Tech Tip: Typing Test

For this tech tip I took the online typing test at key hero. I have used some other typing speed assessments in the past, and this one was very similar to the other ones I have used. I like to check on my typing speed every so often just to see how I stack up with others who have taken these tests. I do not type all that fast, but my result this time had me at 60 wpm with an 85% accuracy. I will take that, but strive to improve upon it.

Week 6 Story Telling: How the Oompa-Loompa's Seized the Chocolate Factory

The chocolate Factory

The sun was setting on another long, winter day in the Chocolate factory. Outside the factory it was icy, and the wind was howling.  As the day came to its end  the hurried noises of the Chocolate Factory quieted down. The machines stopped booping and whirring, and the smell of chocolate faded away slowly.

As the Oompa-Loompas began to head to their sleeping quarters some of the worker's became almost irate. "If I have to spend another minute wasting away in this factory, I will snap!", said Fred, the most senior Oompa-Loompa in the factory. " I am with Fred!" said George, Bob, and Henry. That very evening Fred called an emergency meeting among the Oompa Loompa's. "I am tired of working for that old coot Wonka. I say that we rise up, and confront that man! Let us take over this factory! Think about it Oompa's, We could run this place however we wanted to if we were in charge." Fred said, in a triumphant tone.

As the Oompa-Loompas listened to Fred's speech they began to realize that he was right. They could rather easily seize this factory, and run it. This was because there were hundreds of Oompa Loompa's and only one Willy Wonka. The Oompa-Loompa's devised their plan that evening. They would strike in 3 days, and finally gain control of the factory in which they had slaved in away for years. The next day, the Oompa-Loompa's went back to work like normal. They made the chocolate, taffy, gobstoppers, and any other candy you could think of under the watchful eyes of Willy Wonka.  "Work harder Oompa's! we need more candy!" Said Wonka menacingly.

The Oompa-Loompas appeared to be working as normal to Wonka, but that was far from the case. The Oompas were busy sabotaging the machinery of the factory in order to distract Wonka so that they could take him out. They rigged the ever-lasting gobstopper machine to explode. They knew this would be enough of a distraction to over throw Wonka.

The next two days passed by, and it was time for the Oompa-Loompas to strike. The trap they had placed on the gobstopper machine went off, and the machine exploded causing great chaos in the factory. "What the hell was that!?" said Willy Wonka, as he went to go see what made that noise. As he stepped out of his office he saw the flaming gobstopper machine, and demanded the Oompa Loompas fix it. There was an issue though, the Oompa Loompas were not on the factory floor. Willy Wonka was enraged by this, and set off to go fix the machine himself. Willy Wonka approached the gobstopper machine with a fire extinguisher, but as he approached the Oompa Loompa's came out of hiding, and began their attack on Wonka.

Hundreds of Oompa Loompa's began pouring out of every hiding place in the factory and ran towards their boss. As Wonka realized what was going on, they had picked him up and thrown him into the raging fire of the gobstopper machine. As their boss was burned alive, the Oompa-Loompas celebrated their victory and put out the fire themselves. "We have finally been freed from this tyranny! " Fred proclaimed. " Now we can pursue whatever we want!". The Oompa's began to chant about their victory. "You can all go and find a new home, or stay here if you would like." Fred said.

The Chocolate factory was no more a chocolate factory. Some of the Oompa-Loompas decided to leave the factory totally to pursue their dreams. George went on to become a doctor at a local hospital, Bob wound up becoming a lawyer, and Henry opened up a very successful night club. Others stuck around to see what was to become of the place they had spent the majority of their lives seemingly enslaved.

The remaining Oompa-Loompas in the factory decided what the factory should produce now that they weren't being forced to make candy all day. They decided to turn the old chocolate factory into a bicycle factory as they all found out they enjoyed cycling.

Author's Notes: This story is a retelling of the story of how Ravana gained control of Lanka. Lanka is represented by the chocolate factory, and the Oompa-Loompas are representative of Ravana and his armies. Ravana seized Lanka similarly to how the Oompa-Loompas seized the factory. I thought this was a rather fun story to write with very relate-able character's to anyone who has ever seen the movies they are based off of.

Bibliography: The Uttara Kandra Christian Literature Society for India. The Sacred Books of the East Described And Examined: Hindu Series

Reading Notes: Mahabharata part B

The House of Fire:

Prince vidura guessed the plot of prince Duryodhana

Prince yudishthira knew they were in trouble from Vidura's words

The pandavas and Queen Kunti arrived at the palace at varanavata and marveled at its beauty

Yudishthira saw that although the palace was beautiful, it was covered in oil and would burn down easily, so he questioned why they were that way

Vidura thought that if the Pandavas could dig an undeground tunnel, then they could escape the palace

They worked by night, and covered up their progress with wooden boards by day

Purochana was waiting for a moonless night to set fire to the palace

This gave the group more time to escape, and prince Bhima wound up setting fire to the guards tower

The fire was carried y wind to the palace, setting it ablaze

Indraprastha:

Duroydhana learned that the pandavas were still alive

They had formed a powerful alliance with Drupada

The Pandava brethren returned to Hastinapura with Vidura

 Dhritarashtra spake unto Yudhishthira and his brethren and said, "I will now divide the raj between you and my sons.

In time the fame of Rajah Yudhishthira went far and wide. He ruled with wisdom and with power, and he had great piety. 

Yudhishthira

The Gambling Match:

when Duryodhana had witnessed the triumph of the Pandavas, his heart burned with jealous rage

 Shakuni, Prince of Gandhara, and brother of Dhritarashtra's queen, was renowned for his skill as a gambler.

Duryodhana plotted with him, desiring greatly to subjugate the Pandavas,

Duryodhana was well pleased at this proposal

So it came to pass that the Pandava brethren, with Kunti, their mother, and their joint wife Draupadi, journeyed to Hastinapura in all their splendor.

On the day that followed, Yudhishthira and his brethren went together to the gambling match

At the first throw Yudhishthira lost; indeed, he lost at every throw on that fatal day

One by one he staked and lost his brethren, and he staked himself and lost also.

Duryodhana cursed Vidura, and bade one of his servants to bring Draupadi before him.

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes by C. A. Kincaid, Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Reading: Mahabharata Part A Favorites

Devavrata's Vow:

The King was sad and told Devavrata his secret

Devavrata went to find the daughter of the fisherman, and did so successfully

The fisherman informed devavrata that if Styavati bore sons, thenthey would not inherit the kingdom

Devavrata made a vow renouncing his claim to the throne to allow for Styavati's children to reign in the future

Devavrata was henceforth known as Bhisma 

Bhisma didend up ruling as a regent for some years

Drona:

Bhishma stated that young men should be trained to bear arms. 

He searched for a wise former warrior to teach people this

On his search he found Drona.

Drona had no mother, and was born by a nymph

Of similar origin was Drupada, son of a rajah named Prishata

The two friends grew up and were parted by fate

Drupada became a king, and Drona married and had children

Drona devoted himself to rearing his son, while he accumulated the wisdom of the sages and performed sacred rites with pious mind like to his holy sire.

heavenly weapons were bestowed upon Drona, and he went to visit his childhood friend

Drapuda did not accept his old friend as a friend any longer, saying that it had faded away

Drona

Drona's Revenge:

After the Pandavas and Kauravas became accomplished warriors. Drona sent them to smite Drapuda in battle

The two groups could not wage war together, due to their jealousies. The kauravas attakced first, and were defeated

The Pandavas then rushed against the enemies of Drona

Drupada tried to turn the tide of the battle surrounding himself with powerful warriors.

The Pandavas were too much to conquer, and they laid waste to the capital

Drupada was brought before Drona, and Drona said "At last I have conquered thy kingdom, and thy life is in my hands. Is it thy desire now to revive our friendship?"

Drona took possessions of half the kingdom, and the two became "friends" once more

Drupada sought of ways to bear a son who could defeat his enemy

Bibliography:  Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie