Beyond the Box #3 ~ Music Monday

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ edited in Picnik
~
Beyond the Box #3 ~ Music Monday
~

Imagine Monday is Music!

1. What kind of music suits the spirit of your Mondays? Explain.
2. Write song lyrics for your Mondays.
3. On a scale of 1-10, where does your Monday rank?
Describe/explain what Mondays mean to you.

Toasted Cheese #1 ~ Challenge of the Unknown

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Christmas lights on a neighbour's balcony
(edited in Picnik)
~

Today's prompt from Toasted Cheese is:
"I prefer to think of it as the challenge of the unknown."~

Explore this idea with particular focus on what "it" means to you!
+
Try combining writing and photography/art/media in your post
~

History Waves #5 ~ Abraham Lincoln's Beard

Perspectives of Abraham Lincoln
~
History Waves #5 ~ Abraham Lincoln's Beard~
Today, October 15th, 150 years ago, (1860) was a very special day.
An 11 year old girl by the name of Grace Bedell wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln.
He was a nominee for President of the United Sates.
She suggested that he grow a beard.
On October 19th, Lincoln replied.
And by February 11th, 1861 when Lincoln was headed for the White House, he was sporting a beard.
Details of the letters and further events are on the Abraham Lincoln Research Site.
~

Imagine writing a letter to someone in a position of power. (real person)
(a) Write the letter.
(b) Report on the historical impact of the letter 50 years later.
~

News Alert! World Peace Day Today!

News Alert! ~ World Peace Day Today!
+
Opinion Piece #10~

From the United Nations website:
Finland: “ENO Treeplanting Day in Joensuu, Finland” http://www.enotreeday.net/ - ENO Tree Planting Day is a global tree planting event for children, youth and NGO's. Trees are planted for peace in over 130 countries on 21 September.
~

Write an opinion piece as a poem.
Some suggestions for ideas:
1. Is world peace attainable? How?
2. What does peace mean to you personally?
3. Is there a place for conflict? What kind? Does it stir the creative spirit?~

Microfiction Pictures #1 ~ Bike Riders

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Travelling the Nepean Highway near Rosebud, Mornington Peninsula
~
Microfiction Pictures #1 ~ Write a microfiction using the photo
~

NOTE: "Microfiction" means a thumbnail story.
Think of drama skits, comic strips, or even jokes: complete stories that can be told in less than a minute.
For this series, the limit is 140 characters or even fewer - including spaces and punctuation. (This is the equivalent of a tweet on Twitter.)

Try Design 215's character counter, which will count for you as you type.

Who Are You? #4 ~ Be a Place

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ A view from Point Nepean looking toward Bellarine Peninsula and Bass Strait, Victoria
~

Who Are You #4 ~ Be a Place~

1. Imagine that your personality is actually like some place ~ a real place! Describe and explain.
2. Imagine that your personality is an imaginary place. Describe and explain.~

Who Are You? #3 ~ Be a Colour

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ A surfer at Gunnamatta, Mornington Peninsula, neonised in Picnik Fractal
~
Who Are You #3 ~ Be a Colour~

1. Imagine being a colour and imagine where you would like to be found.
2. What kind of personality would your colour represent?
3. Represent your personality as a fractal. (Even just load a self-portrait photo into Picnik and neonise it into your favourite colour??)~

Who Are You? #2 ~ Be a Car

Collage by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Cars at the Arthurs Seat Car Museum
~
Who Are You? #2 ~ Be a Car~

Imagine you are a car! Describe and explain your details including origins and capabilities and uses. Where have you travelled? Where would you like to travel?
1. Be an old car
2. Be a car of today
3. Be a future car~

Who Are You? #1 ~ The Secret You

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ A moment in Dromana carpark, Mornington Peninsula
~
Who Are You? #1~

Creatively explain an answer to each of the following:
1. What famous person do other people tell you that you most resemble?
2. What vegetable do you most resemble?
3. Which cartoon character do you resemble the most?
4. If your personality could be described as a season and a weather pattern, what would you choose?
5. You can cast any actor now alive to play you in a film about your life. Whom would you cast in the role?
6. Select lyrics from a song which best describe your mood right now.
7. If you could be any age again for one week, what age would you be?
8. If you could have one superpower, which would you choose?
9. If you could wake up tomorrow in the body of someone else currently living, would you do so? Whom would you pick?
10. What dead person would you least want to be haunted by?

News Alert! Write Across Victoria

Write Across Victoria
is a creative writing competition for Victorian students in years 7, 8 and 9.

Choose your favourite story starter and finish the story for your chance to win some fantastic prizes and have your story published online and in Express Media's Voiceworks magazine.

Story starters

#1 Andy Griffiths

'Are you joking?' I said.

'No,' said Mandy.

Behind us I could hear the lions roaring.

They were restless. I could tell it was close to feeding time.

'But a stunt like that could get me killed!'

'Yeah, I know,' she said. 'But I thought you said you loved me.'

#2 Glenda Millard

Samba was sixteen, scared of storms, gentle as a lamb and could melt your heart with a look. We buried the stranger to protect her. We found him outside our door on Friday the thirteenth. Samba straddled him, teeth bared, hackles raised with blood all over her beautiful white coat.

#3 Simmone Howell

Dad had gambler's hands and itchy feet. The day I turned twelve he said, "Big Boy, take care of your mother." He pressed a key into my palm and disappeared himself. The key was to Dulcie, our mint green VW kombi van. Dad said she was magic. I was about to find out why.

Prizes
Over $3000 in cash and prizes to be won! And the chance to have your story published in Voiceworks magazine and online at The Age, Melbourne Writers Festival and Express Media.

The overall winner will receive:

$500 cash
Books to the value of $500
Books to the value of $500 for your school
A subscription to Voiceworks magazine

The finalists, one guy and one girl from each year level (Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9), will each win:

$150 cash
Books to the value of $100
A subscription to Voiceworks magazine

***Submit your story by completing the online ENTRY FORM before entries close at 7 pm Monday 6 September 2010.

History Waves #4 ~ Unbelievable! Change can be changeless!

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Pelican in the process of a proud pose at Hastings, Westernport Bay, Mornington Peninsula
~
History Waves #4 ~ Unbelievable! Change can be changeless!~

Pelicans have sported big beaks for at least 30 million years, the discovery of an ancient pelican fossil reveals.
Researchers uncovered the remains of the earliest known pelican, including a preserved beak, in southwest France.
What has surprised them most about this ancient pelican is that it is almost identical to modern species...
Few other flying animals appear to have survived unchanged for so long. The only other good examples, says Dr Louchart, are bats, which have a body shape that appears to have survived unaltered for around 50 million years.~ Archaeology Daily News June 11, 2010

Read the full article by following the link.
Write a creative newspaper article (which sounds possible) as to why the pelican has never really evolved into new forms.~

Creative Sport #3 ~ Design a Track

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ My photo of a bike rider enhanced in Picnik with a neon effect.
~
Creative Sport #3 ~ Design a Track
~

Imagine that you have been given the opportunity to design a bike track for competition
1. Design the outline of the track keeping in mind the terrain and desirable season
2. Include place, length of track, obstacles, public observation area etc
3. Include any other unusual features
4. Photograph your design and post it on your blog
5. (a) Design a competition programme as a leaflet - photograph it or actually create it in a programme like Microsoft publisher and post it on your blog.
(b) Include a logo.
You may like to try the Picnik programme for different effects - including a Clip Art effect!
~

Weave a Picture from the Picture #5 ~ Eyes Upon Eyes

Collage by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Multiple exposure of my beautiful Shadow's face
~
Weave a Picture from the Picture #5 ~ Eyes Upon Eyes~

Dive into any writing style - maybe mix and match - and explore the power and possibility of EYES!~

Opinion Piece #9 ~ Typical Teenager?

elitesuperhaxor — February 19, 2008 — a funny Aussie outback song about a typical teenager
~
Opinion Piece #9 ~ Typical Teenager?~

Create a song of your own which reflects the typical teenager.
Are there a few identities?~

History Waves #3 ~ First Lady of the Waves

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ A still from the TV coverage of Jessica Watson's entry into Sydney Harbour ~ Saturday 15.05.10~
History Waves #3 ~ First Lady of the Waves
~
Just a week before docking in Sydney Harbour, intrepid 16 year old round the world voyager, Jessica Watson, wrote these words on her blog:
I've had lots of that lovely sunshine stuff lately and today I'm over the moon to see the cabin temperature sitting on 20 degrees! It's been a while since it's been that warm.

But not everything's going as well as the weather.

The fuel system on the engine is still giving me grief, so I can't get the engine to start. This isn't the end of the world, it just means that I've got to be extra careful with power usage. If I can't get it going again, then Jesse and Mike will just have to row Ella's Pink Lady up to the dock after the finish line. No, only kidding, we'll work something out. I would be very nice to motor in under our own steam, so I'll keep trying.

Since I gave up on the food bag system and went for all my favorites a while ago, I'm starting to run out of good food. I've had to start eating the stuff I'd normally leave (I know it serves me right!), but on the up side, I've got so much spare fresh water, that I've been able to use it for washing. Other than that, the dunny has also decided not to play nicely, which is also ore annoying than anything. I mean couldn't it wait just one more week before refusing to work?

Last night the AIS also picked up the first ship I've seen since under Africa, but it didn't come close and I'm pretty surprised that it's the only one I've seen.~ Sunshine, a Ship and Engine Problems - Saturday May 8, 2010
~

Pic by G.W. aka P.A.
~
1. Read the full post on Jessica's blog.
Tuning in to your own personality, write a diary entry about how you would cope in this situation.
AND
2. Send Jessica a creative "welcome home" message. Go to her blog HERE and on the left sidebar you can fill in a message.
Maybe identify you are from Casey Grammar in Victoria + your first name and last name initial ONLY. (No more detail than that for security reasons!)
~
3. Read some of her posts on her blog and make a comment there!
Maybe identify you are from Casey Grammar in Victoria + your first name and last name initial ONLY. (No more detail than that for security reasons!)
~
P.S. I wrote a poem called It's been a long walk on the beach celebrating Jessica's journey and homecoming.
It may be found on my blog HERE!
~

Pic by G.W. aka P.A.
~

Beyond the Box #2 ~ Secrets of the Kimberley

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Unusual shapes and designs in the rocks at Somers beach, Mornington Peninsula.
Somehow, designs like these always stir the imagination.
What secrets do the rocks of Earth hold?
~
Beyond the Box #2 ~ Secrets of the Kimberley
~
Archaeology Daily News reports in the article Scientists document painted portals to a vanished past in Kimberley:Across the Kimberley, hundreds of thousands of paintings lie in rock overhangs and caves, often behind curtains of tropical vines. Dappled light plays over the surface of hauntingly beautiful images that have made the region famous: Gwion Gwion or Bradshaw paintings depicting slender dancing figures in mulberry coloured ochre or younger images of Wandjina spirits, wide-eyed and startlingly white despite the passage of years.

But who were these prodigious artists, when did they come and what other traces did they leave of their presence? Such questions are among the most crucial in Australian archeology, according to Morwood and Ross. Like Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, they say, the Kimberley may hold vital clues to understanding the origins of the first Australians.~ Read more of the article HERE
~
NOTE: The Bradshaws - The Australian Kimberley is home to a mysterious form of rock art known as the Bradshaws. The art is dispersed in around 100 000 sites spread over 50 000 sq. km. Although the art's pigment can't be dated, a fossilised wasp nest covering one of the paintings has been dated at 17,000 + years old. This makes the art at least four times older than the pyramids.

The Bradshaws depict people with straight hair and poney tails. One painting even depicts a boat, with a rudder, and 29 people on board. Unlike other Aboriginal art, it is not known what purpose the Bradshaw paintings served. Graham Walsh, the foremost expert on them, has suggested that they might be a form of iconography (picture writing) painted by a now extinct Asiastic race.SOURCE: Unusual Australian facts - Mysteries

1. Research the rock art in the Kimberley.
2. Write a feature article in a newspaper OR an article in a select magazine on the true meaning of the rock art in the Kimberley.
Include who created this art and why.

Beyond the Box #1 ~ Mummies

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ My Egyptian cat ornament
~
Beyond the Box #1 ~ Mummies~
Archaeology Daily News has reported that:
Mummifying animals was a common practice among ancient Egyptians, who embalmed thousands of crocodiles and buried them in mass graves as offerings to the crocodile god Sobek, according to the museum.~
Imagine that you are to choose a particular animal for mummification.
1. What animal would it be?
2. Why would you choose it?

Write your response as a
short story OR
poem OR
feature article for a newspaper
~

Opinion Piece #8 ~ Requiem for Beauty or Beast?

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Cover of a book I read over the Easter holidays.
It closes with the words:
For there is another darkness coming. See those clouds out there? They bring the storm, the battering rain and the wind. But the storm is also a nurturing thing, a thing that allows the land and the people to grow again. We all have to stand in the rain, however long it lasts.~
(Sonia Helbig wrote a fascinating review of the book in March 2008.)
~
But this post is not about the book.
These words are just an introduction to tantalise your thoughts as you view the video called The Future of Publishing.~
Opinion Piece #8 ~ Requiem for Beauty or Beast?~

A. In any form you choose:
What do you think?
Do books have a future?

B. There is some interesting information behind this video.
(a) PenguinGroup USA — March 09, 2010 — This video was prepared by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley Books and produced by Khaki Films (http://www.thekhakigroup.com/). Originally meant solely for a DK sales conference, the video was such a hit internally that it is now being shared externally.
(b) jibyollee ~ Shameless copy of the original video called 'Lost Generation'. So the future of publishing is stealing an original content? Thanks, Penguin.

C. Here is Lost Generation:
D. Does the added information modify your opinion? Explain.
~

How To #2 - How to Master Descriptive Writing

How To #2 - How to Master Descriptive Writing
~
Essentially, a descriptive piece of writing uses words in fresh ways!
There is an element of surprise.
But avoid over-using descriptive words in one paragraph!
Overkill is cumbersome, even nauseating!
~
Here are some examples of descriptive expressions from
The Great Fire – Shirley Hazzard – (Winner of the Miles Franklin Award), Virago 2003

p.4 climate of family life

p.14 the fallen scraps of war
A crumpled linen man, a crumpled cast of a man.

p.19 the day dying in the wet window.

p.20 the gramophone bawling.

p.22 crystal morning

p.24 shabby darkness

p.65 Peter Exley looked down the green mountain to the town scribbled along the shore:

p.66 The July air was a blanket, summer weight.

p.67 The mirror, unreflecting, was like the draped pelt of some desiccated leopard.

p.104 oblique view of the sea

p.109 Indoor light was shrouded by elderly curtains.

p.114 the long orange afternoon

p.118 Only when the Equator had been crossed did he feel safe. There was Colombo now, and Bombay, Aden, Port Said: all the sacred places of pilgrimage, the stations of the Australian cross.

p.120 The Hong Kong evening, its air like broth, was charged with Asia’s unapologetic smells.

p.123 His father had, at most, tinkered with the parental role, taking it up sporadically like a neglected hobby and allowing it to lapse.

p.127 The wind that shook the car was fierce enough to be blowing islands along a steel horizon, as clouds across rough water.

p.131 They ordered cheese omelettes and disinfected salads, which came with brittle, noisy triangles of toast.

p.136 The city appeared to sway on its own silt.

~

How To #1 - An Approach to Annotation and Analysis of a Newspaper Article

Pic by G.W. aka P.A.
~
How to #1 ~ An Approach to Annotation and Analysis of a Newspaper Article
~

When evaluating a newspaper article, it is important to ask questions and highlight evidence.

1. Who or what organization is the creator of the article?
2. What is the context of the article? e.g. cultural/political or is it a public issue? AND what type of article is it to suit the context? Editorial? Feature article? Opinion piece?
3. What newspaper published this article and when? (This will impact on style! e.g. "Herald Sun" = tabloid and "The Age" = broadsheet + often weekend articles are longer than weekly ones.)
4. What attention-getting/PERSUASIVE techniques are used? AND Are they effective?
5. Is the language formal or informal? Name examples. Does the language suit the purpose?
6. Is the language simple or complex? Everyday language or metaphorical, descriptive language? Name examples.
7. Is the article structured? Complex? Confusing? Gathers momentum or loses direction?
8. Are graphics included AND do they enhance or detract from the article?
9. Does the article represent a "small" sphere of interest or is it informative to an audience on a larger scale? Explain and describe what audience would connect with this article and why.
10. Is the article tasteful or distasteful? Name examples.
11. Does the article offer insights into the future or is it a passing piece of information? Explain.
12. What belief systems or points of view are presented, or, (just as important), not presented in the message? Explain.
13. How will different people/different age groups interpret the message?
14. What is the purpose of the message? Is it clear? challenging?
15. What is the tone? Does it change? When and why?

16. Is the article conclusive or would you expect that there may be a follow-up article? What are the cues for your answer?

17. Does the article have historical, political, economic or social value? Explain.

18. Is the article a reliable resource for its topic? Why or why not?
19. Media messages use specific language and strategies unique to the media industry. Do you recognise common features? e.g. short paragraphs and sentences.

20. Discuss the title of the article. Hidden or double meanings? Paradox? Satiric? Metaphor? Cliche? Evasive? Suits the article?

AND FINALLY

To evaluate its success, consider the strengths and weaknesses of the article!

~

Creative Sport #2 + Weave a Picture from the Picture #4 ~ Ummm...Boating?

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ In the last days of summer warmth, a boating challenge was held at Dromana beach, Mornington Peninsula
~
Creative Sport #2 +
Weave a Picture from the Picture #4 ~ Ummm...Boating?Now that the Easter holidays are here, there is more time to write!
And it's raining today! Great time for writing!
~

Your challenge is to write a descriptive, lively, unusual story about what is happening here in
ONE SENTENCE!
Yes! ONE SENTENCE!
~

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Here is another view of this momentous event!
~

News Alert! Write4Fun ~ Poetry + Short Stories + Art Competitions

Country: Australia
Start Date: 8th February 2010
Closing Date: 31st March 2010
This year - there is no theme!!
Entrants are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild and get their creative juices flowing to write on ANY TOPIC and in ANY STYLE.
Students from ALL GRADES are welcome to enter - Kindergarten to Grade 12.
One talented writer in each division (poetry & short story) will receive $1000 as First Prize (with $500 going to the winning school and $500 to the student) PLUS the choice of either a Nintendo Wii, a Sony Digital Camera, an Apple iPod Nano or a Nintendo DS.
We will also be awarding one Second Prize in each division of $250 and one Third Prize of $150. There will be 15 Finalists in each division who will each receive $20.

For more details + online entry form, click on the Writers' banner!

Status: Open
Country: Australia
Start Date: 5th March 2010
Closing Date: 7th May 2010
Entrants are encouraged to let their creativity run wild as artwork can be in the form of a painting, drawing, photograph, collage, charcoal art or computer designed original art (please no 3 dimensional pieces).
There is no theme to the competition this year so entrants can choose to create their masterpiece as they please!
The First prize is AUD$1000.00 to be divided AUD$500.00 to the school and AUD$500.00 to the winning student plus their choice of either an 8GB Apple Ipod Nano & $100 music voucher or Nintendo Wii + game or Nintendo DS LITE + 3 games, or a Sony Digital Camera + 1GB memory card, and a complimentary book and plaque. The winning piece will be displayed on the front cover of the 2010 art edition.
There is one Second prize of AUD$300.00 + complimentary book and art pencil set.
There is one Third prize of AUD$200.00 + complimentary book and art pencil set and 15 finalist prizes of $25.

For more details + online entry form, click on the Artists' banner!

News Alert! Hexapod Haiku Challenge!

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Delightful creepy crawlie on my verandah in the Dromana Hills, Mornington Peninsula
~
hexapod haiku -
short poems that celebrate
most Arthropoda

North Carolina State University is hosting the Hexapod Haiku Challenge. (Check out the link for details!) They also "definitely accept minor departures from traditional haiku "rules" (i.e., the 5-7-5 onji composition). We'd also love to see more haiga (a haiku that is accompanied by an image) and senryu (short poem about human and/or, in this case, insect foibles) though they will be judged as haiku equivalents."
What's a hexapod?
The word Hexapoda refers to all insects and their six-legged arthropod relatives (springtails, diplurans, and proturans). We're calling this contest the Hexapod Haiku Challenge only for alliterative purposes. We would love to have haiku that feature any familiar arthropod associated with the field of entomology, including those arthropods without six legs (e.g., spiders, millipedes, centipedes, and scorpions).

Haikus should be submitted by 11:59pm, March 20th either...
1. as an email to ncsuinsects@gmail.com OR
2. as tweets (be sure to start each tweet with @ncsuinsects #HexapodHaiku) OR
3. as 3x5 cards (one per haiku; cards will not be returned) mailed to the following address:Hexapod HaikuNCSU Insect Museum
Department of Entomology
North Carolina State University
Box 7613Raleigh, NC 27695