Wikipedia Trail

 Moon Landing Conspiracy 

(Image Information: Why won't the conspiracies die? https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/moon-landing-anniversary-taibbi-conspiracy-theories-861239/)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing_conspiracy_theories 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apollo_astronauts#Apollo_astronauts_who_walked_on_the_Moon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-party_evidence_for_Apollo_Moon_landings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race

I chose and read to explore the topic of the moon landing conspiracy after watching a YouTube video on it late night. Of course I do not actually believe we faked the moon landing but the proof and evidence is nevertheless super interesting to read up on. 

Microfiction

(Image Information: It never gets old. #OUDNA; Photo from Instagram,  @ou_football)

Love goes on, forever

It feels good to move back home after two years. It was the last place I saw her alive, the last place I kissed her goodbye, and the last place I would hear her say, “I love you, T—see ya tonight.” Never did I think those words would come back to haunt me. She died that day of a heart attack shortly after arriving at work.

Tonight, the fireflies came out for the first time this summer. As I planted flowers, a grandpa and his granddaughter walked by on their way to fish at the lake. I guess life goes on with or without us. It’s good to be home.

Tweet

After this weekend, Sam Ehlinger has now lost to four different OU quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and this year, Spencer Rattler. #TexasSucks

Author's Notes:

The first short microfiction was just a made up story after watching an episode of Psych where Juliet almost dies after her and Shawn are trying to solve a case against Mr. Yang. A loss of a loved one is something we all go through and sometime a story involving it is a good story. The tweet comes from after this weekend as OU went down and beat Texas in the Red River Rivalry game. To be completely honest, I had absolutely no expectations from our team this year as we are rebuilding but it is good to know that Texas STILL sucks! 

Growth Mindset: SAFM

 

(Image Information: Godfather Baby; https://makeameme.org/meme/if-you-need-c2nbx9)

SAFM:

S - Stop

A - Asking

F - For

M - Money

I made this acronym to motivate myself as I am financially trying to be stable for myself. Getting a job at the pharmacy as a technician was a first step to this acronym. My family was never rich and as a person who learned the value of money early on, I believe it is everyone's own responsibility to financially uphold themselves if possible. 

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part D

R. K. Narayan, The Mahabharata: Public Domain Edition; http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/pde-mahabharata-life-in-forest.html

(Image Information: Indian Fantasy Epic https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-india-baahubali-film-2017-story.html)

-Even though Yudhishthira wanted to make a peace agreement, he was worried about the safety of Krishna to arrive at Hastinapura as his emissary. According to Vidura, Krishna wants peace and justice rather than a lavish reception. While Duryodhana plans to take Krishna captive, he rejects Krishna's offer of peace and does not listen to his mother, Gandhari's plea as well. 

-After realizing that Krishna is impossible to take prisoner after he manifested himself in his divine form, Duryodhana gives up trying to capture him. Before he left, Krishna tried to give truth and convince Karna of his parentage and get him to leave Duryodhana, but Karna says no. 

-Before the big battle, Yudhishthira goes to both his teachers, Bhishma and Drona for advice. Bhisma compares the invincible Arjuna to "the destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga." Arjuna is still unable to overcome Bhisma however and after nine days of fighting, the Pandavas visit Bhisma at night to tell him that unless he is killed in the war, the carnage will carry on until the end of the world. 

-When Bhisma is confronted by Sikhandi, he refuses to fight because she is a woman and he abandons all his weapons. Against the rules of war, the Pandavas rain down the unarmed warrior with thousands of arrows until he is covered in them from head to toe. Bhisma does not actually die until much later by his choice and remains laying on the battlefield until the end.

-Drona positions the armies in a formation known only to him, the iron disc of war, which nobody knows how to break open, apart from Arjuna. If only Arjuna can be diverted away from the central battle, Drona promises victory. Arjuna has a 15-year old son, Abhimanyu, who, by listening to his father while still in his mother’s womb, has learned to force an entry into Drona’s battle formation. 

-As Arjuna is called to a diversionary battle far away, Yudhishthira entrusts Abhimanyu with the task of opening a breach in the disc. Abhimanyu succeeds, but when Bhima and Yudhishthira try to follow him into the opening, they are stopped by Jayadratha, a brother-in-law to the Kauravas, and the breach closes behind the young Abhimanyu. He is then killed in bravery.

-Karna possesses a magic lance, the gift of Indra, which will kill any living being but can be used only once. He keeps it until he uses it for Arjuna. Drona continues to challenge the Pandava armies, killing thousands. The Pandavas knows his  weakness, however, which is the love of his only son Ashvatthama.

-After the war, when Krishna exited the chariot, it burst into flames. Only his presence kept the celestial weapons from destroying it earlier. Krishna reveals that the gods allowed this war to relieve Earth of her big burden. Duryodhana was the incarnation of Kali, lord of the 4th age.

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C

R. K. Narayan, The Mahabharata: Public Domain Edition; http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/pde-mahabharata-life-in-forest.html

(Image Information: Bahubali Movie Review; https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/bahubali-movie-review-22546.html)

-As they are living in the forest, Yudhishthira summoned the brahmins to lament his fate and he told the deposed rajah to call upon the sun god.

-Surya then came upon Yudhishthira and gave him a copper pot filled with food for his brothers. The Pandavas had to live there for twelve years and all the food they received were divided into portions separated into some for themselves and the holy men. While they lived in the forest, they visited holy shrines, bathed in holy waters, and even performed their devotions.

-When Krishna came to visit the Pandavas living in the forest, Draupadi wept and begged asking why her husbands were not helping her. Krishna comforted her by saying that Krishna would help the Pandavas and help Draupadi be king once again.

-Before the Pandavas left the forest, Yudhishthira summoned the goddess Durga and promised the goddess of Dharma that the Pandava brethren and Draupadi would remain hidden during the years of their exile.

-The wanderers' weapons were concealed in a tree and together they went toward the city of Virata to conceal themselves. They possibly spent twelve years in the jungle if the  Kauravas discovered their whereabouts. 

-Bhima soon won much renown by reason of his matchless strength. The rajah was very proud of him and did not take him to the apartments of the women where he then wrestled with caged tigers, lions, and bears, and slayed them each one by one with single blows each. 

-The war begins and the drums were sounded. I’m going to have to include an epic battle scene for my next story for sure. Bhishma advanced to make the attack on the Pandava army. He went bravely cutting through the enemy legions.

-Bhisma declared that he would be fighting until the very end.