A Bit of Interest

Today, with the help of my Eastern Cultural Studies class, I discovered something quite interesting. This something is called Glogster, a site where anyone can start an account and then create all sorts of virtual posters. These posters can be used to try out some of your writing skills on the public or to vent off steam about a particular topic. You can also use a poster to advertise for a site, which, believe it or not, I did. So go take a look at Glogster (www.glogster.com), and who knows what you'll create next?

New York City

If I was given one word to describe New York, that word would be busy. Everywhere you look, people are running back and forth, speed-walking somewhere, jabbering into cell phones, or hailing cabs. But not only is the city full of locals! It is also filled with tourists.

One of my first thoughts on going to NYC was that whatever I did, I did not want to look like a tourist. Therefore, I purposefully didn't wear my Hawaiian shirt and tastefully left my camera neck strap at home. But once you set foot in Times Square, you realize something: it is quite impossible not to

gawk like a tourist if you haven't been to the city at least four or five times before, and what's more, once you're in Times Square, it doesn't matter- everyone there is at least as touristy as you are, if not more. Everywhere you look, there are people in "I Heart NY" t-shirts taking pictures of themselves in front of the square or pointing at any one of the huge ads that line the place.

Once you get out of Times Square, you begin to see fewer tourists and more New Yorkers. The two types of people are easily distinguished: the New Yorkers have cell phones, and the tourists have cameras. The New Yorkers are more likely to shove past you rudely, and believe me, this does actually happen. In fact, if given the choice, I would much rather be surrounded by tourists than in a place full of only the city's business executives.

Fortunately for me, this was actually what happened. Most of the places we went to were populated almost entirely by tourists. Take Rockefeller Center, for example. We went up to

the "Top of the Rock" to see the city from the air (the view is just as good as it is from the Empire State Building, and the lines are shorter). Up there, I heard people speaking every kind of language imaginable (French, Italian, German, and a few I couldn't identify). But I'm willing to bet that not one of them was a genuine New Yorker, except for the security guards.

There were a few places we did go that seemed to be filled mostly with locals, though. One of these places was the Plaza. On the inside, the Plaza looks nothing like it does in the Eloise

movies, but it is still incredibly fancy. And when I say fancy, I mean fancy- crystal chandeliers, oriental rugs, and marble columns galore! Another place in New York that seems to be reserved only for its locals was Grand Central Terminal. The place was absolutely filled with business people who actually ran to catch their trains. It looked like an anthill after

someone poured water on it, with people dashing to and fro and moving constantly. All in all, the city definitely fits my one-word description of busy, and I would most certainly say yes if anyone offered me the chance to go back.

Thanks for listening!

Maggs

All the Answers

Here are the answers to yesterday's Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz, for those of you who are truly obsessed with all things Potter:

Level One: 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c, 5-a. Level Two: 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-c, 5-b. Level Three: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-c, 5-a.

So how did you do? Did you bomb the quiz, or are you now a certified HP Fan? You can post the number of answers that you got right or wrong in a comment, or keep your results to yourself; it's your choice. But however well you did hardly matters. If you took the test, that alone shows your dedication to Harry Potter!

Unfortunately for you (my dear readers), I will be on vacation for the next few weeks so I won't be able to post anything. However, when I get back from the magical East Coast, I promise a full-length article on my adventures in possibly the greatest of all cities- New York.

Thanks for listening, and farewell until next time!

Maggs

The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz

Today I introduce to you a brilliant writer, the master of quizzes, the authority on all things HP, none other than my dear sister, Lucy. And at the same time, I also bring on a new era for Life as a Starving Poet- the era of the guest-writer. So without further ado, I give you......Lucy!

Hey ya'll fools- this is my epic Harry Potter Quiz,

made just for you (not really, I just say that

to make you feel extra special). So, do you think

you're awesome enough? Take the quiz, and

find out.

The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz

By Lucy

Level One

Any idiot should be able to answer these!

1. Who is the first person to tell Harry

that he is a wizard?

A. Vernon Dursley.

B. Albus Dumbledore.

C. Rubeus Hagrid.

2. The second book in the HP series is:

A. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

B. Harry Potter and the Secrets of Azkaban.

C. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Chamber.

3. Harry's worst enemy at Hogwarts is:

A. Neville Longbottom.

B. Draco Malfoy.

C. Luna Lovegood.

4. Which position does Snape teach at

Hogwarts in books 1-5?

A. Defense against the dark arts.

B. Charms.

C. potions.

5. What do people call Voldemort when they

don't want to say his name?

A. He-who-must-not-be-named.

B. Lord Voldie.

C. What's his face.

Level Two

If you call yourself a fan, you should be able to figure this out.

1. The name of Mr. Crouch's house elf is:

A. Winky.

B. Blinker.

C. Kermit.

2. Proffesor Slughorn puts together parties

for his favorite students, whom he calls:

A. Sluhorn's Super Students.

B. Sluggie's Gang.

C. The Slug Club.

3. Ron accidentaly swallows a love potion in

book six, causing him to fall in love with:

A. Hermione Granger.

B. Romilda Vane.

C. Parvati Patil.

4. In book two, Harry, Ron, and Hermione

brew the polyjuice potion where?

A. In the forbidden corridor on the 3rd

floor.

B. In the chamber leading into the school

kitchens.

C. Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

5. What is the main spell Harry uses in the

first task of The Triwizard Tournament?

A. Confundus Charm.

B. Accio.

C. Batbogey Hex.

Level Three

Only really smart people know these answers, so I can't expect any

of you to figure these out.

1. In book four, Cedric lets Harry use the

prefects bathroom. What is the Password?

A. Mimblus Mimbletonia.

B. Pine Fresh.

C. Lemon Drop.

2. A Basilisk is made when you:

A. Inject a snake with Dragon's blood.

B. You cross a Komodo Dragon with a python.

C. Hatch a Chicken's egg under a toad.

3. When Harry moves into Dudley's second

bedroom, there's a cage that used to hold a

parrot. Why is it now empty?

A. He traded it for a real air rifle.

B. He threw it out the window after it

tried to eat one of his computer games.

C. He used it to attack a kid that

tried to beat him up, so his parents

got rid of it.

4.How do you get into the school kitchens?

A. There's a picture of a man eating toast

in the entrance hall. Poke him in the

stomach and the portrait swings aside

to reveal a door.

B. Whisper "Butter" into the face mask

of the suit of armor on the left side

of the staff table in the Grand Hall.

C. There's a picture of a bowl of fruit

in a small room off the great hall.

Tickle the pear, and a door handle

will appear.

5. In the first book, Vernon Dursley gets a

postcard from Aunt Marge saying that:

A. She's sick because she ate a funny

whelk.

B. Her bulldog, Ripper, attacked Colonel

Fubster the other day

(Ripper was provoked, of course).

C. She is going to be in Majorca on

holiday for the next fortnight.

Congratulations! You did it. How you did....

well, you'll have to wait until tomorrow

to find out.

Thanks for listening to my sister, and good luck on the quiz!

If you liked the quiz, hated it, or have any ideas or

corrections that would make it better, feel free to

share your thoughts in a comment.

Maggs

A Masterpiece

If you think back to several posts ago, you may remember a poet named Lorine Niedecker. Ever since that post was written, my dad and I have been working on a video tribute to Lorine. Take a look:

Lorine Niedecker

Feel free to post a comment with your thoughts on the video:)

Thanks for listening!

Maggs

The Doldrums

By the beginning of July, people begin to get a bit bored with summer. All your plans in early June to, "go outside more often" or "read more books than ever" have either fallen flat, or have already been carried out. For younger people like me, you start to stay inside and watch more T.V. For the adults out there, you no longer plan elaborate meals on the grill or family picnics for dinner after work. You turn to frozen pizza- at least it keeps the kids happy, right?

This state of tiresome existence is called The Doldrums. It is not a pleasant place to be, but most of us end up there eventually. You can only do so much with your summer, after all. For all of those out there suffering in The Doldrums, here's something to take your mind off of it:

The Tom Swifty. Here are a few by David Lubar, from his book Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie:

• "Who turned off the lights?" said Tom dimly
• "I lost my wrists," Tom said offhandedly
• "I'd like a hotdog," Tom said frankly
• "Stop this horse!" Tom said haltingly

Get it? Here are a few of my own:

• "I think your clarinet's a bit flat," Tom said tunelessly.
• "That plant needs watering," Tom said dryly.
• "You sound like a broken record," said Tom repeatedly.
• "I've lost all of my clothes!" Tom said barely.

Thinking up Tom Swifties is a great way to beat The Doldrums. Give it a try- you can even post your best ones on this site in the form of a comment.

Thanks for listening,

Maggs

A Taste of Heaven

In the middle of Door County lies a place called Chambers Island. It is both an island literally and figuratively- yes, this is possible. Not only is it located in Lake Michigan,making it a real island, but it is also an island in the sense that it is apart from everything else. It is a sanctuary in the middle of the hustle and bustle of tourist-trap Door County. It is a place to go for relaxation and spiritual enlightenment.

On Chambers Island there is a place called Holy Name Retreat House, where I spent my past weekend. It is a Catholic retreat house that holds three-day silent retreats focused on God and finding calm

within. You may think that a silent retreat sounds rather boring and lonely, but it is just the opposite. The silence is there so that you have a chance to listen to what God is telling you, and so that you can think more clearly.

The relaxing ways of Holy Name retreat House have made such an impression on people that they have called it a

"truly blessed and holy place"

declared it, "beautiful and wonderful", and even referred to the experience as, "...coming home to be refreshed."

Not only does the island provide you with an exceptional chance to relax, but it also has many trails for walking or biking and a lake you can swim in whenever you want. There is also an historic light

house about two miles from the retreat house that is periodically opened to the public, and an old foundation of a hotel that you can explore. Benches and swings are placed all over the grounds of the retreat house, providing you with a chance to sit and view

the various birds and animals that can be found on the island.

If you're looking for a place to "get away from it all", then the Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island is most definitely the place for you! If you would like to visit the Holy Name Retreat House, visit their website for more information.

Not surprisingly, the quiet atmosphere on the island provides endless inspiration for poetry. Here's a poem I wrote during a rain storm on the island:

Tree on a Stormy Day

Tree on a stormy day:

Leaves mix in more than breeze.

Branches sway and bob.

The twigs, the fingers, snap and crack.

The roots dig into the ground.

Moss clings to the edges of the trunk-

which is slippery and smooth.

Far above these mosses,

birds, squirrels, and other creatures

huddle and hunker down.

this is the tree,

as rain showers it,

wind gusts it,

and many, calling it home,

find its branches safe and sound.

Copyright MPK 2010, all rights reserved, unauthorized use is prohibited.

Thanks for listening!

Maggs