Write a clever tongue twister.

Common tongue twister:  How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

Similar type of twister by Zoe:  How much seed could a sunflower seed sow if a sunflower seed could sow seed?

Another twister by Zoe:  Twenty tiny tulip’s tickled ten tom turkeys, the ten tom turkey’s tickled twenty tiny tulips too.

Have fun!

Describe a bat cave a hundred feet below the earth where the bats are 3 foot tall, and there is a troll guarding the entrance.

Describe a pig pen where the pigs have wings and talons instead of legs and hooves.

Describe a spider web made by spider servants for a spider queen. 

Describe an underwater home for a boy/girl with gills and webbed feet.

     In January my husband came home from work and shared a blurb he heard on the radio.  Old news now, but still relevant.  The station stated that, ”doing  a single search through Google uses as much energy as boiling a cup of tea”.  I thought it was interesting so I did an energy consuming search to find details.  Google is my search engine of choice as well as millions of other Internet users.  Naturally they were at the top of the hit list in the media coverage.
     According to an article in Times Online called, “Revealed: the environmental impact of Google searches, New research lifts lid on links between CO2 emissions and Internet searches”, a comparative to other CO2 emissions makes it sound like we are headed for global disaster by Internet use.  “A recent report by Gartner, the industry analysts, said the global IT industry generated as much greenhouse gas as the world’s airlines – about 2% of global CO2 emissions.” 
     The article took it a step further to demonize the use of Internet sites with graphics.  Alex Wissner-Gross, a Harvard University Physicist,  ”research indicates that viewing a simple web page generates about 0.02g of CO2 per second. This rises tenfold to about 0.2g of CO2 a second when viewing a website with complex images, animations or videos”.  Which means that anyone with a site riddled with graphics are making CO2 emissions worse by the second.
     To add more fuel to the CO2 emissions research John Buckley, a British environmental consultant, made further claims about Google searches but worse is this claim, “simply running a PC generates between 40g and 80g per hour”.  If you are like me you use your computer every day for at least 8 hours, and do numerous searches. 
     To cut back on computer use, I’d have to waste gas going 30 miles each way to spend the entire day at a library.  Which after using a CO2 emission calculator is putting 73.365lbs of CO2 emission into the atmosphere.  Hmmm… the Internet consumptions seems to pale in comparison.  Based on the above mentioned numbers I used the highest measurements for my personal use which is 80g/hr for 8 hours equals 640g  just to run my PC.  Using .2g a second for 4 hours of search and graphic websites ,which is a high estimate, equals 2280g.  So at most, I am emitting 7.7533lbs a day.  I’m actually saving the environment 65.6117lbs a day by staying at home using my computer vs. taking a trip to the closest library. 

Writing Prompt:  Do your own comparison of personal emissions.  Using the conversion site listed below measure your gas emissions.  One gallon of gasoline is equivalent to 19.564lbs of CO2 emissions.  In case you need a refresher of grams to pounds conversion it is 454g = 1lb.  When you’ve finished your calculations write an article based on your findings.  Also suggest ways people can save energy when using their PC and doing Internet searches.  For example: You might advise webmasters to reduce the use of graphics on their websites.     

Sources:

Times Online, Revealed: the environmental impact of Google searches, New research lifts lid on links between CO2 emissions and internet searches: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5489134.ece

Conversion calculator for gas emissions: http://www.b-e-f.org/GreenTags/faq_pages/calculator.shtm under the driving section of the page.

     Write a chronoligical timeline of natural (inalienable) rights.  Among this timeline discuss the controversies that played a part in the adoption of natural rights by governments. 

     For example, you can discuss the controversy over who influenced Thomas Jefferson when he drafted the Declaration of Independence.  Most scholars believe it was John Locke since Jefferson used his model with only a slight adaption.  While some scholars believe he had different influences.

     Was President Obama right to come out and tell the public to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh? What does this say about his fear of criticism? Is he really that paranoid?  What does this say about his opinion on the intellect of Americans?

Something to think about:
     John Milton, 17th Century Poet said, “Let all with something to say be free to express themselves.  The true and sound will survive.  The false and unsound will be vanquished.  Government should keep out of the battle and not weigh the odds in favor of one side or the other “.  His principles of the “self-righting process” and “open marketplace of ideas” were promoted by Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson took it to heart and argued that, “any government which can not stand up to published criticism deserves to fall”.-1   Further Thomas Jefferson who was highly scrutinized by the press said, “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.” –Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1787. ME 6:57″. -2 

  Sources:

1-  Terror on the internet, The New Arena, the New Challenges; Gabriel Weimann. 2006.  Chap. 7 Balancing Security and Civil Liberties, pg. 232.  also available online for preview: http://books.google.com/books?id=19iCbNOoYmIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Thomas+Jefferson+a+government+that+could+not+stand+up+under+criticism+deserved+to+fall&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPP1,M1 

2-  Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government- Freedom of the Press: http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1600.htm

Writing Prompt: Write a few creative ways you can mentor a child so that they will have the opportunity to get ahead in life?
Will you teach them manners? How to eat right and exercise. How to capture their history and keep their heritage alive for generations. Do you know how to sew? How to write? How to play a sport? Do you have a special talent? If you have something to share then you can be a mentor.

Yesterday at noon Eastern Time Zone our 44th President took his oath of office. President Obama has stirred the emotions and won the hearts of the American people.  After watching Oprah’s show on the eve of the inauguration with Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Usher, and the musical artist who performed the “America’s Song”, plus yesterdays inauguration speech, I am full of hope for America despite the adversities we are facing.  I have always been proud to be American, and only disappointed by those who do not know the meaning to its fullest extent.  We have a sense of duty to helping others way beyond the political spectrum.  Get inspired!  Have hope!  I am reminded of those famous words spoken by past President John F. Kennedy.  ”Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  President Obama has the same inspirational agenda that brings a country together for the good of all. 

Generation S explained… “Usher was interviewed while coordinating volunteers for an organization called Service Nation.  The group was renovating a Washington, D.C., school.  “We call this group ‘Generation S’ or service-minded youth leaders, because we have to be the change,” said Usher of his fellow volunteers”.- Billboard.com article written by Hillary Crosley .  Even though she quotes, I do not recall him limiting the the title to only the Service Nation group.  I recall him using it as a title and message of change for the entire American population.

Writing prompt:  Generation S stands for service.  Write a top ten list of things you feel are important to change for you, your fellow man, America, and the world.  Then take the most important issue on your list and write a plan of action that will help change America for the better.  How will you inspire others to service? 

(Please adapt this prompt for children’s writing.  Children learn by the inspiration and actions of adults in their lives.  Be that inspiration and lead by example.)

Today we celebrate the day that paved a deeper path from racial prejudice toward racial equality.  Although there is more than racial prejudice that plagues the world.  Nothing was more inspiring to equality than the words of Martin Luther King Jr.  “I have a dream….”  We remember his words of emotional struggles that faced the Black population in America.  This year would make the martyr proud to be American. 

A personal reflection of where race laid during the 1980’s, while I was a strong headed open minded teenager living in a rural community… I was raised in an era where my parents were not prejudice they had introduced the concept of the evils of prejudice when I was very young.  They had a dear friend that was Black and we knew he was by the color of his skin, we were blind to it since he was such a wonderful inspiration and kind person.  But my grandparents were marked by a time where Blacks seemed inferior to the white race.  I remember asking my grandmother, whom I respected and loved dearly and still do beyond her passing, if she would have issues should I date a Black male.  She said, “If you do he will never be welcome in my home”.  I was appalled yet not entirely surprised by her reaction. 

My best friend in high school was dating a Black male and she struggled with her parents acceptance of the mixture.  Today the couple are still married and they have six of the most beautiful children I’ve ever laid eyes on.  For me, all that ever mattered was her happiness.  If she loved him that was her choice and I supported her for it.  The last thing I expected was to have to confront her parents when they objected to the relationship at the onset.  They were much older than my parents and still held an old mindset.  The conversation began with an expression of my love for the best friend I’d ever had and if I could love her enough to want her happiness, they as her parents should love her even more.  Support is vital to any situation, and regardless of what you would do differently there comes a time when you have to just let the other be who they truly are.  In our rural area the population had 90% Whites and about 2% Blacks.  Her boyfriend was Bi-racial, his father was White and his mother Black.  He was raised by an elderly White couple through his elementary- high school years.  His parents fought for their relationship during the harder times of racisim, and unfortunately they were unable to weather the storms.  I do not feel that it was a matter of inter mixing, but I’m sure it didn’t do anything to help the relationship. 

I firmly believe that love changes the world and if more people loved we would be better off.  I am proud to celebrate and reflect on the history of Martin Luther King Jr. and the strength of our nation to overcome such adversity.  Martin Luther King Jr.’s words have helped me through the years to realize that prejudice has no place in the hearts of man.  The struggles of race, creed, religion, disability, and sex can be overcome if we care enough to make it a serious point to look beyond the differences and welcome what is unique about each person.  Martin Luther took up his cross and fought the good fight until his last breath, he makes me proud to be a human being. 

I had a situation when I was living in California, where diversity is celebrated.  Being a female, and mother I am hardwired to be protective especially in questionable scary situations.  I’d never thought twice about being worried for the safety of my children and myself when strangers came too close to my comfort zone.  If someone approached me and I felt the slightest tinge of danger it was a natural reaction to be on the defense.  However, there was a time when a young nicely dressed Black male approached me out of nowhere after I parked my car in the driveway at my home.  First off he scared the hell out of me since I didn’t see him until he was at my driver side door.  I chewed the young man a new one.  Explaining to him that he should never approach a female when she has pulled up in a car alone.  Later I felt guilty and seriously made a big deal about whether I over reacted as such because he was Black.  After beating myself up for weeks I came to the conclusion that regardless of his color I would have snapped.  Why?  Simply if feel threatened in situations with any male whether White, Latino, Black, Asian I am going to react with predjudice.  I was taught to be mindful of my surroundings and to feel threatened by strangers in certain situations. 

The biggest situation I felt threatened by was an experience I had at a target store after dark.  A White male came too close for comfort pleading for some money to buy a new belt for his car.  He had the broken belt in his hand which to me was a visible weapon.  I told him to back off and quickly found safety behind the locked door of my car.  I’d never fought so quickly to get my car started and out of danger.  As a woman I have to be mindful of predators and what struck me was how little guilt I had for the way I responded to him.  Telling anyone to stay back is hard to do as humans we want to think the better of others, but there are times when we have to think the worst for our own protection.  When all men stop raping, and killing woman I will feel safe enough to let go of that reactive mechanism to be prejudice toward my safety from them.  Till then that is the one form of prejudism I will never stop having when I am alone and feel threatened.

Writing Prompt:  Write a paragraph that shows an emotion rather than tells an emotion.  

________

Example of telling:

Bill’s brother, Dan, was murdered two days ago.  As he looked through old photos of Dan he felt angry, betrayed, and broken hearted.  It hurt him deeply, and he wanted someone to pay for it.  God had taken his brother, and now he was left to live with the guilt of it for the rest of his life.  Drinking dulled the pain, but couldn’t extinguish the lust Bill had for revenge.

Example of showing:

Bill sat in his room pouring through old photos of his brother, Dan.  Racing memories of their childhood, parties, late night calls for advice, and petty squabbles swam in and out of Bill’s drunken state.  He tucked the photos back into the album and chucked an empty bottle of liquor.   As it violently cracked into shards against the wall it bounced every framed picture off its nail with it.  He stared at the scattered pile of debris that rested on the floor.  Then as if struck, Bill jerked his twisted face up toward Heaven and groveled with fervor.  “Dan please come back”.  The tears soaked through his soul trying to drown the burning questions.  “Dan, why?  Who?”  He pleaded for the answers, he needed to find Dan’s killer.

——

Happy New Year!  To a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009 for all!!

Writing Prompt:  Take a couple of minutes to write about the activities you like to do when there is snow on the ground.  Perhaps you enjoy snowmobiling, building a snowman, or staying indoors where it is warm.  In 50-75 words describe the activity(ies) you enjoy most.