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So, this is Scratch!
My best friend is a Scratcher. But, what exactly is scratch and why should we be talking about it?
It’s a website developed by MIT education that allows kids to learn about coding, creating apps, and games. Some interesting features include the ability to ‘remix’ other people’s projects, make your own version, or improve on other people’s work.
Just like any day at work, but unpaid.
“Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch is designed, developed, and moderated by the Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit organization.
Scratch promotes computational thinking and problem solving skills; creative teaching and learning; self-expression and collaboration; and equity in computing.
Scratch is always free and is available in more than 70 languages.”
Billed as a platform for kids to learn ‘scratching’ (or the basics of game building and coding) through visual blocks and predefined commands.
Some other features of scratch include creating and curating studios, which are basically a selection of your favorite projects. I think. You can add curators and “add and drop” as many projects as you like.
Scratchers, as those active in the platform are called, seek other scratchers to remix, try, or simply showcase their work. Thus, introducing many scratchers to the world of interacting online.
What do people have to say?
While it’s a website with some interesting interactive features, reviews from parents and more mature kids are mostly positive but mixed. Reports of lack of moderation, inappropriate content, bullying and the like are common. However it is possible to report suspicious activity. Parents’ complaints are not new but that means they have to keep a closer eye on their kids’ work, and that’s not a bad thing!
All in all the platform is safe, though there’s room for improvement, and it is one of many available to kids to explore the world of coding.
There are other similar websites out there to teach kids the basics of coding of course. A popular one is code.org from Meta. Perhaps less “social” (ironically) but with a stronger emphasis in courses, projects, and actual code learning. It is the ideal complement to Scratch before jumping into more serious and professional sites for independent digital creators like itch.io.
But what does my best friend have to say about scratch anyway? Stay tuned! we’ll have to ask him after he comes back from the beach!
You can try Starcat Galactica here!
When I arrived to Bulgaria I started a blog to occupy my mind and record my life. Little I knew that it would become the repository of my ‘ Bulgarian views’ and highlights during my stay. And a few things in between.
The site is still up and running! so if you want to follow that adveture, subscribe!
On LowCostRoutes.com our main purpose is to provide you with the full list of low cost flights offered by cheap airlines. We aim to give you the best information and to keep you up to date with all the new flights and new destinations. We search for your flight on the websites of all the low cost airlines, we sort and filter the results and we only offer you the relevant low cost flights. That’s why you will always be sure to find the cheapest flight available on LowCostRoutes.com.
Step 1: Use the search form above to find out which cheap airlines offer low cost flights from the airport nearest to you to your desired destination.
Step 2: Check the full list of low cost airlines that fly on your desired route.
Step 3: Book your flight with just one click, directly on the cheap airline’s website.
The largest cheap airline companies are: Ryanair, EasyJet, airBerlin, TUIfly, air arabia, Thomsonfly in Europe and Southwest Airlines and JetBlue in USA. Each of these airlines operates cheap flights on more than 1000 low cost routes. You can also check the full list of cheap airlines that offer low cost flights worldwide.
The cheapest flight you can find online is the one you book directly on the website of the airline without paying any travel agent’s booking fees and surcharges. You only pay for the low cost flight you need and nothing else. That’s why we don’t charge anything for the service we offer. We just direct you to the website of the low cost airline so that you can book the discounted flight tickets using the airline’s secure payment form.
Interested in flying to the UK, Germany, France, Italy or the USA? Would you like to visit Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, India or Romania? We offer hundreds of low cost flights to each of these destinations! For other countries check the full list of flights here.
Take a look at low cost routes blog from everywhere to everywhere!
Model: Sonia Latanik
Copyright © 2024 Alexander Acosta Osorio. All rights reserved.
A new NES game has been developed by Erik Rosenlund, and it is INSANE. There’s no other way to describe this overload of nostalgia and craft.
When I met Erik Rosenlund at IN THE PALACE Short Film Festival in Bulgaria —more than ten years ago —he was promoting his animation film “ Mirror Child” nominated for a Cannes Palme d’Or and the horror short film ” Out of Erasers.”
Fast forward ten years! and now all that talent has been put into some good use in Slow Mole: 8-bit Platformer For The NES. And the game is just INSANE. WHASSAAAAAAA. Exactly!
If you love NES 8-bit games, and pretty much anything from the 80’s, this game is for you.
To quote Erik at SLOW MOLE ” The whole game is designed around a unique checkpoint mechanic that will only award a checkpoint when the player proves their mastery of a screen. At the start you have two difficulty options to choose from. They affect the timer, which might seem insignificant, but as you play you will notice it makes a big difference.”
And Oh! we noticed! I had my ten-year old son and all-time Minecraft enthusiast giving it a go. And here’s what he found:
Me: What do you think about the game?
Little gamer: I think it’s very hard. But also very logical. I like the graphics and also the music.
Me: Did you know that the music was composed by another kid? What do you think about it?
Little gamer: Yes. I know it was composed by another kid ( I told him!). It sounds really cool and keeps you concentrated.
Me: That’s the most important, isn’t it? If you miss a beat then you miss your chance.
Little gamer: Uh-uhm.
Me: Did you find it more interesting than other NES games?
Little gamer: I don’t know other NES games but I think it’s one of the best.
Me: How did you start to play NES games?
Little gamer: My dad introduced me to them
Me: And you are welcome!! ( Dad laugh)
Me: What are your favorite games? What do you like playing today?
Little gamer: My favorite games are Minecraft, Fortnite, FIFA, and Mortal Kombat.
Me: If other SLOW MOLE versions come out, would you try them?
Little gamer: I would try them because the first one was very cool! and I’d like to try more.
Me: So, Little gamer, will you be reviewing these ones too?
Little gamer: I’d like to. Because I don’t have to type. ( Little gamer laugh)
You’re welcome Little gamer! you’re welcome.
Well, good news. SLOW MOLE studios has a few other versions available now:
Slow Mole for the Dreamcast A platformer that makes you a speedrunner!
Slow Mole Jr. Cute pixel perfect platforming.
Mega Slow Mole 16-bit platforming mole on a clock! (NEW! and it will save your progress!)
Staying true to the original 8-bit format and feel ( I am looking at you MineCraft) Slow Mole takes you on a wild ride through skill and complexity, only comparable to all-time classics like Super Mario and Prince of Persia (1989) Yes, we know where you got that movie title from wonder woman!
For more details about SLOW MOLE—downloads—and the new releases visit SLOW MOLE studio at slowmolestudio.itch.io
The balloon mystery that floated into 1.5 million of your Facebook feeds this week. The latest on the Turkey and Syria earthquakes, the doctor who saved a fellow passenger in mid-air – and fine dining, are we all a bit over it?
Tune in!
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Model: Sonia Latanik
Copyright © 2024 Alexander Acosta Osorio. All rights reserved.
Shot over a couple of nights, taking the 5dmk2 out on the streets and getting shots of the inhabitants and visitors.
No lighting, no grading.
This is what came out of the camera image-wise. All handheld and helped by using the Z-Finder from Zacuto to give the camera a proper viewfinder and improve stability. All shot using one lens. A Nikon mount Zeiss ZF 50mm f1.4.
Converted to 25p in Compressor. 3 shots use smoothcam in FCP to give an interesting look.
Director: Tompa & Rondo
Director of Photography: Anders Jedenfors
Creative Director: Johan Holmgren
Art Director: Cecilia Dufils
Copywriter: Markus Bjurman
Production Company: ACNE
United Kingdom 2016
DXC Technology’s North and Central Europe (NCE) Employee Ambassador program is organizing campaign to raise funds to build a school for indigenous Wayuu children of northern Colombia. As a Colombian myself, and DXC Technology employee, I support this initiative and I would like to invite anyone who would like to contribute to this cause or get involved.
We can make a difference.
Working in the fast-moving IT industry and leading digital transformation for our clients, it can be easy to forget that the future comes at different speed in different parts of the world. While we have access to tremendous amounts of knowledge, there are still many places where education is a privilege.
With the DXC IT School in Colombia — Building Dreams campaign, we aim to raise funds to build a two-classroom school and provide IT equipment for the indigenous Wayuu children of northern Colombia. This is achievable with $11,000. Join us in raising $5,500 before January 31, 2019, and DXC will match it.
With the help of DXC Technology and you, we hope to provide a learning environment that can benefit hundreds of children — a long-term plan that will support children for generations.
Click on the link to learn more about this initiative and support DXC IT School in Colombia.
Alexander Acosta Osorio 