Tech Tip: Announcements Email

I don't normally look at announcements as I log into my Canvas. I normally just go strait to whatever assignment I need to do or module I need to fill out. I think that by subscribing to the email I will be more up to date with the class during these last few weeks. I think it could help me get back on track as I often forget about assignments when I don't have a reminder set.

Extra Credit Week 10 Reading Notes - Babbit Jataka Tales Part B

The Wise and Foolish Merchant
 - I thought it was really interesting that the wise man's original plan did not work out but he still managed to make the best of the situation. Instead of having an easier journey he will have a harder one. However, he will also make all the profit from the trip.

The Elephant Girly-face
 - First off, Girly-face is a dumb name for an elephant regardless of the "gentle and kind" justification.
 - The fact that Girly-face kills two guys and the king  is most concerned about Girly-face and not the people she killed is very interesting and slightly upsetting.

The Banyan Deer
 - I thought it was very interesting that the King not only granted the Banyan King Deer's life but the life of all of the deer. I also just want to know how, logistically, the deer were drawing lots to see who would die each day??

The Princes and the Water-Sprite
 - This seems like it either draws from the plot of the two major epics I've read and/ or influences their plots. A queen influencing her husband to put the wrong sun on the throne, combined with brother in exile is similar to the Ramayana. A water spirit messing with princes is similar to the story of the Pandeva brothers.

The King's White Elephant

Elephant
pixabay.com

 - I really liked this story, mostly because until the last sentence I was afraid that the King was going to kill the white elephant and was very relieved when that did not happen.
 - It also sent a very clear lesson about compassion and loyalty. The older elephant was shown compassion by the carpenters and repaid then with a loyalty he passed onto his son. That loyalty was rewarded by the carpenters releasing the younger elephant to go have a better life with the King.

The Ox Who Never Envied the Pig
 - This was a slightly morbid story. I did like the underlying message that hard work leads to a long life while overindulgence can be deadly.

Grannie's Blackie
 - I think it is interesting that the animals in these story's act almost like children to their owners. Blackie seems very similar to a teenage boy.

The Crab and the Crane
 - I remember this story from the first sets of Jataka's from the beginning of the year. I still really like it also the crab decapitating the crane is slightly gruesome for what I assume is a children's story.

Why the Owl Is Not Kings of the Birds
  - The crow flying around screaming he doesn't like how the Owl looks and that is why the Owl shouldn't be king doesn't even seem that far fetched given politics today.


Bibliography

• Babbitt. Jataka Tales. Reading Guide B

Week 10 - Story - The Merchant Sam

The Gold Bowl
commons.wikimedia.org

Sam stared at the bowl in disbelief. It couldn't be. No one would be this stupid. 

"Do you think we could trade this for something?" asked the old woman.

Something!!! Sam mentally scoffed. They could trade it for everything he was carrying on his cart plus everything they owned. Did they really not recognize the value of what they presented him? Sure the bowl was covered in a layer of dust but he had recognized it as priceless from one swipe at that grime.

The elderly woman and the young child she had in tow stared at him with wide uncomprehending eyes. Suddenly Sam felt a dark rush of inspiration.

They have no idea how rich they could be. It’s their own fault they aren’t living like royalty right now. I don’t really have to trade anything for this bowl. If I say it’s worthless they will abandon it and I can circle back around and seize it for free.

“This bowl is worth less than a penny!! Why are you wasting my valuable time. This bowl is so old and grimy you might ask well throw it away,” Sam sneered cruelly as he tossed the bowl onto the ground. He felt a twinge of guilt at the hurt look on the young girl’s face but his greed quickly forced it from his mind.

Sam scurried about the rest of his route. He was so fixated on the treasure he was certain still lay in the dirt road that he didn’t even notice that the rest of his bargains were exceptionally generous for the day. Finally he circle back to where he had left the old woman and her granddaughter.

NO! Where is it. Where is it. This isn’t happening.

The bowl was gone. So were the old woman and young girl. He quickly grabbed a neighbor coming out of their house.

“An old woman and her granddaughter tried to sell me a bowl earlier. Do you know where they have gone or where the bowl is.” Sam was unable to keep the desperation out of his voice and the neighbor gave him a strange look.

“ Another merchant came after you. I heard him say that the bowl was priceless. He sold all of his wares to Agatha and her granddaughter and left with the bowl. I Agatha is taking little Sheila to go shopping with the wares. Now I have work to do so go,” the neighbor replied.

How could I have been so stupid? I could have gotten the bowl for a mere trinket and instead I now have nothing beyond what I made today. Perhaps ambition and greed are not the virtues I treat them as. I will have to be more careful in the future.

Bibliography and Authors Note

• Babbitt. Jataka Tales, The Merchant of Seri 

This story is a twist on The Merchant of Seri. In the original story a good merchant is honest with an old woman and her granddaughter about the worth of what they are trying to sell after a greedy merchant tries to trick them. The good merchant and the woman and child all end up wealthy and happy. For my story I wanted to follow the storyline of the greedy merchant and try and explore his motivations and how he must have felt when he returned to try and get the bowl.