Microfiction: Health and Safety

6-word: Washing hands is best for safety.

Dribble: Paul is trying to keep his family safe during the spread of the Coronavirus. He instructs his wife and children to wash their hands often, continually sip water all day to stay hydrated and keep throat and mouth moist, and avoid close contact with others whenever possible.

Viruses

Note: I wanted to write a quick story about how Paul is keeping his family safe by instructing on good hygiene and typical precautions.

Week 9 Story: Enhancing The Orca and the Crown

The Orca and the Crown

Orcas and Penguins from Wikipedia

Down in the harsh environment of Antarctica, lived a mighty kingdom of killer whales. They lived in harmony with the penguin and leopard seal kingdoms by a peace treaty. Unfortunately, the three kingdoms struggling through this season. Food was scarce, and the peace between the three species was dwindling.

One particular orca was an outcast. He disobeyed his father's wishes, so he was outcasted while his brother was made king of the Orca Kingdom. He had been banished for years now, but no one quite knows how long. He knew his killer whale brethren could not survive the season without some means of intervention. He knew they needed a hero, and this was his shot at redemption.

The orca approached the kingdom and requested a meeting with his brother the king. After ignoring some threats for returning to the waters he was banished from, he finally is face to face with his brother. He offered his proposal, his plan to feed and save the species. However, he learned that the orcas were more desperate than he predicted. Many were starving, and his brother was hopeless with the thought that they would not survive the month. The king admitted that the people needed to eat by any means necessary, and he would surrender his crown if the orca could save the kingdom. The orca knew the most vulnerable remaining food source around them was their allies, the penguins. How fitting, he was outcasted for his past betrayal, and now he would be redeemed by betraying the penguins.

Meanwhile, the leopard seals were already breaking the treaty and invading the penguins' ice to survive. They were vicious creatures, and the penguins were searching desperately for a new home to escape to. This was a perfect opportunity for the orca to execute his ploy.

The orca approaches the gathered masses of the penguin kingdom and quickly explained what he had found. He stated that through a ice cave there is a land to make a new home with plenty of food to save both the penguin and orca species. The penguins were reluctant, so they sent one scout along with the orca to confirm the orca's tale. The orca guided the penguin through the underwater ice cave and eventually reached the new island of ice that could be their sanctuary. They returned to the penguin kingdom, and the orca began guiding groups of penguins to the new land. As the penguins arrived to the ice cave, the orca people attacked them. The orcas outnumbers the penguins as they were trapped in the ice cave. The orca kept going back and guiding groups of penguins to their demise. It was a sad day for the Antarctic kingdoms.

They were honorable species before, but the brutal conditions brought out the worst in the orcas. The orca was crowned king as promised, but at what cost? Morals were sacrificed, and the kingdom was now lead by a king with compromised character. How can they live on with this dishonor?

Author's Note:
I wanted to make a story with a cunning betrayal similar to the Crane and the Crab. However, instead of outwitting the villain and defeating them, I wanted the villain to win in the end. I did this so that I could leave the audience with some moral questions. Is survival worth it if you sacrifice your morals? Even if it is your last resort, could you live on with your life knowing you betrayed your friends/allies?

I based this story off of The Cunning Crane and the Crab by W. H. D. Rouse. In this story, a tiny pond is being reduced to a puddle due to a drought. This puddle is home to some fish and a crab. The crane lived near a flourishing lake but was looking for an afternoon meal. He saw the desperate fish in the puddle and offered to carry them in his beak to the lake. They were reluctant, but the crane eventually proved credible enough to earn their trust. The crane carried the fish to the lake one-by-one, but tricked them and ate them in his nest before returning for the next fish. Finally, the crane got greedy and decided to try and eat the crab. The crab talked the crane into carrying the crab by allowing the crab to latch onto the crane's neck. As soon as the crab knew the crane was deceitful, He clamped down on his neck and killed him. The crab lived happily ever after in his new lake home.

Reading Mahabharata Video Part B

Reading Mahabharata Video Part B

100 demon sons were born and Pandava had his 5 sons.

Bhima was given a potion by his serpent grandfather.

the pandavas were trained in their chosen war specialty by drone.

dyrods assassination attempt is unsuccessful.

arjuna completes the bow challenge to win Draupadi

all five pandavas marry draupadi

Mahabharata

Reading Mahabharata Video Part A

Reading Mahabharata Video Part A

devavrat is the kings only son left alive. he is taken away by wife. devavrat returns and helps bring the fishermans daughter to the kingdom. vows to never marry or have children. devavrat becomes bhishma and can choose the moment of his death.
one half-brother dies.
bhishma kidnaps three princesses for the other half-brother.
king dies before he has sons.
mom reveals that there is another half-brother sage.
three different half-brothers are born: blind, albino, and well-rounded.
blind dhasharta became king and married blindfolded wife.

Mahabharata

Biography: 1st Weight Meet

At my first OU Powerlifting weight meet I knew that we would test our maxes in squat, bench, and deadlift, but I didn't know what else to expect. The team atmosphere was amazing! Everyone cheered each other on, and it felt much more intense than me lifting alone. At one point, I had to hit a squat successfully in order to continue competing in the meet. Someone videoed it, and watching the video was equaling exciting to being in the moment. I could hear the whole team cheering me on with intensity. They truly wanted me to be successful. It was a great team experience.

OU PL

Note: I wanted to talk about my first meet and how thankful I am to such a great experience.

Wiki: From Color Wheel to Photoreceptor

Color Wheel: So I began by exploring about the color wheel.

Primary Colors: That led me to dive into the article about primary colors.

Color Vision: Then I started learning new things about color vision.

Photoreceptors: Finally, I wrapped up by reading about photoreceptor cells in the eye.

Color Wheel

Microfiction: Rags to Riches

Hint: He made it to the top. He had all the money he could want, but was it worth it?

Dribble: Johnny grew up dirt poor, but in a loving family. He made it big as a broker, but never speaks to his family. He lives alone in his cutthroat business, but makes millions of dollars every year. He often reflects on his life. Am I happy? Was it all worth it? Do I have regrets?

Note: I made up a character that prioritized money over everything throughout his life. Money is very important in this world, and it can open doors that many people will never have the opportunity of seeing. There is always a balance to see which amount of money is worth the sacrifices they require.

Cash Money

Week 8 Progress

I am very happy with my progress so far. I am ahead on points and should finish early. I am most proud of my story about the kitten and the frogs. I loved the dialogue I was able to integrate it well and give my characters more personality. I think if I keep my pase, I should finish everything in a couple weeks or so.

Cute cat

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

The comments I have received about my stories have been helpful. The specific feedback helps the most because it gives examples on how I can improve my writing.

I enjoy giving feedback to others because I enjoy impacting their stories. I feel that I have been able to achieve that goal through the comments I leave each week.

I am very happy with how my intro turned out, and how I have been able to connect with others.

I need to focus on giving other students specific feedback like the content I have received that has been very useful for my editing.

Wise cat

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Overall, I am very happy about how this course is working out for me. My stories are nice, and I think they have been more creative than what I expected at the beginning. The readings are entertaining, and I enjoy all the stories we read. I think that plays a part to why I am able to write creatively. My blog and my portfolio website look good so far! I can't wait to see my portfolio site when it's finished.

Bhishma in battle

I picked this image from the Mahabharata because the great battles fought between the cousins was very intense. They fought harshly, violently, and to the death, yet they were all family. Most of the characters had second thoughts about killing their kind, but in the end the battles were fought. Many family members died, and the surviving ones were left to clean up the damage. 

I am glad this is a review week haha. I have midterms and other big projects due, so this is great timing. I plan on working ahead again after this week, and possibly finishing the course before spring break or maybe just after.

Wiki Trail: From Drake and Josh to Nickelodeon

Drake and Josh:
I started with Drake and Josh because I used to watch that show as a kid.

Amanda Show:
I also used to watch the Amanda Show, which is where Drake and Josh got their start.

iCarly:
This is the spin-off show that Miranda Cosgrove got after her role in Drake and Josh.

Nickelodeon:
This is the network in which all these shows aired. Nickelodeon was probably my most watched network as a kid.

Nickelodeon

Fortune Cookie Tech Tip

Fortune Cookie

Biography: My Workout Partner

 I once had a friend who wanted to workout with me. I frequent the gym often, so I am in pretty good shape. My muscles are used to the demand I put them through. They have built up endurance, and they do not typically get too sore after my daily workouts. Well my friend, Josh, does not typically workout. However he wanted to make a change and be more active with me. I warned him that he would be very sore throughout week one. Luckily, he listened to my warning and prepared himself. He survived week one, and to this day, I still have Josh as my workout partner.

Note: I am thankful to have a buddy that enjoys working out with me and staying in shape. It is truly beneficial to both of us.

Bench press

Microfiction: The Break Up

Hint: John and Katie had a misunderstanding. Luckily, they were able to talk it out and make up.

Drabble: Katie got a little too drunk at a party and passed out on the couch. John was ready to leave so he went looking for his girlfriend, Katie. He eventually found her sleeping on the couch next to another guy. John was upset, but woke up Katie and took her home. He was accusing at first, but after Katie explained herself that she fell asleep while the couch was unoccupied, John forgave her.

Note: A story about relationship troubles. This was fortunately overcome by communication, listening, and love.

Relationship trouble

Week 7: Enhancing The Frogs and the Kitten Story

New Version in Portfolio

There once was a small little peaceful pond just beyond some trees. Three little frogs lived there. The three siblings loved to cross the pond by jumping on lily pads as they floated across the water. They loved racing across the water by waiting for the pads to line up and hopping across them. One day they encountered a friendly little kitten by their pond. This kitten had played all the games around his home and mastered them all. His name was Chester. Chester was the most athletic kitten of his home and needed new games and competition to occupy his time and test his skills. He noticed the young frogs playing their lily pad game and approached them casually.

"Hello there frogs," Chester said politely. "What is it that you're playing?"

The frogs responded, "We are racing across the pond on these lily pads to see which of us is the fastest! Would you like to try?"

Of course Chester wanted to try! He wanted to be the fastest to cross the pond!

So the frogs showed him how it was done. They had to jump on a lily pad, wait for the next one to float by, then jump on it and wait to repeat the process. "It's a game of patience, speed, skill, and agility!" The frogs said excitedly.

"I am fast, skillful, and agile!" The kitten responded as he was practicing. "I think I'm ready to beat you three!"

"Are you sure you're ready? We have been doing this for a while. Are you sure you don't want more practice?" The frogs said. "The pond can be dangerous if you were to fall in. Can you swim?"

"I don't need to swim!" Replied the kitten. "I am going to win without touching a single drop!"

So the four of them lined up on the bank of the pond eager to race to see who was the best. At the start of the race, the kitten pulled ahead. He was faster than the frogs, so he was able to quickly hop across the lily pads that were grouped together. As they reached the middle of the pond, the lily pads grew farther and farther apart. The kitten had to wait on the pads to come closer, but the frogs could jump farther and reach the pads before they were close enough for the kitten to reach. By this point, one frog pulled ahead of the kitten. The kitten was doing all he could to catch up, but with the spacing of the lily pads, the frog's lead grew. The kitten started making riskier and riskier jumps to catch the frog.

"Be careful Chester," the frogs said, "those jumps are dangerous. Please don't fall in."

"Don't worry," Chester replied, " just a little more!"

Chester was gaining on the lead frog, but the finish line was coming up fast.

Chester made one last risky jump to retake the lead, but the lily pad wasn't quite close enough. He fell in the pond. Chester paddled and splashed, but he kept sinking lower into the water. The frogs jumped in after him, but they were not strong enough to save poor Chester.

Chester, the kitten, was just too competitive. He couldn't stand to lose, and he didn't have the patience to wait for the lily pads to come closer to him. His mistakes cost him the ultimate price.

The frog and lily pads

Author's Note:
I got the inspiration to write this story from the Talking Turtle and the Geese. In that story, the turtle always had to get a word in even when it was against his best interest. He annoyed may of the creatures around him with his constant yapping, but he made friends with the geese. The geese knew of a mountainous area where they migrated every winter with plenty of room where no other creatures could hear you. The geese knew how much the turtle loved to talk, so they offered to help carry the turtle up to the mountains with them. Their plan was to carry a stick between their beaks, and the turtle could bite the stick to hitch a ride with them. The turtle could live out his talkative days in the mountains and could talk to his heart's content. On their journey, some boys were poking fun at the turtle for riding along with geese. Unfortunately, the turtle could not keep his mouth shut, and he released the branch for a rebuttal. He fell to his death on the journey. I added my own twist by changing the animals and setting, but I still taught a lesson about discipline and patience that both the turtle and kitten lacked.

From Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt

Mahabharata PDE Part D

Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition Part D

Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Bhishma in battle

Bhishma is killed in battle. Abhimanyu is killed while trapped alone behind the enemy lines, and Arjuna seeks revenge. Many loved ones are lost and the pandavas use trickery to their advantage.

Karna takes command of the bad army, and Bhima seeks revenge for the treatment of draupadi. Arjuna kills karna after a long battle.

Many warriors seek revenge and attack throughout the night. Bhishma gets to choose the moment of his death, so he waits so that he can instruct the survivors on how to rule the kingdom before he goes. Yudhistra seeks kingship by a horse sacrifice. After Krishna's death, the Pandavas and Draupadi decide to leave earth and leave the kingdom in the hands of Parikshit, Arjuna's grandson. Yudistra must pass a final test. He goes to hell to be united with his brothers and this is followed by then all going ot heaven and Dyrod going to hell.

Mahabharata Online: PDE Part C

Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition Part C

Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore.

Draupadi and the Pandavas in the forest

The Pandavas must now enter a long period of exile. pandavas run in Hanuman on one of their adventurous journeys while exiled. Hanuman was also from the Ramayana. 

Draupadi struggles with the dangers of being a woman during the time of exile. They rescue her after the kidnapping.

The Pandavas enter their final year of exile in which they must spend in hiding, not to be recognized. More trouble for draupadi as there is another rape attempt and her husbands can do nothing bc they are in hiding.

The exile is over and the pandavas want a vengeful war. Many diplomatic attempts are made but the conflict is escalating to an approaching war. Both sides are reluctant to fight their family, but the battle begins anyway.

Biography: Night Driving

I once had a friend that was had a blindness when night driving. After dinner, they asked one of us to drive us all back home. Apparently, they claimed to be blind when night driving. Unfortunately, we didn't believe them, and we made them drive. They went to make a turn, and they told me they took a mental note that they usually turn too wide. So in this instance, they intentionally made a sharper angle for the left turn. Unfortunately, there was a median, so they needed to take it wider. We immediately are looking at oncoming traffic, and my friend swerves right and hits a street sign in the median. That's was the last time we made them drive at night!

Note: I wanted to tell the scary story of crashing with my friend driving at night. I never knew they had night blindness, but I will never underestimate that again!

Night Driving

Wikipedia Trail: From Blank to Blank

Call of Duty:
I started with Call of Duty because they recently released a new update for their latest game Modern Warfare.

Modern Warfare:
This led me to read more about the current game, Modern Warfare. The campaign plot was based off real-life events like the Syrian Civil War.

Syrian Civil War:
This conflict is what the fictional war being fought in Modern Warfare is based upon. This takes place in Syria, nearby countries, and London in the video game.

Casualties of the Syrian Civil War:

The Syrian Civil War is actually the second deadliest war of the 21st century! This comes in second only to the Second Congo War that concluded in 2003.

Syrian War

Tech Tip: Newspaper

Newspaper Clip