My grades

I got an 88% on the speech and a 92% on my last test. I also got a 1840 on my SATs out of a possible 2400. With the "old" scoring system I got a 1260. I got a 7 on the essay out of a possible 10.
I have to do a commemorative speech on Saturday but I'm still not sure what I want to do it about. It's either hair dye or my baby brother. No he's not dead. It doesn't have to be about a dead person.
I'm hungry. It's too early to make dinner but too late to eat a snack. Unless I hold off on dinner until closer to 7. Mmmmmm..... snaaaaaaccck.....

The Air Up There: The truth about the hole in the ozone layer

The cover for the February 17th, 1992 edition of Time magazine screamed out the shocking and terrifying headline “Vanishing Ozone: The Danger Moves Closer to Home”. The article goes on to describe how NASA has confirmed that the ozone is depleting in increasingly larger areas and could soon reach into areas of high population concentrations. I have been interested in science for most of my life. I was especially intrigued by weather and the atmosphere. I had heard vague references to a hole in the ozone layer from media, teachers, and other people I respected so I had always assumed that they were right. Over the past three years I have been using a science curriculum called “Exploring God Through Creation”. It is written by a scientist named Dr. Jay L. Wile. In these books I have found a wealth of information that not only deny the existence of a hole in the ozone layer, but also prove why it would be impossible for there to be one. How can I, only a teenager, go against NASA and say that this is false? I can because as well-written as this article is, it does not tell you the whole story. I am here today to tell you the rest of the story. I will give you a background as to what ozone is, as well as what it does, why scientists say it is being depleted, and give you the evidence to disprove their theory.
Ozone is the name scientists gave to an oxygen molecule that has three oxygen atoms. Ozone is all throughout the atmosphere, the concentration is higher in the layer known as the ozone layer. The typical way oxygen is found in the atmosphere is in groups of two, I will refer to this as O2. The bond keeping these atoms together is made by the two atoms sharing electrons. The most effective way to break this bond is introducing the presence of ultraviolet radiation. When an ultraviolet radiation hits the electron bond the bond is broken and the atoms create a bond with the nearest O2 molecule to form ozone, this also absorbs the ultraviolet radiation. As most of us will recall from science class the sun gives off ultraviolet radiation at all times. The ultraviolet radiation needed to break the electron bond is harmful to the human skin and causes cancer. Thus, while the ultraviolet radiation is hitting the atmosphere, it is hitting the O2, breaking the bonds, and being absorbed. Because of this, ozone is constantly being broken down and re-created, usually amounting several tons per second. The amount of ozone in the atmosphere depends on the season, solar location, and the latitude of the measurement.
Ozone is a volatile and unstable molecule that reacts with other atoms which renders them unable to protect the Earth from ultraviolet radiation. One of the atoms ozone reacts with is chlorine. There is always chlorine in the atmosphere. Because chlorine interacts with the valued ozone, scientists have come to regard it as a destroyer which must be stopped. By reading the amount of active chlorine in the atmosphere they claim to know where the holes lie. Some scientists have come to believe that the chlorine in the atmosphere comes from the use of chlorofluorocarbons, which are more commonly known as CFC’s. The phase-out of this valuable molecule has already begun in the US because of a bill that was passed through Congress with remarkable speed due to a unanimous vote. I say that CFCs are valuable because of their cheap production and the beneficial uses as refrigerants and fire extinguishers, among other uses. The reason behind the unanimous vote within Congress was a NASA press release that had found a startlingly high reading of active chlorine in the atmosphere.
This all seems reasonable enough. Unfortunately this was only half the truth. The report by NASA was quoted as saying that the reading was a “peak”. That means that the previous and following readings were either low or normal. The report also failed to mention that the amount of active chlorine, which is the form required to react with an atom or molecule, fluctuates with the temperature and the presence of atmospheric ice crystals. I mentioned before that chlorine is always present in the atmosphere. I also mentioned that CFCs are the accepted cause of ozone destruction. Unfortunately CFCs are heavier than air and the only way they could make their way up to the ozone layer is by extremely high winds. There has also been no evidence of the leftovers of a CFC molecule break-up found in the ozone layer. How then, can CFCs be the culprit behind the destruction of ozone? The answer is simple, they cannot. Where does the chlorine come from? The ocean evaporates around six hundred million tons of chloride each year. Chloride is the negative ion of a chlorine atom. An ion is an atom with an electron imbalance. Similarly, volcanic eruptions emit millions of tons of chloride into the atmosphere all at once. CFCs maxed out at a mere 1.1 million tons or production per year. That only translates to about 750 thousand tons of chlorine. Scientists cannot even prove that the level of ozone is constantly being depleted by chlorine.
I will finish by saying that a hole in the ozone layer is actually measured as there being a concentration of less than 50%. The first measurement and observation of this occurred over Antarctica in 1956, several years before CFCs were in common use. The hole appeared for three to five weeks at the end of the cold, dark Arctic winter. It was associated with the arrival of the Polar Vortex. The temperature required for this anomaly is -80 degrees centigrade. After the duration of the Polar Vortex the ozone level went back to its usual concentration. In 1989-1992, there was no Artic hole. While the book I used was published in 1993 I will venture a hypothesis that there hasn’t been a hole. For further information I would refer you to the book Environmental Overkill: Whatever happened to common sense by Dixy Lee Ray.


I would ask that anyone who wishes to start a debate about this to refrain from doing so in the context of this site. If you really need to then email me with your argument. And be prepared because I know what I'm talking about. This is another speech for my public speaking class.

Talk is cheap

Talk and the so-called "art" of fine language is such a crock. I know people who use language to spin a web of lies and then injure the parties involved. They also use abusive language just to get a rise out of people they know can't defend themselves properly. These people should be known as monsters but, alas, they appear harmless enough to get away with their abuses. They have brains enough to know that children should not be subject to their torture and yet the children love them. These people call their abuse humor. I hope to at least be there to watch their comeuppance if I am not the one initiating it.
I suppose this all is tied to the dream I had. Only the person divvying out the abuse wasn't someone I know and I was able to defend myself. I've never punched anyone but boy did it feel good in that dream. There were other people in my dream but the involved parties don't need to know about it. In fact the only person I may tell isn't even a person.

All right some of you peeps needs a little info...

First of all, regarding the box of stuff, not actually his stuff, just stuff I have that reminds me of him. Pics, notes, etc.
Second off, I had forgiven him for the previous stuff he had done. That doesn't mean that the impact he had on my life was completely wiped away. He was, and I feel secure enough to say is, a major part of my life. Even if it wasn't anything more than a friendship he was still the first guy I ever felt secure enough with to actually let him know who I was. I didn't realize that wasn't allowed to be a big deal?
And finally, I don't see the point in having a "friendship" where it is one-sided. That's the reason most of the former friends I have got to be there. If only one person feels safe enough to reveal who they truelly are then it's not really a friendship. So while I may seem cold and unfeeling, it's only because you denied my ability to connect with you on a bit deeper of a level. Until you either feel comfortable with allowing me to get to know you or decide I'm not worth the trouble(whoops that's already been chosen!) then don't bother.



Oh and a little P.S. I have a prom coming up and I am secure enough to go alone. No Sadie Hawkins for me this year! ^.~

And so I got a C

Okay so maybe a bit of backround is called for.
The speech I posted was for my public speaking class that I am taking at the community college across town. On Saturday I had to do my speech in front of the class. I was kinda excited by the fact that there were only 11 people there including the teacher. And that was about it. I thought I had my speech memorized to the point that I wouldn't need much help. HA! I got done with the introduction and completely lost my spot. I had to go back and get the preperation outline from the teacher. I rushed through the rest of the speech because I was about ready to cry. I'm pretty sure I came in at two minutes under time and we get docked a letter grade for every minute we're under. And so I got a C.
Our next speech is a persuasive speech. It's not due until mid-April. I am doing a speech called "The Air up There: The Truth About the "Hole" In the Ozone Layer". I know that the topic is broad enough to cover the 6-8 minutes but specific enough that it can't wander. I am starting my research today or tomorrow. But I am having more than internet sources for this one just in case. I refuse to accept that I can only do a C speech. I am a good writer and a C is not the kind of work I normally do.
I already have my opening statement: I am here today to prove to you a supposedly well-known fact is not true. There is not a hole in the ozone layer the way everyone has been told.
I am so paranoid that I am going to do badly that I am going to spend two weeks on writing and research and then another three to four on practicing it. Because of the personal nature of my last speech it was very difficult for me to practice it in front of people I know. Not this time. I feel very strongly about this topic and I will not accept anything less than a B. I hope to make it an 8 minute speech. Though I am slightly worried that I will be mauled or otherwise accosted after I am done because there are a couple of "enviro-nuts" in my class. I won't accept any questions after I am done for fear of starting a heated debate.

My Speech: Kept Under Wraps: A Hidden Epidemic

Imagine if you will, a teenage girl preparing for a date, a businessman sitting in a board meeting, or a grandmother waiting for her grandchild to arrive. These people appear to have nothing in common. Looking past the surface you find that they have one all too common link many Americans share. Depression affects millions of people with no regard to age, sex, race, religion, or social status. I am one of them. While I have never been formally diagnosed, I have researched this disorder for five years. I am here today to help you understand what depression is, what the warning signs are, and what is being done to treat it.
A major misconception is that depression is something a person could help if they really wanted to. Most, if not all, depression sufferers would be glad to tell you just how wrong that statement is. There are many theories as to what triggers depression but all lead back to a single cause, an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Yes, the Zoloft commercial may indeed prove to be true. Triggers are thought to include stress, various medications, and certain diseases. Stress is, by far, the most common trigger for depression sufferers. Chronic stress often leads to longer and more frequent depressive spells and is the hardest to treat. If the main trigger is a medication, stopping use of the offending drug will usually clear the symptoms. Diseases that can trigger depression include hypothyroidism and anemia.
Symptoms of depression are often mild and may include: concentration problems, slowing of speech or thoughts, difficulty with things you do every day, and sleep pattern changes. Depression in children shows itself in even subtler ways than in an adult. A child may complain of vague pains, cry over small things, or even lose weight. Doctors often do not even recognize these as being symptoms of depression so it takes diligence to get a sure diagnosis. Seeing signs of depression in a loved one is often easier than realizing your own. Because symptoms are mild and generally internal it is easy for individuals to hide their depression from others even though it is detrimental to their mental and physical health. While doctors are unsure as to why, untreated depression increases the risk of stroke and possibly heart disease.
Methods of treatment vary based on the type and severity of an individual’s depression. Psychotherapy, more commonly known as talk therapy, is considered the first step of treatment. Often taking place in groups, an individual is encouraged to talk about what they are feeling in hope that they will be more able to deal with their feelings in a healthy way. Medications are considered a last resort no matter how dramatized their usage has become. Recent studies have shown that children and teens have a higher risk of suicide when first starting or stopping the usage of medications. All medications work by correcting the imbalance that causes depression. The most commonly recommended medications are SSRIs. That is short for Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They have the fewest and most tolerable side effects. A notable SSRI is Zoloft. Another type of medication is monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOI. They have the highest amount of side effects and are most often prescribed after other medications have failed to work. There are no notable names in this group because of this. Herbal remedies are not recommended by the FDA but we all know how their track record has been recently.
In conclusion I hope you now know what depression is, what the warning signs are, and what is being done to treat it. Studies have shown that less than one-third of people suffering from depression actually seek treatment for it. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression I encourage further study.

Too long without a post.... So what

I haven't had much to say and there aren't many people that even look at this so :P
I dyed my hair red. Yeah so you're saying So what right about now. It's an unnatural red. It's kinda burgundyish. I love it. It's too bad it's not going to last very long. Weird colors don't last very long unless you bleach your hair within an inch of it's life. I can't wait until I can finally bleach my hair and dye it blue. I was going to do black with blue tips but unless I get some help and some very detailed instructions I will just do a bleach job with blue tips or streaks or something. I found out I can get haircolor junk at Sally's. I'm going to go there and bug the people that work there so I can figure out what kind of developer and bleach I need to use. What happens if you just use clorox? And if you use the color-safe kind would it not do anything? :) Yes I realize I have a weird and sick mind. I wish I could get my camera to capture the color of my hair but it keeps making it show up black. I guess I can't take a shower until Sunday to shock the church. I should tease it into an afro so it really stands out LOL! The best part about the dye is that it is dark at the roots and gets gradually lighter the whole way down.
I got some new earrings for when I can finally change out the piercing ones. Why do you have to wait 6 weeks to change them out? It doesn't make sense to me. I think mine are healed up already so why can't I change them yet? Because the earring industry enjoys surpressing the pierced ears of America into waiting 6 flippin' weeks to change out the stupid piercing earrings. I liked mine until about a week ago. Then they have just been more and more annoying. Most people haven't even noticed that I got my ears pierced. The kids I watch are the only ones that didn't need me to point it out to them. So stupid. Oh well it's not like the members of the church I go to even noticed when I dyed my hair light auburn. It turned out a bright red that was still natural. Maybe the unnatural red will get attention? They also didn't notice much when I came to church with a "nose piercing". It was funny because half the youth group thought I actually pierced my nose. Yeah they don't know me that well.
So there you have it. A long-winded pointless blog. I can go on and on about nothing too :P