During this second semester of my senior year, I, Lonna Tran, have went through many changes. Somehow, time seems to go pass by more faster than usual. This maybe due to the school's year is coming to an end. During my high school career, I have learned a lot of things that are not only related to high school, but also to the world outside high school, the real world. I have made improvement in my communication skills and successfully filled out the FAFSA by myself. I noticed that the stress of living in the real world is entering my mind. I know that the world is not as nice as what it used to be in high school, junior high, or elementary, but it will be harsher. But this does not matter, since I have slowly and getting prepared to face the real world and accomplish what I want to accomplish. Also, I would be the best that I can be, so that all of my hard work would be reward.
Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." I fully agree with this quote. It was trying to say, that if you think that you can do something and your mind is set to accomplish it, then you can achieve it. On the other hand, if you think that you can't do something, than you can't do it. When I believe that I can do something and work hard to accomplish the works, there will be a reward. I believe that I will make through it, and become successful. A person's attitude will make a difference. It can lead that person to either his or her success or failure. I believe that the only people who fail are those who stop trying.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Random Article ~ "Honey, I Sunk the Maldives"
"Honey, I Sunk the Maldives" sounds so funny, plus it sounds sarcastic. I kind of like the title. It fully foreshadow the future if we continue to ignore the earth changing environment and not doing anything to slow it [global warming] down. For sure, it's impossible to stop global warming, so the best thing to do is to slow it down.
Some tourist popular places are facing scary scenarios like sinking, melting, or even literally vanishing from the face of the earth. This is all due to global warming, irresponsible activities from tourist.
Some of those "affected" places are:
Maldive Islands located at the Republic of Maldives. The Maldives is a chain of island in the Indian Ocean. Scientists fear that it could be submerged by 2050. Since, the Maldives is about three feet above sea level, which is one of the dangerous factor. Even through a buffer was built in the 1900s, but the problem has not solved the problem. The government are trying to relocate the residents, but this is still in talks.
Dalmation Coast located in Croatia. It's problem was a new set of laws set up by the government last year which requires villa owners to register for business as well as residential permits. This process can take as long as a year, so it scares away foreign investment. This threaten the Croatian tourism industry (it makes up 12% of the country GDP).
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Heavy tourist traffic, ocean acidification, and rising water temperatures cause the live coral off Australia’s northeast coast to shrink rapidly. Scientists believe that by 2050, the Great Barrier Reef will have lost an estimated 95% of its living coral." It's a sad thing to know, since we will be losing one of the world's wonder...sigh...
The Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers that cover the landmark are receding rapidly. Mount Kilimanjaro have lost 84% of ice since 1912 and today cover less than one square mile. "Scientists believe the glaciers could be gone completely by 2020, taking with them Tanzania’s main tourist draw...Mount Kilimanjaro’s glaciers have lost 84 percent of their ice since 1912."
The Alps in Switzerland. Due to global warming," it is estimated that about 40 percent of the mountain range’s pristine skiing areas will disappear by 2100...About 40 percent of the Alps’ skiing areas will disappear by 2100."
The Galápagos Islands was one of the main concern. The Galápagos which was consider to be the world’s purest biodiversity environment; scientists are concerned that the traffic surge will affect the islands’ life forms. "They consider 39 percent of animal species, 50 percent of marine species, and 59 percent of plant species to be threatened. To curb the problem, Ecuador is considering setting a yearly tourist cap and imposing an entry fee of up to $300...Since 1990, visitors to the Galápagos have more than quadrupled, to 180,000."
I have watch a documentary about the Galápagos Islands. I love that place; it was so beautiful. I think that it's kind of sad to see places like these are going to "disappear" in the future. In addition, these are not all of the "affected" areas, there could more places that we are not aware of, but it is disappearing.
Works Cited:
Angelo, Megan. Honey, I Sunk the Maldives. Yahoo! http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-27384279.
Some tourist popular places are facing scary scenarios like sinking, melting, or even literally vanishing from the face of the earth. This is all due to global warming, irresponsible activities from tourist.
Some of those "affected" places are:
Maldive Islands located at the Republic of Maldives. The Maldives is a chain of island in the Indian Ocean. Scientists fear that it could be submerged by 2050. Since, the Maldives is about three feet above sea level, which is one of the dangerous factor. Even through a buffer was built in the 1900s, but the problem has not solved the problem. The government are trying to relocate the residents, but this is still in talks.
Dalmation Coast located in Croatia. It's problem was a new set of laws set up by the government last year which requires villa owners to register for business as well as residential permits. This process can take as long as a year, so it scares away foreign investment. This threaten the Croatian tourism industry (it makes up 12% of the country GDP).
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Heavy tourist traffic, ocean acidification, and rising water temperatures cause the live coral off Australia’s northeast coast to shrink rapidly. Scientists believe that by 2050, the Great Barrier Reef will have lost an estimated 95% of its living coral." It's a sad thing to know, since we will be losing one of the world's wonder...sigh...
The Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers that cover the landmark are receding rapidly. Mount Kilimanjaro have lost 84% of ice since 1912 and today cover less than one square mile. "Scientists believe the glaciers could be gone completely by 2020, taking with them Tanzania’s main tourist draw...Mount Kilimanjaro’s glaciers have lost 84 percent of their ice since 1912."
The Alps in Switzerland. Due to global warming," it is estimated that about 40 percent of the mountain range’s pristine skiing areas will disappear by 2100...About 40 percent of the Alps’ skiing areas will disappear by 2100."
The Galápagos Islands was one of the main concern. The Galápagos which was consider to be the world’s purest biodiversity environment; scientists are concerned that the traffic surge will affect the islands’ life forms. "They consider 39 percent of animal species, 50 percent of marine species, and 59 percent of plant species to be threatened. To curb the problem, Ecuador is considering setting a yearly tourist cap and imposing an entry fee of up to $300...Since 1990, visitors to the Galápagos have more than quadrupled, to 180,000."
I have watch a documentary about the Galápagos Islands. I love that place; it was so beautiful. I think that it's kind of sad to see places like these are going to "disappear" in the future. In addition, these are not all of the "affected" areas, there could more places that we are not aware of, but it is disappearing.
Works Cited:
Angelo, Megan. Honey, I Sunk the Maldives. Yahoo! http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-27384279.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
1/2 Prince
This is the introduction of 1/2 Prince, this is not translated by me, but a person, or group who was responsible for this project.
The Birth of a Legend
It is the year 2100 AD. Technological advancements have made possible the existence of virtual reality, and now the long-awaited has arrived – “Second Life”, a virtual reality game with a realism level of 99%. Provoked by her younger twin brother during an argument over the “unfair advantages” that female players have, Feng Lan is determine to beat her brother without using the benefits of her gender… and thus ends up being the first and only transvestite in the entirety of “Second Life”.
The Birth of a Legend
It is the year 2100 AD. Technological advancements have made possible the existence of virtual reality, and now the long-awaited has arrived – “Second Life”, a virtual reality game with a realism level of 99%. Provoked by her younger twin brother during an argument over the “unfair advantages” that female players have, Feng Lan is determine to beat her brother without using the benefits of her gender… and thus ends up being the first and only transvestite in the entirety of “Second Life”.
Friday, May 8, 2009
1/2 Ouji [1/2王子]
I just found a website that has several chapters of the 1/2 Ouji (1/2 Prince) novel. I really want to read it, but it's all in Chinese. Plus, the page is set in a fixed, so I can't copy the text and get it translated from a translation website. Also, I was trying to translated that page directly using the "Translate Web Page" function, but it still does not work. Oh, well I guess that I have to wait for a little longer, since there's a person who's beginning to translated the novel. Even through this may takes a while, but I'm willing to wait, since this is a really good and funny series.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Free Write
Final exam is next week, for both English 101 and classes from high school. I can't wait for the day of graduation to come, it's about 13 business days, including today. Well, to be precise, if I do not count Seniors' Week, then it's 8 days. I love counting down single digit numbers. My English's 101 final exam is to write a semi-formal essay, which is about 500 words. This essay is like a reflective essay. I'm almost done with it, all I need to do was to get someone to proofread it, and I can finalize it. This assignment was given to me on Monday, and it will not be due until next week.
Right now, the things that worry me the most is getting ready for college. I think that I need to start to think of a list of things that I need to pack to move to campus. Oh I forgot to mention that today my cousin is going to attend the FIRST Lego league. I hope she will do well. This year, my school is not participating in the FIRST Robotics' Competition. It would have been nice if we did so. I would like to join the team. Actually, I was on the Robotics' Team for two years (It was newly established, so I can be considered as one of the people who found the Robotics' Club.)
Right now, the things that worry me the most is getting ready for college. I think that I need to start to think of a list of things that I need to pack to move to campus. Oh I forgot to mention that today my cousin is going to attend the FIRST Lego league. I hope she will do well. This year, my school is not participating in the FIRST Robotics' Competition. It would have been nice if we did so. I would like to join the team. Actually, I was on the Robotics' Team for two years (It was newly established, so I can be considered as one of the people who found the Robotics' Club.)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Kalafina
Kalafina is a J-Pop group under Sony Music Entertainment label and was formed in 2007 by Kajiura Yuki to perform theme songs for Kara no Kyoukai.
Members:
Vocal: Wakana, Keiko, Maya, Hikaru
Composer: Kajiura Yuki
Kalafina was formed in 2007 by Kajiura Yuki to perform seven main themes for Kara no Kyoukai. In January 2008, they released their debut single oblivious. All of the songs in this album were perfomed by Wakana and Keiko. The single reached #8 on the Oricon charts. Due to the success of the 1st single, Kalafina released a remix mini-album called Re/oblivious in April 2008. In this mini-album, it contains remixes of songs from their previous single.
In May 2008, the name of four singers was revealed. They are Wakana and Keiko (these two are from the FictionJunction project), and the other two are Maya and Hikaru. Maya and Hikaru were chosen from an audition of 30,000 participants held by Sony Music and Kajiura Yuki.
This one of their new song. It's called Lacrimosa and was used as the second ending song for Kuroshitsuji.
Lacrimosa
Vocals: Kalafina
Lyrics: Kajiura Yuki
Composition: Kajiura Yuki
Arrangement: Kajiura Yuki
Kurayami no naka de mutsumiau
Zetsubou to mirai o
Kanashimi o abaku tsukiakari
Tsumetaku terashiteta
---
The moonlight, which exposes sadness
Coldly illuminated
Despair and the future
That are friendly with each other within the darkness
Kimi no kureta himitsu o shirube ni
Aoi yoru no shizukesa o yuku
---
Turning the secret that you gave me into a sign
I go through the silence of the pale night
Lacrimosa
Tooku kudakete kieta
Mabushii sekai o mou ichido aishitai
Hitomi no naka ni yume o kakushite
Yogoreta kokoro ni
Namida ga ochite kuru made
---
Lacrimosa
Once more, I want to love the glaringly bright world
That shattered in the distance and vanished
Hide your dream in your eyes
Until tears come falling
Onto your sullied heart
Maboroshi no basha wa yami o wake
Hikari no aru hou e
Yume to iu wana ga boku-tachi o
Homura e izanau
---
The phantom carriage parts the darkness
And goes toward where the light is
The trap known as dreams
Lures us toward the flames
Sora no ue no mujihi na kamigami ni wa
Donna sakebi mo todoki wa shinai
Lacrimosa…
---
No shout of any sort will reach
The merciless gods above the sky
Lacrimosa…
Bokura wa moesakaru takigi to nari
Itsuka sono sora o yakitsukusou
---
We’ll be the blazing firewood
And seem to burn away the sky someday
Lacrimosa
Koko ni umarete ochita
Chinureta sekai o osorezu ni aishitai
Yurusareru yori yurushi shinjite
Yogoreta chijou de
Namida no hibi o kazoete
---
Lacrimosa
I want to fearlessly love the blood-soaked world
That I was born in
Rather than being forgiven, forgive and believe in me
Count the number of lachrymose days
On the sullied earth
Members:
Vocal: Wakana, Keiko, Maya, Hikaru
Composer: Kajiura Yuki
Kalafina was formed in 2007 by Kajiura Yuki to perform seven main themes for Kara no Kyoukai. In January 2008, they released their debut single oblivious. All of the songs in this album were perfomed by Wakana and Keiko. The single reached #8 on the Oricon charts. Due to the success of the 1st single, Kalafina released a remix mini-album called Re/oblivious in April 2008. In this mini-album, it contains remixes of songs from their previous single.
In May 2008, the name of four singers was revealed. They are Wakana and Keiko (these two are from the FictionJunction project), and the other two are Maya and Hikaru. Maya and Hikaru were chosen from an audition of 30,000 participants held by Sony Music and Kajiura Yuki.
This one of their new song. It's called Lacrimosa and was used as the second ending song for Kuroshitsuji.
Lacrimosa
Vocals: Kalafina
Lyrics: Kajiura Yuki
Composition: Kajiura Yuki
Arrangement: Kajiura Yuki
Kurayami no naka de mutsumiau
Zetsubou to mirai o
Kanashimi o abaku tsukiakari
Tsumetaku terashiteta
---
The moonlight, which exposes sadness
Coldly illuminated
Despair and the future
That are friendly with each other within the darkness
Kimi no kureta himitsu o shirube ni
Aoi yoru no shizukesa o yuku
---
Turning the secret that you gave me into a sign
I go through the silence of the pale night
Lacrimosa
Tooku kudakete kieta
Mabushii sekai o mou ichido aishitai
Hitomi no naka ni yume o kakushite
Yogoreta kokoro ni
Namida ga ochite kuru made
---
Lacrimosa
Once more, I want to love the glaringly bright world
That shattered in the distance and vanished
Hide your dream in your eyes
Until tears come falling
Onto your sullied heart
Maboroshi no basha wa yami o wake
Hikari no aru hou e
Yume to iu wana ga boku-tachi o
Homura e izanau
---
The phantom carriage parts the darkness
And goes toward where the light is
The trap known as dreams
Lures us toward the flames
Sora no ue no mujihi na kamigami ni wa
Donna sakebi mo todoki wa shinai
Lacrimosa…
---
No shout of any sort will reach
The merciless gods above the sky
Lacrimosa…
Bokura wa moesakaru takigi to nari
Itsuka sono sora o yakitsukusou
---
We’ll be the blazing firewood
And seem to burn away the sky someday
Lacrimosa
Koko ni umarete ochita
Chinureta sekai o osorezu ni aishitai
Yurusareru yori yurushi shinjite
Yogoreta chijou de
Namida no hibi o kazoete
---
Lacrimosa
I want to fearlessly love the blood-soaked world
That I was born in
Rather than being forgiven, forgive and believe in me
Count the number of lachrymose days
On the sullied earth
Friday, May 1, 2009
Free Write
I can't wait for May 7 to come. It's the day when Josten comes and delivers the caps and gowns. I would like to try out the gown to see how I would look like in the cap and gown. I need to find a dress or clothes that will match my gown, so I won't look awkward in it.
Here's another song that I like, its an insert song from Full Metal Alchemist. This song is originally sung in Russian.
Bratja (Brothers)
Singers: Anastasia & Veronika Golovina
Here's another song that I like, its an insert song from Full Metal Alchemist. This song is originally sung in Russian.
Bratja (Brothers)
Singers: Anastasia & Veronika Golovina
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