Music Production

Music Production Music Production: 1.What are the issues concerning file formats, size and quality when exporting a finished track from Logic/Cubase? There are several issues to consider when exporting a finished track from a DAW, the major one being the destination of a piece of music. Be it CD, Vinyl or I Tunes they all have their own format issues. To store digital audio the audio voltage is sampled which, on playback, corresponds to a certain levels of signal in an individual channel, with the resolution (sample rate) you chose to use. This data can then be stored uncompressed or compressed to reduce the size, naturally even though a huge 94khz 32 bit file would sound amazing, it would be huge and for stuff like websites or for people to store on their I tunes the size needs to be compressed. DAWs like Logic or Cubase have options when you export as to which format you want. For mastering for vinyl there are many issues, lets start with the basics. The volume of your record is directly linked to the total time of each side. This means if you intend to have it played in clubs by DJs, the most time per side should be around 12-13 minutes for 12† records. When the side length is less than 9 minutes, the loudness will be at the maximum for 33 1/3 rpm cuts. However for every minute over 13 minutes per side, you lose about 1 db in volume on the side in most cases. This is noticeable when a vinyl is pressed with two tracks on each side therefore comprising on volume and you also get the so-called â€Å"S† distortion (sibilance). When the master has too much high frequency on vocal â€Å"S†, â€Å"T†, and â€Å"F† sounds, it will end up overloading on playback, causing noticeable distortion. This also happens when hi-hats, cymbals, and any high frequency sounds that are in your mixes are too hot. This can also mean the louder yo ur record is cut, the worse the problem will be. The same applies for bass and if you have a track with heavy sub bass that has been mastered badly the bass can eat up all the headroom in the mix and also heavy bass cuts a bigger groove into the vinyl taking up more space. So you can have all the fun you want for compact disc mixing. But for vinyl mixes, its suggested by mastering companies to not add compression or any digital processing, leave the mix for vinyl production as untouched as possible. For CD the issues are that you need stereo 16 bit 44.1 kHz files (the format for CD audio) they require about 5 MB of disk space per channel per minute. So for example, 2 minutes of CD audio requires 20 MB of disk space. 2 channels times 5 MB times 2 minutes = 20 MB. Using a greater bit rate or sample rate will increase the disk space required, and will also increase demands on the computers hard drive and processor. CD mastering engineers recommend they will need a mix that peaks at -3dB. The whole mix should not be compressed, unless by a very experienced engineer using a very good compressor. Too many mixes are submitted to that have been over-compressed using a cheap plug-in. This cannot be removed. As far as archiving and storing your completed project safely and properly, first of all back up your project on to external hard drives being sure to collect all the samples and consolidate each time you save. As far as which file format to use there is one major uncompressed audio format, PCM, which is usually stored as a â€Å".wav† on Windows or as â€Å".aiff† on Mac OS. WAV and AIFF are flexible file formats designed to store more or less any combination of sampling rates or bitrates. This makes them suitable file formats for storing and archiving an original recording. By storing your project in this format you can load it up again and export a compressed or mastered version for different destinations. References: http://www.wikirecording.org/File_formats#Audio http://www.urpressing.com/advice.php http://www.littlebazaar.co.uk/pages/digital-audio-cd-mastering.php 2.Use an imaginary budget of  £3000 for each, put together an equipment list for two possible computer based recording setups: a permanent PC based studio/home setup for an artist/producer working largely alone, and a mobile Mac based setup for recording bands. Evaluate the software and hardware options for each, and the specifications and performance of the desktop/laptop you choose. Portable I have gone for the cheapest macbook in the â€Å"pro† range as it offers better performance and room to upgrade, (the basic macbook doesnt even come with firewire!) I chose the Focusrite soundcard as I know there stable from my research and there reasonably priced. For software I chose Logic Pro as it goes hand in hand with the macbook and offers many recording features and easily handles recording multiple channels and can be used to mix a track without the need for a desk. For microphones I have chosen the best for the money and tried to cover all recording needs. I have also selected some good quality budget headphones for the engineer and the band as well as all the necessary leads I could think of and still come under  £3000. 1 x 13-inch Macbook Pro: 2.26GHz =  £918 Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB Memory 160GB hard drive SD card slot Built-in 7-hour battery NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card. 1 x Focusrite Saphire Pro 24 Firewire Soundcard =  £250 FireWire Interface Excellent routing flexibility and rock-solid driver stability. Two award-winning Focusrite pre-amps JetPLLâ„ ¢ jitter elimination technology I/O options: Two additional analogue inputs, six analogue outputs, ADAT inputs (for expanding the interface with, for example, Focusrites OctoPre), stereo SPDIF I/O and 2 virtual ‘loopback inputs Front panel 5-LED metering Zero-latency 18 x 8 DSP Mixer/Router software provided with Saffire PRO 24 Software: Logic Pro =  £150 Mics: 1 x AKG D112 =  £115 (The D 112 can handle high sound pressure levels making it perfect for Kick Drum recording) 2 x Shure SM58 =  £192 (classic industry standard used for all sorts of situations) 1 x Rhode NTK =  £379 (Valve Condenser Microphone for high-end recording applications, great for vocals) 1 x AKG C414 =  £525 (quality mic especially used for accurate, beautifully-detailed pickup of any acoustic instrument) Headphones: 1 x Sennheiser HD 25 Mk2headphones (for the producer/engineer) =  £150 â€Å" probably the most popular Pro headphones on the market. The HD25 Mk2 headphones have high quality closed cups help reproduce a superb all round sound. Features detatchable lead and comfortable headband† decks.co.uk 3 x AKG K99 =  £105 (less expensive so there are plenty to go around for band members etc.) Leads: 10 x XLR to XLR Microphone Lead. XLR male connector to XLR female connector. Two core screen cable 6mm diameter. Length 6M =  £8.12 each Top of Form 5 x XLR Jack Mic lead with XLR and 6.35mm jack connections. 10.0m length =  £9.45 each Bottom of Form Total =  £2912.45p References www.dv247.com www.akg.com www.store.apple.com/uk-storehttp://tweakheadz.com/ Permanent PC Based Studio/home setup for an artist/producer working largely alone For this setup I have focused on the idea that if the artist/producer was largely working alone at home, the best solution would be the sort of deal they offer at â€Å"Sonica Labs† one of the biggest retailers of high end custom built PCs designed to the best specifications (money permitting). If I had  £3000 to spend on a setup for home that would sound superb and enable me to do professional quality mixes and tracks I would go for this which is the cheapest option of this model from the Sonica Labs website, I know a lot of big producers use these and coupled with the RME Firewire soundcard, the UAD plugins card and Pro Tools you would have more than enough to keep you going. Although the  £3000 didnt allow for any monitors which if your serious can cost another  £3000 so I didnt even go there which I appreciate might be wrong but I really feel this deal would be the one to go for in the circumstances. 1 x Sonica Labs 19† Rack Mount HUSH-QXR / XLR8 Workstation (including all the components listed below) Intel Quad Core / Core i7 920 2.66GHz 6GB DDR3 triple channel (3 x 2gig) Seagate 500GB, 32MB cache, 7200 RPM, SATA II 2 x Seagate 1000GB, 32MB cache, 7200 RPM, SATA II Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (or 32bit) Blu-ray disc burner HD DVD-ROM / DVDRW / CDRW RME Fireface 400 Firewire Soundcard Universal Audio UAD-2 Solo plug in card Protools M-POWERED 8 for M-AUDIO music systems Total =  £3004 References www.shop-sonica.com 3.Research and write an analysis of how networking practices can impact on the process of music production? The creation of networks has been a massive development in the process of music production. It has meant the use of small networks in studios or offices where computers on a network can all access a server where they can have shared hard drives. This sort of networking is extremely useful in such situations like in an audio for media editing studio where a whole group of people working with a huge library of sounds that would never fit on one computer can all access it with optical leads and run the samples from the networked hard drive. However, the topic of networks also covers the biggest network in the world, which is the Internet. Since its creation, which was originally an idea by the American military to transfer secret information and later for some universities in America to have a way to share information between separate universities, the Internet has boomed to say the least. It now means that networks our part of all of our day to day lives. The Internet is a hot topic in the music industry and the idea of everyone with an Internet connection being able to access files and share information with everyone in the world and cover more territories than an old record label or shop could ever of dreamed of has caused the sale of physical mediums like CD and Vinyl to drop, and meant a lot of independent record shops and big chains having to shut down, alongside I tunes announcing in April 2008 that; â€Å"The iTunes ® Store (www.itunes.com) surpassed Wal-Mart to become the number one music retailer in the US, based on the latest data from the NPD Group*. With over 50 million customers, iTunes has sold over four billion songs and features the worlds largest music catalog of over six million songs.† Along with this in 2010 they announced the 10 Billionth download! It is clear to see that the Internet isnt going to go away and the thing that scares the record companies when it comes to illegal downloads is that its so hard to police, it is now the case that people will use file sharing networks online to share files that can include illegal content such as musicians albums, singles and even vocal accapellas. It can even be a case of an artist completing an album that has taken years to produce only to have it leaked a month before the official release. It can mean huge problems for artists and they will employ people to search the Internet for these very leaks. I think the future for me and my independent label is bright and that has a lot to do with the internet as we hold the view that if we release our stuff digitally for free then bring out select tracks that people like to mix on vinyl we can focus on getting income from the live shows we get booked for, it is nice to have a physical CD but the idea of digital and using social networking a nd forums along with our own website to promote and get our music out there is the best way for us. References http://www.apple.com http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/resources/guides/g2/s2.htm

Of Water and the Spirit by Malidoma Patrice Somé Essay

With Of Water and Spirit Malidoma Patrice Some has written a very interesting, engaging autobiography in which he details his life as a man living between two different lifestyles: the traditional life of his people, the Dagara, who live in rural Burkina Faso, the former French Colony known as the Upper Volta, and the life of a highly educated African man with two PhDs who travels throughout the western nations writing, lecturing, and teaching about his people and their relationship between the normal world and the spirit world. According to Some his first name â€Å"Malidoma† means â€Å"be friends with the stranger/enemy. † The Dagara believe a person’s name has an affect on the his life so they name their children something that will always remind them of their mission in life. Some, then, is â€Å"here in the West to tell the world about my people any way I can, and to take back to my people the knowledge I gain about this world† (Some 1994, 1). Some was named Patrice when he was baptized by Jesuit priests at the insistence of his father who had converted to Catholicism. The attitude of Some and the Dagara people is very interesting. Instead of feeling hatred against the white men who had colonized the country and basically enslaved the people while stealing their land and resources, the Dagara are concerned about all people, including the white people and are â€Å"convinced that the West is as endangered as the indigenous cultures it has decimated in the name of colonialism† (Some 1994, 1). They believe that western cultures abandonment of â€Å"functional spiritual values† has made the West sick with a â€Å"sickness of the soul† (Some 1994, 1). Some was basically kidnapped from his tribe at the age of four when he was taken away to study at the Jesuit school. At the time the Jesuits were trying create a â€Å"native missionary force† to help in converting the people of Upper Volta. Prior to being kidnapped Some had spent much of his childhood with his grandfather, a great leader of the Dagara. His grandfather taught him many of the stories of the Dagara people, their spiritual beliefs, and their history. Some’s grandfather emphasized the close spiritual relationship of the Dagara with the world, the land, and the spirits of their deceased ancestors. The Dagara believe there is an important connection between an individual, his people, his land, and his god. Some’s grandfather could not understand the Catholic Church’s attempts at missionary work throughout the world, â€Å". . . let me tell you that a God who would send his people away from their land must be drinking a very strong wine all the time† (Some 1994, 29). At the time of his death, Some’s grandfather told Some that the ancestors had designated Some to â€Å"follow the white man so that you may serve as the eye of the compound, the ear of your many brothers, and the mouth of your tribe† (Some 1994, 40). Some’s grandfather also told him that he came back to the tribe he would appear strange to the Dagara, he would only be part Dagara and would have to undergo the month long initiation in the wilderness to become a member of the tribe. Some’s time at the Jesuit school was unpleasant. The priests often beat him while they were teaching him as if the beatings would reinforce the lessons and make him confirm to the Jesuit teachings. When he graduated to the seminary school at Nansi he had similar experiences and often found that he lived outside of himself. He would make his â€Å"thoughts go away from my body so that when the first blow fell, I [he] was not even aware of it† (Some 1994, 114). Some resented the way he was treated and found himself rebelling against the method of instruction. This rebellion reached its climax when Some was twenty and became involved in a physical altercation with one of the priests. During the struggle the priest fell through the window and landed in the dirt outside. Consequently, Some ran away from the school to return to his home. His journey home took him eleven days since he was forced to walk the entire way. Ironically, on his journey, Some learned that the country had gained its independence from France in 1960 and such forced schooling had come to an end. Since Some was about four-years-old both when independence occurred and when he was taken away from his people to attend school, he could have returned to his people long before (Some 1994, 153; 99-156). By the time he returned to his village, the Jesuit missionary priests on the hill were gone, although a day school still existed. Once Some was in his home compound, he found he no longer fit it with his people. He had forgotten how to speak the language; the village had changed with independence. His people were not comfortable with him there, nor was he comfortable with them. Consequently the elders decided he should undergo the Baor, the month long initiation, â€Å"to quiet the white man in your soul . . . so that his â€Å"soul [would] come back home and . . . stop being a stranger to yourself and to us† (Some 1994, 178). Some describes his spiritual initiation in detail and tells how he was able to return to the Dagara. Once he had returned fully to the Dagara, Some found that he was again not comfortable living with his people because he had not yet completed his mission that his grandfather had told him about and that his ancestors had assigned him. Once again it became necessary to leave his people so the he might â€Å"be friends with the stranger/enemy. † This is what Some continues to do today through his writings and lecturing. However, he is careful to return to his home every year to make certain he reconnects with his home and people. Bibliography Some, Malidoma Patrice. Of Water and the Spirit: Ritual, Magic, and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, A Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam Book, 1994.

The Host Chapter 55: Attached

Jeb cleared a path for me, pushing people aside with his rifle as though they were sheep and the gun a shepherd's staff. â€Å"That's enough,† he growled at those who complained. â€Å"You'll get a chance to dress ‘im down later. We all will. Let's get this sorted out first, okay? Let me through.† From the corner of my eye, I saw Sharon and Maggie fall to the back of the crowd, melting away from the reinstatement of reason. Away from my involvement, really, more than anything else. Both with jaws locked, they continued to glare at Kyle. Jared and Ian were the last two Jeb shoved aside. I brushed both of their arms as I passed, hoping to help calm them. â€Å"Okay, Kyle,† Jeb said, smacking the barrel of the gun against his palm. â€Å"Don't try to excuse yourself, 'cause there ain't no excuse. I'm plain torn between kickin' ya out and shootin' ya now.† The little face, pale under the deep tan of her skin, peeped around Kyle's elbow again with a swish of long, curly black hair. The girl's mouth was hanging open in horror, her dark eyes frantic. I thought I could see a faint sheen to those eyes, a hint of silver behind the black. â€Å"But right now, let's calm everybody down.† Jeb turned around, gun held low across his body, and suddenly it was as if he were guarding Kyle and the little face behind him. He glared at the mob. â€Å"Kyle's got a guest, and you're scarin' the snot out of her, people. I think you can all dig up some better manners than that. Now, all of you clear out and get to work on something useful. My cantaloupes are dying. Somebody do something about that, hear?† He waited until the muttering crowd slowly dispersed. Now that I could see their faces, I could tell that they were already getting over it, most of them, anyway. This wasn't so bad, not after what they'd been fearing the last few days. Yes, Kyle was a self-absorbed idiot, their faces seemed to say, but at least he was back, no harm done. No evacuation, no danger of the Seekers. No more than usual, anyway. He'd brought another worm back, but then, weren't the caves full of them these days? It just wasn't as shocking as it used to be. Many went back toward their interrupted lunch, others returned to the irrigation barrel, others to their rooms. Soon only Jared, Ian, and Jamie were left beside me. Jeb looked at these three with a cross expression; his mouth opened, but before he could order them away again, Ian took my hand, and then Jamie grabbed the other. I felt another hand on my wrist, just above Jamie's. Jared. Jeb rolled his eyes at the way they'd tethered themselves to me to avoid expulsion, and then turned his back on us. â€Å"Thanks, Jeb,† Kyle said. â€Å"Shut the hell up, Kyle. Just keep your fat mouth shut. I'm dead serious about shooting you, you worthless maggot.† There was a weak whimper from behind Kyle. â€Å"Okay, Jeb. But could you save the death threats till we're alone? She's terrified enough. You remember how that kind of stuff freaks Wanda out.† Kyle smiled at me-I felt shock cross my face in reaction-and then he turned to the girl hiding behind him with the gentlest expression I'd ever seen on his face. â€Å"See, Sunny? This is Wanda, the one I told you about. She'll help us-she won't let anyone hurt you, just like me.† The girl-or was she a woman? She was tiny, but there was a subtle curviness to her shape that suggested more maturity than her size-stared at me, her eyes huge with fright. Kyle put his arms around her waist, and she let him pull her into his side. She clung there, as if he were an anchor, her pillar of safety. â€Å"Kyle's right.† Never thought I'd say that. â€Å"I won't let anyone hurt you. Your name is Sunny?† I asked softly. The woman's eyes flashed up to Kyle's face. â€Å"It's okay. You don't have to be afraid of Wanda. She's just like you.† He turned to me. â€Å"Her real name is longer-something about ice.† â€Å"Sunlight Passing Through the Ice,† she whispered to me. I saw Jeb's eyes brighten with his unquenchable curiosity. â€Å"She doesn't mind being called just Sunny, though. She said it was fine,† Kyle assured me. Sunny nodded. Her eyes flickered from my face to Kyle's and back again. The other men were totally silent and totally motionless. The little circle of calm soothed her a bit, I could see. She must have been able to feel the change in the atmosphere. There was no hostility toward her, none at all. â€Å"I was a Bear, too, Sunny,† I told her, trying to make her feel just a little more comfortable. â€Å"They called me Lives in the Stars, then. Wanderer, here.† â€Å"Lives in the Stars,† she whispered, her eyes somehow, impossibly, getting wider. â€Å"Rides the Beast.† I suppressed a groan. â€Å"You lived in the second crystal city, I guess.† â€Å"Yes. I heard the story so many times†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Did you like being a Bear, Sunny?† I asked quickly. I didn't really want to get into my history right now. â€Å"Were you happy there?† Her face crumpled at my questions; her eyes locked onto Kyle's face and filled with tears. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I apologized at once, looking to Kyle, too, for an explanation. He patted her arm. â€Å"Don't be afraid. You won't be hurt. I promised.† I could barely hear her answering whisper. â€Å"But I like it here. I want to stay.† Her words brought a thick lump to my throat. â€Å"I know, Sunny. I know.† Kyle put his hand on the back of her head and, in a gesture so tender it made my eyes smart, held her face against his chest. Jeb cleared his throat, and Sunny started and cringed. It was easy to imagine the frayed state her nerves must be in. Souls were not designed to handle violence and terror. I remembered long ago when Jared had interrogated me; he'd asked if I was like other souls. I was not, nor was the other soul they'd dealt with, my Seeker. Sunny, however, seemed to embody the essence of my gentle, timid species; we were powerful only in great numbers. â€Å"Sorry, Sunny,† Jeb said. â€Å"Didn't mean to scare you, there. Maybe we ought to get out of here, though.† His eyes swept around the cave, where a few people lingered by the exits, gawking at us. He stared hard at Reid and Lucina, and they ducked down the corridor toward the kitchen. â€Å"Probably ought to git along to Doc,† Jeb continued with a sigh, giving the frightened little woman a wistful glance. I guessed he was sad to be missing out on new stories. â€Å"Right,† Kyle said. He kept his arm firmly around Sunny's tiny waist and pulled her with him toward the southern tunnel. I followed right behind, towing the others who still adhered to me. Jeb paused, and we all stopped with him. He jabbed the butt of his gun into Jamie's hip. â€Å"Ain't you got school, kid?† â€Å"Aw, Uncle Jeb, please? Please? I don't want to miss -â€Å" â€Å"Get your behind to class.† Jamie turned his hurt eyes on me, but Jeb was absolutely right. This was nothing I wanted Jamie to see. I shook my head at him. â€Å"Could you get Trudy on your way?† I asked. â€Å"Doc needs her.† Jamie's shoulders slumped, and he pulled his hand out of mine. Jared's slid down from my wrist to take its place. â€Å"I miss everything,† Jamie moaned as he turned back the other way. â€Å"Thanks, Jeb,† I whispered when Jamie was out of hearing. â€Å"Yep.† The long tunnel seemed blacker than before because I could feel the fear radiating from the woman ahead of me. â€Å"It's okay,† Kyle murmured to her. â€Å"There's nothing that's going to hurt you, and I'm here.† I wondered who this strange man was, the one who had come back in Kyle's place. Had they checked his eyes? I couldn't believe he'd carried all this gentleness around inside his big angry body. It must have been having Jodi back, being so close to what he wanted. Even knowing that this was his Jodi's body, I was surprised that he could expend so much kindness for the soul inside it. I would have thought such compassion was beyond him. â€Å"How's the Healer?† Jared asked me. â€Å"She woke up, just before I came to find you,† I said. I heard more than one sigh of relief in the darkness. â€Å"She's disoriented, though, and very frightened,† I warned them all. â€Å"She can't remember her name. Doc's working with her. She's going to be even more scared when she sees all of you. Try to be quiet and move slowly, okay?† â€Å"Yes, yes,† the voices whispered in the darkness. â€Å"And, Jeb, do you think you could lose the gun? She's a little afraid of humans still.† â€Å"Uh-okay,† Jeb answered. â€Å"Afraid of humans?† Kyle murmured. â€Å"We're the bad guys,† Ian reminded him, squeezing my hand. I squeezed it back, glad for the warmth of his touch, the pressure of his fingers. How much longer would I have the feeling of a hand warm around mine? When was the last time I would walk down this tunnel? Was it this time? No. Not yet, Mel whispered. I was suddenly trembling. Ian's hand tightened again, and so did Jared's. We walked in silence for a few moments. â€Å"Kyle?† Sunny's timid voice asked. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"I don't want to go back to the Bears.† â€Å"You don't have to. You can go somewhere else.† â€Å"But I can't stay here?† â€Å"No. I'm sorry, Sunny.† There was a little hitch in her breathing. I was glad it was dark. No one could see the tears that started rolling down my face. I had no free hand to wipe them away, so I let them fall onto my shirt. We finally reached the end of the tunnel. The sunlight streamed from the mouth of the hospital, reflecting off the dust motes dancing in the air. I could hear Doc murmuring inside. â€Å"That's very good,† he was saying. â€Å"Keep thinking of details. You know your old address-your name can't be far behind, eh? How does this feel? Not tender?† â€Å"Careful,† I whispered. Kyle paused at the edge of the arch, Sunny still clinging to his side, and motioned for me to go first. I took a deep breath and walked slowly into Doc's place. I announced my presence in a low, even voice. â€Å"Hello.† The Healer's host started and gasped out a little shriek. â€Å"Just me again,† I said reassuringly. â€Å"It's Wanda,† Doc reminded her. The woman was sitting up now, and Doc was sitting beside her with his hand on her arm. â€Å"That's the soul,† the woman whispered anxiously to Doc. â€Å"Yes, but she's a friend.† The woman eyed me doubtfully. â€Å"Doc? You've got a few more visitors. Is that okay?† Doc looked at the woman. â€Å"These are all friends, all right? More of the humans who live here with me. None of them would ever dream of hurting you. Can they come in?† The woman hesitated, then nodded cautiously. â€Å"Okay,† she whispered. â€Å"This is Ian,† I said, motioning him forward. â€Å"And Jared, and Jeb.† One by one, they walked into the room and stood beside me. â€Å"And this is Kyle and†¦ uh, Sunny.† Doc's eyes bugged wide as Kyle, Sunny attached to his side, entered the room. â€Å"Are there any more?† the woman whispered. Doc cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. â€Å"Yes. There are a lot of people who live here. All†¦ well, mostly humans,† he added, staring at Sunny. â€Å"Trudy is on her way,† I told Doc. â€Å"Maybe Trudy could†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I glanced at Sunny and Kyle. â€Å"†¦ find a room for†¦ her to rest in?† Doc nodded, still wide-eyed. â€Å"That might be a good idea.† â€Å"Who's Trudy?† the woman whispered. â€Å"She's very nice. She'll take care of you.† â€Å"Is she human, or is she like that one?† She nodded toward me. â€Å"She's human.† This seemed to ease the woman's mind. â€Å"Oh,† Sunny gasped behind me. I turned to see her staring at the cryotanks that held the Healers. They were standing in the middle of Doc's desk, the lights on top glowing muted red. On the floor in front of the desk, the seven remaining empty tanks were piled in an untidy heap. Tears sprang to Sunny's eyes again, and she buried her face against Kyle's chest. â€Å"I don't want to go! I want to stay with you,† she moaned to the big man she seemed to trust so completely. â€Å"I know, Sunny. I'm sorry.† Sunny broke down into sobs. I blinked fast, trying to keep the tears from my own eyes. I crossed the small space to where Sunny stood, and stroked her springy black hair. â€Å"I need to talk to her for a minute, Kyle,† I murmured. He nodded, his face troubled, and pulled the clinging girl from his side. â€Å"No, no,† she begged. â€Å"It's okay,† I promised. â€Å"He's not going anywhere. I just want to ask you a few questions.† Kyle turned her to face me, and her arms locked around me. I pulled her to the far corner of the room, as far from the nameless woman as I could get. I didn't want our conversation to confuse or frighten the Healer's host any more than she already was. Kyle followed, never more than a few inches away. We sat on the floor, facing the wall. â€Å"Jeez,† Kyle murmured. â€Å"I didn't think it would be like this. This really sucks.† â€Å"How did you find her? And catch her?† I asked. The sobbing girl didn't react as I questioned him; she just kept crying on my shoulder. â€Å"What happened? Why is she like this?† â€Å"Well, I thought she might be in Las Vegas. I went there first, before I went on to Portland. See, Jodi was really close to her mother, and that's where Doris lived. I thought, seeing how you were about Jared and the kid, that maybe she would go there, even when she wasn't Jodi. And I was right. They were all there at the same old house, Doris ‘s house: Doris, and her husband, Warren-they had other names, but I didn't hear them clearly-and Sunny. I watched them all day, until it was nighttime. Sunny was in Jodi's old room, alone. I snuck in after they'd all been asleep for hours. I yanked Sunny up, threw her over my shoulder, and jumped out the window. I thought she was going to start screaming, so I was really booking it back to the jeep. Then I was afraid because she didn't start screaming. She was just so quiet! I was afraid she had†¦ you know. Like that guy we caught once.† I winced-I had a more recent memory. â€Å"So I pulled her off my shoulder, and she was alive, just staring up at me, all wide-eyed. Still not screaming. I carried her back to the jeep. I'd been planning to tie her up, but†¦ she didn't look that upset. She wasn't trying to get away, at least. So I just buckled her in and started driving. â€Å"She just stared at me for a long time, and then finally she said, You're Kyle,' and I said, Yeah, who are you?' and she told me her name. What is it again?† â€Å"Sunlight Passing Through the Ice,† Sunny whispered brokenly. â€Å"I like Sunny, though. It's nice.† â€Å"Anyway,† Kyle went on after clearing his throat. â€Å"She didn't mind talking to me at all. She wasn't afraid like I'd thought she'd be. So we talked.† He was quiet for a moment. â€Å"She was happy to see me.† â€Å"I used to dream about him all the time,† Sunny whispered to me. â€Å"Every night. I kept hoping the Seekers would find him; I missed him so much†¦ When I saw him, I thought it was the old dream again.† I swallowed loudly. Kyle reached across me to lay his hand on her cheek. â€Å"She's a good kid, Wanda. Can't we send her someplace really nice?† â€Å"That's what I wanted to ask her about. Where have you lived, Sunny?† I was vaguely aware of the subdued voices of the others, greeting Trudy's arrival. We had our backs to them. I wanted to see what was going on, but I was also glad not to have the distraction. I tried to concentrate on the crying soul. â€Å"Just here and with the Bears. I was there five life terms. But I like it better here. I haven't had even a quarter of a life term here!† â€Å"I know. Believe me, I understand. Is there anywhere else, though, that you've ever wanted to go? The Flowers, maybe? It's nice there; I've been.† â€Å"I don't want to be a plant,† she mumbled into my shoulder. â€Å"The Spiders†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I began, but then let my voice trail off. The Spiders were not the right place for Sunny. â€Å"I'm tired of cold. And I like colors.† â€Å"I know.† I sighed. â€Å"I haven't been a Dolphin, but I hear it's nice there. Color, mobility, family†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They're all so far away. By the time I got anywhere, Kyle would be†¦ He'd be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She hiccuped and then started crying again. â€Å"Don't you have any other choices?† Kyle asked anxiously. â€Å"Aren't there a lot more places out there?† I could hear Trudy talking to the Healer's host, but I tuned out the words. Let the humans take care of their own for the moment. â€Å"Not that the off-world ships are going to,† I told him, shaking my head. â€Å"There are lots of worlds, but only a few, mostly the newer ones, are still open for settling. And I'm sorry, Sunny, but I have to send you far away. The Seekers want to find my friends here, and they'd bring you back if they could, so you could show them the way.† â€Å"I don't even know the way,† she sobbed. My shoulder was drenched with her tears. â€Å"He covered my eyes.† Kyle looked at me as if I could produce some kind of miracle to make this all work out perfectly. Like the medicine I'd provided, some kind of magic. But I knew that I was out of magic, out of happy endings-for the soul half of the equation, at least. I stared back hopelessly at Kyle. â€Å"It's just the Bears, the Flowers, and the Dolphins,† I told him. â€Å"I won't send her to the Fire Planet.† The small woman shuddered at the name. â€Å"Don't worry, Sunny. You'll like the Dolphins. They'll be nice. Of course they'll be nice.† She sobbed harder. I sighed and moved on. â€Å"Sunny, I need to ask you about Jodi.† Kyle stiffened beside me. â€Å"What about her?† Sunny mumbled. â€Å"Is she†¦ is she in there with you? Can you hear her?† Sunny sniffed and looked up at me. â€Å"I don't understand what you mean.† â€Å"Does she ever talk to you? Are you ever aware of her thoughts?† â€Å"My†¦ body's? Her thoughts? She doesn't have any. I'm here now.† I nodded slowly. â€Å"Is that bad?† Kyle whispered. â€Å"I don't know enough about it to tell. It's probably not good, though.† Kyle's eyes tightened. â€Å"How long have you been here, Sunny?† She frowned, thinking. â€Å"How long is it, Kyle? Five years? Six? You disappeared before I came home.† â€Å"Six,† he said. â€Å"And how old are you?† I asked her. â€Å"I'm twenty-seven.† That surprised me-she was such a little thing, so young looking. I couldn't believe she was six years older than Melanie. â€Å"Why does that matter?† Kyle asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. It just seems like the more time someone spent as a human before they became a soul, the better chance they might have at†¦ making a recovery. The greater the percentage of their life they spent human, the more memories they have, the more connections, the more years being called by the right name†¦ I don't know.† â€Å"Is twenty-one years enough?† he asked, his voice desperate. â€Å"I guess we'll find out.† â€Å"It's not fair!† Sunny wailed. â€Å"Why do you get to stay? Why can't I stay, if you can?† I had to swallow hard. â€Å"That wouldn't be fair, would it? But I don't get to stay, Sunny. I have to go, too. And soon. Maybe we'll leave together.† Perhaps she'd be happier if she thought I was going to the Dolphins with her. By the time she knew otherwise, Sunny would have a different host with different emotions and no tie to this human beside me. Maybe. Anyway, it would be too late. â€Å"I have to go, Sunny, just like you. I have to give my body back, too.† And then, flat and hard from right behind us, Ian's voice broke the quiet like the crack of a whip. â€Å"What?†

The Transition Of Becoming A Parent - 1682 Words

The transition to becoming a parent is an extremely difficult and overwhelming time for each and every family, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. However, gay and lesbian families happen to have certain unique challenges that heterosexual couples do not necessarily experience along with the stressors that come with parenthood. As time goes on, there is an increase in the number of same sex couples starting a family. This may be due to legislation changes, medical advancement, or the increase in education about homosexual families. This paper will explore the unique circumstances endured by same sex families and how this affects the family, as well as nursing implications. Obstacles Related to Conception Adoption Gay and lesbian couples experience unique challenges from the very beginning of the family planning process, unlike many heterosexual families. Given that same sex couples are not able to conceive a child together biologically, they must explore other options. For couples that choose to adopt, there is a lengthy process involved with becoming a parent. Same sex couples wishing to adopt often face increased controversy and discrimination, as well as a more in-depth examination before being able to adopt than heterosexual parents. (Golombok, et al., 2014). For these reasons, many parents feel discouraged and lose hope that they may ever get the chance to adopt a child. In Vitro Fertilization Some lesbian mothers may choose to become pregnant using in vitroShow MoreRelatedFoster Care Essay1706 Words   |  7 Pagesthe effectiveness of foster care often inhibited? One of the ways foster care is inhibited is that the separation of the child from their parents and placement in a foster home can be traumatic for the child. In some instances where the child is not safe in their home, the first choice may be to remove the child and place them in foster care. Both the parents and child have a hard time accepting the situation. 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