Friday the 13th superstitions are labeled as tris-kai-deka-phobia, the fear (phobia) of the number thirteen (tris-kai-deka, three-and-ten). Here's a cartoon from Wikimedia, and here's the Wikipedia article: Triskaidekaphobia.
Class Procedures and Reminders
Finishing in Week 13. At the beginning of the semester, I was worried about what might happen at the end of the semester, and the COVID numbers in Oklahoma are definitely not looking good right now. So, I set up an option so that people could finish the class in Week 13: if by the end of Week 13 you have reached 380 points, that's an A; 335 points is a B, and 300 points is a C. It's just something optional; there will be a regular Week 14 and Week 15 after Thanksgiving if you are not done by the end of Week 13. For more information about how all that works, see the Progress Chart page here, and if you have any questions about that, let me know.
Project Stack. Yesterday, I replied to all the projects turned in on Sunday, and today I'll finish all the Week 11 projects in the stack, plus as many of the early Week 12 and Week 13 assignments as I can. As always, you can check the stack to make sure I received your assignment.
The following items are for fun and exploration:
Blog stream. There are some great microfiction experiments popping up in the blog stream, and here's something really cool from Philip, which encapsulates the whole life of Hanuman, the monkey god who was devoted to Rama: The Life of a God.
Twitter stream. Something helpful from OU Libraries: they have an Ask-Us online chat to help you with library resources.
Storybook. In honor of Lakshmi (see the Dhanteras holiday below), here is a Storybook from Indian Epics last year: Lakshmi's Space.
100-Word Stories. Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity in India, and in ancient Rome that goddess was Fortuna; here's an Aesop's fable about Fortuna: Fortuna and the Farmer.
And here's a word from Greek mythology in English: CHAOS. The Greek word is khaos, χάος. In the ancient Greek story of creation, the world originally was a void without form or shape, a "gap" between heaven and earth. Find out more.
Class Procedures and Reminders
Finishing in Week 13. At the beginning of the semester, I was worried about what might happen at the end of the semester, and the COVID numbers in Oklahoma are definitely not looking good right now. So, I set up an option so that people could finish the class in Week 13: if by the end of Week 13 you have reached 380 points, that's an A; 335 points is a B, and 300 points is a C. It's just something optional; there will be a regular Week 14 and Week 15 after Thanksgiving if you are not done by the end of Week 13. For more information about how all that works, see the Progress Chart page here, and if you have any questions about that, let me know.
Project Stack. Yesterday, I replied to all the projects turned in on Sunday, and today I'll finish all the Week 11 projects in the stack, plus as many of the early Week 12 and Week 13 assignments as I can. As always, you can check the stack to make sure I received your assignment.
The following items are for fun and exploration:
Blog stream. There are some great microfiction experiments popping up in the blog stream, and here's something really cool from Philip, which encapsulates the whole life of Hanuman, the monkey god who was devoted to Rama: The Life of a God.
Twitter stream. Something helpful from OU Libraries: they have an Ask-Us online chat to help you with library resources.
And an important exhibit at the Fred Jones Museum; you can read about it in the Daily: Kiowa Agency.
Plus something new from Grant Snider (larger view):
And a video about Lakshmi from Epified:
Plus a word from India that has become part of English: CALICO, a corrupted pronunciation of the name of the city of "Calicut" on the Malabar coast of India, where "calico" fabric was made. The bright colors of calico cloth then lent their name to the tricolor cats now called calico cats. Find out more.
And speaking of languages, a video about Elvish and Dothraki:
November 13: Dhanteras. Today is the holiday of Dhanteras. The festival celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and also Kubera, the treasure-keeper of the gods. You can read more about the holiday and its legends at Wikipedia. Here is a graphic from Devdutt Pattanaik, plus a related article: Daughter of Demons. Follow the Twitter stream: #Dhanteras.
Here is Dhanteras wallpaper with Lakshmi's footsteps and the lucky sign of the su-astika:
This is a rangoli video for Lakshmi's footprints:
Check out the Twitter stream for information and fun stuff during the day, or click here for past announcements.
Here is Dhanteras wallpaper with Lakshmi's footsteps and the lucky sign of the su-astika:
Check out the Twitter stream for information and fun stuff during the day, or click here for past announcements.
