Leonardo da Vinci, a true Renaissance man.

Leonardo da Vinci can be characterized as a Renaissance man through his ability to observe, his attention to detail and his imagination. Da Vinci was one of the few artists that looked at everything around him and question it. He always carried a notebook and drew whatever interesting things he saw. He examined everything closely, and tried to find answers within it. Not many people actually observed their surroundings, they saw, but did not observe. Da Vinci also paid very close attention to detail in the things that he studied, these are clear in his various drawings of anatomical accurate bodies and muscle forms. He noted everything he saw in the things he examined, and in cases like when he was disectiong bodies, even looked at how the insides worked. Da Vinci's observation skills and ability to notice detail helped his imagination hugely.
Leonardo's imagination lead to the creation and design of many of the ideas he had because he had observed every little detail in what had inspired him. The flying machine he had designed and the Vitruvian Man that he had drawn was clear evedence of this. His imagination helped him think of things that others could not, and his various ideas came from his observation of things around him. Leonardo Da Vinci was truly a great Renassiance man, his observational skills, ability to look at all the details and his great imagination lead him to think of things well ahead of his time. I think that if he had been borna few hundred years later he would be very rich indeed, because that was when all of his various ideas became possible.

What promted Brunelleschi's Dome?

In my view, Brunelleschi's creativity prompted the construction of the famous Florence Cathedral dome. Brunelleschi was a brilliant sculptor, as seen in his Jesus statues, and a fantastic architect. This was because he thought outside the box, which no one at that time had ever done before because their world was cut off from imagination, because the church restricted everything. But now that the Renaissance was here, the church did not play as big of a part in daily life. Brunelleschi was creative in thinking that he could build a dome with no scaffolding and no cement. But now he needed to prove to his commissioners that his logic was sound, or else they would not hire him for the job. He failed at first, but after intense study he came back, this time with a creative trick up his sleeve. He thought so creatively that he connected an egg, with the idea of the dome and asked his viewers to stand an egg on it's bottom. This, of course, didn't work, but then he asked them to lightly tap the egg, and break it's bottom, so it was flat. When they stood the egg up again, it worked. So amazed were Brunelleschi's commissioners that they grant Brunelleschi immediate control over the construction of the dome. They were surprised at the creativity at Brunelleschi's idea at using an egg, and realised that Brunelleschi wasn't a complete nutter. All in all, Brunelleschi was an incredibly successful man. He used a creative method for the dome, opened the eyes of people to the world of thinking outside the box, and he succeeded in the construction of the dome. All because of his creative leadership.

Where in the world do you get ideas from?

Ideas. Do you get them from a magical fairy land? Does some mystical force just plop ideas in your head? No. I think not. But ideas do come from a lot of places. These places could include, your brain, something that someone else has said, or what someone else has done. It is not often that you get completely new ideas from your brain, they are usually based on experiences you have had, or are from your subconscious that has seen things with you not knowing it. In fact, I think you would have to have a really exceptional mind to create something that has no relation to anything else in the world. Nowadays you might think that there is not much to be invented, but I bet that before we had phones, or ways of communicating long-distance people thought that to. But there are those you dream of such things. Sure we have ideas and dreams about things all the time, but some people are doing things to make that happen. Just look at all those studies with nano-technology. Otherwise we get most of our ideas from the things around us. You could get inspiration from a painting, a building, even an animal. If you try thinking of something creative, or just made up, with your eyes open, I can almost guaranty that what ever you think of will be based on something in real life. Look at Leonardo Da Vinci, he got his flying machine idea from birds. If there were no birds in the world, I doubt people would even think about being able to fly. Things that people say can trigger ideas as well. They might remind you of something or just say something that makes you think about it, and maybe connect other things with it to form an idea of some kind.
Overall, I think that you can get ideas from almost anything, but it is very hard to get completely new ideas, that are not based on anything else in the world. So no, you don't get ideas from a magical fairy land. You get them from everything around you.

My Favourite stroy from the Short Story Unit- What Makes a Good Story?

Over the whole Short Story unit my favourite story would have to be the "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl. This story really drew me in because of the unexpected turn of character, such as Mary Maloney, the perfect housewife. Then she whacks her husband over the head with a frozen leg of lamb. The plot was full of twists and turns, which made you want to keep reading and you never really new what was happening until afterward. It didn't tell you what was happening, it showed you what was happening. A good example of this is when Mary is forming her alibi by going to the Grocer's and coming home to find her husband dead. The conflict of the story was really interesting because it had so many. Mary vs. her husband, Mary vs. society (police) and Mary vs. herself. All of these were hard to figure out, Roald Dahl really made you read between the lines. All in all, "Lamb to the Slaughter" was a great read, with just enough of everything, even sadistic humor, like when she whacks with the leg of lamb. It has great characterization, plot and conflict, which are all the things that make good stories.

Home Cooked Food.

As I got out of the damp, freezing bus, I thought about what a drippy day it had been. Even the weather reflected it. It was hot, muggy and raining. That and that hour and a half long bus ride was enough for me to want to collapse in a heap by the front door. I looked at my watch. Half past seven! I had left at six, and the house wasn't that far away. Utterly depressed, I opened the gate and walked to the door. But as I opened it I was pounded with the delicious smell of roast chicken sitting in the oven just waiting for me to come and devour it. It was lovely and warm inside, just what I needed. And out of the kitchen came mum saying, "Welcome home."

Home cooked food. That is what comfort and safety is all about. Coming home after a cold, winters day into a nice cozy warm house with the fire burning and a hot meal waiting. It's the kind of thing that just sends your spirits sky high. It shows that some people actually do care, not like that teacher that gave you a truck load of homework and told you that you have your final exam tomorrow. Home cooked food gives you a sense of welcome, security and comfort. This is what I felt when I walked into the house. It doesn't even matter what kind of food it is, as long as you know that someone took the time to make you feel good.

For me, home cooked food represents more than just a good meal. When I think of home cooked food I think of a nice house, lit by dim orange lights and a big fire, while there's a great big storm billowing out side. And then out comes a massive warm comfy meal and, again, it doesn't matter what it is. And after the meal you put your dressing gown on and sit in front of the fire with the cat and a good book. It isn't just the home food, its the comfort and welcome that goes with it.

What's great about home cooked food is when your whole family comes to stay, like at Christmas. Christmas always reminds me of home cooked food sitting at the table when the whole family is fussing about to get the table ready, or serving the food, or waiting for the potatoes to be ready or whatever, it's just always really relaxed and chill. The thing I love most about home cooked food with the family (apart from the eating it) is the preparing for it. When we set the table and pour the drinks and drool over the meal that's being cooked. Home cooked food always smells delicious, especially when it's something like roast chicken or turkey. It's never too formal or serious. My brother, my sister, my cousin and I always just sit in the lounge and play PlayStation or cards or just sit there, anticipating. That is my sense of comfort and security and welcome. You can just be your self around home cooked food, that is why I believe in it.

The Battle of Hastings Game

The Battle of Hastings game is a simple strategy game when you can either be Harold Godwinson or Duke William of Normandy. The game gives you choices for what you can do and you need to select the right choices to win. If you have studied the Battle of Hastings you can win very easily because the right choices are the ones which are historically accurate. I enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing that my historical information was accurate and winning the game. Whilst playing the game I learned how clever you have to be in a battle strategically because if you were William you needed to know just what choices and what risks you should take that would lead to victory. In the Battle of Hastings Harold Godwinson had just arrived at Hastings having walked 200 miles North to fend off Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. His men were tired and weak and barley fit for battle. Harold posted his men on the hill outside Hastings and made a shield wall. This benefited them because it meant the Normans needed to charge up the hill into the shield wall. Sometime in the battle, the Normans thought that William had been killed, and they started to retreat, and the English started to run after them. Then, William stood up and said he was not dead, and to keep fighting and the English were out in the open now and were caught unawares. William used this strategy many times and he eventually succeeded in killing Harold and won the Battle of Hastings. This game is a valuable learning experience because it gives you choices and it helps you see the logic and reasons for why a certain choice did not workout.

Catherine Called Birdy, What's it All About?

Catherine Called Birdy, the historical fiction novel by Karen Cushman, is about a simple knights daughter dealing with the difficult life of the medieval times and the restrictions of being a lady. This novel deals with the themes of, freedom of marriage, gender suppression and the control of ambition. Catherine longs to be able to marry who she pleases, like the villagers. This is seen all throughout the book when she gets rid of all her suitors and wants to marry George or Geoffry, but knows she cannot because they do not have the certain amount of wealth that her father wants his son-in-law to have. Catherine is under great gender suppression. She cannot do anything because of her lady training. This stands out in the novel wheb she cannot stand more lady tasks and wonders why lady's cannot climb trees or throw stones into the river. The control of ambition relates to Catherines suppression. Because she is a woman she is not allowed to do anything apart from being a lady. In the novel, she always wishes to become a monk or a crusader.
All in all the medieval times were an extremely tough time, especialy for noble lady's. Catherine has a lack of freedom to marry whoever she wants, she is suppresed and she cannot fuful her lifes dreams. They are in the middle between the villagers who can do what they want and the royalty, who also can do whatever they want. Where Catherine is, the fathers treat the lady's like chattle.

Shmuel

"Who is that?" I thought, looking at the chubby figure walking towards me. He's not on this side of the fence. Oh no! could he be a soldier? I thought I was safe from them here! But I was relieved to see that it was just a boy walking towards me. I must admit, I was frightened- not as much now- but he would surly be coming to bully me. As if I wasn't weak enough already. But again I was relieved that when he reached me, he just sat down on his side of the fence. "Hello," he said, looking at me in a strange way- as if I were an alien. He spoke with a foreign accent, but he had kind eyes, even though I knew he was a German. I was curious, so I said, "Hello," back...

10 Questions about the Holocaust

1. Go to the site and to the Education for students section. Click on the antisemitism section. Describe the look on the peoples faces in the cartoon.

2.What does Antisemitism mean?

3.Go back to the page before this and click on the next category; Life for the Jews in Europe before the Holocaust. How many Jews lived in Europe before the Holocaust?

4.What country in Europe had the largest Jewish population?

5. Click on the small map. read the paragraph. Where did the Jews mostly occupy?

6. How many Jews were in Russia(Soviet Union) at the time?

7. Go back to the Education Page and click on the next category, Nazi rise to power. Click on the Reichstag Fire. Describe what happened.
8. Go to the 5th paragraph. How did the propaganda go in Hitlers favor?

9. Go back one page. Click on the poster. Why do you think Hitler put up posters like this?

10. Overall, why do you think the people liked Hitler?