Review: Keep On Keeping On!

Announcements: Friday, September 30th

Cat Bounding through the Grass
Image Source: Cheezburger
Quote Source: Growth Mindset Memes

Famous Last Words: Fellowship Reflection

This is a reflection on the last two weeks, which have been particularly exhausting. A few months ago, I decided to apply for the Ewing Fellowship, which is an award through the Political Science Department here at OU that funds a summer internship in D.C. For an aspiring lawyer, that opportunity is too significant to pass up. As such, I decided to apply. The application was extensive; it required two complete letters of recommendation, a 1500-word essay, a very specifically formatted resume, and a number of other smaller requirements. All in all, crafting the perfect application took a little over two months. Last week, however, was when I really needed to get down to business. I double-checked that my rec letters were in. I read, re-read, and then re-read my re-read copy of my essay probably about twenty times. I sent it to friends, co-workers, roommates... anyone that would read it had it thrust in front of their face. It was, quite honestly, an awful week as I strived to create exactly the kind of application that would help me to get the award. Yesterday, I got an e-mail that I had advanced to the interview phase. I almost cried. I hugged my boss, who happened to be nearby at the time. I called my mom. I celebrated with my best friend. Then I realized that I needed to prepare for the interview, which is supposed to be an intensive analysis of your proposed policy initiative by a number of political science professors. I've been spending the last 24-hours preparing for that like a man possessed. That being said, I am so excited to present in front of this panel. I get a rush from high-stakes public presentation that I don't think I can find anywhere else. Wish me luck!

Cortez A.M. Ewing, Namesake of the Ewing Fellowship
Source: OU Political Science

Growth Mindset: Failure

Image generated by MemeGenerator

Learning Challenge: Time

Image generated by AutoMotivator

Tech Tips: Hashtags and Retweets

The tweet that I re-tweeted can be found here. I am so excited for the new Rocky Horror to come out (I've loved Victoria Justice and Laverne Cox since I knew they existed) and can't wait to share it with everyone!

The hashtag that I found the most interesting was #ICMA (International City Management Association) which is a big conference that just concluded in my hometown of Kansas City. I used to to work for the City Council in Kansas City, so I was able to follow along pretty closely with some of the proposed policy changes and just enjoy some of my old work friends enjoying themselves!

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

Bibliography: PDE Mahabharata

The House of Fire

This is one of the first times that a “lowly” individual has been considered competent

Story telling- The royal family pays the miner

Story telling- Purochana succeeded

Bhima and Hidimba

Oh come on she’s offering to help you out

Bhima and Hidimbi

The concept of strength at twilight is really interesting

Story telling- the demons are only strong at incredibly certain points during the day

Bhima and Baka

Much Brahmin very wow

Birth of Draupadi

Story telling- the princes are the one’s referred to as “slender-waisted”

Draupadi's Swayamwara

A bow? Where have we heard that before?

Story telling- rank doesn’t matter

Wife of the Five Pandavas

Why is everyone so bound to the things they say?

Indraprastha

Story telling- this city is taken over

Arjuna and Ulupi

How exhausting that must have been for all the husbands to have all those restrictions

What? That child was sudden.

Arjuna and the Apsaras

MORE RANDOM MAGICAL POWERS.

Story telling- the alligator is a guy and they fall in love

Story telling- Arjuna didn’t get the magical power from the water nymph and dies

Arjuna and Chitra

Arjuna just keeps having children.

Arjuna and Subhadra

Story telling- Subhadra and Draupadi fall in love

The Burning of the Forest

Again, why do we need magic weapons if we are heroes of legend?

Draupadi and the Pandavas
Source: Wikipedia

Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part A

Bibliography: PDE Mahabharata

Vyasa and Ganesha

            Why was no one else worthy?

            Why did Ganesha want that condition?

King Shantanu and Ganga

            1/8^th for each Vasus? Doesn’t that make him 100%?

            Mother fighting to make a son holy… sounds like Achilles

King Shantanu and Satyavati

            Almost an Immaculate Conception?

            Virginity and odors? Interesting.

            Story telling- all the men have odors based on who they sleep with

Devavrata's Vow

            How is that terrible?

Bhishma at the Swayamvara

            Story telling- the women fight for the man

Amba

            Story telling- the women actually marry each other and leave the kind without wives

Dhritarashtra and Pandu

Kunti and Her Son

            Lots of parallels to Greek mythology… nymphs anyone?

Pandu and His Wives

            Why celibacy?

            LOL so for all of the talk of austerities, sex is actually something that is a universal good?

The Sons of Pandu

            Wait what?

Gandhari and Dhritarashtra

            Wait, so a physical deformity led the boy to be evil?

Pandavas and Kauravas

            Sounds kind of like the plot to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Bhima and the Nagas

            This is a very sudden twist of events

            Story telling- the Naga just ate him

Drona

            Immaculate concept anyone?

Drona Trains the Princes

            The fact that obedience is characterized as an important value is interesting… generally the most         talented and exceptional are those that have their own ways of doing things

Ekalavya

            Wow. Anti-aboriginal sentiments aren’t too well-hidden here.

            Story telling- Ekalavya is actually a more accomplished warrior

The Contest

            What even is the point here? Like, “prove your worth against yourselves”?

The Arrival of Karna
            Again, random divine intervention as a plot device?

Drona's Revenge

            This story is full of random plot additions

Arjuna Statue in Bali
Source: Wikipedia