Writing Prompt

A couple of months ago my husband and I found a pretty neat writing prompt book at our local Barnes & Noble called The Amazing Story Generator. We have used it a couple of times and I find the process hilarious.

The pages of the book are sliced into three sections, leading to hundreds of different combinations of (often nutty) story ideas. I created a video this morning determining the prompt I will write on today.

After graduating charm school, a gossip columnist joins an underground militia.

I will come back and update this post when I am done with my story. 
You should write along with me and share the link to your story in the comments below. 
UPDATE:
I finished writing my story, which I called The Legion of Ladies.
I hope you like it!

Thanks for reading!

APP Review - VIGGLE

Viggle is changing the way I watch TV, and I am loving every minute of it!

In the advent of OnDemand, Internet streaming and DVRs it is obvious why networks and advertisers are becoming more and more desperate for live viewers of their programming. For a long time, I thought there was no way I would ever watch live TV again.

I was wrong. Viggle brought me back.

In the week leading up to the Superbowl I noticed one of my facebook friends had "checked into" a television show using Viggle. Curious as I always am about social media tie-ins, I clicked the link to see what Viggle was all about. When I got the the site I could not believe what I was reading:

Viggle℠ is a loyalty program for television that gives people real rewards for checking into the television shows they’re watching. (from Viggle's About Us Page)

Someone wants to reward ME for watching TV? I thought, for sure, I had read wrong. Then, for a moment I thought, No, no, Nicole, this could be legit. The rewards are probably crap! So I explored further. I checked out Viggle's REWARDS Page and nearly fell over - THEY HAD BARNES & NOBLE GIFT CARDS! 

 I was sold.

I downloaded the APP and started viggling (I have made this a verb). It is so easy that I have already earned three gift cards in one month!

How It Works 
 
Using your Apple or Android device, you simply click on the "check-in" button and let your device "listen" to the TV for a couple of seconds. The APP will identify the show based on the sound and THAT'S IT. You will earn one point for every minute that show is still on (I love to catch The Today Show because it is so long!). If you want to check into a different show, you just open up the APP and click again.

When you have earned enough points for the reward you want (for example, the Barnes & Noble $5 gift card is currently 10,000 points), you just open up your APP and redeem through the "rewards" button. The best part for me is that the gift card can be stored right on my phone instantly - no waiting for mail, no printing - everything is all in one place.

Extra Fun & Bonuses

Now hold on a second! I see you doing the math over there and wondering how in the heck I have already watched 30,000 minutes (500 hours or just under 21 days straight) of television in one month. I didn't. Viggle offers four different bonus point opportunities every single day:

• ViggleLIVE: This is my favorite. Some shows, movies and sporting events offer a trivia game that you play on your phone during their airing, for tons of extra points. Depending on the show and the event you can earn anywhere from +10 to +25 for each correctly answered question, and, if you answer wrong, you still get points just for playing (+1 to +5, respectively).

• ViggleMYGUY: I promise you, playing MYGUY will change the way you watch sports. This is a game available for basketball and football games (which we're just a bit of my "wifely duty" before Viggle). During the sporting event, you will be matched up (randomly) with nine other Vigglers for a MYGUY game. As you watch the game, you select a player to be "your guy". Each time he does something good for his team, you earn MYGUY points, each time he messes up, you lose MYGUY points. You may change "your guy" as many times as you would like. When the game ends the top four out of the ten Vigglers in your game earn MEGA Viggle points!

• Featured Shows: This one is the easiest. Each night, during Prime Time, a number of shows are featured. Featured shows will earn you anywhere from +50 to +100 points if you check into them for ten minutes or more while they are live.

• Commercials/Partners: While checked in to various events, if you happen to have your device in hand, you will notice tiny pop up offers to watch a commercial or even a "behind the scenes" look for points. These vary in length and in point values - I have earned as little as +5 to as high as +250 points for a minute or two of viewing.

Pointless Fun

In addition to all the rewarded fun Viggle provides, there are also features that are just plain fun, but earn you nothing.

• FB & Twitter Connect: Similar to Viggle's partner in crime and one of my old favs, GetGlue, Viggle allows users to share their viewing habits right from the APP. With just a click of a button you can show your FB friends and Twitter followers exactly what you are tuned into.
• Viggle Chats: Every show has its own chat window which connects you to fellow Vigglers watching the show live. So, rather than following a hashtag to see who's talking about the same thing you are, you get plugged right in to an audience on the same channel as you are. 

In Conclusion
 
If you love your TV, and you have a Viggle-friendly device, I say it is time for your TV to love you back! Join me over in the Viggle party and start earning points to the reward(s) of your choice.

Viggle is my first true second-screen experience. Have you used another? 

If so, what was your experience?

What reward would draw you back in to LIVE TV viewing?

~Thanks for reading!

Under Construction...

A couple of weeks ago I had a great idea for a new blog (this happens to me at least once a month). My excitement was insurmountable. But something kept holding me back from going forward.  I thought about it over night and finally decided I needed someone's else approval to strike out into this new world. The next morning I  told my husband about it, not revealing any reservations I had about going forward. He smiled and nodded as I went on. When I finished he said, "It sounds like a good idea, I just don't understand why you need a new blog for it." I was struck dumb.

My husband was genuine in his confusion. Since he has never blogged before, he was sure it was his own inexperience that caused it. It wasn't. He was right and in that moment I realized I had a problem: I am addicted to "new blogs". I have fourteen blogs on this blogger account! I can honestly say that only two of them have garnered any serious attention from me - my first two:

• Searching for Sustenance: This was my first blog. It focused on the food industry, cooking and green living.
• Rivera Runs Through It: I created this blog when I felt too constricted by the niche of Searching for Sustenance. 

I don't know when I started feeling constricted by Rivera Runs Through It, but that stops now. I am going back to my roots, and recreating this blog to be my blog again. And this time, rather than squirreling away my "food talk" on another blog, or my "health talk" on another, it will all be here, along with all of the stuff I have been sharing on Rivera Runs Through It all along. I don't think it will be too much of a change (except there will be more writing than there has been of late!), but I wanted to let my regular readers know that I am currently "Under Construction" here in this corner of the blog-verse.

Two changes have already gone into effect: 1. the look of Rivera Runs Through It has changed and, 2. the "About Me" page has been changed, come check it out. However, before you head off into the future, here's one more look at the old "About Me" page:

The Original "About Me"

This is a work in progress. This is the "About Me In Pictures." I still have more to add.

I had a lot of fun at my wedding. I don't think I was alone!

Someday I hope to go back to Venice.

I have been to a trapezing class. It didn't help. I am not graceful.

I have been to a number of comic book conventions. ...so has this guy.

I held a baby starfish in my hand in the tide pools outside of Trinidad, California. Tide pools are amazing.

I really like San Francisco, a lot.

I am in awe of the Redwood National forest. I NEED to go back!

I might be a ninja.

I think Nice, France is beautiful. I have done nothing to the colors in this photo - THAT is what the water looks like!

There is nothing quite like a well-made Mojito. This one, the best I have had so far, was in Dallas. (See how happy my eyes are?)

My husband and I love each other.

I love concerts. This is Lenny Kravitz at the Irving Plaza.

I have been found, alone in a room with a book when the whole family is out celebrating the 4th of July (ahem... that's called GRAD SCHOOL!)

I got to see some pretty amazing things on my honeymoon. (Il Duomo in Florence, Italy, for example)

I have been known to look quite ridiculous all in the name of making a headache go away.

Sometimes I find it necessary to be silly.

I've been to the Collesium.

I have been in the CitiField press room. THAT was pretty awesome!

I'm married to this guy. This photo is from our honeymoon - one stop in Florence, Italy.

I live in Converse sneakers. I have many colors.

I have had some pretty exciting birthday cakes!

I am a Mets fan. I loved Shea Stadium (this was my last day there) and I love Citi Field even more!

My husband and I have a pretty cool bamboo design on our bedroom wall that we stenciled ourselves. We rock!

I was there (at Bank Street College of Education) celebrating the end of a three year intensive program.

I used to hang out in Teacher's Lounges a lot.

I miss my dog Chewy and how she used to "Rooooo" so pretty.

In the summertime I lke to find out what fee activities the Parks department is running (usually my husband and I are the only adults there without kids).

I love my dog Buffy, she is so sweet (except when she does evil beagle things).

I LOVE the Muppets. Don't be surprised if I let them Guest blog from time to time! :)

I love Champ. He was my Grandma's dog, but I inherited him. He's a good boy.

We like Halloween.

I think it is safe to say that I have more math-themed t-shirts than the average person.

I am, unfortunately, a Muggle.

One of my favorite things in the world is when my husband and my brother laugh together.

Sometimes, when I am learning, I need to be in the front of the class.

I think being a ghost for Halloween is the coolest thing ever!

I got to go inside Google NYC headquarters for an entire day of training. Officially I am allowed to go around saying, "I am a Google Certified Teacher."

I really love my techie toys, especially if they have something to do with Mr. Jobs.

For the last two years Shea Stadium was open, these were my Saturday seats. Every Saturday home game. (If you know Shea Stadium, you know the red seats means this must have been BEFORE I lost a part of my vision due to IIH!).

I use a tens unit when my back pain gets crazy-bad. This little machine is MY HERO!!

This is room 315. It is, perhaps, my favorite room in the school I work in. I lovingly call it "The Lounge of the Misfit Teachers" (a la The Island of the Misfit Toys in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer).

This is my furry family.

If you are now sick of learning about me, and want, to, instead, learn about this blog, you should read Rivera Runs Through It: The Blog.

Or, head over to the new and improved: About Me & This Blog Page!

~Thanks for Reading!