Week 15: Wikipedia Trail

Earth Day to Cuttle Fish

Earth Day
1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill
Pelagic Zone
Cuttlefish

I wanted to start my Wikipedia trail with Earth day. I got the idea from looking at the class Twitter feed. Earth Day is April 22nd and celebrated all over the world. It was first celebrated in 1970 when  peace activist John McConnell proposed the idea to dedicate a day to honor the Earth and living in peace. From My first search on my Wikipedia trail being Earth Day it led me to the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. I was intrigued by the fact that Earth Day was inspired by some pretty phenomenal events. Some of these events really damaged our planet and it's important to actively try to save, reuse, and recycle. The Santa Barbara oil spoil occurred on January 28, 1969. From 80,000 to 100,000 barrels of oil spilled along the Channel and Southern California affecting a lot of marine life. This continued discovery of the environmental effects this spill cause led me to the Pelagic Zone. I am not at all knowledgeable on what the Pelagic Zone is so I clicked on it to learn more. Come to find out "pelagic" derives from the Greek word meaning open sea. There a lots of different depths in referring to the pelagic zone, which brings me to my final wikipedia stop, Cuttle Fish. Cuttle fish are very interesting creatures with eight right arms and two tentacles. They eat crab, mollusks, and fish. So there you have it! Earth Day to Cuttle Fish!

(Unofficial Earth Day Flag)

(cuttle fish)

Week 14: StoryLab

The Power of Creative Constraints 

TedEd videos: creative and writing style

Constraints play a special role in helping drive design and experiment. Without constraints and a little guidance we wouldn't know where to begin with our own creativity. 

In the video, the example they use is our mission to put something on Mars without releasing chemicals onto the soil. In 1996, scientists were able to figure out a paper bag tactic where the object would roll to a stop. Fast forward to 2011 engineers had made the Rover and we wanted to continue to explore Mars without interfering with its soil. They invented a sky crane! These are both examples of constraints, that were the catalyst for creative thinking and experimentation. 

"Solutions recognize the current limitations in technology in order to advance it."

Constraints guide decision making and that is super impactful. Sometimes unintentional experiments lead to the discovery of something new and better. Constraints aren't limitations, but the foundation of experimentation. 

(video)

Week 14: Reading Notes (Italian Popular Tales Part A)

Zelinda and the Monster

This story is part of the Italian Popular Tales unit. Story source: Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane (1885).

• This is the Italian version of Beauty and the Beast 
• A poor man had three daughters 
• The youngest was the most civil and the fairest 
• Every January the man would travel to a fair in a neighboring town 
• One daughter asked for a dress, one asked for a shawl, and Zelinda asked for a rose 
• The man easily found the dress and shawl, but had to leave the fair to look for a rose for his dear Zelinda 
• He came upon a huge castle
• There was every kind of flower you could think of 
• The house looked dead and vacant, so he reached and picked a rose 
• All of a sudden, flames came from the Earth and a scary dragon shaped figure came from the castle 
• The monster wanted to kill then man, but instead settled for allowing him to return home and bring back the daughter that wanted the rose 
• Zelinda understood what had to be done and traveled back to the Monster with her father 
• They arrived and were treated very well, they were able to stay and the castle and they were provided a huge breakfast before the father had to leave Zelinda under the Monster's power 
• Once Zelinda's father left, the Monster was so nice to Zelinda. He treated her like a queen and asked if she would marry him 
• Zelinda couldn't commit because of the way the monster looked
• One day the monster called out to Zelinda in a haste 
• He said, "Listen, Zelinda: if you do not consent to marry me, it is fated that your father must die. He is ill and near the end of his life, and you will not be able even to see him again. See whether I am telling you the truth."
• He began drawing out an enchanted mirror and there she saw her father on his deathbed 
• Without hesitation Zelinda promised to marry the monster and be a loyal wife 
• She wanted to hug her father one last time 
• After she said those words, the monster turned into a handsome young prince

[Crane did not translate the rest of the story but just summarized it as follows: Zelinda and her husband strive to obtain his parents' consent to his marriage. They refuse and the young couple run away from the royal palace and fall into the power of an ogre and his wife, from whom they at last escape.]

(Zelinda, her father, and the Monster)

Week 13 Story: The Red Queen's Riddle

One day The Red Queen was enjoying a cup of tea and looking out the window of her big and extravagant castle. It was days before her annual "Riddle Me This" competition. This was a huge event where men trained their minds into thinking in the cleverest way. 

The Red Queen loves riddles, tricks, and puzzles. She believes that a clever mind is more attractive than all the gold in wonderland. She spends hours making her own riddles, doing puzzles, and her personal favorite playing sudoku. 

This year she wanted to really challenge the men competing. After all, the winner gets to go on a date with The Red Queen. She is very picky, that being said the annual event will come to an end once she finds her perfect match.

For this year’s challenge she is going to put the competitors in an escape room. The competitors will individually have to figure out all the clues in order to open the locked case to The Red Queen’s heart. The competitors will have to be knowledgeable on things they know about the queen, her likes and dislikes. She has been single for a long time and really wants to settle down with someone. So, this year it’s really important the best candidate wins her heart. She needed a little help coming up with clever clues in the escape room. She called up the Mad Hatter in hopes he could use his quirk to help. He was hesitate because The Red Queen is very intimidating, but soon realized he had no other choice. Once he arrived they brainstormed and began making some great clues and tricks to out in the escape room. The Red Queen felt very confident that the right man would be able to solve it and unlock her heart!

(The Red Queen)

(Queen's locked heart)

Bibliography: This story is part of the Looking-Glass unit. Story source: Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).

Week 13: Reading Notes (Looking Glass Part B)

Looking-Glass: Queen Alice

This story is part of the Looking-Glass unit. Story source: Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).

• Alice is now a queen 
• She walked around rather stiffly to get use to the crown, she was afraid it would fall off 
• The White Queen and The Red Queen sat on either sides of Alice 
• She was very curious to how they came to be queens, but knew that wouldn't be a civil conversation 
• Alice isn't as intimidated as I would assume she would be with the queens
• She speaks out of turn and then The Red Queen yells at her, but she doesn't let that stop from her from being heard
• She is stuck in an impossible situation 
• The Queens invite each other to Alice's party 
• Alice doesn't know she's having a party in the first place 
• The Queens go on asking impossible and difficult questions 
• For instance, "what's one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one plus one"
• They go on to talk about the differences in wonderland and where Alice is from 
• In wonderland they talk about days in sets, like the last sets of tuesdays' weather has been bad
• Whereas Alice takes a day at a time 
• Alice's time with the Queens is full of riddles and quizzes and lessons

(Illustration by John Tenniel)

Week 13: Reading Notes (Looking Glass Part A)

This story is part of the Looking-Glass unit. Story source: Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll (1871).

Tweedledee and Tweedledum

• Alice was walking and talking to herself and stumbles upon two fat little men
• She knew their names because they had DUM and DEE embroidered on their clothes
• She kept staring and looking for the word TWEEDLE embroidered 
• The two stood as still as statues 
• Alice kept thinking about a song she knew; It referred to Tweedledum and Tweedledee
• The two argue all the time and the song Alice knew referenced that 
• The boys reminded Alice of little schoolboys \
• She just needed directions to get out of the forest 
• The boys grinned and said that she needed to properly shake their hands and greet them first 
• Alice not wanting to upset either of them, shook their hands at the same time 
• As soon as she shook their hands she found herself dancing with them, spinning in circles
• The boys were definitely out of shape and couldn't dance for too long 
• The boys avoided Alice's question on hot get out of the forest and wanted to read her poetry instead

(tweedledee and tweedledum)

Week 13: Extra Credit Reading (Crash Course: Monsters, Horses, Dragons)

Extra Credit: Monsters, Horses, and Dragons

I have a lot of interest in Monsters, Horses, and Dragons from watching Game of Thrones. The new premiere of the final season came out yesterday and it really inspired me to take a closer look on monsters, horses, and especially dragons.

Monster means outside the bounds of normal behavior. This also means that some monsters are considered monsters just because of their physical appearance. For instance, shape shifters aren't monsters until they use their powers to be deceitful or malicious. According to Crash Course, everyone has the capability of coming a monster.

Dragons are the most popular mystical creatures. Dragons play a significant role in lots of different cultures. In my opinion dragons are the coolest mythical creatures. There are lots if different variations of dragons. Some dragons and serpents are incorporated in some cultures creation stories.

(Dragons)

Week 12: Storylab, Language

How Language Evolves- Alex Gendler

Language is something I don't often think about where it all came from. It amazes me that at one time there were small civilizations, that eventually broke off and created their own interpretations of communication. The thousands of languages existing today can all be traced back. As populations continued to grow, people continued to divide and start their own lifestyle. Being separated from one another gave everyone the opportunity to eat different foods, live in different climates, and adapt to nature in different ways. We use grammar and syntax to see how different languages are related.
Another question I came across how words become words. We already have 170,000 but continue to grow our language all the time. English borrows words from languages all the time. We make words by compound words or merging words together. Sometimes new words aren't really new words, but gain a new meaning. Language is so interesting and so fascinating!

(ted talk)

Week 12: Alice in Wonderland Reading Part B

Wonderland: A Mad Tea-Party
This story is part of the Alice in Wonderland unit. Story source: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865).

In the British and Celtic unit I chose to read Alice in Wonderland because of how familiar I am with the story. I want to focus on Alice and her character role. In the Mad Tea Party, I noticed the Mad Hare and the Mad Hatter were not as eager to make room for Alice. However, she held her own and sat down. What I really like about Alice is that she isn't timid or intimidated by the Mad Hare and Mad Hatter. There's a confidence about her that demands respect. I love that she is able to keep up with the Mad Hare and Mad Hatter in all their nonsense and unanswered riddles. Sometimes, Alice is not a party pooper, but a realist. She is the type of person that buds in and unintentionally kills the vibe of the riddle or story. Keeping in mind she is in a literal Wonderland and associating with "mad" people and animals!

Mad Tea Party

Week 11: Dreaming in Color

Once Upon a time, there was a town in black and white. The town only knew of black and white, and never experienced color. Everything was in black out white, the sky, the sun, the trees and flowers, the houses and cars. For so many years the town knew that black and white would forever be their fate. However, there was one curious and adventurous resident of the town. Her name was Posie and she spent majority of her life searching for the source of color. Rainbows are the only source of color. Wherever their ends land bring the colors with them. She had heard of rainbows and how they appeared after storms. She was so obsessed and consumed of the idea of color she would dream about them every night. In her dreams everything was bright and bold. Her town would boast with radiant shades of every color of the rainbow. She was determined to make this dream a reality. One night a huge storm came over, Posie stayed up all-night and prayed for a rainbow. She waited for the sun to come up and when it finally did she ran outside as fast as she could. There it was. The moment she had dreamed about was right there in front of her. The end of the rainbow was just a block away. She jumped on her bike and rode to the end of the rainbow. She reached out to touch the rainbow and while submerging her hand into the rainbow, there was color!!! She picked up the rainbow and tied it around her neck like a cape. Then she was off, riding through every street and alley she could. Everything the rainbow touched turned to color! The people of the town ran outside in awe! Posie wasn’t that crazy after all! The town celebrated and partied for the months to follow, all thanks to a dreamer of color!

(rainbow)

Bibliography: Tejas Legends: When the Rainbow Was Torn
Story source: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton and illustrated by Berniece Burrough (1936).

Week 11: Reading Notes- Tejas Legends Part B

Tejas Legends: When the Rainbow Was Torn

This story is part of the Tejas Legends unit. Story source: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton and illustrated by Berniece Burrough (1936).

For my reading strategy I wanted to focus on a specific character of the story, the rainbow. I really enjoyed this story because it was so sweet and the way the author paid attention to detail made the story so visual. In summary, the rainbow brings color to whatever it touches and the poor cactus flowers never touch the rainbow because of its thorns. However one day when the rainbow was glimmering through the mist and rainy clouds its ends started to head for the cactus flowers. The rainbow tried to pull itself up but couldn't because its ends were too heavy. Finally the cactus flowers got color. 
I think the rainbow in this story is such a great character because it's somewhat relatable. Some of us like to stick to what we know best and not venture out to new things. When the rainbow tried to avoid the cactus flowers, it was all out of fear of maybe being hurt. I loved how beautiful this story was and how it tells us how flowers came to have color. 

(cactus flower)

Week 11: Reading Notes- Tejas Legends Part A

Tejas Legends: How The North Wind Lost His Hair 

This story is part of the Tejas Legends unit. Story source: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends retold by Florence Stratton and illustrated by Berniece Burrough (1936)

I want to focus on the plot of this story. The old North Wind versus the young South Wind. This story takes place in Texas and along the Gulf of Mexico. There is an ongoing rivalry between the two winds. The North wind is cold and keeps winter around, whereas the young South Wind brings warmth. At this time, the Indians preferred the young South Wind because their crops were able to grow and they would rather be warm than cold. One year the North Wind stayed longer than usual and the South Wind didn't like that. The season of Winter was a long one and the Indians were beginning to lose their crops and become very cold. So, the young South wind stirred up as much strength as he could and battled the old North wind. The South wind was successful and defeated the cold North wind. 

(Spanish Moss)