Tech Tips: Twitter Follow

I followed bleacher report twitter account. This twitter account provides the latest sports news, updates from organizations around the country and video highlights. I followed them because I am a big fan of many sports and love keeping up with what is going on around the sports world.

(Some sports I like)

Wikipedia Trails: From Kermit the Frog To

So something that caught my eye in the Twitter stream was a funny meme of Kermit the Frog. So I decided to look up Kermit the Frog. I love all of the Kermit memes so I thought it would be cool to look up Kermit.

(Kermit the Frog)

And from there I saw that Kermit sang a song in a style similar to Johnny Cash so I went to Johnny Cash. This sparked my interest because I couldn't imagine Kermit singing a song by Johnny Cash. I also wondered how they interconnected at all. From there it led me to finding the Soviet Army.

I thought this was cool because he served as a morse code operator. So I thought I would read about the old nation and find out what happened during this time period for their country. From this I was led to Strategic Missile Troops.

I was pretty interested in this because it sounds pretty cool to be honest. I think it is so interesting though how I began with Kermit the Frog and ended with this topic.

(SRF emblem)

Growth Mindset

I think this is a powerful message as kids more and more are being allowed to take the easy road and not continue to challenge themselves. Children can become very complacent, especially in times where things continue to be easy, they do not push themselves, and also parents are not pushing kids to challenge themselves enough because if they see that their child can do things with ease it makes them feel that their child is on a higher level and bring about a feeling of pride.

(Inspiration quote)

I completely agree with the idea of pushing our comfort zones. Even as a college student I strive and look for opportunities where I am being pushed and try to challenge myself to accept and give a full effort to step out of that comfort zone. As I have been at OU I have learned so much about what it takes to learn new things. I am a kind of guy where a lot of things come easy to. I used to be fine with that and wouldn't strive to push myself and just take the easy way. As I have been in college that mindset has changed. I see now so many areas that I struggle in, but instead of running away from those things I have made it a point to challenge myself with them. To put myself more in those situations and to try and build new pathways within my brain to where that becomes a new learned behavior. I love this idea of a growth mindset and it is definitely something I would love to hear more about and to put it into practice in my own life.

Starting the Semester

(Starting blocks)

It all comes down to starting off the semester right. My philosophy is start quick. Get things done as soon as possible, and do as good as possible right off the bat. Here are some tips that I hope you find as helpful as I do.

1. Get sleep!! This is the most important one
2. This goes with #1, Go to bed early, wake up early.
3. Stay hydrated all day. This is super important and keeps the mind in full focus.
4. Exercise daily.
5. When studying use 30 minute increments with breaks in between.
6. Hang out with friends and go on adventures.

Reading Options

I am very interested in the classical readings in this section and am excited to get to read them. The story that I chose for my week 2 choice is Homer's Iliad. I am familiar with this topic and absolutely love the story of Achilles and Hector. These types of stories are what I love. Ones that have conflicting heroes and grand battles, and that I can relate to other movies like Troy.

(Helen of Troy, the reason it got started)

Another story that grabbed my attention is Alice in Wonderland. Again my love for Disney has my eyes glued to this story. Also I love the strangeness of it and how it incorporates all of our imagination.

(Alice receiving advice from Mr. Catepillar)

And finally another story that grabbed my attention was Brer Rabbit I and Brer Rabbit II. This story is an amazing one that shows how imagination can lift the spirits of someone in any circumstance. Also not many people know that this is a movie. It was created by Disney, but it's content was too racial at the time that it never came out. My family has a DVD of it and so I have seen it before and it is an amazing story.

(Brer Rabbit meeting the child)

Storybook Favorites

Some stories don't connect with us, yet some leave us wanting more and more. One of my favorite stories is Peter Pan: The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up.

(Young child standing on top of a rock)

This topic is familiar to me as I have heard and read stories about Peter Pan, and not just seen the movie. The title did a good job at showing what the story would be about. The introduction pulls you in to an interesting world and gives a heads up about what this story will be about. It also has a wonderful, magical cursive font and a background that really fits the character. Overall the navigation in this blog was great, and easy to follow.

Another one that I enjoy is Perseus's journey.

(Perseus saving Andromeda)

I am a little familiar with this topic, but am hazy on some of the details within the story. The title is short and to the punch, and gives the reader information on exactly what they are going to be reading. The intro does a good job at providing a little mystery and start of the story, it builds to a point where you want to click on the next post to see how it plays out. The layout is kind of bland and white, if I was to do something along these lines I would try and put a little more into it. The navigation is easy and the pictures go right along with the story very well and really help me, as the reader, gain visual knowledge of what it might have looked like. 

My third story that I enjoyed to read was The Unanswered Questions of Pooh and friends. 

(Christopher asking Pooh questions)

I am familiar with Winnie the Pooh, but this is another adventure so it is as new to me as it is to anyone else. The title shows exactly what is to be expected. I loved the intro, it showed the same fun and charisma as does everything Pooh related and is quite a twist. The layout is perfect and definitely does an amazing job at representing the story perfectly, all the way down to the font and color of the page. I would love to do something along these lines, one because of my love of all that is Disney and because it is a fun topic that can be taken down many paths.

Introduction: To the life of a runner and disney fanatic

Oh how college has gone by. Everything seems to be so quick now. I remember moving in as a freshman and spending my first true days of absolute independence from my parents, and now I am a senior determining God's purpose for my life. Throughout this chaotic, exciting time in my life many things have changed, friends, relationships, habits! But there are some things that have stayed the same, some things that time itself cannot change. That is my love for running and my obsession with anything Disney.

(sign of Walt Disney company)

My family has always been a Disney family, this can be proven by my 40+ ventures to Disneyworld and multiple ventures to Disneyland (Yes, there is a difference). We have gone since I was a baby and have watched, done, and been to anything Disney related (I know I am a little weird, but hey who isn't). But my interest in running didn't start young, but really took off while I was in college (my attempt at trying to fend off the freshman 15). I began to run as exercise, but realized I loved to put in my headphones and just begin to run for miles. Many times I will zone out (which I realize isn't safe) and go and keep going until my legs are worn out. So like any normal person would do I combined the two, Disney with running and running with Disney, with the help of my always down for anything Disney family. For those who don't know Disney has multiple races each year at different location around the country. And my family has done some of them for two years now. In fact, I will be going to Disneyland in California over Labor Day weekend to run in a 10k and half-marathon. Through these Disney races I have done some grueling and cruel things to my body. In my first attempt at a half-marathon and marathon, I decided to do them together to complete the goofy challenge. So during January, two years ago, I completed both, in back to back days. What an idiot? I can still feel the pain of my legs on the flight back the next days. Let's just say I will never be doing that again, but hey I got some cool medals out of it.

(Some of my families medals)

My advice to anyone though who has multiple things that they love and can't get enough of, figure out a way to do them both at the same time!

(Inspiration quote from Walt Disney)

Story: The Tiger and the Crow

There once was a lonely Tiger who was feared throughout all the jungle. No other animal would dare mess with him and so all would flee from his path.

(Tiger growling)

One evening after a kill the Tiger was feasting, with much more food than he could eat, when an injured crow appeared from hiding. 

(Animated Crow standing)

"Excuse me, King of the Jungle, I know that I am wrong to bother you, but I have been here many days and have had nothing to eat. May I, if you allow it, have some of your food whenever you're done with it and have nothing else to do with it. I would repay you with a favor if you ever should need it"

The Lion looked at the worthless Crow with a scowl and with one quick roar shunned the Crow away "You will have none of what I have here, and you should be thankful I don't kill you now. Now go away before I change my mind."

The crow cowered away, still hungry, but with hope of regaining his health. The tiger continued to eat, but when all he could eat was eaten he tossed what was remaining of the meal into the river, so that no other animal could have any of what was his, especially the Crow. He then returned to his loneliness and isolation and carried on with his life. 

Months later while the Tiger still on his own was hunting, and was about to pounce, but out of nowhere came a loud CRACK! The tiger crumpled with blood flowing down his leg could not move very well because of the severe pain in his leg. Hours turned into days for the tiger, who knew if he could not find help he would surely die. In his darkest moments began to yell out for help. Every animal knew the tiger and would not come to his aid, but in a surprising moment the crow flew down and landed by the tigers leg.

"You do not look to well tiger, it seems we have switched roles." The tiger not wanting to be messed with replied "I do not have time for your snide comments, now go away, and leave me." The crow remembering his suffering and not receiving any help looked to the tiger with true forgiveness and a desire to help and flew away. 

(Crow flying)

Moments later he returned with food for the tiger and began to help him regain strength and return to his former self. The tiger now understanding what he had been before his injury saw the forgiveness of the crow and the sacrifice and courage that it took to help him, the most evil and undeserving animal in the jungle. The tiger looked to change his ways and began to help all of those in need. Before his dying breathe years after the moment of his transformation he was surrounded by many of his new friends and others he had helped along the way. He went in peace with his best friend the crow standing right beside him. 

Author's Note. This story is about the redemption of a tiger because of the gracious actions of a crow. It shows the impact that we can have on others though acts of true kindness and forgiveness. It is based off of the fable The Lion The Mouse which tells of the help that can come from the tiniest of generosity, with a little of a total transformation and the idea of leaving behind a legacy and of new generations being changed.

Bibliography. This story is based on the fable, "The Lion The Mouse" in the Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs

Favorite place: The Kenai River, Alaska

There is nothing in the world quite like standing in the freezing glacier blue water of the Kenai River. 

This summer my dad and I visited my brother, who lives in Denali, Alaska, and on the second to last day of our trip we went and fished in the Kenai River. Oh what a feeling! The cold water flowing against you as you rhythmically toss your fishing line into the water, while the warm breeze and smell of pine trees lulls you to a simple peace. In times like those is when I feel closest to God's glory because we are truly surrounded by His creation. One of my favorite moments was when I was casting and re-casting my line into the current, in a normal fly-fishing fashion, my eyes looking all around at the mountains surrounding us caught sight of a bald eagle gliding across the sky. It is because of moments like that one and many more that the Kenai River in Alaska is my favorite place.

The Kenai River: Wikimedia Commons