Desiderata: A Reflection

    Happiness would be any emotion or action thag would expressed happiness. In a way, it would meant that happiness can be attained through what you wanted to do or what you wanted to see, like your favorite spot for a vacation or eating your favorite food or even trying new things at best. But most of all, you get happy when you do what you do the best.

    While reading the poem, there is a lessons to take in from such poem. The one I would be picking your friends and respecting one's opinion. Because as a half-introvert, I'm used to being alone and get to look around as what people do. Also you can respect people's opinion while your in a conversations, you can be careful with your words while reamaining friendly to everyone. Picking your friends is always important because they'll always be with you in the future. 

      Everyone need to tend to their personal conflicts and end it on their own. So there are ways one can resolve their struggles. One example would be reading a poem or story, because the people can relate to the author or character in the story who said those words. So those who has stuggles can be inspired by them.

         In the end, everyone just need understanding in each other's problems and struggles so that we can know better of ourselves. Friends would be important to in the long run as everyone separate themselves in the future

        

Nepal's Earthquake Preparedness Plan

Nepal’s Earthquake Preparedness Plan 

Nepal is a highly disaster prone country. The country has a fault line at the lower part of Nepal between Indo-Australian plate and Eurasian Plate. The fault is more likely part of the Alpine- Himalayan Belt because of the place being near the Himalayans and Mt. Everest. Nepal is also known as “the ceiling of the world” because it has 8 out of 10 of world’s highest mountains. The first in the list is the Mount Everest. It is the collision of these plates that has produced the Himalaya Mountains, and with them, there are earthquakes. The epicenter was near the Chinese border between the capital of Kathmandu and Mt. Everest. 

For the structure if their buildings, they’re mostly from the Buddha’s period which could be thousands of years ago. The traditional resources were adobe constructions, wooden framed houses and rubble stone masonry were the most popular in villages while urban and suburbs were stone or brick masonry which is 20% of reinforced concrete. So that means that 80% of Nepal’s buildings were non-engineered. April 25 earthquake measured 7.8 on the moment magnitude scale, the largest since the 1934 Bihar quake, which measured 8.2 and killed around 10,000 people. Another quake in Kashmir in 2005, measuring 7.6, killed around 80,000 people.  After the earthquake event, the ninety-four percent of people have realized the risk of earthquake disaster while more than eighty percent have seriously discussed the potential effect within family and community and identified the need of preparedness at household and community level

Before and after the Nepal-Bihar Earthquake

The Buildinv structures of Nepal

The reaction based from the information gathered, we are clearly disturbed because Nepal isn’t ready enough in case there are earthquakes or disasters. Since Nepal is also considered as one of the world’s natural disaster “hotspots” Even the structures of the buildings and houses are made out of adobe construction, wooden framed houses and rubble stone masonry. Nepal is one of the most destructive and life taking scenarios if any quake might happen. Their facilities and structures are not compatible for any trembling may occur. Nepal has the convergent boundary or also known as destructive boundary in which it can be so dangerous for the people living. If they won’t strengthen and enhance their facilities, structures and preparedness, many would suffer their lives, so with that they should be warned. 

Between the two countries of Nepal and Philippines, both of them are in poverty but Nepal has lack of facilities for them to improve the structures of their buildings. Nepal was placed literally on top of Alpine-Himalayan Belt while the Philippines is placed around 5 different faults namely The Eastern Philippine Fault, The South of Mindanao Fault, Central Philippine Fault, and the Markina/ Valley Fault System. So therefore, Nepal gets more intense earthquakes than the Philippines. Nepal also gets least volunteers than the Philippines, their preparedness plan is different from the Philippines. According to our research, five percent of the locals in Nepal only participated in discussions events and think that these type of programs are neither sufficient nor effective. Eighty-five percent of the people have learnt about earthquake risk from these media sources. In Nepal they don’t perform or execute in having seminars or discussions, they only tell the civilians what will happen before, during, and after the earthquake. While in the Philippines the NDRRMC hold seminars that discuss and make the civilians perform in order for them to get to know what will happen before, during and after. They inform what should they prepare if any calamities might happen. The buildings of Nepal are mostly made of stone brick masonry and only 40% of total buildings are made of reinforced concrete, which can withstand an earthquake with better survivability while in the Philippines total percentage of reinforced concrete buildings is considerably higher.

Earthquakes are unpredictable, we individuals wouldn’t even know whether when will that thing happen nor would that be vulnerable one or not. As what individuals would always say, “Best thing to do is just to be prepared physically and mentally”

We should be prepared anytime because we cannot predict our future. That’s why preparedness should be practiced and must matter to everyone the most so that not only you can save yourself, but if you see someone needs help, you can lend your hands to grab them. Be alert every time and join any seminars that involve first aid and preparedness so that if there are calamities, you always know what to do and what you shouldn’t do. 

Before, Nepal’s earthquake plan regarding on preparedness are not so powerful enough to lessen the casualties since Nepal is also known as one of the poorest country, and they couldn’t afford to make the structures of the buildings strong enough to withstand the tragedy. But now, a new government taskforce was created to help deal with future earthquakes. The people are now educated across Nepal to perform earthquake drills.

It’s also good since they are planning for the structures of the building that it shouldn’t be the same as before where it can be easily crushed into pieces due to the trembling and movement of the ground that can’t withstand the subduction of the two plates which is the indo- Australian Plate and Eurasian Plate. 

Reference 

The Nepal Earthquake of  25th April, 2015

http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Plate%20Tectonics/Extra_case_studies/Nepal_Earthquake_2015.htm

Nepal Earthquake 2015 – Impact – Immediate response – Long Term Response

\https://www.internetgeography.net/topics/nepal-earthquake-2015/

Disaster Preparedness Pamphlet (Philippines)

https://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/299618/ACS-JCD/Disaster%20Preparedness%20Pamphlet.pdf

Nepal’s Emergency Preparedness Saved Lives In Earthquake Aftermath – UN Health Agency

https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/05/498582-nepals-emergency-preparedness-saved-lives-earthquake-aftermath-un-health-agency

Common Structural And Construction Deficiencies Of Nepalese Buildings

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41062-016-0001-3?fbclid=IwAR2saCxF1J-gAy2GwqIOPk7018gSZWs9kpaNDDP18aid22bykgcemmDv60I

Field Investigation On The Performance Of Building Structures During The April 25, 2015, Gorkha Earthquake In Nepal

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141029616301626?fbclid=IwAR1l6Ho9rJP1T5X2D-BU74JyRHyeHOJrRPhYe9udU7GNio07m3Bh-6uVMjk

The Science Behind Nepal Earthquakes

https://earthsky.org/earth/the-science-behind-the-nepal-earthquake

Nepal earthquake: Waiting for the complete rupture

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190116115518.htm

Nepal Earthquake: Disaster Risk Reduction Preparation

https://www.usaid.gov/nepal/newsletter/april-june-2015/p02-nepal-earthquake-disaster-risk-reduction-preparation

Romeo and Juliet soundtrack

Soundtrack for Romeo and Juliet

Sometimes when you listen to music, sometimes you would get them because of a music soundtrack from the movies like mostly love songs and etc. Now I think, can you make your own soundtrack for a song that is multi - themed too? Well, this is my soundtrack for the story of Romeo and Juliet

1.) "Nancy Mulligan" - Ed Sheeran

This song would reflect on the love of the star-crossed lovers because thay wanted to have a love that is forbidden by their parents. This would be played from the events that lead up to the secret marriage part.

https://youtu.be/VFlZXlfda6Y

2.) "Shape of you" - Ed Sheeran

This song would be played when Romeo and his friends went in disguise to the Capulet party. Second is maybe how Romeo feels on how he met her.

https://youtu.be/JGwWNGJdvx8 

3.) "Till I Collapse" - Eminem

I know this is a weird pick but hear me out, this song would be played for every fight scene in the story because it needs that adrenaline to be more dramatic.

https://youtu.be/ikKUceLXdt8

4.) "Love of my life" - Queen

This song would be played near the emd when Romeo enters the scene where Juliet died.

https://youtu.be/T73WhWTawCE

5.) "Death of a Bachelor" - Panic! At the Disco

This song for me would be played at the death of both of them.

https://youtu.be/R03cqGg40GU

6.) "Happy" - Pharrell Williams

This happen from that lovers planned meet-up to the reveal of Juliet's wedding which would indtantly turn thr music off.

https://youtu.be/ZbZSe6N_BXs

7.) "We will rock you" - Queen

This would play at the start where the rival families tries square off each other.

https://youtu.be/-tJYN-eG1zk

8.) "Dirty Harry" - Gorillaz

This would be played as a chase and running music for some scenes and the song could be played only for a bit.

https://youtu.be/cLnkQAeMbIM

Family Day 2019

Family Day 2019

Novenber 27, 2019, Sunday...

I got myself dressed, my little brother and sister are ready to go but my sister needs to give make-up

to my mother so we got ahead to school.

As we step out, we got inside to take a brief view 

of the quadrangle and that's where.

we took our first pic. 

After that, we got to our separate tents and I hang out with my classmates and their parents. The first event was the mass which lasted an hour. The next one is the dance of each level set up by our teachers and parents and we were the third presentors af that time. After those dances, I explored a bit of the school (mostly the canteen for snacks) and take a look around if there's anything different.

          
 A few hours later, I saw my sister came with her classmates from last year, probably for a reunion and we continue to the parking lot where my grade's catering was held and we took the second picture. Although nothing happened else and I hang around the tent until the hostess of the family day announced the other events like a talent show and raffle prizes which only a few had been awarded that night.

Later in the night, it would be bingo time and I took the picture excitedly.

But that time I forgot that it would getting late and gone home. Well I was really looking forward to the bingo game but maybe next time.

Cyber-bullying

Cyber-bullying

- theguardian, 2014

                 Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. In this case, its your actions on Social Media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Today's internet is so powerful that your actions can catch the attention of a lot of different people like politicians, celebrities, and artists of different genres. But one of the main problems of Social Media is the man opportunities of cyber-bullying.With 4,507 cases of cyberbullying in 2012-13 and is increasingly contacted about self-harm and racist cyberbullying, many victims are increasing every day. Here's my few reasons why it should not be tolerated.

 - nbcnews, 2017

                 Cyber-bullying leads to suicide; including those who are very sensitive. As what I've found in sciencedaily.com, Children and young people under 25 who are victims of cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to self-harm and enact suicidal behavior, according to a new study. The research also suggests the perpetrators themselves are at higher risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors as well.So imagine what will happen in the if instead of one person, its a bunch of people doing it against one person in Social media. The unlucky victims tried to ignore them, but they cant do because he/she has been overpowered already. It happen when Mallory Grossman, a 12-yrs old girl in New Jersey, ended her own life in June 14, 2017 because of her classmates both in real life and online, So the incident ended with the parents of the victim sueing the school for not taking care of the problem. Just remember that everyone has a limit and if that person's limit has been reached, it has already been broken (what I meant is their mind).

 - twitter, 2016 

                 The second is that they criticized one's traits, like their gender, race, religion, or in other words, "racism". Imagine if Hitler is still alive but as a huge group aimed to follow what they believed? Yeah, like that. Racism is still going on today and it is happening everywhere including the internet. According theconversation.com, Over the past two decades, cyber-bullying has become a major focus for parents, educators and researchers. Stopbullying.gov lists several effects of cyber-bullying, including depression, anxiety and decreased academic achievement.  Like what happened to Normani Kordei of the band "Fifth Harmony" in august 2016, she logged out of twitter because of the barrage of bashes she got from it. Thankfully her friends from the bands and her followers help her regained her confidence and heal from the racial posts from the others. If one would were to post their opinion in the feed, be prepared for your explanation. 

- deadline, 2016

                  The third and last one is that it would ruins one's reputation. Who knew a simple misunderstanding could fool a lot of people in what they've just believed. I searched  incyberbullying.org, the young generation needs to think about their online reputation as early as possible, the same thing goes to to already-famous ones in Social Media. If this were to happen to a celebrity, that would greatly affect their reputation with rumors and accusations. Many reputation were already damaged like 2016 "Ghostbusters" co-star Leslie Jones but she recovered quickly. 

- nbcnews, 2017

                  So therefore, Cyber-bullying should not be tolerated because of its effects to those who could not resist to it. People should've think of what they've could caused if that tap of a button or key and second, why they didn't think second thoughts about what they have done? Is it just for satisfaction? Or is it for something else? I end my matrix.

My parody

“Time Travelling Misadventures”

A parody by John Edward Selma

                    After we departed from my hometown Rick’s machine began to travel to our destination, old – timey Denmark were the story of Beowulf came from for my homework.

                   “Alright Patricia, so you better stay behave while we are time travelling because anything at crucial moments in history can alternate the timeline and change the history forever okay?” Rick said. “Alright Mr. Smith but can I play around a bit because you said that you and Beo are friends.” Patricia replied. Then Rick said, “Yes it’s true, but right now he could be doing something that can disrupt the time and harm us.”

                 But when Rick was continuing his explanation, Morty stopped him and asked him, “Uhh Rick?” “Yes Morty?” Rick replied. “When was the last time you refueled the machine?” He asked. “Well it was after we tested it which was a week ago.” Rick answered. “Why?”

               “It’s because we ran out of fuel already.” Morty said. “Well we’ll just directly land on a timeline that we can land with the fuel we have left.” Rick replied.

                  On his command, Morty carefully landed in the unknown timeline but crashed after Rick clumsily turned off the landing gear button right after Morty just pressed it. They survived the crashed and only the frontal part of the machine was heavily damaged.

                  The three got out and Patricia was pointed out at Rick that he was the one that caused the crash. That’s when Morty stops the quarrel and said that they are in now the land of old Denmark, that’s when the story of Beowulf occurred. Patricia jumped for joy and Rick sighed in relief as they were in the right destination. But the only problem now is that where to find the fuel for the time machine. The three ventured out to a nearby kingdom to look for a resource that can be used as fuel and by coincidence, they saw Beowulf and his band of soldiers following him. Rick and Beo both greet each other and Rick introduced him to Patricia and Morty.

                  “So now that we are here, can we stay with him for a while Rick please?” Patricia asked as Rick answered, “Alright fine Patricia.”

                   Beowulf laughed as he ordered his men to armed the three with weapons but when one of them tried giving them to Rick when he stop and said, “ Don’t worry, I have my array of weapons.”

                  Then Beowulf explained, “Alright lads, were here to kill Grendel, the monster that’s been waging war with King Hrothgar, so we’ll just stay overnight at Heorot, the grand hall, and take him down once and for all!” His men cheered as they settled for the night at Heorot.

                  At midnight as planned, Grendel burst through the doors and attacked. He devoured one of Beowulf’s soldier but when Grendel decided to go for Beo, He was just pretending to sleep and jump on him and attack him as they wrestle. The trio watched as Beowulf caught Grendel in a death grip. Up to the point at by using his bare hands, He tore off one of his arms. Beowulf let go of Grendel as the one – armed monster fled back to the sea to die. Patricia watch in awe as she saw Beo standing in the horizon of a new day. Victory to the Danes.

                   But when night falls at the Heorot, the king held a feast in honor Beowulf’s bravery as the trio chatted with him until another monster came in. it was Grendel’s mother, she’s hideous as her son as she attacked the Danes for revenge after Beo killed her son. After the attacked happened, it was a disaster as Beowulf is now determined to hunt Grendel’s mother.

                When the time has come,  Beo set out to the trail the monster had left before. As he was about to go, Rick go to him and says, “Hey Beo, let me give you something to help kill the monster.”

                 But seeing that he did not give anything to him at that time so he asked, “Well, where is it?” Then Rick explained, “Well it will only show up when you most needed it, trust me.” Beo then replied, “Okay I will trust but just because I trusted you okay?” Rick nodded as they waved goodbye to the trio.

                 Then Patricia, wondering what that “thing” was, asked Rick and he replied, “Oh, you’ll see. Come on!” as he throw a disk on the ground and expanded and a floating platform. She and Morty was surprised as they hop on the platform as the trio traveled to where Beowulf’s location and also, they were invisible as well thanks to the platform.

                  As they reached to where Beo was, he was in the middle of a battle with the monster until he was almost defeated and just that point he saw something shiny in the ground. So He urgently pick it up and just as he wields it, a blue streaking light appeared.

            “It’s a lightsaber!!” Patricia exclaimed as Grendel’s mother charged at him as Beo instinctively slashed his saber and destroyed the monster.

                After the battle, Beowulf was surprised when the trio appeared out of nowhere and Rick explained everything. Morty then gathered the remaining blood the monster and tested it and confirms that the blood form the two monsters can be used as fuel. Both Rick and Patricia are relived in joy as they know that there is alternative fuel in this world. The four of them later founded Grendel’s corpse in a cave and Beo slashed it opened, so that Morty can gather enough to refuel the machine.

                When they got to the kingdom, he was celebrated as a hero of the Danes and after that, he ordered his men to fix the machine and the trio were ready to go.

               “But what about this surprised weapon of yours?” Beowulf asked. “Oh, you can keep it from me to you.” Rick replied.

                They both waved goodbye and the machine blew off. Then Morty asked, “Wait Rick, won’t change the history a bit just because you gave him the lightsaber?!?” “Don’t’ worry about it Morty, Now let’s check the timeline.”

                As they read the ending of Beowulf, it says that Beowulf died clumsily as he was carrying his “magic” sword.

                “Ooppss.” Rick exclaimed.

Cats are better house pets than dogs

Proposition: Cats are better house pets than dogs
By: John Edward L. Selma

                            
                              It may be true what they are saying about dogs, but cats have a bad side in which the owners have to face. Therefore, I oppose to this proposition. Despite how loving cats have been, they have some bad traits that make them a bad choice for house pets than a dog.

                             The first reason is that dogs are truly man’s best friend. According to the website, www.thespruce.com, dogs have been domesticated for at least years now. Dogs have been the faithful companions and loyal helpers of the human race throughout history and become their best friend. The bond between humans and dogs are indescribable. For cats, they just act like they don’t need you, and can’t be described as “man’s best friend”.

                             The second reason is that cats are harder to train than dogs. According to the same website, cats are hard to train especially the food-motivated cats, they just soon get sick of training sessions and walk away, or they’ll just smack the food out of your hand and eat it anyway. But for dogs, they really enjoy training. It seems to give them a sense of purpose, a job, and most love to work. Plus, many dogs are highly motivated by food and attention, they'll gladly do anything for an edible reward.

                             The third reason is that cats don't understand the word 'no'. According to the website, yp.scmp.com, sometimes a cat can cause trouble in your home and don’t understand the word ‘no’, it’ll just go around the room while it does whatever it wants.  While for a dog, saying “No!” can have a lot of power over a dog when it's spoken in a stern voice, then it will just stop and look at you with stress thinking what it did is wrong. Another one is from Clarissa Fallis, and she says that using a negative punishment is a safe, effective way to develope an appropriate behavior to your dog.

                             Dogs have been in history more than cats, they helped us even in the war and many other events. They are more used to us to make it easier to train. Even though some of the dogs are not civilized, the house dogs will always know the word ‘no’.