Tech Tip: Weather Widget

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Reading Notes (A): Noah and the Ark

The Ark (Genesis)

God sees that there is a wickedness and violence in man on Earth and grieves at the fact that he created man. He decides to destroy all men and animals, basically everything living. God warns Noah that the end is coming and to make an ark before the floods ravage the world. Noah is instructed on how to build the ark, as well as who to allow on the ark: his family and two of everything living (male and female) in order to preserve precious life.

Construction of Noah's Ark; Wikimedia 

The Flood (Genesis)

God tells Noah that he will make it rain for 40 days and 40 nights, until every living thing he has created is wiped off the face of the planet, except for whatever Noah manages to save and bring onto the ark. The floods literally cover everything, from the plains to the trees to the mountains! All the birds and animals and humans left on Earth are destroyed as the flood and ark (and the living beings in it) become the only remaining objects. The flood waters remain for 150 days.

After the Flood (Genesis)

Noah sends a dove to see if the waters had abated from the Earth. Seven days later, the dove came back with a leaf and Noah knew land was visible. God vows never again to curse the ground for man's sake. 

Noah's Sons (Genesis)

God blesses Noah's family and tells them to flourish! Noah lived 950 years before finally passing away.

The Tower of Babel (Genesis)

This story and onward focuses on the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Bibliography

Noah and the Ark from the Bible (Genesis) & by Louis Ginzberg 

Tech Tip: Reverse Image Search

Robin Hood in his lincoln green; UN-Textbook

Originating in the late-medieval period, Robin Hood is considered a "heroic outlaw" (ironic, right?) from English folklore who was an impressive archer and swordsman. Even today, he is popular in literature, films, and television. This versatile folk figure was often seen as "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor".

Feedback Thoughts

I really liked the article 5 Tips for Taking Feedback Like a Champ because it seemed to highlight the fact that most people see feedback in a negative light. One of the first steps in being able to utilize feedback constructively is to look at it in terms of growth. Having people give you feedback gives you the ability to grow and become better. If there's room for improvement, why not take advantage of it and be better? The article also talks about how there's nothing wrong with a little discomfort from feedback, it's actually a part of the growth process. Those feelings help show that you're human, healthy, and normal.

The other article I liked on getting feedback was Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career because it somewhat reiterates the points that the previous article makes. This article says to embrace the emotions you feel when receiving feedback; being upset is natural. Vent, let the feeling subside, and then move forward! It also says to prioritize which feedback you want to work on. Not all the feedback you receive will be helpful, relevant, or even important to you. Prioritizing the main things you need to address is a great way to utilize feedback.

For giving feedback, I really like the article Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset. I liked it because it listed five qualities of feedback that foster a growth mindset within readers. The first is to be specific. The second is to focus on what the reader is doing, not on what they are lacking. The third quality is to focus more on the process than the actual outcome. The fourth quality is to make sure the feedback is transferrable to other aspects related to the topic. And the fifth and final quality is to keep yourself out of the feedback. It's not about pleasing yourself, but about making the other person better from your feedback.

The second article I liked about giving feedback was 7 Key Characteristics of Better Learning Feedback. Feedback needs to be goal-referenced, transparent, actionable, user-friendly, timely, ongoing, and consistent.

Feedback should be a good thing!; Flickr

Reading Notes (B): Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

Echo

This story is about Jupiter and Juno arguing about who gains more from the pleasures of love. Jupiter says it's Juno, while Juno believes the opposite. They have a son named Bacchus, who was born twice. That's an interesting idea that I might be able to use in my own story! Tiresias had disturbed two snakes who were mating in the forest and that changed him from a man to a woman. After eight years of living as a woman, he ran into the snakes again. This time, once again, he decided to disturb them and was changed back to his former sex. Tiresias agreed with Jupiter that women enjoy lovemaking more. This decision upsets Saturnia, and damned Tiresias. However, instead Tiresias gains knowledge of the future. The nymph Echo can only repeat the last of what is spoken and repeats the words she hears. She is rejected by Narcissus, for whom she has a deep longing. She ends up withering away in the forest, with only her voice remaining.

Narcissus

After going near a fountain Narcissus falls in love with himself. He struggles and longs to grab the image of himself in the water and begins to feel the pains of unrequited love. Eventually Narcissus turns into a flower.

Pyramus and Thisbe

They grow up together and end up falling in love with each other. They would marry, but their parents forbid it. They talk to each other through a shared hole in the wall wall that connects their neighboring houses. The two decide to run off together in the middle of the night. However, while Thisbe is waiting for Pyramus at their designated spot, a lioness appears and spooks Thisbe into the caves. Pyramus appears and sees the lioness and also Thisbe's veil that was left in a rush for her to leave. On it is the blood from the lioness, which Pyramus mistakes as being Thisbe's blood. He thinks she died and proceeds to kill himself. Thisbe sees what has happened and is wrought with pain and longing and misery. She also proceeds to end her life with the same sword. And thus, their love story ends on that fateful, misunderstood night.

Pyramus & Thisbe's fateful love story; Wikimedia

Bibliography

Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4) by Tony Kline

Reading Notes (A): Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

Deucalion and Pyrrha

Jupiter & Neptune destroy the earth with a flood. Deucalion and Pyrrha are the lone two survivors.
Instead of ruining the earth with a flood, I could do it with a volcano or other weather disaster. I like the volcano idea! Deucalion and Pyrrha pray and ask the goddess Themis what they can do to restore the human race. She grants their wish on the condition that they throw stones behind them. Upon doing so, the stones mutate and form into humans. This part was very vivid, with great imagery; need to remember to do the same for my story. Instead of throwing stones behind them though, I can use something else, like tree branches or leaves or something like that.

Io

A character named Argus has a hundred eyes around his head. Io gets turned into a young female cow.

Callisto

Jupiter tricks Calisto into thinking he is a women and proceeds to rape her. Callisto becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy named Arcas. Callisto then turns into a huge bear.

Semele

Juno is angry that Jupiter impregnates Semele. She seems to be jealous and accusing towards Semele because wants to remain the mother of Jupiter's child. Semele is consumed by the fire of her nuptial gift; she is mortal, after all.

Jupiter & Semele. by Gustave Moreau; Wikipedia

Bibliography

Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4) by Tony Kline

Tech Tip: Blogger Template

My blog was looking plain and boring, so I decided to use the extra credit opportunity to make it a little more interesting and appealing!

Famous Last Words: Week 1

Getting back into the swing of things was a little rough this week, but it feels like I've finally settled into the semester. It's always a struggle getting a feel for classes, getting books, and figuring out a schedule that works during the first week of classes so it's a relief when that first weekend comes around and I finally have a chance to stop and breathe. I'm taking 16 credits this semester: some are gen-eds and fairly easy, while others (Physics 2) are going to take the bulk of my time to study for. I would've liked to get ahead in the class this week since I found a lot of success in working ahead in the Epics of India course, but I wasn't able to. My goal is to be at least a week ahead by the time we get a month into the semester. That way, if I run into a rough week where I'm short on time, I don't have to worry about missing points or assignments in this class. It shouldn't be too difficult, I just need to sit down this next week, and really dig in and focus. I'm looking forward to all the interesting readings that I'm bound to encounter in this class! I remember that being my favorite part about the Epics of India course and it really made the class enjoyable. Besides that, it'll be nice to graduate this May and not have to worry about school for a while!

On another note outside of school, President Trump just got inaugurated. I can't say I'm thrilled to see him be at the helm of our country, but I do hope he succeeds in being a good president. I wouldn't want him to fail miserably because that would mean that as a nation, we would be failing. I guess only time will tell how things end up playing out and falling into place!

Presidential Seal; Flickr

Growth Mindset

I found the growth mindset to be an intriguing topic to consider. I actually remember reading about something like this in my cognitive psychology course last summer, although the name Carol Dweck wasn't associated with it. It basically revolved around the concept of neuroplasticity, the idea that you can rewire the neurons in your brain to think and perceive things in a different way. When applied to the growth mindset, you can see the implications it has on school performance and other tasks. People who believe their intelligence is fixed, or stable, tend to not put as much effort into learning and studying because they think it's pointless. In contrast, people who believe that intelligence can grow based on effort and hard work, generally are the ones that see the most success in difficult tasks. As the semester goes on, I look forward to learning more about the growth mindset because I think it's a concept that goes a long way when it comes to practicality. Anyone can grow and prosper if they apply this thinking to their everyday lives!

Image from Growth Mindset Memes blog

Time Strategies

With there being only 24 hours in a day, I feel like time management is a crucial aspect of success that some people fail to realize the importance of. Regardless, it's a skill that almost everyone could work on and perfect, especially if they have ambitious goals of being very successful. I read the article, The Important Habit of Just Starting, and found some things that I could work on myself. Sometimes, I struggle to start my work too, and most of the time, that's the main reason for my procrastination. It's the source of most of the stress I encounter on a daily basis.

Time's always ticking!; Wikimedia

One of my goals this semester is to actually keep a solid schedule that prompts me to either do school work, go to the gym, or just take some time for myself. I feel like having a schedule to help me stay on track would be the best thing for me to do in order to manage my time. I would feel more obligated to do it and checking things off my list would give me a sense of accomplishment which would motivate me further. I also need to find better places to study besides my apartment because there are a lot of things here that are distracting. From my bed, to the tv, and even the food in my fridge, all are a source of distraction that stop me from getting work done in a timely manner. Going the the library would be much better because I'm in an environment that facilitates studying and getting work done. These are the two things that I think would help me the most in staying focused and on task throughout the semester.

Reading Options

There were so many units to choose from for the readings for this class that it was kind of overwhelming! In the end, I decided to choose topics that I didn't know much about. I think it's always a good idea to try and expand your knowledge on topics you find interesting, hence the reason I chose the topics that I did.

The first unit that I want to read for Week 2 are the Stories from Congo. These stories focus on "fetishes", which are both supernatural spirits and also the power of those spirits embodied in physical objects of some kind. I've always been interested in African cultures and practices, so I think this will be a good place for me to get started. The titles of the different stories also seem interesting and I found the text to be easy enough to read.

Women of the Congo; Wikimedia

The second unit that I am interested in reading are the Jataka Tales (Shedlock). This unit caught my eye because the stories told reflect on distinct Buddhist teachings. I've always found Buddhism to be extremely insightful but I haven't ever gotten a chance to really sit down and read about it. Choosing this unit would serve two functions: to fulfill requirements for this class and to also finally give me an opportunity to learn more about the teachings of Buddhism! The language in these stories also seemed straightforward so they shouldn't pose much of a problem when it comes to reading and understanding them.

The third unit that I wanted to read for this class is The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung. In the overview for this unit, it is mentioned that the monkey king is a warrior and a magician who rebels against heaven. I'm interested in this unit because one of my favorite characters in the Epics of India course was Hanuman, who was also technically a monkey. I want to see if there are any parallels between the two characters and am interested in how this rebellion plays out! This unit also includes Buddha, and since one of the other units I chose includes Buddhism, I think this one will fit nicely into the mix of things.

Storybook Favorites

While browsing through the storybooks, I ran across a lot of great ideas. It’s amazing how creative people can be when given the opportunity to write about things that interest them! Of all the storybooks, the first three I found interesting were the ones I picked to write about for this post.

The first storybook that I ran across that caught my attention was Not to Touch the Earth. The introduction was great, and almost chilling, which drew me into the mix of things and got me wanting to read more. I liked the color scheme and the layout of the storybook because I think it goes well with the theme of the rest of the storybook. The images in this storybook definitely added to the creepy tone of the storybook, which I thought was a great way to keep people interested.  I look forward to reading the rest of the great work on this storybook as the semester continues on.

Post-apocalyptic city by Ty'Onah Gallman; Flickr

The second storybook that I found interesting was The Trickster of OU. I loved the way this storybook used traditional mythology tricksters and applied them to a modern day example, in this case, playing pranks on OU’s campus. I think telling these stories from OUPD’s perspective is a unique idea because, of course, they would be the people right in the middle of it all trying to figure out who the culprit is. The use of narration is evident in this storybook, which I find to be a great method in telling stories. I also found the layout, color scheme, and font of the storybook to flow well together, making it an enjoyable one to read. I can’t wait to read the rest of the stories!

The third storybook that drew my attention was The Real Veggie Tales. I mean, the original movie is definitely a classic, so the title is what mainly caught my eye. After reading the introduction, I found that this is definitely one that I would continue to read. It offers perspectives from different vegetables as they struggle to be wanted to be eaten. I think this storybook is a fantastic idea, and like the others I have mentioned, I think the title and layout of this storybook goes well with the theme that’s apparent throughout.

Introduction: A Little Something About Me!

Hey guys! So I’m usually pretty bad at this “about me” stuff so I’ll just start with the basics. My name is Parth and I’m currently a senior here at the University of Oklahoma. I'm majoring in psychology with a minor in microbiology, and I plan on applying to optometry school this summer after graduating in May! Before I moved to Norman, I lived in a few other places. I was born on July 4^th, 1994 in Salt Lake City, UT. I don’t really remember Salt Lake City that much, but I hope to go back there and visit one day! When I was two and a half years old, my family and I moved to a small town called Ardmore, OK where my parents bought a hotel and basically jump started their life. Ardmore is where I call home because I lived there for thirteen years and made most of my childhood memories growing up. After my sophomore year at Ardmore High School, my parents decided to invest in another hotel in Burleson, TX and expand their business which prompted us to move there. After a period of adjustment, I finally settled in and made new friends, while also playing on the varsity basketball team there. After graduation, I obviously decided to come back to Oklahoma and continue my education at OU!

This is me! (taken by a friend of mine)

Growing up, I was always allergic to furry pets so I only ever got to have fish as pets. However, a couple years ago I realized that I’m not as allergic to cats as I used to be, so my roommates and I all pitched in to get a Bengal kitten! His name is Shere Khan, or SK for short, and he is definitely the best random decision I have ever made! He’ll be three years old next month and is as spoiled as can be, but I wouldn't give him up for anything.

This is SK when he was 8 weeks old, we had just got him (photo taken by me)

This is SK last year, enjoying an afternoon snooze while I study (photo taken by me)

The past two summers I have had incredible opportunities to go to Panama as part of a medical brigade that provides medical and dental services to people in areas that can't afford healthcare or to people who don't have the means necessary to get to a health clinic. A majority of Panama is rural so sometimes people have to travel great distances to get to hospitals and other government provided services. These two trips have really put my life into perspective, while also making me aware of how important it is to keep an open mind. The genuine gratitude you receive from these people is unlike anything I've ever experienced. If any of you guys get a chance to go on a trip like this, do it! I don't think you'd regret it.

Besides all that, I’m really just a laid back person who loves to meet new people. I enjoy watching sports, mainly basketball, as well as hanging out with my family, friends, and girlfriend. Feel free to ask any questions if you'd like to know more!

Week 1 Storytelling: Work Ethic

EARLY to bed, and early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

-The Nursery Rhyme Book, by Unknown

As a young man, sleeping and waking up early was something Jack could never do. He loved his sleep very much. He would sleep for hours on end, snoozing for nearly twelve hours a night! He would go to bed at odd hours of the night on weekends, some nights 2:00 AM, some nights 4:00 AM and wake up in the afternoon. School nights weren't any better, he would fall asleep around 1:00 AM and barely wake up in time to get ready and get to school on time. It got so bad that he ended up being late almost every day! After a few years of this, Jack started to see a decline in his health and productivity. He had gained a lot of weight over the years, he was broke and was failing his classes, and he had no motivation to do anything. His father had noticed Jack’s bad habits and decided it was time to talk to him.

“Hey there”, he said. “I've noticed you've been failing your classes. You also aren't making any money or have a job like the rest of the kids your age. Do you know why?”

Jack responded by saying, “I just love to sleep, Dad”.

“Do you know how I got to be as successful as I am today?” he asked Jack. Jack shook his head no and looked up at his dad. “Work ethic”, he said. “I was always up by five in the morning. I would go workout, shower, get ready, eat breakfast and be ready for class or work an hour before I had to be there. Waking up early ensures that you’re not wasting your whole day. It gives you time to do more, like study, stay healthy, and have a job. After work or school, I would come home, eat dinner, relax, and then take care of any other errands I had to do. I wouldn't laze around all day. And then around ten or eleven, I would already be in my bed, ready to wake up for the next day of opportunity.”

From that day, Jack took his dad’s advice to heart and fixed his sleeping schedule. He would wake up every morning at six, get ready for school by 7, eat breakfast and be on his way to school. He immediately noticed improvements in his health, grades, and social life. He got a job and started making money, and he also realized that sleeping early gave him enough energy to carry on throughout the rest of the day and accomplish more tasks. “This is great”, he thought. “I should have started doing this a long time ago”. In the end, Jack became a successful businessman and it was all because he made one simple change to his daily habits.

"Early bird gets the worm"; Sketchport

Author’s Note: I chose this proverb from The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang (1897). The proverb is pretty simple, stating that the person to sleep and rise early will be the most successful. I took that in relation with school and work ethic and how that plays a vital role in the outcome of a person’s success. A person who is disciplined enough to get the day started early is bound to succeed in my opinion.

My Favorite Place

I would have to choose the Canadian side of Niagara Falls as my all-time favorite place so far. The first time I visited, I was pretty mind blown by the sheer power they possess and by how big the falls really are. They have this attraction where you get an a boat and they take you right up next to the falls so you can hear how loud the water sounds as it falls. You can also feel the wind it generates and how much water splashes as it comes crashing down. It's definitely a sight to behold and I recommend anyone who enjoys nature to check it out if they ever the the chance!

Niagara Falls, Canada; Wikimedia Commons

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