Week 13 Review: Written? Kitten!

This week's announcements may have just saved my spirits for the last few weeks! Here is Written? Kitten!  a processor that rewards you with a new kitten picture for every so-many words that you have written. There are also options to get a puppy or bunny picture! Paper writing has never been so cute!

Week 13 Tech Tip: Twitter Lists

Okay, I have been a twitter user for a long time. I have a tweet from 7 or 8 years ago that is equally embarrassing and too hilarious to delete. Over the years, my focuses have changed on the platform. At times, I've spelled out my thoughts, at others I've just scrolled through looking for news and funny cat vines. So, I thought I was a pro at twitter!

I was wrong. My twitter has been forever changed by lists!

I truly had no idea that twitter lists existed. I have seen the light. They are the most efficient, useful tool for when you are on twitter with a purpose.  Need funny memes? List. Only want hard-hitting news? List. I'm in love.

For my first list, I compiled a few accounts that I feel are essential to keeping up with the latest on the US Presidential election. The best part is, I can keep up with all of the news without necessarily following those who are not my candidates! Check out my list here. I'm off to make more!!

Week 13 Learning Challenge: Audiobook Experience

Growing up, I loved listening to audiobooks. Every night before I fell asleep, my grandma would play a cassette tape of The Boxcar Children or a book from the Anne of Green Gables series. I truly believe that listening to these books helped me to learn to read at a young age. I first taught myself to read The Boxcar Children and Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite stories to this day.

Sadly, college has afforded me much opportunity to sit down and read for pleasure, much less just listen. There is a certain peace of mind that comes with listening to an audiobook, and it is hard to allow myself that calm when I feel that I should be doing something else. So, I was so happy to see this as a learning challenge!

I chose to listen to more Russian Folktales at Librivox after really enjoying my reading for the week. It was so powerful to listen to these stories in the way that they were meant to be told (albeit in English) and in the manner that they have been conveyed for generations. However, the reading only got spookier when I heard it, so I admittedly left my lamp on before bed.

I find it relaxing to listen to audiobooks in bed or with my eyes closed on the couch. However, in the past, I have also found that audiobooks are perfect for car rides or doing chores. I cannot, however, listen to one on an airplane.

I think that I'll try listening to more stories next week as well!

Audiobook Cover Art
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Week 13 Growth Mindset: Enjoy the Ride!

This week,  I have been in a flurry thinking about all of the final papers to complete, all of the to-do list boxes to be checked, and the meetings that I need to attend.  Then, this weekend, I realized that graduation is only three short weeks away. I knew this calendar wise, but I had not stopped to consider that it also meant that I had three weeks left of living with my roommates and best friends of four years, exploring campus at night, and making midnight sonic runs during an all-nighter. Of course, I will keep working hard at all of my responsibilities. However, it's also time to take in this time that I will never have again. Like this cat, I'm going to enjoy the ride as much as I will enjoy celebrating my accomplishments in three short weeks! 

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Week 13 Extra Credit Reading: Dante's Inferno

For this week's extra credit reading, I looked back at some stories that I originally considered using for my storybook! These stories are from Dante's Divine Comedy as translated by Tony Kline.

Dante's Divine Comedy is an epic poem composed in the early 14th century by Dante Alighieri.  The work captures a transitional period in Tuscany wherein society balanced its classical roots with its emerging focus on Christian theology. The poem is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Each segment represents a part of the afterlife. The narrator is led through each of these parts by a guide. In the Inferno and Purgatorio segments, the guide is the famous Roman poet, Virgil.

These stories were really striking in their imagery and detail.  While some of  the sins mentioned are emblematic of the morals of the time, the metaphor for the journey of the soul toward salvation is still really powerful.

I think the most powerful section of these stories to me though was the section called Limbo. This detailed the fate of people who lived before Jesus was sent to save mankind. These people are left in the first area of the inferno. They were not saved, but it was not their fault. That's a very tricky morality in my eyes, but the message of the necessity of salvation and evangelism is powerful. Of course, there were exceptions to this. Characters like Adam and Eve were saved by Jesus later on. Why didn't he save all the people in limbo?

Dante holding the Divine Comedy
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Week 13 Reading Diary: Russian Folktales

So, this past week, I have become embarrassingly obsessed with a show originally aired on the CW called The Originals. Yes, I have been binge watching a show about vampires! My junior high self would be proud. It only felt right to continue the theme with this weeks readings in Russian Folktales that included some references to the undead! These stories are originally from Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore by W. R. S. Ralston.

Beginning to read these had the same kind of feeling before reading ghost stories. The titles were endearing and terrifying. I was afraid that, like ghost stories, I'd love reading them, but then be jumpy with them in my head!One of my favorite things about this text was how the author worked to maintain the original voice of the folk tales. They feel genuine. Perhaps that is what makes the idea of some of the creatures mentioned even more scary!

Some of the themes were extremely heart breaking. Most so, I felt this about the very first story of the dead mother and later, her dead baby. Some were just deeply disturbing in their lessons, like with the pope who was forced to wear goatskin forever as a body after being greedy. Despite all of the creepiness though, I might have been most disturbed by the snake marriage and the mother who murdered the snake. These tales are intense!

This Russian Folk Tale Character looks just as spooked as I am!
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