Famous Last Words: Review Week

This week is a week intended for reflection in this class. Unfortunately, I do not really have time for that, as much as I would like to take a week to reflect on all that I have accomplished this semester. Already this week I have had three tests in my core classes (Geology and Geophysics, Reservoir Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, and Reservoir Engineering II), I actually passed out from exhaustion last night. Within the next week and a half I have due: Another test, a lab report, two projects, and various other homework assignments. On top of trying to keep up with the assignments in this class. It's certainly going to be a stressful October, wish me luck.

Test, from Clipart Panda

The only reading I did this week was half of the Brothers Grimm, translated by Margaret Hunt. it covered Hansel and Gretel, Thumbling, and Allerleirauh. Hansel and Gretel was my standout favorite, I found the other two to be pretty weird. The major change from the original to versions I am familiar with is the parents abandoning poor little Hansel and Gretel in the woods to starve to death. I can't help but wonder if Hansel and Gretel's mother was somehow connected to the evil of the witch. They both died conspicuously close to each other, perhaps the witches evil permeated beyond the forest. Plus, leaving Hansel and Gretel to starve to death in the forest because you can't afford to feed them is one step short of eating them yourself. I was surprised about the presence of actual character development. Hansel and Gretel's father was clearly under a lot of emotional duress, stuck between his children and his wife. Gretel also really came into her own, and stopped following Hansel's lead by killing that evil witch, quite cleverly and brutally I might add.

Backup and Review: Spell Checking

From Laura Gibbs

I have never heard of this specific tip before, but I will be sure to store it away for future use. I usually get paranoid that spellcheck corrected my egregiously wrong word to a word that I did not intend.

Wikipedia Trail: Hansel & Gretel to Napoleon

Hansel and Gretel, from Wikipedia

I started my trail at Hansel and Gretel this week. There is a joke to be made about that, but I'm too tired to think about it right now. It's shockingly recent to me, published in 1812 by The Brothers Grimm. I wanted to probe their dark minds, so I clicked there next and learned that they are from Hanau, Germany and that their stories were used a propaganda by the Third Reich. I clicked on the happier option. Hanau was first mentioned in literature in 1143. The town was destroyed by Napoleon in 1813, after which it was rebuilt. Of course, the first thing I checked was Napoleon's height. he was 5'6", average for his time. What a shame.

Learning by HEART: Tolerance

From Laura Gibbs

I like this quote because it feels like something out of the Art of War, but is advocating peace. It also acknowledges that getting along with some people is difficult, but important, which I sometimes struggle with.

Growth Mindset: Driving Learning

From Laura Gibbs

I chose this picture because I really believe that nobody can learn without the intrinsic motivation to do so. This is my reminder to find that motivation for yourself, it makes school much easier.

Week 8 Extra Credit Reading: The Brother's Grimm

This post will cover part A of The Brother's Grimm, translated by Margaret Hunt.

Hansel and Grethel, from An Idea

• I am hoping that my familiarity with many of these stories helps me pick up on the important parts of the originals. I'm expecting these to be much darker than the "Disneyfied" versions. 
• I'm not disappointed, I never thought Hansel and Grethel's parents would be abandoning them in the forest. 
• I never expected Hansel to be the one outsmarting everyone. 
• The Witch really has no since of subtlety, she could have masterminded this situation must better. Hunger will do things to a person. 
• I do not think i have heard Thumbling before, so I hope it will be interesting. 
• Thumbling is doing his best to irritate all the criminals of this town despite the fact that he could be broken like a carrot. 
• I am also not familiar with Allerleirauh, hopefully it will hold my interest more than Thumbling. 
• That was certainly a weird one. 

Thanks for reading. 

Week 8 Growth Mindset

From Choice Schools

I have a hard time committing to more creative ideas due to my fear of public failure. I don't have enough time to write a second story or go back to the drawing board if a story doesn't work out, so I tend to play it safe with my writing. This really matches up with more things on the left of the list than the right, unfortunately. I hope that by putting out some work in a receptive and friendly environment like this class will help me feel more confident about doing similar things in other places in the future. On the other side of the coin, I hope this class will make me more comfortable with giving critical feedback, because I also have trouble with this. Thanks for reading.

Week 8 Class Reflections

Sindbad, the subject of my favorite writing this semester. Wikipedia

Some readings in this class, such as Brer Rabbit, seem weirder to me than those from Epics of India. This even despite the fact that no readings from Epics took place in America. I will say, however, that I have enjoyed the variety of readings in this class. I'm certainly covering more of the world with my choices. It has helped me come up with more ideas for my stories. I have enjoyed reading Homer's Iliad and the Voyages of Sindbad so far. I am looking forward to reading the Native American Hero Tales and Beowulf. 

As far as my storytelling is concerned, I am finding it harder to come up with new ideas every week. Especially after Epics, I am all out ideas about how to change up the original readings. This is why I have written more followups this semester. This is not to say that I am not proud of what I have done. I particularly like how my retelling of Sindbad turned out. 

As far as the work of others is concerned, I am impressed with how creative some peoples ideas are. They are really able to expand upon the deeper themes of a given reading, and not just offer a twist with the same characters and settings. I think that my feedback is useful, but I will be the first to tell you that it is mostly positive. I have a hard time being too critical, especially when I know how much emotional energy it takes to put your work in a public space. 

Tech Tip: Embedding a Playlist

For this tech tip, I have embedded a playlist of Formula 1 helmet cam videos. I think these are fascinating to watch, I hope you guys enjoy.