Week 2 Story: Peter and Gale's Metamorphosis

Peter was tired of all the girls in San Francisco on Tinder that seemed like they only wanted to hook up. He wanted someone whom he could spend the rest of his life with. Peter was a talented computer programmer who would built robots as a hobby. One day he realized he could make his perfect partner in the form of an artificially intelligent robot. Peter went down to his basement and started to create his masterpiece. After months of barely getting any sleep or going outside for fresh air, Peter had successfully built a female robot.

Peter did everything he could to make his robot look like a real female human. He gave it a realistic brunette wig, stylish clothing, and named it Gale. Peter had actually made a robot that looked amazingly similar to a human. However, anyone would be able to tell Gale wasn't really alive. Her voice was robotic, her movements were rigid, and she couldn't display emotions. This didn't deter Peter from loving Gale though. He treated her as if she were his high school sweetheart whom he had married. Peter showed off his "wife" to his colleagues and disguised his love for her. Everyone was impressed, but they all thought the robot was just a side project that Peter had made because he was bored. Unfortunately, no matter how much  praise he received, Peter longed for Gale to be sentient.

Being in Silicon Valley, Peter was connected to many prominent names in the technology industry. So one day he was invited to Elon Musk's birthday party. Peter became close with Elon during Elon's short time at Stanford. When Peter arrived, Elon warmly greeted him and showed him around. Peter had brought Elon a gift card to Sushirrito, the restaurant where they had hit it off and became close friends decades ago. Elon let out a laugh as Peter presented him this gift. They started reminiscing on old times and then Elon asked Peter what he had been up to recently. Peter told him all about Gale and Elon could see the excitement in his eyes. He could also see the sadness in his eyes when Peter mentioned how he wanted her to be sentient. They parted ways for the night and enjoyed the rest of the celebration.

The next day, Peter received a knock at his door which he did not expect. He looked through the peep hole only to see that is was Elon. He opened the door and happily let him in, but he was slightly confused as to why Elon was there. Elon told him that he wanted to see Gale. Peter hurriedly grabbed her and brought her to the living. Elon silently inspected her and asked if he could take her to the basement to make some modifications. Peter hesitantly agreed without asking any questions. Hours later, Elon emerged from the basement by himself. Peter asked where Gale was and Elon told him to go look in the basement. When Peter saw Gale, he felt that something was different about her. Then, she spoke to him in a perfectly normal human voice. Peter was stunned. Elon came down and told Peter he had installed software to could make robots sentient and as close to human as possible. All Peter could do was hug Elon and tell him how grateful he was.

Although Gale was still technically a robot, her and Peter's love was real. They lived the rest of their days together and even got officially married. Of course, Elon was the best man at the wedding. Since Gale couldn't have children of her own, they decided to adopt. Peter, Gale, and their three kids moved to the Hawaii where you can find them running their own surfboard shop.

(Actroid: Wikimedia Commons)

Author's Note: This story was based off of Ovid's Metamorphosis. In this story, Pygmalion creates his perfect woman by carving ivory. He loves the statue, but wishes she was real. The goddess Venus grants his wish of the statue being real after he gave an offering to her at her festival. The statue becomes real and her and Pygmalion get married and have a kid. 

Bibliography: "Ovid's Metamorphosis", translated by Tony Kline (2000), from Myth-Folklore Anthology. Web source: Metamorphosis 

Reading Notes: The Divine and Metamorphosis

Heavenly Beings: Susanoo and Orochi
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am interested in learning more about Japanese mythology since I do not know much about it and I find their culture interesting from what I know so far. I enjoyed this story for multiple reasons. For example, I like how it basically only took really strong alcohol to defeat Orochi. Some stories would have made them have an epic battle, but this story came up with a simple solution. The wording was a little awkward for me to read though. I feel that giving this story easier to read sentences would improve it for modern day readers.

Metamorphosis: Pygmalion
I chose this story to talk about because of its bizarre plot. The fact that he made a statue so perfect that he fell in love with it is so unbelievable to me. Also, I did not think this story would have a happy ending because the way the story was worded when he wished the statue to be real made me think that his words were going to be misinterpreted and he would not actually get his actual wish to come true. This story reminds me of the movie Mannequin from the 80s which I am sure it was based off of. I think this story could be recreated with an even modern twist like using artificial intelligence instead of a statue or mannequin.

 

(Pygmalion and Galatea: Wikimedia Commons)

Reading Options

Here are three units which grabbed my attention while browsing:

Japanese Mythology - I chose this unit mostly because I am not familiar at all with Japanese mythology. I would like to see how it is different from other types of mythology that I have learned about before. The overview of the unit seemed really interesting and got me excited about reading it. I hope to expand my knowledge and learn more about the Japanese culture as a whole throughout this unit.

Homer's Iliad  - This unit caught my eye since The Iliad is one of my favorite stories from Greek mythology. I mainly learned about it by watching the movie Troy which shows a depiction of the Trojan War. The movie made me want to learn more about the story in greater detail. One of my favorite characters from Greek mythology is Achilles due to how great he was at fighting.

Dante's Inferno - As I mentioned in an earlier post, Dante's Inferno is one my favorite stories. It is just so unique and interesting to read. The imagery is vivid to the point where you can imagine being in Hell. These are a few of the reasons why I chose this unit to talk about. Recently, I have been wanting to read this again so now will be the perfect opportunity to do so.

(Triumph of Achilles in Corfu Achilleion: Wikimedia Commons)

Time Strategies

In high school I was a really bad procrastinator, but I would always get assignments done on time which made me believe procrastination wasn't a problem for me. However, doing things at the last minute created unnecessary stress that had negative effects on me. Now that I'm a senior, I feel as though I have gotten better at not procrastinating as much. For this class, I plan on doing assignments before the deadlines to avoid stress since I have other classes to worry about as well. The schedule that was laid out for me will be helpful in allowing me to get my work done at a reasonable time. I'm hoping this will be a semester where I am not that stressed due to my time management strategies.

The first article I read was, "The Important Habit of Just Starting", by Jory Mackay. I found this article to be extremely accurate with my own experiences. For example, it usually takes me a long time to start a major project because of how intimidating it might be. However, once I start I get on a roll and don't stop until it's finished or until I need a short break. I understand the stress associated with not starting a project and knowing that I need to do it in order to achieve some sort of goal. I have used some of the techniques this article mentioned like breaking a project into small sections in order to make it less intimidating. This technique will help me in the future since I want to create a startup. The act of creating a high growth startup is daunting and the results will be unknown for a long time, but being able to break it down and look at it as multiple small goals will help avoid having a fear of starting. 

The second article I read was, "Four Questions to Help You Overcome Procrastination", by Peter Banerjea. This article is similar to the other since it deals directly with procrastination. What I found most interesting was the third question in this article about how to make things easier. This relates to the phrase "work smarter, not harder" which values the quality of the work rather than the quantity. I am an advocate of working smarter since the basic premise of modern innovations has been how to make our lives easier. I see finding shortcuts to solutions as being creative rather than being lazy. This article will also help me in the future because sometimes you need to have an internal conversation to get important things done. 

(Procrastination Flowchart: Phil Venditti, Flickr)

Technology

I am looking forward to using these technology tools in this course throughout the semester. There are some that I am very familiar with as well as some that I have no experience using. For example, I have had to use PicMonkey and Canvas for projects in previous classes. However, I have never had to use Blogger or even blog before.

I would like to get better at picture editing and graphics creation because those are two activities I enjoy doing. I have always had fun messing around with those tools to create something new even if it was just to pass the time. Also, I would like to get better at blogging because I believe it is a useful thing to know how to do. 

This class is completely different than any of my other courses I have taken at OU. A majority of my previous course didn't use anything besides the Canvas site to turn in assignments. This will be a new experience that I think I will enjoy for the rest of the semester. 

(Blogging Street Cred: Gideon Burton, Flickr)

Assignments

My first impressions of this class is that it is going to be unlike any other class I've taken before. First, I have never been able to work ahead in a class which will be a nice thing to be able to do. Second, the topics in this class are things that I have not gone into great detail over before so I am looking forward to learning more. I feel as though I will enjoy this class and the pace that it will go.

I am most intrigued by the storytelling assignments. The last time I had to write a story or do any kind of creative writing was probably in elementary school. It will most likely be tough for me at first, but eventually I will get the hang out of it.

The extra credit that grabs my attention is the tech tips section. I have always enjoyed playing around with new technology so I think I will fun doing this. I also think learning more about these technologies can help me in the future.

(Storytelling: Rosenfeld Media, Flickr)

Growth Mindset

Before this class I had never heard of Carol Dweck or the growth mindset. I feel as though I have possibly heard aspects of the growth mindset mentioned before, but not enough for me to know what it is in detail.

Currently, I feel as though I am closer to having a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset due to my experiences here at OU. However, before my junior I know that I had a fixed mindset for the most part. In high school and at the beginning of my college career I only cared about getting good grades and didn't care about if I was actually learning useful information. Back then I feel as though there was more pressure to get good grades because the formula that I was taught is that good grades will equal success in the future. Now that I have taken some better courses, especially entrepreneurship courses, the emphasis has been on the journey and how the concepts I am learning can be applied to what I actually want to do after I graduate.

I look forward to learning more about the growth mindset this semester. What interested me the most about the Ted Talk were the examples of how the growth mindset can create equality in education. It was amazing to me how inner city students that are at a disadvantage can outperform other students who may be more privileged by implementing the growth mindset into the classroom.

The class that I am most excited for, but also worried about, is Venture Capitalization I. I am worried about this class because it combines accounting and finance principles in order to help entrepreneurial ventures. Accounting and finance were some of my least favorite classes and the ones I struggled most in due to my lack of interest at the time. However, I know the importance this class can have on my future goals so I am determined to get the most I can out of this class this semester.

(Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: Andreas Pizsa, Flickr)

Introduction to an Entrepreneur

My name is David Rivera and I am senior majoring in entrepreneurship with a minor in marketing. I believe the best part of my major is the endless amount of possibilities I can do with it after I graduate. My favorite class from last semester, and favorite class at OU, was The Entrepreneurial Process with Professor Bolen. It provided me with useful information that I can use in real life with the future startups I plan on creating.

My hobbies include playing sports, watching sports, and playing video games. My favorite sport to play is basketball because it's easy to get a pickup game at the Huff. I also like playing football since I used to play in high school, but there's not many opportunities to get an actual game set up. My favorite sport to watch is football, but primarily only college football. I am not a huge fan of the NFL because of how less important each game is compared to college football. My current favorite video game is Rocket League because of how competitive it can be. It is also the easiest game to play if you're short on time since every game is only five minutes long.

My favorite show is Breaking Bad and I do not see any other show really beating it out for that number one spot. It is one of the most iconic shows to date and will always be something I can go back and watch. In terms of movies, my favorite is Interstellar. I saw it in theaters twice and I never get tired of the ending even though I know everything that is going to happen. My favorite book is Shoe Dog which I recently read over the summer. It is written by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, and it’s about his journey in creating one of the most legendary brands in the world. Since I want to be an entrepreneur and start my own business, this book was a good depiction of the many struggles that everyone pursuing that path will go through, but also shows the rewards that can come with it.

(Breaking Bad Logo: Wikimedia Commons)

I would say my goals are tied to entrepreneurship and starting my own business. I am currently working on a startup that I hope to have a functional prototype for by the end of this year. One of my long term goals is to get that startup to a place where I can go public with it and create wealth that way. I think it would be exciting to have a successful startup at a young age like many other iconic entrepreneurs have done before. My big dream goal is to be a well-known, respected name in the corporate world. One of my biggest role models is Bill Gates because of how he created his wealth and how he has used that wealth to help other people. The chances of ever getting close to what he has accomplished are small at best, but I still aspire to be like him in terms of his charitable nature and selflessness. 

Storybook Favorites

Meeting up with Kanye and the First Circle

“Inferno”, by Dante Alighieri, is a topic I am familiar with since I read it for my senior English class in high school. It was one of my favorite summer readings in high school and one that I have remembered due to its graphic nature and plot. The title of this storybook caught my attention when I saw Kanye West’s name followed by the First Circle which I assumed meant the first circle of Hell. The introduction does a good job of explaining what the its about in an accurate and comedic way. The picture of Kanye West is funny, but I would have preferred there also be a picture referencing “Inferno”. Also, I feel the author could have changed the background instead of it being all white. The way the author split the sections up is effective since each section is a different circle of Hell. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the modern twist on this classic poem and it actually makes me want to go and read “Inferno” again.

Ghostly Adventures

Being from Oklahoma I am familiar with different locations around the state that are said to be haunted. I decided to read this storybook because of its similarity to a show called “Ghost Adventures” that I have watched before. However, the title could have included the word Oklahoma in it since the author only references haunted locations in Oklahoma. I like how the author decided to make the introduction and the storybook as a whole feel like a tour of haunted places in Oklahoma. The author does a good job of explaining the places that will be discussed while making the reader curious as to what else they can learn about these places. The design of the page is simple, but it’s dark and eerie which gives off the correct vibe for this topic. The sections are separated with one location at a time and they also include a picture of each of them which helps the reader visualize the place they are supposed to be visiting in the storybook. Overall, I liked this storybook for its unique presentation, the fact that I enjoy watching and reading about paranormal happenings, and the fact that I stayed at the Skirvin Hotel and heard strange noises before I even knew the hotel was haunted.

(The Ghost in Bed: Ghosts)

Monster Hunter

I am a fan of movie genres and horror/monster movies are no exception. The title is simple, to the point, and let me know exactly what type of storybook to expect. The introduction does a great job of making the reader want to finish the storybook. First, out of the three storybooks I chose, it is the most aesthetically pleasing one due to the background and font it uses. The combination of the two give off the monster genre vibe the author was trying to portray. The author also uses some humor that isn’t too overbearing to distract from the topic. I like how the pictures of each monster are included in the middle of each section rather than at the beginning. It helps make it feel like an actual book rather than a Wikipedia entry about a fictional monster. Overall, I liked the author’s writing style, the way they designed the storybook, and the topic they chose to write about.  

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium - My Favorite Place

Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK

I have loved OU Football for as long as I can remember. Some of my happiest memories occurred while attending games before I actually became a student at OU. My favorite memory was back in 2012 when OU beat OSU in the first ever Bedlam overtime game. The noise and energy was something I had never experienced before. I still don't think that I have ever heard the stadium as loud as it was that night.

As a student I have attended nearly every home game. Even though the heat is unbearable at the beginning of the season, I always get there really early to get good seats. The pre-game hype videos and yelling "Home of the Sooners" at the end of the National Anthem are some of my favorite aspects of going to an OU Football game. Although this will be my last season as a student, I know that I will still continue to go to games because of my love for the stadium and the atmosphere.

(Front of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium: Wikimedia Commons)

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