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Merry Quokkamas!

A quokka dressed as Santa Claus

And if you click on the image, there might be something to read...

Just hinting...
  •   2 comments
Wonderful, thank you for the entertaining version, it really quokked me up!
Brilliant. Now I want a quokka for Christmas *Blush*
F.A.T.!
Friday Aussie Tune!

I will introduce a song by an Australian artist every Friday, as part of my ongoing attempt to make Australia seem like a country not just populated by wildlife out to kill you (even though it is) and always on fire or under water (only half the time, to be honest).

The songs I post will be ones I like. I will try not to double up on an artist, but there are no guarantees. Also, some of these might have already appeared in other writerings.

So... Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' is the 3rd worst Christmas song ever (After McCartney's 'Wonderful Christmas Time' and Boyd's "I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus'). But when I heard My Chemical Romance's version, I realised it was not the song I hated, but Carey's fingernails-down-a-blackboard voice. I did a column (which has since had the videos removed)  Open in new Window. about better versions.

But my very favourite version is Australian. And we have our current Prime Minister in the video clip... miming along... seriously...

'All I Want For Christmas Is You' by Polish Club (2017)

I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing" Open in new Window.

This one is gonna get me in trouble, I feel.
  •   1 comment
Dont see these observations causing you any grief.
And Wiley nails the ongoing battle between AI and creativity... and life...

https://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2024/12/03
  •   2 comments
Shouldn't the word they chose be "synonym?" Or is the AI the opposite of the muse?
Amethyst Snow Angel Author Icon - Oh, no, AI is definitely the opposite of "muse"
• Edited
Word Trivia

So, let's get into something that has been in the news here of late. Yes, there is a rather nasty measles outbreak in one of the other states. Stupid people deciding vaccines are not worth it, now an entire town is going through this after their recent overseas holiday...

WHERE DOES THE WORD 'QUARANTINE' COME FROM?


It's very simple - it comes from the Italian word quarantina meaning 'fortieth,' from quaranta meaning forty, going back to the Latin quattuor for 'four.'

So... hang on... Why does 'quarantine' mean 'being kept in isolation to stop the spread of a disease' when it comes from a number?

History lesson!

So, in the Middle Ages, Italy was not a country, but a bunch of kingdoms and city-states. One of these was Venice, ruled by a group called the doges (coming from the Latin dux, leader, which also gives us the word 'duke'), and they were quite the naval power (duh!). So, in the early 1300s, they attacked the Eastern Roman Empire (Ottoman Empire, whatever they called themselves that week) capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul, once Byzantium) in what is now Turkey.

Fun fact - Constantinople was a cross-roads between east and west. This meant that the Black Death, the plague, was there, having come across from China (where it wiped out more than half the population!). Well, the Constantinopilites were being attacked by the Venetian army while trying to deal with this nasty, bubo-punctuated plague. Solution? Use catapaults to fire plague-infected bodies at the attackers. A very early case of biological (or germ) warfare. Once their soldiery got sick, the Venetians retreated, taking the plague back to Venice with them.

Welcome to Europe, Black Death!

Anyway, soon the doges realised that the plague was coming to the city via the sea and so they made every single boat stay moored with no-one allowed on or off for forty days, to give the disease time to appear, and those who have it time to die.

Hence quarantina, the fortieth day before being allowed off the boat, came to mean the time spent separated from society.

History! Etymology! Me being a nerd! These things go together!
I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20241218 Children Characters" Open in new Window.

Ranty. Again. Sorry.
Three anagrams for you:

The eyes: They see

Astronomer: Moon starer

Eleven plus two: Twelve plus one

*Wink*
  •   3 comments
Some anagrams for you...

The potatoes have eyes

The corn has ears

The Beanstalk (Beans talk)
A palindrome for you: A Man A Plan A Canal Panama
quiet web Author Icon - That is cool from a palindrome author.
Dec 17, 1967...

The Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre received its reason for existing.
  •   3 comments
So I checked out the former Australian Prime minister out; it is a bit twisted to choose a swimming pool as a memorial.
Quote from this article  Open in new Window.: "On Saturday December 16, the front page of The Australian reported that Holt's doctor had advised him to“swim less”."

I guess he just followed his doctor's instructions. *Bigsmile*

Oh, the irony *Facepalm*
I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20241217 Punk Genres II" Open in new Window.

Hey! A Part 2!
  •   1 comment
Thanks for these two postings about Punk. I have noticed a number of submission calls for various punk genres but frankly didn't know what it was all about. Anyone interested in this genre should take a look at these two blog entries. Sart with the first one that lays the foundation of the concept.
So...

I wrote a poem for an open call.

The call was, "How do you view the USA?" And they encouraged people, "from under-represented communities, LGBTQI+, minority communities and who live in other countries." There were other things - max of 75 lines/500 words, no "profanity", any poetry style accepted.

I submitted, 56 lines, 330 words.

Was rejected today, with the comment, "We feel this is too negative," being amongst the feedback.

So, I am pleased they gave me feedback; not many bother. However, if they wanted a sycophantic piece, should they have mentioned that in the guidelines? I was honest, looking at the views of the country not just I but many (many!) in Australia hold.

Anyway, just thought I'd share - another rejection.
  •   4 comments
yeah rejections suck.
I guess, like Mark Cuban from Shark Tank says, "Know your audience." But at least you are still out there submitting. That's more than most folks can say. *Heart*
When you say shared Aussie views of the country; do you mean the politics or the people? It's a large and diverse culture, with a range of political views and personal qualities. Everything from serial killers to nobel peace prize winners and everything in between.
I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20241216 Poor Characterisation" Open in new Window.

What I don't like in characters.
We have a few entries already, but have you considered entering the

Image Protector
FORUM
Horror Writing Contest Open in new Window. (13+)
A contest involving writing a horror story. Simple, really.
#2273172 by Santeven Quokklaus Author IconMail Icon


for December?

Prompts and banned items in the forum...
I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20241215 Rewriting Classics" Open in new Window.

If you is stucked for ideas.
I've added a new entry to my "Writing Blog Number 2" Open in new Window.:
         "20241214 Punk Genres" Open in new Window.

Because these keep on rearing their ugly heads...
Don't you hate it when you put your socks on the wrong feet?

  •   3 comments
Or when you put on one sock and your cat runs off with the other... or is it just me?
So, Santeven Quokklaus Author IconMail Icon, who's feet did you put them on?
Asking for a friend.
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