncommon to see students collapse in both mental and physical condition in pursuing their own goals. In the end, they might just give up their own dreams. Unfortunately, some may even choose to end their lives. A perfectionist may not be perfect. There are many things to be appreciated other than just to achieve successes in lives. Please remember your family members are always caring and loving you. They will acknowledge you no matter who you are, poor or rich or successful or not successful. This is the power of LOVE.

My idol-Jay Chou

Today, I watched some videos of my idol, Jay Chou- a Taiwanese chinese male singer in YouTube. Despite his fame now, these videos are some recorded when he hasn't become a real super star. Some of the video recordings are funny because of his droll reactions in many live shows. However, some good values are worth learning from him.





It may be said, without fear of contradiction that almost all the Chinese in this world know who Jay Chou is. His music talent is so amazing! He can wirte songs and sings very well. Other than that, piano is absolutely an emblem for his gift in this field. His performance in playing piano is perfect! Youngsters nowadays, mostly the Chinese, including me are just crazy about him. Of course, he is also the prince on a white horse of many girls.





However, when his first album was out, the producer even was worried that no one will come to his official interview. He was told and ordered not to speak too much, in the hope that he wouldn't offend the reporters.Even worst, his appearance before his very first album was terrible. His long hair and too thin body shape gave us a dreadful impression of him. But so what?? He was humble, shy and quiet, yet his music talent had drawn all the attention to him. At present, his appearance has changed and has become a fine-looking and charming prince! The values that make me like him the most are his diligence and humility. He didn't care how people looked at him when he was not famous yet. He perserves his hard work and his way of life until he is successful.I respect him!! Salute!!^^



My friends, you are most welcome to kindly corect my English. I wish I can learn from mistakes and impove my English. Tq so much..^^

Review for Australia

“Australia” this is the second movie I watched in my English class. It is so-called “a very important movie” (as what it’s named and if you want to call it) to us, SAM students, who are going to fly to Australia at the end of next year although it is actually scarcely related to us but more about history of Australia in 1930's before the World War 2.

Therefore, at first when I first heard the name of the movie, I really paid my full attention to watch this movie although my eyelids were about to close and I could fall asleep as soundly as I could at any time. Oops! But soon I continued to watch (I successfully bore the tiredness) and realised that it was actually very meaningful and quite touched in some senses (the romantic love story between Lady Sarah Ashley and the Drover as well as Lady Sarah Ashley’s maternal love towards Nullah).

The character that I would like to talk about in this movie is Nullah. Nullah is a half-caste child whose mother is an Aborigine while his father is a white man. He is not recognised by the society in Australia that time and he is going to be sent to an isolated island together with other so-called “creamy” children.

Nullah is a very brave child. He knows his family is being exploited by a white man, Neil Fletcher who works under Lady Sarah Ashley by being not allowed to use water though they actually have a very big water storage tank in their farm. He knows Lady Sarah Ashley does not know about Neil Fletcher’s evil act, so he decides to reveal this immoral act to her. Although Neil Fletcher threatens to beat him and his mother, he insists to tell Lady Sarah Ashley this secret. At the end, he is chased and beaten up by Neil Fletcher.

Nullah also likes to sing. When his Aboriginal mother dies, he is emotional, solemn, sad and quiet. When Lady Sarah Ashley comes to comfort him, he asks her to sing a song for him. He then tells Lady Sarah Ashley that according to his grandfather, the King George, he has a magic that he can hear Lady Sarah Ashley’s singing anytime although they may be far apart from each other and vice versa. When he is sent to the isolated island because he is a half-caste child, he always sings and believes that Lady Ashley can hear him singing.

Nullah is also a child who is believed to have magic, inherited from his grandfather, the King George. He always believes that Lady Sarah Ashley can hear him singing wherever she is.When the cattle from Faraway Downs lose control and are running to the cliff edge to kill themselves, Nullah also miraculously stops the cattle by singing.

Nullah also loves his culture of being an Aborigine. This is shown when he wants to "walk about" with his grandfather, the King George. That is why Lady Sarah Ashley lets him go to "walk about" with the King George although she loves him so much and wants to keep him aside with her. She doesn't want him to abandon his culture.

Review for Coach Carter

Synopsis
This film is more about life rather than basketball. It is a story about a basketball coach, named Ken Carter who accepted the job to coach a group of young boys in a basketball team in Richmond High school. However these boys were totally not disciplined. The worst thing was that they did not even RESPECT him. So, Coach Carter decided to implement some plans to discipline all these wild boys. First, he required them to greet each other as sir because they needed to respect the others first before they could earn respect from them. Second, he applied strict rules in the basketball court. Team members who were late for training would be punished not less than 200 push-ups and “suicide”. If you dare to argue more, the figure will continue to increase, so “you better shut up, or else push-up” ^^

Other than that, Coach Carter also signed contracts with the team members of Richmond Oilers in which required them to get good results (2.3 point average) if they wanted to continue to play in the matches. In the contract, he also required the team members to wear formal dress to class and sit in front in class. Oh, for the team members, this was really INSANE. ^^

However after hard training, the “loser” team last season, Richmond Oiler emerged as an undefeatable team this season. However, when Coach Carter realised that some of the team members did not do well in their studies, he decided to padlock the gymnasium and prohibited the team to take part in any matches. On the other hand, he sent the boys into study hall until they could get good result before they could continue to play in the state competition. Coach Carter’s action drew the attention of the public and mass media. Many of them criticised his action and stood together to force him to resign. However, at the end, all the players were passed and allowed to play again in the state competition!

“Richmond, Richmond, Richmond, Richmond....” All the crowd in the gymnasium was so excited shouting the name of Richmond High School when the team was playing a match against St.Francis at the end of the film. However, Richmond Oilers lost finally. For Coach Carter, although his team had lost in the match, his players were still the winners, the winners in their lives. HE CAME TO TEACH BOYS, AND THEY BECAME MEN; HE CAME TO COACH BASKETBALL PLAYERS, AND THEY BECAME STUDENTS.

Characters
In 1999, Ken Carter, a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. As much dismayed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal play performance, Carter sets about to change both. Coach Carter is not a selfish man. He knows his job as a basketball coach is only to coach the team to win basketball matches but he is still concerned about his players’ academic results. It is because he doesn’t want his players to end up like his old basketball teammates during his school time. He experiences and knows that so he doesn’t want his players to repeat the history. He is a real man who we all should respect and salute.
Coach Carter also has a strong determination. When all the lecturers refuse to cooperate with him to give him the reviews of his players’ results, he does not give up easily. He then goes to their class to view their learning progress by himself. Another example is that when all the public, mass media and parents criticise him and force him to resign, he still insists to lock the boys out of the gym unless they reach the GPA of 2.3.

Damien Carter - Robert Ri'chard, Kenyon Stone - Rob Brown, Kyra - Ashanti, Tonya - Debbi Morgan, Timo Cruz - Rick Gonzalez, Worm - Antwon Tanner, Junior Battle - Nana Gbewonyo, Jason Lyle - Channing Tatum, Maddux - Texas Battle.
These are the team members of Richmond Oilers. At first, although they are in a team, they are not playing as a team. They are not disciplined, not co-operative, bad-tempered and rude. When Coach Carter comes for the first time, they do not even respect him. They even say bad words like, “nigger”, “dog” in front of him. Coach Carter then asks them to greet each other as sir and implements strict rules to discipline the boys. In order to improve their studies, Coach Carter even padlocks the gym and pauses all the games. Though the boys really want to play the games, they understand what their coach is doing now is for their own good. So, they even move chairs and tables into the gym and study there when the gym is forced to open. When Coach Carter comes to them in the gym, Timo Cruz finally answers the question Coach Carter has asked him so many times, “what is your deepest fear, young man?”:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
At the end of the movie, although they lose in the state basketball competition, they manage to get into college and lead better lives.


Reviews
Coach Carter understands the passion of his players towards basketball. However, he wants their players to understand to make their dream realised, they must at least get some qualifications in their studies. You are undefeatable in your high school basketball team, but so what? If you can’t even graduate from your high school, you can’t continue to play basketball in college or NBA. The worst thing according to Coach Carter’s experience, most of his teammates last time now end up in jail and some even are killed. Are these all you want? So, young men and young women think about it.
There is something else on which I would like to comment is the attitude of the parents. They do not know what is wrong and what is right for their children. It is true that your children may be gifted in basketball but as parents they should also look at the other aspects of their children. They should advise their children to manage their time wisely in order to excel in both studies and sport. If the children are really not that good in studies, in spite of passing the examinations with flying colours, parents should require them at least to graduate from high school successfully but not just give up the studies and focus only on sport.

The other issue in this film is the drug-dealing activities. As in the film, the character, Timo Cruz is helping his cousin to deliver the drugs and earns money by doing that. He even owns a gun. However, Timo Cruz does not really like being himself in that way. Every time, in the street, he really wishes that he can join the other basketball teammates together, but he can’t because he needs to follow his cousin to deliver the drugs. He is lonely. At the end, when his cousin is killed, he is so frightened and finally makes the decision to get away from drugs. Coach Carter of course welcomes him back to the team. What I am trying to say here is that society should give chances to those, especially the young one, who make mistakes in the past to start over new lives. Lend them a helping hand as many of them are struggling to get themselves free just like Timo Cruz. If we do not help them, who else can?

Foul mouth is another issue that draws my attention. Most of the team members in Richmond Oilers are foul-mouthed. They like to scold bad words like “nigger”, “dog” etc. As a result, they easily offend many people and get involved in fights. They are really lucky because they are not killed. Many of them who are not as lucky as them are killed just because of offensive language. One of the examples is the brother of Junior Battle in the film. Furthermore, people who are foul-mouthed are usually not respected. If you want to earn people’s respect, please respect the others first by practising good manners and language.