Happy New Year

http://www.buncee.com/buncee/45122

2013 Reading Review

Joining Goodreads in Jan 2012 was one of the best things I have ever done to improve my reading standards. As you may know, this website was founded in 2006 and "allows individuals to freely search Goodreads' extensive user-populated database of books, annotations, and reviews. Users can sign up and register books to generate library catalogs and reading lists" (Wikipedia) 
It's now the world's largest-site for readers and book recommendations and by allowing readers to set goals, I (certainly like so many others) do my best to achieve them!
For 2012 I had set my goal in reading 24 books and tough as it was juggling reading, schoolwork, housework, kids... I promised myself I would do it. And I did!!!
For the current year, I was more modest and my Reading Challenge was 20 books. Besides the easiness with which all readers can keep track of their readings (or lack of them!), the visual reminders (or rather, the gadgets with the shelf and counting the books on the right bar of this blog) also work for me either telling me I am one / two books ahead or behind and I become aware that I have to allocate more time to my reading (even if that means sleeping fewer hours ;) )
In the beginning of December, as soon as I completed my reading goal, the nice folks at Goodreads sent me this:

How pleased I was!!! This is another reason why I'm definitely joining their 2014 Reading Challenge Goal!!! Another one, yes, because, I've already used this website countless times (also for quizzes, quotes, reviews, recommendations by other readers) and do not wish to stop.

What about you? Why don't you try it for 2014? 

Happy Reading(s) and a Happy New Year, y'all!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!

My (digital) Season's Greetings (using Google Maps Street View).

From Condeixa, a very Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!
Please click on the link below:

http://www.itsamessage.com/holiday2011/#bDE9TWVycnklMjBDaHJpc3RtYXMmbDI9ZXZlcnlvbmUhISEmcz1UZWFjaGVyJTIwQWxleCZhPUNvbmRlaXhhLWEtTm92YSUyQyUyMFBvcnR1Z2FsJmF1dG89MA==

Christmas Countdown 3, 2, 1

Almost Christmas Eve!!!
Today I'm sending different ecards to my visitors, acquaintances and friends but there are so many and different that's not easy to choose.
1. Here you have four different backgrounds which you can choose with the arrows (below, right hand side where it says "Wonderland").

It includes music and after writing your message, you can send your ecard. Just select: Facebook, Twitter, Email or if you wish to get a URL to embed it.

2. You can also send a Christmas ecard here. Start by choosing one of the twelve images for your ecard, a new window will pop up with your chosen ecard and then just follow the steps mentioned.

One can enter up to five e-mail addresses separated by commas and choose the font. If unsure how it looks like, preview. And... done!

3. I've used this source before but as far as I remember not for Christmas though there are dozens of ecards you can choose from, including youtube videos. Here is my choice and below you have its printscreen:

Then click on "Send this ecard to Multiple Recipients" and besides writing you message, you also write the receiver's name and email address; if you wish to send it to several people, just click "Add Receiver"; if you want your ecard delivered any other date, click on the calendar. That's it!!!

As I was writing this blogpost, I obviously tried all the tools and sent ecards to myself. 123Greetings took a lot of time and worse than that, there's a lot of advertising...anyway, it's great if you'd rather send a video.

Merry Christmas, y'all!!

Christmas Countdown 3, 2

With so much to do, for the first time I haven't even sent a traditional Christmas card - handwritten ones sent by post as I have been doing ever since I can write! I'm therefore going to send different versions to my visitors, acquaintances and friends (:
What would you say about a talking photo to send my season's greetings?


http://www.fotobabble.com/ is a possibility; another one is an avatar - check it out below. At http://www.voki.com/, a free service, we / sts can
- create their customised avatars by choosing characters, backgrounds, accessories...
- add their own voice or use the text-to-voice option (the one I chose)
- post vokis to blogs, websites, profiles - they're embeddable!

A short video is also great! Have a look at this 30sec. free video I created in less than one minute!

Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, y'all!

Christmas Countdown 3

OMG, I've left everything to the last minute! Reading, baking, shopping, blogging...everything!
That's exactly why I like the internet so much - we can do stuff so much faster than before, don't you agree?
I'm planning to send Santa Claus some letters to try my luck with presents but first I'll try to strike up a conversation with him.

At http://www.santabot.com/ we / learners can chat with Santa forever! Not a single question goes unanswered, it's free online chat with Santa Claus.
Have a go or invite your kids / learners / students to practise their English during the Christmas break!

Now, letters!
Though this is the busiest time at the North Pole, be sure that Santa will answer evey single letter he gets.
I've followed all the steps and given the right email address and in the twinkling of an eye, my letter was answered (: For that I've used http://santa-at-home.com/writesanta.shtml and after reading the instructions you see below, you just have to scroll down and you'll find the electronic sheet of paper and the envelope for your letter.

and http://www.merry-christmas.com/santa/send-letter-to-santa

This last one is a very comprehensive website so be sure you / students don't miss the music, traditions or recipes. Yummy!!! 

Keep students entertained while practising and learning English!

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Mourning Nelson Mandela

The prisoner-turned South African President, Nelson Mandela, passed away yesterday at the age of 95 leaving behind a legacy of courage and inspiration for generations to come.
The news is everywhere. No need to say much more, I guess, but below I've embedded a multiple choice doc to check one's knowledge on Mandela - and why not ask students to fill it in as a warm up for a lesson on Nelson Mandela, an icon of Freedom and also a Noble Peace Prize winner?

World AIDS Day: 25 years on

Source: LIFE magazine - The photo that changed the face of
 AIDS (pic by Therese Frare)

It was back in 1988 that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared to promote AIDS awareness on Dec 1 each year. Today, 25 years on, what are the results?The war on th epidemic is clearly being won, but what about battling the stigma?
We can prevent being infected, record numbers of people are being treated worldwide, yet "homophobic laws" in over 70 countries, discrimination against sex workers, people who inject drugs among other most-at-risk populations, demonstrate that there's still a long way to go.
Moreover, austerity-stricken Europe, namely Portugal due to successive budget cuts in health services, I fear, can be at risk of HIV outbreaks...
New infections are still high among adolescents though - whether in Africa (where there are still to many teenage girls with a "sugar daddy"), or in Europe, which have led to further action by Advocacy Group ONE and The Global Fund.
Below is a short video by The Global Fund to "Be the Generation to Defeat AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria" - the moment is NOW, right now!