Prom

Prom was awesome.
I danced way more than I thought I would.
I had so much fun, and even though I probably looked like a dork, I don't even care.
My tux was cool, my hair was cut and styled.
I had good shoes.
I danced with:
Maria
Sarah C.
Letty x2 =]
Mia
Jessica C.
Claudia
Missa
Karin
and others.
I know I didn't go with a date, but that's great, because I could dance with anyone without getting anyone jealous. One girl I know only danced at the end because her date didn't want to dance, and couldn't dance with anyone else for fear of making him jealous.
All the girls I saw were beautiful, and luckily I didn't have a date to catch me staring.
I decided not to attend any after parties, the ones I knew of were at strangers houses and alcohol would be involved, and that's not my thing.
So I went to bed a 2:00 (early for some of you party people) and woke up at eleven, sore and with a shit eating grin on my face
black girls and Mexican girls can really dance =]

R+G

Marty Loftin
Mr. Barker

Final Exam: Recommendation
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

One work I found particularly interesting was Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a play that centers on two fringe characters from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is an inverse of Hamlet, in that all the primary characters of Hamlet have become minor characters, and that the minor characters are now centralized. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern struggle to feel independent in events larger than themselves, they want to make decisions and have choices, but because of the writing of Hamlet, their fate is already predetermined. In there life, there is no chance, or anything that could prevent any of the actions that will happen. The plays portrays insignificance on a personal level, we expect main characters to be important, to make a difference, but in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, we are faced with unimportant main characters who are destined only to die. And when they attempt to change their fate, they only fail: Rosencrantz (or is it Guildenstern?) attempts to save his life by stabbing the lead player. The knife was a toy, but of course it was a fake, how could it not be a fake? The sad truth is that the duo often discussed their fate and how they could just leave and not be involved with the problems at Castle Elsinore, but of course, fate makes them go with the flow. They are the personification of destiny; nothing they can do will push them away from their predetermined death.

The duo’s dialogue helps to push show us their wish of free will, but outside events make them conform to predestination. In the end, it didn’t matter what the duo did, because there role made little difference and they couldn’t even save their lives. It’s very existentialist, I know, but isn’t that feeling something we feel every now and then? That no matter what anyone does, they still die in the end, and everyone is eventually forgotten. It’s depressing, but still matters to try to live longer and try to make a difference, because even if you die young, you still lived, some life is important than none. The one good thing about Tragedies and life is that no matter how someone lived and died, it’s still a story to someone. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern may have died, unable to diverge from fate, but their life and death is remembered in play and cinema, they may be nobody characters (most people in this world are nobody characters) who sit on stage without dialogue or action form time to time, but that’s what makes them real to us, they relax and talk, not in unrealistic soliloquies but in conversations. They are unlike Hamlet and co. in that they are not always talking or being eccentric or in deep emotion. They are normal. They want to be different and die their way, but almost no one gets to choose how they die, except suicides. This play is not only the revelation of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, but also an appreciation of life, and the acceptance of death, which is the same as life, just different.

WORKKS CITED

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,OccupationalOutlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Biological Scientists, on the Internet
Career Builder, Salary Calculator tool
State University of New York at Stony Brook, Becoming a Marine Biologist Jan. 29, 2009
Wikipedia, Marine Biology, 28 May 2009

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-09, National Employment Matrix, employment by industry, occupation, and percent distribution, 2006 and projected 2016,
NASA, Astronaut Job Brochure,
Bigelow Aerospace, Careers

Wikipedia, Microbiology, 27 May 2009
Wikipedia, Tardigrades, 26 May 2009
Wikipedia, Extremophiles, 23 May 2009

Research Paper

In the uncertain future, to be successful you need more than one possible career path, for economic upheavals can lead to ruined lives. By having a multitude of possibilities at hand, success is almost guaranteed because a failure can be replaced by something else. I plan on a career in marine biology, which unto itself opens doors to a plethora of career choices, “careers [such as] environmental conservation, fisheries protection, water management, environmental consultancies,” deep-sea exploration and other entertainment based careers, like dolphin training. But I also have interest in careers involving microbiology and astronautics. Microbiology is a booming industry that can lead to creating drugs, brewing better beer and wine, genetic engineering, and research of microbiotic mysteries, such as “Tardigrades,” or the “Treponema primitia flagellar motor.” The third career I am interested in is becoming an astronaut, but preferably not NASA, who doesn’t have lucrative or important priorities other than launching more satellites. I would be a commercial astronaut, working in space for profit, it could be breeding plants and animals to survive in zero gravity, mining local asteroids for metals, or chaperoning tourists. Since this kind of career is just taking off,

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there are many opportunities for the commercial astronaut. Companies like Bigelow Aerospace offer high pay and medical, dental, vision, PTO, and a 401k for experienced persons in a multitude of academic fields, including microbiology. The beauty of choices like marine biology, microbiology and astronautics is that I can pursue all of them without sacrificing the other career choices.

Marine biology has held my interest since late Elementary School; I was fascinated, not with charming dolphins and smart whales, but the advanced camouflage abilities of cuttlefish, octopi, and other cephalopods. And by then I knew that scientists have only studied 2% of the ocean, and that 71% of the planet is covered with ocean, so there must be other, stranger organism in our oceans, and since viewing Planet Earth and reviewing more recent deep sea explorations, my earlier hypothesis was proven right from the discovery of hydrothermal vents and methane seepage that allows unique life to flourish. This career choice is brimming with competition, but 49% of all marine biologists work in fisheries, Commercial Aquariums, Sea Worlds, or in Wildlife Conservation, each of which has some interest to me, but not nearly as much as deep sea exploration and invertebrate zoology, each aspect to a diverse marine biologist. The average salary of a marine biologist is about $34,000 in the US, but in areas like Santa Cruz, the average is $45,000 and can be as much as $57,000, and this excluding research grants and private investments and donations from companies like NOAA. To be attractive on the job market, a PhD is incredibly helpful, especially if you want funding in private research from federal and private sources. Competition for grants is brutal, 1 in 4 federal grants are accepted, and with the economic downturn, even less is

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being given, increasing the completion. Becoming a marine biologist won’t only require me to understand aspects of oceanography, biology and ecology, but also the federal process for filing for grants so I won’t have to pay someone to do it for me. This unique career is wrought with possibilities, but I’m going to have to work to make sure to flourish without government aid. My dream as a marine biologist is to help study or discover life in our solar system, especially the Ice Moon of Jupiter, Europa.

Microbiology is the study of microscopic life, invisible to human eyes but important nonetheless. All ocean biospheres would collapse without plankton, and bacteria in plants roots couldn’t convert harmful Ammonium (NH₄⁺) into Nitrates. I’m interested in these tiny beings because many can do things that even conventional technology. The study of microorganisms known as extremophiles interests me greatly, these organism thrive in environments that are almost unlivable for most beings, places with incredibly high or low pH, incredible pressure, poisonous substances, or places of extreme heat or cold. One such organism is the Tardigrades, small, incredibly unique organisms that can survive intense radiation, cold, heat, pressure, and can survive in the vacuum of space. Not only do microbiologists get to study and work with unique creatures, but they also have a hefty paycheck. The average microbiologist earns $73,000 annually, some earning as much as $113,000 annually. This career is growing with each passing year because we are learning so much and the market needs more individuals to study microorganisms and adapt them to be useful. Most people involved in high-level microbiotics (genetic engineering, pharmaceutical purposes) require an MSc, or for independent research a PhD in microbiotics. This career isn’t nearly as adventurous as

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becoming a marine biologist; this career is wrought with lab-work, paper-work, and mathematics, but the impact this career holds is massive. Who knows, I may bioengineer bacteria to convert poisonous gases to Oxygen and Nitrogen, allowing for the eventual terraforming of planets like Mars. Or I could study the possible alien microorganisms that could live in the deep ocean trenches of Europa, which could possible resemble the black smoker habitats of Earth.

Astronautics is a forgotten career, forgotten after the passing of the Cold War. But there are still many astronauts in the US, although the US space program NASA is slipping, soon Japanese and other Europeans will develop advance space programs, as well as privately owned Aerospace Companies, which are in constant demand for qualified individuals to assist in missions and pilot spacecrafts. Companies such as Bigelow Aerospace offer over $60,000 for people with over ten years experience researching or hands experience with, astrophysics, biochemistry, microbiology, nanotechnologies, physics, propulsion, stealth technologies, biopsychology (Biological Cognitive Interactions), or electromagnetic fields. With Bigelow, I could be a microbiologist and an astronaut. And with the multitude of other Commercial Astronautics, it’s safe to assume that some companies may even be interested in marine biology. To be a NASA astronaut, you have to meet some physical requirements, including a blood pressure below 140/90 while seated, 20/20 vision (eye surgery can be done, but to apply it has to be at least a year since the surgery, so in order to apply I’ll have to get eye surgery and lower my blood pressure. If I have a doctoral degree, I meet the 3 year experience requirement. I will also need to meet a

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multitude of mental exams, so I don’t end up like Lisa Nowak. I would like to do research at the International Space Station, such as how to grow microbes in zero-gravity, breeding animals and plants, and physics tests with marine animals moving in water. Can a fish swim in space?

With my research of marine biology, microbiology and astronautics, I learned that marine biology is much more competitive then I previously believed, which causes annual earning for marine biologist to drop. Supply and demand: if there are more marine biologists, employers can pay less money. After researching microbiology I have possibly found myself a double-major or at least a subject of interest during college. It’s an incredibly interesting career, that pays well, but I’m not sure if I want to be stuck in a lab for eight hours a day with a robot for company. My discoveries of becoming an astronaut have given me some hope, I originally was very doubtful of going into space, but now can see a solid path that has good pay, adventurous, and will play to my scientific needs. But I still wish to become a marine biologist, but I’m going to have to expect it to be more complicated than my original plan, and to diversify my college experience to be able to have a healthy and wealthy future.

Über Update

The Senior trip for Poseidon Academy was awesome, but unfortunately, I cannot attend Grad-night. Too expensive for too little
We drove to Big Sur, visited UC Santa Barbara, and saw some adolescent elephant seals. They were overly aggressive for creatures that forgive so quickly. When they moved they looked like giant worms, and smelt like a wet barn.
We camped, I cooked Breakfast and Dinner on Sunday, I served a Belgium couple their first American hamburgers (quite the honor) and everyone told me they enjoyed my cooking.
Also, I didn't have to do any dishes. I hate doing the dishes. Really. I stayed up and talked with Helen and her friend Janet, quite a pleasant surprise. They hung out with us at the camp.
Mrs. Ashley was funny. She kept telling us stories of her adventures in college and South America. Then I started poking fun at her. "This one time, in Belize, I was......." a lot things like this.
We went hiking, by the end I was exhausted, but I was glad I did it, I got to see purple sand.
How Bizarre, I know.
By the end I had massive blisters and limped a lot.
When we went home we drove for about 8 hours and listened to so much music. Thank the benevolent FSM that we disn't hit LA traffic.
I also fell in love with the Santa Barbara enviroment. It's cool and calm and misty/foggy most of the time. It's great.
I didn't want to come back home =[
When I got home, exhausted and such, my Mom made me visit relative and stay till nine. That sucked, and made me feel like a child. I'm 18! I know it was people who I haven't seen in 8 years, but I can't honestly be that important to Rick's family. Ugh, next time, I'll make sure to assert myself.
And the next day I had to go to school, to AP Calculus.
But luckily, school is almost out! YAY.
I'm going to miss my teachers
and my friends, but I'm so looking forward to going to college, it's going to be Super-Duper!
I got as yearbook
I got books in the mail =]
I would really like a date for Prom, but I don't know who's available or even who would want to go with me, and I'm afraid to get shot down again...

Here's a thought. Plastic comes from petroleum, petroleum comes fossil fuels, which come from Dinosaurs etc, do you ever think that the Dinosaurs thought they would be turned into condoms?
I hope so, for that's a fate worse than HELL

Quick Match

Today at break I played some Magic, it's a nerdy card game, but it's really fun.my main deck is pretty good, and rarely loses. It's based off of tree-folk, which don't have a high attack, but a huge defense. My deck includes cards that make my tree-folk indestructible, make them stronger and make them come back to life if they die, and others that destroy other creatures and one very special one DORAN, THE SIEGE TOWER
Doran is great in this deck, he turns my powerful defenders into overwhelming attackers. Well, today I played Devon, one of Hunters friends. 
He was overconfident in himself, so I knew right at the beginning I was gonna put him down a peg. I didn't have the greatest hand, but I made it work. A few turns in, he thought he had the upper hand, but then I brought out Doran, then Timber protector, who made all my tree-folk stronger and indestructable. Each turn I would play more tree-folk, while he was stuck with elves and wolves. Once he began to stall for time, I knew it was almost over. I was just waiting for an opening. Finally, I knew what I had to do.
Attack him with everything at once!
BAM!
He was struggling to comprehend that this game was lost.
Sometimes that's what you need to now to be good, is to know when you lost. But you also need to know that there is a chance. Fight to win, not at frivolous card-games, but at life. Fight for what you want, work with what you got, concede when you're gonna lose, so that you have time for another game.


Hopefully my nerdy habit hasn't lost me any respect.
It's a a strategy game
and it could make me some money
No, not playing for money, but being an artist for the cards
The game require high level quality artwork, not like Pokemon, or Yu-Gi-Oh! Which have repetitive artwork that is unimpressive, as well as a poor system for playing. Yu-Gi-Oh! doesn't even have rules for how to play multi-player! How ridiculous!
How preposterous!

AP Tests etc

I've already done the AP Gov, I'll probably pass that
Tomorrow is AP Calculus
Not so sure if I'll pass that one.
Thursday is the AP Literature test
I'm optimistic on that one
and next week is the AP Chemistry class
Hopefully I'll barely pass that test
then my schoolwork becomes a joke, and all I'll have to do is focus on Calc so I don't fail, and thus get dropped by UCSB

I got a new computer and soon I'll post artwork and comics
so stay tune!