tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91826752789080096202024-03-13T15:46:22.983-05:00Drew's Mythology BlogDrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-64437587154806990772021-04-27T21:36:00.004-05:002021-04-27T21:36:51.274-05:00Reading Notes, Inferno: Part B<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">This story is part of the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-dantes-inferno.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dante's Inferno unit</a></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">. Story source: </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-poetry-in.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">Dante's Divine Comedy</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">, translated by Tony Kline (2002)</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">I read the part in Daniel recently about the statue of different materials. I didn't know it spawned a saying about having feet of clay. Meaning weakness. I think Achilles may have been mentioned. Nothing about his heal, however.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">So the parts about Muhammed have been taking out. I saw somewhere that a lot of Inferno is social commentary. That's quite bold to write about people you don't like being in hell. There's a videogame based on this story, and there's an animated movie based on the game. They both are disgusting. The story is changed a lot. Dante goes to hell to rescue Beatrice, but it's his wife. She was killed during the crusades that Dante was a part of. I think that's interesting since in the original story Muhammed, the founder of Islam, was in hell. Beatrice in the video game story dies because Dante isn't there to protect. I'm trying to say there's a connection there. I don't know too much about them, but I do know that the crusades don't seem in any way noble. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">I think my idea is to write about a person seeing their own self in hell. Each circle has themselves suffering for their own sin. Or maybe each circle contains a memory of them committing that sin. It could even be inspired by the Harrowing of Hell story where Jesus comes to save them at the end. The person in the story won't actually be dead. It will just be a recognition of their own corrupt nature and how Jesus ultimately saves them from it. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">I think a lot is from the poetry. I'm glad I've read some version of it now. I've been on the precipice of taking a class over the book several times now, but it never works out with my schedule. It still would be interesting to hear from an expert on the subject.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFk2bX5kRFk/YIjKGJovmHI/AAAAAAAAASA/dNz3y_XgMPwsSfvWzAbfeHznGeyP8QnQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1055/Bartolomeo_Di_Fruosino_-_Inferno%252C_from_the_Divine_Comedy_by_Dante_%2528Folio_1v%2529_-_WGA01339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFk2bX5kRFk/YIjKGJovmHI/AAAAAAAAASA/dNz3y_XgMPwsSfvWzAbfeHznGeyP8QnQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Bartolomeo_Di_Fruosino_-_Inferno%252C_from_the_Divine_Comedy_by_Dante_%2528Folio_1v%2529_-_WGA01339.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Nine Circles (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartolomeo_Di_Fruosino_-_Inferno,_from_the_Divine_Comedy_by_Dante_(Folio_1v)_-_WGA01339.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)<br /><span style="font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></span><p></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-21285218633313390562021-04-26T21:27:00.002-05:002021-04-26T21:27:32.631-05:00Reading Notes: Inferno, Part A<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">This story is part of the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/07/myth-folklore-unit-dantes-inferno.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">Dante's Inferno unit</a></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">. Story source: </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-poetry-in.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dante's Divine Comedy</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">, translated by Tony Kline (2002).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Who's the Greyhound? Even though the first page is very long, I'm reading it as if I'm actually interested. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">I remember reading this book and feeling fearful. I have no fear during this read. Maybe the pictures scared me so? Or maybe I was just more fearful back then. The idea of hell and demons was scarier.</span></p><p>The division of sin. The suffering, at least in this language, doesn't seem as bad as I would think it would be. I'm unsure why certain people are reserved from true suffering. The philosophers and the heroes seem mostly unscathed. The Harrowing of Hell legend is pretty. Laura already told me about, but I didn't read too much of it. I hope Jesus' sacrifice goes back in time, too, but I trust God with everything. Most of all this. I'm thankful I was born after. </p><p>I thought about describing hell. I'm sure it has been done before. Many, many times. I think I've seen some documentaries about Dante before. Was he not in prison? Was he not in anguish at losing Beatrice? She becomes his guide later on, but did she just die, or did she leave him?</p><p>No. Beatrice was someone Dante loved from afar. The reason I thought he focused so much on the adulterous lovers was because he was cheated on in some way. I was wrong. However, it seems the lust they had for each other was a focus of Dante's. Was it because he the same love for Beatrice? The Googling I did would tell me differently. The love for Beatrice was beyond sexuality. Like God's love.</p><p>Is the Divine Comedy that humans go through so much suffering only to end up in paradise if they live a righteous life? Writing my own version of The Divine Comedy, and what it means to me, is a possible idea. I can't think of anything, though. Why is it always so lofty? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0XT9AqfgH0/YId2Mc798QI/AAAAAAAAAR4/pr4gCLWOnV8RC7T72tO7KTVTriBUBE-ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Dante%2527s_Inferno_Facade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e0XT9AqfgH0/YId2Mc798QI/AAAAAAAAAR4/pr4gCLWOnV8RC7T72tO7KTVTriBUBE-ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Dante%2527s_Inferno_Facade.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">The Inscription is On the Forehead (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dante%27s_Inferno_Facade.JPG" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-38507197472506611042021-04-19T09:51:00.000-05:002021-04-19T09:51:10.040-05:00Microfiction: Two Sad Stories<div style="text-align: center;">It's Different But the Same</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know what to do. But</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnHG3aG5IyI/YH2UiB0OdOI/AAAAAAAAARs/TSRBhyrYO40g6FtXC5v11qiqgGMuFWzTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1072/dont%2Bknow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1072" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnHG3aG5IyI/YH2UiB0OdOI/AAAAAAAAARs/TSRBhyrYO40g6FtXC5v11qiqgGMuFWzTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/dont%2Bknow.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Inspiration (Source: Unknown)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How I Feel</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> I feel sad but the kind that's joyful</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> I'd cry seeing Superman fly</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> More examples...</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> But I don't want to rhyme</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> The best kind of poetry doesn't rhyme</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> Its expression is its ideas</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Not whether you can dance to it</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> I want to dance with you</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> You're so far away</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> I know when you'll be here</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> I know when I won't be</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> I don't even doubt</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> I don't even wonder</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> I'm just sad because I see Superman flying</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Except it's me </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> You're Lois Lane</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> I come to save the day </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> No matter how many time you fall</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Jesus save me</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Author's Note: The first story is based on a picture I've had saved on my phone for nearly four years now. I was in love at the time. I'm not sure why I knew this picture felt appropriate for the situation when I saved it. It was too early on. Perhaps it spoke to me on a deeper level past my circumstances. Sometimes knowing what to do is worse than not knowing what to do. Sometimes it's the other way around.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>I saw someone in this class write out a 100 hundred word story off the top of their head so I did, too. Maybe it's the lack of prolonged sleep, but I have a tinge of sadness over me. No particular reason. I love life, though. Superman flying is a good representation of loving life for me. It also makes me sad.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-38826154031693327882021-04-14T11:45:00.001-05:002021-04-14T11:45:40.938-05:00Reading Notes: Robin Hood, Part A<p> <a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-english-and-scottish.html" style="background-color: white; color: #992211; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i>The English and Scottish Popular Ballads</i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"> by Francis James Child (1882-1898)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6YaDlj-5CuE/YHcQh_KzMdI/AAAAAAAAARc/tXGKTCGmYJMB37oYzIDb2BSNsxK6nU93ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1197/796px-Robin_Hood_%2528Theater_Schmeater%252C_Pt1%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="796" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6YaDlj-5CuE/YHcQh_KzMdI/AAAAAAAAARc/tXGKTCGmYJMB37oYzIDb2BSNsxK6nU93ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/796px-Robin_Hood_%2528Theater_Schmeater%252C_Pt1%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.78px;">I thought Robins were red (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robin_Hood_(Theater_Schmeater,_Pt1).jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Is this finally my opportunity to write in a different way? Poetry in the style of ballads. I also had a idea to incorporate this into my portfolio stories. I have an idea for the next story. Junior as Jesus, will inspire and gain the workers of the simulation company as followers while angering the owners or executives of the company. A lot of strife. Whatever the company's owners motives are, they are the rich in the story. Jesus came for the poor, not the rich. Kinda like the idealized version of Robin Hood. But maybe I can do something with this gangsta Robin, too. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">I didn't know Robin Hood and Little John met each other as enemies. The ballad reminds me of scenes in movies where people approach each other with animosity and then end up respecting the other because they admire their talents. One of the things I remember from my research on Robin Hood was that it didn't make sense for these men to hang out in the forest year round. The temperature during an England winter went negative Fahrenheit. That's dumb that I have to capitalize that word! I was imagining the men sitting in a shack during a snow.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Robin Hood and his Blokes</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Kept Inside Because the Snow</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Stopped them Cold of Robbing Rich Folks</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Made them Rob Each other Instead</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Dang, that is terrible. I went ahead and capitalized almost everything because of Fahrenheit. I'm getting a "Hateful Eight" vibe. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">An arrow flew across the room. The arrow narrowly missed a man's face. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">"Sorry, mate. I was removing the frostbite from your nose."</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Listening to the videos of the ballads makes it clear that the poetry needs to sound good sung. So if I go that direction, I can try to imagine what it would sound like sung. Because whenever I read what I above, I can only do it to the melody of the Disney song. </p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-72240915542396018652021-03-24T15:25:00.002-05:002021-03-24T15:25:26.664-05:00Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part B<p> <i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-book-chinese-fairy-book.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Chinese Fairy Book</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">The Evening Star makes me think of Lucifer, but I think he's probably the Morning Star if anything. Or maybe he has no relation to either of those titles.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">He does like to call himself venerable all the time, doesn't he? He does very well at whatever he does. He excelled as the stablemaster even though it seems like a lowly job. He never complained. The expanding rod is in Dragon Ball as well.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Dang. The very next episode he complains about his title and its lowly nature. Don't speak too soon, Drew.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">These devil-kings can't be good news. I suppose this is the start of the war with heaven.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">I wonder if he'll find out about his empty title. The Morning Star does seem pretty clever.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">3600. There was something about 360 in part A. I wonder if people thought there was only 360 days in a year at this time. Or maybe the number has some other significance.</span></p><p>I learned about Laozi. It's interesting how this story is an amalgamation of so many different traditions. I guess you could say that about Christianity and everything else as well.</p><p>Ha. I'm starting to feel creepy. What an odd thing to say.</p><p>He's really a joyful creature. Even when he's fearful, he finds a way to have fun the next moment.</p><p>I wonder if he'll ever break the promise he made to his first teacher.</p><p>Buddha coming and finally putting Sun in his place is like an Avengers movie. It doesn't really seem like the Buddha would belong in this story, and yet here he is. It's very interesting. </p><p>There's a pig in Dragon Ball named Oolong who has the same characteristics as the pig in "Journey to the West."</p><p>That is a nice ending for Sun. I need to take a nap to think of what I'll write about myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvteEIJAQR0/YFugFE4EITI/AAAAAAAAARE/8_EaNaFXumEOV8eIcdsLy2r44_NOwSxpACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2560px-Sun_Wukong_shrine_at_Thi%25C3%25AAn_H%25E1%25BA%25ADu_Temple_in_Saigon_%252813527817455%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvteEIJAQR0/YFugFE4EITI/AAAAAAAAARE/8_EaNaFXumEOV8eIcdsLy2r44_NOwSxpACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/2560px-Sun_Wukong_shrine_at_Thi%25C3%25AAn_H%25E1%25BA%25ADu_Temple_in_Saigon_%252813527817455%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Monkey King Shrine (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_King#mediaviewer/File:Sun_Wukong_and_Jade_Rabbit.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-67477174134370394082021-03-23T16:11:00.000-05:002021-03-23T16:11:04.416-05:00Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part A<p> <b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/06/myth-folklore-unit-monkey-king-sun-wu.html" target="_blank">The Chinese Fairy Book</a></i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.78px;">Thousand Mile-Eye and Fine-Ear are certainly interesting names.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.78px;">That was a little rude of the Handsome Monkey King to beat up and rob the first human he ever saw. At least he learned how to conduct himself over the span of nine years. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bPX4pa3WUc/YFpOmyLdYhI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/ToJrVdgvXWgtkdjdm7XpbjQbrES7ZJ2fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1599/1599px-A_part_of_Giant_Traditional_Chinese_Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1599" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bPX4pa3WUc/YFpOmyLdYhI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/ToJrVdgvXWgtkdjdm7XpbjQbrES7ZJ2fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1599px-A_part_of_Giant_Traditional_Chinese_Painting.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">This painting just feels right (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_part_of_Giant_Traditional_Chinese_Painting.JPG" target="_blank">Source</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Ha. After discerning a great truth, Sun Wu Kung begins jerking around. That's a funny word to use.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Is it Baptists who don't like dancing? This reminds me of that. King David danced and worshiped like a wild man once. I can't remember the reason now. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">That's pretty cool that the master is telling Sun all about the different way to reach holiness. I learned about many of these ways in a religion class. They're the different schools of faith within Buddhism. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Goku could only fly on a nimbus cloud originally. Then he learned to fly all by himself. Maybe Sun Wu Kong will also overcome his current limitation. Yep. The very next story has him learning a better way.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Dang what a sad ending with the master. Goku has a monkey mind, too.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Thievery and deception aren't too nice. Sun Wu Kang seems to play by rules of his own making. 77,000 monkeys. Is the number seven holy in all cultures?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">He didn't treat the Dragon-King very well. I suppose a person who goes to war with heaven has to be a little evil.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Sun Wu Kung is a little crazy, but he is likeable. I don't know where I would go with a story about him right now. Maybe I could just take the chance to write some Dragon Ball fanfiction. That's a little embarrassing, though.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Maybe it would be cool to have the Monkey King fight Goku. Perhaps they would be friends because they have similar personalities and a desire to whip the strongest opponents. I'm not for sure on Sun liking that. I'll need more context from the next part tomorrow. </span></span></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-72160410109600548382021-03-19T11:29:00.000-05:002021-03-19T11:29:52.553-05:00Week 8 Progress<p> <span> I'm a little bit ahead in terms of overall points. I believe that's because I did some assignments during the break week. I have no real reason to get super far ahead, but it would be cool to finish super early. My routine isn't anything perfect. At the beginning of the semester this was my only class where any real work was required because my other classes had such a slow start. Now that everything has picked up, I do the assignments for this class whenever I can. There's really no reason for me to not have a routine, though. You can't routinize my creativity! Except you can. I usually like writing under a deadline. However, if I look back at my writing at the beginning of the semester, there were was no deadline because I was so far ahead. </span></p><p><span><span> I really should be utilizing more of the extra credit options. I usually do the extra commenting because I like reading more stories. It sounds not as time consuming to me on the surface, but it can be time consuming to write a comment for a story that I didn't connect with. I can't imagine what it's like to be a teacher grading a bunch of writing... I guess I can, though. You just do it and see the good and try and elevate that. I look forward to the stories I'm going to read in the coming weeks. I hope they inspire me. This is my favorite class this semester. I would say it's in my top five of all of college. That's nice to have my last semester. I think a class like this should be mandatory. I wonder what those who don't take their writing seriously think of their class. Do they think their going to retell the same story in their own words every week? Or are they freed by the grading system and want to try their hand at writing something more original? The option is awesome, and that's what I love about this class.</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He4J7iHhYB0/YFTREAKsr6I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/-H1sgZg0A2QWVLrzGYuBR8YG4Q7Zwv73wCLcBGAsYHQ/s950/551823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="950" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-He4J7iHhYB0/YFTREAKsr6I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/-H1sgZg0A2QWVLrzGYuBR8YG4Q7Zwv73wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/551823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Word (<a href="https://pixy.org/551823/" target="_blank">Source</a>)<p></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-19515483262649628602021-03-18T01:14:00.002-05:002021-03-19T11:13:16.221-05:00Week 8 Comments and Feedback<p><span> </span>I've been pleased with the comments I've received from other students in this class. I usually don't have any grammar issues, so most of the comments have been focused on the story itself. I appreciate the praise for what's liked, and I appreciate the constructive criticism for areas people think could be better. Even if I don't agree with what needs to be changed, I appreciate the time it takes to write the feedback. I do consider some of it. All of the interest in John and Alex waking up from the Garden of Eden has made me want to write a sequel story at some point. There was one comment asking for more information in my author's note about the story of Adam and Eve. It's weird to think about people not already having an idea of what that story is about. Because my story is so similar, I chose not to update the author's note. </p><p><span> As for the feedback I've written, I've seen a lot of errors in terms of sentence structure. There was one story that was difficult for me to read because of how many run-ons there were. I had to focus on the story being told rather than how it was written. I ended up appreciating the style even though I think it could use some correction. I've tried to avoid being mean by leaving compliments wherever I can. It's honestly very cool to see where so many people are in how they write. I would like to read more stories and give more feedback.</span><br /></p><p><span> I like checking the posts I've made every week to see if someone new has commented. I get why everyone who runs a YouTube channel talks about how in the early days they would check their comments like a man checking on his pregnant wife. I couldn't think of a better analogy there. It'll be cool someday to write something I'm proud of and see how others react to it. </span><br /></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIs_Y8BbpmQ/YFLvF-c0MpI/AAAAAAAAAQs/THCSGps_DGQLjc9WB8Ffa79hR4OsZxNGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Because%2BI%2Bfeel%2Bsafe%2BI%2Bcan%2Blearn%2Bfrom%2Bmy%2Bmistakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIs_Y8BbpmQ/YFLvF-c0MpI/AAAAAAAAAQs/THCSGps_DGQLjc9WB8Ffa79hR4OsZxNGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Because%2BI%2Bfeel%2Bsafe%2BI%2Bcan%2Blearn%2Bfrom%2Bmy%2Bmistakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">True (<a href="https://builder.cheezburger.com/Builder#step2_6403215616,https://i.chzbgr.com/original/6403215616/h814E9646/" target="_blank">Source</a>)</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">When the stakes are learning rather than failing or succeeding, challenging oneself is much more enticing. When I trust in God, I can apply this mindset to my life. </p><p><span><br /></span></p><p><span> </span><br /></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-57075049592600039732021-03-16T14:50:00.000-05:002021-03-16T14:50:20.383-05:00Week 8 Reading and Writing<p> <span> </span>I love the readings in this class. I probably enjoy the ones I'm unfamiliar with more so than the ones I am familiar with. However, I probably enjoy writing more about the ones I'm familiar with than the ones I'm unfamiliar with. In the future, perhaps I'll enjoy writing about the new familiar--what was once unfamiliar. </p><p><span> I haven't tried anything truly challenging with the writing yet. Although I haven't written a straightforward retelling (that sounds too boring to me), I have only written the way I like to. I don't care about description too much, and when you only have a thousand words, description, in my opinion can be wasteful. That said, I know how powerful description can be, and I do enjoy reading it myself. I also haven't taken to heart too much of the feedback I've gotten back from commenters. That's a good thing and a bad thing. For the Adam and Eve story, I don't want to change what I have, but I do want to write more about what people are interested in in a different story. I listen to Laura about grammar and everything, of course. I've enjoyed being edited again. I'm not as careful with my own editing in this class because I know I'm turning in a draft and not a completely finished product. I do tend to write for myself. I like when people can see the merit, but I'm not dismayed when others can't see what I was going for. I know sometimes it can't be seen unless it's explained. That's something I should work on if I want my writing to resonate. </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ax5DwgxrbVM/YFEKj5uwjxI/AAAAAAAAAQc/6doHus3kkV8BT0tSUYZucpFeAiIsyRzfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1599/1600px-Hunting_and_trapping_stories%253B_a_book_for_boys_%25281903%2529_%252814595721790%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1599" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ax5DwgxrbVM/YFEKj5uwjxI/AAAAAAAAAQc/6doHus3kkV8BT0tSUYZucpFeAiIsyRzfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1600px-Hunting_and_trapping_stories%253B_a_book_for_boys_%25281903%2529_%252814595721790%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elephant Hunt (</span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hunting_and_trapping_stories;_a_book_for_boys_(1903)_(14595721790).jpg" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source</span></a><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans"; white-space: pre-wrap;">Man, I am such a fool. I just spent so long trying to figure out where I could find this image. Thank you, Laura for making us have a source for each image we use. I forgot about it for too long... I picked this image because it looks so good, especially on my website. There's something mythic about primitive men hunting an elephant. There isn't as much sadness for me when I compare it to a modern day elephant hunt. The picture fits my story well because the whole time an elephant is telling a story about humans without malice, and yet this is how his kind was treated. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "Open Sans"; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Moving forward, as for the future, looking ahead... I would like to do more writing. I skipped last week. I've had an idea for part two of the Adam and Eve story for so long. I just hope I haven't forgotten any ideas I wanted to use. </span></span></div><span><br /></span><p></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-20352553353857725352021-03-09T22:57:00.003-06:002021-03-09T22:57:51.202-06:00Reading Notes: Tibetan Folk Tales, Part B<p> <i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/02/tibetan-folk-tales-how-rabbit-killed.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Tibetan Folk Tales</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"> by A.L. Shelton with illustrations by Mildred Bryant (1925)</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">"You little split-nosed rascal," I'll need to remember that.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Poor king of beasts, drowning himself on account of his own reflection.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Some of these tricksters are unsure if their antics will go the way they want them to. This is an example of that.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Let's kill the two "big wives" and share the third in partnership. The object of jealously wasn't even that much. It shows the ridiculousness of human beings. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">I have an idea... what happened in-between when animals had speech and when they didn't? That could be an interesting setting.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Wow. "How the Raven Saved the Hunter" is a really great story. That makes me sad. I would like to remember some of these stories, so I can tell them to my kids. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">The Golden Squah was interesting. A surprise ending even though it was expected the bad man would get his due. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">The Violinist was a longer story. I liked how the violinist's misfortune with his father didn't mean he was a bad character through and through. I liked how he and his wife worked together and stayed true to each other. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">The frog was very clever. I'm glad there was no trouble sharing the reward between the duck and the frog. Why couldn't the frog and the rabbit have done that from the beginning? </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">I have a lot of hair on my head, and I had even more when I was younger (longer, I'm not balding...). My sixth grade English teacher called me the hare, and she called this guy Quinn tortoise. I'm not really sure how he got his name. Slow?</span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Yak butter tea sounds disgusting right now, but I think it's because I feel sick in my stomach. Just too much food, I think. I'm sure the tea is all right. I started drinking green tea recently, and it did me well until I ran out. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">What the heck... What are you eating? My eyeball? That's pretty funny. I guess this rabbit has some complex against apex predators now. This rabbit is a psychopath! The mother bear was never mentioned again either... </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.78px;">Maybe the man who fell in the lake didn't feel very well because the monkey trying to rescue him spent *days* getting stronger. I like all the weird little story beats in these stories. It's the exact thing I, and other children, find funny. </span></span></span></p><p>My idea is to have a big meeting with all the characters from these stories devising a new story. Maybe they're in a troupe of actors putting on plays. There can be some kind of argument about the direction of the story, but one character, the trickster, will get what he wants by making everyone think they're getting what they want. </p><p>Once upon a time, when animals were beginning to lose their speech, a group of animals who still had their speech thought of an idea. This group of animals was devoted to maintaining their legends in the minds of man, so they came up with the idea of putting on a play for the humans nearby. </p><p>Something like that...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LT-auoeIXa8/YEhRnOaDkDI/AAAAAAAAAQI/b4xQ8wrxy3AEv9w8ik3LhKjI850MMP5XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/4585125664_ffd0d8c856_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LT-auoeIXa8/YEhRnOaDkDI/AAAAAAAAAQI/b4xQ8wrxy3AEv9w8ik3LhKjI850MMP5XwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/4585125664_ffd0d8c856_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">The Duck Got All the Gold (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jronaldlee/4585125664" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-42667993260164831002021-03-09T14:17:00.003-06:002021-03-09T14:17:46.769-06:00Reading Notes: Tibetan Folk Tales, Part A<p><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/03/myth-folklore-unit-tibetan-folk-tales.html" target="_blank"> <i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><span style="color: #992211;">Tibetan Folk Tales</span></i></a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 21.78px;"> by A.L. Shelton with illustrations by Mildred Bryant (1925)</span></p><p>I tried a new strategy this time. I read through the entire story unit before taking any notes. Let's see how it does. </p><p>Breaking down these stories into elements to draw from, I would take talking animals, lamas (Tibetan monks, ha I thought Laura misspelled llamas at first), devils, ghosts, morals, proverbs, and... mentioning that the world at this time was super young.</p><p>In these stories the heroes can be deceitful. The "fortune teller" who killed the two devils was lying about being a fortune teller the entire time. The man told the ghost he was a ghost--I think the moral of that story was that ghosts can see through lies, but the ghost liked the man, so he blessed him. The carpenter tricked the painter and was rewarded. In that case it seems more justified since the painter was out to kill him without cause. The carpenter was very wise, I would say. </p><p>In the story about the man who saved the other man and three animals, the moral might be to not judge a book by its cover. All of these stories have false friends. Jealousy as well. </p><p>These stories have many tricksters. The tricksters are more heroic since they're only trying to save their lives. Well, the fox who grew up with the tiger and cow wasn't very heroic, but the frog king certainly was. The heroes of these stories are crafty, so I need to come up with someone who uses their mind to win at a situation. Even the king who judged between the donkey and the rock was smarter than everyone else in the room. He reminds me of King Solomon. </p><p>Nothing is jumping out at me for a story idea right now, but I still have tomorrow's stories to think over. I like the idea of kings, lamas, and ghosts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-vvbdOeNQ0/YEfXyh-jn5I/AAAAAAAAAQA/8ge-1yRDqkYhnLulzxZmX3gVKdHour0ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s512/YM0037970_Portrait-of-a-Lama-Possibly-Dromton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="397" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-vvbdOeNQ0/YEfXyh-jn5I/AAAAAAAAAQA/8ge-1yRDqkYhnLulzxZmX3gVKdHour0ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/YM0037970_Portrait-of-a-Lama-Possibly-Dromton.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Lama not Llama (<a href="https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YM0037970/Portrait-of-a-Lama-Possibly-Dromton" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-19303198666003412412021-03-05T11:52:00.004-06:002021-03-08T11:30:34.418-06:00Week 6 Story: An Elephant Never Forgets<p>Current Version: <a href="https://sites.google.com/d/1klTTqG2amPMlWZpoFPp2iDWV5Mpfkup3/p/1Gmb9k1KvbEVUJBhmbDPPr2TVrNhspPSb/edit" target="_blank">Story Portfolio</a><span> <span> </span></span></p><p><span><span> </span>"The greatest story ever told is the one told today," the master storyteller explained. "The greatest story ever told is also the most original. The greatest story ever told is the first story. Does anyone know what this story is?"<br /></span></p><p><span> "It's the story of everything, teacher," answered a member of the audience to the master storyteller.</span><br /></p><p><span><span> "And who are the characters in this story?" asked the master storyteller.</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span> "We are, teacher," said multiple in the audience. </span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span> "Yes, and because you are all characters in the story, so are all in the past and future. Every character has a role to play. Does anyone remember when mankind hunted beasts out of necessity?" questioned the master storyteller out of curiosity. "No? Yes, well, man wasn't always as self-reliant on the creatures of their own creation as they are today. They were once dependent on the creatures outside of their control."</span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span> "There once was a man named Ucas. Ucas was in charge of more than just himself. He was responsible for his family and an entire village. Quite often Ucas would lead an expedition out into the wilderness to secure food for the village The journey would be long and difficult to the destination. Then came the real fight of hunting and killing the creature. On one journey back from a hunt, Ucas noticed in the distance how a pack of predators cornered their prey against a steep hill. Ucas suddenly had an idea. What if instead of hunting the creatures they needed for food they kept them within walls and killed them when necessary? Thus containment was born," the master storyteller postulated.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Teacher, were all creatures kept in walls once Ucas put them there?" wondered a child in the audience.</span> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span> "No, not all. Some creatures were too mighty for the walls of the men, then. Not for long, though," the master storyteller responded. "There once was a man named Alker. He grew rich from all the creatures he held in captivity. He would sell them to others. Overtime he developed methods of making the creatures tame when the time came for their killing. His methods worked so efficiently that he wondered why he hadn't sold them to others. So he did."</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Who did Alker sell his methods to, teacher?" </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Alker sold his methods to a man named Ohn. Ohn's interest was in the spectacle of certain beasts. He used the methods of Alker to drowse animals and transport them mass distances. Ohn's trouble came with training the beasts. The time spent training was greater than the time spent showing the creatures to those interested. However, Ohn's descendants persevered in their desire. As did Alker's descendants." </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span>"Teacher, what did it mean for then men to persevere?"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Child, it meant their methods were carried as far as they could go. There once was a man named Teven. His methods were so advanced he created his own beasts and creatures. He kept them in walls of his own making and showed them to those he wanted to. The old beasts and creatures were no longer kept captive, nor were they used for food any longer. Teven's creations satisfied the needs of man, so the old creatures were no longer of any use. That is why us elephants now live in peace," finished the master storyteller.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Teacher! I am sick of your idealism! All along the way man has used us for their own purposes and discarded us when they are done. From captivity to emancipation, we are only doing what they let us. Those who built bonds of affection with man were thrown away just as easily once beasts were created. What is this 'peace?' We are hunted by the characters of the story you tell our children!" cried out a disgruntled member of the audience.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>"My story," clarified the master storyteller, "is for the children. Not for you. In the end, an elephant never forgets what it wants to remember."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fU6T5O2ETjo/YEJkbiO9bzI/AAAAAAAAAP4/V2HpQVPjYRE-GqSOJvUwfM9kM0WyB_DyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sculpture-bronze-elephant-culture-thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fU6T5O2ETjo/YEJkbiO9bzI/AAAAAAAAAP4/V2HpQVPjYRE-GqSOJvUwfM9kM0WyB_DyACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/sculpture-bronze-elephant-culture-thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span> Master Storyteller (<a href="https://www.piqsels.com/en/search?q=male+Animal&page=134" target="_blank">Source</a>)<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Author's Note: You would probably never be able to guess what story this is based off of without me telling you. The major takeaway I took from <i>Arabian Nights</i> is the power of storytelling. Wow, actually there are far more similarities than I originally gave myself credit for. In <i>Arabian Nights</i>, a sultan betrayed by his former wife is marrying a different woman everyday and then cutting off her head. A brave woman named Scheherazade marries the sultan. She wants to put a stop to the sultan's cruel behavior (what a euphemism) by telling the sultan such an interesting and long story he'll never be able to cut off her head. At least that's how I think it will go. The version of the story I read doesn't have an ending. The interesting part about Scheherazade's story is that it has multiple layers. There are characters in stories telling other characters stories and so on. I didn't quite accomplish this. Another interpretation of mine for <i>Arabian Nights</i> is that Scheherazade is simply extending her life as long as possible and delaying any other woman's beheading. The nobility of that futility is also present in my story.</p><p style="text-align: left;">For anyone wondering, all the names I used were just regular names with the first letters missing. I thought it would be fun to do that. If I were to go back to this story, I would use progressively complex language to tell the story. The language would go along with the innovation man makes. Simple to more complex. Thank you for reading. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Bibliography:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/myth-folklore-book-arabian-nights.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Arabian Nights' Entertainments</a></i><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 21.78px;"> by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;" /></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-48498664570101720332021-03-04T11:20:00.001-06:002021-03-04T11:20:10.723-06:00Reading Notes: Arabian Notes, Part B<p><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/arabian-nights-aladdin-1.html" target="_blank"> <i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><span style="color: #992211;">The Arabian Nights' Entertainments</span></i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"> by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898)</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Now the Asian setting for Arabian nights makes more sense. Did China have sultans as well, or was this a combination of cultures in the telling of this story?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Did Aladdin actually have any character growth? I suppose he made a life for himself and his mother, but he did it through magical wishes. He did save the princess multiple times. His life's work was centered around her it would seem. Perhaps it could be said Aladdin's idleness was broken by the beauty of the princess. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I like seeing all the inspirations for the Disney film. He wasn't as sympathetic a character in this version, but the tricks he used to win over the princess were clearly taken from this story. Jafar's character was an amalgamation of the uncle and the vizir in this story. It's really cool to see how the writers for the Disney movie simplified the story and made the characters more likable. I always thought the animated sequels to the movie were also taken from <i>Arabian Nights</i>, but it doesn't seem like that's the case. I also wish there was a conclusion to Scheherazade's story. Maybe that's in another section of the book.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's a guy at the beginning of the Disney version who begins telling the story of Aladdin (it was secretly Genie), so I think what my story needs to be is someone telling a story. I'm not sure if there will be a story within that story yet. In Part A of this reading, I nearly got confused. Maybe I could intentionally make the story confusing by having two parties arguing, and their argument is made up of contradicting stories. That would be cool. I'm thinking about a husband and a wife telling a bedtime story to their child, and they keep disagreeing about what happened next. It could be funny. It could also be sad if the parents are actually caught up in a heated argument about a bedtime story. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3B6VqhmA1XM/YEEWmEczRRI/AAAAAAAAAPw/h41Wl2yGFpATH1vDKyAP83KgxlFGP2dHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/disney-3283291_1280.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3B6VqhmA1XM/YEEWmEczRRI/AAAAAAAAAPw/h41Wl2yGFpATH1vDKyAP83KgxlFGP2dHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/disney-3283291_1280.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Palaces come and go (<a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/disney-aladdin-3283291/" target="_blank">Source</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-45954857612900670912021-03-02T15:42:00.002-06:002021-03-02T15:42:46.050-06:00Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part A<p> <b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><i><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/myth-folklore-book-arabian-nights.html" target="_blank">The Arabian Nights' Entertainments</a> </i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">by Andrew Lang, illustrated by H. J. Ford (1898).</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I've never heard of <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Scheherazade. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">I thought she was the sultan's wife who deceived him and then told him stories in order to stay alive. I'm pleased to know </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Scheherazade </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">is a woman of virtue and is using her gift for the benefit of others as well as her father who has to carry out such horrible deeds. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">There seems to be some murkiness about the origins of this story. I could be reading something already disproven. I've always associated Aladdin-- I got it. Someone was saying the story of Aladdin was more Asian than Middle Eastern at one time, but later retellings of the story played up the Middle Eastern part. That still doesn't make any sense considering these stories definitely originated in the Middle East. I read something about the original author possibly being a traveling merchant. So if Aladdin was Asian (maybe Indian) or something it could be because the merchant traveled to foreign lands and received inspiration. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Ha. The title "The Story of the First Old Man" had me thinking it was going to be a story <i>about </i>the first old man. I was waiting up until the end. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">My wife was a fairy. That came out of left field. Maybe what I need to take away from this story is the story within a story plot device.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Everyone wants revenge. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">What a switch for the genie with the fisherman. He called him king and then told the fisherman he would kill him. I see. The genie was talking to the last person he saw before he was imprisoned. I don't know if I've read this story before, or if it's just so similar to the fable with the lion and jackal that I think it's the same thing. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Dang. That poor parrot. It is a little confusing about whether the parrot owner's wife did anything wrong originally, though.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Genies, even in their gifts, are deceptive. The four fish are different races. Apparently the blocks in Mario are Toads who were turned into blocks by Bowser. Very similar, huh?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">That's a pretty good ending. I'm glad the fisherman was rewarded since it was his discovery of the genie that lead to the King of the Black Isles delivery from his untrue form. Maybe genies work in mysterious ways. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cmjkCo_HqQ/YD6xFbPQ6yI/AAAAAAAAAPk/HHbE2Rh61_07pnSmSJDYr6L84IAdD7ztQCLcBGAsYHQ/s900/Ferdinand_Keller_-_Scheherazade_und_Sultan_Schariar_%25281880%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cmjkCo_HqQ/YD6xFbPQ6yI/AAAAAAAAAPk/HHbE2Rh61_07pnSmSJDYr6L84IAdD7ztQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ferdinand_Keller_-_Scheherazade_und_Sultan_Schariar_%25281880%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Let me tell you a story... (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Thousand_and_One_Nights#/media/File:Ferdinand_Keller_-_Scheherazade_und_Sultan_Schariar_(1880).jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)</span></span></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-60645765531158717652021-02-24T23:25:00.002-06:002021-02-24T23:25:40.743-06:00Reading Notes: Life of the Buddha, Part B<p> <a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-life-of-buddha.html" style="background-color: white; color: #992211; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i>The Life of Buddha</i></a><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 21.78px;"> by Andre Ferdinand Herold (1922)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9e2HAgdJzwY/YDc0ncXtElI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/L4cDj1OyAA4GEnV-1J_ZDNH5l0Jl68p8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s503/A_Rock_cut_Seated_Buddha_Statue_at_Bojjannakonda%252C_Visakhapatnam_District.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9e2HAgdJzwY/YDc0ncXtElI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/L4cDj1OyAA4GEnV-1J_ZDNH5l0Jl68p8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/A_Rock_cut_Seated_Buddha_Statue_at_Bojjannakonda%252C_Visakhapatnam_District.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 21.78px;">Buddha (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Buddha#mediaviewer/File:A_Rock_cut_Seated_Buddha_Statue_at_Bojjannakonda,_Visakhapatnam_District.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)</span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">I know most sects of Buddhism have supreme respect for animals to the point they don't eat them. There is one sect, I can't recall its name, that has its devotees become nomadic beggars. Because they are begging, they took whatever food they can get. Siddhartha talking to his horse, Kanthaka, like a human being reminds me of this respect. I also forgot how Siddhartha abandons a wife and a child. This version of the story doesn't make that super obvious. I wonder if he ever sees them again? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Siddhartha's mission is to defeat death and old age. Dang the horse dies just like that. The king was so sad, and yet he couldn't help but appreciate his son's virtue. That's pretty cool. That's the same kind of feeling I've had when I broke up with someone. I was sad, but I knew it needed to happen, so I was grateful. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Siddhartha refusing to teach Arata Kalama's doctrine is really cool. Reincarnating is the evil that must be stopped in the Buddha's mind. Those who suffer for a better life in the next are doing so for the reward of a better life. That life is also ended with death. Those who gratify their flesh also die and brought down to a lower caste for their misdeeds. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mara, the evil one. I know there's evil gods in Hinduism, but I didn't know there was a bad guy in this story other than death and old age. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have an idea I could write about. Two actually. The first I had centered around the gods interventions when Siddhartha visited the city. I wanted to make those visions instead Siddhartha had instead of the gods creating actual events. My second idea is to start out a traditional story, but then have it revealed that the story being told is about a guy writing a story about the Buddha. The connection for me is the Tree of Knowledge. This writer would be saying the Buddha deceived himself by his awakening under the tree. That he tricked the world or something. Gosh, it would be so ridiculous. I don't want to think about actually writing it now, but I could make something out of it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mother Earth was a character I wasn't expecting in this story. Mara's attempt at trying to destroy Buddha because he'll be robbing him of his subjects in his kingdom is cool. I don't remember how that works in Hinduism/Buddhism. Is there a hell or a Hades? Isn't an existence in a lower caste hell?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have trouble tracking his causes and effects. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">"Who drinks salt water increases his thirst; who flees from desire finds his thirst appeased."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Meeting one desire makes a person want to meet the next. It's an endless cycle. Drinking salt water has a similar effect. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 36px;">ab·ste·mi·ous: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">obdurate </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You find some great words when reading these. </span></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-18016830131438313652021-02-23T14:27:00.002-06:002021-02-23T14:27:52.541-06:00Reading Notes: Life of the Buddha, Part A<p> <a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-life-of-buddha.html" style="background-color: white; color: #992211; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i>The Life of Buddha</i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"> by Andre Ferdinand Herold (1922)</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 21.78px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">The story of the Buddha is more similar to Christ than I realized. His mother had a dream instead of being visited by an angel, but his father was spoken to by the gods. His mother was also venerated for being the mother of a savior type. I haven't read this in the story yet, only in the introduction, but it's interesting how he awakens under the Tree of Knowledge. I wonder if original meaning of that word can be compared to the Tree of Knowledge (of Good and Evil) in the Bible. That would be an interesting story direction, but I have no interest in saying Buddhism is a deception or something. I learned in a religious studies class that some Hindus upon hearing about the Buddha and Christ say that these two people sound like incarnations of Vishnu. Or maybe it was Krishna... Oh, haha. The next story introduction says it's Vishnu. My memory does work!</span></span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span> I know there's multiple sects of Buddhism just like in most religions, but I've always associated Buddhism with a lack of belief in divinity in the traditional sense. That gods are so wrapped up in</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"> the Buddha's origins are interesting. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">"This child will have his thoughts; they are gems of a purer water."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span>I should probably write these words down if I'm going to tell a story:</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span>Kingdom: </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">Kapilavastu</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">King Suddhodana </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">It would seem Siddhartha has an innate knowledge inside of him. The greatest teacher cannot teach him anything. John is similar to him in saying he's only worthy to sit at his feet. The Buddha is prideful about what he already knows.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">His father wanted to protect him from any stimulus that would disturb his mind, and yet that disturbance is the very thing that leads him to fulfilling what the gods said he would do. So are the gods really jealous when they send the old man during the parade, or are they intervening to set in motion what is meant to happen?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">I was confused about Siddhartha being taken to see all these women, and then he returns to a wife he already had. I guess his father and the priest were trying to bring him some temporary pleasures to distract him his discontent. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is the first time I've finished a story chunk and not had an idea for a story... I don't think I'll do a traditional retelling here. I would go in a different direction. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOyY8Fx5D_w/YDVk8x9soTI/AAAAAAAAAPE/GicceQ0UhbAbzHjJapA35NEV4yJewxd0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Buddha%2527s_statue_near_Belum_Caves_Andhra_Pradesh_India.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1418" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOyY8Fx5D_w/YDVk8x9soTI/AAAAAAAAAPE/GicceQ0UhbAbzHjJapA35NEV4yJewxd0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Buddha%2527s_statue_near_Belum_Caves_Andhra_Pradesh_India.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Buddha (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha%27s_statue_near_Belum_Caves_Andhra_Pradesh_India.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><br /></span></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-72567505608589743352021-02-21T18:42:00.002-06:002021-03-01T08:56:29.695-06:00Comment Wall<h1 style="text-align: center;">Click Below!!!</h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/d/1klTTqG2amPMlWZpoFPp2iDWV5Mpfkup3/p/1sJmP_0oUvFV2YWNE8UoTD9rYAAXAszow/edit" target="_blank"> My Story Portfolio</a></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;">¡¡¡Click Above</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLGfs_kjdRk/YDL9nxpX4PI/AAAAAAAAAO4/cPXcemo7lJo4EjxjtAIdj6dalML0cwOygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1500/pexels-photo-417074.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLGfs_kjdRk/YDL9nxpX4PI/AAAAAAAAAO4/cPXcemo7lJo4EjxjtAIdj6dalML0cwOygCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/pexels-photo-417074.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I thought this would be funny, sorry (<a href="https://www.pexels.com/search/wilderness/" target="_blank">Source</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYwj66jCc7g/YD0AZOz1VtI/AAAAAAAAAPc/pqzpYLwmz4gGJyLjuRCEd7yvVkUjVYRswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1969/Portfolio%2BPic.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1969" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYwj66jCc7g/YD0AZOz1VtI/AAAAAAAAAPc/pqzpYLwmz4gGJyLjuRCEd7yvVkUjVYRswCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Portfolio%2BPic.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what the portfolio looks like in its current state. (Screenshot by me)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-68244117015204520752021-02-18T21:20:00.000-06:002021-02-18T21:20:06.138-06:00Week 4 Lab: Storybook Research Robinhood Documentary <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdCc8znCc_s/YC8iam1eufI/AAAAAAAAAOs/-HpQLePcyzsHZNQqX3ixoFgmrmT-vweIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/robin-hood-4370421_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdCc8znCc_s/YC8iam1eufI/AAAAAAAAAOs/-HpQLePcyzsHZNQqX3ixoFgmrmT-vweIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/robin-hood-4370421_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Stone Hood (<a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/robin-hood-england-old-vintage-4370421/" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p><p style="text-align: left;"> Because of Laura's email explaining how ingrained Robin Hood is in the history of England, I decided to watch a documentary about the origins of Robin Hood. The documentary is about 48 minutes long. The host of the documentary, using dialup internet, finds the original ballad of Robin Hood. He goes to the locations mentioned except these locations aren't what are commonly known today. Sherwood Forest isn't mentioned at all, and Robin Hood isn't a nobleman. He's a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeoman" target="_blank">yeoman</a> from Yorkshire. Not only that, he's a criminal in the worst sense. There is no mention of giving to the poor, but the stealing part remains. He steals from a monk. The reason he targets a monk is because at this time, monks in York held political power. Even though Robin Hood was a thief and even killed people in grotesque ways, he was still thought of as a folk hero at this time because his sins weren't viewed so negatively in a world where people died all the time. Not only that, monks were benefitting from a corrupt system in a corrupt way. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> In modern stories about Robin Hood, King Richard the Lionheart is in power. In the ballads, King Edward is mentioned. There was a King Edward in thirteenth century, so it makes sense that Robin Hood existed during this time if he were real. In one of the ballads, King Richard visited York to put a stop to Robin Hood's lawlessness, but then he discovered Robin Hood was devoted to the king and invited him into his service. </span><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span> Robin's Hood skill with archery existed with the original version of the character. The competition set up by the Sheriff of Nottingham was won by Robin and his men, and then Robin cut off the sheriff's head. </span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> The documentary finds three historical figures that could have been Robin Hood. One was involved in a revolt against King Edward. Another was actually in the service of King Edward before retiring just like in the stories. He was also a noblemen. Another was a guy married to a woman named Matilda who could have gone by the name Marion. Marion was an addition to the Robin Hood mythos in the sixteenth century, but maybe there was some basis in fact for her, too. There were also many people in these times that were given the label of Robin Hood. It was tied to criminality. Overall, it seems like Robin Hood was an amalgamation of various stories. Perhaps an original figure existed at one time. All this evidence of various people perhaps being Robin Hood fits in with the direction I want to go: that Robin Hood is more of an idea that can be used for whatever purposes than he is an actual character. </span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></p><h1 class="title style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); border: 0px; color: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-color, var(--yt-spec-text-primary)); font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-font-size, var(--yt-navbar-title-font-size, inherit)); font-weight: 400; line-height: var(--yt-navbar-title-line-height, 2.4rem); margin: 0px; max-height: calc(2 * var(--yt-navbar-title-line-height, 2.4rem)); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-shadow: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-text-shadow, none); transform: var(--ytd-video-primary-info-renderer-title-transform, none);"><yt-formatted-string class="style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" force-default-style="" style="word-break: break-word;">Was There A Real Robin Hood? | Robin Hood: Fact Or Fiction | Timeline</yt-formatted-string></h1><div><yt-formatted-string class="style-scope ytd-video-primary-info-renderer" force-default-style="" style="word-break: break-word;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPRBQadLNIM</yt-formatted-string></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-43999707642244659102021-02-16T17:19:00.000-06:002021-02-16T17:19:17.032-06:00Reading Notes: Infancy Gospels<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7-GXBAPOeE/YCxBERWbSoI/AAAAAAAAAOc/gg_bKIvl6QUK8wdD9RQ4ksU7xwZV9wiZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/babvjesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7-GXBAPOeE/YCxBERWbSoI/AAAAAAAAAOc/gg_bKIvl6QUK8wdD9RQ4ksU7xwZV9wiZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/babvjesus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Mary and Jesus (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/136682034@N03/25483683823" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/infancy-wise-men_25.html" target="_blank">Matthew 1-2</a> King James version</p><p style="text-align: left;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son</span>"</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's interesting the King James version uses this phrase here. I'm of the impression that this means sexual relations, but Catholics believe Mary remained a virgin throughout her life. Yes, in Luke, Mary says to the angel that she knows not a man. Interesting. I'm sure there's another interpretation of that phrase just as some think Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of inhospitality rather than homosexuality and other sins. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I've thought of a story idea while reading about the wisemen departing from Herod. I thought when I selected this topic that I would be writing a story about Jesus as the main character, but perhaps I could write about someone visiting Jesus on the night of his birth. I could start with an angel or some other divine message being brought to this character. It could be interesting. I'm not sure what there background would be. What would their offering be? Perhaps he could offer services rather than a tangible gift. Maybe he could die for Jesus as a precursor to the great sacrifice? I'm kinda thinking Jesus' bodyguard. Dang. There could be an assassination plot on Jesus in Egypt. The bodyguard could be willing to kill for Jesus and then somehow learn that's not the way. I'm not sure if I would write it in old English or not... That would make the project more interesting. We'll see. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Tarry. I like that word. It means to stay or delay departure. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;"><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-book-lost-books-of-bible.html" style="color: #992211; text-decoration-line: none;">The Lost Books of the Bible</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 21.78px;">, edited by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr. (1926): <a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/infancy-mary-and-elizabeth.html" target="_blank">The Protevangelion of James</a></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">That's interesting that this author has Joseph being a widower and older. It could explain why some are called brothers and sisters of Jesus. Maybe they were stepbrothers and stepsisters, not just followers and friends. I've heard of Mary being this young before, though. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Wow. Joseph's comparison of his situation to when Eve was deceived is very enlightening. What Satan ruined when Eve was alone God redeemed when Mary was alone. I really like that. </p><p style="text-align: left;">protoevangelium : <b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Protoevangelium</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">is a compound word of two Greek words, protos meaning "first" and evangelion meaning "good news" or "gospel". Thus the protevanglium in Genesis 3:15 is commonly referred to as the first mention of the good news of salvation in the Bible.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Well, this midwife is very similar to my bodyguard in that she pledges her life to Jesus. I've wondered before if Jesus knew who He was from his birth. This story would have you believe that. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ugh... That's really weird this story claims Jesus' foreskin or umbilical cord was preserved in a jar. Even weirder is that that jar was the one Mary Magdalene poured on his feet. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">It would be really interesting to do research on the connection between Zoroastrianism and the wisemen. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I could incorporate this Egyptian idol story into my story. Its destruction could be a reason for assassination. Or I could stick with Herod. Maybe both.</span></span></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-52435096927300811072021-02-14T19:56:00.003-06:002021-02-14T19:56:29.270-06:00Feedback Strategies: Children<p> </p><h1 class=" mb-sm-2 lh-condensed f-sm-8 f-md-11 text-bold" data-testid="article-title" id="target-skip-to-content" style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #002938; font-family: UnderstoodSans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 3rem; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;" tabindex="0">How to give praise that builds your child’s self-esteem</h1><div><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #002938; font-family: UnderstoodSans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.diigo.com/profile/lauragibbs/?query=%23gm%3Atips" target="_blank">Amanda Morin</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>My mother and father must have been aware of this advice when I was little because I find myself aware of doing those things when I talk to children now. I don't know why my mind thought for a minute my parents talking to me that way would be the only reason I talk that way now. I don't know that for sure. I was recently talking to someone about manipulation, and these statements might be considered manipulation in their mind. I don't think it is. I think it's leading someone in a direction you think is good for them to go in. Maybe the manipulation comes in when it's by force or you're knowingly using something against them you know they can't refuse? I think someone can manipulate (ha, I accidentally wrote motivate instead of manipulate at first, that's the word I like) someone into the right thing, but the end result doesn't excuse the methods. No one is going around calling motivational speakers manipulators, so I just need to remember every positive can be manipulated or perverted into something negative. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XE_QnbD3Ktw/YCnR_Wtj4iI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/BPJ_HpRF9IQS2mJoCokaLR2QwTAvSmd6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/1572867-200.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XE_QnbD3Ktw/YCnR_Wtj4iI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/BPJ_HpRF9IQS2mJoCokaLR2QwTAvSmd6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/1572867-200.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Manipulation (<a href="https://thenounproject.com/term/psychological-manipulation/1572867/" target="_blank">Source</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h1 class="h1 " style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: museoSlab-700, "Arial Narrow", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 33px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 42px; margin: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">A Troubling Side Effect of Praise</h1><div><a href="https://www.edutopia.org/article/troubling-side-effect-praise" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #d1ecfa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a7e1; cursor: pointer; font-family: canada-type-gibson, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.6px; outline: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Youki Terada</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Yea, I know the problem. I'm a side effect of the problem, too. I don't know where I got it into my head, but I do prefer to work into a comfort zone. I'm just coming out of the idea now. It's easy to believe in growth potential when you think you're smart. When you think you're dumb, growth potential seems less likely. So while I say I have a growth mindset, there are times when I don't. Luckily I've never been one to try to prove myself to others. So if I cheat, it's for my own stupid reasons. I think the test would be interesting for children who are more likely to listen to explicit instructions. It would be testing for different things. These three and five year olds are being influenced by their age to a great degree. Then again, older children might suspect they're being watched by a camera or something. Pros and cons. </div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-17487084209504643152021-02-14T14:56:00.000-06:002021-02-14T14:56:08.424-06:00Topic Research: Robin Hood<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood" target="_blank"> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood</a></p><p><span> Although awareness of Robin Hood was common in the middle ages, there doesn't seem to be an exact date for when he was alive--or even if he was alive. If I'm searching for a theme to have present throughout all my stories, it would be that Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor. So getting away from an exact time period doesn't seem to go against the story of Robin Hood. In order to have more to write about it, I'm going to have to extrapolate some characteristics of Robin Hood and spin those out into the individual stories within the grand story. </span><br /></p><p><span>1. It would seem Robin Hood had allegiance to an authority that was no longer in power in some versions of the story.</span></p><p><span>2. He was devoted to a woman and had a group of loyal men.</span></p><p><span>3. He fought for others. </span></p><p><span>With the first idea I could have Robin Hood be of royal descent and trying to bring glory back to his family's name. </span></p><p><span>With the second idea I could have Robin Hood doing all he does to impress a woman. (So basic.)</span></p><p><span>With the third idea I could have Robin Hood be doing everything for himself. So while he does give to the poor, it's all for his own personal excitement. </span></p><p><span>There could be three generations of Robin Hood, all doing things for their own selfish reasons. The transfer of wealth is completed each time, and the evil in the next chapter are the poor being fought for in the former chapter. </span></p><p>There could be a Robin Hood figure who brought wealth to the pilgrims (or some other group of people who travel to a distant land). I suppose I don't have to follow real events and settings. My idea is this: those who come to America are persecuted, then they persecute (the Native Americans?), then that group is persecuted, then they persecute again. Well, that actually fits perfectly. Pilgrims to Native Americans to the British to imperialism. In reality the Native Americans never really became the ones in power. Either liberties will be taken, or I will go in a more fictional direction. </p><p>There would have to be some resolution where someone does something truly sacrificially. Or is that too boring? I don't really care to have a downer ending where the cycle is going to constantly continue. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q7o07dJTlGU/YCmKziiEInI/AAAAAAAAAOE/GvwxXa9O7P4Qw-ejtgsnuU3L96ssh8nIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s568/Robin-hood-and-maid-marion-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="568" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q7o07dJTlGU/YCmKziiEInI/AAAAAAAAAOE/GvwxXa9O7P4Qw-ejtgsnuU3L96ssh8nIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Robin-hood-and-maid-marion-01.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rob Hood (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood#/media/File:Robin-hood-and-maid-marion-01.png" target="_blank">Source</a>)</div><div>The ideas I mentioned before are so obvious. They could be background to actual characters. Maybe that could be my focus instead. Actual characters in each one of these generations. The main character could be the Robin Hood figure in some of the stories, but in others he could just be in the background. He could drive events forward, but the events are viewed by some other character. What do I really want to say? I want to say that no matter where the wealth is distributed evil will arise. That's easy to know. I want to say there will always be good men and women. That's obvious, too, but I think it's worth writing about if it can be interestingly said.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the old English in the Wikipedia article is pretty funny.</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-45219081898125668432021-02-11T17:08:00.004-06:002021-02-21T18:37:22.473-06:00Week 3 Story: Adam and Eve in Simulated Paradise<p>Current Version: <a href="https://sites.google.com/d/1klTTqG2amPMlWZpoFPp2iDWV5Mpfkup3/p/14ti8lukvFzNt1pThLxPpbjo3HgH7yvtW/edit" target="_blank">https://sites.google.com/d/1klTTqG2amPMlWZpoFPp2iDWV5Mpfkup3/p/14ti8lukvFzNt1pThLxPpbjo3HgH7yvtW/edit </a><span><a href="https://sites.google.com/d/1klTTqG2amPMlWZpoFPp2iDWV5Mpfkup3/p/14ti8lukvFzNt1pThLxPpbjo3HgH7yvtW/edit" target="_blank"> </a> </span></p><p><span>Suddenly Adam was awake. Before him was great a light that would blind the average man. Adam was no average man, however. He was the first man, and the light before him was his creator, God. God took delight in Adam, and Adam took delight in God. There was order to their relationship, and they spent much time together naming all the beasts and other creatures of the earth. There was no pain or toil at this time. The naming of the animals was purely creative for Adam. This creativity came from God Himself since it was used to create Adam.</span></p><p><span> Although Adam knew nothing but joy from the moment he was created from the dust of the earth, he wondered why all the creatures he had named had partners and he did not. He asked God this question. God, knowing the course of all time and what it meant for Adam to ask this question, put Adam into a deep sleep. When Adam awoke there was a creature of unrivaled beauty lying beside him. It was Adam's kind, a partner to help him. Adam named her Eve, and God said it was good. </span><br /></p><p><span><span> "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, and I have seen all of God's wonderful creations," Adam said to Eve. Eve blushed her first blush, and from that moment had great joy when Adam complimented her. "I will show you all there is to see in God's garden. All of it is for us to enjoy except one tree and its fruit. That tree we must stay away from," Adam continued. Eve took to heart every word Adam said because she was devoted to him. </span></span>The couple spent all their time with one another, and God took great delight in seeing the two together; for God knew the relationship they had was emblematic of the relationship between Him and Adam.</p><p><span> There came a time when Adam and Eve were separated. Up until this time the two had never been disjointed. Adam was spending time in God's presence while Eve looked for the best fruits for them to enjoy. Before Eve was a tree with a creature unknown to her standing beside it. The creature, a serpent, had speech unlike the rest of the creatures in the garden. </span></p><p><span><span> "Why has Adam left you alone, Eve? You're too beautiful to be by yourself. Would he rather spend time without you?" the serpent questioned.</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><span> "Adam is spending time with our Lord," Eve replied. "He spends time with God, and it is good."</span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span> "Adam and God spend time without you because they think you are lesser than them. If you eat this fruit you will know just as much as God, and Adam can no longer think of himself as better than you," the serpent retorted. Eve had never thought of herself as lesser before. Her desire was to be with Adam, and so she accepted the fruit as a means to please Adam. In her mind, the fruit would make her, and even Adam, like God. They could draw closer to Him. </span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span> Adam found Eve returning with a fruit in her hand. He could see how excited she was about it and knew it would please her to take a bite. The two of them took a bite together. For the first time they felt the breeze against their naked bodies. They felt cold and ashamed. The omnipresent light in the garden had at once become too bright and too dim for them to look at. Adam and Eve hid and tried to fashion clothes out of the flora nearby but were too dismayed to be able to think of how to do so. The act of breathing was much more difficult than it was before. Their breaths were labored until they heard the voice of God calling out to them. At this their breaths stopped.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Where are you, Adam and Eve?" God asked.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "We are hiding, Lord... This woman you gave me has given me the treacherous fruit! My life is a burden now, and I want you to take it away!" Adam exclaimed.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "Lord, it was not I who wanted the fruit! The serpent convinced me of it. He is to blame!" Eve yelled.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "The time has finally come. Adam, Eve, and the serpent, you all are banished from the garden. Our story is not yet complete, however. Adam and Eve, although your life will be toil and you will constantly yearn for the days we were completely together, I have a design for how things will go. Our creation will stomp out the serpent and his deception. Your disobedient sin will be redeemed, and you will once again join me in paradise. Until then, leave my presence for your sinful nature will not be able to handle my holiness. </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Adam and Eve once again awoke, but this time they were John and Alex. They both became acutely aware of what was going on once their eyes opened to the blinding light of the digital screens surrounding them.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "You two failed," a bodiless voice said in the room. "You were the most promising subjects yet, and even for you the temptation--or whatever it is--was too great. Of course you both are too disoriented to know what I'm talking about, so I'll just play the clip."</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> The video clip then took over the screens and began describing what had just taken place: "Welcome to the Eden Project. It is our design to find a couple who can do what Adam and Eve couldn't. Using our recreation technology, we have modeled a genuine Eden. For the couple who can overcome the temptation, we will send them back in time to do what Adam and Eve..." the voice trailed off in the minds of John and Alex. Whatever the Eden Project was trying to do, they knew it couldn't be done with man alone. </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wix4JEuKoKc/YCW0xTrHkAI/AAAAAAAAAN4/ouNqqvbXp4IBB_Y2eG5i6fCmDPD700CxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Jacob_Savery_the_Elder_-_Garden_of_Eden_-_1601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wix4JEuKoKc/YCW0xTrHkAI/AAAAAAAAAN4/ouNqqvbXp4IBB_Y2eG5i6fCmDPD700CxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Jacob_Savery_the_Elder_-_Garden_of_Eden_-_1601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">A Moment in Paradise (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jacob_Savery_the_Elder_-_Garden_of_Eden_-_1601.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Author's Note: I came up with this story idea after reading the first story in the Adam and Eve unit. The first story is the King James version of Genesis. I found all the stories deepened and expanded the story of Adam and Eve. I thought it would be best if I did a condensed version with a twist ending to keep things interesting. I didn't try to change any major elements of what the story in the Garden of Eden is about, but I did try to describe why Adam and Eve would break away from God. I wanted to focus on how everything was in order before Adam and Eve separated from each other and then from God. I wanted the serpent to prey on what Eve first knew by calling her beautiful. She listened to every word he said just like she did with Adam. Once Eve and then Adam tried to please each other before God, things fell apart. I also made it a little more obvious about what God's plan for the future was.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I think there could definitely be more development once John and Alex wake up, but I ran out of space. What I'm trying to get across is that this organization is trying to make it so Adam and Eve never leave the garden. I don't really know what that looks like in practice, but the meaning is this: they are trying to fix things without thinking about how God has it all under control. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Bibliography:</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Adam and Eve</i></b></p><p></p><p><i>King James Bible: Genesis</i></p><p><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/adam-and-eve-fall.html">http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/adam-and-eve-fall.html</a></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-50065748218875403522021-02-10T14:56:00.004-06:002021-02-10T14:58:25.686-06:00Reading Notes: Adam and Eve, Part B<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tp9C19XlXE/YCQ_opeqWMI/AAAAAAAAANs/QytTJLiis3guxu5lpUvhWmUGSe6V_uO6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1401/God%2527s%2BAnimals.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1401" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tp9C19XlXE/YCQ_opeqWMI/AAAAAAAAANs/QytTJLiis3guxu5lpUvhWmUGSe6V_uO6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/God%2527s%2BAnimals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> God and Creation (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jacopo_Tintoretto_-_Creation_of_the_Animals_-_WGA22438.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a>)<p></p><p><i style="font-weight: bold;">Leaving the Garden </i>et cetera</p>The Forgotten Books of Eden, edited by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr. (1926): The First Book of Adam and Eve 1-2<div><br /><div><a href="http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/adam-and-eve-leaving-garden.html">http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/adam-and-eve-leaving-garden.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div>God tells Adam of "the Word" often. In Christianity, the word is Jesus himself. Adam and Eve keep falling down over and over again. The only thing sustaining them was God and His pity on them. It would seem blame was brought into the world once Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Their first desire, after God, was water. Later on God would be found in the water. How many times will they die? They continue to die from their affliction rather than dying to themselves. Yet the Word continues to raise them up.</div><div><br /></div><div>God has ceased his commune with Adam multiple times. This must have been written by a Christian author, or at least translated by someone with a Christian bent. One of the other stories say Adam gave seventy of his years to David, but in what context did he know of David I wonder? Why did the Serpent get blown away to India specifically? So Adam and Eve made the first sacrifice in this story. The praise and worship in the garden couldn't be replicated, so they took it upon themselves to offer something else. God eventually grows tired of these offerings because the hearts behind them weren't as pure as Adam and Eve's during the first sacrifice. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the story idea I have, maybe I need to write more about life outside the garden. I don't know. It might be beyond the scope. I think this was a very thoughtful and purposeful story. I'm not sure what it's based on. I've heard of supposed gospels of different characters in the Bible, but I didn't know there were so many other stories. They're definitely interesting to read. </div><div><br /></div><div><span face=""Google Sans", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 28px;">pseud·e·pig·ra·pha: </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: small;">spurious or pseudonymous writings, especially Jewish writings ascribed to various biblical patriarchs and prophets but composed within approximately 200 years of the birth of Jesus Christ.</span></div><div><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span face=""Google Sans", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 28px;">A·poc·ry·pha: </span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: small;">biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-3751333221407308802021-02-07T17:37:00.001-06:002021-02-07T17:37:36.418-06:00Famous Last Words: Falling Behind<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDitItL4kWI/YCB3EbWr6kI/AAAAAAAAANU/QZm9oKAkI587ejywsNWyFKbcakj7bAWyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1816/ALARMCLOCK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1816" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDitItL4kWI/YCB3EbWr6kI/AAAAAAAAANU/QZm9oKAkI587ejywsNWyFKbcakj7bAWyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ALARMCLOCK.png" width="320" /></a></div>Still ahead, but I feel behind (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alarm_Clock_Animation_High_Res.png" target="_blank">Source</a>)<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> I would have liked to be finished with week three of this class by now, but instead I'm only doing the extra credit. So I'm perfectly on time, and I'm glad this class affords working at your own pace. It's all about the ebb and flow. This past week I was busy with traveling and job applications. It was growth in a different area than just academic. I'm appreciative of it all. My family is finally done with the corona virus, so now there's no need to be cautious! At least in the house... I'm now back in Norman and was able to go to church in person for the first time in awhile. It was nice to see everybody again. I'm excited to spend time with old and new friends. Since it's my last semester, it's my last chance to. I'm not regretful, but I could definitely have been more social at times at OU. I think it's all worked out to my good, however.</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span> I ate a frog first thing in the morning a couple times this past week. I finished a lab for one of my classes the week before it was due. Another day I filled out a job application the first thing in the morning. Applications aren't so bad, but these assessments companies like to do now can be time consuming. I was able to spend time with both my sisters in some way. We're all young, but there's a possibility I'll be moving away from them soon. I know they look up to me and appreciate the time I offer them, so I try not to take it for granted. It's been awhile since I've consistently worked out, and I did four days in a row! It feels good to be sore from work and not from sitting around. I'm thankful!</span><br /></span></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9182675278908009620.post-47364678756578543902021-02-07T17:19:00.001-06:002021-02-07T17:19:35.420-06:00Learning Challenge: Sleep<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ez15rV8_DIo/YCBwNpiWqzI/AAAAAAAAANI/r-40jslZ1Isy26XRkJm8ENJtmOKBaGCaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/sleep.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ez15rV8_DIo/YCBwNpiWqzI/AAAAAAAAANI/r-40jslZ1Isy26XRkJm8ENJtmOKBaGCaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sleep.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/vectors/sleep-sleeping-asleep-1389978/" rel="nofollow">Sleep</a> (Source)</div><p></p><h1 class="routes-Site-routes-Post-components-Post-components-PostTitle-___PostTitle__title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #04151a; font-family: "Tiempos Headline", serif; font-size: 35px; letter-spacing: 0.8px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px;">Why Sleeping May Be More Important Than Studying</h1><div><a href="https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/26079/why-sleeping-may-be-more-important-than-studying">https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/26079/why-sleeping-may-be-more-important-than-studying</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span> I remember my eighth grade teacher talking about the hippocampus and the role sleep plays in memory. I've taken a few psychology classes and have learned about the neural pathways and synapses. I know for a fact sleep helps with children remembering new words. I've always loved sleeping and get called out by my girlfriend for using words she doesn't know. All those statements are proof I'm an expert on the subject of sleep. It's just like how every person who has been driving for twenty years is an expert driver. </span><br /></div><div><span><span> My studying pattern goes like this: I don't do it all night until I absolutely have to. When I do study until the early hours of the morning, I tend to do well on the test I'm about to take. I think there has been one occasion where I had to do that two nights in a row, but I've never done night after night of no sleep. I'm sure my performance would drop off if that was the case. </span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><span> For the past few months I've been trying not to eat too close to my bedtime, but I've also been fasting.</span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span>I don't usually have any trouble with eating carbohydrates before I go to bed. In fact, I used to eat as much as possible before I went to bed, so I would have calories in my system at all hours. This is some hippie kind of stuff, but one guy told me once that digestion leads to bad sleep. Just like studying, I eat right before bed when it's necessary. </span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br /><p></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03748783613522919746noreply@blogger.com0