Famous Last Words: Getting Going

I really enjoyed watching Nina Paley's Sita Sings the Blues this week. I loved how it was set up to be comical. I liked the different styles of animations and Sita's songs thrown in. The commentators were great! They said a lot of the same things I did when I first read the Ramayana. Like "really did he just question her purity instead of just being happy she is safe?"

I started my portfolio and revised my first story! I think I am the first one to start their project and get it going. I think I made the right choice in deciding on a portfolio. I think doing a storybook would have been a lot tougher.

I had my second quiz in my capstone class this week. Lets just say it did not go well. I studied for it but I somehow picked all the wrong things to study. All of my friends that are in that class felt the same way though. I ended up completely guessing on 3 out of the 4 questions on the quiz. One good thing, I got my grade back for the presentation I had last week in that class and got an A+! I also got an A on the first quiz.

This is my last assignment for this class that is due this weekend. The last few weeks I have not completed all of the work till Sunday night so it'll be great to be done early!

Next weekend I will be home everyday so I plan on really busting a lot of assignments out. Maybe I can be really far ahead in this class. Valentine's day is on Tuesday and I think I might go get dinner with my boyfriend but we aren't sure where yet. We might end up just eating dinner at home but getting ice cream later in the evening.

Ice Cream

Review: Writing Flow Chart

Writing Process Flow Chart

This flow chart is similar to the Procrastination Flow Chart I wrote about in a learning challenge. It's like I have to go through all these walls or doors before I can finally buckle down and write. Maybe I'm just fighting myself because I don't want to do the assignment. I can never just sit down and start writing. I have to complain about it some first then I'll do it. Sometimes I wish I had the motivation and drive to just sit down and do it. 

Learning Challenge: Procrastination Flow Chart

Procrastination Flow Chart

I feel this flow chart is very accurate for me. I will do literally anything sometimes before I will just do my homework or study for that test. I have a few times I cleaned the whole house, done laundry, dishes, called a few people, and made food before I've started on stuff. I admit I have a procrastination problem, big time. This class has actually helped me not procrastinate as much since there are so many assignments. I also get sorta excited knowing that I am really far ahead in points for this class. I could get done super early! 

Feedback Focus

I really enjoyed the reading out loud technique. For some reason why you can read and hear it at the same time, it is almost like reading it twice. The one issue with the reading out loud technique is that I only feel comfortable doing that at home or somewhere private. So in other words, it can be sorta inconvenient. If I am working on any reading or commenting assignments at home, I will try to use this technique. It is also harder to get distracted when you are trying to read it and say it at the same time. I have used this in the past to help study for exams. I think saying things a few times helps me memorize the information.

I also appreciate the copy-and-delete technique, because, like you said, you already have a set of notes ready when you are done reading. Then all you have to do is proofread them or make them flow a little nicer. This would be helpful while doing the comment assignments. I will read a story then by the end of it forget the stuff I wanted to say from the beginning and have to back and re-read it. So this technique is great because my thoughts instantly get jotted down. I will most likely use this in the future for commenting and project feedback.

Using a timer was the least helpful in my opinion. Trying to slow my reading pace down just makes me more easily distractible. I end up losing focus and get bored. I would rather stop and take notes after every paragraph or something, and not time myself.

All in all I would say the reading out loud technique is best for reading assignments and the copy-and-delete technique is best for commenting assignments. I will most likely not use a timer when I read.

Reading

Growth Mindset: Don't stop!

It is important to never give up on what you are doing. If you give up, you stop learning and therefore growing. Sometimes it is really hard to not give up. There has been many times in college that I just get so exhausted and frustrated that I want to quit, but I never did. I kept fighting and I got into the school of my dreams! You can do wonderful things when you keep going at your full potential. I don't think I have reached my full potential. I think I have more to offer. Everyone always has more to offer if they want to keep growing.

The image is from cheezburger. From Growth Mindset Cats.

Week 4 Story Planning: Hunky Hanuman

• Main goal of the story will be for Sita to fall in love with Hanuman
• Might change Hanuman's character some. Don't want him totally to be a monkey (that'd be weird). Maybe he's half man half monkey or something
• He's a king so maybe he has an awesome palace somewhere
• Rama was so rude after he finally saved her with that whole "are you sure you're pure?" crap
• Could have Rama still meet Hanuman the same way, but when Hanuman goes to Lanka, Sita thinks he's so handsome (heart stops, can't catch her breath... etc.). Maybe even tell him about her feelings (or hint at it anyway)
• Still doesn't go with Hanuman though because she wants to stay true to her husband (for now)
• After the big fight when Rama asks if Sita is pure, she could be like "are you serious? I've stayed true to you this whole time, you fought and traveled all the way here, and that's the first thing you ask me?" 
• Could either go with him saying sorry and her going back to him at first or her just totally saying "screw you" and leaving.
• If she stays with him: the next time he questions her purity she could leave, then go to Hanuman
• If she leaves first: goes straight to Hanuman, maybe could be a small fight with Hanuman and Rama, no major injuries, or maybe Sita's powers that she has could come into play. 
• Another possibility: she could defeat Ravana on her own because "she don't need no man" but still fall in love with Hanuman
• She could either still have Rama's boys and raise them with Hanuman or have Hanuman's children
• Rama can still go back to rule at home but just be alone forever and realize that he screwed up big time.
• Sita and Hanuman can rule at his home and live thousands of years together.

Hanuman

Bibliography

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley, Youtube.

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

• Sita is pregnant and gets banished because people thought she was impure so he couldn't be respected
• Maybe make a story with Sita falling in love with Hanuman when he comes to save her, still doesn't go with him because she is married and wants to wait for Rama but whenever Rama decides he doesn't want her anymore, she goes with Hanuman?
• Nina back at home in San Fran by herself
• Sita has twin boys
• Guy in the forest (name?) teaches the boys the songs of Rama (kind of weird and ironic) since he banished their mother ("Duty first, Sita Last" haha)
• If Rama was so mean to Sita, why did he still want him so bad?
• Why does Sita need to prove her purity again? 
• And why did Sita say if I AM pure, take me down into Mother Earth? she should have said if I am NOT pure, something will happen to me..
• See Rama, she's pure? Do you feel like a poop head now?
• She goes into the Earth, and no on knows what to do (lol, oops)
• I guess Dave never took Nina back, she worked in NYC by herself

  

  Sita with Hanuman

Bibliography

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley, Youtube.

Wikipedia Trail: From Nina Paley to Xerox

Nina Paley

I decided to do some research on Nina Paley because she animated "Sita Sings the Blues." I've only watched the first half, but so far I absolutely love it. I love the comedic tone it has. I love all the illustrations and the different types of animations used for the characters.

Super-8 Reels 

Nina's first animation was recorded using this type of film when she was very young. I was curious what is special about this kind of film. 

Fujifilm

I've always been interested in photography. I know Fujifilm is a big company in photography and film. I wanted to know when they started up (1934).

Xerox

I wanted to see what all exactly the Xerox Corporation does/produces. They have printing services and they sell office equipment like printers and scanners. Apple almost bought out Xerox but they could not ever agree on a deal.

Xerox Logo

Reading notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part A

• modern family in san Francisco, Nina and Dave
• Dave gets job in India and leaves
• Why is Rama blue? The other brothers aren't.
• Ayodhya
• Comical version
• "Instead of crowning you king, you are exiled for 14 years"
• Rama and Sita so in love, even with monsters all around
• Rama slays them with ease
• His brother did not go with him in the forest in this version
• Ravana steals Sita, he doesn't seem so bad except that
• Sister of Ravana tells him that Rama is killing all his rakashas, tells him how beautiful Sita is
• Deer form still used to distract Rama, leaves Sita in hut
• If Rama can slay all kinds of rakashas, why can't he capture one deer?
• "What wouldn't I do for that man? I'll make sure he never doubts me" Foreshadowing?
• Ravana takes Sita, takes her to Lanka, drops jewelry (how much jewelry does she have??)
• Hanuman born to meet Rama, he meets Rama as his own self and offers himself as servant to Rama
• Dave's contract gets extended, suggests Nina come to India
• Hanuman goes to Lanka
• Sita won't give in to Ravana, he's shocked, gives her 2 months to decide to marry him or die
• Sita has powers to reduce someone to ash but she won't because Rama didn't tell her too?? She should have just beat Ravana as he was trying to take her in the first place if she has her own powers
• Hanuman gets tail set on fire and sets fire to the town, then leaps back to Rama
• Why couldn't she just go with Hanuman then Rama can defeat Ravana later if needed
• Nina goes to India to be with Dave, he says no kissing in public, and doesn't want to "do it" that night either
• Hanuman gets all the monkeys to go to Lanka, crossed the sea
• Seems the monkeys are winning pretty easily
• Rama shoots Ravana's many heads with arrows
• Rama dismisses Sita because he doesn't know if she is pure anymore
• Ravana never forced himself on Sita, only would if she came willingly 
• She was going to kill herself, but she believed her because she passed the test, they are back together
• Nina gets paid to fly to NY for her job
• 14 years over, went back home

Can't Have the Rainbow Without the Rain (still from Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley)

Bibliography

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley, Youtube.

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

I added a weather gadget to my blog! I thought that was pretty cool. If you want to know how to do it for your own blog go here.