Week 2 Review

I have completed reviewing old announcements and backing up the cloud.
The image below was my favorite graphic. Everyone should remain curious throughout their life so that they can always learn and absorb new information.

The future belongs to the curious from Cheezburger

I chose to watch the video about King Gilgamesh. It grabbed my attention because I like reading stories about heroes and their journeys. It was entertaining as he left his kingdom on a journey for immortality.

-The Epic of Gilgamesh: Crash Course World Mythology from Youtube

Famous Last Words: Starting the Semester

The hardest part of the semester, getting started. I always find it a bit difficult to get going at the start of the semester. Whether it is to start the weekly occurrence of homeworks or to get in the right study routine, I always think, "Do I really need to start that? It is still the first/second week of class." Most of the time it boils down to me just doing it. If I just give in and give up my winter break mood, then I can be productive. This was imperative to getting ahead of my classes. Fortunately this semester, I was able to get back on the grind early in week one. I kept up with all my classes and managed to get a week ahead in this class. It feels great to get things done quickly and stay on top of things. I really am enjoying this course so far. I am able to read and learn about fun topics I have zero prior knowledge on. The side topics are fun as well! I mean, last week I made a doge meme. What other classes can you make a meme for credit? That is awesome! I look forward to next week's reading and assignments. We will begin reading the Ramayana. The story about the ferocious battle of Lanka between Rama and Ravana. I am excited to learn more about the culture and about the characters. I also look forward to writing about these characters as well. Last week, I found that I did my best work during the late morning while eating lunch at the Union. I think I will try and replicate that same success this week while writing. So far, I have had a great start to the semester and have enjoyed the work in this class. Let's hope that continues to trend upward!

Starting by MemoryCatcher

Wikipedia Trail, Ramayana to Shurpanakha

Ramayana

I chose to begin my research with the Ramayana. I am interested in learning more about the plot and character traits. I hoped this would serve as preparation for reading the story come week 3. Wikipedia was helpful and did not disappoint.

Ravana

The trail then led me to Ravana. He is responsible for kidnapping Sika and sparking conflict with Rama. I am interested to learn more about the king of Lanka and his generals/sons.

Statue of Ravana from Wikipedia

Lakshmana

I followed the rabbit hole to Rama's brother, Lakshmana. He is responsible for cutting off the nose of Ravana's sister, Shurpanakha. This was the action that upset Ravana and was the reason Sika was kidnapped from Rama.

Shurpanakha

The rabbit hole ends at the Wikipedia page of Shurpanakha. She is the sister of the king of Lanka, Ravana. She wanted to be Rama's wife, so she attacked Sita. This is what caused Lakshmana to strike her and cut off her nose.

Learning Challenge: Deskercise

Non-Embarrassing Desk Yoga
I love the idea of quick and easy at-desk yoga! It is so important to keep your muscles and joints active throughout the day so they don't tighten up and stiffen. A body in motion stays in motion! The chest stretch, neck stretch, and chair twist are my favorite. These focus on keeping the low back, chest, and neck loose. This should help prevent short and long term neck, shoulder, and low back pain.

Chair Twist from Harvard Business Review

Growth Mindset Padlet

"Go Rip Open Windows = GROW"
I really like this quote because it is 100% true! Many people fall into the trap of going through the motions or waiting for opportunities to come their way. I often fall into this trap and need to improve upon seeking new opportunities.

"...it's easy to miss what ideas and dreams you may be crushing"
This is also an important quote. People (including myself) think that the only useful degrees are technical and STEM degrees, when in fact, if you have talent and a passion for any form of art, then you should pursue that! Art will always be useful, and society needs creativity and inspiration whether it's artwork, music, or acting.

Growing Mind from SVG

Tech Tip Cheezburger

My first cheezburger meme

Biography: The Kick

My senior year of high school football we played Weatherford for one of our biggest wins of the season. It was a close game, and our offensive drive stalled out on the opponent's 31-yard-line. My long-time friend, Hunter, was a pretty solid kicker, so coach called out the field goal unit. We rushed out onto the field to set up for a field goal as the play clock winded down. I was the holder so I was in charge of setting the ball for Hunter to kick it through the uprights. You could tell we were all nervous because a 48-yard field goal would be our longest attempt that season. The ball was snapped, and the kick was away! The ball sailed right through the uprights, but it didn't look pretty. It looked like a knuckleball with a sideways rotation. I asked Hunter how he managed to kick it that way, and he replied with, "I closed my eyes." I laughed and thought about how he always jokes to me saying that he won't ever kick my hands. We ended up winning by 3 points, so that field goal came up big in the grand scheme of things.

Author's Note:
Holding for a kicker is a fun experience. Besides the fear of them kicking your hands as they hold the football, you have to worry about catching the ball from the snapper, setting the ball correctly, and spinning the laces out. It can be pretty stressful, but you feel awesome when the kick is good. That is one of the funnier memories I have from high school football, and I am still good friends with Hunter today.

Holder and Kicker in a field goal situation from Wikipedia

Dan's Microfiction

Dribble: 

There once was a man. His name was Dan. He ran into a fan. He was taken away in a van. They did what they can. They were able to put him back together again. 

Drabble: 

Dan's job at FanCo was to test and inspect all the fans that were built for quality and effectiveness. He had to measure how hard the fans blew, and he had to test the durability of the blades. He always began with the air flow test. His anemometer was the most trusty tool in the business! When it was time to test durability, he stuck his screwdriver into the fans blades to see if they'd break. The blades caught his finger, and he was rushed to the hospital. The doctors were able to re-attach and save Dan's finger!

Author's note:

I have never done this before, but I enjoyed the process. I was able to make a concise story about Dan, but also make the shorter piece rhyme! I then followed it up with the longer story version. That way I could fill in the details I originally left to the reader's imagination. 

Dan's fans from Wikipedia

Feedback Thoughts

Why rejection hurts so much

This article drew my attention because I have been applying for a ton of jobs over the past few months and there is a lot of rejection. I definitely am critical of myself afterward and beat myself up if I said something stupid in an interview. Other times I wonder why I didn't even get response from a company. I like how this article describes the process of restoring your self-esteem. Reflecting on my skills and accomplishments would definitely make me feel better and restore confidence.

Why it's so hard to hear negative feedback

It truly fascinates me how our body draws a physiological response to anxiety. No one wants to tense up or shake when they get anxious, but it happens outside of our control. I like how the author addresses negative feedback deliver as well as reception. Don't sugarcoat feedback! Just give it to people strait and hope they are respectable enough to see that you want to help. I need to focus on treating feedback as opportunity instead of fearing it and taking it to heart.

React just like this cat from cheezburger when faced with feedback!

Project Topic Brainstorm

The Crane and Crab
I have already rewritten a story about penguins and orcas. I look forward to revising it and making it more pleasant of a read!

The Talking Turtle
I would like to retell this story with different species. I would like to discuss a lesson of patience and self-discipline. How if the character would just remain quiet for a bit longer, all their problems would be solved.

Battle for Lanka
I am interested in this battle, and I look forward to reading more about it. I look forward to retelling it with tweaks to the events, character traits, and maybe even a twist at the end! Maybe Sita falls for Ravana while in captivity. Once Rama is victorious and greets Sita once again, she kills him with a dagger!

The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart
I enjoyed this story because it shows how when you are distracted by your own scheme you can miss obvious tricks that you otherwise would not fall for. I would love to retell this story with different species and a different trick!

Crocodile and Monkey by W. Robinson.

Week 2 Story: The Orca and the Jellyfish

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. 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 faced 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 by his 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 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, 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 knowing you betrayed friendships/alliances? I based this story off of The Cunning Crane and the Crab by W. H. D. Rouse.

Reading Notes: Week 2 Anthology

My favorite read was The Cunning Crane and the Crab, by W. H. D. Rouse. I enjoyed the story because I love strategy and wit. Even though it was deceitful, I liked how the Crane had an elaborate plan to convince the fish to be so eager to get into his beak. He even had the patience to take the scout and deliver him back to the pool safely before eating him on the second trip. After that it was easy pickins with eating the rest of the fish. Pretty soon greed consumed the crane, and even though the crab was not the ideal prey for his ploy, he tried it anyway. The wit of the crab cannot be ignored however, because his plot secured his own safety and that of potential crane victims in the future.

Crane and Crab by Illustration by W. Robinson

Week 2 Reading Overview

I have chosen to read  Narayana's Ramayana because of the modern language adaptation, and because it was written by a single author. Fortunately for me, a friend of mine has already taken this class and has offered to let me borrow her physical copy of the novel!

I am interested in reading Rama. I am interested in what takes place leading up to the great war with the demon king, Ravana.

I am also interested in reading Indra and Shachi. The summary discusses penance and righting wrongs, so I am curious to learn about the Indian perspective on justice.

I have chosen Rama's route to Lanka because I am most interested in the Ramayana at this moment.

I have also chosen Ancient Technology - Atlantis and India because Atlantis has always fascinated me, and I would like to learn about it from a different perspective.

Indra from the Indian Epics Images page