Monday, March 27, 2017

Tech Tip: Reverse Image Search

I really love the tech tips, as I learn something new every time. For this week's tip, I decided to play around with reverse image searching. I clicked on the original image given, found the address and pasted in into the camera search bar. The image size that I found is 456 x 279. I found this tech tip very helpful.


The below picture is śūraṅgama sūtra. According to Wikipedia, this Buddhist has many influences on people and the Chan School. It is divided into three important periods and four phases. Buddhism plays a significant role among the Chinese culture and was first recruitesd by the Taoists. 







Picture Of śūraṅgama sūtra. Source: Source: Wikipedia

More information on śūraṅgama sūtra by Wikipedia

Learning Challenge: Time

This week, I once again want to focus on time management skills, as it applies not only to college life, but to everything that I do - work, personal life, etc. The below meme is so powerful and true. I can relate to it in the form of procrastination. For week 9, I forgot to do extra credit opportunities. It is now Monday, 3/27/17 and we already started with week 10 and I'm scrambling to get a few extra credit assignments in - absolutely a sign of procrastination and because it completely slipped my mind! I would hate for others to decide my future, simply because I was not determined enough or because I did not manage my time and skills well enough.

Quote About Time. Source: Media-Cache

Growth Mindset: Goals

For this week's meme, I decided to focus on goals, and the importance of reaching it. I am so close to being done with this course, simply because I work hard, do extra credit opportunities and try my best. It feels so good to know that I reached my goal and that I was able to stay focused on what is important. The main goal is to graduate and now I am only one class away from that. Hard work and 'stretching yourself' to do your best, truly pays off!








Picture Of A Cat. Source: Media-Cache



Week 9 Storytelling: The Monkey In The Trees

       Long ago in a land far, far away lived a couple in a city known as Mumbai. The couple had two sons, named Vali and Sugriva who were very nice, well-mannered boys. They were well known among community members and was always willing to help other people with tasks. Sugriva was the younger brother and always looked up to Vali as a role model, a confidant and a leader and he wanted to be just like his brother when he grew up, but little did he know that things will turn out very badly.

Many years passed and Vali and Sugriva’s parents passed away. Sugriva became possessed by the evil goddess named Kali, when she promised him that he could have all the powers he wanted, only if he would help her out with a few chores. Of course, Sugriva, being a kind-hearted person, agreed to help Kali. It is now that things turned out for the worse. Kali convinced the younger brother to kidnap Vali's fiancé, because she had a sacred Hindu gemstone that Kali needed desperately. Vali realized the brother’s evil plan and took his fiancé to flee to the forest where he knew he would be protected. Unfortunately, Vali was not able to protect Yamai (his fiancé) and she was soon captured by the evil demon’s slaves.

It was a stormy day when Vali roamed through the forest. The wind was howling and leaves rattled loudly when he heard voices in a far distance. At first he thought that it is just the wind, but as the sounds came closer, he realized that it sounded like men, instead. He was scared and thought that it was the demon’s slaves who came back to find him, and having many powers, he quickly turned himself into a monkey. This was however, no ordinary monkey. He was four-foot-tall, dark brown and had big eyes and was able to jump high in the sky from one tree branch to the next. All of a sudden there was a WHOO HOO sound and the two men got so scared, when they saw a flying monkey, that they immediately withdrew their weapons from their shoulders. 

In front of them appeared the monkey who asked the men, "what is it that you are doing in my forest?" The two men did not know what to say at first, but then answered, "We are here to search for Yamai, the princess who got captured by the eval goddess, Kali. We need to find her for Vali's sake, so that he can return to Mumbai and help the people of Mumbai."  Vali was so happy to hear that his people were willing to help him find his lover and so it came that he changed himself into a human. The two men were in such shock, that they had to blink twice to make sure that this was not a bad dream. 

"You will be greatly rewarded for your bravery and it will not go unnoticed", said Vali. What plan do you have in mind to capture Kali? I heard that she is unstoppable. The two men discussed their plan with the monkey and disappeared into the forest to set forth with their discussions.  



Picture Of A Monkey In The Trees. Source: Static






Author's Note: My story is based off of the Ramayana PDE- Sugriva and Hanuman. In the original story, Rama and Lakshmana go on a search for Sugriva and stumble upon a monkey who will lead them to Sugriva. In my version of the story, I decided to change the scene of the story and start it off with a family who lived happily in a town, but when the parents passed away, one of the brothers became possessed by an evil goddess. The characters' roles were also reversed and instead of a monkey turning into a beggar, my character started off as human being and turned into a monkey. The characters were also given different names and played different roles. Instead of meeting the monkey chief, my character met two men from his town, who will help him fight off the evil goddess and save his fiance.


Sunday, March 26, 2017

Week 7 Story: The Princes And The Frog

The Princes And The Frog 

Many years ago, there was a young prince who lived in a palace with his mother, father and brother outside Hastinapura. They were very wealthy, so the young boy led an extraordinary life with his family. He was kind-hearted, beautiful and hard - working. Everyone in the kingdom loved him! 

One sunny afternoon, the prince was playing in the gardens of the palace. He was playing with his favorite toy, a ball. This was no ordinary ball, because it was a golden ball, given to him before his mother passed away. It was the only possession that he had left to remind him of the close bond that he had with his beloved mother. The prince loved throwing the ball high up into the sky, where the sun made it shine brightly with flashes of light. Every time, he would try to throw it higher into the air, in the hopes that it will touch the clouds, until one day he threw it so high into the sky that he could not see where it landed. He immediately began to panic and cried out to his brother for help! The prince’s brother saw the ball fall into an old well. They both tried endlessly to get it back, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful. “I want my ball back!” The prince began to cry louder and louder.

Out of nowhere, they heard a voice. “What seems to be the problem, boys?” They both looked around and saw a frog sunbathing on a rock. Not knowing who spoke to them and not seeing anyone around, the two young men ignored the frog and continued trying to reach for the ball in the old well. Again, they heard someone asking them, “What seems to be the problem, boys?” They faced the frog who magically turned into a thin, Brahman, dark in hue. The boys were so shocked and had to blink twice to make sure that they were not dreaming. “My name is Drona, and I am here to help you get the golden ball back, but I must receive something in return for my good deed," the Brahman said. “We will give you anything you want! Our father is the king and he can grant you your wishes. Tell us what you want, O Brahman.” The Brahman spoke and said, “If you allow me a seat at your supper table and give me a meal prepared for a king -I will use my skills and powers to get you your golden ball back.” 

“Absolutely! We promise you all your wishes.” And so, Drona used his magic powers to create a weapon out of a handful of grass to retrieve the golden ball. The boys thanked the Brahman and rushed back up the hill to the castle to deliver the good news to their tutor. “Bhishma! Bhishma! As we were playing in the gardens, my golden ball fell into the well and because I cried so loud, a frog appeared and turned into a Brahman and returned the ball to us!” Bhishma was stunned by the news that the boys delivered and knew immediately, in the back of his mind, who they were talking about. He was, however, confused as to why Drona was in the vicinity and asked the people from the kingdom all about what had happened to the great sage's son. 

Suddenly there was a knock on the kingdom's front door and when one of the soldiers opened it, the frog came hop! Hop! into the kingdom.  The two boys ran toward Drona, the frog, and carried him to to the supper table where they placed him on a chair next to Bhishma. The frog transformed himself into a Brahman and it is then that Bhishma knew he found the best trainer possible, to teach the two princes how to shoot. 





Frog Sunbathing On A Rock. Source:Pixabay

Author's Note: For this week's story, I focused on How The Princes Learned To Shoot. I immediately thought of a childhood story called The Princess and The Frog and that is what I based my version of the story off of. In the original version of the story, the princess was a spoiled girl and nobody liked her. She had a golden ball as a toy and lost it in a pond, when a frog helped her retrieve it, in exchange for friendship. The princess agreed to it, but as soon as she received her ball back, she ignored the frog and ran from him.


I decided to keep my characters as well as the scene of the story the same as the Mahabharata episode, but made the Brahman appear to the boys in the form of a frog, before he turned himself into the royal preceptor. I also kept the plot of the story the same, only changing minor details, such as using a golden ball that had sentimental value, instead of an ordinary play ball. I wanted to give a twist to my story and that is why I made this part up. The golden ball is the main element in my story and focus was also placed on how Drona met Bishma and I also focused on how he is not only rewarded for his good deed, but how he became the princes' teacher. 



Bibliography: Myths About The Hindus And Buddhists by Sister Nivedita. Reading link to How The Princes Learned To Shoot.
The Princess And The Frog Wikipedia reading link.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Reading Notes: Fruitless Embassy Of Angada



I decided to focus on only one chapter for this part's reading. I found the section to be quite simple and it can be used to recreate my own story.

* I wonder why no one has ever conquered the town of Lanka. What made it so strong?

*I like how they sent three former followers into the town to spy on the people and gather information.

* For my story, I can focus on the attack on all four gates. It reminds me of a war story or even Game Of Thrones. I can use elements from the series in my story.

* In my story, I can give each monkey a specific identity or mark so that they know their 'brother in arms' during the battle.

* Imagery used in this story is amazing - they did a good job.

* It was an enjoyable story to read, although some of the language used was 'outdated'.



Rama And Monkeys. Source: Imageweb

Bibliography: Rama And The Monkeys By Geraldine Hodgson. Reading Link To Fruitless Embassy Of Angada



Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Reading Notes: Rama And The Monkeys



For this week's reading, I decided on Rama And The Monkeys by Geraldine Hodgson, because it is easily accessible online, it is something different and looked interesting.

* I found it fascinating that hierarchy played a role among the inhibit ants of Ayodhya and that everything is pure among them. How I wish that could be true in today's society.

* I might focus my story on the horse sacrifice. King Dasaratha can make a mistake and thus give the enemies reason to capture him or cast a spell on his son.

* I like the description of the monkeys, tearing up the roots, etc.

* I need to read this story again, in more detail and make notes for my story.












Monkeys Sitting Together. Source:Learnnc





Bibliography: Rama And The Monkeys By Geraldine Hodgson. Reading Link To Birth Of Rama And Creation Of Monkeys.