Authors are people. They have lives outside their novels. (Just like teachers have lives outside their classrooms. I didn't believe this when I was in elementary school, but now that some of my friends are teachers, I guess I have to accept this fact.) Sometimes, authors' lives are actually more interesting than what they write about. Take, for example, calculus text book writers. Joking.

According to an article on CNN, some famous authors had really bizarre lives, and deaths. For example, Sherwood Anderson, a famous short story writer, died from swallowing a toothpick that was hidden in an hors d'oeuvre.

O. Henry, the master of irony who wrote "The Gift of the Magi" and other short stories, was actually a criminal named William Sydney Porter. He was accused of embezzlement, and put in jail. Being in jail might have been the best thing that ever happened to him. This is where he came up with his pen name and started writing. (And no, I'm not going to say that this was ironic. That's lame, even for me! Ha, totally just went there anyway.)

It just goes to show--you can't judge a book by it's cover! (I know, I know, even I was groaning as I was typing that.)  What are some of your weird things that might get published about you after you're a famous author? Come on, we all have them. After all, you might all know me by my blogs, but you know nothing of what I do in real life. I could be a criminal, or collect used chewing gum, or insist on wearing the same shirt every day for luck, or have to tap the light switch three times before I can turn it on ...

Just kidding. I'm a perfectly normal blogger.

And anyway, who would wear the same shirt every day? That's just gross. Pants, on the other hand ...

I just discovered this wicked cool site called imbee. What does the word imbee mean exactly? Well, that I cannot say. I cannot say because I do not know. Perhaps it is the declaration of a very self-conscious yellow jacket? Perhaps it is an acronym for "Ivan Makes Better Eggs, Emily." Whatever it means, imbee looks like fun.

imbee.com is a web site that is part social networking, part education, part blogging. Mix all the parts together and you've got a great place to go for students aged 8-14.

If you are a student that falls within this range, you can check out the free tour at imbee.com. The tour is given by imbian, a very friendly, cartoony, stick-figury kinda guy. Then, after being thoroughly impressed and intrigued, you can sign up to be a member of the site! Just know ahead of time that you will need a parent, guardian, or teacher to verify your registration. imbee is a secure web site that has your best interests at heart.

Once you are signed up, you'll be able to connect with other kids in classrooms across the country. Trade cards with them, discover new bands with them, learn about what they are learning, you name it!

And teachers, if you sign up your class, you'll be able to post writing assignments on your own imbee blog and your students will be able to have their own blogs as well! Read all about the many opportunities by clicking on the apple.

OK, advertisement over. Enjoy!

"There's nothing here. It looks like there was something. But now it's gone. This place is dead. And we need to bring it back to life."
      - Mike, 11, Town Council, Red District

Well, we didn't get any student reviews of Kid Nation yet. I suppose the contest deadline was a little ridiculous. Sorry about that. Just trying to stay topical here. At any rate...

I really really really enjoyed the first episode of Kid Nation. Aside from the fact that I have some of the same qualms about it that others do--it's kinda messed up to drop 40 kids in the middle of nowhere and say, "OK, survive."--it's a super-duper reality show. To read some disturbing controversy about Kid Nation, click here.

It's going to be interesting to see everyone work together to make the town work. There were already problems during the first couple of days. But they all seemed to be resolved. Even Greg, the vandal, the bully, the Blue District rebel, seemed to have a change of heart at the end of the show. I guess the golden star worth $20 grand might have had something to do with his sudden urge to help out. But that's ok. Money is a great motivator. Greed, however, is not.

"I'm a beauty queen. I don't do dishes."
    - Taylor, 10, Town Council, Yellow District

Oh man, Taylor. There are no beauty queens here! Get over yourself! I'm just kidding... mostly. I'm glad she didn't decide to leave at the end of the show. The town council would have fallen apart if she did. Not because she's a great leader or anything... but leaders need to stay in place or else your nation falls apart. No matter how terrible a job you're doing. Ahem. I think Taylor's going to end up turning it around herself. I really think she's going to step up before the end of the show and show what she's made of. Go Taylor!

I was sad to see Jimmy leave. At only 8 years old, he was the youngest kid on the show and also the only one to choose to leave the town at the end. Oh well.

Kudos to Sophia (Green District) for winning the gold star!

Best quote of the night was when the town council chose to keep seven new outhouses over a television set:

"We got the Port-O-Potties! Yah!"
     - Jared, 11, Red District

Question: If they had chosen to take the TV, what kind of reception would they have had? I have a feeling nothing. They'd probably be watching 24 hours of snow and fuzz a day... not to mention pooping in the road.

OK, that's my silly review. It's not very good but the show was!

Here is WORD's gold star to you -- the deadline is null and void. Send your review of any Kid Nation episode this season to word@weeklyreader.com and we'll post the best up here on our humble bloggy. The first one we post still gets the tee shirt. It's not worth $20,000 but it has a cute doggy on it.

OK, now here's Jared doing some Shakespeare...

Yah!

Did you watch Kid Nation last night? Did you like it? What did you think?

OK, here's the deal, write up a review of the show and send it to word@weeklyreader.com. We will post the best one here, on WORD, tomorrow. And here's the best part -- the winner will receive a free tee shirt!

But you have to write it quick because the contest deadline is midnight tonight!

Oh, and if we don't get any reviews, you'll have to suffer through mine tomorrow. Better get writing!

Word.

Ahoy and avast there, matey, you scourge of the seven seas. Today be the day all us landlubbers be celebrating! It's ...

National Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Shiver my timbers, what an awesome day!

I mean ... um ... what's the pirate version of 'awesome'? Arrrrrr.

This day started as a joke by two mateys, but now it's recognized all over the country.

So grab yar eye patch, your peg leg, and your doubloons and celebrate! What be yar plans? How about reading Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson? Or read our interview with Geoffrey Rush from Pirates of the Caribbean.

So what be yar favorite pirate tale? Surrender it to me, and mark it with an 'X.'

You don't want to walk to plank now, do you?