Review: Announcements

Punctuation Humor

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While reviewing this weeks announcements I came across this meme. I can definitely appreciate some punctuation humor. I am guilty of using or not using punctuation correctly, especial apostrophes. Naturally we should all read the lass announcements each week, but sometimes life can get busy. You can review this weeks announcements as well others anytime throughout the semester.

Punctuation. The apostrophe may be your punctuation nightmare, but what if the apostrophe has nightmares of its own...?

Punctuation.                                                                                                                                       

Wikipedia Trail: from " Lagina" to "Arsenic Contamination of Groundwaer"

Arsenic Element

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For this weeks Wikipedia trail I decided to look up random subjects and chose a word I was unfamiliar with. I came across the word Lagina and thought it would be an interesting place to start. Lagina is an ancient cult site for archeologists and tourists. It dates back to the Carian period and exstended under the Seleucide Kings. It has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

From Lagina my Wikipedia trail got me interested in the Bronze Age. An ancient civilization is defined to be in the Bronze Age either by smelting its own copper and alloying with tin, arsenic, or other metals, or by trading for bronze from production areas elsewhere.

From the Bronze Age I decided to look into Arsenic. Arsenic is a chemical element. It is considered a metalloid. Metallic arsenic is used to make car batteries. Arsenic is also used in pesticides.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a form of groundwater pollution that is actually caused by natural high levels of concentrated arsenic in groundwater. This phenomenon can be deadly to both humans and animals.

                   

                                                                
                                                                             

Learning Challenge: Health & Happiness

Three dirty secrets to being healthy and happy include drinking alcohol, gaining weight, and stop cleaning your house. This video makes light of some of the things that statistics have found to create health and happiness. The point of this video is to relax and enjoy life. I especially like the part about taking a day off and not doing any homework. The way to become happy and healthy is to simply enjoy life.

Famous Last Words "I Am Almost There"

I Am Almost There!

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This was my last week to study for the LSAT. I plan to take an LSAT prep test with a friend Sunday and another LSAT Wednesday on campus. I believe the live LSAT prep test on campus will be the exact same test material I took the very first time I took an LSAT exam. I did not study for that test. I wanted to see where I was at without studying. When I take the exam this time I will be able to apply all the techniques I have learned and see how far I have come. Over the past several months I have gained  twenty points on my score so far. I feel good about my progress. Self study is thought to improve your score less than if you take a LSAT prep course or get a tutor. I would have loved the option to take a class or get a tutor, but these options come with a price. They are very expensive. I applied for a scholarship for the online LSAT prep course offered online through Kaplan, but I did not receive the scholarship. I sometimes feel like a scavenger in search of any LSAT material I can get my hands on. Fortunately, there is a lot of free LSAT material online. If you buy the Power Score Bible Series and study from them you will have a good foundation. Then you have to practice, practice, and yes practice! Like I have mentioned in my growth mindset blogs, even if you don't get something right the first time perseverance is they key. Throughout my studies I have been so nervous to take this exam, but as of now I feel confident. I am so excited to have my admissions interview set up and the exam just around the corner. Once I get accepted the real work will begin, but for now I am almost there!

GROWTH MINDSET: Motivational

This is an amazing motivational video. Today I was struggling to get myself to school after finding out my grandpa John passed away. I had an exam and needed to find a way to focus my energy on the test. This video shows the determination of the human spirit. We have to dig deep and decide to succeed. My grandfather was a strong man and know I can find inner strength due in part to him. My husband always reminds me that even though getting through school can be difficult at times, it is a choice I made for myself. My choice to invest in my future has allowed me to become the person I want to be, someone I am proud of. I hope this video will inspire you to do something great today.

Tech Tip: Resized Photoss Using PicMonkey

Imperial Pixies
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It took me several tries, but I resized my photos for my storybook introduction using PicMonkey.com. I am using two different photos for the introduction, but for some reason the pictures kept changing to the same photo. It was like magic, really irritating magic. I am not certain how I finally fixed it. Follow the link below to see how the pictures turned out.  
  The Imperial Pixies: Introduction

Reading Notes " An Accident in Rome"

Paper of The Pilate

A wagon stuck in a pot hole allowed the owners of the wagon to discover a underground tunnel. Master Frances lowed himself into the hole using a rope. He discovered a door in the darkness. He opened the door to find a man setting before him. The man was reading something he had written repeatedly. Master Francis asked the man who he was. The man finally said, take off your shirt and as you leave I will write my name on your back. The Pope is the only one who is to read it. The man would not answer any other questions. Master Francis signaled for the men to pull him out of the hole. When he reached the top, he was unrecognizable. It was as if he had aged and was now an old man. Master Francis sought out the Pope and asked him to read his back. The Pope read the words "I Am Pilate" on his back. Master Francis instantly became a statue after the Pope uttered the words. It is said that the man was Pilate, who was condemned to stay in a cave, always reading the sentence that he had pronounced on Jesus Christ, without ever being able to take his eyes of the paper. This is the story of Pilate, who is neither saved nor named.

Bibliography:
"An Accident in Rome" written by Thomas Frederick Crane 1885 An Accident in Rome
Man Holding Paper Photo www.fotolia.com

Story: " Desire Out Of Necessity"

Once upon a time, there lived a hard working man named Ashleigh Alexander, who desperately wanted to find a good woman and get married. He longed to have the kind of relationship his parents' have. His parents feared for their son and warned him that many women would want to marry him for the wrong reasons and may seek to deceive him. Ashleigh was a man of stature and wealth. He worked hard because his parents taught him that a wise businessman will work alongside his employees. Ashleigh stood to inherit a substantial estate beyond his self-made wealth. Ashleigh took his parents warning to heart and listened to the characteristics they thought Ashleigh should look for in a potential wife. Although Ashleigh's parents realized he was looking for a beautiful wife they begged him not to be fooled by attraction. Look for a woman who is independently happy and can support herself. If she does not desire you out of necessity, she will want you to desire.

Ashleigh soon discovered that his parents were right, many women wanted him. Unfortunately few women matched his parents criteria. Ashleigh attempted to court several different women, but those who were happy lacked independence, and those who were independent lacked beauty. Ashleigh was starting to feel like he would never find a wife. He met his parents for dinner to discuss the matter. As they talked a woman named Alex could not help but overhear. She could hear the sadness in Ashleigh's voice as spoke about his desperation to find love. Alex knew what it was like to long to have someone. She had been in love before, but she had never married. Ashleigh noticed that Alex kept glancing at him. When his parents excused themselves for the evening, Ashleigh approached Alex. She invited him to have a seat at her table. They talked until the restaurant closed, it was as if they were old friends catching up.

Beautiful Couple

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Ashleigh let Alex do much of the talking. He was careful not to discuss anything that would allude to his status or wealth. Alex seemed to glow as she spoke about her life. She loved her job and seemed to be a brilliant stock broker. They each discussed their goals for the future and began to think the other held a place in that future. Ashleigh took a long look at Alex and thought this is it. Alex is beautiful, happy, and independent. She does not desire me out of necessity so she will want me out of desire. Before Ashleigh knew it, he was asking for Alex's hand in marriage. Alex was surprised to hear herself saying yes. Ashleigh kissed Alex goodbye as he rushed to tell his parents of their engagement. His parents were suspicious of any women who would agree to marry after only one encounter. Ashleigh assured them that Alex was both happy and independent. They could see that their son was truly in love and they were happy for him.

Ashleigh and Alex spoke every day, but did not see one another until their wedding day. The church was decorated beautifully and Ashleigh could not wait to see his bride walk down the aisle to him. Everyone was in their respective places as the music began to play, but Alex did not enter. People began to chatter among themselves in curiosity. Ashleigh's parents looked at him with a disapproving stare. Ashleigh thought to himself, I know Alex. She would not leave me standing here alone without just cause. He walked outside to get some air and saw Alex at the bottom of the church stairs. She was setting in a wheelchair, something she never mentioned as the sat across from each other the night they met. Alex said I wanted to tell you, but I did not know how. I did not want you to think I needed you. Ashleigh wiped away her tears, picked her up, and carried her to the end of the aisle. It is I who need you, Ashleigh said. (707)   

Author's Notes:

My story is inspired by the "Blind Man." The young maiden was taught what characteristics to look for in a potential husband. A blind man who overheard these characteristics made himself appear a good potential husband. The women, not realizing he was blind, accepted his marriage proposal. Several things occurred that seemed out to the young maiden, but the blind man always offered a plausible reason for his actions. The young maiden's father suspected the man was blind and set out to prove it. The young maiden's father proved the man was blind and ran him off from his home. The blind man came across a man who could not walk. The men agreed to help one another. Along their travels the blind man came across a venomous snake. The venom got in the blind man's eyes and on the other man's legs, they were both cured. The blind man returned to his wife. She was happy to see him. When she realized he could see, she was even happier.

Bibliography:

Laos Folklore by Katherine Neville Fleeson with photographs by W.A. Briggs (1899) 

Laos: "Blind Man" 

Reading Notes: " The Lovers’ Leap"

Forbidden Lovers

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Once upon a time...A beautiful maiden and her true love were separated by the maiden's father. The two lover were forbidden to even speak to one another. Many suitors tried to catch the attention of the beautiful maiden but she longed to be with her true love. The lovers secretly meet and he true love asked her to marry him, against her father's wishes. The couple was soon spotted by one of her father's men who called for her father. They took off on his horse and were soon pursued by her father and his army of men. The reached the top of the hill and were left with no place to turn. They looked into each others eyes as they leaped off the mountain. They had hoped to reach the other side but their hopes fell flat and the fell to their death in each others arms.

My Thoughts:
This is a classic but sad love story. It ends in tragedy, but the emotion of the lovers can be felt as you read their story. It was very moving.

Bibliography:
Laos: The Lovers’ Leap The Lover Leap

This story is part of the Laos unit. Story source: Laos Folk-Lore by Katherine Neville Fleeson, with photographs by W.A. Briggs (1899).

Reading Notes: "The Slaying of the Tanuki"

Tanuki

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Tanuki observed a man and a hare's friendship. Tanuki despised the man and would often steel the food he left for the hare. The man sought to kill Tanuki for this transgression. The man laid a trap for Tanuki and waited. He plan to catch him and then eat him. The man's wife was easily tricked by Tanuki's kind words to help her pound the rice. The Tanuki killed the woman and started to cook her instead. Tanuki assumed the wife's form in order to trick the man. When the man finished eating his own wife the Tanuki revealed himself to him. When the man realized what he had done he ran to the woods. The hare promised to help the man get revenge. They built two boats and tricked Tanuki into
getting into one that would quickly break in two. Tanuki drowned in the water and the old man and the hare lived happily ever after knowing the avenged his wife's death.

My Thoughts:
I thought it was fun to read this story. I have a friend who chose this as a nickname on a game. I did not know anything about Tanuki, and now I do. She is a wicked quarrelsome beast.

Bibliography:
Japanese Fairy Tales: The Slaying of the Tanuki Story source: The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1897).The Slaying of the Tanuki