Review: Word of the day "Achilles' Heel

From this weeks announcements here's a beautiful mosaic that shows Achilles' mother, Thetis, the sea goddess:

It is funny that Achilles' Heel is the word of the day because I just finished the movie Troy, which features Achilles.' Greek and Roman sculptures are very beautiful and mysterious.

Learning Challenge: Attention

Make Eye Contact
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"How to Pay Attention" wkiHow 

Here are some helpful hints to train yourself to  pay-attention and keep your mind from wondering. I like these tips because they are easy to apply in most casual and professional settings. Follow the steps provide and see if they work for you. "How to Pay Attention" suggest the following steps to achieving attentiveness in the moment. 1-deal with distractions 2-Ask for clarification if your mind drifts 3-Maintain eye contact 4-Fidget 5-Impose a time limit 6-Take a break 7-Vary up your routine  

After you have mastered "How to Pay Attention" you can read the next article which will help you learn to "Build Long-term Attentiveness."

Growth Mindset: Video; "The Power of Yet"

 The Power of Yet video is meant to be a fun way to reach people of all ages. It has an important message to keep trying to reach your goals. The power of yet is that while you may not have reached your goal on the first try, if you keep trying you will get there. This video really spoke to me today as I am struggling to reach my target score for the LSAT. I am determined to keep a positive attitude and continue to try. I have not reached my goal yet, but if I keep trying I bet....




 

Wikipedia Trail; from "Grades" to " Compulsory Education"

"Grades" to "Compulsory Education"
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Grades are used by teachers to assess their students performance in different courses of study. The concept behind grading has recently came under fire by individuals who believe that grades are not a true indication of what a student has learned or not learned during the course of their studies. Educators realize now more than ever that children learn differently and therefore test differently.

An educational stage refers to the seven different levels of formal learning. The first level of formal learning is referred to as primary education. The second stage is referred to as tertiary education. Unfortunately the other five levels of education were not covered on the Wikipedia cite.

Primary school is commonly referred to as elementary school. Children receive their primary education between the ages of five and twelve. After they have received a primary education they go onto receive a compulsory education. It is referred to as compulsory education because it is required by law. The state as a compelling interest to protect and educate the children who live within its borders. There have been many challenges to such state laws, typically based on religious objections to the law.

Reading Notes: "The Seven Crosses of Tiverton: or The Story of Pixie Picket"

Seven Babies
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Like most of the Pixie tales this story takes place after a hostile take over of the throne. Randolph Rowle was said to be in charge of smothering the prices in the tower. He beat and used his wife. She gave him seven children but none lived more than a year and their deaths were suspicious. She was happy when he left for the war although he left her nothing to survive on. That night she heard moaning outside. She thought it must be a hungry passerby so she opened the door. At first glance she thought it was a child, but soon realized it was not a typical child. This child had a face of a grown women. The Pixie told the lady that her name was Picket. The pixie asked for something to eat and the lady offered her one of her seven eggs, but when the pixie realized she had six more eggs she asked for them all. This was all the lady had to survive on until her husband returned but the pixie claimed to have six siblings who were also starving. The women gladly gave the eggs to the pixie to feed her parentless siblings. Before the pixie left with the eggs she asked the lady what would make her happy. She said to have a beautiful little girl. The pixie said where seven were given seven will be returned. When Randolph Rowle returned he discovered that his wife had given birth to seven children and all were alive and well. He was not pleased. He set out to search for the women of the evil eyed. She was his mother and she swore for the river to keep the seven that he had been given. Randolph Rowle intended to drown the children but the queen stopped him and took the children to raise them as her own, meanwhile their mother joined a convent to help the nuns.

"The Story of Pixie Picket" Sacred Text

Famous Last Words: "I am addicted to blogging"

Writing some thoughts

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When I first read the assignments in my mythology class would
require me to blog I was a little concerned. As I have mentioned before I am not exactly technology savvy. The first week of blogging I was struggling to figure out how everything was supposed to look, and more importantly how to go about making that happen. Luckily I started the course early which gave my very patient instructor the time to help me get it figured out. This is my third week blogging and I have to say I really enjoy it. It reminds me of creating a Myspace page, but better. I have learned through the tech tips to make my blog very interactive. With each assignment my blog has evolved and dare I say that I am evolving along with it. It really does not seem like work. It is more like a hobby. I have read so many interesting and fun stories through the untextbook, but my favorite part has been writing my own stories and posting them for others to read. Some of my family and friends have taken the time to read some of my stories and given me some positive feedback. Today I was able to read some of my peer's introductions and stories as well. It is amazing how two people can use a story as inspiration and develop completely different stories from it. Some of the stories are so good that I found myself trying to read faster so I could find out how the story would end. This class has been a stress reliever from my LSAT studies and other classes. I do think I need to balance my time more evenly between the class that I'm loving and the LSAT that my brain no longer wants to absorb. Over the next several weeks I will need to take as many pre-test for the LSAT as I can!

Reading Notes: "Fontina; or The Pixies Bath" : Part 1

Pixies Bath

Pixie Moon Photo

This story takes place during the reign of John, King of England. The main premise of the story is the relationship between the young Henery De Bath's guardian, Sir Rodger de Stevenson, and the Pixies bath. In every good story there is a Vivian and a hero. The guardian is portrayed as a true villain who looks down upon the poor people of the town (similar to the way that Scrooge looked upon people who squander their money away in The Christmas Carol). The Pixies are the guardians of the spring and the hero of this tale. Although the Pixies in this story are said to have an evil wrath they are still viewed as the peaceful keepers of the bath with voices sweeter than any other. The author describes their voices to be beyond the most beautiful Christmas song. The seamingly magical overflow of the spring that warned of Henery De Bath's cousins death was very intriguing. It signified the Pixies mourning for the survivors (family members) of Gilbert De Bath. Once Gilbert's family had been made aware of his passing and was laid to rest the water went back into the ground as Gilbert's body had.

The story left a lot to the imagination: How did the cup keep reappearing by the Pixie's bath? Was it disgruntled employee of the royal court or was it an act of the Pixies?

To read more about this story and decide for yourself follow the link below.
Fontina; The Pixies Bath written by  Fontina; The Pixies Bath: Part 1

Reading Notes:"Pacific NW: Cry Because He Had No Wife"

Tears of a Native American

Native American Crying photo

This was an interesting story of a Native American boy who cried because he wanted a wife. His family arranged for him to meet a Native American girl from a neighboring tribe. He would face many challenges along the journey. The young girl is guarded by a beast that made it near impossible to reach her. Against the odds the boy makes his way to the young girl who later turns him to a man by giving him a bath. She makes the journey back to his village as his wife. They faced the beast together by using magical whips. Just when the beast was about to grab them the boy uses his whip that would place a mountain between them and their enemy. Alas they escape.

Bibliography:
"Pacific NW:Cry Because He Had No Wife" written by Nez Pierc

pacific-nw-cry-because-he-had-no-wife

Tech Tip: First Tweet

I created a Twitter account for a class I took last semester. I have not mastered writing in 160 characters, but I like the premise of Twitter. I usually get on and read political candidates twitter posts. I posted a short twitter post about how much I am enjoying this course. I hope others are enjoying the class as well.

Twitter Logo

Twitter logo pic

Story: The Devine Child

                                                     Cupid and the Devine Child

Cupid loved Psyche despite Venus' hatred toward the girl of indescribable beauty. Venus wished to see Psyche live a life of misery or no life at all. She sent Cupid to make her fall in love with a man with no wealth, status, or even health. She could not imagine her only son would betray her, but Cupid was memorized by Psyche's beauty and wished to have her. Cupid devised a plan to marry young Psyche while maintaining his secret from Venus. Cupid married Psyche but only appeared to her in the dark of night. Cupid knew that their families would be the demise of their love if they ever knew the truth about either's identity. He warned his love of their families intentions to tear them apart, but Psyche longed for human interaction and soon met with her jealous sisters. Psyche began to question her safety in a marriage to someone who refused to reveal himself to her. Psyche's sisters devised a plan to unravel Psyche's mysterious husband's identity. The night before Psyche would act out her sister's plain Cupid bestowed a divine child within Psyche's womb. Cupid told Psyche of the child within her and she was pleased, but the news only intensified her intentions to reveal Cupid's identity.

At nightfall Psyche waited for her husband to fall asleep. Once she was certain he was dreaming she uncovered the light from her hidden candle. She was astonished to see Cupid lying next to her, but he soon woke to realize her betrayal. Cupid threatened to leave her for one of her sisters and had her removed from his castle. As she cried to her sisters about the identity of her husband and revealed the words Cupid spoke to her both sister left Psyche in a pool of tears. They climbed to the edge of the cliff and called to Cupid. Each sister fell to her death as Cupid got his revenge on them. Psyche also climbed the cliff and called to Cupid. When she could see him she too jumped from the cliff's edge and grabbed Cupid's rob, but Cupid only embraced her for a moment. In that moment he removed the divine child he had bestowed upon her. Then he cried a single tear as Psyche's body fell until it was no more.

Venus was enraged with Cupid's betrayal. She threatened to adopt a slave boy and give him Cupid's wings, but when she learned of the divine child Venus devised a new plan. Now that Psyche is no more and Cupid is in a state of despair Venus would easily get her revenge. She would bide her time until the divine child could be captured. This time Venus would not send someone to do her dirty work. She would take matters into her own hands. Cupid had his servants watching over the divine child in his time of despair. He kept himself isolated, only looking in on the divine child as he slept. Cupid could see Psyche's features in the divine child, which only brought him pain. Although he kept his distance, he sought to protect all that he had left of his beloved Psyche. Cupid caught word of his mother's intentions for the divine child and so he waited her arrival.

Upon nightfall Cupid entered what was once his bridal suite to watch over the divine child. As he searched the room he could not believe his eyes. His beloved Psyche had found a way back from the deeps of death. Had he gone mad in the midst of his grief? He ran to her with tears in his eyes. He longed to have her once more, but when her hand brushed his check he knew this she devil was  not Psyche. Venus had transformed herself to appear as his beloved, but her cold touch diminished her disguise. In a fit of rage and despair Cupid struck Venus in the heart with his arrow until she took her last breathe. Cupid had avenged his beloved Psyche and protected all that he had left of her, the divine child.


Author's Note: This story is inspired by "Cupid and Psyche" written by Apuleius in "The Golden Ass." The story of Cupid and Psyche is an epic love story that ended in tragedy. In the original story Psyche falls to her death and the child is never mentioned. I thought it would be interesting to give life to the divine child that Cupid bestowed upon Psyche and make him the center of Venus' revenge.


Bibliography:
"Cupid and Psyche" written by Apuleius in "The Golden Ass" Cupid and Psyche

Photo can be located at the following link Cupid with a small child

Reading Notes: "The Lion and The Statue"

"The Lion and Statue" is one story in a series of stories about the nature of lions. In this story the lion and a man are discussing who is the stronger species between lions and mankind. The man declares that man is the stronger species due to their superior intellect. As proof the man takes the lion to a statue of Hercules defeating a lion and tearing its mouth into two separate pieces. The lion rebukes the statue as evidence of mankind's strength. The lion explains to the man that anyone can represent things as they wish them to be. The lion tells the man the only thing the statue proves is that man can create a statue.The Lion and The Statue


  My Thoughts:I came across the picture of a lion statue and it gave me an idea of how this story could be used as inspiration for a story writing assignment. *Picture are worth a hundred words.



Statue of a Lion
Lion photo

Bibliography: "The Lion and The Statue" written Aesop The Lion and The Statue 

Reading Notes: Psyche and Cupid

Psyche & Cupid

    This story is told to a young girl who is being held in the Robber's cave for ransomed money. The young girl is very upset and an old women, who occupancies the robbers, tries to calm her. Psyche and Cupid is an epic love story. In a sense it reminds me of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Venus who is Cupid's mother despises Psyche for her beauty and wants her to be no more. Psyche's sisters are jealous of her for her wealth and statues.

Venus sends her winged son Cupid to strike Psyche with on of his arrows. Cupid is to make her fall in love with a man who has no money, status, or health. When Cupid saw Psyche's indescribable beauty he wanted her for his wife.

   Her sisters had both been wed and her father prayed to Apollo for Psyche to find a husband as well. The god told her father that she would have a fatal marriage to a winged serpent. Psyche was led to a cliff and left alone to wed this mysterious husband. When she awoke she was in a beautiful castle full of riches beyond anything she had ever known. When she went to sleep that night her husband entered her room and made Psyche his wife. When morning came Psyche's husband was gone without her ever laying eyes on him.

    Her sister came to look for Psyche fearing that she was no more, but they found her alive and well, too well. Her sisters became very jealous of Psyche and wished her ill will. Cupid warned his wife but she did not listen. The next time her sister visited they convinced Psyche to plot against her husband in order to discover his identity. When Cupid's identity had been revealed to her she was in awe of him. Psyche picked up one of Cupid's arrows and pricked her finger. S he feel instantly in love with him.
Venus was furious when she discovered the Cupid had fallen for Psyche and betrayed her. She threaten to adopt a slave and give him Cupid's wings. She would see that Psyche was no more.
    Cupid awoke to being burned by the light which revealed his identity and was angered that Psyche betrayed him. Cupid threatened to get revenge on Psych and her sisters. He told Psyche he was leaving her and would be with one of her sisters. Psyche was vanished from her new home. She told her sisters about Cupid and what he told her. Each sister ran to the cliff hoping to become Cupid's new wife, but each fell to their death. Psyche went to the cliff as well but Cupid ignored her cries and let her fall to her death as well.







Bibliography:
"Psyche and Cupid" from  "The Golden Ass" written by Apuleius
Psyche and Cupid
Psyche and Cupid photo