Tech Tip: Weather Widget

Hey guys! Just personalized my blog by adding the weather widget to the side of it. I think it'll come in handy occasionally while I'm working. If you would like to do the same, click here for the instructions.

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!