Link of the Day: Challenge Your Writing Style

The Huffington Post:  5 Ways To Try A New Writing Style

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When I first started writing back in my teen years, first person was my go-to tense.  It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started experimenting in 3rd person, and realized that it not only offered a different flavor to my overall work, but also pushed me to write even better.  As writers, we have to constantly challenge ourselves to be better.  Whether that includes writing a genre we’re unfamiliar with, or writing in a different tense, changing things up is extremely important.

Experimenting is often key when writing, and today’s link of the day shows five ways that you can change up your writing style and tackle the unknown, and maybe even become a better writer in the process.  So, check out the link above and challenge your creativity today!

And, let us know in the comment section below how you have changed up your own writing, and how it has benefited you as a writer.

Happy Wednesday All and Keep On Writing!

Link of the Day: ‘Porno’, the Sequel to ‘Trainspotting’, May be in the Works

The Huffington Post:  ‘Trainspotting’ Sequel: ‘Porno’ Coming In 2016, Says Danny Boyle 

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When I first saw ‘Trainspotting’ a few years back (yes, I was late in the game to see this movie), I instantly fell in love with it.  Now, I couldn’t be more pleased to hear that a sequel is planned to come out in 2016.

‘Trainspotting’, adapted from the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh, was directed by Danny Boyle, and Boyle will be adapting Welsh’s follow-up novel, ‘Porno’, into the sequel of ‘Trainspotting’.  Boyle also noted that the screenwriter for ‘Trainspotting’ is writing the screenplay for ‘Porno’, and that hopefully the original cast, which included Ewan McGregor, will join the project as well.

Below is the trailer for ‘Trainspotting’.  If you haven’t seen this movie, I definitely recommend it.

Have you seen ‘Trainspotting’?  What do you think of a sequel?  Let us know in the comment section below!

Happy Monday All!

Link of the Day: Happy National Grammar Day!

Via: Huffington Post

The Huffington Post:  National Grammar Day – 11 Embarrassing Grammar Mistakes

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One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing the terrible grammar and spelling that floods the internet.  Whether it is using “your” instead of “you’re”, or misspelling a word to the point that it becomes unreadable, people on Facebook, Twitter, and even blogs give their past (or present) English teachers a bad name.

I don’t know if people are too lazy, or honestly don’t realize their mistakes, but today, for National Grammar Day, we are allowed to make fun of those who can’t spell or use correct punctuation marks.

So, check out the link above and see some terribly embarrassing grammar mistakes.  And remember, when in doubt, SPELL CHECK!

Happy Monday & National Grammar Day All!

Link of the Day: The Little Free Library

The Huffington Post:  Duayne Samples Builds Little Free Library In Front Yard

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Books are important: they expand and excite the imagination, take you around the world, and teach you real-life lessons.  However, with modern-day technology, video games, and TV, less and less children are actually reading, let alone going to libraries.

Duayne Samples, a resident of Folsom, California, found an opportunity to bring books closer to home and promote the importance of reading.  Setting up a mail-box type structure, he built the ‘Little Free Library’.  It’s motto is, “Take a book.  Leave a book.  Or do both.” and so far, it has gained recognition and praise.

Check out the link above to see a video of Samples’ ‘Little Free Library’, and how this convenient creation is empowering both the community and the imagination.

Happy Wednesday All & Keep Reading!

Link of the Day: Oscars 2013 Recap

The Huffington Post:  Oscars Recap - Affleck’s ‘Argo’ Wins Best Picture, Michelle Obama Appears & More

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The 2013 Oscars was definitely the program to watch last night.  With big awards, live musical numbers (way too many if you ask me), and a trip up the steps while accepting an Oscar (don’t worry, we still love you Jennifer Lawrence) it was a (long) night of entertainment.

In my opinion, Seth MacFarlane did a decent job as a host.  Yes, he received some bad reviews for his “tasteless”, “racist”, and “sexist” jokes, but what did you expect from the creator of ‘Family Guy’ and ‘Ted’?!  The big awards of the night went to Tarantino, Ang Lee, and ‘Argo’, and I couldn’t be happier that these movies received the respect they deserved.

If you missed out on the Oscars last night, make sure to click on the link above, and check out a full Oscar recap.  If you were able to stay up and see it, let us know in the comment section below what you thought!

Happy Monday All!

Link of the Day: Snow Flakes Just Falling on My Nose

The Huffington Post:  Snow Facts – Interesting Trivia About Winter Weather

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I’m definitely not a winter person, but I do love snow.  I loved building snowmen and snow forts as a child, and still to this day I love trekking around in ankle deep snow piles.

I’ve lived in Madrid, Spain for 4 years now, and the only time we got enough snow to actually qualify it as “snow” was two years ago.  The Spanish children were thrilled (as this was probably their first winter wonderland, since it was the first time it had snowed that much in 30 years), and the adults, while they weren’t the best drivers on the icy roads, were excited as well.  This year however, Madrid did not get any snow (except for in the mountains), and when I Skyped with my mother the other day, I yearned for the fluffy, white powder that stuck to her Michigan front lawn.

Snow fascinates me – the way each snowflake is different, just like a human fingerprint, and how a fresh, new snowfall can make a cold winter day seem so magical – so when I stumbled across these facts about snow, I was wishing even more for a few flakes here in Madrid.

I’m sure many of you in the States, especially those who have been hit hard from Nemo, are just waiting for your snow to melt.  But, I do miss it, and remember that once it’s gone, it is not coming back until next year.  So, enjoy it for a while, and check out these fun facts about winter and snow!

Happy Tuesday All!

Link of the Day: Detroit – A City of History and Possibility

The Huffington Post:  Amy Sacka, Detroit Photographer, Captures City Day At A Time For A Year In ‘Owen Was Here’

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I was born in Detroit, but grew up outside of the city.  I never knew the city until I started dating someone who grew up and lived there.  While I dated him, I would go down to what would be considered the “ghetto” at least twice a week.  We would sit on his parent’s house porch, watching the city go by in front of us.

Detroit has gotten a bad rap for many years.  When people, even my friends here in Spain, hear the word Detroit, the first word that pops in their mind is “crime”.  Unfortunately, it’s true.  Detroit came in #1 on Forbes’ 2012 list of “America’s Most Dangerous Cities”.  And, even more unfortunate, the boyfriend I mentioned above ended up getting shot and killed in his own Detroit city.

While turmoil and crime masks the motor-city, there is more to Detroit than meets the eye.  Photographer, Amy Sacka, found this out herself when she took on a year-long project of photographing the streets of Detroit.  Her beautiful photos show us the people, places, and happenings of Detroit, and how, though it may be hard to see at first, Detroit is a city with dedicated citizens, an amazing history, and huge potential.

My ex-boyfriend who lived his entire life in Detroit, and eventually died there, had major love for his city.  It was his home, and he took everything it gave – the good and the bad – and showed me, a young girl from the suburbs, how much Detroit really has to offer.  We are all wanting a change for Detroit, and supposedly something is being planned for the motor-city.  So, instead of “crime” being the first word that people think of when hearing about Detroit, “possibility” and “history” should be the new descriptions Detroit triggers.

Visiting Detroit is like attempting something new for the first time.  Don’t knock it until you try it.

Happy Sunday All!

Link of the Day: Goldfish Afloat!

The Huffington Post:  Goldfish Uses Harness to Help Stay Afloat While Swimming

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It is a common myth that fish have a three-second memory span.  In fact, fish are relatively intelligent animals who have long-term memories, and studies have shown that fish also use tools.

The video above shows how a simple harness tool has given a new life to a goldfish.  Having trouble staying afloat, this goldfish now is able to swim thanks to her owner, who created a floating harness!

 There has been quite a few disabled animals in the news lately who have gotten a new start thanks to their human companions.  And while most people forget about their silent, swimming friends, it is nice to see that one fish has not been forgotten!

So, check out the link above to read more about this amazing goldfish, and next, learn about “The Hidden Lives of Fish”.

Happy Thursday All!

Link of the Day: T-Shirts to Toilet Paper

Via: Huff Post Green

The Huffington Post:  DIY T-Shirt Projects: Ideas for Reusing Old Tees

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I love creating, and enjoy reusing and recycling old materials.  These ideas for reusing old t-shirts are both fun and handy – check out the toilet paper tip!

So take a look at the link above, and start recycling!

Happy Monday All!

Link of the Day: ‘Paperman’ Takes Disney Back to Its Roots

Geek:  Disney Shows Off Groundbreaking Animation Technique in Paperman Short

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Disney has officially uploaded the animated short-film, Paperman.  Paperman introduced the feature film Wreck It Ralph in theaters, and has also been nominated for Best Animated Short Film for the 2013 Academy Awards.

I absolutely love animation, and I grew up with Disney.  With everyone using CGI (computer-generated imagery) now-a-days, animation has gone from simple drawings in motion to 3D real-life imagery, as if we were actually watching real actors on the screen.  However, with Paperman, first-time director John Kahrs wanted to recapture the roots of Disney and animation, and bring back the “expressiveness of 2D”, adding in CGI, to create a unique and touching short.

Watch the Oscar nominated short above, and also check out the link to see director, John Kahrs, discuss the drawings of Paperman.  

Happy Friday All!