Writing Gooder

In Narnia!

Well, in York-England….but still awesome!

(Except, it’s not Christmas).

See you all in July!

This week is Green Week on NBC!  What does that mean, you ask?  Well, it is ” a week of green-themed programming aimed at entertaining, informing and empowering Americans to lead greener lives.”  The “Green Programming” includes anything from green-themed show plotlines, green tips from the actors, and even reality shows giving away eco-friendly vehicles as prizes such as the Escape Hybrid. 

Check out the NBC Website here: http://www.nbc.com/Green/

Have you set your clocks back for Daylight Savings Time yet?

I’m sure you all say daylight savings time, but did you know that is wrong? Horribly wrong, I might add.

The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight SavingS Time.

Saving is used here as a verbal adjective (a participle). It modifies time and tells us more about its nature; namely, that it is characterized by the activity of saving daylight. It is a saving daylight kind of time. Because of this, it would be more accurate to refer to DST as daylight-saving time. Similar examples would be a mind-expanding book or a man-eating tiger. Saving is used in the same way as saving a ball game, rather than as a savings account.

Nevertheless, many people feel the word savings (with an ‘s’) flows more mellifluously off the tongue. Daylight Savings Time is also in common usage, and can be found in dictionaries.

Adding to the confusion is that the phrase Daylight Saving Time is inaccurate, since no daylight is actually saved. Daylight Shifting Time would be better, but it is not as politically desirable.

Interesting, isn’t it? That a grammatically incorrect phrase [ain't anyone paying attention in English 101?] can end up in the dictionary…

Credit due to this web site.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  So, I’m making you aware!

In 2007 alone, there are expected to be 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed.  Of these, 40,460 women will die.  Although these facts are to women only, don’t think you men aren’t at risk too.  Also in 2007, 2,030 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die.  These people have no hope unless researchers can continue to work on a cure…which means yes, they need donations. 

There are many ways to help out during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  First, you can help spread the message!  Make others aware!  But there are a few other great ways to help, as well. 

1. Donate!  There are many websites and stores taking direct donations right now, personally I recommend The Susan G. Komen for the Cure http://ww5.komen.org/home/

2. Buy Pink Products!  I know the website above has many articles for sale.  Also, during this month many vendors who don’t usually sell Pink products are–look around and it won’t take long to find one!  This includes Payless Shoesource, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Garth Brooks (new cd), and even Motorola has a special edition Pink Rzr for sale!

3. Just wear a pink ribbon.  This simple act raises awareness even if you don’t say anything.

This is a cause near and dear to my heart.  Without the research funded by the donations, my mother might not be alive today.

It’s October first, which to most normal people mean it’s the beginning of the month. Of course, we all know better. That means it’s time to sign up for NaNoWriMo! They’re resetting the site tonight, which means you can sign up and fill in all the lovely things about your NaNoNoWriMo novel for this year, and wander on the forums making friends.

So, don’t forget to sign up, join the fun, and tell us who you are! I’m sure someone (it might end up being me XD) will start a thread for all YWSers to show up in, say hi, then leave.

One month! Then the horror (joy?) begins.

The United States Library of Congress is holding a contest entitled “Letters About Literature.” To enter, all you have to do is write a letter to an author (living or dead) about how that author’s work affected you. Anybody in grades 4 through 12 can enter, although I assume you have to be living in the United States to enter.

It might actually be a fun idea to run a similar contest on the Young Writers Society…

Check out the contest here. It runs until December 1st and the winners receive cash awards.

By the way, the picture above is of the interior of the Library of Congress. If you’re ever in Washington, DC, go check it out. The crowds aren’t large and the Library has some of the best architecture in Washington.

Until NaNoWriMo starts. Are you ready?

Writer Mama is having a contest with give aways every single day for the entire month of September.  Although I suppose it’s more for moms and dads, of which we have very few at YWS, Writer Mama does say anybody can enter.  So check it out!