QuizUp: A Free App That Has Just About Everything For Everyone

I recently found a free app for my Android device called, QuizUp. It has pretty much every educational topic and subtopic that I can think of, plus some not so educational extras regarding celebrity stuff, various fandom-knowledge- based subjects as well as era-related trivia, the list just keeps going. I'm convinced that there is something for everyone in this app, it's quite extensive in it's offerings (over 550 subjects) and I have found it thoroughly enjoyable!

 

The way it's played is this: you against another player from anywhere in the world in which the two of you go head to head in real-time and test your knowledge of the chosen subject in 10 questions (rounds) which are timed with 4 multiple choice answers to choose from in each round. Let me tell you, I found this somewhat addicting! It can be very challenging, but so much fun at the same time. I would normally never play anything live against a total stranger, but it added to the fun! I've even had a couple of people challenge me to a rematch, (you always have to option of saying no), but it was too much fun to pass up.

 

As far as registration, it's quick and easy, your profile is fully customizable, and you can choose any username that you like, which is great and made it something I felt comfortable with using not only for myself, but also my teens. I have played people from all around the world, and despite the fact that some of the questions were geared toward United States-related statistics, data, or general knowledge, I had some pretty stiff competition and lost my fair share of matches to many people who not only have learned English as a second language, but who are also quite proficient in their knowledge of the happenings in America. (note to self: study harder, read more, learn more) WIN EVERYTHING! {ahem}

 

The app will let you know you periodically of your various achievements and gives you the option of posting it to social media, (bragging rights) but I usually opt out. Additionally, there is a shop where one can buy a sort of booster to increase their levels/scores to accelerate faster, but I've not tried that, to me that just sort of takes away the fun of getting higher scores old-school style (but that's just me, old school, yo). There are other options that I've not tried, but that are available as well, such as chat, going back in your history and requesting a past player to play again, etc. The only thing that I can imagine would make this game even better is an option to connect to people that you personally know and play against them, but it's still one of my all-time favorite games/apps thus far.

 

The app is made quite well, it is extremely well thought-out, and frankly, I don't know how it's free. But, it is free (and awesome). For me, an action-packed video game-challenged woman, this game tests my brain's reflexes over my hands reflexes, and that's the kind of "gaming" I'm "game for." Get it? (Of course you do, you are very smart and quite attractive too, dear reader...don't tell the others, but you are my favorite, shhhhhh). Anyway, I have found myself seeking out answers to questions from the matches I've played in this app, and that's a good thing, because I'm learning something new, or something that I thought I knew but didn't, and will often dive deeper into the subject that I'm currently interested in, because I'm, well, interested. I love that. Learning is taking place, and that's important to me.

 

Since there are so very many topics to choose from -(from basic math and higher, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, history, geography, science, on and on)- I'd say this app would be suitable for anyone from upper elementary and up. However, I would caution parental supervision with your younger players since this app does have a chat option built in, as well as in-app purchases. This was a fabulously fun find for me, and I hope that you will also enjoy it, and learn along the way!

The maker of this app is: Plain Vanilla Games Corp; this app can be found in the Google App Store, here.

If you have this app/ game, I'd love to hear what your current favorite subject is-- (Mine is currently: Health)

 ~This post was originally published in my other (education-related) blog.~

Removing America's Stains For Over 100 Years Sweepstakes

ENTER TODAY, CLICK IMAGE BELOW FOR SWEEPSTAKES FORM! 

CLICK ABOVE IMAGE FOR SWEEPSTAKES FORM!

For over 100 years, Americans have been able to depend on Fels-Naptha laundry bar to remove stains such as ring-around-the-collar, oils, perspiration, grease and more from their laundry to help keep it looking it's best! The rich and famous might have their own bodyguard, but with Fels-Naptha around, you have your own "clothesguard!" With over a century of experience and dependability, this mighty stain-fighting bar attacks stubborn stains with some major street-cred. Fels-Naptha is not the new kid on the block, it's been around this long for a reason: it works. In it's familiar, unpretentious paper packaging, Fels-Naptha laundry bar has your back, and packs a tougher punch than the tough stains that threaten to ruin your clothes with it's time-honored formula in it's classic 5.5 ounce laundry bar form. To celebrate Fels-Naptha laundry bar's hard work, Purex is giving away a year's supply of Fels-Naptha every day between July 14 through July 23rd! As a Purex Insider, I'm excited to have been given a sweepstakes link for you to be one of the first to enter, you may click the image above, or right here. <=sweepstakes entry!

How Do I Use Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar?

It's easy! For pre-treating your stains, all you have to do is wet the stained area with water, then rub the laundry bar over it (I like to do both sides) then wait a few minutes -(this is a great time to go get a cup of coffee or tea while Fels-Naptha does what it does)- and then toss the stained item into your washing machine and wash as usual. For less soiled areas/stains, you may simply wet the bar and rub it across the stain, either way is acceptable.

What if I have a really bad stain, do I need to do anything differently?

Use a brush to work in the Fels-Naptha bar really well into the area that you have wetted, and then wash as usual. You can even use chlorine bleach in the same wash load as your Fels-Naptha pre-treated clothes!

What if I want to use Fels-Naptha as a laundry booster, can I do that?

Yes, simply grate about half a bar of Fels-Naptha into your washer, let it fill with water and agitate for a few minutes, (so the grated pieces can dissolve) then add your laundry to the machine and wash as usual. If you are washing a smaller load, or less heavily soiled laundry, then you may grate/use less than half a bar.

What if I made a mistake in the past, and want it erased, will Fels-Naptha laundry bar do that?

Not unless that mistake involved staining a friend's clothes that you borrowed without her permission and are wanting to remove those stains with Fels-Naptha laundry bar before she finds out!

Fels-Naptha is sold at many locations, click here to find a retailer most convenient to you!

Supermoon!

Did you get a chance to see the perigee moon -also known as a "Supermoon"- last night? If you didn't, don't lament, you will get two more chances this year to view it on August 10th, 2014 and September 9th, 2014!

View of supermoon outside our home last night!

What exactly is a perigee moon, aka: supermoon? 

In simple terms, it's when the moon is full at the same day as the perigee, or elliptical path of the moon's orbit in which the moon (or satellite) is closest to the earth, which is a little over 31,069 miles (or 50,000 kilometers) in comparison to our other full moons on the apogee when the moon (or satellite) is furthest in orbit from our little place in space called earth. If the clouds aren't in the way, you will see that the moon appears brighter, bigger and lower-hanging during one of these "Supermoon" times. 

How often does this happen?

Despite my geeky excitement over it, this happens approximately every 13 months and 18 days, so it's not super-rare, but it is super-cool to go outside and admire!

On August 10th, 2014:

 The supermoon will be extra special (should we dub it a "super-duper moon?") due to the fact that during the same hour (as opposed to day) as perigee, the moon will become full.

If you would like to learn more about the fascinating happenings in our night sky, a good place to start would be NASA Science, where you can find lots of great information about supermoons and more!

Enjoying the beauty of God's handiwork...

 Psalm 8:3-4 (ESV)
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?