Comedy Vocab mentioned in LA Times
By charles | February 3, 2010
Comedy Vocab got a mention in the LA Times blog Go Mobile last week!
Topics: Comedy Vocab | No Comments »
Dr. Blogstein Interview
By charles | February 3, 2010
Here is an interview I did for Dr. Blogstein’s Radio Happy Hour to promote Comedy Vocab. It was on the same show as Ayla Brown, the daughter of Senator Scott Brown.
My part starts at 47:10.
How’d I do?
Topics: Comedy Vocab | No Comments »
New App Released
By charles | January 15, 2010
WORLD AND STATE CAPITALS: North America Edition
A combination World Countries List, Games, Flash Cards, Maps, and Encyclopedia, World and State Capitals is a great way to learn about the countries of the world and their capitals. Quick links to maps and wikipedia articles allows for quick, convenient, and effective ways to explore the world. US States and Canadian Provinces are covered as well in this North America Edition.
Technically, professional comedy is not the defining aspect of this app, but the games are an important component and educational fun is what this company is all about. Anyway, the world is a funny place! Please check it out on the App Store.
Available now for your iPhone or iPod Touch
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
New Book Review for The Laugh Out Loud Guide
By charles | January 7, 2010
The latest book review for The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep!
“If only the real SAT were as cool as this! Even though you might snicker through your study sessions, this book will still help you immensely when it comes to honing your math, writing, and critical reading skills.”
Catch it all at CollegeBound Network.
Topics: Book | No Comments »
New Amazon Review for The Laugh Out Loud Guide
By charles | January 7, 2010
The latest Amazon review for The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep!
“This book is a great way to bring comedy into the prep for the SAT. Funny sentences and stories make me want to keep doing all the problems and motivates me to continue my study”
Topics: Book | No Comments »
Comedy Vocab — spread the words!
By charles | January 3, 2010
For Immediate Release…
www.comedyvocab.com
Emmy-Nominated Writer and Princeton PhD
Expands Vocabularies with Comedy Vocab iPhone App
(HOLLYWOOD, CA) – Imagine increasing your vocabulary through word games and Word-A-Day sentences like:
1. Frenetic:
Jane was frenetically dusting all through the house, like a hummingbird darting from one flower to the next, so I knew she was off her meds again.
2. When he discovered that his 72 virgins did nothing more than cuddle, the suicide bomber realized he had entered _______.
(A) contrition
(B) catharsis
(C) refractory
(D) perdition
(E) blandishment
That is exactly what author Charles Horn aims to provide with his new iPhone app Comedy Vocab.
“I wanted to give people a fun new approach to vocabulary building,” says Charles, an Emmy-nominated comedy writer (Robot Chicken) who holds a PhD from Princeton University. “Most people see the value in increasing their vocabulary, but all the Word-A-Day calendars and vocabulary builders currently out there are just boring ineffective texts that put you to sleep.”
The comedic approach to learning provided through his company Learning is Funny utilizes professional Hollywood comedy in the pursuit of education. Charles first used this approach in his book The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep! (Andrews McMeel Publishing), which uses comedy to prepare students for the dreaded SAT. This time around, Charles says he wanted to provide material for adults looking for fun forms of self-improvement and college students who have to take standardized tests — tests that can make or break their graduate school admission and career prospects.
Rather than being released in book form, the material is initially being released as an interactive app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Charles is both author and software engineer for Comedy Vocab.
“The interactive and gaming element was crucial,” said Charles. “The problem with vocabulary building is not the words themselves – after all, one can just read a dictionary and all the words are right there. The problem is the tedium that arises from trying to memorize something boring with which you can’t relate. Comedy, together with games and interactivity, solves the problem and makes vocabulary building accessible to just about anyone.”
However, while the app is certainly meant to be outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny, it is by no means a joke.
“Research shows that comedy enhances learning, reduces stress, makes subjects more interesting, and increases recall,” states Charles. “People can now literally laugh their way to a stronger vocabulary.”
Comedy Vocab is available on the iTunes App Store for $1.99, or less than the price of a cup of coffee.
Available now for your iPhone or iPod Touch
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles Horn is an Emmy-nominated Hollywood comedy writer. He also has a Ph.D. from Princeton University and holds a total of five degrees in engineering and mathematics. Charles has written for the wildly popular animated series Robot Chicken, Robot Chicken: Star Wars, Pink Panther, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He is also author of The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep!
Topics: Comedy Vocab | No Comments »
Back-To-School Checklist Includes The Laugh Out Loud Guide
By charles | July 15, 2009
The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep! is now on your Back-To-School Checklist. Thanks for the shout-out!
http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/story/5580279/
Topics: Book | No Comments »
College Apostles Interview
By charles | July 13, 2009
Here’s a recent podcast interview I did for The College Apostles, in support of The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep!
My part starts at 14:30.
How’d I do?
Topics: Book | No Comments »
Voted Best Teen Book
By charles | June 19, 2009
The teen reviewers over at Radical Parenting just voted The Laugh Out Loud Guide: Ace the SAT Exam without Boring Yourself to Sleep! as a Best Teen Book! Check it out!
Topics: Book | No Comments »
7 Things You MUST Ask Your Kids Before they Leave for College [guest post]
By charles | May 31, 2009
The following is a guest post by Vanessa Van Petten, teen author of “You’re Grounded!” She runs the parenting blog RadicalParenting.com, which is written with teens from the kid’s perspective.
“I am free, I am free, I am free”
I have heard both parents and teens chant this as they pack up the minivan and leave for college. Yet, parents often watch their kids leave, with tears in their eyes and forget to cover some essential pre-freshman topics.
1) Money
Your child will most likely call you in the first six months asking for more money. Often times, kids leave for college without any idea or guidelines about how much money they should be spending and what happens if they need to be bailed out.
Essential Talking points:
“We are giving you ______ per month.”
“You can use our credit card for everything except ____, ____, _____. These are things you need to pay for on your own either with your savings or from a job.”
“You _______ have your own credit card.”
“If you are in an emergency and need more money, we will loan/give/not give it to you.”
2) Contact
Many parents have an expectation in their mind that they will talk to their child every few days. Many teens have the expectation in their mind that they will talk to their parent every few weeks. Then, both go off to college and both get annoyed with the other for calling too little or too much.
Essential Talking points:
“I would like to talk to you ____per week/month.”
“I must talk to you at the very minimum _____ per week/month.”
“Lets make a regular check-in time of ________(Sunday afternoon at 3pm is usually good)”
“If I do not hear from you, I am warning you now, I will call your resident dorm director.”
3) Vacations
When teens leave home, they feel they have no more rules and boundaries—and maybe they don’t. But they will come home to visit, rules will return. Talk about this now, before they come home for Thanksgiving and realize they no longer can stay out until 4am.
Essential Talking points:
“I know you are free to do whatever you want, but we would love it if you could ______ while at school.”
“Just so you know, you will have more freedom when you come home from breaks, but we still expect ______curfew, _____ car rules, ______ amount of family time….”
4) Memories
Too many students leave for school without ever thinking of logging their memories. Talk to your kids about keeping a journal, photos or video diary online.
Essential Talking points:
“Here is a camera/journal/video camera, please document your first year.”
“Don’t you wish you could see pictures of my bad hairstyle from college? Ok, so make sure to take your own pictures to save for your kids.”
5) Grade Limits
College is to learn. College is to learn. I often have to repeat this to rising college freshman. Make sure your kids know what kind of expectations you have on their grades. The more specific the better on this one.
Essential Talking points:
“Of course, we want you to do well in college, it would be great if you could keep a ____GPA or higher.”
“In fact, if you go below _____GPA, we will not pay for your school/you will have to quit the sports team….”
“We have access to your transcripts.”
“You need to send us a grade update every ________months/weeks.”
6) Significant Others
Most likely your child will get a significant other during freshman year. It is important to talk about what this means for vacations and breaks. Are you ok with them coming home for Christmas? What if your child wants to go home with them for a break?
Essential Talking points:
“If you want to bring someone home from a vacation this ____ allowed.”
“If you bring someone home from a vacation, they are ____allowed to stay in your room with you.”
“We expect you to come home for the following holidays: _____, _______, ______”
“It would be ok, if you went with a boyfriend or girlfriend on the following holidays/vacations: _______, ________ “
7) Expensive Extra-Curriculars
The last thing you should talk about before they call you mid-October and ask is about expensive social activities. Talk about the following:
Essential Talking points:
“If you join a sorority or fraternity you will _____ have to pay for your own dues.”
“If you want to go on an expensive spring break trip to Cancun we will _____pay for it/part of it/none of it.”
“If you join the sailing team we will ____ pay for your sailboat and equipment.”
Even if you think your kid would never join the sailing team, talk to him or her about these issues just in case. Trust me, waiting until they call from their friends cell phone is not a great first way to talk (or argue) about these issues.
Vanessa Van Petten is the teen author of the parenting book “You’re Grounded!” She writes a parenting blog along with 12 other teen writers from the kid’s perspective to help parents. Her work as a young family peacemaker have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, CNN, Fox News, CBS Miami and much more!
http://www.RadicalParenting.com
Articles like this by Vanessa Van Petten:
Horror Stories From My Freshman Year (Teens Leaving Home)
Best School Supply Checklist: College Students
My Ultimate Pre-College Guide for Freshman
Topics: Book | 1 Comment »