Powering a lightbulb: Infographics

Are you looking for some dandy graphics to explain ideas to your students (or are your teaching colleagues looking to you to do this??)?

Good.is has some useful transparencies, including this one.  Site link.  Image only.
Share this with your Science, Geography, Maths etc teaching colleagues, then investigate what else you can find on the site to share among their infographics (some fairly US-centric, but not all).

Cheers

Ruth

Valentine's Day Interview With Married Co-Authors

For Valentine’s Day, I present co-authors of  the Morrigan’s Brood Series, Heather Poinsett Dunbar and Christopher Dunbar. While they work together, the authors have managed to stay married (to each other) over these past 11+ years!


The Morrigan's Brood Series encompasses two books (published so far) and the Dunbars reassure us that many more are on the way. Happy Valentine's Day everybody!


HERE'S THAT INTERVIEW!


Tami: There are a number of romantic relationships that develop between characters in your second book, Morrigan’s Brood: Crone of War.  Which couple did you find to be the most romantic of all, and why?
Heather and Chris: Well, we each had our own favorite couple for this book… neither was the obvious choice, but sometimes it’s the minor characters who tug at your heartstrings.


Chris: I liked Máel Muire’s and Seanán’s relationship. They had one of the longest (mortal) relationships in the two books.  They knew each other and loved each other from an early age, as Seanán was fostered by Máel Muire’s father, Conghal. Seanán loved Maél Muire so much, during the rite of passage, where betrothed men prove their ability to support a wife by venturing into the wild with only a knife, he killed a bear at great risk to himself.


Heather: I would say Berti and Sitara were my favorites in the second book because I witnessed them grow from mere friends into a family.  Berti helped Sitara when her entire family had died, and she would never forget that kindness. They had such genuine affection for each other.  Maybe their passion wasn’t always at a boiling point, but when infatuation cools, sometimes one is left with little more than memories and regrets.  If a couple is truly lucky, they have a deep love and respect for each other after the first fervor fades and a spiritual connection grows.  I also found this relationship unique in that Berti and Sitara are from different races; Sitara, in fact is a cross between Persian and Indian.


Tami: What is the most difficult part and the easiest part about writing as a couple?
Heather: Early on, our egos were at war with each other.  The hardest thing for us to discover on our journey was that we both needed to learn how to listen to each other.  We realized that we both have great ideas and our unique talents to bring to the whole.  Chris is a great storyteller.  He’s very good at seeing the big picture and knows how to make flat characters come to life.  I spend my time clarifying the story, on first draft.  I also research the historical era and type up what we've written on paper.  Using that same technique, I’m typing our answers to this interview.  Don’t worry, Chris will go back over this and make sure I’m not putting words into his mouth!


Chris: I am the storyteller, she says.  I think it is more accurate to say that I am the movie watcher, for I see the events. Our first draft entails whatever first played out in the cinema called my imagination.  Of course Heather’s silhouette is there, as she comments on the movie and suggests ways to make it better. Occasionally I hear, “that’s a stupid idea,” or, “that is completely out of character.”  So Heather writes down the story with pen and paper… no smart phone or USB voice to text mobile device for us! (Though Heather sometimes uses Dragon software to put written word to computer.)


Heather: Hey, I’ve never said your ideas are ‘stupid,’ Chris.  I just said that I didn’t think they’d work!  LOL.


Heather and Chris: The best part is? We get to work together and see satisfying results from that effort.  We both have written non-fiction and fiction before, and we have found our fiction writing is much stronger when we work together. It’s easier for two people to critically examine an idea and decide if it will work or not.  There’s also the old adage about how writing can be great therapy.  Perhaps it can serve as excellent marriage counseling as well!


Tami: What are the two of you working on now?
Heather and Chris: Right now our plates are pretty full!  We’re working on short stories that occur between the end of book two, Morrigan’s Brood: Crone of War, and book three, Morrigan’s Brood: Dark Alliance.  We’re also preparing to publish Dark Alliance, the third novel in our series, in July, as well as working on the first drafts of books six, seven, and eight.  We also try to keep our blog updated once in awhile.


Chris: Outside of writing, I work on various leather working projects.  Lately, I have been assembling a notepad folder for Heather.  I have also made sporrans, belts, pouches, scabbards, sheaths, baldrics, armor, and other leather constructs.  I also occasionally torture my cats with didgeridoo droning and beating on one of our many drums.  My profession is Business Continuity Management, which entails preparing companies for disasters and helping them when disaster strikes.


Heather: I enjoy soaping in my spare time.  I create Celtic-themed molded soaps mixing both essential oils and oil blends with soap.  I also make other smelly products, such as lip balms, body lotions, salt scrubs, lotion bars, and body sprays.  My products can be found on Oak Haven Soaps.  I also work full time as a librarian at a large urban library.


Heather and Chris: We are also slaves to three katkids, named Lucius, Ophelia, and Clyde.  They demand entertainment at all hours.


CONCLUSION:
Heather and I would love to thank Tami for giving us this opportunity to speak on her blog to all of her lovely fans.  We hope you enjoyed our interview, and we would love for you to find us online.  Cheers!


Tami: I am just thrilled the two of you were willing to interview for Vampire Review. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your work. Your tales are entirely fresh and exciting and I have to say that such originality is not always easy to find in vampire novels.


For Vampire Review Readers And Subscribers
How to reach Heather:
·         Facebook
·         Goodreads
·         Shelfari
·         LinkedIn
·         Manic Readers
·         Email


How to reach Chris:
·         Facebook
·         Goodreads
·         Shelfari
·         LinkedIn
·         Manic Readers
·         Email


How to follow the couple: Triscelle Publishing / Morrigan’s Brood Series
·        Facebook
·        Website
·        Morrigan’s Blog
·        LinkedIn
·        Twitter
·        MySpace

The happy life of teacher librarians: Today I... (a late Day in the Life)

Today I...

• supervised the library before school and at lunch, and throughout the day
• worked with a teacher during roll call to ensure all her class had books (and buried the 'lost library card' excuse) - we had lots of great books out on the tables and they all found something to read.  One in particular was very happy to get a brand new copy of I am Number Four - film out soon.
• helped a teacher set up the digital projector
• introduced a Year 8 class to adventure fiction book possibilities and found novels for individual students
• met with the Principal and SAM regarding library SASS staffing and discussed same with my head teacher
• discussed a future lesson combining adventure fiction and film study with an English teacher, revamping a lesson I created last year for her class, which she liked and wants to repeat this year
• bought fundraising Valentine's Day jellybean bags (and gave them away to eager students)
• because I'd baked Valentine's Day chocolate brownies for my staff
• copied the file of last year's school photos for the computer co-ordinator (who ate a brownie with considerable enthusiasm)
• discussed a work issue with another colleague
• ate lunch with my library staff colleagues (we also ate brownies)
• watched a short "Batman safety video" that was an obsession of one of my students.  You must watch this, Miss!  Hmm, I still prefer the so-bad-it's-good shark scene from the '60s Batman movie
• was the recipient of three sheets of perspex from a staff member who knows I was after some (I'll show you why in a later post) - she found a cheap source and only wanted a can of Coke in return - and then was more than happy to settle for a brownie (brownie diplomacy is fine fine work!)
• added a Jeff Kinney article to the display cabinet with book and film reviews (usually of books from films - I added a bunch of new pieces there last Friday)
• lent and reserved and discussed books with students
• helped some lost Year 7 kids out with a late note
• calmed down an agitated Asperger's kid who was worried about why the book he wanted had gone from where he left it on Friday (it's called borrowing, honey, but we can reserve it for you...)
• asked the general assistant to trim a couple of pieces of MDF for our new bookcases
• admired the bookcase my school assistant had assembled (will show you soon when all three are done, they're FABBOBANANAS! - photos soon!) and helped put it in its planned location, where we all admired it again
• reminded seniors of the distinction between 'study periods' and the no-go concept of 'free periods'
• organised a student who's doing a short volunteer project with us for his Work Studies course (will post about that, too - it's a very very handy list!)
• discussed the senior study skills program with one of my colleagues, saw her presentation draft and helped with image/Flickr/Powerpoint advice for slides with impact
• organised the duplication of study skills materials
• planned the worksheets needed for my study skills presentation on Thursday (topic: Ethical Assignments, a revision/reminder of HSC All My Own Work)
• discussed/demonstrated Hipstamatic (iPhone camera app) with several people
• shared some brownies with our wonderful cleaner
• got to the end of the day and wondered about how fast the day had gone!

Today, I am sure, this list doesn't represent everything I did; but it's a reasonable, representatively varied and busy if inevitably incomplete, day in the life of a teacher librarian.  And tomorrow will be different again.  All the fun of the fair!  I wasn't at school during the sixth round of Library Day in the Life (I'm number 93 of about 250 on the wiki here), but figured I'd get to a reasonably representative day sometime. 

How did your day go?

Cheers

Ruth

Water for Elephants: film / movie trailer

As a lot of teacher librarians have probably read the book...



If that doesn't work, find the international trailer for Water for Elephants by clicking here.

Happy Library Lovers' Day!

Cheers

Ruth

What Vampire Do YOU Want For YOUR Valentine?

In anticipation for  ♥tomorrow ♥, when I'm interviewing a couple of authors who are not only loving, and married to each other, but they sell compelling vampire fiction they wrote together (check back for that awesome interview!) I wanted to also post a quick blurb about my favorite vampire characters in film and television.

I am borrowing this idea from other blogs that were doing the same thing. Of course I'm presenting  ♥vampires ♥ who are not on their lists. (So be sure you continue to blog hop.) Gotta love the BAD-boy vampire. Which hunk presented here is YOUR favorite?

#1  ♥Eric ♥ - of True Blood (Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse Series)

#2 Barnabas Collins (Dark Shadows 1960s Soap Opera) 

NOTE:  ♥Johnny Depp ♥ will be playing Barnabas Collins soon!

#3 -  ♥Spike ♥ (Buffy The Vampire Slayer - authors vary in the book series)

#4 -  ♥Kate Beckinsale ♥ - Underword by Author Kevin Grevioux 

Vampire Lestat - Queen of The Damned (by Anne Rice)

Does Your Blog Deserve An Award?

Not all blogs get the recognition they deserve. If you have such a blog, invite me to drop by (post your URL). If your hard work is obvious, I'll award you with a PERSONALIZED "most prestigious and scintillating blog award!"  

*If you have a particular REASON you'd like this award, feel free to mention it.* Drop me a line.

Vampire Academy - For Adults Only

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead $8.99  [332 pages]

The five star ratings comes with a strong caution because of an ethics violation. "Ethics?" You ask me, which is when I plant my hands firmly on my hips and snort. "Do not allow your very young daughters to read this book!" 


I bought my copy in the children's section, of the book store, after all, and Vampire Academy simply does not belong there. No 12-year-old should be reading stories that condone sex between adult teachers and impressionable young students. 


Don't get me wrong. The romance between a 24-year-old guardian, Dimitri, and 17-year-old Rose Hathaway seemed very compelling in all of its  presentation. Dimitri is hot, HOT, hot, but Rose is his STUDENT and she's a minor! (I worry this sort of book can give very young girls hope for establishing romance with teacher-predator types). Admittedly, the two are under some sort of spell when they "do it" and the teacher apologizes later. Yet the writing was so compelling, I was living vicariously through that student and seriously wanted to disrobe to show that teacher all of my stretch marks and cellulite. Readers be warned! (Things could get embarrassing)


Ethics aside, I think this is a most compelling read for adults. Rose proves extremely likeable even while flawed. She's the would-be guardian-in-training to Lissa, a rare-version of living-breathing (mortal) vampire with special gifts, and the two females form an extremely strong bond that gets Rose into numerous fist fights and other trouble. Sadly, Rose's best intentions regularly cause more harm than good; bless her adorable half-vampire self.


Mead writes brilliant dialog and the plot is extremely compelling and believable. Here's an example where Rose is considering a boy her own age, Manson, who she really likes (he utterly worships her) but she doesn't feel any chemical attraction for him; not like she feels for her instructor, whose seemingly indifferent at this point:


[page 195] "How hard would it be, I wondered, to go out with him? (Manson) He was nice, funny, and reasonably good-looking. We got along. Why did I get caught up in so many messes with other guys when I had a perfectly sweet one here who wanted me? Why couldn't I just return his feelings?


The answer? She's too mesmerized by her hunky self defense instructor and all other males pale by comparison. That's why! Fortunately, Mead also writes amusing details into the book's regular script.


[pag 193] There was so much testosterone in the air, I felt l needed a gas mask.


If it weren't for the ethics violation, I would definitely be giving this first book in the series ten out of five stars. I love all the teasers that Author Richelle Mead works into the plot, little snippets of information that keep the reader begging for more details as the bigger story unfolds. I loved this book so much I bought "Frostbite" (the next installment in this 6 book series). It's been just that wonderful to meet all the characters and to observe their individual evolutionary processes. I cannot wait to read more about Christian (Lissa's brooding boyfriend and he's so enjoyably mysterious).


Great entertaining and fast paced read!

(Reviewer's Admission: I bought this book and read it in paperback)