The Sky Is Everywhere

On this first snow of the season, I thought it was the perfect day to cozy up in the heat and read. And if you're looking for something new, why not check out (two!) book trailers for one of my favorite books of the year: The Sky Is Everywhere, by Jandy Nelson.

In the book, seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, is deeply affected by the sudden death of her big sister, Bailey. As she attempts to cope, Lennie finds herself in a series of interesting situations, including unresolved feelings and curiosity about her absentee mother, a reluctance to box up her sister's things, guilt, drama in band, conflict with Gram, awkwardness with her best friend, Sarah, and most prominently, a struggle to balance two boys, despite her nonexistent relationship history.

Watch these amazing trailers to find out more:





To reserve a copy of The Sky Is Everywhere, click here!

Funny Vintage Computer Ads

What kind of man owns his own computer? The ad above is from 1980 and describes the idea of owning a computer as being "rather revolutionary."

Click here to read article in The Huffington Post called "13 Vintage Computer Ads Show How Far We've Come."

Inflatable Bag Monsters

You've got to see this! Artist Joshua Allen Harris has created amazing street art right in New York City, using only plastic garbage bags and a lot of creativity.

Another NaNoWriMo over!

Happy November 30th! For all those wondering, I have completed my novel for National Novel Writing Month and with 50, 165 words and I'm feeling a newfound sense of freedom!

The writing flowed more naturally for me this year than in previous years, and I think this was also the most fun I had with my story. I am proud to announce that I am now a five time (pretty bad) novelist! Did anybody else participate? How did you do?

Harry Potter movie

Have you seen the new Harry Potter movie yet?

If you need to re-read the book, click here to put a copy on hold: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

NaNoWriMo 2010

It's that time of year again! Time to temporarily abandon your social life, skip sleeping late on a weekend, and trade your usual hobbies for the adventure of composing a 50,000 word novel in one month.

For those of you who don't remember last year's NaNoWriMo blog post, National Novel Writing Month runs from November 1st-30th, and is a self-proclaimed "fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing" and "thirty days and thirty nights of literary abandon!" Unlike any other writing you (or anyone) has probably ever done, NaNoWriMo encourages quantity...just quantity, and that's it. It's not about producing a work of quality (and really, how could it be with just a month to complete so much?), so you can use the opportunity to just be free, write whatever you feel like writing, and know that we're all producing ridiculously bad works of literature together - that's part of the fun!

Sound like something you'd like to try? This will be my fifth year embarking on the challenging and really kind of silly journey and I'm getting myself ready by trying to plot out different kinds of turns for my story to take. To be honest, it's looking like it might be a pretty mundane story - but hey, it doesn't matter! Knowing that you just wrote a whole novel, no matter how terrible, is an AWESOME feeling!

So do you want to sign up? Check out the Official National Novel Writing Website for more information.

Good luck writers!

Exciting New for Rick Riordan Fans

Hey Percy Jackson fans! We've got some exciting news! First, if you haven't heard yet, the arrival of the first book in Rick Riordan's newest Heroes of the Olympus series - The Lost Hero comes out on Tuesday, October 12! If you're eagerly awaiting the day, put a copy on old now!

And for those of you who canNOT get enough of Rick Riordan's fabulously adventurous writing, there's a very special event going on Tuesday night, the night the book comes out! You can be a part of the largest demigod gathering in history! Rick Riordan will be broadcasting live from Camp Half-Blood! Be sure to register for this FREE live webcast as soon as possible! It will be held on October 12th (7pm Eastern, 6pm Central, 5pm Mountain, 4pm Pacific). To register, visit camphalfblood.com.

Want to know what the book is about ahead of time? Here's a quote from the official Heroes of the Olympus website on what the first book is all about:

After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Now, in a brand-new series from blockbuster best-selling author Rick Riordan, fans return to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they'll need the help of some familiar demigods.

Exciting stuff! Enjoy!

Halloween is a month away!

Halloween is just around the corner - one month away! So, it's time to start planning this year's costume!

For some creative, homemade, and easy costume ideas check out Parenting.com's article:

35+ Easy Homemade Halloween Costumes for Kids. (Most can be adapted for bigger kids and even adults! I may just go ahead and make one of these for myself.)

Good luck crafting and Happy Halloween!

Games on cupcakes?

Do you recognize what games are pictured on the cupcakes above? I somehow stumbled across THIS AWESOME WEBSITE filled with game-themed cupcakes. And they're not just cute pictures- they're a GAME!

Browse through the 100 cupcake pictures and see what you know. Then roll your mouse over the question marks to see if you're right. I had a good time admiring the frosting-masterpieces as well as testing my game-recognition in the 100 Games Cupcake Game.

Happy Fall!

Today marks the first official full Fall day! The summer ended last night just a little past 11pm (while we were all asleep!). Fall marks the start of all kinds of exciting things like cooler temperatures (but not too cold - those come in Winter), beautifully colored leaves on trees, and knowing that Halloween is just around the corner.

Why not read a fun Fall book? Here are some ideas:

Seasonal Crafts: Autumn by Gillian Chapman

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

Picking Apples & Pumpkins by Amy and Richard Hutchings

How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro

Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins

Fall is For Friends by Suzy Spafford

Have a Happy Fall everybody!

Legend of The Guardians : The Owls of Ga'Hoole arrives today

Legend of The Guardians : The Owls of Ga'Hoole opens in theaters Friday! Even if you haven't read the books yet, who wouldn't love to look at talking owls this cute?

For those unfamiliar, here is a plot synopsis adapted from the one on Movie Insider:

The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from Soren. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences--causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls.

Be sure to check out the beloved "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" series by Kathryn Lasky. Click here to place a hold on the first book!

And visit the official movie website here: http://legendoftheguardians.warnerbros.com/#/home

Flipped Has Arrived.

Incase you missed it, Flipped opened this past weekend in a few select theaters around Long Island! So exciting!

Haven't read Wendelin Van Draanen's fabulous book yet? Come in and check one out or click here to reserve a copy.

Here's a quick plot refesher from Movietickets.com for those who read it a while ago (that would be me-- thanks Movietickets):

When second-graders Bryce and Juli first meet, Juli knows its love. But Bryce isn't so sure. Girl-phobic and easily embarrassed, young Bryce does everything he can to keep his outspoken wannabe girlfriend at arm's length... for the next six years, which isn't easy since they go to the same school and live across the street from each other. But if Juli finally looks away, will it be Bryce's turn to be dazzled? "Flipped" takes Bryce and Juli from grade school to junior high; through triumph and disaster, family drama and first love, as they make the discoveries that will define who they are - and who they are to each other.

Awesome book, awesome author, hopefully awesome movie. Exciting stuff!

Happy Birthday, Roald Dahl!

Happy Birthday, Roald Dahl!

If he was still alive, today would mark Roald Dahl's 94th birthday.

In celebration, check out one of Roald Dahl's famous, fantastic children's novels such as The BFG, the ever-popular Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, or my personal favorite, Matilda.

Or find your own favorite in the library!

And did you know there are several biographies on Roald, such as "D is for Dahl: a gloriumptious A-Z guide to the world of Roald Dahl".

And be sure to take a look at Roald Dahl's AWESOME website: http://www.roalddahl.com There's a lot to read and do!

Happy Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Happy September! Did you know it's now officially Library Card Sign-up month? If you don't have one yet, now's the time! Want to know why? Here are a few things you can do:

1. Access the computers (and the printer) at the library.
2. Check out books, movies, music, games, and other materials.
3. Sign up for all kinds of cool FREE programs and activities.
4. Get personal homework help or do research from the comfort of your home.

Come in, get a card, and find out how you can do all of these things. For more information call or visit your library's website!

And for more on what you can do with a library card check out the American Library Association's "52 Ways to use your library card."

Scott Pilgrim Avatar Creator!

Hey fans of Scott Pilgrim! Have you read the whole (awesome!) graphic novel series? Saw the movie? Gotten to the point where you really just wanted to Scott Pilgrim-ize yourself? Welp, I just did. Check it out:

Make your own Scott Pilgrim avatar by clicking here: http://www.scottpilgrimthemovie.com/avatarCreator/

Mockingjay!

Happy Mockingjay Day!!!

To put a copy on reserve, click here.

The Social Network (the Facebook movie) trailer

Yep. They're making a movie about Facebook starring Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerburg. Check out the trailer below:

The movie is due out October 1st. To read more about the plot and cast check out IMDB.

Don't Let The Pidgeon Drive The Bus Board Game

Exciting news! University Games is releasing a new board game for kids: DON'T LET THE PIDGEON DRIVE THE BUS GAME!

The board is one big city scene, and you (the player) get to drive a bus! Your job is to collect four tokens from various stores on the board... But watch out for the Pigeon! If he catches you than you have to go back to start! (your opponents get to move the Pigeon if the spinner points to the Pigeon during their turn). Once you've got your tokens, be the first to get to the Bus Depot and you win!

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS GAME! should be hitting the shelves of your favorite toy shop by end of August. Awesome!

Suzanne Collins comes to Barnes and Noble!

Are you a Hunger Games fan?

If so, you'll be excited to hear that at 7:00pm, on Tuesday, August 24th (the same day Mockingjay comes out!), Suzanne Collins will be appearing at Barnes and Noble in Huntington Station!

Bracelets (admittance for the event) will available on Monday, August 23rd at 9:00am. You need a bracelet to see her, so don't miss out!

Or, click here to request a copy of Mockingjay.

Twilight: Eclipse – The 8-Bit Interactive Game

Ok. This is awesome (and funny)! You've GOT to try this 8-bit (cool in and of itself) choose-your-own-adventure Twilight Eclipse game.



Note to all Twilight fans: This game doesn't take itself or the book/movie series too seriously. Make sure you play it with a sense of humor!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 5!

This fall, everything changes... because Diary of a Wimpy Kid 5 is coming out! Jeff Kinney's fifth Diary of a Wimpy Kid book will be released Tuesday, November 9th of this year. Exciting!

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

Attention fans of Knuffle Bunny! Mo Willems' third Knuffle Bunny book, Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion is due to hit the shelves September 28th. I had the privilege of checking out an advanced reader copy, and as an adult, truthfully, (I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it!) it was my favorite Knuffle Bunny book yet! Be sure to take a look ASAP by putting a copy on hold here.

New Pinkalicious

Are you a Pinkalicious fan? Yes? Then you've got to check out the newest books, Pinkalicous and the Pink Drink (which came out Tuesday) and Pinkalicous, Tickled Pink (which comes out July 27th).

In Victoria Kann's Pinkalicous and the Pink Drink, Pinkalicious gets a pinkariffic idea: she'll start a lemonade stand! She quickly gets to work, but she has to figure out what ingredients she'll need to make the most perfectly pink lemonade.

In Pinkalicious, Tickled Pink, "Tiffany challenges Pinkalicious to a laugh-off. The pressure is on to create the most pinkerrifically funny joke of all time. Even if Pinkalicious doesn't win the contest, she's going to have a lot of fun trying!"

For more information on new books by Victoria Kann click here!

Modern Toilet

Ok, don't think I'm crazy, but ever since I heard about this restaurant a few months ago, I can't stop thinking about it (2 thumbs up for the Travel Channel). Anyway, I figured if it made such an impression on me, maybe it'll make an impression on all of you too... so I'm going to share it, but please, don't think I'm crazy.

It's called Modern Toilet and it's a bathroom-themed chain restaurant that is based in Taiwan, but expanding into China and other parts of Asia too (There are 12 branches in total, currently). The seats are toilets, fancy, stylish and acrylic with the lid down, of course. The tables are a layer of glass with a sink underneath. And the BEST part is that the food comes in a a mini toilet bowl and the drinks come in a mini urinal! Also, the REAL BEST part (and this is what started it all), the soft-serve ice cream comes to you in a dish shaped like a squat toilet!

Before Modern Toilet was a full restaurant, its owner, Wang Zi-wei, 29, had an ice cream shop that began selling chocolate ice cream swirls on paper squat toilets with tons of success. He got the idea for it from a Japanese robot cartoon character, Jichiwawa, who loved to play with poop. Grossly awesome, yes?

According to this article in TIME, the restaurant's menu includes curries, pasta, and fried chicken, as well as several shaved-ice desserts with gross names that are just a teeny bit too descriptive (read the article).

When I saw this on the Travel Channel I immediately thought, "If the dining room is full of toilets, what's in the bathroom?" Actually it made me a little bit anxious to think about, but luckily the restaurant does have proper bathrooms and they are, apparently, very well marked (so no mistakes). However don't think you'll get to wash your hands in a regular sink. Nope, their sinks are in toilets too.

Want to see more pictures? Here's some on Fun Fever, and here's some on Spot Cool Stuff Travel.

I hope one of these restaurants comes to New York! Otherwise, does anyone want to go to Taiwan?

Oh, and folding chairs and normal dishware are available if you really can't handle all the toilets. But what's the fun in that?!

Benny and Penny comics

Blog alert! Just a few weeks ago award-winning author and illustrator, Geoffrey Hayes created a blog for his graphic novel characters, Benny and Penny.

The all-original comics posted on this blog are specially designed for emerging readers, in terms of both vocabulary and content. Every Monday there will be a new story with Benny, Penny and their friends (you can print these out and color them). Plus every Wednesday there will be a new cartoon, where you'll get to suggest what Benny and Penny could be saying in the blank balloons, and Geoffrey will post his favorites!

You can even write to the author through the blog's in the comments and he’ll answer you personally!

Click here to put "Benny and Penny in Just Pretend: A Toon Book" on hold.

Or click here to put "Benny and Penny in The Big No-No!" on hold.

Meet the authors of the 39 Clues books!

Monday, May 24th!

Mark your calendars because the authors of the "39 Clues" books are coming the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Station! At 6:00pm, you'll have your chance to meet four of the award-winning authors: Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Jude Watson, and Peter Lerangis.

Bracelets for the event will be distributed Sunday, May 23rd at 10:00am. For more information, you can contact the store at 631-421-9886.

It should be exciting!

If you haven't read any of the 39 Clues books, click here to put a copy of the first one (Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan) on hold!

Novel-T Jerseys

Wearing a jersey is a good way to show your support for your favorite athletes. But what about showing support for your favorite authors and novel characters?

Welp, now there's a jersey for doing that too! With lost of famous names available such as Vonnegut, Sawyer, Poe, Thoreau, Quixote, Gatsby and more, you're sure to find a Novel-T, that fits your liking.

Novel-T, will donate $1 of each purchase to 826NYC, a nonprofit organization in New York City that helps students ages 6 to 18 with writing skills.

You can order them here!

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

Can you imagine Mo Willems' book, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale as a musical? Well, someone did!
The Kennedy Center in Washingon DC, has performances of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, and the people have spoken: It's good!

If you haven't read the Knuffly Bunny book, the story takes place in Brooklyn, "where Dad accepts the daunting task of taking his toddler daughter, Trixie, with him to the Laundromat... With all the excitement of putting the clothes in the machine, they unknowingly toss Trixie’s beloved stuffed animal, Knuffle (pronounced KA-nuff-ul) Bunny, in there, too. On their way home, Dad, who cannot interpret Trixie’s toddler babble, doesn’t know why Trixie is so upset, but once they get there, Mom immediately understands Trixie’s cries of anguish. They run back to the Laundromat where Dad heroically saves Knuffle Bunny and Trixie is inspired to say her first words."

This play's got humor, dancing, and songs (such as "Tricky with Trixie"). The script and lyrics are by Mo Willems and the music by Michael Silversher. It's directed by Rosemary Newcott, and recommended for ages 4 and up.

The show will be on a national tour beginning in October 2010 and running though May 2011. The first stop will be in Washingtonton DC. More info on the tour will be announced here.

Flipped is coming to theaters

Have you read Wendelin Van Draanen's novel Flipped? Did you love it? Welp, great news! It's being made into a movie!

The movie, starring Madeline Carroll as Juli Baker and Callan McAuliffe as Bryce Loski, is due out September 17th of this year.

If you haven't read the book yet (you have to read it before you see the movie) it's written in alternation perspective chapters between Bryce and Juli. The two young teens, while growing up, describe their feelings about themselves, their peers, family, and mostly, each other--even though they are complete opposites.

To read more about the movie click here.

To reserve a copy of the book click here.

Earth Day 2010

Happy Earth Day!

Every year, since 1969, we have observed Earth Day on April 22nd. Earth Day's purpose is to increase public awareness of environmental issues such as recycling, pollution, energy, and global warming.

There are lots of easy, small things you can do to help care for our planet. Here are a few ideas:

1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Or, better yet, if there's enough sunlight coming in, leave the lights off when you enter a room.

2. Reuse the back-sides of paper.

3. Turn off the water when you're not using it, specifically when brushing your teeth.

4. Don't leave the refridgerator open for too long. Decide what you want before opening the door because it takes more energy to cool the refridgerator down after the warmer air has come in.

5. Unplug unused electrical devices throughout your house. Anything plugged into an electrical socket, but not turned on will still use some amount of energy. This energy is being wasted! So besure to unplug old toys, stereos, and chargers that you aren't using.

6. Pack a greener lunch: Use a cloth bag instead of paper bags, and pack your food in reusable plastic or metal containers, instead of plastic wrap or foil. You can also pack your drink in a reusable bottle or thermos, and even try using a cloth napkin instead of paper ones.

7. Check out a book on Earth-friendly crafting, such as this one, for instance.

And why not read a few short storioes about the saving the Earth for inspiration? Here are some titles to get you started:

Just A Dream, by Chris Van Allsburg

Charlie & Lola: We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers, by Lauren Child

Stuff!: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, by Steven Kross

The Great Trash Bash, by Loreen Leedy

Abigale the Happy Whale, by Peter Farrelly

New Stephenie Meyer Book

Attention Twilight lovers! Stephenie Meyer's new novella, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, comes out exactly two months from today, on June 5th! And it's her first new book in two years.

The story is told from the point of view of Bree, one of the newborn vampires introduced to us in Eclipse. Throughout the novel, "Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion" (Amazon).

If you want to, you can pre-order the book from Books-A-Million or from Amazon now!

Or, click here to read more about the book in a USA Today article.

Peeps as...

This week is (was?) officially Peeps Week 2010 and, in honor of this delicious holiday week(end), I thought I would share with you some fun and interesting ways to eat and serve Peeps. I got ALL of them from awesome Serious Eats website, which also has all kinds of other interesting and yummy recipes.

Here goes...

(1) Peeps as Peeps Krispie Treats



Apparently, although these are made the same way regular rice crispy treats are made, Peeps Krispie Treats taste sweeter that regular ones (sprinkly sugar on top, maybe?). Plus, they're so pretty and colorful! I'm thinking of giving these a shot myself actually, because they look so easy to make. Click the link above for instructions.

(2) Peeps as Peepshi



You can make Peepshi (Peeps Sushi!) with just some peeps, rice crispy treats, and Fruit by the Foot. But you have take a picture before you eat it, because this one's all about the image. Click the link above for a Beginners Guide to Peepshi.

(3) Peeps as S'meeps



Seems so obvious, but I didn't think of it! Apparently these taste just like regular s'mores, but have an extra (and delightful) subtle crunch. I'm also considering making these.

(4) Peeps as Fluffernutter



This one has a surprise! It's not just a regular fluffernutter sandwich with a marshmallow swap. Nope. Instead of ordinary bread, this sandwich is made with 1" pieces of POUND CAKE. Mmmmm!

(5) Peeps as Peepza



Okay, I'll be honest, when I first stumbled upon this I let out an, "Ewww!" But then I gave it a bit of actual consideration and yep, I can see this giving me the exact salty/sweet combo I am always craving (you know, like chocolate covered pretzels do). You're actually supposed to melt the peeps, and when you think about it (really) pizza with a little extra sweet... probably pretty okay.

(6) Peeps as Chocolate Covered Peepsicles



I don't know how you can go wrong with this one, really. Plus it seems totally easy to make. I'd imagine that, in addition to coconut, you could probably cover these guys in sprinkles or even maybe a caramel drizzle or something.

Happy Peeps Week, guys!

Behind the Scenes of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie

If you've read Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, than chances are, by now, you've seen the totally awesome Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie (seriously, wasn't it awesome?) We've got some exclusive pictures, care of Custom Film Effects, of some special visual effects used to create some scenes.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opening Date

Big news!!! Universal Studios has unveiled the opening date of their new and very much anticipated theme park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

The park, which is part of Universal's Islands of Adventure, will officially be opening their towering castle gates on...

June 18th!!!!

But! If you're really, super, extra excited and you just canNOT wait until June 18th, the attraction will be open beginning May 28th for park guests who buy a special Harry Potter Travel Package (which are still available here under "tickets and vacation".)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will provide its visitors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the magical world of Harry Potter. Guests will be able to visit iconic locations found in the books and movies, including Dumbledore's Office, the Defence Agency Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the Gryffindor common room.

Rides will include the Dragon Challenge and the Flight of the Hippogriff.

About the park, J.K. Rowling says, “The plans I’ve seen look incredibly exciting, and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed.”

Hey, if J.K. Rowling isn't disappointed, how can any of us be?

Ramona and Beezus are coming to the big screen!

A little sister goes a long way. We'll find out this summer when Beverly Cleary's Ramona comes to the big screen in Ramona and Beezus!

The movie, due out July 23, 2010, is written by Laurie Craig and Nick Putsay. It stars acting-newcomer Joey King (as Ramona Quimby), Selna Gomez (as her big sister Beezus), Ginnifer Goodwin (as Aunt Bea), Sandra Oh (as Mrs. Meacham), and several others!

"Ramona’s vivid imagination, boundless energy, and accident-prone antics keep everyone she meets on their toes. But her irrepressible sense of fun, adventure and mischief come in handy when she puts her mind to helping save her family’s home" (Walden Media).

If you haven't read Beverly Cleary's popular Ramona books, click below to try a few out:

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona the Brave

Ramona Forever

Ramona and Her Mother

Beezus and Ramona

Or come into the library for others. There are a ton in the series!

And, if you can't wait these four long months (exactly, to the day!) for the movie, take a peek at the trailer below:

Hunger Games Movie

Newsflash! Lionsgate officially announced, today, that it has acquired the rights to the film version of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!

Suzanne Collins is at work adapting the screenplay from her novel and Nina Jacobson will be producing the movie, due out in 2011. The announcement was made by Joe Drake, Lionsgate President. (Comingsoon.net)

Get excited by watching Suzanne Collins read part of The Hunger Games below:



For more Hunger Games fun, check out this site!

Or, if you haven't read the book yet (but now you really want to), click here to put a copy on hold!

Beware the Ides of March!

I'm sure by now you've all heard the famous March 15th expression, "Beware the Ides of March." In fact, many of you might even know that the saying came from Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, but do you know exactly what it means?

I didn't, and it bothered me, so I decided to do a little bit (really, just a little bit) of investigation.

The earliest Roman calendar was organized around the moon. A few prominent days were named: Kalends (the 1st day of the month), Nones (the 7th day in March, May, July, and October, OR the 5th day in the other months), and Ides (the 15th day in March, May, July, and October, or the 13th day in the other months).

So, really, Ides didn't have any more of a special meaning than Kalends or Nones. And it came every month.

Then, on March 15th 44BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by Roman Senators who were concerned that he had too much power.

Then in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, a soothsayer says, "Beware the Ides of March" to Julius Caesar to warn him that this was going to be his assassination day.

Now, still, the soothsayer's warning gives today's date a sense of foreboding and impending danger.

If you're still interested, request a book or two on Julius Caesar.

(Information from InfoPlease and Dr. Robyn Silverman)

Official Eclipse Trailer!

It's up!!! As promised, here is the official Eclipse trailer! So exciting!

Eclipse 10-Second Trailer

This is such a tease, but I can't help but feel excited anyway...

It's a 10-second trailer for the Eclipse movie, from book number three in Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series. The FULL preview comes out tomorrow (I'll post it), but for now, enjoy this tiny preview of the trailer (that I just may have watched several times).

Got Required Reading?

Let's face it. Even the most avid readers don't love every single required reading for English class. There are lots of services out there that try to help make the classics easier, but here's one that's a little different. It's called 60second Recap and its mission is "to make the great works of literature accessible, relevant, and, frankly, irresistible to today's teens."

And it does; it really does!

60second Recap, officially launched on September 14, 2009, is comprised of fabulously explained (and also funny!) 60-second skits by host, Jenny. Jenny sums up each of the classics in a series of 1-minute movies, each covering plot, characters, themes, symbols, or other relevant ideas. She actually does make even my most hated required reading seem interesting (Great Expectations, written in 1860 by Charles Dickens, actually seems interesting to me! Who thought?)

So far, there are 23 classic books covered on the site (under "The Library" section) but Jenny doesn't fail to include a link to request a recap (after logging in), so I'd predict there to be more on the site in the future, for sure.

Besides the old classics, Jenny also does a "Pick of the Week" where she covers fun, non-required reading (in less detail, but how much detail do you really need? These books speak for themselves.) So if you're looking for something new to read, try watching Jenny's "Pick of the Week" for an idea. So far she's suggested all pretty awesome books: Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson), Walk Two Moons (Sharon Creech), Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), etc.

Other features: "Recap Resource" where Jenny explains terms like allegory, metaphor, and satire, and also has tips on how to write a paper. And "Club Recap" where viewers can create and post their own video responses.

It's absolutely a site worth checking out for help with required and nonrequired reading. It's even funny!

XtraNormal

Do you like that video? I made it myself! And you can make your own too! I found this really fun website called XtraNormal. It lets you choose characters, actions, and a setting, and then use text-to-speech software to create dialog. It's so easy (and free). Try it out and let us see your videos! It's really fun (and good for a potential snow day?).

Snow Day!!!

Happy snow day!!!

When you're tired and cold from sledding and snow ball fights, here's 10 more ideas to keep you busy both inside and outside.

1. Fill a spray bottle with water and few drops of food coloring. Then make your way back outside and decorate the awesome snow sculptures you made.

2. Try making snow ice cream! It's actually pretty easy! Directions can be found here!

3. Get out your old Lego's and create something huge! See if you can make a whole city (if you've got enough blocks).

4. Go Internet window shopping. Amazon.com lets you make a Wish List for every member of the family. Search the site, add items, prioritize your list and add notes!

5. With Valentine's Day less than a week away, check out this page full of Valentine's Day recipes and make something for someone you love.

6. This one seems so wrong, which is why it's so very right. Find instructions here on how to make a totally washable and awesome stained glass window paint! Then make your masterpiece.

7. Remember blanket forts from childhood? Bring back the blanket fort!! Remember to leave a peep hole to watch TV or movies out of. And make sure to stock up on snacks ahead of time so you don't have to leave.

8. Make a time capsule. 2010 is the perfect year to stock up on memories. Fill a shoebox or coffee can with things like newspaper articles, photos, magazines, music, and whatever else you can think of (click here for ideas). Make sure whatever you put in will remind you of 2010 in the future. Then hide the box (in the basement?) and mark it with a big "Do Not Open Until 2020!"

9. Make meal time fun. Eat in the dining room and/or with fancy dishes, or try have an indoor picnic on the floor.

10. Learn how to make paper beads! Then string them!