Musical Monday: Pumped Up Kicks

When I first heard this song, "Pumped up Kicks," by Foster the People, I loved its catchy tune 
and great beat. Then I actually listened to the lyrics 
and realized that it's a sad commentary on 
society. Knowing what this song is about has ruined 
my happy, dancing mood. When this song plays on the radio, I can't imagine the pain it must bring to those personally touched by school shootings. A song with this topic should not be so fun and bouncy. Do I still love this song? Maybe, but not as much as I used to.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

The Rev App

With all of my thoughts banging in my head from an idea for a lesson at school, a new twist for my unfinished novel, or a funny idea for a blog post, it would be great to have a secretary hanging around. I could just say, "Jot down this idea," and then I'd never have to worry about my thoughts flying out the window like usual. Guess what? The time for help with memory is here at http://www.rev.com.

Technology reaches Rev. It's an app that records voice commands and then sends your thoughts back to you via email. What could be a better way to pull thoughts together with just a click of a button? 

Some might say, just get Siri. I would, but Siri comes with a high priced phone, and mine is fine––Thank you very much. Plus, I've read that Rev does what Siri won't do at a price of a dollar per transcribed minute. That's right. Rev will transcribe your words and mail them back to you in an email. This would be great for when you're driving and can't stop to grab a pen and paper or the dream that you wake up from and just know it's a scene in a novel waiting to happen. However, I'm not too coherent in the morning when it comes to sitting up and writing. Being a visual kind of gal, it would be great to have my thoughts written out for me because losing ideas means loss of money and/or opportunity. I'm always meaning to do something that just doesn't happen, but Rev could save the day.

Also, if you visit http://www.rev.com, you will find some high profile shout outs for various businesses, such as Yahoo, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. They all had positive words for this new app.

Here is what Rev has to say about themselves on their webpage, http://www.rev.com:

"Rev.com is a new breed of service provider. Like traditional vendors, we rely on a network of hand-picked freelancers. Unlike traditional vendors, we use technology to offer unbeatable quality, speed, and value. 

Rev’s proprietary technology platform is built to create a great work environment for translators and transcriptionists, so we can deliver clients ever increasing speed and quality. 

Rev's mission is to give more people the freedom to work from home. We are bringing the best of the office to our online workplace. We believe that attracting the best workers is the key to delivering great service to our customers."

Also, if you visit http://www.rev.com/press, you can read reviews about Rev from big name companies like Yahoo, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. They all support this newest advancement in phone apps. So stop on by and see what you've been missing.

Perfectly Imperfect Coworker

I have a coworker whose nose runs whenever 

she gets nervous or excited. This unusual

trait could lead to some odd situations. 

Picture this:

On her wedding day, she faces her groom with snot dripping down her lips and onto her formerly dry dress.

"You may kiss the bride," the priest says. 

If that ain't love, nothing is! Gives runaway bride a whole new meaning. 

"Welcome to parent night. I'm your child's teacher. HONKKKK!"

She's swimming in the ocean when a shark approaches. She may or may not die depending on whether or not it likes the free sample.

Picture Juliette with her nose running.

How about the fairy tale love story scene?

"Romeo! Romeo! Where for art thou dear, Romeo?

"I'm down here taking a shower!"

Or, maybe, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your"

––drip. 

"That's not what I was going to say!"

Wordless Wednesday: Jay Asher

Look who I met at The Midsouth SCBWI Conference.

Here I am with Jay Asher, author of the New York Times Best Seller Thirteen Reasons Why.  

If you haven't read his book, check it out.

Musical Monday: Hump De Bump

Here's one with a fun sound. I love the 

Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

I'm Alive!

Here's a short post just to assure you that I wasn't turned into a zombie or eaten by a shark.

Hello from Nashville!

I'm in the music city this weekend for our annual Midsouth SCBWI Writer's Conference. Note I made it here after late parent conferences Thursday night and working all day Friday. I drove here by myself in rain so thick, people were afraid to drive. Too bad the brave one was stuck behind them. Hopefully, I'll meet my dream agent or editor. 

See ya Sunday night.

Joyce

#WW: Bagel Bandits

We had a feast after the fast.

But, someone ate our leftover bagels.

             

#1 Suspect      

and 

Her Accomplices

Musical Monday: The Cup Song

Here's a short sweet one for the time impaired, like me. Have a great start of the week.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

#GBE2: Slippery Slope

Would you say, "Yes" to a friend invite from a stranger who looks like this?

Let me rephrase the question, if you hadn't been married since before this kid was born . . . would you?

My daughter got the random invite, but she told handsome, "No" because after a reverse google search (however you do that), she found the photo to be a fake. When I google searched the name of the person seeking new friends, I found the photo below.

I have a feeling this is not the guy looking to hook up with young college girls, but I may be wrong. 

Yep. My daughter went down the slippery slope of engaging in conversation with a stranger on the internet. Of course, I've met all of you blog visitors personally, right? At least that's what I'd like to tell my kid. Anyway, she's definitely mine. Here is a transcript of her conversation with the stranger.

1:51am Erica: Hi Jack! I just wanted to say that whoever you are that you should not hide it. Embrace yourself and actually use a real account instead of creating a fake one. Hopefully you will learn to have better self esteem in the future. I wish you the best of luck in life! -Erica

2:02am Jack: how do you know that's actually not me

2:03am Erica: You just changed the picture. But I did a reverse image search because the profile picture looked unreal.

2:06am Jack: you shouldnt care that much

2:08am Erica: well you shouldn't friend people that you don't actually know.

2:08am Jack: well you should just ignore it

2:09am Erica: I did. notice that we are not actually friends.

2:09am Jack: but you are talking to me so that is not ignoring but okay

2:10am Erica: yea you do make a fantastic point but at the same time I am distracting myself from doing homework and trying to teach a stranger a valuable lesson so I feel that it is a win win for me.

2:11am Jack: thanks mom. you shouldnt put your nose in other peoples sh*t. and do your homework. its important

2:12am Erica: Well thanks for trying to teach me a valuable lesson as well! Now why don't you go back to creepily friending people that you don't know. It was a pleasure talking to you. And by friending me you made it my business btw! Good night!

2:12am Jack: nice chattin with ya

2:13am Erica: Nice chatting with you as well!

I think he chatted with her just to see her beautiful face over and over again. Below is my response to her after she shared the chat and hoped I wasn't mad at her for making a blog worthy post with a stranger:

• Joyce:  Quit stalling with the homework.
  
  Notice the time stamp on the conversation. Yep, proof! It was definitely the older gentleman in the second picture. 
  
  BTW, is it weird to want to correct the spelling, grammar, and capitalization of her conversation before posting? I left it as is, however, I did edit the curse word. :)

Wordless Wednesday: Four Leaf Clover

Last month, I found a four leaf clover, which means, “Good luck.”

Let me try that again. It means,

 “GOOD LUCK.”

Well? Any day now.
F - this. I'll make my own luck.

 

Musical Monday: The High Holidays

Happy New Year

5774

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Good Yontif

I am home from work today but will soon be headed to synagogue to usher in the new year 5774. This is the actual year, had the world not started the count over again at the time of the common era. I like the calendar reporting events this way because B.C. is confusing. For example, one can be born in 254 BC and die in 198. So how old was the dude when he died? See what I mean? Not that anyone keeps track of dudes from back when, unless he was an angry Caesar (not the salad) who used his enemies as cat chow. Contrary to movie scenes, Caesar did not feed Christians to lions because he lived before Christianity--but I digress.

We celebrate Rosh Hashanah through the blowing of the shofar, a rams horn, to represent our call to worship. I've tried blowing into ram's horns but all I get is winded and drool down my chin. Kudos to those who can make them sound.

Also, last night, after services, we attended a wonderful party where we dipped apples in honey as a symbol of a sweet new year. If you haven't tried this, I highly recommend an apple, bowl of honey, and a wet wipe to keep your fingers from sticking together like silk to Spiderman.

Most importantly, this is the week for us to reflect upon the year and seek forgiveness from anyone whom we have hurt, knowingly or not. So, if I did or said anything to hurt your feelings, please forgive me. Sure, God will forgive us, but he asks that we seek forgiveness from those we have sinned against first. It is most important that we forgive each other and work to get along among those we live with because that's what counts in the eyes of the Lord.

L'Shana Tova Tikva Tenu

Happy New Year to all those celebrating the High Holy Days.

Wordless Wednesday: What Happened to Mowgli?

Where's little Mowgli? 

Daniel thinks this big dog ate him.

Judy's Photo

This big dog still has a sweet face.

Musical Monday: Labor Day

Monday is Labor Day, which is a day in which we honor workers by not working. 

Here is my favorite song on that topic.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!