Dangerously Addictive Word Game Alert!!!

If you like word games (and what bibliophile doesn't?) you might want to skip over this post if managing your time is a personal issue.

Over the weekend I found Babble which is an online version of the game known as Boggle. Babble, however, is played against the entire Net in 24 hour rounds. You must register to play but it is free. FYI: You can upgrade to Pro for a minimal price if you really get hooked.

With each grid you are given the number of words possible plus how many 4 letter (the minimum) & up words there are plus how many times each letter in the grid is used to start a word.

Sounds fairly simple? Wrong! This is a very challenging game that will make time literally fly by . . . so be warned.

Another very nice aspect of this game is the chat box on the right. Folks from around the globe play this game and are great at giving clues & encouragement.

Are you ready to give it a try? Go Babble!

A Brief "Just Hack Me" Public Service Announcement . . .

This just in from LISNews:

If Your Password is 123456, Just Make It HackMe

Kind of gives one pause, yes?

Be sure to check out the comments.

Mourning Robert B. Parker

 

Robert B. Parker, the best-selling mystery writer who created the character Spenser, died at his desk on January 19th at his home in Cambridge, MA. He was 77 years old.

Learn more about this talented writer and his career here:

N.Y. Times article 1/20/2010

Wikipedia Entry (includes book lists & links)

2004 National Book Festival Webcast

Happy Birthday, Nevermore???

Happy 201st Birthday Edgar Allan Poe!

Evidently this year broke with tradition when the Poe Toaster never showed up. Find out about the story in the Baltimore Sun: Poe Toaster is "Nevermore"

Then check out the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore site for some great info & links!

Like Factoids? Like Fun Graphics? You'll Love This!

OnlineEducation is an interesting, albeit with somewhat mysterious origins, site that takes topics like A Day in the Internet and creates this:


Created by Online Education

There are other nifty topics like Videogame Statistics, Facts About Your Farts, What's Changed This Decade, Facts About Bottled Water & more. (FYI: some topics may be more edgy than others.)

You will also find some useful lists here such as 100 Free Tools to Write, Publish, & Promote Your Own Book and 100 Best Blogs For Homeschooling Moms (which also includes blogs by homeschooling Dads and kids plus lots of homeschooling resources).

This is what the Online Education folks have to say on their About page:
"Everyone has a natural curiosity, and we are here to give you a daily dose of wit, humor and knowledge to satisfy that urge. We cover all the bases of life that didn’t get a lot of attention at school."

By George, I think they've succeeded! Check it out!

Librarian Chick Rocks!

Ok, Peeps, here is a good-to-know-about site that lists "links to the best of the Internet's FREE resources for those with big brains and small pocketbooks!".

Librarian Chick

There are 28 categories (like Books/ Audiobooks, College/Student Loans, Foreign Language, Lectures/Speeches/Podcasts) with tons of free educational resources to check out so don't delay!

The brain behind this site is Stacy Reed who, in her free time, reviews software and websites for Tucows. She also runs a sister site on free and open source software, web applications & resources: FOSSwiki; a blog: She Dreams in Digital & more! (Wow!)

Gotta love folks who like to share, right?

Check Out Kansas City's Community Bookshelf!

Whoa! Miss Bun thought she had died and gone to librarian heaven when she saw this photo for the first time!

Yes, Virginia, those really are giant 25 by 9 feet book spines set between two glass enclosed stairwells. There are 22 titles and you can find out what they are and how they were chosen here: Kansas City Public Library Community Bookshelf

While you're there be sure to tour the rest of the library's website. Looks like a busy, interesting place! Kudos!

Do You Know the Snowflake Man???

Wilson A. Bentley, aka "Snowflake Bentley", from Jericho, Vermont was only 19 when he made the world's first photomicrograph of a snow crystal in 1885. His process was so unique and innovative that professionals at first doubted his results and his veracity.


 "In 1898, at the age of 33, he began to publish articles of his findings and images. He published 49 popular and 11 technical articles about snow crystals, frost, dew, and raindrops, including the entry on "snow" in the 14th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica."

During his lifetime he filled nine notebooks with 47 years worth of observations and lived to see his book, Snow Crystals, published.

To learn more about this fascinating scientist & his work check out these links:

The Bentley Snow Crystal Collection of the Buffalo Museum of Science
(includes his photographic process, bio, photographs, notebook entries, articles & more!)

Wilson A. Bentley, The Snowflake Man
( by the Jericho Historical Society)

More resources below :

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

is the author's site about her 1999 Caldecott Award winning book that has good resources for classroom teachers & homeschoolers.

Kind of makes one look at the white stuff in a whole different way, doesn't it?

Enjoy!