Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

I was actually surprised by how pretty and user-friendly the app was. I remember the old app (D2L) was terrible for me and not even worth downloading but this one seems to be really quick and I like how similar it is to the actual website. I will definitely use this and it will be nice not to have to sign in and out so much. I installed this on my iPhone. It will also be really nice for using the messaging system inside of canvas.

Extra Credit Reading Notes: Tales of a Parrot

-This is the most eloquent parrot I have ever heard. I am giving him the voice of the parrot from Aladdin, and would like to rewrite a story in which he is quite funny and snarky on top of being intelligent
- I feel bad for Khojisteh, I know she loves her husband but six months without seeing him is a very long time, particularly in a  society such as the one she lived in where women were not allowed to go where they wanted and do what they please
-The parrot is much smarter than the other bird, I did not expect Khojisteh to be so violent and to slam the bird against the ground and kill it. This reminds me of the arabian nights tales where the girl is telling tales to preserve her life, this must be a common theme in this region
-It would be terrible to have all of your feather plucked off, I think in my retelling I would have the parrot make the woman pluck every hair from her head so she knows what it feels like
-I like that in this story the male, who is supposed to be the head of the household and know everything that is going on, in reality has no idea what is going on and is kind of just a pawn in the scheme that is between the parrot and the woman. I also like that this story allows for mistakes without it having to ruin the woman's whole life.
- I think this story could be turned really funny, the parrot and the woman could live in the burial ground for forty days and become good, sarcastic friends.
-It is interesting how intelligent and respected parrots are in these stories, I had no idea they had such a reputation

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Source: This story is part of the Tales of a Parrot unit. Story source: The Tooti Nameh or Tales of a Parrot, by Ziya'al-Din Nakhshabi (1801).

Week 10 Storytelling: The Girl With Three Fathers

There were once three brothers and one sister who lived in an isolated cabin. They loved each other dearly, and when their parents passed on they became each other's only companion. One day, the sister came upon a man in the woods, and immediately fell in love. The two were wed and had a child within the year. However, tragedy struck and the couple was killed shortly after the child was born in a terrible flood.
Thus, the three brothers were left with this little baby girl. The men had no idea how to raise their niece, and no women around to help them. However, they did their best and through love and patience on both ends, the little girl grew into a beautiful,  intelligent young woman. As she grew old, she understood that she could not live in the cabin with her "fathers" forever, and one days she told them of her plan to go explore the world and find her fate. They hated the idea of her going out and learning the truth of how evil and hard the world was, but they understood it was her decision.
Soon after the girl began her journey, she met a strong, confident man who lived in a grand house high on a hill. The man seemed to know everything and welcomed the girl into his grand life with open arms. But soon their lives took a dark turn, and the man who had seemed so grand and kind soon became dominating and cruel. The girl did not know what to do, and she missed her home and her fathers dearly.
One day when her husband was out, she send a letter to her fathers, telling of her woes. However, she instructed them that they could not write back or try to overtly rescue her for the man knew everything and everyone and would certainly exact revenge. When the fathers received this news they wept with sorrow, until one of the men came up with a grand plan. He said, "There is a woman who lives not far from here that is known for her skills in bringing about childbearing. We could ask her to go rescue the child under the pretense of consulting on childbearing." The other men agreed that this was a grand plan, and they quickly went to the woman to beg for her help.
The woman felt sorrow in her heart for the poor dear's plight, and quickly agreed to help. She went to the house and told the man why she had come, and he ushered her in eagerly. She instructed him that she could not work with any male presence within 30 miles of the home, and he should leave for the night and come back tomorrow. The man, although skeptical, packed a bag and left. The woman and the girl quickly fled, and rushed back to the girl's fathers. The fathers then realized that their fear of the world would hurt their daughter, and the foursome set off to find a new life away from the evil man.

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Author's Note: This story is very loosely based on the Arapaho tale Splinter-Foot-Girl. In the original story, a child is born out of a wound and lives with seven young men. The girl when grown is wooed by a buffalo bull, and goes to live with him. The girl's seven fathers miss her, and use a mole and badger to sneak her away from the bull. The bull then chases them to try to get the girl back. When I was reading the tale it reminded me of a girl running away from an abusive relationship, so I tried to tell it more like that.

This story is part of the Native American Marriage Tales unit. Story source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929).

Week 10 Reading B: Native American Marriage Tales

- I wonder how the wife who did not bear the man any children felt- did he scorn her? I imagine since that is the defining feature of these wives that this is an important quality in this society
-So this guy just abandons his wives and child for this mysterious woman. Where did her child come from? Was he worried about the father of that child?
-It is interesting that these people are willing to be killed and eaten by their own kind, and then revived. But again, I have to wonder what happened to the man's original family. Were they just abandoned by their father?
-I wonder if the people remember being killed once they have had their bones tossed in the water and they are revived. It would not be fun to be killed and it would be hard to not resent someone for killing you, even if you volunteered for the job and did so for the good of the group
-So the hunter's people just accept him back because his new wife pulls a bunch of food from underneath her arm? I would think they would have some questions, but maybe the deer people are seen as an elevated people and to join them is like joining a religious group and you cannot say no
-It is cool how much respect the story gives to the deer. It treats the species as their own people and the way hunting is described is how I think nature was supposed to be used. We see animals as mindless beings, but Native Americans viewed them almost as equals, and made up endless tales about them and gave them spirits and respect. Its beautiful and it also makes for great stories. I still hate that the guy left his family, he should have at least let them know he was not dead

This story is part of the Native American Marriage Tales unit. Story source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929).

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Week 10 Reading A: Native American Marriage Tales

-Okay first things first, he took advantage of her situation? So he raped her. So this cow was tied up (I don’t know what fast in the mire is but need to look that up), and this guy raped her and she gave birth to a boy. Maybe as a cow she didn’t care, but I think even animals had feelings. What kind of creep goes around raping cows?

-Secondly, why is the boy so keen to find his cow-raping dad? And I do not see his dad coming and searching for him. The dad does not seem to have any interest in having a son. How would the son know what to look for? There needs to be more detail in the retelling

-So when the dad comes to the cow she charges at him, which I can get on board with. But then it simply says “Then she went home with her husband and child”. Where’s the wedding? How does she feel? She is a remarkably good woman and deserves to be treated as such

-So this guy strikes her with a burning stick because she did not feel like cooking a feast for his guests? He does not sound like a very good husband

-I thoroughly enjoy that he had to rub himself in what I can only assume is buffalo feces

- I do not think the man should have been resurrected after being trampled by the buffalo. He did not deserve the wife and son he had, and could not recognize his own son among the calves. His wife and son should have moved on and been better off without him. I would like to rewrite the story where they move on to remain buffalos and have a happy life. Maybe the son becomes chief of the buffalo heard.

This story is part of the Native American Marriage Tales unit. Story source: Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson (1929).

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