Do U Know TXT?

Do you know what ROTFL means? Or LOL?
Now you can find out.

What to translate your message into hip texting terms?
Now you can do that.

How?
Back in the fall of 2008 at BlogHer's Reach Out Tour when it came to Boston, I signed up to receive early notice when LG's DTXTR site was going live. I just received word that the site has JUST launched at http://www.lgdtxtr.com, and promotion of it will begin later today.

The site features include:

• DTXTR Translator: An interactive tool that allows you to translate your “plain English” text messages into shorter, more hip texts at the push of a button.
• DTXTR Glossary: An alphabetical, searchable list of over a thousand of the most popular text terms - including the ones submitted at the BlogHer Reach Out Tour.
• Do U Know TXT: An ever changing interactive quiz that challenges you to translate popular text phrases into text slang.
• Texting Tips: Everything you need to know about texting, managing a texting teen, and thinking smart about text plans.
• Sweepstakes: Monthly opportunities to win an LG enV2 or LG Lotus phone

Please check out the site. It may very well your solve your texting problems/questions.

Our teens need your help!

Since 1985, the New Beginnings Program (NBP) has provided a comprehensive wellness initiative for schools, parents and communities for hundreds of youth involved in drug and alcohol addiction. The presentations, classes, one-to-one education, and true life testimonies have made a substantial impact. As a result of the recent cuts in funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, NBP has cut its staff, supplies and other expenditures jeopardizing the support for over 120 youth currently in the program.

The New Beginnings Program faces a critical need for financial resources to sustain the counseling services that our youth at risk require.

Please visit the NBP website to find information regarding its services, successes, and to make a contribution.

Bill Phillips, the founder of New Beginnings, was a central part of the WASTED presentation at Franklin High School in December, 2008.


You can help by casting your vote in support of this program here:
http://revolutiontakesflight.com/items/Help_Teens_with_Substance_Abuse?c=0

Free registration will be required to cast your vote.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF MA, 21 YEARS AND OLDER. VOID OUTSIDE OF MA AND WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes ends: 2/6/09.

For Official Rules and prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit http://www.revolutiontakesflight.com. Sponsor: Virgin America, 555 Airport Blvd., 4th Floor, Burlingame, CA 94010.

This was originally posted at Franklin Matters

teenage substance abuse

My mother-in-law once offered to take our daughter from us when she was a teen and give her back to us later. It was a tempting offer that we declined.

Teenage is such a rough age. The struggle between finding their own individuality and growing into a normal separation from the family circle is enough of a challenge. Throw in the barrage of media inputs about the good life with drink or drugs and you are putting fuel to the fire.

How should parents deal with their teens?

Communication. It is as easy and as hard as that.

Not just talking about the weather, but good honest open discussions on all the topics of the day will set the framework for appropriate growth and development of the teenage mind.

This has been reinforced in the past couple of weeks with the W.A.S.T."E".D. Information Session at Franklin High School on December 2 (recording and text available here) and the forum at King Phillip Regional High School on December 17 (notes captured here).

5 for Friday

1 - 10 ways to become a writer (that gets paid)


2 -I have seen most tumbler blogs as an alternate collection of multiple writings in one place. I found via my explorations a good design blog at DesignAday.


3 - More developments in the news this week around the chemical compound in Nalgene although the news articles this week did not mention Nalgene by name. Wikipedia is keeping up with it. I wrote about Nalgene here.

4 - Danah Boyd has a posting linking to a very interesting study on cell phone use amongst teenage girls in Palestine. Well worth reading how technology in this case is providing an out for some girls from their societies restrictions and yet is also entangling them.

5 - and for fun on a Friday, lets visit Bernie DeKoven who provides some insight into the folks at ImprovEverywhere as they pull off another event, this time "The Best game ever"

Enjoy