Creator
Drama Story: Our Own Made Up Story
For my 6th period Drama class the students had to create their own 12 page story. After the story was completed we chose one scene from the story and had to make a script out of that. Although, unfortunately there was an accident that did not allow me to put the beginning of the story, but it is fine because it was not too necessary towards the story.
For my 6th period Drama class the students had to create their own 12 page story. After the story was completed we chose one scene from the story and had to make a script out of that. Although, unfortunately there was an accident that did not allow me to put the beginning of the story, but it is fine because it was not too necessary towards the story.
A micrography Art II assignment. Everything is made up of words. Can you guess who that is?
A color wheel Art II assignment. We had to make up our own creative design. Can you guess what the design pattern is?
A hand-made basket as in Art II assignment. Guess what holiday this was made in?
A surreal dream artwork for Art II. What do all these symbols mean to you?
Senior Year Assignments
Essay for AP Lit, Theme for Brave New World
Though there are many themes presented in the novel, there are three that stand out throughout the storyline. The idea of a utopia, the true meaning of individuality, and the use of science in order to control the populus were themes that continuously appeared during the book. The idea that there can be a society that incorporates the ideas of every single inhabitant by superficial descriptions and liberal laws that do not serve primarily to punish or maintain order. A utopia can never be fully affirmed because there will always be at least one person not pleased with how things are being handled. Being able to call oneself an individual takes a lot of time and self reflection. An individual makes a society filled with diverse people and various ideals. Individuality is the worst possible enemy a utopia can face because it now confronts an anomaly that threatens the structure of the perfect world. Science is an art that was utilized in this world to bestow order and control on the citizens of the World State. Science has many possible uses, both benevolent and malevolent. The advancement and the destruction of society can both be achieved by the use of Science.
The idea of a perfect world has not been thought by one author, but by many others for sure. An ideal society is what any person would want, but will never have. Being able to have a perfect world where everything one desires is fulfilled will never exist because so many people want different things. Human desire is infinite but the resources in order to satiate them will never be able to amount to the vast amount of desires one comes up with. Another reason a utopia will never be able to exist is because not everyone will be able to conform to the ideas and principles that are enforced to its people. There will always be those outliers and outcasts that no matter how hard they try to adapt to the perfect society, it is simply impossible for them to appear exactly like the rest. Social outcasts get their name because they are not like the rest. In order for a society to be perfect, everything needs to go according to plan and excruciatingly uniform so that no differences in the system can ever happen. A utopia requires that everything be the same and that no change can happen, with the exception of the change being positive for the entire populus. John is the symbol of extreme dissimilitude in both societies he experienced. He was never comfortable in neither the Savage world nor the “civilized world”. In both places, John was judged by his appearance, one for the better and the other for the worse, but nonetheless his countenance and mien were major factors of the way he was perceived. His thinking was then the ultimate reason as to why he was an outcast in both worlds. John was always in the middle of both worlds, never completely submerged on one side or the other. He never assimilated to the laws of either worlds, to the point where he just wanted to be away in solitude from both worlds. “Anywhere. I don’t care. So long as I can be alone”(Huxley 250). John was never able to fit in both societies because he was one of the very few people that was able to experience another world and that is why he had so many questions and different reactions towards this “perfect civilization.” John saw the world through a different perspective which is why he never saw the World State as perfect and will never see it as a utopia. He then realized that this world in general will always make him feel displaced, “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin”(Huxley 246). He obviously knows that he will never be able to get the things he want in the society he is currently living in. John is explaining to Mustapha Mond that basically he is an unhappy citizen making the World State not a utopia because it is not being an ideal place for every single person inhabiting it. Again, John is depicted as the threat to the utopia that the Controller's have worked so hard to attain.
Individuality is the only thing that distinguishes people in the real world. We are all people but with individuality, some might have statuses as notorious or very important. A celebrity is a person, the actions and profession makes them a widely known person, but is still just a person. The actions one commits and even the habiliments one wears have a huge impact on being considered an individual. Contemporary people are not really individuals because they just follow what is in style and copy that exact image. Same with the World State, most of the people with jobs do their duties well, but do not know how to do anything else beside their specific role. Bernard was seen as a weird and isolated individual because of how he acted and looked. Because of this individualism that Bernard presented, people did not want to be around him because they were not supposed to be related to those who were not the same or acting alike as the rest. Bernard for the longest was seen as the outcast that nobody liked, “They say somebody made a mistake when he was still in the bottle-thought he was a Gamma and put alcohol into his blood-surrogate. That’s why he’s so stunted”(Huxley 46). Bernard was the epitome of individualism because he was not at all like the rest of the Alphas, which in turn made him repel every other person. Later on, Bernard gave up his individuality for fame and became just like the rest of the Alphas, “And I had six girls last week,...One on Monday, two on Tuesday, two more on Friday, and one on Saturday. And if I’d had the time or the inclination, there were at least a dozen more who were only too anxious…”(Huxley 158-159). Bernard was induced by fame to be the same as the rest of the civilian and be one with the utopia. He was a perfect threat to this perfect world because of his distant and awkward nature, but his conformity made him just like the rest of the Alphas and an individual no longer.
Science has been a tool that has helped in a plethora of ways, but it has also been used as a means to harm. In the case of Brave New World it is used to maintain control and stability. Biology, chemistry, physiology, and psychology are the sciences that Huxley describes in the novel in order to control and maintain structure so that the utopia can truly be perfect. Mustapha needs to have this society as controlled as possible in order for his beliefs-which are revered as perfect and ideal-to be implemented onto his people. Biology and physiology are used in order to make more citizens in the lab through the Bokanovsky process and keep the population balanced. Chemistry is used to make the famous drug called soma that balances one’s feelings and prevents fights, jealousy, and even elatedness. Psychology is then used with the hypnopaedic voices that tell each caste member their role in life since an early age and condition them to do specific things. Though the Controllers utilize these sciences, they are not comfortable with the idea of change, thus not open to an idea of actual progress. What the World State manipulates for their own propaganda is not science, but technology that has been known to be effective. The World State also wants to preserve the scientific study because they know that if extensive research is ever conducted, they will not be able to control what they might discover afterwards. “They'll grow up with what the psychologists used to call an 'instinctive' hatred of books and flowers. Reflexes unalterably conditioned. They'll be safe from books and botany all their lives." The Director turned to his nurses. "Take them away again"(Huxley 26). Nature does not have any real meaning in this world, the people can not have their own true feelings because they have been constantly programmed to think a certain way instead of thinking for themselves.
The use of control and structure in Brave New World is heavily expressed throughout the entire novel. Three themes follow this: the possibility or need to create a utopia, the understanding of what it means to be an individual, and the malpractice of science. A utopia will never be achieved because too many people have different ways of thinking. Similarly, the Democrats and Republicans both want what's best for the country, they just have two different perspectives on how they will achieve that. The perfect world will only be perfect if it is not perfect. Individuality is a hard thing to come by, especially in a society where everything was given to one since the moment they had their first breath of oxygen. The way one thinks has been controlled through constant repetition that it is bored through their minds in order for them to never forget. The cloning process makes it impossible for anyone to be truly unique. Science is used to preserve the technology that has been seen to work efficiently. When one thinks of science, it is usually for the advancement or progress of the world. Science in this case has been used to assiduously keep control of the actions and way of thinking of every single person. The perfect world will never exist, too many people have different ways of thinking, that is why tyrants do what is necessary for their people to be completely ignorant, making them not know what else to think.
Though there are many themes presented in the novel, there are three that stand out throughout the storyline. The idea of a utopia, the true meaning of individuality, and the use of science in order to control the populus were themes that continuously appeared during the book. The idea that there can be a society that incorporates the ideas of every single inhabitant by superficial descriptions and liberal laws that do not serve primarily to punish or maintain order. A utopia can never be fully affirmed because there will always be at least one person not pleased with how things are being handled. Being able to call oneself an individual takes a lot of time and self reflection. An individual makes a society filled with diverse people and various ideals. Individuality is the worst possible enemy a utopia can face because it now confronts an anomaly that threatens the structure of the perfect world. Science is an art that was utilized in this world to bestow order and control on the citizens of the World State. Science has many possible uses, both benevolent and malevolent. The advancement and the destruction of society can both be achieved by the use of Science.
The idea of a perfect world has not been thought by one author, but by many others for sure. An ideal society is what any person would want, but will never have. Being able to have a perfect world where everything one desires is fulfilled will never exist because so many people want different things. Human desire is infinite but the resources in order to satiate them will never be able to amount to the vast amount of desires one comes up with. Another reason a utopia will never be able to exist is because not everyone will be able to conform to the ideas and principles that are enforced to its people. There will always be those outliers and outcasts that no matter how hard they try to adapt to the perfect society, it is simply impossible for them to appear exactly like the rest. Social outcasts get their name because they are not like the rest. In order for a society to be perfect, everything needs to go according to plan and excruciatingly uniform so that no differences in the system can ever happen. A utopia requires that everything be the same and that no change can happen, with the exception of the change being positive for the entire populus. John is the symbol of extreme dissimilitude in both societies he experienced. He was never comfortable in neither the Savage world nor the “civilized world”. In both places, John was judged by his appearance, one for the better and the other for the worse, but nonetheless his countenance and mien were major factors of the way he was perceived. His thinking was then the ultimate reason as to why he was an outcast in both worlds. John was always in the middle of both worlds, never completely submerged on one side or the other. He never assimilated to the laws of either worlds, to the point where he just wanted to be away in solitude from both worlds. “Anywhere. I don’t care. So long as I can be alone”(Huxley 250). John was never able to fit in both societies because he was one of the very few people that was able to experience another world and that is why he had so many questions and different reactions towards this “perfect civilization.” John saw the world through a different perspective which is why he never saw the World State as perfect and will never see it as a utopia. He then realized that this world in general will always make him feel displaced, “But I don’t want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin”(Huxley 246). He obviously knows that he will never be able to get the things he want in the society he is currently living in. John is explaining to Mustapha Mond that basically he is an unhappy citizen making the World State not a utopia because it is not being an ideal place for every single person inhabiting it. Again, John is depicted as the threat to the utopia that the Controller's have worked so hard to attain.
Individuality is the only thing that distinguishes people in the real world. We are all people but with individuality, some might have statuses as notorious or very important. A celebrity is a person, the actions and profession makes them a widely known person, but is still just a person. The actions one commits and even the habiliments one wears have a huge impact on being considered an individual. Contemporary people are not really individuals because they just follow what is in style and copy that exact image. Same with the World State, most of the people with jobs do their duties well, but do not know how to do anything else beside their specific role. Bernard was seen as a weird and isolated individual because of how he acted and looked. Because of this individualism that Bernard presented, people did not want to be around him because they were not supposed to be related to those who were not the same or acting alike as the rest. Bernard for the longest was seen as the outcast that nobody liked, “They say somebody made a mistake when he was still in the bottle-thought he was a Gamma and put alcohol into his blood-surrogate. That’s why he’s so stunted”(Huxley 46). Bernard was the epitome of individualism because he was not at all like the rest of the Alphas, which in turn made him repel every other person. Later on, Bernard gave up his individuality for fame and became just like the rest of the Alphas, “And I had six girls last week,...One on Monday, two on Tuesday, two more on Friday, and one on Saturday. And if I’d had the time or the inclination, there were at least a dozen more who were only too anxious…”(Huxley 158-159). Bernard was induced by fame to be the same as the rest of the civilian and be one with the utopia. He was a perfect threat to this perfect world because of his distant and awkward nature, but his conformity made him just like the rest of the Alphas and an individual no longer.
Science has been a tool that has helped in a plethora of ways, but it has also been used as a means to harm. In the case of Brave New World it is used to maintain control and stability. Biology, chemistry, physiology, and psychology are the sciences that Huxley describes in the novel in order to control and maintain structure so that the utopia can truly be perfect. Mustapha needs to have this society as controlled as possible in order for his beliefs-which are revered as perfect and ideal-to be implemented onto his people. Biology and physiology are used in order to make more citizens in the lab through the Bokanovsky process and keep the population balanced. Chemistry is used to make the famous drug called soma that balances one’s feelings and prevents fights, jealousy, and even elatedness. Psychology is then used with the hypnopaedic voices that tell each caste member their role in life since an early age and condition them to do specific things. Though the Controllers utilize these sciences, they are not comfortable with the idea of change, thus not open to an idea of actual progress. What the World State manipulates for their own propaganda is not science, but technology that has been known to be effective. The World State also wants to preserve the scientific study because they know that if extensive research is ever conducted, they will not be able to control what they might discover afterwards. “They'll grow up with what the psychologists used to call an 'instinctive' hatred of books and flowers. Reflexes unalterably conditioned. They'll be safe from books and botany all their lives." The Director turned to his nurses. "Take them away again"(Huxley 26). Nature does not have any real meaning in this world, the people can not have their own true feelings because they have been constantly programmed to think a certain way instead of thinking for themselves.
The use of control and structure in Brave New World is heavily expressed throughout the entire novel. Three themes follow this: the possibility or need to create a utopia, the understanding of what it means to be an individual, and the malpractice of science. A utopia will never be achieved because too many people have different ways of thinking. Similarly, the Democrats and Republicans both want what's best for the country, they just have two different perspectives on how they will achieve that. The perfect world will only be perfect if it is not perfect. Individuality is a hard thing to come by, especially in a society where everything was given to one since the moment they had their first breath of oxygen. The way one thinks has been controlled through constant repetition that it is bored through their minds in order for them to never forget. The cloning process makes it impossible for anyone to be truly unique. Science is used to preserve the technology that has been seen to work efficiently. When one thinks of science, it is usually for the advancement or progress of the world. Science in this case has been used to assiduously keep control of the actions and way of thinking of every single person. The perfect world will never exist, too many people have different ways of thinking, that is why tyrants do what is necessary for their people to be completely ignorant, making them not know what else to think.
Project for Environmental Science, Creating My Own Species
The species that I chose to create is a combination of three animals: a snake, narwhal, and Scarlet Macaw. I have named this animal the Horned Flying Snake because it has two horns and large wings for flight. The reason I chose these three animals was because I wanted to see how a snake with wings would look like and for the narwhal is animal that I have always wanted to see how it could be fused with any other animal. Another reason why I picked these animals is because I knew that combined they would make the best predator that has nothing to fear from any other animal. As the alpha predator, the Horned Flying Snake will always be at the top of the food chain. The only predator this animal has are humans. The unique wing colors are mainly found on the Scarlet Macaw, while the split-flat tail is exactly like the one found in narwhals. The beak and fangs make up the oral region of the Horned Flying Snake’s face. The snake’s skin color is mainly a greenish-light blue because of the plethora of green leaves found in the tropical jungle. The underside of the animal is a light blue that represents the sky as it soars at astounding speeds.
Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles that are most identified by their legless and slender body morphology. Having two large fangs in their upper jaw, they use them to bite prey and insert venom, paralyzing them for consumption. While there are snakes that have venomous fangs, there are also snakes that mainly use constriction in order to confine their victims and kill them slowly and painfully. Constrictors are typically thick because they need the heavy and large muscles in order to properly crush their prey and easily eat them whole. These legless reptiles are found mainly in jungles, deserts, and savannah. Jungle snakes hide in the large leaves that the jungle provides them with and wait for unsuspecting prey to come nearby and catch them when the time is right. Desert snakes such as sidewinders have to face the harsh and arid environment that deserts are know for. Incoming sandstorms means that the sidewinder has to bury itself in the ground and wait out the incoming sandy tempest. Savannah snakes-much like jungle snakes-use the dry foliage to hide themselves and strike when least expected. The most common diet for snakes would consist of: mice, rabbits, lizards, other snakes, small birds, and small mammals such as capybaras for the larger ones. With no eyelids, the snake appears to be staring at one when it is asleep. Nerves that would commonly perceive light to the brain are shut off making the entire body deactivate when it is time to sleep. When attacking, this animal’s defenses are its fangs, muscular body, and whip-like tail.
Narwhals live in specific locations like Canada, Greenland, and Russia, meaning that they are not found in every ocean or region around the world like snakes. Narwhal look like small whales with one large tusk that resembles a unicorn’s horn. These creatures live in the the cold waters that humans typically stay away from, making them not have much of a human’s influence. Unlike most whales and other marine mammals, the narwhal does not have dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is used so that the animal does not roll over and help it turn quicklier. Narwhal can be seen frolicking in the water swimming in all directions. Because of the absence of the dorsal fins, these narwhals can not make sudden turns, hence the reason they attack head-on. Their long protruding tusk is their form of defense and their weapon for hunting. When narwhals fight, it is like watching a jousting match about to go down. One narwhal will most likely get more of the impaling than the other, and will most likely die in an instant. Their diet mainly consist of fish that can survive in the frigid waters. Some of their favorite meals are: flatfish, Arctic cod, and the Greenland Halibut.
The tropical jungles found in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil are the main jungles that the Scarlet macaw chooses to live in. This docile bird is particularly a vegetarian-its diet consisting of pure plants. The main things it consumes are: nuts, leaves, and berries. With a strong black beak, cracking nuts and hard berries comes with ease for this bird. Because it is a vegetarian, this animal is classified as a primary consumer and its most common predators are boa constrictors or other large birds of prey. Having a main red plumage and a variety of colors on the wings, the Scarlet Macaw is definitely an animal that stands out. Being able to stand out so well means that the bird is going to have some sort of defenses. With sharp talons and large wings, this docile bird turns rather violent when it sees monkeys or other birds going to the same tree for food. The long tail is another significant trait that can be found on the Scarlet Macaw. The long tail helps in the bird stay balanced when it is taking flight and during flight.
The Horned Flying Snake or Serpentes aviantus is the main predator in the tropical jungle. The dense and verdant jungle is the main reason why the Horned Flying Snake’s body is green. Being able to slither and fly at the same time allows this snake to be seen almost everyone. Some can be seen flying around the canopies of trees and other can be seen relaxing in the branches of small trees. The main diet of this animal is almost everything that inhabits the tropical jungle. Monkeys, birds, snakes, frogs, lizards and other animals make a buffet for the Horned Flying Snake. Seeing this winged snake capture prey and kill it, is a truly gruesome sight. If this animal sees a rather large bird, it first chases it around to tire it down, never leaving it out of sight. Having falcon-like eyesight allows this creature to magnify its vision and spot the animal it was chasing. When it sees the animal is tired and is about the land, the horned snake immediately dive in on the bird and jabs it with its two horns. Dying almost immediately, the snake has to be quick and get its food before it falls on the densely vegetated jungle floor. if the prey is rather small, the snake swoops in and constricts the animal with the bottom portion of its body. Having it in its grasp, the winged snake then repeatedly jabs the prey while flying in there. It then slowly consumes the prey whole, even munching on the bones. The hard beak it has makes crushing and gnawing at bones that much simpler. When seen in the trees, it acts like a regular snake would in the jungle environment. Waiting for prey to come by, except this time it does not really use its horns. This time the Horned Flying Snake utilizes its venomous fangs to insert a neurotoxin that paralyzes the unaware animal. Another way it can find prey is through its tongue. This thin and lengthy pronged tongue helps it smell nearby prey. The underside of this snake is light blue so that when it is flying, prey underneath just assume it is a Scarlet Macaw for the same wing pattern is on this animal. A smart strategy that this snake does not take for granted is the fact that its wings look identical to the wings of a Scarlet Macaw. Pretending to be that docile and herbivorous animal, prey do not get a feeling of danger when they see the large wings of this animal flying over them. The main predator of this animal is humans, they love to take its horn because it is made of ivory. The ivory horn is very valuable, making it a target for greedy poachers. Currently the species is healthy and no where near the endangered status.
The Horned Flying Snake is an animal mixed up three other animals: narwhal, snake ,and Scarlet Macaw. The overall inspiration of this animal was to see how a flying snake might live in the jungle, and adding the horns made it look extra cooler and powerful. Being the top predator of the food chain, the horned snake does not have to worry about being predated on. The narwhal portion of this creature comes up with the two horns on its head and the flat-split tail that ends the animal’s body. The Scarlet Macaw comes in with the sharp beak and the grandiose colorful wings. The snake is best represented by the body morphology, pronged tongue, and venomous fangs. The only thing this animal fears is the ambition of humans. This animal’s habitat is the jungle and has a wonderful time chasing prey in the sky for hours.
The species that I chose to create is a combination of three animals: a snake, narwhal, and Scarlet Macaw. I have named this animal the Horned Flying Snake because it has two horns and large wings for flight. The reason I chose these three animals was because I wanted to see how a snake with wings would look like and for the narwhal is animal that I have always wanted to see how it could be fused with any other animal. Another reason why I picked these animals is because I knew that combined they would make the best predator that has nothing to fear from any other animal. As the alpha predator, the Horned Flying Snake will always be at the top of the food chain. The only predator this animal has are humans. The unique wing colors are mainly found on the Scarlet Macaw, while the split-flat tail is exactly like the one found in narwhals. The beak and fangs make up the oral region of the Horned Flying Snake’s face. The snake’s skin color is mainly a greenish-light blue because of the plethora of green leaves found in the tropical jungle. The underside of the animal is a light blue that represents the sky as it soars at astounding speeds.
Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles that are most identified by their legless and slender body morphology. Having two large fangs in their upper jaw, they use them to bite prey and insert venom, paralyzing them for consumption. While there are snakes that have venomous fangs, there are also snakes that mainly use constriction in order to confine their victims and kill them slowly and painfully. Constrictors are typically thick because they need the heavy and large muscles in order to properly crush their prey and easily eat them whole. These legless reptiles are found mainly in jungles, deserts, and savannah. Jungle snakes hide in the large leaves that the jungle provides them with and wait for unsuspecting prey to come nearby and catch them when the time is right. Desert snakes such as sidewinders have to face the harsh and arid environment that deserts are know for. Incoming sandstorms means that the sidewinder has to bury itself in the ground and wait out the incoming sandy tempest. Savannah snakes-much like jungle snakes-use the dry foliage to hide themselves and strike when least expected. The most common diet for snakes would consist of: mice, rabbits, lizards, other snakes, small birds, and small mammals such as capybaras for the larger ones. With no eyelids, the snake appears to be staring at one when it is asleep. Nerves that would commonly perceive light to the brain are shut off making the entire body deactivate when it is time to sleep. When attacking, this animal’s defenses are its fangs, muscular body, and whip-like tail.
Narwhals live in specific locations like Canada, Greenland, and Russia, meaning that they are not found in every ocean or region around the world like snakes. Narwhal look like small whales with one large tusk that resembles a unicorn’s horn. These creatures live in the the cold waters that humans typically stay away from, making them not have much of a human’s influence. Unlike most whales and other marine mammals, the narwhal does not have dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is used so that the animal does not roll over and help it turn quicklier. Narwhal can be seen frolicking in the water swimming in all directions. Because of the absence of the dorsal fins, these narwhals can not make sudden turns, hence the reason they attack head-on. Their long protruding tusk is their form of defense and their weapon for hunting. When narwhals fight, it is like watching a jousting match about to go down. One narwhal will most likely get more of the impaling than the other, and will most likely die in an instant. Their diet mainly consist of fish that can survive in the frigid waters. Some of their favorite meals are: flatfish, Arctic cod, and the Greenland Halibut.
The tropical jungles found in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil are the main jungles that the Scarlet macaw chooses to live in. This docile bird is particularly a vegetarian-its diet consisting of pure plants. The main things it consumes are: nuts, leaves, and berries. With a strong black beak, cracking nuts and hard berries comes with ease for this bird. Because it is a vegetarian, this animal is classified as a primary consumer and its most common predators are boa constrictors or other large birds of prey. Having a main red plumage and a variety of colors on the wings, the Scarlet Macaw is definitely an animal that stands out. Being able to stand out so well means that the bird is going to have some sort of defenses. With sharp talons and large wings, this docile bird turns rather violent when it sees monkeys or other birds going to the same tree for food. The long tail is another significant trait that can be found on the Scarlet Macaw. The long tail helps in the bird stay balanced when it is taking flight and during flight.
The Horned Flying Snake or Serpentes aviantus is the main predator in the tropical jungle. The dense and verdant jungle is the main reason why the Horned Flying Snake’s body is green. Being able to slither and fly at the same time allows this snake to be seen almost everyone. Some can be seen flying around the canopies of trees and other can be seen relaxing in the branches of small trees. The main diet of this animal is almost everything that inhabits the tropical jungle. Monkeys, birds, snakes, frogs, lizards and other animals make a buffet for the Horned Flying Snake. Seeing this winged snake capture prey and kill it, is a truly gruesome sight. If this animal sees a rather large bird, it first chases it around to tire it down, never leaving it out of sight. Having falcon-like eyesight allows this creature to magnify its vision and spot the animal it was chasing. When it sees the animal is tired and is about the land, the horned snake immediately dive in on the bird and jabs it with its two horns. Dying almost immediately, the snake has to be quick and get its food before it falls on the densely vegetated jungle floor. if the prey is rather small, the snake swoops in and constricts the animal with the bottom portion of its body. Having it in its grasp, the winged snake then repeatedly jabs the prey while flying in there. It then slowly consumes the prey whole, even munching on the bones. The hard beak it has makes crushing and gnawing at bones that much simpler. When seen in the trees, it acts like a regular snake would in the jungle environment. Waiting for prey to come by, except this time it does not really use its horns. This time the Horned Flying Snake utilizes its venomous fangs to insert a neurotoxin that paralyzes the unaware animal. Another way it can find prey is through its tongue. This thin and lengthy pronged tongue helps it smell nearby prey. The underside of this snake is light blue so that when it is flying, prey underneath just assume it is a Scarlet Macaw for the same wing pattern is on this animal. A smart strategy that this snake does not take for granted is the fact that its wings look identical to the wings of a Scarlet Macaw. Pretending to be that docile and herbivorous animal, prey do not get a feeling of danger when they see the large wings of this animal flying over them. The main predator of this animal is humans, they love to take its horn because it is made of ivory. The ivory horn is very valuable, making it a target for greedy poachers. Currently the species is healthy and no where near the endangered status.
The Horned Flying Snake is an animal mixed up three other animals: narwhal, snake ,and Scarlet Macaw. The overall inspiration of this animal was to see how a flying snake might live in the jungle, and adding the horns made it look extra cooler and powerful. Being the top predator of the food chain, the horned snake does not have to worry about being predated on. The narwhal portion of this creature comes up with the two horns on its head and the flat-split tail that ends the animal’s body. The Scarlet Macaw comes in with the sharp beak and the grandiose colorful wings. The snake is best represented by the body morphology, pronged tongue, and venomous fangs. The only thing this animal fears is the ambition of humans. This animal’s habitat is the jungle and has a wonderful time chasing prey in the sky for hours.
Ninth Article for Journalism about the Zika Virus
What’s Zika?
by Steven Garcia
The Zika virus is an apparently mosquito-borne virus. The virus was first detected in Uganda in 1947-named after the Zika forest where it was found-in rhesus monkeys through monitoring a system of sylvatic (relating to certain diseases when contracted by wild animals) yellow fever. Afterwards, it was found in humans in 1952 in Uganda and in the United Republic of Tanzania. Most of the outbreaks have been in Africa, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, and Asia.
This virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito from the genus Aedes. This mosquito has also been known for carrying dengue fever and yellow fever.
The first outbreak reported outside of Africa was in the Pacific in 2007; it reappeared in the same place in 2013. It was later reported in the Americas in 2015. Thirteen other countries in the Americas have reported the sporadic appearances of the typical behaviors of this virus.
In May 2015, officials reported the first occurrence of the Zika virus in Brazil. Local mosquito-borne exchange of the virus has also been reported in Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean as well as in American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean.
Reports about Zika in the United States have been plentiful in Florida, New York, and Texas. These refer to people who have reported that there is Zika not necessarily that the people have acquired the virus. In Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, these cases are confirmed because the people have been afflicted by it.
The incubation period (the time from exposure to the signs of affliction) is ambiguous, but most likely a few days. Some of the symptoms include: fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, and headache. These symptoms are usually not that serious and last for about 2-7 days. One way to know if a person has the virus is to ascertain the symptoms and then to know the area of the world to which person has recently traveled; of particular importance, is whether the area is known to have contained the virus. Another way to tell if someone has been infected with the Zika virus is to have a test done by a laboratory to confirm whether the virus has been contracted.
One way to to prevent the Zika virus from spreading is by reducing the amount of reproducing sites for mosquitoes. Standing water serves as a breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes. Buckets left out for a week after a rain can be a spawning ground for a lot of mosquito larva that will mature and contract the virus passing it on to the human population.
To avoid being bitten, it is vital to wear insect repellent, light-colored clothing that covers most of the body, and to keep windows and doors sealed.
Because the Zika virus does not have life threatening symptoms, it does not require specific treatment. Once a person has been infected by the Zika virus, there is a high probability that he or she will be protected from future infections. According to Everyday Health “10 Essential Facts About the Zika Virus,” written by Jennifer J. Brown, PhD, “For most people, the Zika virus causes only a brief, mild flu-like illness. But new research points to a possible connection to higher rates of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks nerves following an infection, causing muscle weakness and paralysis.” Some helpful ways to aid recovery include: getting a lot of rest, drinking lots of fluids, and using common analgesics for pain. If; however, the symptoms get worse, it is important to consult a doctor. To this date, there is no vaccine for the Zika virus.
For women that are pregnant, extreme caution is recommended when traveling because of the Zika’s harmful effects on the unborn fetus. It is highly recommended that pregnant women returning from Zika infested countries take a test to confirm whether she has contracted the virus. There have been reports of serious cases of birth defects connected with Zika. If a pregnant woman has the infection, it is likely that it will spread to the fetus.
The type of birth defect most often reported is one affecting the fetus’ brain called microcephaly. Microcephaly has been known to make the heads of babies smaller than what is normal for both the age and sex. This congenital (present from birth) disease is usually a sign that the brain did not develop normally during pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “An infant or child who has traveled to or resided in an area with ongoing transmission of Zika virus is at risk for Zika virus infection. Additionally, an infant whose mother was infected with Zika virus during pregnancy is at risk for Zika virus infection in utero.”
by Steven Garcia
The Zika virus is an apparently mosquito-borne virus. The virus was first detected in Uganda in 1947-named after the Zika forest where it was found-in rhesus monkeys through monitoring a system of sylvatic (relating to certain diseases when contracted by wild animals) yellow fever. Afterwards, it was found in humans in 1952 in Uganda and in the United Republic of Tanzania. Most of the outbreaks have been in Africa, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, and Asia.
This virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito from the genus Aedes. This mosquito has also been known for carrying dengue fever and yellow fever.
The first outbreak reported outside of Africa was in the Pacific in 2007; it reappeared in the same place in 2013. It was later reported in the Americas in 2015. Thirteen other countries in the Americas have reported the sporadic appearances of the typical behaviors of this virus.
In May 2015, officials reported the first occurrence of the Zika virus in Brazil. Local mosquito-borne exchange of the virus has also been reported in Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean as well as in American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean.
Reports about Zika in the United States have been plentiful in Florida, New York, and Texas. These refer to people who have reported that there is Zika not necessarily that the people have acquired the virus. In Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, these cases are confirmed because the people have been afflicted by it.
The incubation period (the time from exposure to the signs of affliction) is ambiguous, but most likely a few days. Some of the symptoms include: fever, skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, and headache. These symptoms are usually not that serious and last for about 2-7 days. One way to know if a person has the virus is to ascertain the symptoms and then to know the area of the world to which person has recently traveled; of particular importance, is whether the area is known to have contained the virus. Another way to tell if someone has been infected with the Zika virus is to have a test done by a laboratory to confirm whether the virus has been contracted.
One way to to prevent the Zika virus from spreading is by reducing the amount of reproducing sites for mosquitoes. Standing water serves as a breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes. Buckets left out for a week after a rain can be a spawning ground for a lot of mosquito larva that will mature and contract the virus passing it on to the human population.
To avoid being bitten, it is vital to wear insect repellent, light-colored clothing that covers most of the body, and to keep windows and doors sealed.
Because the Zika virus does not have life threatening symptoms, it does not require specific treatment. Once a person has been infected by the Zika virus, there is a high probability that he or she will be protected from future infections. According to Everyday Health “10 Essential Facts About the Zika Virus,” written by Jennifer J. Brown, PhD, “For most people, the Zika virus causes only a brief, mild flu-like illness. But new research points to a possible connection to higher rates of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks nerves following an infection, causing muscle weakness and paralysis.” Some helpful ways to aid recovery include: getting a lot of rest, drinking lots of fluids, and using common analgesics for pain. If; however, the symptoms get worse, it is important to consult a doctor. To this date, there is no vaccine for the Zika virus.
For women that are pregnant, extreme caution is recommended when traveling because of the Zika’s harmful effects on the unborn fetus. It is highly recommended that pregnant women returning from Zika infested countries take a test to confirm whether she has contracted the virus. There have been reports of serious cases of birth defects connected with Zika. If a pregnant woman has the infection, it is likely that it will spread to the fetus.
The type of birth defect most often reported is one affecting the fetus’ brain called microcephaly. Microcephaly has been known to make the heads of babies smaller than what is normal for both the age and sex. This congenital (present from birth) disease is usually a sign that the brain did not develop normally during pregnancy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “An infant or child who has traveled to or resided in an area with ongoing transmission of Zika virus is at risk for Zika virus infection. Additionally, an infant whose mother was infected with Zika virus during pregnancy is at risk for Zika virus infection in utero.”