TED Talk #5: Cyber Magician

Hi Everyone,

Have you ever heard of Google Glass?  It sounds like something out of a science fiction book, but it is becoming our reality!  Check out this video about it.

Here is a fun talk for us this week about a magician who uses Google glass!

The suits, numbers and colors in a deck of cards correspond to the seasons, moon cycles and calendar. Marco Tempest straps on augmented reality goggles and does a card trick like you’ve never seen before, weaving a lyrical tale as he deals. (This version fixes a glitch in the original performance, but is otherwise exactly as seen live by the TEDGlobal audience, including the dazzling augmented reality effects.)

Hope you enjoy :-)

TED Talk #3: When I grow up, I want to be a YouTuber!

When I grow up, I want to be a doctor, photographer, policeman, fireman, teacher, veterinarian, YouTuber!  Wait, what?!  A YouTuber?!

If any child mentioned YouTuber on a list of dream jobs ten years ago, people wouldn't have had a clue what he was talking about.  Boy, have things changed.

Media has changed.  Communication has changed.  No longer is the Internet a place for professionals and computer geniuses only.  Every day people are creating and jumping in the deep side of the Web.  It's the ultimate technological power-to-the-people movement.  In this case, the power to create a video.  

The pool of video online is wide and deep!  Sometimes funny.  Sometimes sweet.  Some well-made.  Some  very well made, but, honestly, most are really, really, really bad.



What fascinates me is that even a horrendously horrible video can still score hundreds of thousands of views. That's right, hundreds of thousands.  It's crazy!

Why do some videos go viral and some fizzle out?  What is the key to getting a large audience for that video of your cat playing the piano?

This guy knows.  I bring you this week's TED Talk from Kevin Allocca.

Kevin Allocca is YouTube's trends manager.  That means he gets paid to watch YouTube videos all day!  He's got some deep thoughts about web video today.  In this talk from TEDYouth, he shares the 4 reasons a video goes viral.

Here's the link.

Enjoy the video and keep those cameras running when you, your friends, your cat, your parakeet, your dog, your grandpa, or your brother does something interesting.  You never know who will be the next trend in YouTube videos.

Resources for Writing Your Short Stories

Hello, writers!

AS you continue to work on the revisions for your short story, here are some helpful resources that make writing a  whole lot easier!

First, we have a list of transition words for narrative writing.   Don't give your reader whiplash as you abruptly jump from one place or time to another.  Guide them along with transitions. Working on your organization and transitions will help your reader "see" the story better and make your writing smoother.  Try it out and see!

Secondly, we have a guide for punctuating dialogue.  It's sometimes tricky!  I get it!  You just have to learn the rules of the road here.  You can do it!  Good dialogue can drive your plot and effectively paint a picture in the head of your reader!  Show us what's going on!  Use it correctly so your dialogue can work to help your story and not confuse your reader even more.

Lastly, we address the word said.  Repeating the word said over and over again (He said. She said. We said.) can make your writing sound boring and takes away the chance to provide some specific, showing detail. Try changing some of your "saids" to more specific verbs. Check out this list of said synonyms for some ideas.

If you are interested in seeing any other tools, let me know!!

Happy writing!

Create worlds!! 

Everything You Have Always Wanted to Know About Punctuation... and More!

Check out the coolest punctuation guide that I've seen in a long time! Do you wonder what the difference is between a comma and a semicolon?  Wonder no longer!

Go and see The Punctuation Guide before someone gets hurt!!

SOW Lesson #1: Put Your Sentence to the Test

Our first Sentence of the Week lesson focuses on creating a simple sentence.  In order to make sure your sentence is a complete sentence and not a fragment, be sure to put your sentence to the test!

 Your sentence should be able to answer the following 2 questions:

Who or what did or is something?

What did they do or what are they?

For more practice on telling a fragment from a complete sentence, check out this link to my Thinglink of web resources!  You will find games, a set of Quizlet flashcards, a video, online poster, and resources to help your sentences (and you!) pass the Sentence test!