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QUOTE
‘
BOOK REVIEW
Age does not diminish the
extreme disappointment
of having a scoop of ice
cream fall from the cone
’
— JIM FIEBIG
Fall in love
with artful
Artemis Fowl
By SEAN GUY
Artemis Fowl series
By Eoin Colfer
★★★★
ARTEMIS Fowl was written by Eoin
Colfer, a hysterical Irishman who
has recently also finished the latest
instalment in the Hitchhikers guide
to the Galaxy series.
Artemis Fowl is about a young boy
— Artemis — who is a child prodigy.
Smarter than almost anyone else in
the world.
However, he has been brought up
a criminal.
Not ‘‘steal-your-car-when-you’renot-looking’’ teenage criminal, but
big time ‘‘bankrupt-yourinternational-business-whenyou’re-not-looking’’ criminal.
We are introduced to the devious
KEEPING IN TOUCH: Images of social networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and Twitter
Many dangers lurk in ‘
social internet sites
These aren’t typical
fairies. They’re a
cross between Narnia
and Star Wars —
mythological creatures
with laser guns
By MIKKI BORTON
WITH social networking
sites such as Facebook,
Bebo and MySpace,
anybody can create a
personal profile in which
they can put their
information on the
internet, make friends and
learn about other people.
The Australian
Communications and
Media Authority (ACMA)
reports 97 per cent of
people aged 16-17 are on at
least one of these sites.
Some view it as another
form of communication,
others see it as a hunting
ground for paedophiles,
stalkers, and bullies.
Many people believe that
as long as you don’t have
your real name on the
account, you will be fine.
That is not true.
When your friends
‘‘comment’’ on your page,
do they use your name?
Maybe your account is
under a nickname your
friends call you; if so then a
paedophile or stalker is just
as likely to track you.
Do you have your school
listed? Do you mention
where you hang out, or
your friends’ names?
This can also be used
quite easily to track you.
Do you have any blogs?
Blogs talking about your
depression are especially
‘
Many people
believe that as
long as you don’t
have your real
name on the
account, you will
be fine.
That is not true
’
dangerous, because
paedophiles often use this
information to find
weaknesses, act like a care
giver, and play on a
teenager’s sense of
security and desire for
affection. Any information
about any part of your life
can be used to track you or
lure you into a false sense
of security.
Cyber bullying is also a
huge problem, particularly
for tweens and teenagers.
Many pages exist on social
networking sites entitled ‘‘I
hate (insert name here)’’.
It becomes like a fan
club, where people can go
to spread rumours and
degrade a person.
It is important to know
that if you have found any
profile on any social
networking site that has a
false statement on it that
makes you look bad, such
as someone accusing you
of sleeping around, this is
libel defamation, and is
quite serious.
If this occurs you should
not hesitate in contacting
authorities, and eventually
the moderator of the site.
Teenagers have all heard
it before, but until it starts
to sink in, it needs
repeating. Do you have
your picture, friends,
school, likes, dislikes, and
hobbies on them? Is your
profile set to ‘‘private’’?
Do you ‘‘add’’ people you
don’t know that well?
Check your profile again;
see if you were as cautious
as you thought you were.
’
child and his hulking bodyguard
Butler in the first book, when he
discovers an entire new species to
exploit — fairies.
But these aren’t typical fairies.
They’re a cross between Narnia
and Star Wars — mythological
creatures with laser guns.
And there’s the same dry wit all
through Artemis Fowl that you’d
expect from a Hitchhikers Guide to
the Galaxy author.
Although most people are put off
by the word fairy, it’s definitely
worth giving a go.
If you can get past the first few
chapters, you’ll learn to love it.
His books include Artemis Fowl;
Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident;
’...and the Eternity Code; ’...and the
Opal Deception; ’...and the Lost
Colony; ’...and the Time Paradox.
We’re still waiting for No. 7.
CHRISTMAS is only a few
short days away. The
decorations are up; the
presents are done —
well almost.
But as you run around
hunting for those final gifts,
have you wondered at all why
exactly you have weeds
hanging from the ceiling,
lights wrapped around the
house like death adders, and
a big ugly tree in the middle of
your living room?
In some areas of Europe, a
kiss under the mistletoe is a
promise to marry.
A German legend may also
The first found association
help explain why you have a
with ‘mistletoe’ is with a
tree. On Christmas eve a
Greek Festival. The use of
family supposedly let a lost
mistletoe in 18th century
boy come inside, fed him and
England was cruel, and
washed him. The next day, he
worthy of contacting Child
turned into Jesus and gave
Services — they would dress a the family a stick as a thank
young girl in branches and
you. If only I could do that
decorations and she had to
these days.
To remind everyone of
kiss anyone who came near.
OPINION
these kindnesses, we now
have foliage in our house.
The concept of letting a
stranger in is also why we
have Christmas lights,
according to Irish tradition.
These ‘lighted the way for a
stranger out of the dark’.
Apparently, not having these
lights meant you were to be
burdened with the same guilt
as the Bethlehem innkeepers
who turned Mary and Joseph
away on Christmas Eve.
www.ntnews.com.au
So, I’m sure we will all take
comfort in knowing that these
festive objects reflect the
human desire to marry,
demean people and let
complete strangers into our
house. Sounds like a horror
movie. I suggest watching
something like Black Xmas to
get into the Christmas spirit
as opposed to The Muppets’
Christmas Carol.
Merry Christmas.
— Mikki Borton
Northern Territory News, Monday, December 21, 2009 — 33
PUB:
Mum, Dad... why is there a shrub in our loungeroom?
WSNENT
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