Learning Challenge: You Need Sleep

For my learning Challenge, I watched the video "What Would Happen If You Didn't Sleep?" I can tell you that I will be sleeping a whole lot more! I knew about the health hazards that could arise from not sleeping. However, I did not know the stat that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep are 4 times more likely to have a stroke later on in life! I have to admit, I use to be interested in seeing the effects that not sleeping would have on me. However, I will not be trying this after watching this video!

Get Sleep: Max Pixel 

Growth Mindset: Learning With Passion and Enthusiasm

I did the growth mindset challenge "Watch a Video About Growth Mindset." The video that I watched for this challenge was "Learning With Passion and Enthusiasm." This video discusses the very similar paths that learning and happiness take, not only in a metaphorical way but also scientifically! The video talked about how our brains release dopamine and endorphins when we are excited/happy and that these neurotransmitters are coupled with our abilities to learn. We will learn in a better/faster fashion if we are more excited about the process of learning compared to when we are bored and learning. 

Growth Mindset: flickr

Tech Tip: Canvas Notifications

For my extra credit tech tip assignment, I chose "Canvas Notifications." I personally found this very helpful! I signed up my email to notify me anytime anything is loaded up to Canvas. This is extremely helpful because I always use my email. I will play around some more with my notification preferences here in the near future.

Feedback Strategies

The two articles that I read for this assignment were How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jerk by Adam Grant and Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset by Gravity Goldberg. I personally really enjoyed these readings. I believe that in order to further and better yourself, you need to understand how to take negative feedback, and know how to give it. At first, it may seem harsh or mean, but we are ultimately improving our abilities which is a good thing. I liked the suggestions that were presented by Mr. Grant. He gave a couple of tips on how we can give negative feedback without sounding insensitive, such as "explaining why you are giving the feedback, bringing yourself down to the same level as the other person, and even asking if the person is wanting the constructive feedback."

I believe we all should be open to "constructive feedback."

Feedback: Pixabay 

Topic Research: Battles and Weapons

For my potential storybook project, I will be focusing more on the battles and weapons used throughout the India Epics. One potential story that I may focus on, is the battle between Rama and Ravana! I believe I can come up with a pretty action-packed story. However, I will be changing the characters! I may go with a Marvel's comic approach, but utilize the weapons used by these gods. The Battle of Rama and Ravana  

Another story I will tell is one about a weapon that Rama uses against Ravana called the Brahmashirsha Astra which is literally the head of Brahma. I could lead this story into the one above by having my main character go on a journey (which will be difficult) to obtain this weapon to finally defeat his adversary. Also, the weapon has supernatural powers!

I may also write a story on how my main character's mortal enemy obtains one of the strongest weapons ever created. A weapon that could destroy the universe in a blink of an eye! Brahmanda Astra. Every story needs a suspense, therefore, my main character will have to ultimately defeat his adversary even though he has the strongest weapon. 

Rama vs. Ravana: Wikimedia 

Week 3 Story: Abigail's Kidnapping

It was a beautiful day across the galaxy. Every person, animal, and other strange mutant creatures were excited to finally see who would wed the gorgeous Abigail. Abigail was the daughter of the oldest, fiercest, and most powerful celestial beings that have ever inhabited the galaxy (Corbus). After many years of never finding a companion of her own, Corbus let known to all that there will be a challenge for the hand of his daughter. Now, this was not a simple challenge. A worthy adversary had to be able to withstand the full blast of a neutron star in order to demonstrate his strength and resilience.

The crowd roared and cheered as they watched the hundreds of thousands of champions fail at Corbus's dwelling. It finally seemed as though no one would be able to live up to his challenge and wed his daughter. However, here arrived a prince by the name of Thor.

"I am Thor, son of Oden and Prince of Asgard! I will complete your challenged and wed your daughter!"

The mighty Corbus chuckled at Thors Confidence. However, he was somewhat intrigued by it. Therefore, he let Thor proceed with the challenge and to a great surprise, Thor withstood the full blast of the neutron star. On this very day, Thor and Abigail were wedded and would be remembered in history forever.

Unfortunately, Thor's brother (Loki) was angry because he was unable to wed the beautiful Abigail and sought to kill Thor and take her as his own. He planned with Hela (the goddess of death), which happened to be Thor's sister, on how to destroy Thor.

Loki entered Hela's dwelling in Hell and planned.

"Loki how shall we proceed?"

"I have a great plan Hela! I will turn into a golden bear and make myself seen by Abigail. She loves bears and will want Thor to capture me. As Thor leaves to capture me, you can then disguise yourself as a priest and convince Abigail to follow you. Once she is with you, use your spells to put her to sleep and bring her here."

"Loki this plan seems sounds, but what will we do with Thor? he will come looking for her?!"

"Yes this may be true, but I am the god of deception. Therefore, I will shapeshift my handmaiden into what seems to be Abigail and Thor will never know!"

"That sounds great! let us carry through with the plan."

Thor was eventually convinced by Abigail to catch the golden bear. As he left for his hunt, Hela made her way to Abigail and kidnapped her, while also leaving behind the decoy. Thor made his way back home disappointed because he had lost the golden bear. However, things did not seem right at home. To Thor, Abigail seemed a little different.

Authors Note: I did a spin-off from the stories The Chase, Ravana & Sita, and Rama Wins Sita by Donald A. Mackenzie from this week's readings. I completely changed the characters to Thor, Loki, and Hela from the Marvel comic books. I also changed the challenge in which the warriors had to complete in order to win the girl. Originally, the champions had to break a bow to win the game. However, in my story, the champions had to withstand the blast of a neutron star. I also changed the animal that was used to deceive the main character. Originally it was a golden dear, but I changed mine to a golden bear. Also, the main character in my story did not end up killing his adversary as he did in the original story. 

Picture of Thor: Pixabay 

Reading Notes: The Chase & Ravana and Sita, Part B

Form the "Part B" reading, I really enjoyed the stories The Chase as well as Ravana and Sita by Donald A. Mackenzie. I liked these stories because I believe I can make a great adventure story with the bases of these readings. I can also bring in the portion from "Part A" to tie along for the story writing that will be coming up this week.

The general plot of this story begins with the main antagonist of the epic (a man-eater) wanting to take Rama's wife Sita. Therefore, he plots with his friend a way to take her. He tells his friend to turn into a gold deer which Sita will want. Thus, she will have Rama leave to find the deer dead or alive. So, Rama leaves and has his brother stay with her.

Rama eventually kills the fake golden deer. As he is dying, he cries out to Sita in Rama's voice making her believe that her husband is in trouble. Therefore, she asks Rama's brother to go save him. As he leaves, the main antagonist to Rama is able to abduct his wife.

I will still be changing the characters in my story. I may potentially stem the plot of these two readings to a movie such as the Avengers (Thor, Loki, and Hela). I will also be changing the animal to which the antagonist's friend turns into. He may not even change into an animal. I am not sure yet. I believe Ramas greatest fear is losing his bride. Therefore, she is his greatest weakness.

Sita is tricked by the golden deer: Wikimedia 

Reading Notes: Rama Wins Sita, Part A.

I found the story Rama Wins Sita which can be found in the Ramayana public domain a very interesting. In this story, Shiva has a very beautiful daughter that he is wanting to wed. Therefore, he sets a challenge that the majority of people cannot successfully face. He has a bow that he wants a worthy individual to bend and break. This will thus show that this individual is worthy enough and strong enough to wed the beautiful Sita. After many failed attempts at breaking the bow, a prince named Rama finally attempts to break the bow of Shiva. Rama is Dasharatha's son. As Rama takes the bow he plucks it, and with all his might bends the bow and it finally breaks! As the bow breaks a loud thunder was released and the crowd was stunned. Therefore, since Rama broke the bow, he was able to wed the beautiful Sita.

For my story, I will be changing the characters. However, at this moment, I am not sure who I will be changing them too. I also may include a character that is just as worthy as Rama to break the bow. Therefore, they may potentially have to face each other in an epic battle to win the heart of Sita. There is a lot of potential surprises and twists that I may be able to add in this type of story. I may even have the Rama character lose to his adversary and therefore have to go on a journey to get Sita back. Ultimately the Rama character will be winning Sita. I will also be changing the challenge that the people with have to complete in order to win Sita.

The Bow of Shiva: Pixabay