Ideas on Class Writing

What I liked most about the writing in the class was the amount of freedom and creativity one had when writing a story. It really allowed one to open up and use their imagination. I choose the Storybook option and I was very happy with my choice. One reason I like the Storybook so much was because it allowed you to customize the whole web page however you liked. While the Storybook comments may seem a little lengthy at first, it becomes easier and easier as classmates lengthen their Storybooks. I do believe this class helped my writing skills. The amount of writing it requires allows one to really hone their skills.

Ideas on class reading

I really enjoyed the epics that we were instructed to read. Even though some were very alike, they still proved to be most exciting. The way the readings were split up also made the day to day reading bearable and not too overwhelming. Another aspect of the class I really liked was the commenting and reading of other classmates stories. This made for fun interactions and allowed one to read very interesting stories. One piece of advise I might give to a future student would be to get ahead and do as much extra credit as possible.  

Famous Last Words, Week 14

Hello, I am going to take this time to kind of reflect on this past week and the upcoming break. This  past week for class I have been reading over a lot of other storybooks and I have to say I am privileged be in such talented class with so many great writers. I have really enjoyed reading over some of the stories I had read earlier in the semester then now seeing how they have transformed into a finished product. One of my favorites was Rama's Bestiary because of just the sheer creativity and detail that was added to every single sentence. Reading these stories has really made handling my other classes a tad bit easier. While most of my classes require textbook reading and a lot of physics, these stories offer a nice break in the other monotonous schoolwork.  Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I have to say I am so excited. I have a ton of family coming into town that I haven’t seen in while and they always bring the most amazing cooking. By the end of this week I plan to have gained at least ten pounds. The dish I have to be looking forward to most is definitely the pumpkin dessert roll, though my uncles home smoked turkey is also to die for. While the festivities are so close I can almost taste them, I unfortunately have to finish out the next couple days and stay focused. Tomorrow I have a massive class presentation to give for my international activism class, along with a change of command ceremony for my NROTC unit. My presentation tomorrow is over the pollution of Ukraine and how my mock NGO will help solve the issue. I’ve just got to power through these next couple days and then I’m home free.

Thanksgiving Turkey.Turkey found here

Blogger Templates Tech Tip

For my tech tip assignment, I altered the templet to Awesome inc. I found this templet to be a little more exciting and attention grabbing. I also changed the font to grupo which I found made the reading a little bit easier. The last thing I changed was the width of the side bar. This made the organization of its contents more formal looking.

Week 14, Reading Diary B: Buck's Mahabharata

• Vaishampayana  is taught the Mahabarata by Vyasa.
• The Pandavas and Kauravas are descendants of Bharata.
• Bhishma decides to die after the battle and around his friends.
• The people around him at his death are Satyaki, Krishna, the Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, Vidura, Vyasa and Yuytsu.
• Bhishmas body is then burned and dumped into the Ganges.
• Yudhishthira has a bad dream that consisted of him and his brothers going on an adventure.
• All of his brothers end up dying and it's only him and a friendly dog.
• The dog turned out to be Lord Yama, his father. It turned out to be a test.
• he then finds himself in hell with his brothers and then he wakes up.
• On returning to Hastinapura, Yudhishthira is made king.
• Parikshit is born dead but Krishna brings him back to life.
• Parikshita eventually becomes king and continues on the Pandava line.
• After going into the fort to live and meditate, Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti all die in a forest fire.

Week 14, Reading Diary A: Buck's Mahabharata

• With the power of illusion, Duryodhana makes the water of the lake impenetrable.
• Duryodhana ends up dueling Bhima. Duryodhana consequently gets his thighs smashed and slowly dies.
• Sanjaya, Kripa, Kritavarman and Ashwatthaman visit the dying Duryodhana.
• Duryodhana, while dying, tells them the story of how death came into being along with how he is glad to have been killed in battle.
• Duryodhana lastly requests that Ashwatthaman become commanding general.
• A great battle happens during a night raid on the Pandavas camp.
• Dhrishtadyumna, Sikhandin and Panchala's armies led by king Drupada are killed.
• After the battle, Rakshasas enter the camp and eat the dead.
• Kripa, Kritavarman and Ashwatthaman are the only servivors from the Kaurava army.
• The broken chariots from the battle are used to make the funeral pyres. 
• Kunti cenfesses at the funeral that Karna was her son.
• The dead army is lead into the Ganges by Drona.

Week 13, Reading Diary B: Buck's Mahabharata

• Before the battle, Vyasa sees bad omens regarding the coming battle.
• Bhishma is appointed commander and because of that Karna won't fight.
• Bhishma won't fight a woman.
• Sthuna becomes Sthuni because she wants to become male.
• Bhishma is commanding Duryodhana's army which is larger than Yudhishthira's.
• Bhishma kills the king of Matsyas but when Krishna decides to kill him, Arjuna stops him.
• Arjuna in turn attacks Bhishma with Sikhandin.
• Bhishma is then shot by a whole lot of arrows and killed.
• Bhishma has the power to decide when he dies so he decided to stay around until after winter.
• Drona is then made commander of Duryodhana and is instructed to capture Yudhishthira alive.
• Uttara is killed after being caught behind enemy lines.
• Arjuna beheads Jayadratha and then throws the head into the lap of Jayadratha's father, causing the fathers head to explode.
• Drona kills Drupada but Drona is killed by Dhristadyumna, Drupada's son.
• Arjuna chops off Karna's head after his chariot gets stuck in the mud.

Week 13, Reading Diary A: Buck's Mahabharata

• Yudhishthira and his brothers chase a deer through the woods.
• All the brothers but him drink from the lake and die.
• Turnes out it was a test from his father Dharma. Yama ends up reviving the brothers.
• The Pandavas end up taking residence in the Matsya kingdom.
• They all disguise themselves and pick up relatively important jobs in the kings court.
• Kichaka falls in love with Draupadi but she won't love him back.
• He ends up assaulting her but ultimately gets pounded into a fleshy ball by Bhima.
• Kichaka's kinsmen want to burn Draupadi for what has happened but Vaishravana rescues her.
• War breaks out and the Pandavas come out f exile to win the battle.
• Arjuna then marries Princess Uttara after the victory.
• War between the Pandavas and Duryodhana is set in motion. Duryodhana's head is cut off by Krishna.
• The war is scheduled to start in seven days time.  

Week 12, Reading Diary B: Buck's Mahabharata

• Arjuna is turned into a eunuch for a year because he wouldn't reciprocate Urvashi's affection.
• The story of Mankanaka illustrates the apparent dangers of eating grass.
• Manakanaka lived in the forest and only ate plants. He in turn bled plant juice and danced with joy.
• He danced so hard he started to get the whole world into which worried the gods that the world may fall apart.
• Manakanaka realized the gods were worried so he stopped.
• Rishyashringa was born after his father came in a river and a deer swallowed it.
• He had antlers and a pure heart which was needed to end a drought in Anga.
• He ended up marrying the princess from Anga and stopped the drought.
• Jayadratha kidnaps Draoupadi but is chased down by the Pandavas.
• His life is spared after Yudhishthira begs Draupadi to let him live.
• Vyasa tells Draupadi the story of Savitri and how she found the love of her life. 

Week 12, Reading Diary A: Buck's Mahabharata

• Once again there is a dice game.
• Draupadi is lost to Duhshasana who keeps trying to rip off her clothes but Krishna keeps her covered.
• One more throw of the dice is made to see who will go into exile.
• Yudhishthira loses and the Pandavas, along with Draupadi have to go into exile in the forest.
• Arjuna meets his dad in the forest on a mountain. He then goes hunting and runs into Shiva. 
• Arjuna then travels to the pleasure forest with Shiva who introduces him to Urvashi.
• Urvashi falls in love with Arjuna.
• The love story of Nala and Damayanti commences.
• Nala and Damayanti were in love but the gods Indra, Agni, Varuna, Yama and Kali all wanted to marry her. 
• Nala ended up losing everything in a dice game with Pushkara his brother who was possessed by Kali.
• Resulting in Nala and Damayanti having to live in the forest.
• The two end up getting separated.
• Nala gets poisoned and works for a king.
• Nala is later recognized and gets word sent to Damayanti that he is at the palace.
• They end up reuniting and living happily ever after. 

Week 11, Reading Diary B: Buck's Mahabharata

• The fight with the Pandavas continues with Duryodhana building a fire pit under their house.
• They are warned by Vidura and then fake their deaths and escape.
• The Pandavas and Kunti end up staying in a village which is plagued by a demon. 
• Bhima ends up fighting and killing the demon.
• Drupada poors two cups of butter into a fire and a son Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi a daughter were born.
• Arjuna wins Draupadi in an archery tournament.
• She ends up marrying al five Pandava brothers.
• The Pandavas rule the area of Khandava and build the city of Indraprastha.
• Arjuna marries Subhadra, Krishna's sister.
• The Khandava forest is burned down/eaten by the fire god Agni.
• A war with the Pandavas is brewing again when a game of dice starts up.   

Week 11, Reading Diary A: Buck's Mahabharata

• Ganesh had his head ripped of by Shiva and had it replaced with an elephant head. 
• Ganesh then writes down the Mahabharata recited to him by Vyasa.
• Vishnu, the devas and the asuras got together and churned the milk ocean in order to get the nectar of immortality. 
• The nectar was produced but so was Lakshmi, Rambah, the apsaras, Indra's vahana, and a lucky cow.
• Poison was also produced but Shiva swallowed it to save the earth.
• Ganga marries Shantanu after his fathers death and he becomes king.
• She gives birth to seven vasus which she kills but after being begged to keep the eighth she does. This little guy becomes known as Bhishma.
• King of Chedi knocks up a fish witch gives birth to Satyavati.
• Satyavati has a child with a sage, Parashara. The child is then named Vyasa.   

Story Telling Week 10,Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

As the wisps of smoke began to curl around my motionless body and the flames started to lick my burial gown, I truly started to feel alone. While being in this spirit form has been peaceful, it is depressing being invisible and unable to offer my support to those taking my death so hard. Soon though, I will move onto the next leg of my journey  and start a new life. Though now, standing here on the bank of the Ganges where it all began so many years ago and now being here where it ultimately is coming to an end makes this even more difficult to watching my own cremation. I suppose life really is just a circle. I caught myself gazing deeper and deeper into the growing flame eventually becoming completely entranced. I didn’t even realize the beautiful woman in waving blue silk robes standing next to me was not actually staring at my burning body but rather directly at me, spirit me. She called my name “Bhishma” in a soft gentle flowing manner. “Yes?” I replied a little startled. “I am your mother, Ganga, and I am here to help you continue over to the other side.” I could hardly believe my eyes, my mother that I hadn’t seen or heard of for so long is now standing in front of me helping me with my last few moments on earth. She had helped me prepare for this world when I was younger and now once again she’s back to help one last time. I had to ask her why she had not tried to contact me over all these years. She simply replied that she did not need to get in my way once she had returned me to my father Shantanu. Apparently the time she had spent with me as a child was all the nurturing I needed. I was to be a hardened leader and warrior and one in which would take the extreme oath of celibacy. She assured me that I had lived out my mortal life better and more noble than she could have ever imagined. Ganga then put her hand on my shoulder and told me it was now time for me to make my way into the realm of the gods where my devious seven other brothers are waiting. I then took Ganga’s hand and walked back into the water where I had once walked with her so long ago.

Bibliography: Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

Authors notes: I chose this story because I really liked the idea of Bhishma’s life completing a full circle in that he came out of the water and ultimately ended up back in the water with his mother.  

Raja Ravi Varma, Ganga and Shantanu (1890)

Picture found here

Week 10, Reading Diary B. Narayan's Mahabharata

•   After a long talk over if a war is necessary, war preparations are made.

•   Draupadi is made commander of the troops.

•   Arjuna is the only son of Kunti's that Karna will attack in the battle.

•   Krishna preaches the song of the lord in order to calm Arjuna and prepare him for battle.

•    Karna joins the fight after Bhishma is killed by Arjuna.

•   Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, is killed after breaking through the enemy's formation.

•   Arjuna kills Jayadratha in revenge for the death of his son.

•   Drona is killed by Dhrishtadyumna when he is stunned by the idea of his son being killed.

•   Once the battle is over, all the Pandavas go to Hastinapura.

•   Karma is blamed when looking back at how Karna killed a hermits cow and then in battle had his wheel stuck in the mud causing him to get killed.

Yudhishtira becomes king.

Week 10, Reading Diary A, Narayan's Mahabharata

• Dhritarashtra has his spies inform him of the Pandavas actions.
• He is informed of the weapons they acquire. 
• Once captured by the gandharava, the Pandavas then rescue him.
• Nakula dies after drinking water from a mystical lake.
• Sahadeva, Arjuna and Bhima all die after drinking the water.
• Yudhishthire answers the mystical lake and in turn revives his brothers. He then finds out it was his father death.
• Arjuna defeats Karna in battle. Arjuna wants to keep the Pandava's identity secret so he tells Uttara not to say anything.
• In a misunderstanding between Virtata throws dice at Yudhishthire which draws blood. Virata gives his daughter for marriage to Yudhishthire's son in return.
• A war begins to brew between the two factions. It is proposed that this war will be the end of both Vyasa and Dhritarashtra. 

Week 9 Reading Diary B:Narayan's Mahabharata

• War is in the air when the Pandavas are found to still be alive.
• The king makes peace and gives the Pandavas a portion of the city to do what they like.
• Arjuna is exiled for 12 year.
• He marries Ulupi, a naga prinses, and also Sabhadra.
• Yudhishthira becomes king of Indraprastha.
• A game of dice is challenged between the two waring factions. They play at the new crystal hall.
• Yudhishishtira, the Pandava, ends up loosing everything, including himself and his wife.
• His wife has her cloths ripped off but Krishna keeps replacing them.
• Everything is returned and peace ensues. 
• A second game is played and the Pandavas loose again. this time they are exiled to the Ganges.
• In exile, the Pandavas acquire weapons and mantras from the gods in preparation of defeating the king.

Week 9 Reading Diary A: Narayan's Mahabharata

• Shantanu goes  to the river and finds a girl that he falls in love with.
• She drowns 7 of her 8 babies.
• Shantau soon gets over the other chick and starts hitting on this fisherman's daughter.
• They get together and have two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.
• Bhishma becomes king and takes a neighboring kingdoms princesses.
• Two of the girls marry Vichitravirya.
• Dhritarashtra marries a blind guy but covers her eyes to be like him.
• Pandu can't have sex or he dies.

Week 8, Reading Diary

Over the course of this semester I have been posting a reading diary on my blog, which I have found to be most helpful and foresee it becoming even more helpful in the future.  The way in which I have found the posts to be most helpful is how it allows me the opportunity to briefly organize  all that has happened in the allotted reading. There is always so much action happening in the story it is difficult to keep track of all the events and keep a coherent timeline.  After a couple weeks you are bound to forget a few details from the story, but the reading diary allows for a good refresher. It is also a good reference when it comes to writing the storytelling blog. The reading diary makes it so easy to go back and recall past events you may want to elaborate on.  The main strategies I use in my reading diary are bullet points  and a focus on major events. I found that if I write down the most important parts of a section and give a brief explanation in bullet point form, I can recall past events in better detail.  The length of these reading diary posts range from 11-15 bullet points and contain one to two sentences.  One thing I might start doing which I have not done in the past is start adding images to the post. I am more a visual learner and believe the addition of images should help make my  reading diary more effective. In the past I have added one or two quotes that I found to be interesting or motivational and I think I might start adding more quotes or phrases as well. Plus, I already have a file full of my favorite quotes and phrases I’ve come across over the years and I am always in need of more.