devi: (Default)
devi ([personal profile] devi) wrote2003-09-19 09:41 pm

creation myths

So I've got myself a set of poi, having had a lot of fun twirling the glowstick variety at the birthday party for the two Adams in Norfolk (and admittedly a lot of glowstick-shaped bruises on my legs the next day). They've got long white tails and when in mid-air they remind me of Haku in his dragon-form in Spirited Away. I went online yesterday to search for lessons.

The amusing thing is that everyone seems to have a different story as to who invented poi and why. One site makes vague noises about Eastern mysticism, whirling dervishes and the like. Another says they were used by Maori warriors to increase coordination in training. The funniest one says there's a plant in Hawaii called the poi root which was softened to an edible state by tying a string to it and repeatedly swinging it against a rock. "Two were done at once to prevent one side of the body becoming overdeveloped." Hmmm.

Your challenge, readers, is to choose a common household object, well-known game or hobby and invent a completely fictitious origin story for it, the sillier the better. Off you go.

(Those of you who invent games - [livejournal.com profile] kauket, [livejournal.com profile] strange_powers and [livejournal.com profile] the_heiress, I'm looking at you - feel free to tell me where you got your ideas from, or indeed how you were handed down your game by an old and wise relative who invented it in a bomb shelter in the Blitz etc etc.)
(deleted comment)

Re: the balloon - a brief history

[identity profile] bluedevi.livejournal.com 2003-09-19 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I am in tears of laughter. That was the perfect antidote to two hellish hours of teaching the rudiments of MS Access. Hmm, there's a challenge, come up with an interesting story for the invention of the database...

Anyone?

Hello? *echo* Hello?

Re: the balloon - a brief history

[identity profile] kiaransalyn.livejournal.com 2003-09-19 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Fantastic! :)

Could I enquire about the whereabouts of Keith of Harris and hope that he met a grisly end?
(deleted comment)

Re: the balloon - a brief history

[identity profile] kiaransalyn.livejournal.com 2003-09-21 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I do hope that the Duke of Orville recounted his ballard about an inability to fly, during the lengthly and brutal demise of Keith of Harris.


(Having said all that I rather respected Keith Harris' drunken outbursts in the twilight of his career.)

Re: the balloon - a brief history

[identity profile] strange-powers.livejournal.com 2003-09-21 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Bwa-ha-ha... Welcome, livejournalists, to life with [livejournal.com profile] d_sameboy.

Wait until you hear the story of Roderick of Hull and how, while inventing the chimney, was pecked off his roof by a giant blue bird.