Famous Last Words: Hackathons and the Election

This class

I haven't done one of these posts before, so I'm going to reflect on the entire semester instead of a past time period.

For this class, I think I've done a pretty okay job with the work that I've done so far. I've had some not-so-good work ethic at times, but the work that I have done for the class (stories, storybook, and critiquing others) has been good effort on my part.

One mistake that I made was depending on Canvas to check my grade. I thought, since some assignments weren't graded properly, that I was getting a high-A this whole time, but as it turns out I should have hit 300 points at the end of this week to be on pace for an A, but after doing all of the extra credit assignments this week, I will be just short of 300 at the end.

In the next few weeks, I'm going to work really hard to do every assignment well and also finish this extra credit. I want to finish the class by Week 14, so it's going to take a lot of work!

Outside of this class

This weekend, I went to a Hackathon, which is an event where a bunch of students work on developing programming projects. It was a really neat experience actually. They have them all year long, and I definitely want to attend as many as I can. There were a lot of people there who were more experience than I was at programming, and that makes me really want to improve as much as I can.

Additionally, the election is coming up this next weekend. I'm not really in favor of either candidate because both scenarios, to me, suck. Trump is clearly a bad choice. He's incredibly offensive, inexperience, and doesn't have any real plans with details. Hillary is a seasoned politician, one that has done some rather shady stuff, including breaking the law with her private server. Though I am more of a democrat in terms of policies, I really also despise political corruption so it makes me hard to vote for her.

Students at a Hackathon

Week 11 Review: Punctuation and Taco Cat

In this week's announcements, I found two images that  I really liked an wanted to share!

Punctuation comic

This first image comes from the Saturday blog post. Cyanide and Happiness is already one of my favorite web comics, and one of the main reasons is that they do silly stuff like this all the time! Goes to show just how important punctuation really can be!

Taco cat

Not much to really comment on this one, but I just thought it was neat! (Plus this cat dressed up in a taco suit is really adorable). I told my friend about this and he told me that this image was actually from a few years ago, but it's always cool to see things you've missed!

Wikipedia Trail: From Charles Perrault to Compadre

For this Wikipedia Trails, I decided to start with one of the authors that I'm studying for my Storybook project - Charles Perrault.

Charles Perrault

For one, I didn't know that he wrote Puss in Boots or that it was even a real story! I thought that the Shrek series made that one up. Like many great French writers, Perrault also served in politics as an assistant to the famous finance minister Jean Baptiste Colbert. From there, I decided to read the article that contains one of his works, Sleeping Beauty.

Sleeping Beauty

It was interesting to read the differing versions of the Sleeping Beauty story. Both Perrault and Basile's narratives are much darker than the Disney version of the tale, but to me that just makes them more interesting!

From here, I followed a link to Godparent.

Sleeping Beauty by Henry Meynell Rheam

Godparent

In this article, I read a lot about the different forms or roles that a godparent can take in the various Christian denominations, but there are also a few non-Christian godparents that surprised me, like in Judaism or in China.

After reading about godparents, I ended my trail with Compadre.

Compadre

It turns out the term "compadre" comes from Spanish and Portuguese and means "co-parents." It is used to link the parents and godparents of a child in a shared role. I didn't actually know this, but probably should have (I took four years of Spanish).

Learning Challenge: I Thought I was Paying Attention

Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4svQ-CGpII

For this week's challenge, I decided to do it a learning challenge on attention because I feel like I've been having a lot of trouble focusing lately. While this video didn't really help me with that in general,  I did find it to be very interesting! I have seen the gorilla video before, so I thought that I wouldn't be tricked this time around, but because I was focused on the counting and the gorilla walking through, I didn't notice the other seemingly obvious changes. 

I suppose there's then an upside and a downside to attention: if we're tuned in to the wrong things, we can miss out on rather obvious stimuli that could actually be important for us. 

People who definitely need to be 

paying attention

Growth Mindset:Creative Confidence

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16p9YRF0l-g&list=PLrWYQjLLbXcinSlIDzuKWSxh_XzkZP0_b&index=16

For this Growth Mindset exercise, I decided to learn more about the ways in which I can apply the mindset to my life. I watched David Kelley's TED talk on "Creative confidence" and really liked it. Not only do I feel exactly as afraid as the people that he talks about in the video, but he also said a lot of things that resonated with how I think about creative processes.

For one, I'm really afraid to label myself as a creative. I like reading books and short stories, but I'm a computer science major. Most of what I have learned in courses is black and white, logical mathematical principles and how to apply them. But there is a yearning for me to be a writer as well. When I read a great story or I watch a movie or TV show that makes me feel like my whole world has been flipped upside down, it inspires me. It makes me want to create things as incredible as what I've just experienced. And I want others to experience them too.

However, I also am really afraid of criticism. This is probably one of my greatest weaknesses, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that, like Carol Dweck mentioned, I was told I was smart when I was a kid. Even throughout high school, my friends and family put this label on me and so I felt like I had to live up to their expectations. It's hurt me a lot in college, and I'm trying to grow out of it, but it's not as easy as I would like it to be. Hard is good sometimes though.

In these next few weeks, I'm going to try to do something creative once a week outside of class. Maybe I'll make a blog with my creative pursuits! Showing my work to people more often would help me overcome my fears.

Overcoming fear via Flickr user Vic

Tech Tip: Canvas App

Permissions

I'm not sure why Canvas needs permission to use my microphone or camera. Not that I think the app will be spying on me, but I don't like to give unnecessary permissions if I can avoid it.

Setup

I really like how it asks you about notifications right away. Normally a lot of apps don't want to disrupt the user experience by delaying them from accessing the core content of an app, but I get so annoyed by unwanted notifications that being able to select which ones I receive right away was nice.

Usability

I had no trouble navigating the app. It seems like most of the features on the Canvas web application are reproduced in the mobile app, including the grade viewing / testing.

User Interface

The interface was pretty standard. There are two navigation bars so it was a little hard to figure out at first, but overall not bad.


Conclusion

I probably won't use the app much unless I receive a notification and want to check on a grade or due date or something, but I'm glad that I have the option to do all the things I need to on the app!

Reading Notes: The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Part A

The Boatwoman and the Monks

From this story we can already tell that this is a feminist writer by showing clever women as the main characters, but also it's a religious work. It might be a criticism of religion because the two priests were the evil men trying to take advantage of the boatwoman.

The Lady From Milan

This story was pretty okay for the most part except for the ending comments made by the narrator of the story, which was a very old way of thinking about the pursuit of women, despite the fact that some people still think of it this way.

The story itself wasn't that interesting, even the test that the lady gave the man by having her servants come to the door.

A Villager, His Wife, and the Priest

I guess the impurity of priests is a big motif in these works, because here again is another classical example. This time, however, the wife is consenting and also helps the priest in his lie.

I didn't really care for the dialogue at the end. It seemed to talk down on "simple people", but I assume that it was more acceptable back then than it is now.

The Virgin with Child

This tale was deeply religious, even the commentary afterward echoed heavily the sentiments of the story's characters. Again it involved a priest committing sins. I'm not sure if this is meant to criticize religion or just to reveal some of the hypocrisy that occurs within the religious sector.

The Monks and the Butcher

This was a nice change of pace to the other stories since it was very, very different. It had both a comical ending and different main characters, as well as a clear, message at the end that wasn't religious in nature.

The President of Grenoble's Revenge

The was a really good story! I love very long, drawn-out plots, especially if they have a dark twist to them. The dialogue at the end was also appealing, because it simulated well the different reactions that people might have to the story and the debate that would surely follow.

A boatwoman

Bibliography: The Heptameron of Margaret, Queen of Navarre translated by Walter K. Kelley. Source.

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part B

 Sir Galahad and the White Knight

Dang, Galahad is pretty strong. This story didn't really do much for me though.. The White Knight was mysterious, but didn't really intrigue me in a way that mysterious characters usually do.

Sir Lancelot's Vision

Wow, that speech at the end by Lancelot was pretty great to be honest. I was pretty blown away by it, I really could feel the emotion behind his words. Well done by the author.

The Adventure of Sir Percivale

This is one of those stories that has progression like the other tales, but it was way more jumbled without much sense to it. There isn't a clean, overarching theme to  Sir Percivale's adventure, something that makes it hard for me, the reader, to make sense of.

A story idea: write a better adventure for Sir Percivale!

Sir Lancelot and the Five Hundred Knights

It's interesting that the nun gave advice to Lancelot that was essentially "you're good at being a sinful, but adventurous knight. You tried to go on an adventure meant for pure, holy knights, which is why you failed. Continue your sinful ways because you're better than anyone at that."

I thought the nun would be more biased towards religion and try to comfort him in that way, but it turns out the answer she gave was much more spiritual than religious.

Sir Gawaine and the Hermit

These stories are starting to seem like religious propaganda.

Maybe there could be a mystical item that can only be obtained by sinners? That would be something.

The Adventure of Sir Bors

Sir Bors seems like a good enough dude, unless you're his brother and accidentally get killed by him.

Sir Galahad and the Mysterious Ship

Woah, Logris seems like a really cool place. The waterfall entrance reminds me of the Incredibles.

"that is better than other men" - this rubs me the wrong way.

Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad

It's strange to me how strong a family bond can be when you have spent almost no time together with one another. I guess back then it might have been different, but really is everyone just acting like blood means everything? It's very odd. Galahad knows almost nothing about Lancelot, yet he still treats him with the utmost respect. That might also be a knight thing I suppose.

Sir Galahad and the Graal

Miracles? Sounds more like a religious thing.

So Galahad got to finally see the Holy Graal, but it led to his death? I guess maybe in this case the idea is that chasing the grail is equivalent to gaining entrance into heaven, but then the whole Christianity thing doesn't make much sense.

This story is confusing.

The End of Arthur

Arthur's death was probably the coolest, just because he died in a valiant way and was still able to tell that his knight was lying about throwing the sword into the water. If he was testing him, then it was a pretty easy test (you can fail twice and still succeed!).

It's also kind of lame that Guenevere became a nun. Not that being a nun is lame, but the fact that she did it at the end of her life (after Arthur died) makes it seem much less genuine than those who had become nuns earlier in life.

Lancelot's story ends sadly, but at least he received a lot of praise + the forgiveness of his sins throughout life.

Drawing of Sir Bors

via the UnTextbook

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. Source

Reading Notes: King Arthur, Part A

The Drawing of the Sword

Ah, the classic first Arthurian tale. I actually hadn't read this story before. It's the only Arthurian legend that I know, so from here on our things should get interesting.

It's also funny how all the new groups of people didn't believe in Arthur, so he had to continuously show bigger and bigger groups of people that he could pull the sword out.

I guess nobody really did have authority at that time.

The Questing Beast

Wow, poor horsie. That must have been quite a chase. I wonder if the deer was mystical, and this was a test for the young king?

That was... different. I was expecting Arthur to perform his heroic quest, but really it ended... not anticlimactically, but just more calmly. Less action and more thinking,  I would say.

The beast was described rather vaguely, which leaves room for a story to be written about it. It really could be anything!

I also really want to know more about the nephew that is going to destroy Arthur and his knights. Is it inevitable? Merlin seems to think so, and he knows all...

The Sword Excalibur

I wonder if I'll get to find out what the Lady of the Lake is going to ask of Arthur. If not, that could be a story idea! (I guess it could be one regardless.)

The Round Table

Merlin does advise King Arthur a lot! Since he does it so often, it would humorous to write a story where Merlin advises Arthur on modern-day things (maybe time travel?), such as which toothpaste brand to purchase, or what Halloween costume is most fitting for a King.

What does being a Knight entail exactly? If it's prestigious, why is Arthur knighting everyone who asks for it? I would think, if I was one of the knights who actually worked very hard to become one, that I would be pretty upset that these young, inexperienced men were granted knighthood for doing nothing.

The Passing of Merlin

Poor Merlin :(

I didn't realize that he would be capable of falling in love with someone (for some reason being so wise makes me think he would be resistant to that sort of thing), but I guess that was one area he couldn't be wise about.

I hope he comes back!!

King Arthur and Morgan le Fay

Wow, what an intense series of events this story was.

I really like Morgan's character because she's really clever and also bloodthirsty. It seems messed up that she is trying to kill Arthur, her own brother, but then again, the love of her life was slain by him so.... I think I can understand that.

The Quest of the Holy Graal

Huh, that's a pretty interesting and probably true for most ancient stories. Translation is tough!

The King's Pilgrimage

That was a really neat story. I liked the fact that it revolved around a relatively minor character because it shows an interesting diversion from the traditional hero story arc. Also, it involves the supernatural, which is that the dream affected him in reality, which is cool to see.

Definitely could do this with any minor character, or even a major character, and have it be interesting.

The Coming of the Holy Graal

First of all let me just say: having a Holy Graal would be awesome! I couldn't imagine getting my most desired food served magically right out of the air. I guess the Knights agreed as well, because they thought it was important enough to go on a potentially life-threatening quest to seek out this Graal.

It was a strange turn of events. I wonder if this is the prophecy foretold by Merlin?

Statue of King Arthur in Austria

via Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography: King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table by Andrew Lang. Source