Leaderboard

Did you know jellyfish don't have a brain? They also don't have hearts or a central nervous system. They do however have a collective of nerves forming a nerve net. This allows them to sense and respond to stimuli such as touch, light, and temperature. Despite this, they can still perform complex behaviors, including swimming, feeding, and even learning. These are just a few facts I'm going to go over about jellyfish in this blog entry. Let's start off with a few basic facts about jellyfish. They are about 95% water. They have no brain, heart, or bones. Their tentacles are covered in tiny stinging cells called nematocysts. These cells fire microscopic harpoons that inject venom. They mostly drift with ocean currents rather than actively swimming long distances. Jellyfish have existed for over 500 million years, making them older than dinosaurs and some species have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The box jellyfish is one of the most venomous marine animals in the world. The species known as the “immortal jellyfish”, Turritopsis dohrnii, can revert back to its juvenile form after reaching adulthood, potentially repeating its life cycle. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now I'll go ahead and do a myth vs. fact jellyfish addition too. Myth #1: All jellyfish are deadly. Fact: Most jellyfish stings are painful but not life-threatening to humans. However, species like the box jellyfish can be extremely venomous. Myth #2: If it’s dead, it can’t sting you. Fact: Even dead jellyfish can still sting. Their stinging cells (nematocysts) can fire after the jellyfish has washed ashore. Myth #3: Jellyfish are fish. Fact: Despite the name, jellyfish are not fish. They’re in the phylum Cnidaria, making them more closely related to corals and sea anemones. Myth #4: Jellyfish don’t have eyes. Fact: Some species do! Certain box jellyfish species have surprisingly complex eyes that can detect light and shapes. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Box Jellyfish This section will be dedicated to the box jellyfish, the most deadly of the jellyfish. Currently we know of around 51 species of the box jellyfish which are grouped into 2 orders and 8 families. Stings from some species, including Chironex fleckeri, Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi, and a few others, are extremely painful and often fatal to humans. This venom is delivered by contact with it's tentacles. The most venomous box jellyfish is the Chironex fleckeri, commonly known as the Australian box jellyfish or sea wasp. It has extremely potent venom that attacks the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. and the more severe stings can cause intense pain, cardiac complications, and in rare cases, can be fatal if not treated quickly. It’s primarily found in the coastal waters of northern Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Immortal Jellyfish The immortal jellyfish is the species Turritopsis dohrnii and it’s famous for its unusual ability to essentially “reset” its life cycle. It can revert from its adult stage back to its juvenile polyp stage and it can do this process multiple times. This process is called transdifferentiation, where specialized cells transform into different types of cells. When stressed, injured, or nearing the end of its life, it can transform its adult cells back into immature cells and return to its earlier polyp stage. From there, it can grow into a new adult again. Is it truly "immortal"? No, not really. It can still die from things like predators, disease, or environmental changes too. These jellyfish are actually super tiny, about the size of your pinky nail. Scientists are currently studying them to learn more about aging, cellular regeneration, and stem cell processes. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Moon Jelly This is the most common species of jellies, and likely one you've seen. This species is hardy and super easy to care for, and often found in aquariums. It's found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide and most common in bays, estuaries, harbors, and coastal waters. Usually about 10–16 inches (25–40 cm) across. Has relatively mild venom, generally harmless to humans. Feeds mostly on plankton and small marine organisms. Moves by gently pulsing its bell, drifting with currents. Good news, you can have these as pets. Here's a few key things to know or have if you're going to do that: You're going to need a kreisel tank and they cannot live in regular tanks and thrive. These types of tanks will allow them to float suspended in the water, prevents them from getting stuck in corners, and creates a gentle current for them that they need to survive. Moon jellies are very soft-bodied and they can tear easily if they touch any type of hard surface or filters. They are very sensitive to water quality. Because of this you'll need to keep the tank temperature around 60–70F (15–21C). Of course, it will have to be a salt water tank with strong filtration and keep the water clean at all times. Clean water is critical because jellyfish have no immune system like vertebrates. For food, they'll eat mostly baby brine shrimp or specialized jellyfish food blends you can order online and they'll need to be fed 1-2 times daily. Because they lack complex digestive systems, uneaten food must be cleaned out quickly to prevent water quality issues. Keep in mind, even though they look simple enough to care for, they are not beginner pets and require a lot of care and work. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ To end, I'll leave you with a few pictures I took of jellyfish at the Ripley's Aquarium.

Tonight's blog is all about the farm animals of the ocean, sea bunnies, sea sheep, and even sea pigs. These are three adorable, oddly named creatures that sound like they belong in a barnyard but actually can be found on the sea floor. Yes they have fuzzy "ears", leafy "wool", and even look like little pig blobs, but they have almost nothing in common except for the cuteness factor. So, if you've never heard about these weird little guys before, and you're unsure what they look like, here are some pictures of each, and some facts about each species to start off with. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sea Bunnies The "fur" is actually composed of tiny, rod-like structures called caryophyllidia, which act as sensory organs. The two antenna-like appendages on their head are called rhinophores, used to detect chemical scents in the water to find food and mates. Sea bunnies are toxic. They consume sponges containing toxins and store these compounds in their bodies as a defense mechanism, making them unpalatable to predators. So don't be confused by how cute and fluffy they look, however although toxic, they are generally considered harmless to humans, but their delicate bodies should never be touched. While they are usually white with black spots, they also appear in yellow, orange, or brown varieties. They are very small, usually measuring less than 1 inch (2.54 cm). They are found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Despite their name, they are marine mollusks and do not have gills like a fish; they have exposed, feather-like gills on their rear. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sea Pigs: They inhabit the deepest parts of the ocean, often called the abyss, across the globe. They are deposit feeders, eating decaying organic matter, bacteria, and carcasses that fall to the seafloor. Their skin is toxic, containing chemicals that can break down red blood cells, which helps protect them from predators. They move in large groups, often facing the same direction to navigate currents, and sometimes act as "babysitters" for juvenile crabs that hide on their backs. Generally 1.5 to 6 inches (4 to 15 cm), though they can reach up to 8 inches. They are found on the ocean floor at depths of 4,000 to 16,000 feet. They are actually a type of deep-sea cucumber. While they share the "sea" name, they are distinct from sea slugs (which are gastropod mollusks) and belong to a different phylum entirely. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sea Sheep (The Leaf Sheep) Found in shallow tropical waters near Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is famous for being one of the only animals in the world that can photosynthesize, using stolen chloroplasts from algae (a process called kleptoplasty) to convert sunlight into energy. First discovered in 1993 near Japan's Kuroshima Island. Found in shallow tropical waters, they feed exclusively on Avrainvillea algae. They often graze together like a herd of sheep and group together with other sea sheep. They have an average lifespan of 6-12 months. These slugs are hermaphroditic organisms, meaning they are both female and male. Also, leaf sheep can lay between 2,000 and 4,000 eggs. The eggs hatch in four days. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I hope you enjoyed learning a few things about these cute creatures, and tomorrow's blog will include some photography of fish I've taken myself

Today's blog is going to be about one of the strangest creatures inhabiting the ocean - the goblin shark. With its elongated snout, pale skin, and a jaw that can snap forward in an instant, it looks more like something from a science fiction movie than a real fish that should be in the ocean. This lil guy is rarely seen and not a lot is known about it, yet this mysterious shark has been swimming in our oceans for over 125 million years, earning its nickname as a “living fossil.” They are from an ancient family called the Mitsukurinidae family from the early Cretaceous period, and they haven't changed much since they coexisted right along side the dinosaurs and are the last remaining species of their kind. Why haven't they changed much in millions of years? That's due to their habitat - living in the deep sea - an environment that is incredibly stable compared to the surface world. Down there, temperatures are cold, light is nearly nonexistent, and conditions don’t fluctuate dramatically over time. When an environment stays consistent for millions of years, animals that are already well adapted to it don’t face strong evolutionary pressure to change, thus is the case for the goblin shark. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A few quick facts about the goblin shark species: Goblin sharks live in deep water, usually 300–4,000 feet below the surface. Their skin looks pink because their blood vessels show through their semi-transparent skin. They have a long, flattened snout filled with electroreceptors that help them detect prey in total darkness. Their jaws can shoot forward in less than a second to grab prey. This makes it one of the fastest jaw projections among sharks. They mainly eat deep-sea fish, squid, and crustaceans. Goblin sharks can grow up to about 10–13 feet long, though most are smaller. They are rarely seen alive because they live so deep in the ocean. The first goblin shark was discovered off the coast of Japan in 1898. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The goblin shark is a big reminder about how much we don't know about our planet, or the species that reside here along side us. Living close to 125 million years, but never seen by human eyes until little over a hundred years ago, and living at such depths that they are still rarely seen today. Pictures and information about them are extremely rare, and most of what scientists understand comes from the few specimens accidentally caught in deep sea fishing nets. Until technology allows us to explore the deep ocean more freely, the goblin shark will likely remain one of the sea’s most mysterious and least understood predators. Although the goblin shark may look intimidating, it poses no real threat to humans. Its survival across millions of years highlights how stable and mysterious the deep ocean environment truly is. Studying species like the goblin shark not only helps scientists understand marine ecosystems, but also reminds us of the importance of protecting habitats we don't know all that much about yet.

Recently I was talking a lot of fish talk with @Kazuma Satou and @Zariel and it gave me an idea for some new blog entries. I haven't updated my blog in awhile, and I've pretty much done all blog entries of photography I've taken, so this is a new one for me. Since I'm studying fish and working towards a PhD in Marine Sciences, I thought it would be fun to do several entries focused on fishy friends and fun fishy facts It won't be all fish, I'll also focus on different types of marine life as well. I want to try to do one entry a day this week, mostly to brush up on facts myself and this helps with my studies too so it's win/win. Maybe someone can learn something too or at least be entertained for a few minutes Today I will talk about the almighty Mola Mola, otherwise known as a sunfish. These are my absolute favorite fish simply because they look so dorky and are silly little guys (I like my fish how I like my men, what can I say? LOL). If you've never seen one, they look like someone didn't know what a fish looked like and tried to draw one: A few quick facts about the Ocean Sunfish: They weigh between 250 - 1,000 KG (or 545 - 2,200 pounds). They can be up to 1.8m long (around 5ft 10 inches), and specimens up to 3.3m (10ft, 10 inches) tall have been recorded from fin-to-fin height. The largest one on record was records in New Zealand and weighed 2,300 KG (5,100 pounds). Sunfish are not wide and have virtually no width and are a flat fish. It recieved its name because it likes to sunbathe on top of the water and is commonly seen floating around at the surface of the water. In German, it is also referred to as Schwimmender Kopf, or "swimming head", and in Polish, it is named samogłów, meaning "head alone", because it has no true tail. The earliest known fossils of the sunfish date back to the Holocene period, around 11,700 years ago. There is a freshwater version of sunfish but it is not related to the Mola Mola and is part of the Centrarchidae family. The Sunfish shares a lot of characteristics with the Puffer fish and was originally mistakenly classified as part of the Puffer fish family. Likely due to the fact they have beaks to eat with instead of teeth like a Puffer fish. It was believed in early research that Sunfish just drift along with the ocean current to travel, but recently species have been recorded traveling 26 KM (16 miles) in a day and actively hunting at 200m (650 ft) and below and they can go as fast as 3.2km an hour (1.9 miles an hour). A sunfishes main predators are Seals, Sea Lions, Sharks, and Killer Whales. Not a lot is yet known about Sunfish because they haven't been researched extensively, and we are only recently discovering more about their mating, eating, and migration patterns. There was a lot of misinformation about them up until recent years as well. For example, their diet was once thought to consist mainly of jellyfish and Gelatinous Zooplankton, but in recent years it's been determined they consume mostly Flounder, Eel, and Squid. As for their lifespan, we still don't even know that because it's not yet been documented in their natural habitat, though it's believed they may be able to live around 25 years. Another type of Sunfish is the Giant Sunfish, which is slightly different to the Mola Molas, although they are in the same family. These are considered to be the largest bony fish and weight up to 2,700 kilograms (6,000 lb) and is usually 3.3 m (11 feet). They are easily distinguishable from Mola Molas as they are much wider and have bumpy bodies: Sunfish pose no harm to humans and are often docile so if you find yourself diving next to one, you don't need to worry as they will likely ignore you, and you can probably get a really cool picture next to a HUGE fish~! I'm thinking tomorrow's entry I might do crabs, but if you have suggestions let me know in the comments~

So today's blog is going to be about octopus, the most intelligent invertebrates in the ocean. I'll do some quick facts, as well as some info about how smart these guys are, and go over some ways to tell octopus apart from squid. There's so much I'd like to cover about them, but I don't want to write hundreds of paragraphs, and it would be super easy to with these guys. They have complex nervous systems, advanced camouflage abilities, and remarkable problem-solving skills, they challenge everything we think we know about animal intelligence and are very interesting little guys to be around or research. Let's do a few fun facts about these guys first: An octopus has three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, and one pumps it to the rest of the body. Fun fact: the heart that pumps to the body actually stops beating when they swim, which is why they prefer crawling. Octopus blood is blue because it contains hemocyanin, a copper based molecule that helps transport oxygen in cold, low oxygen ocean environments. About two-thirds of an octopus’s neurons are in its arms, not its brain. Each arm can taste, touch, and even move semi-independently so it’s almost like they have eight tiny brains. Some species, like the Mimic Octopus, can impersonate other sea animals such as lionfish, flatfish, and sea snakes. They can change color, texture, and even body shape in seconds. Octopuses can open jars, navigate mazes, and remember solutions. They’re considered among the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. Because they have no bones, an octopus can squeeze through any hole larger than its beak, which is about the size of a coin in many species. Each suction cup can taste what it touches. That's the equivalent to if you could taste with your fingertips. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Octopus vs. Squid: Knowing the difference. Octopus: Has a round, soft body. Mostly found on the sea floor. An Octopus has a rounded shaped head. Octopus have eyes on the top of their heads. They are solitary creatures and do not live in groups. They can be seen with babies sometimes, as they care for their young. An Octopus only has 8 arms, and does not have tentacles like the squid does. Squids: They have a very triangular shaped head and their bodies are long as opposed to the Octopus, which is more round. Squids have 8 arms and 2 tentacles. Their eyes are on the sides of their heads. Squids have been known to live in groups and can often be found with other squid. They are usually found in the open ocean and not on the sea floor like an octopus. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The smartest animal of the ocean? Octopuses are considered the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth, with complex nervous systems and around 500 million neurons distributed throughout their bodies. Unlike most animals, a large portion of their neurons are located in their arms, allowing them to process information and move semi-independently. This unique setup contributes to their impressive problem-solving abilities. In laboratory settings, octopuses have been observed opening screwtop jars to reach food, navigating mazes, recognizing individual humans, and even escaping from secure tanks. They are capable of learning through observation and remembering solutions to tasks long after first encountering them. Their intelligence makes the octopus one of the most remarkable thinkers in the ocean. When faced with a new obstacle, an octopus will explore it with careful, deliberate movements, testing and adjusting until it finds a solution. Studies have shown they can distinguish between shapes and patterns, remember successful strategies, and adapt when circumstances of their environment change. Their ability to rapidly camouflage by processing visual information and altering their skin in real time also reflects advanced neural control. Rather than reacting automatically, octopuses demonstrate curiosity, memory, and problem-solving skills that suggest a highly developed and independently evolved form of intelligence. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hope you guys enjoyed reading this, and walked away with a little more info about octopus!~

Before we begin: no, this is not Snake Head Terror. There will be no low-budget CGI here, probably no screaming people, and, possibly unfortunately, no chainsaw showdowns with a 50 foot long snakehead. We’re talking about real snakeheads today. I know he said I don't have to credit him, but I still want to say that @Kazuma Satou gave me a ton of facts for this blog and I appreciate him for it, (and for listening to me ramble about fish the entire last week lol). Before we begin, you might be wondering what the heck is a snakehead and the first image that comes into your mind is probably something from a movie. There are over 50+ species of snakeheads that are divided into 2 different groups: Channa and Parachanna. The 2 main types I'm going to be talking about today are Northern Snakeheads and the Ceylon Snakeheads both from the Channa groups. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A few facts about Ceylon Snakeheads: Incredibly dangerous, even to their own species, they will eat smaller members of their own species. They don't stay in one place for long. when food becomes scarce they move to other ponds by jumping on the ground and they can survive without water for a while. They can heal fast, with bruises from walking across land healing within a day. Can grow up to 10–13 inches (25–33 cm). They don't hesitate to attack humans and if you put a finger into the water they'll swim toward it at lightning speed and try to bite it. They're fast swimmers and when they feel like they're under attack, they stir up the mud to make water unclear. They're easy to catch if you just slowly place a net in front of them and tap their back they'll swim straight into it. The Ceylon is one of the smaller snakehead species and often referred to as the "Dwarf Snakehead". Habitat: Streams, rivers, ponds, and wetlands. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A few facts about Northern Snakeheads: Originally from China, Russia, and Korea and is classified as an invasive species in the United States. Can grow up to 4 feet (about 1.2 meters) long and weigh up to 15 pounds. Like the Ceylon, they "walk" by wiggling on land from one body of water to another and can breathe air for several days. Eats fish, frogs, crustaceans, insects, and sometimes small birds or mammals but if it fits in their mouth, they will eat it. They prefer sluggish waters with dense vegetation, but can inhabit canals, rivers, and ponds. They are highly adaptable to temperatures ranging from 32F - 90F(0C - 32C). A female Northern Snakehead can lay up to 100,000 eggs per year and they can double their population in as little as 15 years. Northern snakeheads are respected among some Chinese fishermen for their virtue, as parent snakefish are known to sacrifice themselves to protect their young. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Myths VS. Facts: Snakehead edition. Myth #1: They can crawl for miles on land. Fact: They cannot go on epic cross-country journeys. They can survive out of water for a short time if kept moist and may wriggle short distances to reach nearby water and they are not planning to attack any local towns. Myth #2: They attack humans. Fact: There are no confirmed cases of Northern Snakeheads hunting people. They’re aggressive toward other fish (especially when guarding babies), but you are not on the menu unless you go sticking your hands in the water or aquarium you have them and then yes, they will dart at your hand and likely try to bite you because they'll think it's a food source. Myth #3: They’re venomous because they look like snakes. Fact: They are not venomous and not at all related to snakes despite the name. Myth #4: They’ll completely destroy every ecosystem instantly. Fact: They are invasive in parts of the U.S., and they can compete with native species which is a real ecological concern, but they are not machines of mass destruction (despite that movie lol) Ecosystem impact varies by location. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I hope you enjoyed reading this, and tomorrow we will be covering Sea Bunnies~! And of course, I had to throw this in here for @Zeref, his favorite movie LOL

Today I'm going to do my blog on two of my favorite marine creatures - seals and sea lions. I worked with these guys over the Summer at the zoo so I got a lot of hands-on experience dealing with both. Much like the Sunfish from my previous blog entry, I can also say these guys are complete silly little dorks too. Seals make the most hilarious faces and sea lions have personalities that are as giant as they are. A lot of people confuse them for each other and it's easy to do so, since they are usually housed together at the zoo. Hopefully after this blog you'll be able to identify who is who the next time you see them~! First off, I'll start with a few differences between seals and sea lions: If you see them in a zoo encloser, they are probably swimming. One way to tell who is who is seals swim by using their back flippers in a side to side motion, and sea lions tend to use their large front flippers. When you look at their heads, you'll notice that sea lions have visible external ear flaps, whereas a seal just has tiny holes where their ears are. Sea lions have much longer necks compared to seals and they often sit upright, and a seal will usually lay flat and scoot around on land. Size-wise there is a pretty big difference. Sea lions are up to 10 feet long, weighing up to 1,000 pounds, and seals are around 5-8 feet long and only weigh up to 300 - 400 pounds usually. If you see one "barking" and making a lot of loud noises, chances are you're looking at a sea lion as seals tend to be quieter and make softer grunts. So in summary > If it's screaming at you, has ear flaps, and it's walking on land, you're probably looking at a sea lion, and if it's being quiet like a ninja, earless, and flopping around on land, odds are it's a seal. Here is a good chart to use when comparing: And now for a real picture, you can immediately spot some of the differences, noticing the "hole" on the seals head for ears compared to the obvious flapped ears of the sea lion. The flippers also make it very obvious which is which, with the sea lion having those large and outward facing flippers. Also this picture makes it very easy to note the difference in how their necks look, with the sea lions being much longer. I'll leave you with a few fun facts about seals and sea lions. Seals can sleep underwater and can surface for air without waking up. Seal pups are born very fluffy with white fur, and later shed it. Sea lions are highly intelligent and can solve problems, recognize patterns, learn tricks, and remember commands. A seals whiskers are able to detect even the smallest of water movements, allowing it to hunt fish in dark or murky waters. Male sea lions are known to be extremely aggressive and get much larger than the female sea lion. During mating season they become extremely territorial. A seal can reach speeds of up to 15-20 miles per hour and a sea lion can reach speeds of up to 25. Sea lions have been known to dive as deep as 600 feet. Seal moms and pups find each other in seal colonies through sound alone and are able to identify each other's individual "voices". I hope you enjoyed this, and I'll see you tomorrow with more fish

I'm going to continue doing some fish blogs for awhile since I'm having some fun writing them and people seem to be interested in them. So my question is, what fish or marine animal would you like me to write about in upcoming blogs? I'll eventually get around to all suggestions, and it can be any type of fish, shark, or marine life animal. So far I have a list of upcoming ones for: Oarfish Anglerfish Any other suggestions anyone has?

Since graduating high school, I've mostly been working fast food, studying japanese, and drawing repeat repeat repeat... That was until I took the JLPT n4 test in december. I failed it. But ya, I did. I learned a lot about how the test works and how to study for it. I'm still studying as much as I can, but now I have a new goal! I'm drawing a manga for Silent Manga Audition! I'm still studying japanese for N3.... which is the next hardest test. the thing is I almost passed the test, and I just don't want to take it again! I have a lot of goals now, and I'm making progress in them so its ok! On top of that, I'm starting a phelubotomy course starting in April so I don't have to keep working in fast food. My job is chill, but sometimes its brain numbing. yknow? So now I have so many things on my plate, the manga contest (may 10th is the deadline), JLPT n3 (next december), and work. Its kind a lot but it keeps me busy! In January I was feeling pretty down bc I was just waiting for my test results, but now I have things to do which is nice! I've only completed one page of my manga, so I kinda need to lock in and work on that. I'm gonna do that right now, but just to give u guys an idea of what its about, the title is "I had a Dream where I Learned how to Skateboard, so I turned it into a Reality!" But ya, lots of things going on. But I'm locked in!!!!!!!!! RAHHHHHHHHH☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆

I'm posting this a little later than I wanted to today, but I haven't been feeling the greatest over the last 24 hours and I've had a bit of a fever. I'm feeling better now though so decided to post this before I go back to bed. Today I'm doing a little info-blog about stingrays and manta rays, their differences, similarities, habits, and hopefully a lot of facts you'll find interesting about both species. First, let's talk a little about the differences between stingrays and manta rays. Stingrays: Flat, diamond-shaped, or circular bodies. Their habitat is usually coastal waters and sandy or muddy areas. For food they scoop or suck prey up from the sand. They have a whip like tail that may have one or more stingers depending on the species of rays. Likes to be buried in the sand. Manta Rays: Much larger than stingrays, they have triangular pectoral fins and cephalic lobes near their mouth. They are more often found in large open areas of the ocean. They do sometimes come to the coast as well but they typically prefer more open areas. They are filter feeders and swim with their mouths open. Their tails are very thin, short, and they do not have stingers. They migrate and are very social. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Some easy ways to tell the difference between stingrays and manta rays: The easiest way is size. Stingrays are much smaller, usually 1-6 feet, and manta rays are huge reaching sizes of up to 23 feet across. Stingrays are often sitting on the sea floor or in shallow areas, manta rays are usually in deeper ocean areas near reefs. Another good way is to look for the mouth. The mouth of a stingray is on the underside, designed for bottom feeding, and the mouth of a ray is on the front of their body and they are usually swimming with it wide open for filter feeding. So if you've got a huge fish swimming at you with its mouth wide open, odds are it's a manta ray. Here's a good image for visual with a manta ray on the left and a sting ray on the right: The above picture also helps you visualize the shape, you can see the sting rays are much rounder and the manta rays appear to have wings. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ While neither species is aggressive, it is important to remember that stingrays, while not aggressive by nature, can become defensive, and use their tails to protect themselves and sting, especially if stepped on. Manta rays are generally very gentle, curious, and don't have a stinger to harm you with. Manta rays = ocean puppies, stingrays = spicy sand pancakes. Here are a few parting facts you might find interesting about both: Giant manta rays can grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) across. Stingrays often bury themselves in sand with only their eyes sticking out. Manta rays have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any fish. They show signs of intelligence, curiosity, and even self-awareness. Some researchers believe they may recognize themselves in mirrors. Despite their size, mantas eat tiny plankton. Stingrays eat clams, shrimp, worms, and small fish, and they use their powerful jaws to crush shells. Female mantas usually give birth to one pup at a time and sometimes only every 2–3 years. Stingrays are part of the cartilaginous fish family, meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone Manta rays can live 40–50 years, possibly longer. Stingrays can detect tiny electrical signals from prey hiding in the sand. Mantas are known to leap completely out of the ocean. Scientists aren’t 100% sure why but it could be possibly for communication, mating displays, or just showing off. Stingrays usually have between 2-6 pups at a time. The spot pattern on a manta ray’s belly is like a fingerprint with each one having a different one. Researchers use these patterns to identify individuals. See you guys tomorrow for my snakehead blog~! I hope you enjoyed reading this one.

Hello everyone, Ulas here with a new update. I told you in my first Blog post that i'll do music album reviews here, but the plans changed and i decided today that i'll do Song Reviews instead. The reason is I'm not motivated to do a full album review, since i have other hobbies as well in my free time, and i just don't have the time nor the motivation to do a full album review. I have the feel that it could get too stressful and i want to avoid that, because writing about a hobby should be fun. That's why i'll stick to write about one song only because that might take time as well, but it definitely wouldn't get stressful like writing about a whole album. I will see when i do the first song review, because i still have to think about what song i'll pick first to start my new future song review journey on this Blog here. But to be immediately clear here, i won't review every song! Only songs which i personally want to review and write my opinion about them. Thank you for understanding guys, and i wish you a great day, or a great night, whenever you read this post from me. Until then, see you next time with my first song review.

so heyo anime fans and otakus its me Otaku. i have not posted for a while because I've been... actually there is no excuse I've been exploreing diffrent places on the net and I've found a community. This community i will not share the name of due to it being similar to 4chan and i don't want to get banned for that. Anyways i will still post on here but not as much or maybe not at all (sorry about the contradictory sentences) This website has a great community and I'm glad you all welcomed me. I dunno maybe i will continue to use both now this has been unbanned from my assigned laptop. I know i said i was back in February and well i lied ima be honest i dunno if ill stay for that long i cant predict future me, but i have gotten better I've been going to therapy and have been on something that makes me feel better about myself so i am struggling still but with different issues. like i cant seem to socially interact with my peers or i cant seem to leave the house unless one of my friends drag me out to "hang out" so i have to appear normal. but skools been fine i started this year the academics is easy im attempting to transfer to higher level classes at the moment, i hate my classmates. Summer was fun i went to metrocon and attended pannel rooms and got some kool merch. dunno what else to say but ill try to be more active

"Embrace the oddness." We humans often don't like the change, the irregularities happening around us. It makes us feel tense, even scared. If a built system works just right enough, we don't try to change it. We only improve it when necessary. We call them laws, traditions, cultures, beliefs and so on. Stability is the most crucial part of a healthy society. That's why making a radical change is one of the most craziest things a society could do. They can actively create a disturbance. And no one knows what will be the consequences of such actions. You are following me so far, right? Good. Even though we don't like it, we get attracted to the oddness. Like a moth to a flame. It feels intriguing to experience such rare things. A ghost tale you've heard is probably someone else's imagination, but what if it's not? That possibility creates a disturbance in your mind. You don't know what could be the consequences if said ghosts were real. Are you going to see one too? Will it haunt you? What if they can talk? Now, let's change the things a little bit. What if we mix this oddness with art? How can we do that? How can we portray that weird feeling? "Feel the weirdness." One way to create that feeling is through paintings. I'm going to show you someone that does it perfectly. Suguru Tanaka, an artist with an amazing skill to draw something so unusual yet familiar. These are just examples to show you how paintings can make you feel... different. But what about other forms? Without giving you a wall of text let's jump onto the next one, games. "Play the dreams." Okay, this one is somewhat already known. Have you ever heard of a little game called "Yume Nikki"? It's a great, dream-like game with no story. I won't spoil much but expect some surprises here and there. You explore these unique worlds while trying to go to the next one: Yume Nikki is an amazing experience, really. Though I admit, it can feel boring if you are not interested in slow paced games. But the feeling of exploration is still unmatched and only succeeded by its own fan made sequel. This game has an amazing soundtrack too, I still listen to it after all these years. And you heard it right, this game has a fan made sequel called "Yume 2kki"! Now, Yume 2kki is literally a trophy. It's a fan game that is clearly made with love. It's actually still being developed almost monthly! There are thousands of maps, yes, thousands of them for you to explore at your own pace. Got stuck? Head over to the extensive wiki that basically covers all the maps. Here are some of the maps to show you how creative the fans can be:

I recently watched this movie called "The Sixth Sense" and in the movie one of the characters said to just write without thinking and you'll end up writing stuff you didn't know was inside you. I like that kind of and wanna bite his style. For these I am just gonna think "out loud" in a sense. I realized maybe I am not educated enough to really appreciate paintings. Like I recently went to an art museum and none of the paintings really spoke to me. I did like the religious stuff even though it's not the religion I follow, That probably means something. I mostly enjoy sculptures, I think they are the closest thing to encapsulating the true beauty and individuality and similarities between all people. They are made with the intent to preserve and they are to be taken kind of at face value while still giving me the narrative that its trying to push. I don't mind having to think when looking at art. But something about paintings just don't stick with me. I realized all my blogs have been one block of writing and maybe that's not normal. In school they made us write big ass paragraphs. sometimes my paragraphs in essays would be 2-3 pages long. but the professors didn't care the grade was still A+. thanks for tuning in today's work rant was lowkey not that serious.

I've noticed that lot's of minors especially the teenage girl demographic have been complaining about characters such as Super Sonico being sexualized. It's very frustrating because they are choosing to consume adult media but are complaining because its mature content. Not everything is going to be sfw and safe for younger kids, adults have their own spaces and media as well and people need to stop complaining about something being nsfw when they are WILLINGLY choosing to purchase merch and such of it. There are so many sfw options, and yet they choose nsfw. I've seen videos of adults posting their nsfw figures and there4s people saying "goober figure" "ew who would want this" and overall making it seem weird. ITS FOR ADULTS. NOT CHILDREN!!!

lol back on here after i disappeared for almost a year. Although I've gone through a lot in that span of time i still love anime and the internet!! Lets be frens

The day is ending and my ACTs are all done. I actually didn’t read that much manga when I finished, but it’s fine. I don’t know why I suddenly wanted to come back to the forums, I posted on tumblr for a bit in my time gone to try and makes gifs for anime I felt was under-appreciated and have a space to discuss anime, but got burnt out fast since I was doin it daily and the reach is poor. I picked up art again though. Gonna start postin on twitter when i have enough courage. As for the manga review, I finished volume 1 of Dance in the Vampire Bund, got further into Kuroyuri apt, and started Saekano. Oh, where do I even begin with Vampire Bund. I’m in love with Nozomu’s style, it’s so sick and gothic and cool. The portion of the first volume where Akira walks through the streets with all the partying vampires, it fascinated me to see a lot of the crowd were designed with piercings and a lot of western rave, emo, and punk style of the time in mind (2005 to be exact). It makes sense, I think most of the vampires are sposed to be from europe and the americas. Mina is an adorable heroine, but beyond her cuteness and elegance is a highly intelligent and calculating character. As I read on, I realized that nowadays this series would be considered lame, it’s very of its time. It kind of envokes the feeling I get feom Shadow the Hedgehog, and ir did not surprise me that there were plenty of AMVs to stereotypically emo music of the 2010s and lady gaga. I was born a little late to that stuff, but I desire a return of AMVs. I made one almost two years ago for CubexCursedxCurious. I couldn’t watch any of the Vamp Bund ones since I didn’t want to be spoiled on the anime. All that aside, it’s so far a 8/10 at least. I’m waiting to get more volumes before I make more judgement on the story. As for Kuroyuri Apartment, well. It’s nice, very cute and clean style. I could tell immediately it was released around the same time as Himouto Umaru (2016-2018 was definitely a good time for slice of life) However, outside of being cute with an interesting enough premise— it’s kind of bad. I was expecting a cute daddy-daughter dynamic story, but kind of got an almost-harem-somehow-not-ecchi comedy. It’s fine, but not good by any means. Yuzuki Gao seems to make a lot of mediocre work, but has a nice art style. Last, Saekano. Which, I’m actually only a couple of pages into. I was really interested in Eriri which is why I grabbed it when I saw it at the bookstore. She reminds me a lot of Kanzaki H. Aria? Twintailed tsundere, half english and half japanese. All I could gather in the little I read was a bit generic, but I’m sure once I get further I might like it. The girls are very cute, Utaha is gorgeous and Megumi looks quite cute. I’m excited to see if the whole game plot is realized. For today, that’s all I have. Tomorrow will be an anime day because I’m watchin a lot right now, so perhaps a review of whatever I watch. Goodnight folks -w-

Watching anime from young taught me that dreaming is the most important thing you can do, and to chase your dreams you must be all in. The real world will give you many reasons to not chase your dreams. I want to before I die have my impact on this world. I want to make the world a better place. I chose this major because I was pressured by family. This major is slowly losing my interest, I want to do something tangible. I want to be a teacher/professor. Make learning fun again. I want to explore the world. Learn more. Knowledge is power after all. What sucks most is Having so many things that feel like they are on my shoulders. I am seeing the world deteriorate just like everyone. Revolution and Change will no longer be a thing. Because the system makes sure our lives aren't in danger but still drain us of our rights and free will. I feel like a conspiracy theorist. But this inability to chase my dreams is making life unlivable. Have to worry about so many things. I just want to learn forever. I want to teach the next generation the importance of taking in the beauty of people and this world. This world is supposed to be a blessing. One piece was such an important part of my growing up. So was Superman. I wish I could embody Luffy's freedom and Superman's ethics. Spread Love and Joy. Because Life is too short for everything to be doom and gloom. It feels as if I am a Prisoner of proverty and to make money I must work for an unethical entity, The fortune 500 are the fortunate evil in this world. When I see foreign lands properly tax their people by using taxes for the benefit of their people, it brings hope to my heart, but deep down I know that the imperialist nation is most likely exploiting another nation. If we could just trade honestly and uplift each other the world will benefit. and an era for positive scientific discovery will flourish. Karl Marx said, "The discovery of gold and silver in America, the extirpation, enslavement and entombment in mines of the aboriginal population, the beginning of the conquest and looting of the East Indies, the turning of Africa into a warren for the commercial hunting of black-skins, signalised the rosy dawn of the era of capitalist production. These idyllic proceedings are the chief momenta of primitive accumulation." (Das Kapital, Chapter 31) Marx described the beginning of the most proudly capitalist nation as built on the backs of slavery death and destruction of a people. Turning continents into "warrens" (dehumanizing africans) and using the people of said warrens as slaves. He mocked the idea that capitalism was built off of people who saved and moved their money smart. In capitalism someone is a loser and someone is a winner. The winner tending to be the one who exploits the loser. If a country is built off of this and then becomes the economic center of the world, the only way for the world to become a better place is to be rid of evil and restart. But in reality, the capitalist machine has a millennia of backup generators, even after its death it will come back like a zombie. So how can we as people be comfortable with the exploitation of others, and this earth? We should all be able to chase our dreams and love the world as the hippies intended, even though the hippies were really just people who used exoticism to fetishize the cultures their nations broke down to gain their power. It is almost as if they were spitting in the face of these nations when "embracing" the cultures of the lands they walked through. I am not a Marxist, I am not a Capitalist. I am a human, A human who loves this world and it's people. (DISCLAIMER: I used wiki quotes to find the quote and then read the chapter, I haven't read all of the capital nor do I own a copy)

"A flower unfolds its petals, much like a human reveals their true beauty." Today, I want to share some information about the flowers I've discovered while browsing on the internet. They are beautiful, they are unique, they are lovely. I'm sure you'll like them too! #1 Wisteria Clusters of pendulous blossoms spill like lavender waterfalls from wisteria vines, each pea‑shaped flower soft and slightly curled at the edges. Their scent is sweet and heady, filling spring air and drawing bees and butterflies. Colors range from pale lilac and deep violet to creamy white and blush pink, often fading delicately toward the tips. Flowers hang in long racemes that sway with the breeze, creating a lush, romantic canopy when the vine is in full bloom. The overall visuals are both elegant and exuberant. #2 Fuchsia Fuchsia flowers hang like tiny lanterns, their slender tubes flaring into delicate, petal‑fringed skirts that sway with the slightest breeze. Colors like rich magenta, fiery coral, soft rose and white often blend vividly. Nectar-rich and elegant, they attract hummingbirds and pollinators, offering a quiet peace in shaded gardens and hanging baskets. Each bloom is a playful joy. #3 Snapdragon Snapdragon flowers stand upright like tiny, colorful chimneys, their two-lipped blooms opening and closing when gently squeezed. Petals form aesthetic shapes in shades of cream, yellow, pink, red and deep maroon. Their crisp texture and subtle fragrance welcome bees and butterflies, while the blooms persist from spring into fall. #4 Delphinium Delphinium spikes rise like towers of sky, their tightly packed blossoms forming striking vertical columns in shades of cobalt, indigo, pale blue and creamy white. Each flower has a soft, ruffled edge. Delphiniums prefer cool roots and plenty of sun, rewarding careful staking and rich soil with cascades of blooms. #5 Lilac Lilac blossoms gather in density. Their tiny tubular flowers cluster in shades of lavender, deep purple, soft pink and pure white, creating clouds of color against heart shaped leaves. Shrubs bloom reliably after a cold winter, offering a nostalgic, garden center that lifts quiet mornings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hello to whoever is reading this." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Looking at the posting history on forums like these is like looking through a time portal." I read some of the earlier topics and what other people posted. It's a very distinct kind of feeling of nostalgia, to see people laugh, cry and get excited over something many years ago. Some were arguing with each other, some were telling how much they love them as friends. Their posts remain here, like a silent relic, but they are nowhere to be seen. I checked their profiles, almost all of them left this forum a long time ago. "Internet forums are not only dying; they're now on life support." This is nothing new. It's been like that for over a decade now. People are choosing new and different ways of communicating, which is not a bad thing at all. But, not every new thing labeled as an improvement is actually one. We are losing genuine human connection now more than ever with the introduction of predatory algorithms and the AI. Don't get me wrong, these are nothing but tools. Though, who is developing them often use it for profits and sometimes even for evil purposes. An algorithm doesn't care about your feelings, your unique personality, your hopes and dreams. It only focuses on what generates more money to its creators. Same as AI. "The destruction is inevitable." This is my take, controversial sure but whatever you think is too. It's best to have different opinions and beliefs. We'll never understand the true value of something until it no longer exists. A happy memory is kept in the deepest part of your mind, because, well it's now a memory. When the internet becomes so optimized to generate more money in less time, when every opinion is discarded if it's not a popular one, when every new feature is locked behind a paywall or a subscription... Then... Then we will look back to the old internet. We will reminiscence the good old days. And then probably try to revive it with many attempts, but soon realize it's not the same anymore. And then we will begin rebuilding on top of the wreckage. How do I know all of this? Because that's how the human cycle has been since the dawn of time. "What we need is love, positivity, justice and respect." A bunch of cliché words. But sometimes a common pattern in nature is a successful one. In the age of social media, we are now isolated more than our ancestors. We are now able to communicate faster, but we don't listen to each other anymore. We are now able to get information quicker, but that information is often false. We are arguing, mocking, trolling each other in the comments section on many platforms. And look at where we are now, because of our wrongdoings as humans. "In the end, you will only be remembered by your actions by those who remain on this planet. So just try to be good. Show some love."

Since the think tank is empty I don't actually know what to write. But, writing is so fun. I used to run a meme page back in my first year's of high school. It was overly edgy and had like 1k followers, Most amount of follower's I had ever had in my life. It felt nice to create (Yes I would sometimes create my own memes) after a horrible high school relationship the account got compromised and I had to delete it. Now writing and posting on this blog feels like the same as posting those memes. Bogus as hell I know, think tank only works when I am comically depressed. I struggle sleeping and tend overthink. But ever since I became an adult It has felt so much better. Honestly because I rely on myself and I try my best not to be home. I am actually just really lazy and don't like doing chores. I was born too Late, I woulda been one hell of a cowboy or something. (I'm a Wuss.) It's actually crazy I wrote something without intending to write about it. I will not overshare though! (TAKE WHAT U CAN GET) I was also part of a JJBA community during the meme page years, seen some heinous stuff in my life. Those Instagram group chats weren't a joke. The internet is not a good place to share your private life ammiright guys!? Other than hanging out with my friends once a week and talking to my fiancé, this forum is my only socialization. I HATE THE SUBURBS! Shorter less meaningful work thought rant. I am currently just studying the history of my ethnicity (riveting stuff) Thanks for tuning in!

The obvious answer is that it is probably because it has become so easily available. It feels like the previous blog topic and this might tie in, in the US that is. The American Suburbs have made it harder for the younger generation to connect. Growing up there was never a third space and there was never anything close by to do. You go to work/school go home and stay home. in the Past people used to go outside because there was more community and less Internet. Now people don't go out as much and don't express themselves as much. It feel's like the world wants you to be boring and not get along with anyone. I was looking at the "indie" web recently and it was cool to see people actually being themselves and proud of it. Our websites are usually just big organizations making everything competitive and into a monetary thing. Why is Individuality being stripped like this? People are too busy working 2 jobs and going to school and It is like to fit into the system you need to constantly be moving! Is this the society we want? The rising costs in the U.S and horrible work life balance is making the interenet the only escape when people are home and they are too tired to put effort into themselves and be themselves. I feel like a conspiracy theorist, and these takes seem so obvious. I looked into the site called spacehey which is kinda like myspace. I grew up with facebook and instagram where customization is limited. At most you could have cool highlight covers and a nice bio, It's all about pictures. Back to the topic at hand though, how does this tie into how the internet changed? well people tend to stay home more now and play games, doom scroll. before you would go out and loiter without being hassled by security and stuff. Enjoy your community. The internet was secondary. Now the closest thing to this is like going to a Sheetz and chilling there. I try to make the internet as secondary as possible despite being a IT major. I dont want it to consume my life. (thats why I am only on this forum at work). P.S sorry if I complain about the U.S a lot I know there are countries struggling 10x worse and my heart goes out to those who suffer. But my feelings are still valid! Thanks for tuning into another rant/conspiracy.

So basikally, I don't really want to go Japan anymore I love drawing, but I think making it my job would led to me hating it. On top of that, Japan isn't the best country for me to live in. I wouldn't mind studying abroad, but I'm more focused on my studies. I'm still taking the N4 Japanese proficiency test in like a week (dec. 7), we'll see how that goes. But I've spent my entire summer and fall studying non-stop, so my textbooks have become boring ngl. A lot of things have happened in my personal life, I think I said it in my update, but ya I found out my bf was cheating on me with his cousin... I was N O T expecting that. I just thought he was mysterious or smth, turns out hes a D1 pervert. And N O T in a good way. I'm also getting a different job at the rival fried chicken place I currently work at. But ya, in regards to my career plans, I want to go into astronomy and theoretical psychics, so I applied to my state school within a week of the deadline. It was very last minute, but I just want to find a new direction. I have the drive to succeed, I know how to self-study thanks to my japanese studying, and I want to earn lots of money so I can be independent. That's basikally it. Let's see what curveball life will throw at me next. <--- me when i change my entire life plan

HELLO GUYS, FOR THE COFFEE LOVING PEEPS HERE..I WANT TO SHARE THE CAFFE I JUST WENT BECAUSE A FRIEND OF MINE IS WORKING THERE AND INVITED ME. THE NAME OF THE CAFFE IS CAFFÉ POCOFINO. AN MODERN TWIST FROM AN ITALIAN CAFFÉ, THE AMBIANCE IS WELCOMING AND COZY. I LOVE HOW THE BARISTA'S ARE FRIENDLY AND ALL SMILES. THERE ARE MANY CUSTOMERS WHEN I WAS THERE BUT THEY MADE SURE ALL WAS ATTENDED TOO. WHILE THE NIGHT TURNS INTO MIDNIGHT AND THAT TO TURNS INTO EARLY MORNING THE PEOPLE WHO GO THERE IS NOT DWINDLING DOWN., THUS TO SAY THE COFFEE, TEA, AND PASTRIES HERE ARE DELICIOUS. ,. I ORDERED THE CINAMMON LATTE AND IT YUMMY. I am alone this time and all the coffee and the hot choco is mine. I just got to have it. It is so Yummy. My Friend made the Latte Art and I am so Proud of Him :), I was hungry so Got to grab some Panini while at it. it was like I WAS IN ROMA all again. where at this time like 2:30 am, people are still at plazas and having their dinner or midnight snacks., some are wine with friends. That is all for now. happy weekend to all

NOT ONLY IN JAPAN THAT TANABATA IS BEING CELEBRATED, IIT IS BASIALLY CELEBRATED ASWELL HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES, BUT MOSTLY AS AN ANIME EVENT. THE EVENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY OZINE EVENTS. THEY WERE STAGE PROGRAMS AND OFCOURSE THE CHARITY AUCTION, PEOPLE BID ANIME ITEMS FROM THE MERCHANTS THAT IN RETURN WILL GIVE A PORTION OF THE EARNING TO THE COMMUNITY. I WENT TO THE EVENT BY GETTING ON A TRAIN THEN TRANSFERRED TO A TRAIN AGAIN THEN HAD TO TAKE A TRICYCLE, LIKE A TUK-TUK IN THAILAND. HERE ARE SOME OF THE SNIPETS FROM THE EVENT. I ALSO INCLUDED MY LUNCH FOR THE EVENT

As the title states I would like some more friends, currently I only really talk to my mum, dad, brother and university class. I would enjoy having some additional people to talk to.

Hello everyone, and welcome to my first ever blog. At first i didn't really know what i could write about in my blog, but then i had an idea and just thought i could write my opinions about music albums here. I love music very much, and i also love to listen to old music and new music because i personally think that there are a lot of great old songs and new songs. There will be positive reviews but also negative reviews sometimes, but of course i still try to write my opinions in a constructive way and will name actual reasons why i didn't like some albums. If you're interested in this, then feel free to read my future reviews about music albums. See you soon with a album review.

This morning I checked my AP score results. I had signed up for two classes, AP art where I had drawn a comic series throughout the year, building a portfolio to submit. And AP Japanese, where my knowledge from the past 4 years of my studying would be put to the test. How scoring works, is its 1 - 5, 3 is passing and anything under means you don't get the college credit. Japanese I got a 2 (｡•́︿•̀｡). And for Art I got a 4 (o_O) ! I was expecting to fail my art, since I wasn't sure how anime esque manga inspired comic would be received by highly technical artists who are scoring my work. If you would like to see my comic, I'll be posting it on my art channel called Froggy's Art or something like that. I forget. This is a link to the thread here. I was feeling confident with my writing and reading, but I think I messed up on the speaking portion, I fumbled that for sure. I didn't really know what to say in regards to Japanese sports since I'm not a fan. But oh well. I was planning to take the JPLT, but I think I might postpone it. I've been studying less since I've just been pursuing other things than school. But seeing these scores really makes me reflect, with my dad I've been having a lot of conversations about what career I'm going to pursue. I'm already taking a gap year, so I can just figure something out. But really, I just want to make art, hang out with friends, and watch anime. I enjoy reading manga in Japanese and anime without the subtitles, and when I go to Japan again then I'll have skills to navigate. But in regards, to working in Japan or trying to fit in there, I don't think its for me. In middle school, I used to idealize Japan a lot. As any normal child, I've done my fair share of daydreaming. But when it comes to reality, I want to develop my art skills. Practice Japanese as a hobby, and enjoy other aspects of my life like skateboarding and making memories with people that are important to me. Pretending to be something I'm not is something I'm going to let go of. Just to reference, the area I live has a high korean population. I'm asian, but south asian. Ever since I was kid, I've had a hard time fitting in or having a community because I'm mixed and don't properly relate to my white or asian side. At my school, the korean kids always sticked together because of discrimination, but that meant I couldn't fit in with the white kids or the asians at all. I felt really left out, after giving up on trying to fit in, I just did everything in my power to be as weird as possible because I just wanted attention. (-_-;)・・・ I thought I could make my whole personality be being weird, but that also wasn't me. There are very normal things about me, liking anime is important to me like a lot of different things. I'm glad my interest has pushed me to work hard in Japanese class, and anime and manga for inspiring me to make art. In my Japanese and art classes, I've made great friends and memories. It was the best part of my highschool life, which is why I wanted to take the AP, just to see how what I learned would measure up. But the actual value of those classes was teaching me that identity is made up of tons of things, who you are changes, but the things you love don't fade away that easily. Doing what you love to is the best way to live(〃￣ω￣〃ゞ That's all!