You know what could bring a sour taste to your day? Answering the question below as the first one to post the correct answer wins a bag of sour worms.
What is interesting about the sentence below.
“Murder for a jar of red rum”?
Monthly Archives: June 2007
Shocking Facts about Books and Reading
I have posted some facts about books and reading below. I found the information at Dan Poynter’s ParaPublishing.com. All figures are from the United States – I hope that New Zealanders reading habits are better!
- One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
- 58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
- 42% of college graduates never read another book.
- 80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
- 70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
- 57% of new books are not read to completion.
It’s Mummy! She’s terribly hurt!
I have added some links to sites with information about Peter Jackson’s ‘Heavenly Creatures’ to moodle for those students who are studying the film. Try Miss Waller’s Heavenly Quiz here.
RNZRSA National Secondary Schools Speech Competition
The RNZRSA is sponsering a National Secondary Schools Speech Competition to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of Passchendale. 
On 12 October 1917, more than 2,700 New Zealanders were killed, wounded or missing at Passchendale – New Zealand’s worst national disaster. Passchendale is a solemn chapter in our nation’s history and we should never forget the contribution of our countrymen and women in this but also all campaigns that New Zealanders have served.
The competition is open to all Year 12 and 13 students. There are cash prizes for regional and national winners. Any entries must be received by 23 June. See me for more details and entry information.
Useful information and links will be available at www.rsa.org.nz
Scary Mary
There are some very good trailer remixes that re-imagine popular or classic films into different genres. Have a look at the one below as it is a revelation. Who would have believed that Mary Poppins could be reborn as a horror? After watching this clip I hope you see how important editing and sound are to a film.
The College Herald
Are you a budding cartoonist, critic, artist, reporter, designer, writer or photographer? Get your work into New Zealand’s biggest daily paper with The College Herald.
They are looking to feature work from as wide a range of people as possible. All ages, skills and viewpoints are welcome. It could be something you did for a class assignment ages ago, or it could be something you’ve created specially for The College Herald.
They are looking for anything that says what you want to say.
- Articles
- Letters to the editor
- Photographs
- Cartoons
- Interviews
- Poetry
- Music reviews
- Film and TV reviews
- Investigative journalism
- Painting
- Collages
- Graphic design
Once you’ve found or created something you think is worth publishing, you’ll need to submit it to the editor. You can enter online, or print out, complete and mail the entry form provided. Remember to get a teacher to authorise your entry. Easy.
Get published and your work will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people around the country. What’s more, you’ll find that letting your thoughts and opinions out isn’t the only reward. Winning students will win either a digital camera or a Westfield voucher. Plus everyone who submits a piece of work will be in the weekly draw to win an iPod Nano – whether they are published or not.
Go to the link below:
Competition Time
This week the competition is a film one. The prize will go to the person who gives me the correct answer and the best fun fact about the movie.
The prize is a packet of Skittles. I have caved into the whiners who claim that they don’t like chocolate. As far as I am concerned they are as likely to exist as leprechauns, fairies and Sasquatch.
Read the quotes below and tell me what film they come from:
I’ve set my laser from stun to kill.
Oh, great. If anyone attacks we can blink em’ to death.
Keeping safe online
Time for a public service announcement.
Keeping safe online is a growing issue with the increasing use of social networking sites like Bebo and My Space. Netsafe the Internet Safety Group has lots of important information on the issue for kids and parents at http://www.netsafe.org.nz.
You might also like to check out the video below:
More on Speedpainting
Thanks Reuben for the information about the speedpainting. I had a look and thought others may like to see the Spiderman painting.
It took the artist Nico di Mattia about six hours to make the painting, all in photoshop. He had fifteen layers for sketches, colours, textures, shadows and background. The drawing was made with a digital tablet, captured from the monitor in real time and it has been accelerated 3000%.
The music is by Danny Elfman and it is from the Spiderman soundtrack.
Introducing the book
Computers are such an important part of our lives and we all now how frustrating it is when something goes wrong and you have to ask for help. Check out the video below as it looks at the impact of new technology (the introduction of the book) in the Middle Ages. It may be Norwegian and sub-titled but it is funny.
english@cc 