The Truth Untold
I recommend listening to the song while reading this. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITc-om9SVr4
*"Don’t smile on me*
*Light on me*
*I can’t come closer to you*
*I don’t have a name to be called by"*
*"… but I still want you"*
Being a fan of BTS, as I have said before, it’s one of my things to look upon the meaning and story behind some of their songs. Upon doing that, I came across a very painful story by which some ARMYs said, was the inspiration behind the song. The song is entitled The Truth Untold, and the story is about the legend of the flower Smeraldo.
The story dated back to 15th-16th century which there is said to be a village named La Citta de Smeraldo and according to recent maps, it is now a rural village in northern Italy.
According to the story, there once lived a man in an old castle who hides himself from people because he is “ugly”. He is a product of an unforbidden love because the Duke of Florence, his father, fell in love with his mother who is a daughter of a gardener. His mother died giving birth to him. The affair angered the wife and children of the Duke so they tried to kill the child. To protect him from harm, the duke sent him to the far away castle.
The man lived alone and never let any people in his life. He always wears a mask because he is “ugly”. Probably because of the anger he received since he was born, the man shuts himself from the world. He never opened his heart to anyone and whenever somebody tries to approach him, he would shoo them away in anger and distrust.
He lived contently growing flowers in his garden. His flowers are his happiness. And then one day, something happened unexpectedly, one that changed his life forever.
A girl appeared in front of his castle, dressed in rags, and stole flowers from his garden. It made him so furious so he guarded his garden until night. When he fell asleep, he didn’t notice that the girl came back to steal flowers again and then she ran away.
It happened for several days and the man grew curious of her. He pretended to fall asleep and watched her steal flowers and go. He did not realize he was already waiting for her every day. Out of curiosity of where she is taking the flowers to, he wore a cloak and secretly followed her.
He found out that the girl is poor and she sells his flowers to make a living. He felt very bad for her and wanted to help her. The man wanted to approach the girl, he wanted to talk to her and teach her how to grow flowers beautifully but he got no courage to do so. He was afraid she would run away if she sees him.
The man then started to grow beautiful flowers for her to pick and sell. He was already falling in love with the girl. He wanted to talk to her and confess his love but he could not show up. He was too afraid so he hid from her and just watched her from his castle.
The only thing he could do was grow flowers of the best quality. One day, he decided to plant the most expensive flower for her, the Smeraldo. After many attempts, he succeeded. He filled his garden with it and waited for the girl to come back. But she did not. He waited and waited but the girl did not appear in front of his castle anymore.
It made him sad and anxious so he came back to the village where he saw her, but it was too late because he found out that the girl had died.
*"Perhaps, back then,*
*by just a little,*
*by just a bit,*
*if I had taken courage and stood in front of you,*
*would everything be different now?"*
The flower is said to have meant: ‘non-potevo dire la verità’ or ‘the truth that could not be told’.
Moral of the story, from my perspective: Do it before you regret it. Regret is always at the end. Like what they always say, you'll never know if you'll never try.
Such a sad story. I feel so bad for the both of them, especially for the man. They did not get to talk. He could not even know what the girl's name is. And he couldn't confess his love.
Thank you for reading!
Maybe, just maybe
You unexpectedly came to my life and I knew I had the option to run away, but I ran towards you instead. And I honestly don’t know why. Something was just telling me I had to be with you. It seemed like you have some magnet in you and l am like an iron; you keep pulling me in. I am happy, my life is happy and you.. you simply add happiness on it. Or maybe I know why, but I just keep on justifying that I don’t because I know the magnitude of pain I’ll have to deal with if you leave. Because I know I would probably regret and blame myself if I get hurt. And deep inside me, I know my regrets will be worth it. Because I gave it a try. Because I allowed myself to be happy. Even if I have a feeling that this time we have right now is borrowed and we might give it back at some point. But I hope not. How I wish I met you sooner, and not now that both of our lives are complicated.
I see myself in you. I am fascinated how you bared myself to me, and I cannot just leave you alone after seeing your naked soul. I see myself in you, because I always tend to bare myself up to people I trust because it helps me cope up with everything. I cannot leave you because I know how it feels to need someone, I know how it feels to feel alone. I would be lying if I say I don’t think of this sometimes as pity, that maybe it’s just my sympathy talking. But it gets clearer and clearer to me as time goes by. You make me happy and you make me confused. You’re making me feel things when I feel numb for the longest time. You make me see things when I feel so empty since who knows when. You give me butterflies in my stomach; you make my head spin; you make me worry. Above all this, you make me smile. I don’t know how you do it but you just do. You don’t know how much I love it when your smile slowly creeps into your lips every time I stare at you. It gives me the idea that I’m giving you butterflies in your stomach even when you’re denying it all the time. I love your little gestures of protecting me in some ways and you probably don’t know how much I love your eyes. I see how the eyes are the windows of the soul in you.
You’re adding colors to my life. And it scares me, because you might turn it black anytime, or you may not, but I might will. It scares me I may reach the point of suddenly refusing to accept your crayons because I am afraid my fears would eat out all these feelings I have for you because of how complicated we are. But I am afraid to give you up because I don’t want to see you alone. I don’t want to leave by your side because you only have me. I am worried of who will calm you down when your minds are in chaos, or when you can’t understand yourself. I am worried of who will hug you when you feel so cold. I am worried of not knowing who will love you when you can’t feel love for oneself.
How I wish we met sooner than we did. Then maybe it is less complicated. Maybe it’s easier for us to be together. If we happened sooner maybe I won’t have to stay up late at night wondering where would this take us to. If I met you earlier maybe there would be less doubt and fear of what tomorrow will bring and I won’t have to feel like wanting to run away and staying by your side at the same time. If we have met sooner, then maybe we could’ve saved both of us. Maybe, just maybe.
Hi! My brain is a little cooperative these days and late last night, I've come up with this article. I am really a fan of these kinds of articles, there are no specific story or plot and it allows you to play different scenarios in your head with every ideas you may think possible. And I love when I can produce something like this. It may not be as perfect and beautiful as others' but I'm just proud I somehow can do it. Have a good day, everyone. :)
Thanks for reading!
Who am I?
Have you ever wondered what kind of a person someone is behind every article that they write and publish here on read.cash? I always have this kind of thought whenever I encounter a writer here whom I don’t personally know. I wonder what their pronouns are, and the personalities they have behind their screens. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have much of encounters or conversations with many writers here, in over almost a year of me in this platform. Some of you may be wondering why. It also reflects on my subscriber count, as I only have less than 20. Truth is, it’s not like I don’t want to have friends here nor I don’t want to have as much interactions because I’m trying to be mysterious or something. To be very honest, I don’t know how to properly handle a conversation with someone I don’t know personally. It’s hard for me to comment something about their article even if I really liked it; I just tend to like the article itself. It’s more like I don’t know what to say apart from what’s on my mind like “hey, your article is so good” or “I love the plot of your story”, etc. And I am afraid they might see it as spam or something. Also because I am a busy person, I am busy with my studies so I don't have many time to open my read.cash account. I always envy those people who comment long stuff about someone’s article, saying they can relate to it at some point, anything. But don’t judge me too early, please. I’ve tried, I’ve tried to have as much interactions, I tried commenting relevant stuff on other people’s articles, and what I feel and think about it, but it turned out bad at my point of view.
Months ago, I was still a newbie and I really loved this particular article of an author here and then I commented how I interpreted their story and what I liked about it; I told them that I learned a lesson from their article and they replied something that offended me. It was something like “Really? And what did you learned about my article/ How did you learned that from my article?”. Those were not the exact words they said but it was as if they were asking me what I have learned from it when I wasn’t supposed to. True enough, their story was a fiction but aren’t they happy I got something from it? And that hurt me as a reader and as an author. When we write something, we should be open to the fact that the readers might have their own interpretation of our story based on their point of view. I can say that because that’s the first thing I learned here on read.cash: that others might form their own interpretation of what you publish here even if it’s different to what you’re really trying to convey. Because first, most of us don’t know each other personally. Second, we’re from different countries, with different beliefs and culture. Third, we have different languages. And fourth, we see things differently because our minds work uniquely.
So, who am I? I am just someone who likes to write, who expresses herself through writing. And I am someone in need of money at the same time, because I have some things to fund on. I believe we all share the same reasons, that’s why we’re all here. I hope we try to be more kind to one another because we’re all just the same. Some just really had it better: better articles or more subscribers, but that doesn't mean you are less of a person than them. Same goes for people who have lots of subscribers here who may tend to, at some point, belittle others who have less (i don't know anyone so far, but still, just a little reminder), you are not a better person just because you have more. At the end of the day, we only know everyone in front of a screen, and that's not even a portion of their lives.
Good morning! :)
Thank you for reading, continue writing!
Compilation: Short Horror Stories 1
Some content are based on true events.
Content warning: Read at your own risk.
**Hindi Mo Yata Ako Kilala**
Alas dos na ng umaga, pabalik-balik ako sa facebook profile mo nagbabakasakaling lumabas ang pangalan mo sa messenger ko. Ngunit bigo, mahimbing na ang pagkakatulog mo sa mga oras na ito. Nasa ika-pitong baitang pa lamang tayo ay humahanga na ako sa’yo. Lagi kitang nakikita, lagi akong nakasuporta sa mga laro mo tuwing intrams at ikaw rin ang dahilan ng pagpasok ko ng maaga, maabutan ka lang at makalinya sa flag ceremony. Ang aking batang puso ay umibig sa’yo, kahit na ni minsan ay hindi mo man lang ako nakausap. Masaya na ako noon kapag sasaglit mong masulyapan kahit na ang dahilan ay ang mahaba kong pagkakatitig sa iyo. Hindi mo rin nireplyan ang mga messages ko simula noong umamin ako sa’yo na gusto kita. Nalungkot ako. Hindi mo yata ako kilala. Ilang taon na ang nakalipas ngunit hindi mo pa rin ako napapansin; hindi mo pa rin ako kayang mahalin. Hay, ano bang gagawin ko sa’yo? Ano pa bang gagawin ko para mapaibig ka? Hindi mo yata ako kilala. May mata ka naman at alam kong malinaw sila kaya bakit hindi mo ako makita? Bakit hindi mo pa rin ako kayang tingnan tulad ng pagtingin mo sa kanya. Hindi mo yata ako kilala. Walang saysay ang mga mata mo kung hindi mo rin lang ako kayang tingnan. Walang saysay kaya inalis ko na lang sila. Itinabi ko sa katawan ng pinakamamahal mong nobya. Ngayon wala ka nang makikita, at wala na rin siya. Hindi mo yata ako kilala.
**Pusang Itim**
Lagi kong nakikita ang pusang itim sa may puno ng kaymito sa may kanto papasok sa maliit na eskinita patungo sa aming bahay. Doon ko ito madalas makita kapag ako ay pauwi na galing trabaho, at sa umaga kapag ako ay papasok. Paminsan-minsan ay wala ito roon, naglalakad, tila ba may hinahanap. Walang nakakaalam kung kanino ang pusang itim. Walang may gustong magkupkop ‘pagkat ang mga dating sumubok ay bigo, lagi itong bumabalik sa malaking puno ng kaymito. Ni minsan ay hindi ko rin narinig na humuni ang pusa, lagi itong tahimik at nagmamasid lamang. Nang minsang ako ay pauwi, wala ang pusa sa kung nasaan ito palagi. Naisip ko marahil ay nakuha na ito ng nagmamay-ari sa kanya. Ngunit ang mga sumunod na nangyari ang hindi ko inaasahan. Habang tinatahak ko ang eskinita sa kailaliman ng gabi ay isang sitsit ang narinig ko ngunit nang aking lingunin ay wala namang ibang tao roon maliban sa akin. Kinakabahan man ay binalewala ko na lamang ang narinig at ang tanging gusto na lamang ay ang makauwi. Ngunit nagpatuloy ang pagsitsit, nang isa, dalawa, tatlo. Tila ba ipinapahiwatig na hindi ko ito guni-guni lamang at talagang may tumatawag sa akin. Nagtaasan ang mga balahibo ko sa takot dahil pakiramdam ko ay papalapit ng papalapit ang sumisitsit. Hindi na ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa sobrang takot. Nakarinig ako ng mga kaluskos sa aking likuran, nangangatog man ang aking mga tuhod ay lumingon pa rin ako ng dahan-dahan. Ganun na lamang ang aking gulat at tila ako ay aatakihin sa puso ng makita ko ang pusa na biglang lumundag mula sa taas ng kaymito. Ang pusang itim.. naging babaeng nakasuot ng blusang itim.
**Hagdan**
Nasa ika-sampung baitang ako ng highschool ng maranasan ko ito. Isa sa mga naatasang tagapaglinis ng araw na iyon ang aking barkada kung kaya kami ang huling umalis ng silid dahil nakagawian na namin na umuwi ng sabay-sabay. Malapit nang mag-agaw noon ang dilim at liwanang kaya kami na lang din ang tao sa paaralan. Isa lamang itong normal na araw para sa amin. Nagtatawanan at nagkukwentuhan pa kami habang tinatahak ang hallway papunta sa hagdan dahil nasa ikalawang palapag ang aming silid. Malinaw pa sa aking memorya ang mga nangyari noon. Pababa na kami ng hagdan at ako ang nasa hulihan nang mapalingon ako sa kanto ng silid ng kabilang section ng Grade 10. Ganoon na lamag ang gulat ko sa aking nakita; may isang ulo na nakasilip sa amin na agad ding nawala nang ako ay lumingon. Hindi ako noon nakapagsalita o nakasigaw man lamang dahil mabilis ang pangyayari. Tinapik ko nang paulit-ulit noon ang nasa unahan kong kaibigan at paulit-ulit na sinabi na bilisan nila ang paglalakad. Doon na rin sila nagsimulang magpanic at dali-dali na kaming bumaba. Nang may isang tumakbo ay nagtakbuhan na rin ang lahat. Nang makalabas sa tarangkahan ay saka ko kinuwento sa kanila ang aking nakita. Ayon sa kaibigan ko na aking tinapik, nakuha niya agad na may nakita ako dahil nang tingnan niya ako ay maputla na ang aking mukha. Para na rin makasigurado, kinabukasan ay tinanong namin sa kabilang section kung may naiwan ba sa kanila noong mga oras na iyon, ngunit wala raw.
Salamat sa pagbabasa! :) Will post part 2 soon!
Let’s Talk About Earth: El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The El Niño Southern Oscillation, more commonly known as ENSO is a periodic climatic pattern that involves changes in sea surface temperature in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It typically occurs between three to seven years where the surface water either warms or cools from 1°C to 3°C compared to normal. It has three phases, El Niño, La Niña, and the neutral phase. El Niño is the warming of the ocean surface, wherein the low-level surface winds blowing from east to west or the easterly winds, weaken or start blowing from the opposite direction. La Niña, as opposite to El Niño, is the cooling of the ocean surface where the normal easterly winds become stronger. The neutral phase of the ENSO is neither El Niño nor La Niña where the sea surface temperature (SST) is generally close to average.
In the Philippines, ENSO is the most significant source of annual variability in rainfall. It is said that during El Niño in the Philippines, rainfall decreases by 14 % in Luzon, 21% in Visayas, and 35% in Mindanao. One of the most damaging and strongest El Niño event that happened in the country is the El Niño of 2015-2016. It lasted for one and a half years (18 months) and affected about a third of the country. Over sixteen provinces and sixty-five municipalities were put to state of calamity. This El Niño event damaged a total of 550,000 hectares of agricultural land and affected over 400,000 farmers. In total, this phenomenon caused a total of 327M USD of agricultural losses.
So, what are the causes and effects if El Niño?
**Primary Causes of El Niño**
In normal conditions, the wind blow from east to west along the equator in the Pacific, which is called the trade winds. This causes the water to rise up in the western side, and the deeper (also cooler) water in the east to rise up to substitute the water pushed to the west. The warm water in the in the west rises and warms the air, causing a circulation between east and west of the Pacific with warm, moist air rising on the west and cool, dry air descending on the east. All these leads to the reinforcement of the easterly winds, and causes self-perpetuating motion in the air in the Pacific. This self-perpetuating motion causes the trade winds to weaken causing less warm water to be pushed to west and less cold water to be pulled in the east.
**Effects of El Niño**
1. Effect on aquatic species and sea birds
In normal situations, the ocean water carries nutrients that lie beneath the ocean to the top thereby allowing the fish species living in the upper waters to feed on the planktons that rely on these nutrients. Seaweeds also rely on cool and nutrient-rich water for survival and growth. An El Niño lessens the upwelling of cold water and the uplift of nutrients from the bottom of the ocean.
As a result, fish either migrate to other regions or die during an El Niño because they lack adequate food for growth and survival. When fish have migrated or reduced in number, other aquatic creatures namely the sea birds and seals that feed on the fish are also affected. Off the coast of California, the aquatic populations such as fish, seals, sea lions, and sea birds are normally affected and deaths are registered during El Niño events.
2. Drought and dry conditions
As much as El Niño presents differently from one occasion to another, the surest characteristic is that it creates tremendous changes in weather patterns. On occasion, this may result in extreme dry spells and drought. Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia mostly witness much drier conditions than usual together with droughts, forest fires and poor crop yields.
These conditions are experienced when the winds that fetch rain to these regions become weaker. It is believed that the deadliest global famine in 1876 that contributed to the millions of deaths was due to the effects of El Niño.
3. Flooding and impact on local/commercial fishing
The change in El Niño conditions prevail for many months and with the ocean temperatures evening out, the resultant rainy weather patterns in the oceans bring about heavy floods that last for extended periods. The heavy floods are experienced far beyond the ocean shores in the main land, destroying property and rendering people homeless for months.
Consequently, local and commercial fishing is many times severely affected. In Peru, South America, and Ecuador, heavier rains witnessed sometimes during El Niño events between January and May often bring about flooding and impacts commercial fishing negatively.
4. Occurrence of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and very cold weather
The warm pacific air is tied to some of the occurrences of serious hurricanes, typhoons, and very cold weather in various parts of the world. In South America, thunderstorms and severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes) are frequently associated with the drastic change in the global wind cycle circulation because of the eastward displacement of atmospheric heat.
Besides, during times when hurricanes are fewer, wetter weather and very cold weather is witnessed during winter and autumn. Some meteorological evidence indicates that the very cold weather in Europe is promoted by the El Niño. For instance, the 2009 severe winter in the UK was party linked to the effects of El Niño. In South Korea and Japan, the resultant warm Pacific wind currents are believed to cause the more intense typhoons.
As we can see, not only in the Philippines, ENSO is one of the most important Earth phenomena as it affects global atmospheric circulation which in turn influences temperature and precipitation patterns across the globe.
Source: https://www.weather.gov/mhx/ensowhat
Hello, everyone! Here's another of my #Let'sTalkAboutEarth postings. Hope you learned a thing or two. :)
Thank you for reading!
Sta. Elena, my Home
Hi! I decided to write a blog about my short trip to my hometown because I can still feel it. LOL. It’s such a breath of fresh air to be able to spend some time with my family without thinking about the stressful life I have as a student. For the first time in months, I didn’t touch nor even opened my laptop for days. I didn’t think much about my unfinished tasks and it feels nice. It also helped me clear my mind off unwanted thoughts. It was really a healing time for me, it was just so simple yet very memorable.
**June 16, 2021**
This is the day we traveled to Sta. Elena. It was an almost three hours travel from here and it was fun. Traveling is always fun to me even if it’s just a twenty-minute or thirty-minute ride. We left 8:00 in the morning and we arrived past 11:00am. It was tiresome but I was excited about the things we were about to do because the bride-to-be told us that day that we’ll be making desserts for the wedding and she needs our help. Below is a picture I took of the national highway and a little bit of our old house, yes, we live along the road. I can see and hear vehicles all 24 hours of every day. And I love how I’m used to it so I don’t get a hard time sleeping at night when we were there. 😊
**June 17, 2021**
This is the day of the rehearsal for the wedding. For the first time, I’ve seen the family and friends of the groom. The rehearsal didn’t go as smoothly because the one in charge for the rehearsal wasn’t informed of the schedule for that day. We waited for almost two hours before the rehearsal finally started. A funny thing happened to me during the rehearsal because when we were practicing for the entourage, someone should be telling you when to walk but suddenly my partner started walking even without the signal so I was totally confused then my sister suddenly said, “Oh! Where’s his partner?” And me, out of confusion, instead of saying that I am his partner, it became like “Ah! Is it me????” And everyone inside the church laughed at me. It was so embarrassing, like one of those moments you wish for the ground to just eat you. Hahahahaha!
When night came, a simple party was held and it was a tradition called “Pasilong”. I don’t know exactly what it means but I think it’s some sort of a welcoming for the husband and wife to be.
**June 18, 2021**
The wedding day. Everyone was excited of course including me. We woke up very early because the make up team told us so. I woke up before 4am and the make up session for the bridesmaids and the bride started. It was not my first time but it felt like it because the last time I attended a wedding, I was a flower girl, when I was younger.
I love weddings, it always feels so magical to me. It gives me that feeling like you wanted to be in love because you see two people become one in marriage. Because I am a family of the bride and I know their story very well, I can’t help but get teary eyed as well seeing them cry. Their story is one of my ideal type of love because it is pure and unconditional. I wish them the best!
The reception proceeded next after the wedding ceremony. It went fine I must say, except the fact that it was too hot because of our dresses. There was a small program held for opening some gifts and the usual wedding traditions in our country like putting money on the newlyweds’ dress and suit as they dance and also the throwing of flowers and the removing of the garter thing.
**June 19, 2021**
It was supposed to be just a normal day until me, my sister and one of my cousins casually decided to visit their farm but in just a few hours it became a mini family reunion because our parents and other cousins decided to tag along. We had boodle fight in one of my cousin’s home, we visited other relatives’ houses, we laughed, we had a good time. It was one memorable day!
**June 20, 2021**
Best day ever aside from the wedding day. We went to a beach in another town of our province. We left at 6am and I lost track of time after that. We played in the sea, we drunk a little, we did some TikTok and most importantly, we took a lot of pictures for memories’ sake. Those events and activities we had really strengthened the bond between us cousins, it also somehow fixed some fights which I am really glad. It is one of those moments I can say that there is really no place like home.
**June 21, 2021**
We went back home. I felt sad of course. We were still preparing to leave but I was missing them already. There is always that feeling of not wanting to go, but you know you have to because of the responsibilities you left. I will surely miss them though.
My life there and my life here where we are currently staying, are far different from each other. Yes, everything is easier here because of our access in internet, the establishments and markets are just minutes away but I am able to appreciate more the fact that although life can get pretty hard, it’s also just very simple, in Sta. Elena. It reminded me that sometimes I should not think about anything and just enjoy life because there is happiness in that. It also gave me the opportunity to have time to let go of what has happened and to be able to accept it, may not be in an instant, but gradually, in a pace my heart can take. And I am thankful for that.
I wrote this a few days ago but I only get to post now because of some personal things I had to deal with.
I hope this brought you joy in any way, and a feeling of missing home.
Thanks for reading! :)
When Dreams Are No Longer Yours
I had a little time for vacation when my girl cousin got married last week and I was one of the bride’s maids. We also had some sort of family reunion and I can say that time was one of the best times I went back to my home town, because we had so much fun despite some restrictions because of the pandemic. And whenever I go home, I never fail to look for my cousin slash childhood friend, because we literally grew up together and he’s just months older than me. I always want to see him and know how he’s doing because I don’t see them for years. And it breaks my heart every time. He is now a father of two boys, four-year-old and two-year old adorable kids. We were so close; we always play when we were still kids.
My most fond memories of him are when we were playing rubber bands in their backyards, and when I sit in on their class when I was kinder and he was already in grade one because we have to go home together so I wait for him until he finishes his afternoon class. We had service that time but we just really have to go home together because that was what our parents know, that we would arrive together. I remember playing with him in the rain, in the the mud, with other kids our age. Most of all, I remember him always being the top student of the class. He is really smart; I can say way smarter than I maybe am. A tragedy happened that involved our family so we had to move to another province where I finished elementary school. But every vacation, we would go home and I would play with him again. They would tell us how he was the first honor, and the different contests the school would send him to despite his absences because of financial problems.
A series of heartbreaking events happened to their family which unfortunately led to him, stopping school. He stopped when he was on his third year in high school, I think. After that, he worked to help his older sister provide for their family. At 17, he became a father. My heart really broke when I heard the news. Why? Because I know very well that his priorities are no longer his dreams but his son’s. And just two years later, his second son came. I know babies are blessings, and I love my nephews so much but that’s a different story. I know my cousin have big dreams for his family and for himself but life was too hard on him.
Catriona Gray once said that it’s not poverty that kills dreams but lack of child support and I agree with her on that. In a sense that I feel like there still could be other way to help his schooling but the efforts were not made enough. And that's what was I am most regretful about. Our family is also struggling financially so I knew there was nothing we could do but I was thinking maybe his own family could have find some ways. It is so sad because he had such a bright future ahead of him. I am not saying his dreams are not possible anymore, but his dreams are no longer his. It is now for his own family, for his sons. Especially now that his eldest will start going to school. He has to work extra hard, doing construction works, to support his son’s education.
Looking back, we stopped talking. We only started talking again just last week. I have always taken the initiative to talk to him every time before but he always, always doesn’t respond. He can’t even look at me straight. I figured maybe because he is too embarrassed, which I totally understand but I always wanted him to know that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I still see him the way I do when we were still kids, he’s still my childhood friend. I am happy my initiatives finally worked. He started to talk to me casually, he finally started showing his care again. With that, I am happy.
No matter how many years to pass, I would still feel sad and regretful for you. You were always that happy little kid but life really just has its ways we can never understand. I always wish the best for you and your family, especially your sons. For now, allow me to dream the dreams that are no longer yours.
To you who's reading this, do not give up on your dreams, please. Hold on to it tight and do everything at your best to achieve it.
For the parents, please don't kill your child's dreams and potential by not supporting them. The first person to believe and support them should be you, and should be the last to kill it as well.
Thank you for reading. :)
22 Things I Learned Before I Turn 22
I have seen some posts like this of people in various social media sites posting life lessons they have learned when they reach a certain age so I thought, maybe I can do that too. But in my case, I will be writing mine before I turn 22. Why? Because I want to read this at exactly my 22nd birthday to remind myself that this is by far what I have gone through and learned in those 22 years of my life. By the way, that day is less than two months from now. I will include those I think are the most crucial lessons I have learned and applied in my life, and what I think people my age can relate to. Here it is:
**1. People come and go, and that includes your once closest friends.**
When I was younger, I never thought there is such a thing as a friendship break up. I thought when you are friends with someone, you are friends no matter what happens, no matter how big the fight is. Because that’s what I’ve seen with my parents and siblings before, they even had confrontations but just weeks and months later, everything is fine again. I even have a friend since grade school who is thousand kilometers away from me and we haven’t seen each other since graduation, but up to this day, we still communicate. I never thought I would go through such friendship break up thing. Now, I’m not closing any doors, anything could happen because I realized too that I was also at fault that time but I’m happy with the people I have right now. 😊
**2. Other people’s opinion about you is theirs to own, you don’t have to mind it.**
I admit I am a certified overthinker, I always think the worst-case scenario in such situations. I used to think “What if they think that I am like this, I am like that?”, “What if they misinterpret me?”, “Are they mad?” “Are they talking behind my back?” That often happens when I try to express myself or when I speak up about something that I think is wrong. But on my early 20s I realized I really shouldn’t care. That’s their opinion and I don’t have to prove whether they are right or wrong. The only thing that matters is I know myself and I know my truth. I am still struggling about this up to this day because it’s really hard to overcome overthinking but this mindset helps.
**3. Not laughing at offensive jokes works.**
I’ve been in an awkward situation where someone makes a joke that is offensive to me but since I don’t know how to handle the situation and I don’t want to start an argument, I laughed it off so they thought it was alright and really funny but deep inside, I was hurt. But no, not laughing and completely ignoring their offensive remarks will make them realize you are not up for it and it only makes them look fool, they will be ashamed of it. I’ve done it and it works.
**4. People have different levels of sensitivity.**
I used to think that the reason people do not understand me is because they think what I’m going through is just a petty thing. I have also come to a point where I hesitated to tell people about my problems because some people tend to invalidate it when they don’t understand what you’re feeling. And I’m not gonna come clean, I admit I am also guilty of it sometimes especially when I don’t really know the person. But I learned that some people are really hurt over “small” things because we have different levels of sensitivity, so always choose to be kind. 😊
**5. Cliché as it may sound, but respect really begets respect.**
On this one, for me it is a case to case basis because I believe the fact that we are alive, we are human beings is enough for us to be respected, generally speaking. But for example, an elderly woman rode the bus you’re in and all the seats are taken so you gave her your seat, that is respect. It means you have good manners and you respect her as an elderly. But if someone older than you disrespect you, harm you, or say bad things about you that are not true, then they don’t deserve your respect. They shouldn’t expect for something they themselves can’t give.
**6. Your friends can’t always be there for you and it’s okay.**
This is one of the things I learned during this pandemic. Our friends are not always 24/7 available especially at these trying times. And it is because I myself have different commitments outside the image they have of me so I know that they also have lives to live that I do not know about. I wish we could be more understanding because the world doesn’t only revolve around us.
**7. Sometimes all you need is a good cry.**
Things can get really hard of course, and based on experience, crying really helps. Sometimes you just really need to let it all out to lessen the weight.
**8. Unfollowing, muting, or unfriending someone on social media is okay.**
If someone’s posts are mentally exhausting you or if they post too many negative stuffs and it affects you, it’s okay to unfollow or unfriend them. You can do that and not be mad at them. It doesn’t mean that you hold grudges or anything, you’re just protecting your inner peace.
**9. You can’t always expect to receive the same energy you give to people.**
I used to think that how you value a certain person in your life is how they will also value you in return, in terms of friendship. But I was wrong. I realized that the love and importance you give to someone won’t assure your equal importance to them. I used to think it’s unfair, but now I realized it’s okay. Because it’s their loss, not mine. I learned my worth so now, I choose who I give my 100% to.
**10. Selective battles.**
I call it selective battles because at times you just really need to choose the battles you’re going to take on. You don’t have to use your energy into something not worth it. We need to fight back sometimes, but sometimes we also don’t.
**11. Trusting your instincts.**
There is this thing we call a girl’s instinct and we make it a deal because we have to admit, most of the times it is indeed right. I have proven it many times, and it saved me from embarrassing, heartbreaking situations, sometimes otherwise too. I also don’t know how but you really just can feel it.
**12. Never compromise your inner peace and comfort for the sake of others who won’t do the same for you.**
I have done this before; I sacrificed my own comfortability to make someone in a comfortable situation and then I realized it caused me nothing but pain and difficulty. And then I just woke up realizing they won’t cross oceans for me like I would for them. But that was before, I now learned to make myself a priority before anyone else because at the end of the day, no one will pick up yourself but you.
**13. Do things that you love and make you comfortable whenever you feel lost.**
Simple things like listening to music, watching your favorite series, going out with friends or just sleeping all day helps when you don’t know what to do anymore. Sometimes you just really need to take sometime off to breathe.
**14. The unexpected people in your life could be the best ones.**
I have this close friend of mine whom I consider my own sister by heart. I met her when I was grade 7 and I never really thought we would be friends because she has her own circle of friends that time and I have mine. I remember having only few interactions with her until we reach 8th grade. I can’t remember what exactly happened but I remember being seatmates with her and the rest is history. She’s one of the best people in my life whom I know I can always count on to. We never talked about this but I’ve been meaning to tell her since years ago that for me she is my best friend. I even wrote a letter before telling her that but I lost it. When I felt like the world is against me, she was there. I know she’ll read this because she’s a writer here too.
**15. Win at your own pace.**
Win in life at your own pace. Reaching college, I learned that life is never a race and a competition. You don’t have to pressure yourself and you shouldn’t allow other people to pressure you. There may be obstacles but that should not stop us from reaching our goals.
**16. Your first real heartbreak will teach you a lot of things.**
I found myself when I experienced my first real heartbreak. It took long but I realized my worth and I get to know myself better when it happened to me. I realized what really matters and what doesn’t.
**17. Things will not always go the way we wanted and it’s okay.**
I used to get easily hurt when things don’t go as planned or when things I hoped to happen didn’t happen but now that I’m getting a little older, I am handling it better when things like this happen. Maybe it’s because I am getting more mature. I realized that life is really like that, unexpected things happen so we should always be prepared to handle it.
**18. Rough times reveal true friends.**
This is cliché but this is really true. There are friends whom after you tell them what’s bothering you, they seem to not care. I also experienced a situation where I sort of get hated when I am totally out of the picture in the first place because she didn’t listen to both of the parties involved and she just concluded who’s right and who’s wrong. Beware for that kind of people.
**19. Whatever you do, people will always have something to say.**
Whatever you do, people will always have something to say so just do whatever you want. May it be positive or negative they will always comment on things that you do and you should not care. I used to be afraid of doing and trying things because I’m afraid of judgement. But I realized this is my life not theirs, it is mine to live.
**20. Some scars don’t heal over time.**
They say time heals all wounds but there is just some pain that stays. Sometimes you thought you’re over it but it’s just hiding deep within you. And for me it is because your heart still seeks for answer. You still wonder why that person did that to you, or why things ended the way it did without proper closure. Some people really need to be decent enough to tell why they’re leaving or why certain things happened or why they did that. The trauma from leaving someone hanging is just too much to bear.
**21. Some unconditional love you could ever have are found in pets.**
Whatever happens, our pets will always be there for us. Even when we get angry sometimes, they are still there. There may be times where they could hurt us but I know they still love us with all their heart. We should also check how we raise them, check the environment they’re in because it is a factor of how they will behave towards you. I miss our dog so much, whenever I feel like everyone is against me in our household, he isn’t. Because he doesn’t know a thing. When I go to him because I want to be comforted, he’s there. He’ll stay with me. But I know he’s happy now, so should I.
**22. Everything will be alright.**
Just like in Taylor Swift’s song 22, everything will be alright. We just have to trust the process. We have to let ourselves feel the pain until it hurts no more. Masking and trying to hide the pain will only prolong the agony. Pain, after all always demands to be felt. Let it be, everything will be alright.
Life is a learning process. You may or may not agree to what I have stated above but that is all based on my personal experiences. I hope we all take time to reflect on what life is truly teaching us. I am still not the best version of myself but I try to better myself everyday to be the best I can be.
Thank you for reading! :)
Best Friend
The house feels empty.
There is not a moment I would not cry every time I see your spot in the house and remember how you sleep there. My heart is aching so much, I am missing you so much. My mind is battling with my heart if I did the right decision of letting you go. I thought I was ready to see you go, but my heart shattered a million pieces as I saw the vehicle running away from where I was standing. I cannot stand the sight of seeing you going away that’s why I turned my back because I might beg to let you stay. But I let you go. Because it seemed like I don’t know you anymore. The times you have hurt me and my family are enough reasons to set you free but I am in so much pain right now. Maybe because I thought I was ready, but truth is I am not. You mean so much to me but my fear for me and my family’s safety got bigger and bigger every time. Everything happened so suddenly and I feel like I did not say my goodbyes to you properly even though I know in my heart it will eventually gonna happen, that I have to let you go.
But I love you so much. I hope you know that. I hope you will not forget about me wherever you might be. You will always be special to me, you will always be a friend and a family. I will cherish all my memories with you, even the bad ones. I keep thinking about you even when I don't want to because the more I do, the more I get sad. I keep thinking if you are happy, or if you are crying, if you are looking for me. I keep worrying if you are sleeping and eating alright. But I want to believe that you are, my heart is telling me not to worry but I just can't help it sometimes. I miss you so much. I miss you when I eat because you always just sit there and watch me eat. I miss you when I wake up, because you always greet me happily every day. I miss how loud you are. I miss your voice, and I miss it every time you whine if you want something. I miss you when I’m alone and I miss you even when I am busy. And above all of this, I miss how you look at me, sweetly and smiling like we own the world. I remember when I used to sing to make you sleep, with you in my arms. I still remember the day you came into my life and I fell in love with you in a second. I miss everything about you.
To you my dear one,
Please don’t forget about me. If ever a day will come that we cross paths again, I hope you run to me happily and hug me. Because I will not forget about you even when we’re no longer together. I will remember you every day and for the rest of my life. You are my forever baby. I hope you be in a healthier environment and I hope you not get sick and be lonely. I want you to be happy every day and for the rest of your life. I am sorry that we have to let you go, but I want to think that this is the best for everyone, including you. You will not be replaced, even after everything, you’re still the best for me. Thank you for all the happiness you have given me. Thank you for the times you made me feel secured and protected. Thank you because sometime in my life, you came and we had you. As much as I want you to stay with me forever, I know that it might not be possible anymore. I am sorry once again, for I think we also have our share of fault for everything that has happened. I know we have shortcomings and I feel terribly sorry for that. How I wish you came when we are perfectly ready and the time is right. I will forever be sorry and at the same time, grateful. I love you.
And goodbye.
Hi. This article is something personal because I don't feel okay at the moment. I wrote this because I feel like I have to get this off my chest. I need to. I can't do what I have to do because I keep on thinking and worrying about it. But I hope I feel better soon and be able accept everything with all my heart without regrets. To all of you who feel burdened in their life right now, I hope you be strong. We can do this.
Thank you for reading.
Bus
Malalaki ang patak ng ulan. Nakatanaw ako sa bintana ng pampasaherong bus pauwi sa aming bayan. Ito ang paborito kong puwesto sa mga sakayan- ang upuan katabi ng bintana. Natutuwa akong tumanaw at manood sa labas habang bumibiyahe. Nagdadala ng kasiyahan sa akin makakita ng iba’t ibang disenyo at laki ng bahay; merong makulay, merong hindi. Meron din namang malalaki at merong maliliit; merong gawa sa semento, at meron ding gawa sa kahoy. May mga bahay na bukas ang pinto, meron din na mga nakasara; may mga bahay na may tao, at may mga inabandona. Iba’t ibang uri rin ng tao ang nakikita ko sa tuwing tinatahak ang tila walang katapusang kalsada pauwi sa amin. May mga bata, matatanda, babae o lalaki, may mga nagtatawanan, meron ding mga nagkukwentuhan. Meron din namang mga seryoso lang; may mga nakaupo, may mga naglalakad, may mga tumatakbo. May mga batang naglalaro, at meron ding mga umiiyak. Hindi rin mawawala ang mga sasakyan na kasunod at kasabay mo sa daan. May mga nagpapatakbo ng mabilis, at meron ding mabagal. May mga sasakyan na maliit at meron din namang malalaki. Lahat may kanya-kanyang sinasakyan upang makarating kung saan man patutungo. Para sa katulad kong wala pang kakayahan para magkaroon ng sariling sasakyan, nariyan ang mga pampasaherong sakayan para maghatid sa akin.
Nang tumila ang ulan ay tumigil ang bus. Ang kabilang bahagi ng kalsada ay nasa ilalim ng konstruksiyon. Marami rin ang umuuwi sa probinsiya mula sa siyudad dahil magpapasko na kaya naman bumagal ang usad at naipit kami sa mabigat na trapiko. Nagpasya akong makinig na lamang ng musika at hindi ko namalayan na nahulog na ako sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog. Naalimpungatan ako sa kuwentuhan ng mga pasahero sa aking likod. Tinanaw ko ang oras at mahigit isang oras na pala akong nakatulog. Nakaabante na ang bus subalit mabagal pa rin ang usad ng trapiko. Ang mga kasabay kong pasahero ay kanya-kanya na ng kuwentuhan pampalipas ng oras. Nakinig na lamang ako ulit ng musika dahil wala naman akong katabi. Hindi nagtagal ay bumilis nang muli ang takbo ng bus. Ngunit hindi pala doon nagtatapos ang problema sa trapiko. Makalipas lamang ang isang oras ay isang aksidente naman ang nadaanan namin kung kaya bumagal na naman ang aming usad dahil inayos muna ng rumespondeng mga pulis ang insidente, ipinagpapasalamat ko rin na tanging mga sasakyan lang ang nadamay at walang sinuman ang nasaktan.
Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na ang bus sa terminal. Bumaba ako at bumili ng makakain bago sumampa sa panibagong bus na aking sasakyan. Ito na ang huling biyahe at makakarating na ako sa paroroonan- makakauwi na ako sa amin. Nag-aagaw na ang dilim at liwanag, siguradong gabi na ako darating. Napakagandang pagmasdan ng kahel na langit at ng lumulubog na gintong araw. Hindi ko napigilang kuhanan ito ng litrato kahit na tumatakbo ang bus at may iilang mga puno na humaharang. Napakapayapa. May kakaibang saya na naihahatid sa akin sa tuwing ako ay bumibiyahe. Nakakaramdam ako ng kalayaan at nagbibigay ito ng pag-asa sa akin na balang araw, mas malayo pa ang mararating ko.
Madilim na ng makarating ako sa aming bayan. Sumakay ako ng traysikel at sa wakas nasilayan ko na ang tarangkahan ng paupahan na aming tinutuluyan. Sa dami ng dinaanan, sa tagal ng byahe, nagkaron man ng aberya at nagtagal sa trapiko, heto ako at nakarating sa paroroonan.
Sa buhay madami tayong makakasalamuha, makikilang mga tao at maraming pagsubok na pagdaraanan. Hindi man madali ang daan na tatahakin, matagalan man at humaba ang paglalakbay, dumating man ang mga problema, makakarating pa rin kung saan man tayo patutungo basta may determinasyon at pagsisikap. Wala man akong sariling sasakyan sa ngayon, alam ko pa rin kung saan ko gustong magtungo, ‘pagkat ako pa ran ang may hawak sa direksiyon ng buhay ko.
Magandang hapon! Salamat sa pagbabasa. :)
7 billion lights, 7 billion worlds
*“Don’t disappear, because you are one great existence.”*
That one line of a song literally made me shed some tears.
But before we get into it, I want to say, that is not exactly the line of the song but rather its translation. Yes, it’s not an English song but a Korean one. And I’m talking about BTS’ Mikrokosmos.
Mikrokosmos is one of the tracks in BTS’ sixth mini album, Map of the Soul: Persona which was released in 2019. Mikrokosmos 소우주 (souju) means a small universe. It is derived from the word microcosm which means a small world or universe or more specifically it means us, humans; the human race seen as the epitome of the universe.
The song Mikrokosmos of BTS refers to something that is smaller than the universe, yet a universe itself. And that is me, you, all of us. We are a universe by our own.
Going back, I really did shed some tears when I first read the English translation of this song. And that was just last week. To be honest, I was going through some hard times because of some instances in my life and now my thesis is torturing me. I have known this song since its release and it’s literally one of my favorite but I never did look up its translation since I normally don’t do it, I’m not gonna lie. I do it occasionally for some of their songs but it happens that I skipped this one. But even without the translation, I loved it. It brings me comfort because the song itself is beautiful, its melody is beautiful. And then I just suddenly thought of looking up for its English translation, and it left me in tears. The song (translation) goes like this (I hope you take time to read because this is really beautiful, it’s like a poem):
https://youtu.be/Fw7C6IsDYgI (this is the link for the song, if you might want to listen)
*Twinkling starlight*
*Buildings with flickering lights*
*We’re all shining brightly*
*In our own room, in our own stars*
*Some lights are ambition*
*Some lights are wandering*
*People’s lights,*
*Each one of them is precious*
*In a dark night (don’t feel alone)*
*Like stars (we shine)*
*Don’t disappear*
*Because you are one great existence*
*Let us shine*
*Perhaps the reason this night looks so beautiful*
*Is not because of these stars or lights, but us*
This part is the chorus:
*You got me*
*Seeing you, I dream*
*I got you*
*In the pitch-black nights*
*The lights we saw each other*
*Were saying the same thing*
*The starlight that shines more in the deepest night*
*The starlight that shines more in the deepest night*
*The starlight that shines more the deeper the night gets*
The rap part:
*In one person, there is one history*
*In one person there is one star*
*Shining with 7 billion lights,*
*7 billion worlds*
*7 billion lives, the night scenery of a city*
*Is perhaps the night scenery of another city*
*The dream of one’s own, let us shine*
*You shine brighter than anyone else*
*One*
*Perhaps the reason this night looks so beautiful*
*Is not because of these stars or lights, but us*
*You got me*
*Seeing you, I dream*
*I got you*
*In the pitch-black nights*
*The lights we saw each other*
*Were saying the same thing*
*The starlight that shines more in the deepest night*
*The starlight that shines more in the deepest night*
*The starlight that shines more the deeper the night gets*
From this part up to the end, are my most favorite lines:
*The lights of the city, the stars of the city*
*I think about the night sky that I looked upon when young*
*The light that is called a human, the star that is called a human*
*In this very place that is full of them,*
*We shinin’*
*You got me*
*Seeing you, I breathe*
*I got you*
*In the pitch-black nights*
*Shine, dream, smile*
*Oh let us light up the night*
*We shine in our own way*
*Shine, dream, smile*
*Oh let us light up the night*
*We shine just for who we are*
*Tonight*
*Na na na na na na*
*Na na na na na na na*
*Na na na na na na*
*Na na na na na na na na*
I put the lyrics (translation) because I want you to see how beautiful and touching it is. I was listening to it while reading the translation and that line in the third verse is what made me cry because I remembered all those times I felt like wanting to just disappear. It reminded me that I have a purpose, because I was really not feeling okay that time; I was doubting myself, my abilities, my capabilities, I was questioning my self-worth. But this song really comforted me. The message of the song is clear, I hope it also reaches you somehow. :)
I also wrote this because I want people to see that this is why we stan BTS and not because they are handsome nor we want them to be our boyfriends; well, aside from them being hilarious yet amazing human beings, this is it. Because of how dedicated they are in their craft, some parts are actually written by them (the rap line) and this is not the only song that the members (mostly rap line) have participation with, almost all their songs actually. We stan them because of their personalities, dedication, their songs, and the message they want to tell through them.
Also, I want to say that it’s okay if you’re not feeling okay, if you feel not the best of yourself, it’s definitely okay. Take some time off and breathe, do things that make you comfortable and happy. Talk to people you’re closest with and listen to some songs that brings you peace and comfort, just like what Mikrokosmos does to me.
Lastly, you are beautiful. You are a universe yourself, with your own moon and your own stars, so shine.
PS. The world population is about 7 billion, hence the lyrics. 😊
Let's Talk About Earth: Climate Feedback Mechanisms
Climate feedback Mechanisms are processes that can either intensify or weaken the effects of climate forcings. A feedback that increases the warming is a positive feedback and conversely, a feedback that reduces the warming is the negative one.
**Positive Feedback**
Positive climate feedback are processes where initial changes in the climate system cause secondary changes which in turn increases the effects of the initial change. Positive feedbacks intensify and accelerate climate change because they increase the warming. Here are some examples of a positive feedback:
· **Ice-Albedo Mechanism** – Ice, due to its clear and white color, is highly reflective which means it has a high albedo. Melting of ice specifically sea ice, corresponds to a decrease in albedo. High reflectivity of ice prevents sunlight from being absorbed which means ice absorbs less solar energy. However, when ice melts, the water beneath it, the soil, and vegetation gets exposed. These surfaces have lower albedo than ice so they absorb more solar radiation. This absorption further warms the temperature which causes even more ice melting and more heating.
· **Water Vapor Release** – Human activities like burning of fossil fuels that causes release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is one of the initial causes of climate change. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere which increases the global temperature. The warmer temperature results to more evaporation on the surface of the earth. The evaporation then results to more water vapor in the atmosphere, which in turn causes even more warming, creating a cycle of heating.
· **Carbon Release** – Permafrost is a frozen layer of ground on or under the Earth’s surface which contains large amount of carbon found in frozen soil. As the temperature of the Earth increases, this permafrost begins to melt. The melting of this permafrost releases methane into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas. The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere will cause more warming which will cause again the melting of permafrost.
· **Ocean Warming** – Oceans absorb carbon dioxide, which is an important sink for the gas. When concentrations of carbon dioxide increases, the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere also increases. When that happens, it will also warm the ocean. The increase in temperature of the ocean decreases its ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Hence, it will result to more warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.
**Negative Feedback**
Negative climate feedback are processes that decrease the intensity of the initial changes. Unlike positive feedback, the initial change causes a second change that reduce the impacts or effects of the said initial change. The negative feedback may sound not a good thing but it maintains the stability of the climate system. Here are some examples:
· **Evaporation and Clouds** – Despite the global temperature increase due to human activities, there can still be negative feedbacks. As the surface temperature increases, increased levels of evaporation from the ocean also occurs. This results in more cloud formation in the lower atmosphere. These clouds will then reflect some solar radiation back into space, which decreases the surface temperature of the Earth.
· **Blackbody Radiation** – The Earth is considered a blackbody. As the Earth’s temperature increases, the Stefan-Boltzmann Law states that the emission of infrared radiation back into space also increases. Because of this relationship, there is a slight cooling effect in the surface temperature.
· **Weathering** – Weathering is a process when rocks exposed at the surface undergo chemical and physical changes due to their interaction with water and atmosphere. Chemical weathering involves consumption of carbonic acid when dissolving minerals in rocks, and thus a sink for carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. When carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere, it weakens the greenhouse effect and results to cooling. This weathering occurs more quickly in hotter climates, which have more levels of carbon dioxide. As the warming increases, more weathering will occur in which it will consume more carbon dioxide and thus leads to more cooling of the Earth.
**References:**
*Feedback Mechanisms*. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2021, from Earth in the Future: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth103/node/668#:~:text=Weathering%20Feedback,physical%20changes%20we%20call%20weathering.&text=If%20you%20remove%20carbon%20dioxide,to%20cooling%20of%20the%20Earth.
*Feedback Mechanisms In Climate*. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2021, from https://globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/Perry_Samson_lectures/feedback_mechanisms/
Kailyn Stenhouse, Maddy Strange, Jason Donev. (2020, April 28). *Negative climate feedback*. Retrieved May 19, 2021, from Energy Education: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Negative_climate_feedback#:~:text=Negative%20climate%20feedback%20is%20any,severity%20of%20some%20initial%20change.&text=This%20is%20a%20negative%20feedback,back%20to%20its%20original%20state.
Kailyn Stenhouse, Maddy Strange, Jason Donev. (2020, April 28). *Positive climate feedback*. Retrieved May 19, 2021, from Energy Education: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Positive_climate_feedback#:~:text=Positive%20climate%20feedback%20is%20a,essentially%20magnifying%20the%20initial%20effect.
Hi! Back with my #Let'sTalkAboutEarth
Hope you learned a thing or two. :)
Thanks for reading!
Narrative
*I don’t know but it seems like fate really loves to play tricks on me because we saw each other again after three years. It seems like a joke because you’re a cousin of my older sister’s new boyfriend. An outing was set by them and there our eyes met once again. We were both surprised to see each other but I admit, I’m happy to see you. I can still see the universe in your eyes. Before, I thought I can see that because that’s what I want to see or that’s just how I used look at you. But I’m wrong; I realized they really have that spark, as if always pleading, as if always full of love. My sister’s boyfriend introduced you, but even before he could finish, my sister immediately recognized you.*
*“Oh? You were Faye’s classmate. Mark, right?” Then she glanced at me meaningfully. I know my sister knows who you were in my life. I used to tell her about you, and she witnessed how we were before, talking on the phone almost every night. Everything seems to be flashing back before my eyes. I can see everything, every memory I have of you.*
*“How are you?” That was the first thing you said. At that moment, the shock that I saw in you was gone. You were smiling at me while holding your glass of juice as we just had our lunch.*
*“I’m fine”, I shortly said. Our conversation went on, talking about each other’s lives, mostly about the course we took and our experiences as college students. You told me the silly stuff you did and all the other funny things about your college life. You never really changed. We joyously talked and though I can’t directly admit it to you, I missed you. Your laugh, your voice, your typical jokes; in short you yourself. I remember how once in my life there was you, that once in my life you became my best friend, and that I loved you even more than that.*
*The sky is already dark and only the lights in the resort illuminate the surrounding. I was sitting at the edge of the pool quietly watching as the water touches my feet. I seem to have a world of my own even when I can hear all the laughter of my sister and their circle. My thoughts were cut off when you suddenly sat beside me holding two cans of beer, giving me one.*
*“You seem to be deep in thoughts, is it about me?”, you asked before bursting in a soundful laugh. I had no choice but to laugh again at your jokes. We continued teasing each other until both of us fell into complete silence. No one was making a noise except the cans of beers we’re both holding. I was about to speak; I was about to ask the question I have been dying to ask you. But you spoke first, you asked me one unexpected question. At that very moment, I felt physical pain in my chest.*
*“Your feelings for me back then, were they real?” It hurts, I realized it hurts hearing it straight from you. I didn’t know that even after everything, you doubted my love for you. I stared at you in disbelief.*
*“You know what, that’s offensive.” You looked at me in wide eyes, shocked by my response. I didn’t say anything more after that but I know you got the answer that you needed.*
*“How about you, why did you leave as if nothing happened? Like our friendship didn’t ever matter? Why did you leave me hanging, and acted as if I was never a part of your world, even as a friend? To be honest, I was just waiting for you to talk to me again, even just for the sake of our friendship. I never once did dream of you loving me back because I knew from the start you couldn’t. Do you remember when you shouted to the world and in front of me that she is your best friend? That you fell in love with her because she was there for you. What hurts more was the fact that you threw our friendship away, even you know how I hold on to you whenever I feel like like I have no one to hold on to. Because of you I had trust and abandonment issues. You left me with so much emotional trauma, I was so scared of being alone. I felt like everyone’s gonna leave me, I felt like it’s so easy for people to replace me. You left me wondering what’s wrong with me for you to do that. I only want your happiness and everything that was best for you. But you failed to see that.”*
*With all that I have said, you were just silent. You’re just looking down, listening to every word I said. I don’t know what you were thinking, I don’t know if I will ever get an answer from you.*
*“Don’t worry, I don’t have feelings for you anymore. I really just want to ask you that because your ghost still haunts me sometimes, along with all the pain you’ve caused me. Even if I tell you that I’ve finally moved on, you still left a scar on my heart that can’t just seem to heal no matter what I do, even over time. I even get to love another but I still feel a hole in my heart, a broken piece, like something within me is missing. I always feel like the story still hasn’t started, but it’s already coming to an end. I feel like everyone’s gonna leave me like you did. You left me and threw away everything just like that, how I wish you brought my pain and trauma with you. “*
*We once again fell in a deafening silence. I waited for you to open your mouth and say something but you couldn’t even look at me. I realized you have nothing to say so I decided to get up and take my rest. Maybe that was enough, that I at least was able to tell you everything.*
I wish it was really enough, even if it’s just in a story. I closed my laptop and wiped the tears off my cheeks.
Hi! This is the English version of my previous short story 'Naratibo'. I tried making one and here it is. :)
Happy reading!
Naratibo
*Hindi ko alam kung paborito bang ako’y paglaruan ng tadhana ‘pagkat nagkita tayong muli makalipas ang mahigit tatlong taon. Tila isang sarkasmo dahil pinsan ka ng bagong nobyo ng ate ko. Nagkayayaan sa isang outing at doon nagtagpong muli ang ating mga mata. Kapwa tayo nagulat makita ang isa’t-isa ngunit aaminin kong masaya ako. Nakikita ko pa rin ang kalawakan sa pares ng mga mata mo. Akala ko noon, nakikita ko iyon dahil ‘yon ang gusto kong makita o dahil sa ganoong paraan kita kung tingnan noon. Ngunit mali ako; napagtanto kong sadyang may taglay silang kinang, palaging nangungusap, palaging naglalambing. Ipinakilala ka ni kuya John pero agad kang nakilala ng ate ko.*
*“Oh? Diba kaklase ka ni Faye noon? Ikaw si Mark diba?” Sabay tingin niya sa akin nang makahulugan. Alam kong alam ni ate kung sino ka sa buhay ko. Naikuwento kita sa kanya at nasubaybayan niya kung paanong halos gabi-gabi tayong magkausap sa telepono noon. Tila bumabalik sa ala-ala ko ang lahat.*
*“Kumusta?”, ang una mong banggit sa akin. Sa pagkakataong iyon wala na ang gulat na kanina’y nakita ko sa iyo. Nakangiti ka sa akin habang hawak ang plastik mong baso na may lamang juice dahil katatapos lang ng ating pananghalian.*
*“Ayos lang”, tipid kong sagot. Nag-usap pa tayo ng matagal-tagal tungkol sa mga buhay natin, karamihan tungkol sa kursong kinuha at sa mga karanasan natin habang nasa kolehiyo. Ikinuwento mo ang mga kalokohan mo at iba pang nakakatawang pangyayari sa buhay mo. Hindi ka pa rin talaga nagbabago. Masaya tayong nagkuwentuhan; hindi ko man maamin sayo pero na-miss kita. Ang tawa mo, ang boses mo, ang tipikal mong mga biro; sa madaling salita, ikaw mismo. Naalala kong minsan sa buhay ko may isang ikaw, na minsa’y naging best friend kita, at minahal nang higit pa sa isa.*
*Madilim na ang kalangitan at tanging ilaw na lang sa resort ang nagbibigay liwanag sa paligid. Nakaupo ako sa gilid ng swimming pool at tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang paghampas ng tubig sa paa ko. Para akong may sariling mundo kahit naririnig ko sa ‘di kalayuan ang kantahan at tawanan ng mga kaibigan ng ate ko at ni kuya John. Naputol ako sa malalim na pag-iisip nang bigla mo akong tabihan kasama ang dala mong dalawang lata ng beer, at iniabot ang isa sa akin.*
*“Lalim yata ng iniisip mo ah, ako ba yan?” tanong mo kasabay ng isang halakhak. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang matawa na lang din sa mga biro mo. Nagpatuloy tayo sa biruan hanggang sa nabalot tayo ng katahimikan at tanging ang mga hawak nating beer ang tila nag-uusap. Magsasalita na sana ako, itatanong ko na sana sa’yo ang matagal ko nang gustong malaman. Ngunit nauna ka, tinanong mo sa akin ang hindi ko inaasahang tanong. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay kumirot ang puso ko.*
*“Yung naramdaman mo ba sa akin noon, totoo ba ‘yon?” Masakit pala, masakit pala marinig ‘yan mula sa’yo. Hindi ko alam na sa kabila ng lahat ay may pagdududa ka sa naramdaman ko noon. Napatitig ako sa’yo; tila gusto kong mabingi.*
*“Alam mo, gusto kong ma-offend.” Nagulat ka sa sinabi ko kaya napabaling ka ng tingin sa akin. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa pero alam kong sa apat na katagang iyon ay nakuha mo ang sagot na gusto mo. Nakabibingi ang katahimikan sa pagitan nating dalawa.*
*“Ikaw, bakit ka umalis nang parang walang nangyari? Bakit mo ko iniwan at umakto na animo’y kailanman hindi ako naging parte ng mundo mo, kahit na bilang kaibigan man lang? Tila ibinaon mo sa limot ang lahat. Sa totoo lang, naghihintay lang ako noon na kausapin mo ako, alang-alang man lang sa pagkakaibigan natin. Kailanman hindi ko hinangad na masuklian mo ang pagmamahal ko sa’yo kasi sa una pa lang naman alam kong talo na. Natatandaan mo pa ba nung hinarana mo siya at isinigaw sa harap ko, sa harap ng maraming tao na siya ang best friend mo? Na nahulog ka sa kanya dahil andiyan siya para sa’yo. Mas nasaktan pa ako sa katotohanang itinapon mo ang pagkakaibigan natin, kahit na alam mong sa’yo ako kumakapit sa mga panahong pakiramdam ko wala akong makapitan. Dahil sa’yo nagkaroon ako ng trust issues at abandonment issues. Natakot akong mapag-iwanan ng lahat ng malapit sa akin, ng mga kaibigan ko. Pakiramdam ko ang dali-dali ko lang palitan. Iniisip ko noon kung ano ang mali sa akin para gawin mo sa akin ‘yon. Wala akong ibang hinangad kundi ang kaligayahan mo, lahat ng mapapabuti sa’yo. Pero hindi mo ‘yon nakita.”*
*Sa dami nang sinabi ko, wala kang naging imik. Nakayuko ka lamang at tahimik na nakinig sa mga sinabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isip mo, hindi ko alam kung may makukuha ba akong sagot mula sa’yo.*
*“’Wag kang mag-alala, wala na akong nararamdaman para sa’yo. Gusto ko lang talagang itanong ‘yan sa’yo dahil minsan pa rin akong minumulto ng mga ala-ala mo kasabay ng lahat ng sakit na idinulot mo. Kahit sabihin kong nakalimutan na kita, nag-iwan ka pa rin ng marka sa puso ko, bumuo ka ng espasyo na hanggang ngayon tila hindi ko magamot-gamot. Nagmahal na rin ako ng iba pero pakiramdam ko laging may kulang, laging may mali, may hindi buo. Pakiramdam ko hindi pa man nagsisimula ay malapit na ang katapusan. Pakiramdam ko lahat ay iiwanan din ako gaya ng ginawa mo. Nagawa mong itapon at burahin lahat, sana isinama mo na rin pati trauma at ala-ala ko sayo.”*
*Nabalot tayong muli ng nakabibinging katahimikan. Naghintay ako na magsalita ka pero kahit sulyap sa akin ay hindi mo ginawa. Napagtanto kong wala kang sasabihin kaya nagpasya akong tumayo na at magpahinga. Sapat na siguro, na nasabi ko sa’yo lahat.*
Sana nga sapat na, kahit sa kuwento lamang. Isinara ko ang laptop at tinuyo ang basa kong pisngi.
Hi, I wrote this last night. As you can see, it's written in Filipino. I don't know, I just felt like writing one. I felt like I will be able to express it more if it's written in Filipino so yeah, that's it.
My First Finished Story on ReadCash
Hi everyone! So I just finished my first written English story here on ReadCash, it's entitled Belinda.
Just a little backstory, it was supposed to be just a short one-paragraph story because I began writing it in a middle of my study breaks, so I was just thinking of making a one-shot. I wrote it sometime at 1am and the idea just literally popped into my head. It took me days before I was done with the first part and the positive feedbacks I got actually kept me going. At first, I have no specific plot for the story and I just wrote whatever comes to mind that I deem fit for it. Nonetheless, I was happy with how it went, which I think is the most important.
I wanna say thank you to all those who read my story from start to finish. Also big thanks to @heartbeat1515 for featuring my story in her #randomreads, and for giving me upvotes, thank you. Also to @TheRandomRewarder, for the upvotes, thank you very much.
I also want to share to you that the upvotes I got for my #Belinda story was used for my thesis expenses and for my mobile data subscriptions for my online class. I am sharing this as a form of gratitude for supporting my story.
This is not my first time writing a story but this is the first finished, English-written that is kind of lengthy compared to the previous ones. I know my work still has many gaps and I hope to be better if my time and brain would allow me to write some more. Belinda is my first, hopefully not the last.
If you have not read it yet, I'm attaching the link for each parts below. :)
**Belinda**
**Part 1**: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/belinda-2d441f7e
**Part 2**: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/belinda-2-55b82b63
**Part 3**: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/belinda-3-347851d8
**Part 4**: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/belinda-4-21e17a30
**Part 5**: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/belinda-5-63b3267d
**Part 6**: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/belinda-6-dcaf0dc2
Again, this is @glossyberrycraze, thank you so much!
Belinda: 6
**Part 6**
A lot of possibilities and questions came to mind and I realized I won’t get any answer if I just wait and do nothing. One thing I’m sure, Andrew can answer all of this. I decided to go to where Andrew is the next morning. If he isn’t really Billy’s stalker, I’m sure he knows something. He definitely knows what I’m talking about. I don’t know but it feels like Andrew is protecting someone.
I arrived at Andrew’s home early in the morning. I was about to get off the car when I saw him walking out of their gate. I decided to get off the car and follow him secretly. I made sure to be as natural as possible and I kept my distance so he wouldn’t notice. I just followed and followed until he walked fast into an alley and I lost sight of him. I ran to where I last saw his back but he’s nowhere. I am getting nervous as the thought of him being aware of me creeped into. I heard low rustling sounds on the right from where I was standing. I walked slowly to not make a noise. I saw big trash bins from where the noise is coming and my heart beat faster as I get nearer the corner of the bins. I let out a loud breath when I saw a cat struggling to get out of a box. I want to laugh at myself. I can’t believe I thought this poor little cat was Andrew. I was about to turn back when someone suddenly grabbed me from behind.
I woke up in a dark room. Am I kidnapped? But my hands and feet are not tied, and I am in a bed. My head is filled with confusion. I heard someone talking, more like, arguing with another. I walked to the closed door and opened it slightly to see who’s outside. The light outside the room where I am in is blinding. I am disappointed but not surprised to see Andrew outside. He looks like he’s in a heated argument with someone while he’s facing the mirror. I can’t see who he’s talking with but confusion took over me when I realized there is no one else speaking aside from him. And he is clearly not in a phone call.
My heart jumped when he suddenly looked at me so to my horror, I abruptly closed the door. He was saying something but I was unable to get what he said. The door opens revealing Andrew looking darkly at me. He stared at me for minutes and his face suddenly softens, which is confusing me. I am not saying anything because I’m waiting for him to explain everything from the beginning. I know he wouldn’t hurt me. I realized that when I woke up because if he will, he could’ve done that when I was still sleeping. Minutes passed, he started to confess to me everything.
**A year later.**
Two years had passed since Billy died, and one year for Andrew. I visited him because this was the least I can do for him. My heart has healed from all that has happened, and I’m sure Billy has, too.
Andrew had multiple personality disorder. His other self, he called him Drew. Unlike the kind and understanding Andrew that we knew and I loved, Drew was the exact opposite. He told me Drew was like his twin brother and he can hear him in his mind, every day. There were days when Drew would take over his body, and that explains the letters sent to Billy. Drew fell in love with my sister, but it was the dangerous kind of love. He was obsessed. Drew is ruthless, he doesn’t care about anyone but Andrew and Billy. And that may be the reason why Andrew can’t let go of him, he sees Drew as his family because he was adopted.
The day Billy died, he actually went to see Drew, just as he wanted. But Billy didn’t know anything about his condition. Billy believed it was Andrew all along. Andrew also confessed that his other personality tried to take advantage of my sister. It was raining that day and Billy tried so hard to get away from that place, and that’s when she met the accident.
I didn’t know what to feel that day. I knew in my heart I was blaming him why Billy died. If she hadn’t gone to that place, if only Drew didn’t exist, she would’ve been still alive until now. But I also blamed myself, there was still part of me saying that if I only followed her that day, I could’ve protected her myself. But I also pity him. I pity him so much, I left him that day without saying anything.
A week later, news came to me that Drew no longer existed, but so as Andrew.
**THE END**
Hi, everyone. Sorry for the very late update. I was busy with my proposal. And sad to say, our defense was rescheduled which basically means more work for me.
Yeah, this is the last part of Belinda. I really just intended this to have six parts so I am now ending my first written English story. I know this have many shortcomings but allow me to be better for the next coming ones (hoping there will be lol).
Thank you to those who made it this far with my story. Stay safe!
Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Pro or Against?
Most couples have their future planned ahead of them. From their marriage up to building their own family. They dreamed of things they want to do together and individually, as a married man or woman. One of those dreams is to have children, their mini version, little boys and girls. One thing that may hinder in fulfilling that dream is infertility. Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization as a disease of the male or female reproductive system characterized by failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. In males, it is most commonly caused by problems in the ejection of semen, absence or low levels of sperm, or abnormal shape and the movement or motility of the sperm. In females, abnormalities of the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the endocrine system are some of the causes of infertility. To address this problem, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) was developed. ART includes in vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT), and frozen embryo transfer (FET). This, however are exclaimed to have ethical issues concerning regulations, financial aspect, gamete and embryo donations, and the use of surrogacy and gestational carriers. In line with this, am I against or pro ART? I am pro Assisted Reproductive Technology.
In vitro fertilization is the most commonly-used type of this technology and has helped many couples to conceive successfully. In this process, mature eggs are collected and they will be mixed in a laboratory to make an embryo, then it will be transferred to the uterus. This process usually takes place three weeks or longer. Some of the benefits of IVF include having control over timing, increase in chances of having a healthy baby, and decrease in chances of having a miscarriage. Some patients to undergo IVF are parents who are busy and focused on their career, or there may be instances in their life that may affect when the mother was supposed to get pregnant. But IVF gives you control when you want the process to happen, as the eggs or embryos can be preserved for future use. It also increases the chances of having a healthy baby. Genetic screening is done to ensure that the baby is healthy. A process of genetic screening is called preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) that ensure the baby is free of some known genetic markers and medical conditions like Down syndrome, sickle cell anemia, etc. In vitro fertilization also decreases chances of having miscarriage. The PGT also determine the genetic viability of an embryo ahead of time, which enables mothers to have a better chance of enjoying a healthy pregnancy and carrying the baby full-term. And last but not the least, it increases chances of conception.
These reproductive technologies are without a doubt helpful to many couples who want to have a baby but some conditions prevented them to have. It is not an easy process; it is costly and needs a lot of thinking and decision making. But we cannot simply take away the bunch of happiness children can bring to them as a couple, as a family. We cannot say no to that.
References:
7 Ways That IVF Benefits Infertile Couples. Northern California Fertility Medical Center. https://ncfmc.com/7-ways-that-ivf-benefits-infertile-couples/
Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. https://www.sart.org/patients/a-patients-guide-to-assisted-reproductive-technology/general-information/assisted-reproductive-technologies/
Hi. This is my position paper for our subject Human Reproduction. We made this for a debate, and I kinda crammed this one again. Lol. But I hope you learned a thing or two. :)
Thanks for reading. <3
Belinda: 5
**Part 5**
I went home feeling lost, sad, and angry all at once. I know it’s bad to easily jump into conclusion but yes, I’m suspecting that the sender of those letters is Andrew himself. Because come to think of it, we were 13 when we had to leave our hometown, and we didn’t hear about him since then. We were 16 when the sending of letters started, and 20 when it continued. That’s also the time when he suddenly showed up in front of us, wearing our school uniform. That’s the year he transferred to our school. It makes sense that he’ll suddenly show up because Billy didn’t give a damn about his letters the first time. He is an absolute stalker. And I think it’s his plan to be my boyfriend to be able to always see Billy. He planned all of this; I must say. What an asshole.
I am waiting for my mom to arrive because she told me she’ll be late because she had to overtime. I don’t want to eat alone so I am patiently waiting as I’m watching TV. I was focused on watching when I suddenly heard some footsteps from the staircase. I am sure I am alone because the house-help left already after cooking our dinner.
*“Nanay Fe? Is that you? I thought you left already.”* Nanay Fe is our house-help, she doesn’t stay with us because of her family. I called her name just to be 100% sure. I waited for a while but no one answered; and instead, I heard the footsteps again. It sounds like someone is heading upstairs! I started panicking, what should I do?! The steps became slower and the next thing I heard is the sound of a door opening. It made a creaky sound as if slowly opened. My feet feel cold but my hands are sweaty. I can feel the goosebumps all over my body. I can’t take it anymore so I decided to get up to head over the staircase and slowly went up, step by step to not make any noise. In the middle of my fear, I am silently hoping to be able to see and talk to Billy. I have so many questions to ask her, I want to directly ask her why exactly she’s doing all of these and what Andrew had done to her. But above all, I miss her so bad.
I was already in the middle when I heard someone parking the car outside. My mom is here.
“Anni, I’m sorry I’m late, sweetheart. Did you have dinner already? I bought you your favorite ice cream.” My mom said as she was going inside.
Everything fell in silence and I realized the noise upstairs are gone too. I sighed. I decided to go to where my mom is to greet her and so we can have dinner. I was taking my steps when I felt a very cold air at my back. I froze. I know it was not the air conditioner. It took a second before it slowly went away like it just passed by at me.
“Are you okay? You look so pale and you’re sweating. What happened?” my mom asked worried.
“I’m fine mom, my stomach was upset but it’s okay now.” I lied. We had dinner like nothing happened. I still can’t tell my mom what’s been going on because it would be too much for her to take.
I went to my room to sleep hoping Billy would show up again in my dreams but for some reason, I can’t sleep. I keep thinking why must this happen. I can’t believe I fell in love with someone as fake as Andrew. There’s still part in me that don’t want to believe it is indeed Andrew but all of this points at him, even Billy is saying so. All those years I thought he truly cared for me, for us because that’s what I felt during all those times. I closed my eyes hoping I would finally drift off to dreamland but something in the back of my mind is telling me to go to Billy’s room. With some thinking, I decided to go to her room. With all these that happened, I don’t know why this still make my heart go wild. I opened the door to her room and switched on the lights. I walked inside and looked from left to right, hoping to see something. It feels like I’m looking for something I don’t know what myself. I sat on her bed when I saw nothing.
“I miss you, Billy.” My gaze suddenly went to the vanity mirror in the far-left corner of the room and my eyes widen in shock. I put my hand over my mouth because I can’t contain the full shock in my system when I realized what’s written in the mirror. With Billy’s favorite red lipstick, there written the truth I didn’t expect. If this is just a dream, I wish to wake up right this instant.
***‘Not Andrew’***
I feel like my head is about to explode. I wish this is all just a dream.
Hope you liked this one, thank you <3
Belinda: 4
**PART 4**
Now I have to figure out another thing, and it’s Andrew’s involvement in this. I can’t think of any because he has been so good to us. I don’t think he will ever put Billy in danger. But to get this off my mind, I decided to call him and ask him to meet me up.
We met in a nearby coffee shop. I noticed he lost so much weight; it’s been almost a year since we last saw each other. He never once asked to see me even after the break up, I know he knew I was hurting so much. I just smiled when I saw him walking towards me. I don’t feel anything anymore, unlike before that I feel happy whenever he’s around. Losing Billy changed so many things in me. I don’t have anything in my mind right now aside from knowing the truth of all of this.
“Hi, Anni.” I just smiled.
“How have you been? It’s been so long.” He looked away before answering.
“I’m good. How about you? I hope you’re doing fine.” I just smiled again because I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure if I’m doing fine these days.
“Why did you want to see me by the way?” I noticed he looks stressed. He looks like he aged so much in the past year. Andrew is two years older than me. He must be working now.
“It’s about Billy.” He looked surprised. I guess he did not expect that.
“What about Billy?” he asked me, in serious tone.
“She’s been appearing in my dreams. Like she’s asking me for help. I don’t know what exactly it is but it’s like she is giving me clues about something I have to find out myself. I know it’s pretty weird but..”
“Don’t you think you’re just missing her?”
“I thought about that too, and I still would like to think that way, but weird things have been happening to me around the house. I can hear her whispers; she once knocked my door so loud I thought it’s my mom but my mom was sleeping peacefully in her room.”
“I’m sorry to ask you this but when’s the last you went to your doctor?” What the hell?
“No Andrew, I’m freaking fine, I’m not sick. I know you’re probably thinking I’m crazy but I am telling you the truth.” He stared at me like he was processing everything I just said.
“Now what does that have to do with me?” I stared at him before answering.
“This is why I asked to meet you, you were in my dreams too. Okay, let me start with this.” I took a deep breath before speaking.
“When we were sixteen, someone was sending Billy letters. I thought it’s just from some random guy because she told me not worry about it. Then about two years ago, the sending of letters continued. I did not mind it because I thought some boy was just pulling tricks to win her or something. And I saw all of that again in my dreams. Even our memories with you, not the memories we had as a couple but our memories, you, me and Billy. I also don’t understand. I also want to know why all of this is happening. I asked to meet you to ask if you know something about those letters, or if you know who D is.” I noticed Andrew’s sudden change of mood. He looks anxious. What is he anxious for?
“Did Billy ever tell you something before the accident happened? Anything that could be of help?” I noticed the sudden change in his aura, Andrew looked both sad and anxious. I don’t know if it’s just me but he’s now giving off a vibe that is kinda.. dangerous.
“No, I don’t know anything about the letters, she also didn’t tell me anything about it.” I sensed seriousness in his voice but I’m not pretty sure if it’s because of sincerity or because he’s hiding something. We talked about it some more before I decided to end the conversation after a while because I started to get uncomfortable and suspicious of him. I just told him I have to meet my mom.
His actions are suspicious to me but I don’t want to easily judge because maybe he was just caught off-guard with the topic. I know he loved my sister as his own. But something is definitely wrong with him.
I went back home and thought about everything carefully. I have something on mind but I don’t want to jump on it easily without a concrete plan. I told myself I have to be smart on this. I have to be careful. But one thing’s for sure, I have to watch through Andrew to know the truth. Based on his actions, he’s probably hiding something. I have to know what that is, whatever it takes.
I think this one's a bit lame haha.
I'm so busy with our thesis, I'm still on the process of writing the next part.
Still, thanks to those who are reading. <3
Belinda: 3
**Part 3**
I woke up in a hospital bed. What am I doing here?
“Oh, dear you’re finally awake.” My mom exclaimed, worried.
“What happened?” I asked her. She looks puzzled.
“That’s what I want to ask you, Annika. I heard something fell on the floor and then I found you lying outside my room. What were you doing there? I am glad it was nothing really serious, you passed out and the doctor said you're over stressed. Loosen up a bit, honey. Don’t push yourself too much.”
Then I remember everything. I heard Belinda’s whispers again, she’s crying, asking me for help. Then I passed out. What I remember next was seeing past memories. I don’t know if I was dreaming but it’s as if it’s happening right before my eyes. Those moments where Billy received the letters. Those letters again. Is Billy trying to tell me something? Does she want me to read those letters? What happened next totally left me confused. It was when we bid goodbye to Andrew when we had to move to another city. We were 13 that time. It was followed by that time Andrew surprised us when he appeared in front of us wearing our school uniform. That was the first time we saw him again after leaving our old hometown. That was 2 years ago, months before we became a thing.
I am so confused and overwhelmed with all of this. I don’t know what to do, I need answers.
“Mom, let’s go home now!” I need to find answers. I feel like Billy wants me to do something. I have to read those letters. If what I am thinking is right, Billy is asking me for help. It’s as if she’s giving me clues about something. I have to find out what it is. All I know is I have to see those letters, and Andrew. I have to talk to him. Did Billy tell him something before she died? Does he know something about Billy that I don’t? Is she asking for his help too? My head hurts thinking about all of this but I have to do this one at a time.
We arrived home and I immediately went to Billy’s room just across mine. I haven’t been to her room since she left because of my trauma. We didn’t change anything about her room, my mom kept it as it is because we know that’s what Billy wants. My hands are shaking and tears started to pool from my eyes. I saw from my peripheral vision that my mom is silently watching me. I know she’s happy that I have finally found the courage to do this. If only I could tell you, mom. But I can’t, I don’t want to add to her burden and I need to make sure first. I have to find out first what this is all about.
I held the doorknob tightly even with shaking hands and slowly turned it open. I went inside and looked around. Nothing really changed. It’s just as it is when Billy was still alive. I used to sleep here when Billy is scared of being alone, or when the sound of thunder scares her. Just a call and I would run here in a heartbeat. Between the two of us, Billy was the soft and shy one. Unlike me who has a strong personality, she is quite and shy around people. She only gets talkative around people she’s comfortable with. But she has a strong heart, she can control her emotions more than I can. I remembered why I am here, so I started looking through her closet but there was nothing. I looked through her cabinet of stuff but I found nothing. My eyes suddenly went on to her bed and I decided to look underneath. There, I found a small box. I took it and wiped off some dust from it. I don’t know why but my heart started beating fast. I opened it and I found the letters I have been looking for.
*“Hi Belinda. How are you?” - D.*
This was from the first ones she received. D? Who is D? I opened the other ones which was dated the longest.
*“It’s been a while, Belinda. Won’t you write me back? I’m waiting.” - D.*
*“You look so good, Belinda. Your dress looks so good on you.” - D.*
*“Don’t you want to know who I am? But you should write back first.”*
These made me dizzy, I didn’t know those letters were like these! This is so confusing and creepy at all. I started crying when I thought how Billy must have felt all this time. She told me it was nothing to worry about. I read all the other ones but they were just almost the same, describing how she looks, asking Billy to write back. Whoever this is, I’m sure their intentions were not good. Because if yes, they could have just approached her nicely. Why do all of these? I also read the recent ones and it only made me cry harder.
*“It’s been so long, Belinda. I missed you. You still hadn’t written me back yet. But I will still write you some more.” - D*
*“I am losing patience, Belinda. If you don’t want to write back, then you should meet me.” - D*
*“Your sister is beautiful just like you. I am losing my cool, Belinda. Meet me. You have a week. 09*********” - D*
The letters look as if they had been only opened once. My heart is hurting. I miss my sister so much. Now I have to find whoever this D is, I have to know what is Billy asking me help for. And whatever that is, I have to make them pay, for not letting my sister be in peace even after she's gone. I have to be strong. I have to be smart on this. I cannot let my emotions fail me. This may be too late, but if this will make Billy in peace, I will do everything.
Hi.
Next updates might take longer because I have to prepare for our thesis proposal. Hope you understand. Thank you very much. <3
Ps. What do you think is Andrew's involvement in this?
Belinda: 2
**Part 2**
A week has passed and no strange things happened again. I’m slowly believing that my mind was just playing tricks on me. When Billy died, I blamed myself. I could have prevented it to happen. I should’ve not let her go alone. I couldn’t eat and sleep properly, did not talk to anyone and I sometimes hallucinate that Billy is still with me. I lived my whole life with her, it was hard for me to accept what happened to my twin sister. I couldn’t even cry. My mom decided to take me to a psychiatrist, we found out I suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from losing a loved one. I have gone to series of therapies so I can go back to normal and move forward with my life. I also broke up with Andrew. I completely isolated myself from people and things that would remind me of what happened to my sister. I even stopped going to school. Thankfully, I recovered. It was hard at first but I learned to accept that Billy is gone. For now, I am home schooling, I am just waiting for this school year to end so I can go back to normal school. Andrew and I barely talk and I have not seen him since Billy died. I don’t think I can be in a relationship with anyone again anytime soon.
*“Annika, can you check the mailbox please, honey. I think I saw the mailman dropped something there”, I heard my mom say as I was heading downstairs. She’s busy preparing our breakfast while Billy’s still in the shower. Our mom has been doing everything for us since our dad died when we were four.*
*“Okay, mom.” I went outside and found an envelope inside the mailbox. It has our address and Belinda’s name in it. Is this one of those letters again? I went back inside and Billy’s already in the kitchen.*
*“Billy, I think this one’s for you.” She just looked at me blankly. I handed her the letter but she didn’t open it. My mom asked if she won’t open it but she said she would do it after school and put it inside her bag.*
*A few years back, when we were 16, someone has been sending letters to Billy twice a month. She didn’t tell us anything about it but I always saw it when she’d secretly get it from the mailbox or when someone would give it to her outside the school. I asked her one time about it but she said it’s just nothing and I should not worry. What I found strange about it was, during those three months Billy was receiving those letters, different men would give it to her if it would be given in school. During weekends, the mailman would drop it off our house and it’s the regular mailman in our village. But I didn’t really think about it because Billy said it was nothing to worry about. I only assumed someone was courting her and got rejected. It’s been four years since Billy received such letters, was it the same person? But this was the first time it was sent to our house during school days. Maybe it’s just another boy*.
I woke up with a heavy heart. I have been dreaming of Belinda since those weird nights. But maybe I’m just missing her because it would be one year soon since she left this world. I miss you too, my dearest sister. My day went usual. I attended my classes, cleaned my room, watched Netflix and waited for my mom to arrive from work. We happily ate dinner. I’m glad she’s not bringing up what happened the last week. She must have thought I was only dreaming. I washed the dishes after our dinner and went back to my room.
Three loud knocks on my door woke me up. Oh, mom. She’s been repeatedly telling me not to stay up too late because it’s not healthy for me. She’s continuously knocking the door and it’s getting louder and faster by the second so I decided to get up a bit irritated.
“Yes mom, I’ve been sleeping for a while, I slept at eleve—” I felt all my hair in my body went up when I opened the door and there was no one.
“Mom? Mom, are you there? This is not funny.” My heart is now beating fast. I went to my mom’s room almost running and I thought my soul left me when I saw her sleeping soundly. I froze when I heard footsteps behind me. This can't be happening! I can hear the steps getting louder as if they're slowly coming to me. I want to look behind but I'm so scared of what I might see. I can feel my whole body shaking. I want to scream but I can't seem to find my voice to even make a sound. The door of my mom's room slowly closed as if not letting her wake up and know what is happening. It made an eerie sound as it closes, then I heard that same voice again.
“Annika, help me.” Belinda’s voice whispered to me then everything turned black.
Here's part two. I hope you liked this. Thank you so much! <3
Belinda
12:59.
The clock on my bed side table says its 12:59 in the morning. I was awakened by a loud bang at the door. I looked around my room but there was no one except me. I initially thought my mom visited me during my sleep but I realized she wouldn’t close the door like that. I was starting to get scared so I slowly get off my bed to open the door. I know I needed to do this. I would not be able to go back to sleep until I see it for myself that there is nothing behind it. My heart is beating wild. I put my hand on the cold knob and turned it open. I slowly pulled the door to see, acting so brave in the middle of my loud, beating heart. I let go of my breath I didn’t know I was holding when I saw nothing but the dark emptiness of our house. I closed the door silently and went back on my bed. I brushed off unwanted thoughts and told myself I may be only dreaming.
The next day, I woke up fine and went on my day like usual. I did what I had to do, attended my classes and did some school works. What happened the last night did not come to my mind as I was pre-occupied. Until night came and I went to my bed to sleep, but as I was drifting off, I heard strange whispers of a woman. I opened my eyes in shock and fear. I wasn’t able to understand what she was saying but her whisper is creeping the hell out of me. Her voice is soft but I can hear fear and anger on it. Her voice echoed inside my head and to my horror, it was unbelievably familiar. I know that voice, it was her. There is no way I cannot recognize that voice. I was shaking in fear and shouted my lungs out. My door opened revealing my panicking mom.
“What happened?!” she hurriedly asked me.
I knew she wouldn’t believe me but I had to tell her the truth.
“Belinda, Belinda was here.” I looked at her and my mom was looking at me in disbelief. A hint of sadness flashed before her eyes. She’s not believing me.
“Mom, I know it’s hard to believe but I am telling you the truth. She was here. I heard her.”
“Did you see her?”
“No, but I heard her voice. I was about to fall in deep sleep when I heard her whispering something to me but I couldn’t understand a thing.” My mom closed her eyes tightly then looked at me intently. I know what she’s thinking.
“Anni, are you blaming yourself again? I thought— we thought you’re completely fine.” No, not this again.
“Mom, I am fine. I just need you to believe me.” My mom sighed. She probably thinks I have gone crazy.
“Go back to sleep. Call me again when something happens, okay?” I just nodded. I don’t know what to do but I am certain of what I heard. I just hope this is the last time it happens. I hope.
Belinda, or Billy as we call her, she’s my twin sister. And we lost her almost a year ago in a car accident. I cannot understand what is happening and what I am feeling right now. I am sure it was her or am I just assuming that it was her? I didn’t see her face after all. My eyes suddenly felt heavy, so I decided to go back to sleep even when I still feel a little uncomfortable. My eyes drifted to the clock in my bed side table.
It’s 12:59 in the morning. What a coincidence that I always look at the clock at exactly this hour, a minute just before 1:00. Without realizing it, I have already fallen into deep sleep.
*"Anni, have you done the assignments for our English class?"*
*"Not yet, Billy." I actually just remember it now, now that she mentioned it. I was busy texting Andrew, my boyfriend. We're together for six months now, I think.*
*"My gosh, you're so in love." She said and then rolled her eyes. I just smirked at her.*
*"Once you fall in love, and I mean, really fall in love, you'll understand." She just looked at me disgusted and we burst out laughing. I know she knows what I mean. When Andrew asked to court me, I felt like the happiest girl in the world. I have been in love with him since we were ten. And she saw it all. Me, my sister, and my boyfriend, we were childhood friends.*
I woke up in a bright sunlight touching my face. I realized I was dreaming. I remember what happened last night and my guts are telling me that it was really her. But her voice, it was full of fear and anger. I am so confused right now, I feel like my head was about to explode. Is this just really me blaming myself again?
Belinda, what is happening?
**PART 1.**
Hi! My mind decided to be cooperative and I ended up writing this. It's just the first part though, I'm still thinking how to continue the story but I hope you liked it. And this will not be too long of a story because I have lots of school works to finish huhu.
Thanks for reading! <3
The Köppen-Trewartha Climate Classification
Since the development of Wladimir Köppen’s Köppen Climate Classification system, many different classification models have been developed and modifications of the said system also existed. One of which is the Köppen-Trewartha Climate Classification model. In 1968, Glenn Thomas Trewartha produced his modification of Köppen’s and the final version was done in 1980. The modified version’s objective was to adjust the original criteria for temperature and the thresholds that separate dry and wet climatic regions and to better correspond to the observed boundaries of natural landmasses. This, and the original version were the most widely-used models in contemporary times.
Trewartha’s maps did a lot more to define the climate zones in the mid-latitudes, especially in North America and Asia, to reflect vegetative zones and present a more useful map. The Trewartha model is divided into six climate types, and each also has its subtypes and like the Köppen-Geiger, they are represented by letters. Types A, C, D, E and F have heat as the determining factor and B, the dry climate is in similar manner to the original Köppen system. Air temperature and amounts of precipitation are the determining factors of the Trewartha climate classification, just like of Köppen’s.
Below is the model’s climate types and their subtypes:
**Köppen-Trewartha Climate Classification**
Climate Types
**Tropical (A) -** Frost is limited in continental locations; in marine areas the average monthly temperature is above 18°C (64.4°F). It's subtypes are :
**Dry (B) -** Potential evaporation equals or exceeds precipitation
**Subtropical (C) -** At least 8 months have average temperatures above 10°C (50°F)
**Temperate (D) -** At least 4 months have average temperatures above 10°C (50°F)
**Boreal (E) -** The warmest month has an average temperature above 10°C (50°F)
**Polar (F) -** All months have average temperatures below 10°C (50°F)
Subtypes:
**Tropical wet (Ar) -** all months average above 18°C (64.4°F) and no dry season
**Tropical wet-dry (Aw) -** same as AR but at least 2 months dry in winter
**Tropical/subtropical semiarid (BSh) -** Evaporation exceeds precipitation, and all months average above 0°C (32°F)
**Tropical/subtropical arid (BWh) -** one-half or below the precipitation of BSh, and all months average above 0°C (32°F)
**Temperate semiarid (BSk ) -** same as BSh but with at least one month of average below 0°C (32°F)
**Temperate arid (BWk) -** same as BWh but with at least one month average below 0°C (32°F)
**Subtropical dry summer (Mediterranean) (Cs) -** 8 months average above 10°C (50°F), coldest month average below 18°C (64.4°F), and a dry summer
**Subtropical humid (Cf) -** same as Cs but no dry season
**Temperate oceanic (Do) -** 4-7 months average above 10°C (50°F), coldest month average above 0°C (32°F)
**Tundra (Ft) -** all months average below 10°C (50°F)
**Polar ice cap (Fi) -** all months average below 0°C (32°F)
References:
*CLIMATE CHANGE | The KoppenTrewartha Climate Classification System.* (2017, September 30). Geography and You. https://geographyandyou.com/the-koppen-trewartha-climate-classification-system/
*Climate Classification Systems.* (n.d.). Oregon State University. https://open.oregonstate.education/permaculturedesign/chapter/climate-classification-systems/
Hi, it's me again. So this is another example of a classification model. I have also included a world climate map, to show an example.
Thanks for reading. <3
The Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification
Climate classification are systems that recognize, clarify, and simplify climatic similarities and differences between geographic areas to deepen the understanding of the world's climates. These are based on grouped environmental data to see patterns between interactions of different climatic processes.
The most widely used classification system is the Köppen-Geiger classification. It is a vegetation-based, empirical classification developed by botanist-climatologist Wladimir Köppen. This classification divides climates into five main climate groups which are based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns.
These five types are also divided into subtypes. They are represented by a letter. These are the following: tropical (A), dry (B), temperate (C), continental (D), and polar (E).
Tropical (A) - characterized by hot and humid climate. The average temperature are greater than 64° F (18°C). This type of climate is typically found near the equator from 15° N to 15° S latitude. They are also characterized by tropical rainforests that are hot and moist commoly distinguished by trees and thick soils.
The subtypes include: Tropical rainforest (Af) which is characterized by precipitation of at least 6m or greater during the driest month. Tropical monsoon (Am) are those places with less than 6cm of precipitation, but with more than 4% annually. Lastly, the Tropical wet and dry savannah (Aw), are those with precipitation of less than 10cm during driest month and less than 4% of total annual precipitation.
Dry(B) - they are characterized by having a shortage of water with low annual precipitation rate because water evaporates quickly from its temperatures.
The subtypes under this climate type are: Arid desert (BW) which is characterized by a less than 50% annual precipitation over the precipitation threshold. The Semi-arid steppe (BS) on the other hand are those with more than 50% of the precipitation threshold.
Temperate (C) - this climate type takes the middle for average temperature, and are commonly along the edge of continents. In countries with temperate climate, coastal locations have moderate changes in temperature with mild winters, thunderstorms and humid summers.
The subtypes under this are: Mild temperate dry summer (Cs) which is characterized by having precipitation of less than 1/3 the amount of the wettest winter month. While the Mild temperate dry winter (Cw) is characterized by a precipitation of less than 1/10 of the amount during wettest summer month. And lastly, the Mild temperate humid (Cf) does not satisfy both the Cs or Cw climate types.
Cold/Continental (D) - regions with these type of climate are usually in the interior of continents. They have warm to cool summers and very cold winters. They have at least one month of average temperature below 0°C and one month of average temperature above 10°C.
For cold/continental, the subtypes are: Continental dry summer (Ds), are those with a precipitation of less than 1/3 the amount in wettest winter month during summer season. The Continental dry winter (Dw) has precipitation less than 1/10 of the amount in wettest summer month. While the Continental humid (Df) does not satisfy Ds or Dw climate types. As wee can see there is a similarity between the subtypes of the continental and temperate climate however, I think the key difference between the two is in its geographical location.
Polar (E) - this zones are extremely cold, the average temperature of the warmest month is below 10°C. Even during summer, the temperature never go higher than this. There is also very little vegetation in these areas. The subtypes include: Tundra (ET), characterized by having an average temperature between 10°C and 0°C during the warmest month, and Ice cap (EF), which is characterized by an average temperature at 0°C or below during the warmest month.
Sources: https://www.britannica.com/topic/classification-1703397
https://earthhow.com/koppen-climate-classification/
So this is how the climates of each countries and regions are classified. I hope this will bring you a deeper understanding of our climate systems. Hope you learned something from this. :)
There are also other types of classification system and hopefully I may discuss that on my next article.
Thanks for reading. ❤️
Evapotranspiration and Climate
Evapotranspiration is the process of evaporating water from leaves through plant transpiration during photosynthesis. The evaporation happens when water vapor leaves the plant surface and transpiration involves the passage of water through a plant. To put it simply, evapotranspiration is combined evaporation and transpiration. It is a main component of the water cycle important in crop maintenance. Factors that affect evapotranspiration include wind, temperature, humidity, soil type, plant type, and water availability. When temperature increases, the rate of evapotranspiration also increases. This is because there is higher amount of energy available for converting liquid water to water vapor. For humidity, if the air is too humid, the transpiration and evaporation rates drop. When it comes to wind, a moving air increases the rate of evaporation and wind also clears humidity produced by plant’s transpiration making the transpiration rate increase. Plants need water, if there is not enough water for plants, there will be no evaporation. They will conserve it instead of transpiring. Soil type is also important as it determines how much water the soil can hold. For areas with vegetative cover, transpiration is higher than evaporation. Plant type is also an important factor because there are plants that don’t transpire much like the succulents, unlike trees and crops that can release huge amounts of water vapor in a day.
Vegetation covers about 20% of the planet. It affects weather and climate as it influences the albedo of the Earth and the amount of greenhouse gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide. Plants release water vapor which is necessary for cloud formation. They also absorb and emit energy that drives the weather. Most plants and forest soils have a very low albedo, and they absorb a large amount of energy. However, plants don’t contribute to overall warming because the excess warm is being balanced by evaporative cooling from transpiration. When it comes to climate, vegetation is important. The process of photosynthesis builds up atmospheric oxygen to the level that is helpful to humans. Plants keep our climate stable by balancing temperature and moisture fluctuations through transpiration. They consume carbon dioxide during photosynthesis which helps lessen the amount of carbon dioxide being released in the atmosphere. Plants and crops are also responsible for the majority of water usage and storage. Without considering irrigation, rain, snow, fog and soil water are all used and absorbed by vegetation. When there is excess water, plants can transpire larger volumes of water which causes evaporative cooling in the atmosphere of the surrounding. There is also a complex relationship between absorption, reflection, transmission and emission of radiation within a vegetated area. It is said that the albedo of a crop is lower than the sum of all the leaves in the canopy and this is due to the differences in angle of solar radiation and crop architecture. The value is also dependent on vegetation type and what time the albedo measurement is taken. Measurements taken during early morning and late afternoon are much higher. Also, albedo measurements in the tropics are less than those of vegetated areas in higher altitudes.
References:
*Evapotranspiration*. (n.d.). North Carolina Climate Office. https://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/Evap
*Vegetation: Its Role in Weather and Climate*. (n.d.). North Carolina Climate Office. https://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/Vegetation
Hello, it's been a while. Hope you learned something from this article. :)
Thanks for reading. ❤️
Greenhouse Gases and their Impacts
You may all be familiar with greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases, as we all know are those gases that absorb and trap the heat from escaping into space. They let the sunlight pass through easily but they trap the reflected heat from escaping and thus, warming the Earth. They have good effect I must say because they keep the Earth warm as it otherwise would be. In other words, they make the Earth liveable. However, high concentrations of these gases can be dangerous as they in general, contribute to global climate change and they destroy the protective ozone layer.
Below are list of these greenhouse gases and their impacts to the environment, which includes their life span and the current "amount" present in our atmosphere.
Water Vapor - is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. It is not directly emitted from human activities but acts in response to already rising temperature. It tends to stay in the lower atmosphere where it absorbs infrared radiation and radiates it back to the surface, causing the temperature to continue to rise.
Ozone - Prior to industrialization, tropospheric ozone was concentrated at 25 parts per billion. Today, it is at approximately 34 parts per billion.
Carbon Dioxide - With high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, plants are unable to keep up by removing it from the air. This gas absorbs and emits infrared radiation contributing significantly to global warming. Human activities increased carbon dioxide production being currently at 388,000 parts per billion.
Methane - Methane is 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide in terms of global warming potential. It has a lifespan of twelve years and currently increased to 1,870 parts per billion from 700 during pre-industrial period.
Nitrous Oxide - has an atmospheric life of 114 years and a global warming potential 298 times stronger than carbon dioxide. It means that it traps heat at a much higher rate than carbon dioxide. This gas is expected to remain one of the largest greenhouse gas emissions in the future.
Chlorofluorocarbons - The Chlorofluorocarbons and Hydrofluorocarbons destroy the protective ozone layer, which shields the Earth from the harmful UV rays. This also warms the lower atmosphere contributing to weather and climate change.
Nitrogen Trifluoride - Contributes to global climate change with an atmospheric life between 550 and 740 years.
Sulfur Hexafluoride - One of the most dangerous greenhouse gases known with an atmospheric lifespan of 3,200 years and global warming potential 23,900 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
Hexafluoroethane - Humans may suffocate around this gas if exposed to high concentrations. It has an atmospheric lifespan of 10,000 years and a global warming potential of 9,200.
Tetrafluoromethane - This has low concentration level so it is not currently believed to have a significant radiative forcing effect, so it leads to a rise in temperature. This is a strong greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change with an atmospheric lifespan of 50,000 years. It is constantly increasing which contributes to global warming however, this does not deplete ozone layer.
Chlorodifluoromethane - This gas contributes to both ozone depletion and global warming.
Dichlorodifluoromethane - has an atmospheric life of approximately 102 years when it is degraded by solar radiation ,which allows this gas to destroy the ozone layer.
I mainly focused on the impacts of these gases, specifically their lifespan and how much of these gases are currently present in the atmosphere because generally speaking, we all know what contributions they do make to our environment which is, the greenhouse effect.
I also did not include description of each and what drives them or what sources they come from so maybe in my next article, I will discuss about that.
Hope you learn something from this! :)
Thanks for reading. ❤️
The Best Age to Have a Baby: Early 20s or Early 30s?
"Motherhood: all love begins and ends there." - Robert Browning
Being a mother is a choice and it is a big responsibility to hold. But it is also one of the most fulfilling and life-changing experiences that can happen to a woman. It is most women's dream to become a mother, to bear a child and have a family. But what is really the best age to have a baby? Is it early 20s or early 30s?
In these two debatable answers, I believe it is best to have a baby in early 20s. It is considered to be one of the healthiest periods of time to get pregnant. It has something to do with fertility because a woman in her 20s is on peak of her fertility. They will have a higher chance of conceiving in the process of trying naturally. A woman's eggs likely start to decrease gradually at early 30s and it would pose greater risks for pregnancy complications. Women also have the most energy when they are in their 20s, this will come in handy for looking and running behind a toddler. At early 20s, women have a lower chance of having miscarriage, chromosomal disorders, gestational diabetes, blood pressure and are more likely to be fitter and healthier. There is also low risk of having premature birth and developing complications. People who get pregnant in their early 20s are also less likely to get stressed once the child is all grown up.
Another benefit of pregnancy in early 20s is that people are still relatively healthy at this age. They can be more active in exercising and staying fit and it will help them to be more comfortable in their pregnancy. It will also eliminate some common aches and pains. Women who are active have fewer reports of backaches and unwellness during pregnancy. The benefits also last even after giving birth. When it comes to genetic issues, having a baby in 20s means that women have less risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. A woman in her 20s has a risk of about one in two thousand, compared to a woman at 30 whose risk is at one in nine hundred.
Statistically, a healthy, fertile woman in 20s has about a 30 percent chance of getting pregnant each cycle they have intercourse a day or two before ovulation. At age 30, the chance is about 20 percent each cycle. In addition, only a small percentage of 20-year-old women struggle with infertility while two-thirds of women in their 40s have infertility problems. The chance of a 20-year-old woman being unable to conceive is only 6 percent while older women have 64.
The decision to have a baby requires time, effort, and commitment. There are several factors to consider before having a baby. But the best age to have a baby is the age when you are ready: financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Health-wise, and time-wise, the best time is in early 20s. It is healthy both for the mother and the baby. Parenting is not easy, both the mother and the father must be ready for the responsibilities of having a child. But there the simplest yet the most important requirement for this matter: love.
Hi! This is another position paper we were tasked to do for a subject. Hope you find this meaningful as I did writing this. :)
If I were to be asked personally, I would say the best age is mid 20s because like I said there are many factors you need to consider first. Not only you needs to be ready but also your partner. But we were only allowed to choose between early 20s and early 30s; hence my answer.
You may comment and also share with me your thoughts regarding this topic. :)
Thanks for reading. ❤️
Tips on falling in love: don't
Dear you,
Number one tip when it comes to falling in love:
DON'T.
Don't fall in love.
But I don't mean don't EVER fall in love.
Sounds ridiculous, right?
But what I'm really trying to say is, don't fall in love or enter a relationship if deep inside, you don't want a commitment because love is a commitment itself. Don't give someone half-baked love because no one deserves that, and that includes you. Be honest enough to tell someone the truth because it will both set you free. And that's the least thing you could do. On the other hand, I hope you not fall in love with someone who pressures you to a commitment you aren't ready for. And if ever that happens, have the courage to speak for yourself and walk away. If someone truly loves you they will understand, and they will wait for the right time until you are ready.
Don't fall in love if you only want to have some fun, then you'll break it up once you're fed up. Someone's heart is not your playground. If someone is serious about you, don't play with them. Don't rush it, don't fake it. At the right time, you will meet someone and that someone will make you realize that waiting will always be worth it.
Don't fall in love if you only look forward to rainbows and sunshines, and butterflies in your stomach. Because love is always a two-way journey. It's not always rainbows and butterflies. It is also storms and pain. It is happiness and sorrow all in one. Love is not about just how the way someone looks at you, talks to you, holds you. It is not only about watching movies together, park dates, flowers and chocolates, and all those material things. It also means sharing the tears, the hardships, and going through them together. At times you don't need to always solve it together, especially when it's something personal; sometimes just have to be with them as they try to lift themselves up. That alone, is a big help already.
Don't fall in love because you're still not over your ex. You, hurting someone will not heal you. Heal slowly, at your own phase. Let it hurt. Cry as much you can, as much as you want. Feel the pain until you're over it. Let it hurt you until it hurts no more. Don't use someone to forget your ex and your memories together. Not only you are lying to that person, but you're also lying to yourself. You don't know what it might cause the other person if you hurt them.
You don't know the feeling of losing confidence, after years of trying to build it up. That feeling when you look in the mirror and question yourself why. You will have fear for yourself and think that everyone else will hurt you because it has always been like that. You will hate everything that you think is wrong with you that's why they left you, or replaced you. You don't want that. And no one deserves to feel that.
As I end this, let me tell you that I am not always right, and these are just my opinion. Write me back when you feel like it.
Love,
Someone who's been there, done that– and now over it.
Let me repeat that these are just merely my opinion. I may be wrong, I may be right. We are always a work in progress, I believe.
Thanks for reading. ❤️
Part 2: Weather Radar Network Benefit Model Review
Note: You may not read this as I made this just so it's more accessible for me, but if you'd like, here's the link for the first part. Thank you.
Part 1 link: https://read.cash/@glossyberrycraze/weather-radar-network-benefit-model-for-flash-flood-casualty-reduction-a-review-9be43588
I noticed this was too long, so I decided to cut it and put it in another narrative as part 2. Btw, yeah I sometimes re-read my entries here that's why. :)
**Part 2:**
The coverage metric employed was the fraction of vertical volume observed (FVO) between 0 and 20 kft, and it was because the WSR-88D has a perfect coverage above 20 kft. The cross-radial horizontal resolution (CHR) was also employed because it was relevant in taking the angular resolution. During the analysis period, the radar network underwent changes and they addressed it accordingly.
In order to relate the relationship between the warning performance and the quality of radar coverage, they matched each flood event to the appropriate catchment basin using the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Hydrographic Dataset which contains 19,031 stream gauges with corresponding catchment boundaries. They searched for a stream gauge located inside the event polygon and computed the mean radar coverage metric matching the catchment basin. With this step, they were able to match 24,236 flash flood events over the analysis period. This was their basis for all the analyses conducted in flash flood events. In detection probability dependence of flash flood on radar coverage, for FVO and CHR, the data for each were binned using cumulative distribution percentage intervals. Result shows that flash flood probability of detection (POD) increases with FVO and decreases with CHR, which is an important result because it shows connection between radar coverage and warning performance and allows a functional mapping between the two.
To compute for the flash flood warning flase alarm ratio dependence on radar coverage, they matched each warning to the corresponding catchment basins, just like what they did in mapping the flash flood events. They replaced the event polygon with the warning polygon and were able to match 32,438 flash flood warning to source basins over the analysis period. Because the casualty regression analysis did not yield a statistically meaningful relationship between FAR and casualty rate, they did not include this in the benefit model. In the dual polarization upgrade, the mean flash flood warning values did not yield statistically meaningful differences, which is in contrast with case studies that showed otherwise. This led to difficulties in obtaining QPE data so they used an algorithm technique that will not cause much error in the QPE. They also investigated the relationship between radar coverage and non-flash flood warning performance using the same procedures but it showed no significant relationship so it was not included in the benefit model.
For the relationship of flash flood warning and casualty rate, the factors that are thought to affect this relationship are population, time of day, building type, catchment basin size, water flow velocity and depth, rate of water-level rise, and the warning lead time. Only variables that could be geospatially characterized were included. For the casualty count, they used a negative binomial distribution model instead if a Poisson distribution because the casualty variance was larger than the mean statistics over the analysis period. The variables that they tried for the regression analysis were logarithm of the population, fraction of population in mobile housing, historical flash flood warning FAR, catchment basin size, flash flood warning presence and warning lead time. These variables were tested both individually and in combination to see any cross-relation effects. Population data was acquired from the Center for International Earth Science Information Network.
The value of statistical life was used to monetize the casualties. They used the equation as per guidance by the US Department of Transportation. In estimating the value provided by the radar network, they computed the modeled casualty costs in three scenarios: the current WSR-88D network, no radar coverage and perfect WSR-88D-like coverage. The results show that the current WSR-88D network provide over $300 million annual benefits and the perfect radar coverage yields $13 million annual benefits. For the purposes of QPE to support flash flood warning decisions, the result provided by the radar is very good.
Instrumentation
The instruments used in this study are the WSR-88D network wherein they ran the model for the three scenarios stated. Datasets were also used like the USGS Dataset in mapping the flash flood event on its corresponding basin. NWS storm database was used to compute for the mean annual flash flood occurrence rate for each CONUS grid cell. CONUS radar network was also used in running the model with no flash flood warnings and with flash flood warning for the purpose of estimating the benefit provided by flash flood warnings independent of radar coverage.
Conclusions and Recommendations
A geospatial model was constructed for computing meteorological radar network benefits for flash flood casualty reduction. It was established that casualty rate decreases by 44% when there is flash flood warning. Combining these effects, the model showed that the WSR-88D radar network provided over $300 million of casualty reduction per year, with $13 million per year coverage for improvements which is an indicative of its efficiency, and a maximum benefit pool of $69 million per year. A benefit model for flash flood property damage was a good idea but a preliminary analysis regarding property value did not give statistically meaningful relationship between warning performance and property damage so further study like analysis for geospatial data of property type and value was recommended.
I don't know what happened to noise.cash it won't even let me create a new account. 😩 I created a new one already but when I'm about to confirm my email address, it just won't work. I don't have the time to know and fix whatever the problem is so, I give up. <///3
@glossyberrycraze
