Perceiving Pictures

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3

Picture: 4

Picture: 5

Picture: 6

Write a description about one of these photos. Don't write the number of the photo because your classmates are going to guess using your description. Think about colours, places, people, clothing, food and location. Be creative and write a story! What do you think is happening? What happened just before the photographer took the photo?

The Starlet

If I were a movie star... I'd be Natalie Portman

According to the movie star quiz I am Natalie Portman, The Starlet:

"Your simple, sophisticated style reminds people of classic Hollywood stars. Other young celebs party like crazy, but you'd rather see a play or read a great novel. You like to keep your private life private, but if the paparazzi track you down, you smile sweetly for the cameras. You'd never go out for coffee in ripped jeans or old sweatpants, because you don't want to disappoint your publicist (or your fans). You believe celebrities have a responsibility to look glamorous, so you dress up as often as possible."

My friends know I am secretly jealous of Natalie! I hate how popular she is! However, I am actually happy with this result. I think that if I were a Hollywood star I would need to be glamorous!

I have learnt to be patient, so if the paparazzi were chasing me with cameras I think I could deal with it.

I don't think my closest friends would be stars like Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton. I would prefer to hang out with people like Johnny Depp, Scarlet Johansson and Jake Gyllenhaal. I do enjoy partying but I also love to go hiking and swimming. I definately need time alone (I don't like to be around people all day long).

I would like to be in a range of movies from romance to thriller. As far as I know Natalie Portman hasn't acted in a horror film and that is something I would like to try. Also, Natalie and I have different movie choices because I would never like to act in Star Wars!!! aaaah! I really dislike fantasy/science fiction movies.

What you think? Do you agree?

If you want to take the quiz click here.

If you were a movie star....

Lights Camera Action!

If you managed to stay awake you might have seen the Academy Awards (otherwise known as "the Oscars") on Tuesday night. It's an important time of the year for the movie industry as "the Academy" recognises the best actors, directors, producers, script writers, editors and films.

It's also an important time for the magazines and fashionistas!! For some viewers the long walk on the red carpet is all they want to see. Who's wearing what designer? Versace, Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabana, Chanel, Dior, Fendi and Armani! The cameras are constantly flashing to get the best shot of the celebrities....

Today I want you to write about your favourite actor/actress. Take the movie star quiz and find our what kind of movie star you are. Do you agree with the results?

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! You interviewed each other in our last class. We asked questions about love and marriage to get into the Valentine's Day theme. However, Valentine's Day wasn't always about love.

Figure 1: Saint Valentine and his disciples

This day is named after two Christian martyrs named Valentine who lived around 200 AD. Only in the middle ages did Valentine's Day become associated with love. Today it is celebrated on February 14 in most Western countries. Many people think that like Christmas and Easter, Valentine's Day has become another way for advertisers to suck money out of us . . . another "Hallmark Day" (see this page http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hallmark+Day&defid=1623139 ).

Do you really need a special day to appreciate your loved ones?

Should romance be confined to one day a year?

What are your favourite gifts to give and get on Valentine's Day (http://www.gifts.com/occasions/valentines-day/her/o7hFr6aicp816n)?

Top Tens

A fun interactive post idea is a top ten list. If you provide a link for every number on your list then your readers can get involved by reading more on each entry. Include photos and comments to add more depth!

Think of any superlative:

good best

bad worst

funny funniest

beautiful most beautiful

expensive most expensive

interesting most interesting

ugly ugliest

.............etc

Use this with an exciting topic and you have your list! For example: Top 10 Best Movie Endings of All Time or My 10 Most Beautiful Travel Destinations. You don't have to use a superlative in your list title, for example, 10 Reasons Why I'm Never Leaving Australia.

TIME Magazine has a great site with 50 of the best 10 lists from 2007 :

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/0,30576,1686204,00.html

You like YouTube

YouTube is an excellent tool for us. You can find everything from online lectures to home videos. We all know how to use photos in our posts but do you know how to insert a video? 

Your next post assignment is to find an interesting, funny, exciting or cool video on YouTube and include it in your post. Tell your readers why you like this particular video. 

• A good place to start is to search for your favourite musician or band on YouTube.
  
• Choose a video clip of your favourite song.
• On the top right side of the page (when the video is playing) there is "About this video"
• Highlight and copy the HTML code under "Embed"
• You can paste this code in the "Edit HTML" window when you are posting (it's next to "Compose" in the posting window). 

Daft Punk are one of my favourite groups. This video clip is so amazing. I love how the dancers each represent a different element of the song. It's quirky and almost flawless. Make sure you watch all of it! 

Daft Punk:  Around The World

Another brilliant video clip is Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At? The faces on the monkeys are actually the faces of the band members. The computer graphics are fantastic in this clip and it tells an interesting story. Maybe this will be the next step after cloning!

Basement Jaxx: Where's Your Head At?

Making Slideshows

Check out my slideshow. This is a fun way to share your photographs of Australia with your friends. It's easy to make and you can link your slideshow with other social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace.

Sign up here and start uploading your photos:

http://www.slide.com/

What do you think of my cute pets Toby and Hermione (from Harry Potter)?