Definitely when it comes to doing a full blown cleaning of the kitchen. The whole chore constitutes to washing dishes, cleaning every table surface, mopping the floor, and taking out the trash. Doing the laundry is much preferable.

So I had just attended a forum on energy security, which is part of my school's Green Week as hosted by the Ecology Club. Which by the way I am a member of course.  As I contemplate what both Dr. Woodwell and Dr. Farnsworth, professors of the Earth and Environmental Science  department and Political Science department respectively, have said about the whole issue of energy and what we as United States needs to do to be able to live in the lifestyle we have now without the consumption of the depleting oil supply, I realize we are a greedy nation. Every single one of us has the ideal lifestyle that is powered by the burning of finite and/or environmentally harmful. And the said result of the ideal lifestyle we have now is increasing global temperatures, oil depletion, melting glaciers, desertification of several former forests due to deforestation, an increase in natural disasters at greater intensities, and a whole host of other global issues. Yet the central problem to all of that is us humans. As we burn carbon resources, we're adding to the CO2 that is already naturally made by the planet. Greater CO2 levels leads to increasing global temperatures, which melts glaciers, changes sea levels, and changes the global climate patterns. Trees take away a lot of the CO2 in the air and yet we cut them down to make room for more buildings to live in as our population swells. We drive cars that are powered by gasoline which adds more CO2 to the atmosphere. We're actually decreasing the temperature in the stratosphere since not enough of the heat from the UV light of the sun is being radiated back to space due to the greenhouse gases like CO2 trapping the heat. The sun hasn't changed the amount of the UV light that shines on our planet daily, we have decreased the amount that goes back.

But how does that have to do with energy and the crisis that is sure to happen to us in maybe several decades? I said before we're a society that has relied on oil, natural gas, coal and other fossil fuels that are finite and all are carbon based. As we burn more of it through our increased demand for energy, we're using up our finite resources. Despite what the statistics may say, we actually are decreasing the amount of oil that has since been found before the 1970s. No matter how many new oil wells are built, we're not increasing our production of oil at all. You would think that would be a sign at all to the oil companies. But they're stubborn dudderheads, determined to remain rich by thinking short-term and trying to get oil from the places where there is oil yet it will only tide us over for a few decades. And then after those oil deposits are depleted, we have to go find another source. It's definitely not a win-win situation. Oil takes millions of years to produce deep below the Earth's surface. And yet a million years hasn't really passed and the amount of oil left won't tide us over for the next thousand years. By then, let's hope we have decreased our reliance on fossil fuels and found an alternative energy source.

Even though we say we need to find an alternative energy source. The choices we have come up so far are either too expensive to implement, or is not a pretty site or just seems totally impractical or in the case of nuclear energy, too susceptible to danger. Yet we hope to find the ideal new energy source that can substitute what fossil fuels are providing to us now. Well I think we could be close to exhausting the many possibilities of alternative energy. Even oil extraction from algae seems like a random idea thrown out in desperation.

I think what we need to look at ourselves and think about what we can give up in our idealistic, rich lifestyles. What can we sacrifice so all of us can still survive in this ever-changing planet? Because eventually, we're going to run out of oil, and most fossil fuels that provide our electricity, and we're going to have nothing to power our computers, refrigerators, TVs, microwaves, mp3 players, cars, and about every single gadget that needs some sort of power to make it run. So instead of waiting for the inevitable, why don't we make a few sacrifices, and prevent complete collapse or at least keep it from becoming a major catastrophe?

 It's because we're bloody idiots thats why. We can't get others to think 20 years into the future. We worry about the here and now. We want to leave the future to those in the future to worry about. Yet what we do in the present affects what happens in the future. If people saw that, we could be doing more prevention then treatment of the problems ahead of us. And in the case of depleting present energy resources, I think it a very good idea. Because who knows, we may be like those in 1973 circling a gas station hoping that there will be gas along with the rest of the populace circling the single station. 

Props to today being Friday! I am decently happy. I found out today that I am going to be a Head Desk Manager next year! And it's not in the hall down the hill...LOL! It's worse than the one to the CA at Madeira. And you have to go down it and then come back up it. Not fun at all. Enough with giant big hills.

And there's the bad news. I am bogged down with 3 tests next week, and a giant lab report for genetics due the following week. I just hope I can keep my head above all this work. And to add to it, tomorrow is the Multicultural Fair on campus. It's sort of a big diversity day for the city of Fredericksburg where there's a multitude of different cultural dancers, singers, musicians, etc...put together with good food and a lot of venders. Should be fun. I am adding to the help by doing a origami table for the children that come by and visit since I am a member of ASA. Dedicate an hour of service, and will keep me from going insane with all the work I need to do.

I am feeling a lot of better. Thanks for all the sympathy everyone! I think now I am just being cursed by the change in weather thus lending to my immense amounts of tiredness this week. Not much has happened since the last time I posted here.

I saw cute little bunnies scampering around the wooded areas on campus today. And I wanted to take a picture, but they ran away before I could. I know all of you would appreciate the utter cuteness of these brown bunnies. Definitely reminds you of spring more than the number of red breasted robins we have seen for the past 2 months. And I think the cold weather is finally done for tomorrow and those of us down here in VA will finally stay at around high 70 degree weather.

I got a new roommate for the last month of this semester earlier this week. She had come from a different hall because she had broken both of her ankles over spring break. (She was rock climbing and had forgotten to reharness herself to the safety, or something like that, so when she was about to come down she instead fell the 25 ft down in a second). She is in a wheelchair for some number of months and so needed to be in a room with a large enough bathroom for her and her wheelchair. I don't mind having a roommate, but it's certainly a big change even if it is for one month. But she is nice, and I like her. I don't think we will get on each other's nerves, but I better knock on wood just in case.

Have 3 tests next week. Best get to it. Especially calculus since I don't really understand related rates, limitizations or differentials. Eek!

I feel miserable this morning. I got the typical 24 hour stomach flu last night, and I couldn't sleep either. I guess I should be grateful that today is Friday, and I don't have to worry about classes tomorrow. I hope I feel well enough to go see the cherry blossoms tomorrow. 

Nearly forgot. In addition to not making VP of ASA, I made a new friend yesterday. She's also in ASA and she won the position of Secretary/Webmaster for next year. I am a little jealous of her, but she was running against just one person, while I had 3 opponents, one of whom is this year's Publicity chair. We had a great chat at dinner, nearly for an hour. I already knew she was a freshmen,but I found out that she's a possible English/Sociology double major. Interesting mix, but she said both subjects are interesting. Also she and I are going to be in the same hall next year, and her room is the one above mine. Very, very cool. It's almost if the higher beings decided that I deserved a new friend in exchange for me not getting VP. Strange karma thats why I say, 'cause I wish I could have both. 

We had glorious weather today here in Fredericksburg. High 70s and bright and sunny. It was gorgeous. I just wish I had the time to just sit outside and enjoy it all. Though I was walking running between buildings a lot today, I didn't have time to stop and enjoy the pretty weather; I had so much to do today, I can't believe it all fit into day. I am not going to list all that I had done today, but I think there are some pertinent ones that should be highlighted.

1/I am running for VP of ASA! Yay! It's just too bad I had to ask one of the present officers of Asian Student Association say my speech since I knew I was going to be late from an interview. I am praying and crossing my fingers I get the position. I really want to do be President of ASA my senior year, but I can't run for that position if I am not an officer first which really sucks. Oh well, keep your fingers crossed for me. I don't know when they're going to announce the results. But I running against 3 other girls, two of which I didn't know were running until I looked at the ballot. I do have one grudge against club elections and them being 50% popularity contest and 50% everything else. LOL. Thats why I made my speech more a humorous one not listing my specific experience 'cause I knew I was already running against one of this year's officers for the position. But like I said, keep your fingers and toes crossed for me!

2/ The interview that kept me from saying my speech was one for Head Desk Manager. It was a pretty easy interview, and I thought I gave decent responses. I should find out whether or not I get the position next week. Maybe earlier. 'Cause personally I don't see how the part is much more harder than the regular desk aide position I have now other than being a supervisor and doing some admin work. Keep your fingers crossed for me here, but not as tight as the ones for ASA. LOL.

And lastly to be added to this list, and to be known as number 3 is the talk from Jessica Valenti of Feministing.com. Listening to her speak was probably the first time in a very long time that I had heard feminist views being expressed. I should say the first time in a very long time I had really thought about feminism since leaving Madeira. Actually while I was listening to her, I was so reminded of Madeira because I was wondering what how some of you gals would have responded to a few of her topics. One, Purity Balls! Has anyone heard of these? Basically it's a formal event where a daughter pledges her virginity to her father's protection until she gets married. And there's an exchange of a lock and key, and the father keeps the key to give to his daughter's future husband. I heard there are YouTube videos of these kinds of events, and the language of the pledges can be considered almost inappropriate. What's even more interesting is that these events are funded by those government funded abstinence programs. Going off to abstinence programs, Ms. Valenti read from her book Full Frontal Feminism some of the different lessons individual abstinence programs teach to young girls. I think the one that most amused me was that referred to a women's viriginity as a wrapped lollipop and that when a women has sex, the man is unwrapping that lollipop. And since the lollipop has been unwrapped it can't be re-wrapped like a women's virginity.  Virginity is very important and should not be tossed away like a used lollipop. Therefore ladies, protect your lollipops. LOL. And then there was this fairy tale that had nothing to do with abstinence but over about women being too opinionated.  This prince comes to save a princess from a fiery dragon. And he asks her what to do since they're trapped in the dragon's lair. And she gives him all these suggestions and the two of them escape alive. But the prince doesn't marry the princess, instead he goes to the next town over to marry the local barmaid there. Lesson learned here is men would rather not hear a woman's opinion especially when it come to sex because it apparently it emasculates them. LOL. I had so much fun with this talk, and I think I will definitely be a constant visitor to the blog 'cause there is just so much humor and opinions that I just have to comment on. And I bought her book, prolly shouldn't have since I am short on cash but I felt it would be an entertaining read nonetheless and I can't resist books. I am known bibliomaniac.

Anyways that is my busy day. And now I am left with the limited amount of time to dedicated to any academic studying. Cheers!

Happy Easter! If you're tired of hearing that said to you, don''t worry I won't say it on any other day. Of course I found it even more amusing that my hall hosted a Spring Egg Hunt last Thursday night. We all know those eggs are really EASTER eggs hidden by the Easter bunny. Evil, evil deceivers telling us otherwise.

So what did I do today? Not much. I sat for nearly 5 hours (or was it more) trying to write and then actually writing a decent scholarship essay saying why I deserved such a reward. Though I am not sure I deserve it since the whole application is due on April Fools Day. I am pretty sure that is not a joke. (Now I wish my botany test on that day were a joke) I did finish it, all 730 words of it. Yay! I am amazed I could write that much to fit a whole page, but I guess I just I had a lot to say. Now I will have to see how much is going to be cut once I take it to the Writing Center later this week. And of course this stupid scholarship is requiring a transcript, but not just any transcript, an OFFICAL one. Fuck damn it. I have to go talk to those crazy ladies at the Registrar. As long as I get this application out before Monday at 4 PM I think I should be okay. If not, I am sending this thing overnight.

Beyond that, I am left to the clutched of DNA-->RNA--> Protein dogma and all that great stuff about gene interaction. Ciao! I can't free myself until tomorrow morning when I actually finish that test.

Definitely taking the shots. The things you can catch on film and then use as blackmail material against your friends. LOL.

Um, so it seems people are mistaking me for Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the movies.

I am neither the actress nor the character!

I am just comparing my own life to that of Hermione Granger and the Malfoys and whatever their philosophies on life are on.. I thought the title says it all. And no that picture is not of Hermione, isn't it damn obvious??? A little common sense would help here.

My weekly Friday ramble, though I have been less than faithful to what I swore I would try to keep doing. I love to write, just not that analytical crap they ask us to do in English class. And it's Sunday.

I was thinking about life is so well-told by the Harry Potter characters so well-introduced by JK Rowling, whose seventh and final book I know comes out next month, and which I probably won't read until after several months have passed. I am not that excited for the book or movie coming out. But somehow my life seems to be well reflective of two particular characters from that series, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy (though Lucius could be substituted as a choice also I guess).

So why Hermione Granger? The brain of the golden trio. She's a perfectionist, a know-it-all, a bookworm. She has the ability to achieve greatness despite the barriers put before her, she has low self-esteem. I could go on, and on about her qualities. But it's really her perfectionism that glows the brightest. Her need to be at the top, and to go beyond what is asked of her. Thats what I relate to. Perfection is a relative term really. But in this day and age, perfection seems to be defined by the numbers. What's your GPA? Your SAT scores? Your grades? (well thats letters, but it's the same concept) I am perfectionist, I don't deny it. But unlike Hermione here, I can't seem to use that perfection to achieve greatness, to achieve the best grades, to reach my goals. It seems to be beyond my reach. At the same time she's overly optimistic, which can like the two-faced god Janus. Being overly optimistic does not help when failure seems imminent. I already defined myself as a pessimist, too much optimism does not sit well when you have failed one too many times. I work as hard as young Hermione here yet unlike her I can't seem to achieve the same results. Life's unfair, that's a fact, it's a given. And life is not like a fictional novel, where what happens to a character can easily be decided simply by the Delete button. But sometimes I just wish life could be that way. In my view, I would be achieving what I wanted, earning the grades I deserve for my hard work instead of landing far away from the goal. Failure for me seems to just happen despite all the work I put out. In my mind failure is, and should not be an option.

And thats how we lead to Draco Malfoy. Prince of Slytherin House, pureblood, perfect (in his mind), arrogant. Draco is the epitome of a true Slytherin, crafty as a fox, like a cat that always lands on its feet, he is perfect, and he hopes to never fail at anything. Though in Quidditch he always loses to Harry Potter. Failure, the anathema of the House of Slytherin, to purebloods in general. Thats how he and I relate. Failure for me should not be an option yet I fail in reaching my goals like Draco at Quidditch. That belief where one should always be on top. Sure it's an arrogant goal, but one that shouldn't be that far out of reach once hard work is put in. I always viewed Draco as being just like Hermione in that his work ethic was quite good even though he could never beat her grade-wise. Like Draco, I feel angry that I can't attain that goal, and that I can't get past that point of failure. Failure hurts. I don't want to go through it so many times, that in the end I feel helpless. And I can't decide what to do to change the continuous line of failures before me.  There are so many people that expect me to do well. Parents especially. Thankfully unlike Draco, my parents don't threaten me that much. Lucius and his views on failure are definitely intense. Thats why I can easily relate to the man. In some ways I guess I am so strongly set against failure just like old Lucius here. (Though I think Jason Isaacs looks pretty hot...lol, so he's not that old in my mind)

I know I only glazing across the personalities of each character, and I am not incorporating other intricacies of them that do influence their behavior, but it doesn't matter. I got my point across just using what is obviously known of them, what is stereotypically written about them in fanfiction. I am not doing a long analytical essay that analyzes the personalities of the Harry Potter characters. I am writing an essay on me.

As I think about me, I try to find out who I am, and who I want to be. What am I going to do in life? What should or can I do to be successful in this crazy world? I will achieve at something, but as to what, that is uncertain.

Today is the second day of work, and so far I am loving it! Yay for earning money. And let's see only 3 days until my birthday!!

School is over! Hell yes! I have no schoolwork whatsoever to really worry about. Well other than Spanish classes at NVCC. But 4 months full of freedom, a little bit of relaxation, a few days at the beach, see friends. And then there's work and school until real school starts. Fun stuff. But yes, I am done with school, and so you all be jealous if you're still in school. 'Cause I am laughing at you, and am feeling sorry for you. For those who I haven't seen in awhile, I hope we can all get together sometime and hang out! For those whom I am not going to see that much, have the best summer ever! 'Cause next fall starts off a totally fun new, drama-filled sophomore year.

http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/?67146

So if any of you have read the golden compass, every person in Lyra's world has an animal companion that represents their soul and their true personality. And I took the test, and I got a snow leopard, only now it seems to be tiger. And I can't get the stupid link to embed itself here, I hate HTML. You may as well play around with my daemon personality throught the link until it solidifies its form in the next week or so.

Thanks everybody for your support! I don't know what I would do without you guys. I am going to declare next semester I think. Give me some more time to think about what I want to do with my life as lame as it can be sometimes. Double majoring may \be the way the go if I can't decide on one or the other. That would mean me being in school for another year *groans* I don't think I could handle that. Well we will have to see.

And as of those evil GPAs, it's really only the parents who seem to worry the most about them. I mean seriously, they basically see you don't have a 3.0, 4.0 GPA, they tell you you're not going to get very far in life. How very supportive of them....

Back to studying, two more exams and them I am done!!! Yay!!

It is after midnight here, and thus officially starts the 24 hour quiet rule. No being loud, else you automatically get written up. Basically you get no warning for any loud noise you make, which is no surprise since this is the last weekend before all hell breaks loose. More or less the tedious week where 2 and half hour finals take place for pretty much every discipline.

And thus with a stressed brain, and a worried self, I walk this weekend and next weekend on a tightrope. To reach my goal of getting Bs in all my classes, I have to get an A in at least 3 of them to actually achieve that goal. Which if it does happen would bring my GPA to something higher considering that I am sitting on a 2.25. Ouch. But then again, I would be more or less happy to pass all my classes in general. It's just that it's all about the numbers in this world unfortunately, so I got to bring that GPA up. But I am trying to be optimistic self, which is rare, and hope for the best. And study my best in the numerous hours I have been given. Use my time wisely I shall. With little breaks in between of course. Don't want to send my brain into overdrive. LOL.

As an added food for thought. I am thinking of declaring my major before I end this semester. I am between Biology and Environmental Science.  I want to do something with conservation, in particular something to do with plant ecology, and to be even more specific something to do with invasive species prevention, and treatment. Most of you know that I did SCA (Student Conservation Association) in the Summer 2004, where I was up in New Hampshire and Vermont removing invasive plant species from St. Gaudens and Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Historic Parks . I got to admit that some of invasive species I removed were absolutely gorgeous little darlings, but a devil to remove. I can see why people bring some of these plants back home with them, some of them do make beautiful decorations. And I could go on about the majority of invasive marine animal species that attach themselves to hulls of ships and when these ships dock at ports to unload these foreign passengers drop off there, and start spreading. But this isn't supposed to be entry where I rant about the dangers of invasive species.

It's more of me trying to figure out what path I should take in my education to attain that goal. After talking with my Ecology teacher, whose focus is plant ecology, I am thinking of remaining on the Biology track. But Environmental Science has the added bonus of being a interdiscplinary major, which includes geology, biology, some geography, and other departments put into one. So thus this weekend I am left to ponder my thoughts on what major to declare, and of course study for my numerous exams next week. Wish me luck!

You might enjoy reading this comic my friend Devin sent me. It's absolutely hilarious. It particularly makes fun of the Harry Potter fandom, but it definitely can be related to other fandoms. Read and enjoy. *smiles and hugs*


http://www.piratemonkeysinc.com/ms1.htm

Exactly two weeks until the last day of school, and I am FREE!!!! YAY!!!! I am crazy I know. I probably should be put in a mental hospital. But despite the freedom in 14 days, some number of hours, some number of minutes, and the ever ticking seconds, I still have a test, lab practical, and a paper to worry before finals even start. Isn't that a pain?

So who wants to talk about the shooting at Vtech? An absolute tragedy. So many promising young students killled before they could achieve their goals. I am glad that the school is to give those students who have died their degrees posthumously. Those students had so much potential, and it sad to see young lives ended so early. And to think that a fellow student was the one to end their lives. Seung-Hui Cho is a complex person to understand. Anybody can be a killer. There are really no set criteria for a murderer. Sure, most murderers seem to be total introverts, agoraphobic, and whatever else seems to be common in these killers. But like I said anybody can kill. You just need to do it. But I just hope that his killing of 32 people doesn't generate hate crimes against Korean-Americans. That would be just unfair on all counts. The murderous activity of one of our race should not be the cause of racial discrimination.

But unfortunately, that is the way of the world. We think that as individuals we don't influence the world. But we do in our own little way. Some people more so than others. We are pawns in God's doll house in some ways. Each of has some duty given to us that is somehow influential to society as a whole. But no, I don't think most people are pre-destined to be murderers. That is of their calling. God can only guide us down a certain path. It is our job to make sure we follow that path. Follow the yellow-brick road to reach your goals. Follow it with a open heart, and you will reach nirvana as the Buddhists do when they complete the Eight-Fold Path.