In the last post we looked at organizing some thoughts related to our acoustic playing (chords families!) and the plenty of work that can be done there. One of the next steps would be to consider how those basic shapes fit beautifully into an idea known as the CAGED system.
Seems simple but its not just about open position!
In fact, the basic open C chord shape, A shape, G shape, E and D are so foundational to how chords are made on the guitar, that they are in fact THE shapes, in one form or another, that you'll use all over the neck for almost any chord you play; even scales, arpeggios, etc.
For acoustic strummers, this is key to you really intelligently using a capo to give you 2-3 different sounding options with which to play any song and it will help you visualize the neck.
For any guitarist, the CAGED concept is a foundational, practical idea for understanding how the guitar neck works and how you can move around with confidence. Awareness is the first step! Its kind of nice that it comes together to make a word we can remember too.
In the next post, we'll look at the CAGED chord sequence how it can really unlock the neck for you. Until then, thanks for serving and keep practicing!
Its about time we looked at something specifically for acoustic players (though take note electric players!). The acoustic guitar is such a beautiful sounding instrument and it plays a huge role in the context of leading congregational singing. So, here begins a series of posts focusing on serving with the acoustic guitar at your church, hopefully inspiring and equipping you do so more creatively and faithfully.
One thing I just want to mention: sometimes it can be easy to think that what you're doing on acoustic is boring or simple. Maybe you have a little electric guitar envy? Sure there is *plenty* to love about electric, and maybe it tends to get more of a "taste of the glory," but the acoustic brings uniquely beautiful things to the table. In fact, among worship leaders who play both electric and acoustic, the majority, including myself, tend to do so from acoustic ( of course you can lead from electric, but more on that later).
Check back and in soon and thanks for serving faithfully where you are!
I'll link soon to more detailed ideas for capo use in other posts, but for now I want to take a quick look at the capos and tricks I've found particularly helpful in live use.
That tends to mean quick release style capos and ones that are easy to manage. Sure, in a studio something like a Shubb can be perfect to dial in the ideal tension for in tune playing and if you're a flamenco purist, you'll use one of these but often, we have about .24 seconds to make a capo change and start the next song. So, quick release is key.
In this context I tend to see people using the kyser capos . I tend to use them as well, in a live context, as they are quick and simple to use. The pain about these is that that tension is often so strong that it easily can take your guitar out of tune because its presses down so hard (especially higher up the neck)!
So, here's a tip on always getting a Kyser to not manhandle your guitar out of tune: put in on the fret wire. OK, not right on the fret wire or else you can get a muted, thuddy sound, but right on the back of the fret wire. Mess around with it. Much of placement depends on how strong the capo actually is (some are ridiculous) so sometimes you may be on the back edge of the fret and sometimes closely behind. Use your ears.
The above is what I do with a kyser capo on an acoustic. For an electric guitar a kyser is almost guaranteed to take the lower string tension and mangle it wildly out of tune. So, here's what I found to help: if I have to use a kyser on electric I put the kyser capo right on top of the fret wire. Right exactly on top of the fret. Seems odd, but it works well with strong kyser capos and the sound stays clear (not muted). Again, play around with placement a bit but putting it right on top of the fret wire can keep an electric perfectly in tune as it doesn't get to press down, or pull, as far (as it would in the middle of the fret). Another benefit of the keyser capo is that you can turn them upside down and use them as a cut, or partial, capo (more on that soon).
So, you can use a kyser for acoustic and electric and still stay in tune. Try messing with your placement. It really helps.
Now for electrics, I much prefer these planet waves capos (again, for live use). They are weird looking, but they are quick release AND you can adjust the tension quickly . . . with a big wonky looking spring on the bottom. Anyway, they work well and I prefer them for electric. Yes, there are other options and others that work well, but for speed, I like these. I can set the tension perfectly for the guitar and its still have the benefit of quick release.
Honorable mention goes to these G7 capos. Though I've never used one they have some lower profile designs that look like they would work really well (and not hang so far below the neck). They apparently are pretty quick to put on and they even make a kyser-esque looking one. They are about twice the price of the kyser capos though.
The above tips prove to be really really important when using cut capos, or a capo AND and cut capo. Things can get annoyingly out of tune otherwise. Granted, on a recording I'll tune with the capo already placed to make sure everything is perfect, but for quick, live use I've found the above to work very, very well. Keep the capo as straight across the strings as possible and experiment with placement to, or on, the fret.
More on creative capo use in other posts soon but try out the ideas and keep practicing!
P.S. Want a capo that will haunt your dreams at night? Try the spider capo. Never used it but it looks really intriguing and supposedly woks well for altered tuning type tricks.
In the last post we looked at a bit of music theory and how you can number chords. This time, we're going to look at the numbering thing a little more deeply (really helpful), how to apply this to the songs you play, and how to practice it all.
Do you get the idea? Again, your chords take on number names. Certain chords are major and certain ones are minor and that is where the traditional or nashville systems can help you. Its very helpful to think this way.
You'll hear musicians talk all the time about "the one chord" or "the five chord" etc.. They are just talking about the numbers associated with the chords.
So, take your chord charts for the next couple months and write the numbers that correspond to the chord nearby until you don't have to think about it any more. It will happen faster then you may think. Even just think about it as you encounter charts. Or, just focus on one song a week (of course you can do more) and work out the numbers for the chords. You'll find it starts to come easily as most sections of songs repeat over and over again.
This is the first step. Do what you can. With consistent work it will become second nature and be very, very useful. Trust me. The next step would be to use it while playing to change the key of a song by sight without having to write the chords out. More on that later.
Practice up and let me know if you have any questions!
P.S. If you haven't already, check out the rest of the series here.
I've recently taught seminar on using tech in leading congregational singing at the Sovereign Grace Worship God conferences. We looked at using Ableton and the options that gives you from running a simple click to full blown multitracks. We discussed what a creative tool it can be while at the same time were honest about the challenges and considerations for use in leading congregational singing.
I recommend you check these out at some point, especially if you're new to Ableton. It's a program that is easy to use but will do everything it can to convince you otherwise when you're just starting out! There are other programs you can use out there to run audio, loops and click but Ableton is by far the most powerful and flexible.
Here is a collection of helpful, accessible training videos by English worship leader and ableton guru, Kristian Ponsford. There are about 10 videos that will walk you through the ableton interface and other helpful things. Check them out here.
If you're getting into ableton, using multitracks or loops, it won't take you long to discover Loop Community. Currently, they lean towards a big collection of user made loops (I tend to prefer multitracks), but their multitrack collection is growing and they have some very helpful tutorials on getting the basics of an ableton/loop rig up and running.
Multitracks.com (more on them below) offers some nice intro videos as well. Check them out here.
Also, if you don't want to use Ableton or can't at the moment, here is some direction on using your iPod/ipad for this kind of thing. Also, there are great apps available be to run all this. More on that below in point 5 (Loops and Multitracks).
Loop Community has a great, simple tutorial on how to build a click within Ableton. Check it out here.
I mentioned adding simple musical elements, like and ambient pad, to your click session in Ableton. Its easy to do. Haven't found a tutorial yet, so I may make one of my own soon. In the meantime,you can find some great resources for ambient pads from Karl Verkade here and here.
Get your hands on a very inexpensive, stereo Y cable (something like this). There are many other brands out there and of course you can look into the audio interface option, but this is by far the cheapest, very useable, and simple to use. Just connect from the headphone jack on your laptop, iPad, or iPod and follow the directions in #2 right below.
This is a useful diagram from loop community that shows a very simple way to connect to your sound system while separating your loop audio from your click or cues. Check it out here.
Vocal cues help remind you where you are in an arrangement. As you add more musical elements, you definitely do not want to get lost! Here are a couple of tutorials that will show you how to add vocal cues in Albeton. You can see how to add them to a track here. You can download them here.
Vocal cues become pretty necessary as you add more and more musical elements (multitracks, loops, etc.) though this is kind of the point at which you become committed to an arrangement and spontaneity, though not impossible, becomes more difficult. Although this is a little more advanced, here is some advice on spontaneity and how to jump around between sections of a song in arrangement view and session view (the two views in Ableton).
Loop Community offers the lion share of loops out there. Check them out here. They also have a growing number of artist multitracks. Check those out here.
Multitracks.com is an amazing resource for multitracks. They have a huge database of albums from musicians like Hillsong, Matt Redman, Dustin Kensrue, and many others. They also have a function called custom mix where you can buy a simpler, cheaper version of the multitrack that you can tailor to your own needs.
Check out both of these sites for songs as they have slightly different libraries. Both of them also offer apps for running loops as well. Playback from Multitracks.com and Prime from Loop Community. Both are excellent resources and can simplify your loop rig. Well worth your time to check them out.
Here is some advice on how build a master library in Ableton.
Hopefully this can be a resource for you in getting started with loops and multitracks. In future posts I'll talk about the considerations, challenges and even potential idols that come to light in using these things to lead congregational singing.
Until then, always double check your inputs and let me know if you have any questions!
P.S. An important quirk in Ableton you need to fix in preferences before you start. Go here.
P.P. S. And one more thing. There are three levels of Ableton: Intro, Standard and Suite. Standard is what I'd recommend if you want to build a library (more on that in point 6 above), though Intro can be useful to start and is cheaper (you can always upgrade). Suite is very expensive and I don't imagine many would need it in this context. Check them all out here (you can also download a demo of Ableton here).


Healthy organic, local, and natural foods cafe in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom: Freighthouse farm-to-table cafe, located in downtown Lyndonville, VT. We serve delicious breakfast sandwiches, lunch items, and salads, made with organic meats, including grass fed certified organic beef from our ORGANIC FARM, organic cheeses, and organic vegetables. Enjoy ice cream desserts from our on-site ice cream shop (Carmen's Ice Cream) and a specialty drink from our Starbucks Coffee counter.
Our fresh Fruit Smoothies are made with local berries, organic fruit, and superfood add-ins. We have over 15 to choose from and many healthy boosts to add.
Breakfast & Lunch - Fresh, local, organic..local Vermont meat & organic grass fed beef, local and organic vegetables, gluten-free options, our Award-Winning VT Organic beef burgers, wraps, salads, soup and an extensive dessert menu.
"This is one of those places you can't afford to miss whether you're a tourist or a local. The food is fantastic and inexpensive, the service was fast and flawless"
"Owned and run by real local Vermonters, this restaurant is filled will charm and atmosphere. Local railroad history abounds with photos and antiques from the freight house that originally occupied the building."
"Wonderful place, great food, friendly staff. "


THE REBIRTH OF THE 1965 CHVELLE SS is a full length feature documenting the entire restoration process taken by the V8TV crew to bring this timeless Chevelle back from the edge of it's life. Starting with 3 cars, the crew utilized thousands of new reproduction parts, restored originals, and today's high-tech methods and materials to transform a scrap pile into a show winner.
Follow along from disassembly, chaissis / suspension build, engine build, metal repair, body work, paint, buffing, and final assembly.
Perhaps the best part is the surprise reveal and Gold Spinner Award at the car's first Showing!
In Hot Rod Garages, acclaimed hot rod photographer and authorPeter Vincent gives readers an intimate look inside the shops and garages of more than two dozen rod and custom builders. Unlike most hot rod books, Vincent's takes a strictly California-centric approach in examining shops across the United States. From individuals crafting cars for their own reward to more prominent builders turning out cool rides for paying customers, Vincent and his cameras show the builders in the context of their spaces, in the process exploring how their work environments inform their creations and vice versa. Included are individuals like Pete Eastwood who have garnered attention in the hot rod press while building mostly for themselves; builders like Vern and Keith Tardel, the Kennedy Brothers, and Cole Foster with his crew at Salinas Boyz, all currently being celebrated for the traditionally styled rides they build for consumers; and high-end shops widely considered to be the cream of the industry, like Roy Brizio's and Steve Moal's in the Bay Area, as well as SO-CAL Speed Shop (heir to legend Alex Xydias). The result is the next best thing to being there--an exquisitely presented book that eloquently distills the varying nature of these spaces and the cars created within, revealing the countless hours spent machining, wrenching, welding, and shaping these beautiful visions to fruition.
In the early 1960s, Lee Iacocca—then director of the Ford division at Ford Motor Company—convinced Henry Ford II to produce a sporty four-seat car aimed at the emerging youth market. That car, essentially a reconfigured and re-skinned Falcon economy car, became the Ford Mustang, and it changed the automotive world like no other car before or since. In Mustang: Fifty Years, acclaimed Mustang writer Donald Farr celebrates this unbroken lineage of muscle: its phenomenal first-year sales, the new "pony car" genre it pioneered, and subsequent models that include the Mustang GT, Shelby GT350, Shelby GT500, Super Cobra Jet, Boss 302 and Boss 429—all part of a line of American performance cars that continues on to this day. With 400 photos of the USA's iconic sports car and released in tandem with the Mustang's 50th anniversary, Mustang: Fifty Years is a must on the bookshelf of any gearhead or Ford aficionado.
Hardcover, 256 pages, 10 x 12.25 in.
Professional Sheet Metal Fabrication is the number-one resource for sheet metal workers old and new. Join veteran metalworker Ed Barr as he walks you through the ins and outs of planning a sheet metal project, acquiring the necessary tools and resources, doing the work, and adding the perfect finishing touches for a seamless final product. From his workshop at McPherson College-home of the only accredited four-year degree in automotive restoration technology-Barr not only demonstrates how the latest tools and products work, but also explains why sheet metal reacts the way it does to a wide variety of processes. He includes clear directions for shaping metal using hand tools, the English Wheel, the pneumatic planishing hammer, and other machines, and discusses a variety of ways to cut and join metal through welding, soldering, brazing, and riveting. Dent repair and automotive patch panel fabrication are covered in detail. Readers are also given tips on copying shapes and building foam, wire, and wood station bucks to use as guides during shaping. This is truly the most detailed enthusiast-focused sheet metal how-to book on the market. Whether you're a metal hobbyist or experienced professional, you're sure to find something new inProfessional Sheet Metal Fabrication.
Solvent-based paints have been used in automotive applications since the days when automobiles were called "buggies" and the horsepower was provided by, well, horses. But recent EPA regulations have restricted solvent-based paints for use only in approved professional paint booths, meaning that do-it-yourselfers can no longer use them--and it won't be long before their use is banned entirely. Paint manufacturers have raced to develop water-based paints as a replacement for the solvent-based paints previously used. These new water-based automotive paints are of very high quality, but they require different methods and techniques for proper application, virtually rendering previous automotive paint books obsolete. SATA Auto Paint from Prep to Final Coat is the first book to provide instruction in these new paints. In addition to providing this critical information, author and top professional painter JoAnn Bortles covers all the techniques necessary to get the great results your car deserves. From initial body-panel preparation, to troubleshooting common problems, to applying the final coat and all steps in between, this book is the only reference you will need to ensure your DIY automotive paint job is done right the first time.
Of the legendary names in the history of the Ford Mustang, one stands apart: BOSS. Originally created to homologate the new Boss 302 engine and option package for SCCA Trans-Am racing, the Mustang Boss 302 debuted for the 1969 model year and was built in limited numbers for the street through 1970. Designed by the legendary Larry Shinoda, the Boss cars were easily distinguished from their less potent stablemates by their race-bred powerplant, standard front spoiler, and bold graphics.
For the 2012 model year, Ford has at long last revived the most revered of all Mustang models: BOSS. With a new racing counterpart and a modern street version that delivers more than 440 horsepower, the Boss is truly back!
To mark this historic occasion, Mustang historian Donald Farr has written a complete history of the Boss 302, from its late 1960s origins in Ford's boardrooms, through its Trans-Am successes and untimely demise in 1970 up to the conception and development of the spectacular new 2012 Mustang Boss 302. Packed with brilliant photography and first-hand accounts from the people who created the original Boss as well as the team that resurrected Ford's most iconic Mustang, this is the story every Mustang enthusiast has been waiting to read!
Hardcover, 160 pages, 9.5 x 11.125 in.
This is a Camaro book like no other. The Complete Book of Camaro covers the entire production history of Chevrolet's iconic pony car, from the original concept car, code-named Panther, to the latest and greatest fifth-generation sensation. The Complete Book of Camaro showcases in photos, text, and technical specifications every model since 1967. If Chevrolet built it, it is here.
Art of the Classic Car features the stunning studio photography of Peter Harholdt (Art of the Hot Rod, Art of the Muscle Car), lavished on the most significant automobiles from the classic era: the 1910s to early 1940s. Every page contains framable-quality portraits of some of the most important cars ever made, with each car accompanied by a short essay from automotive expert Peter Bodensteiner that places the model contextually within automotive history. Complete with period ads and promotional art, Art of the Classic Car is the most beautiful pictorial history of classic cars ever produced.
Hardcover, 224 pages, 12.25 x 10.75 in.


Disclosure: I received the following to feature from Educational Insights. All opinions are my own.
If you've been a follower of my blog for some time, you will know that I am a huge advocate of educational toys that provide boat loads of fun. Educational Insights is such a company that has a variety of toys and games that are perfect for gifting this holiday season.
This is a super fun and durable toy that Mason will enjoy playing with on the playground. I can only imagine the dinosaur sounds he will make!
Chomp! Stomp! Roar! Watch out! It's a trio of prehistoric-era puppets! Join Crusher, Stomper, and Buster on a Jurassic pretend play journey. Simply slide the easy-glide thumb lever or pull the chunky knob on the bottom to open and close their mouths as you animate them in your own puppet shows, circle time, and more.
Kenzie is starting to make up stories and these puppets will be fantastic as she can get elaborate and creative in her storytelling. They are the perfect size for little hands to hold and when you purchase the set, you can share with friends!
Both toys are great for boys and girls and will be a adventurous treat under the tree this year!
My son saw the Dinosaur Puppet on a Stick in the educational insights catalog and added to his Christmas list!
My husband and I are both educators, so our kids ALWAYS get educational toys. They don't know another way! The best thing about these toys is that they're actually really fun, the learning is just a bonus.
I'm with you on the educational toys, and also toys that get kids moving - like that Dino - LOVE IT!
We love toys that are both fun AND educational, especially if the kids don't realize they're learning while playing!
That is seriously cute. My girls love dinosaurs and this would be fun.
We have the ocean version of the puppet on the stick but think my 4 year old would prefer dinos as they're big on his list now!


text:
Aardrijkskunde
Conte (Frankrijk), gemeente in het Franse departement Jura
Conte (rivier),rivier in Costa Rica

Personen met de achternaam Conte
Giuseppe Conte. Italiaans premier
Nicola Conte, Italiaans diskjockey, muziekproducent en gitarist
Paolo Conte,  Italiaans zanger, componist en tekstschrijver
Richard Conte, Amerikaans acteur
Antonio Conte, Italiaans voetballer/trainer

Zie ook
Conté
Conti

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Norwich man's autographs sold
Autographs snapped up at sale
An avid autograph hunter saw a third of his collection head to new homes as it went under the hammer yesterday.
But owner Martin Ballantyne, who has now switched to being an actor, is now concentrating on his next project of making a television comedy drama which he has written and stars him in the leading role.
The 38-year-old from Dussindale in Norwich is gearing up to film a pilot episode of Logg Time, which focuses on office worker John Logg and his love for the cleaner.
'I wrote it four years ago, have got a cast together and it will be filmed at various locations including an office in Norwich, pub in Great Yarmouth and county hall car park,' he explained.
In meantime he was pleased with the outcome of his auction which saw 71 of his 223 items signed by mainly showbusiness celebrities, sold. They were topped by �190 for an Avengers collection of signed photographs of the television action series including a rare 1961 one of autograph-shy Diana Rigg as Emma Peel.
Other lots included a Lord of the Rings picture which went for �75, film star Jack Lemmon for �36 and Ted Briggs, the last survivor of the sinking of HMS Hood which went for �40.
Mr Ballantyne, who has gone from tracking down movie stars to being an extra himself in films including Harry Potter and Batman, is selling his collection so other people can enjoy the items. He said he would be looking to sell the rest at other auctions next year.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Category Archives: Shhh, I'm Reading
Posted by IfByYes in Shhh, I'm Reading
characters, dominance, feminism, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, love, relationships, Ron and Hermione, Ron Weasley
In honor of Ron's birthday today, it's time I finished this post!
I actually started my previous post about Ron's virtues months before Rowling admitted that she had made a mistake pairing him with Hermione. But it was that shocking announcement which spurred me into finishing it.
Because, like many of us, I also had my doubts about the couple at first, so my last couple of re-readings have focused on Ron's character.
Rowling is wrong.
Ron is actually a good fit for Hermione, and vice versa. We've just discussed Ron's many overlooked virtues. Now, let's talk about why those virtues are what Hermione needs most.
Mockingjay, Part 1: Philip Seymour Hoffman Does It Again, But For The Last Time…
book, mockingjay, movie, philip seymour hoffman, review, suzanne collins
Well, PH and I got to Mockingjay last night. As you may remember, we LOVED Catching Fire, which you folks are simply not used to hearing after I've gone to see a book-to-movie film.
We went in extremely hopeful. We were disappointed with the original Hunger Games movie, although it was acceptable, but then Catching Fire actually had us slow-clapping when the credits rolled.
Our hope was that the presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman would keep the good ball rolling (we're convinced that he somehow infused his essence into Catching Fire, thus perfecting it).
Overall, I'm happy to report that it did.
Critics have complained that there is too much exposition in this movie. I personally disagree. I LIKE exposition.
One of the things that frustrates me is when movies skip over extremely important plot points because they assume their audience will be too stupid to sit through two more minutes of dialogue.
Besides, it actually has a lot LESS exposition than the book. One of the best things about translating a first-person narrative into a movie is that they can show you things that you don't get to see in the story because the main character didn't see those things.
Mockingjay Part 1 actually SHOWS the effect of Katniss's "propos" in the districts. There are multiple very-cool, very-exciting rebellion shots which you totally don't get to see in the book, because Katniss is too busy moping in an underground bunker.
Critics have also complained that the movie just builds towards Part II, but I disagree there, as well.
The focus of the first movie is on Katniss's concern for Peeta, and to me, getting Peeta back seems like the obvious goal and building-point.
Those of you who have read the book know how well THAT goes, and I think the movie ends on a great "what next?" note.
Overall, much of the dialogue is word-for-word, which I value. The sentiments of the movie are very well expressed. The desolation of District 12 is not understated.
They leave in stuff I thought they'd cut, like the Hanging Tree song (VERY NICE), and the white rose in Katniss's house. They even left in Buttercup chasing the light in the bunker.
Other than removing some of the best Boggs lines, the only things that got cut were very specific – they cut everything that shows District 13 and/or President Coin in a negative light.
Which I thought was a little odd.
The prep team? Gone. Instead Effie Trinket is there, which I accept because the first movie basically eradicated the Prep Team when they should have left them in. So Effie is there instead as damage control. But she is treated very well – no complaints there.
The restrictive lifestyle, Coin's coldness… all of that is cut.
It struck me as an interesting choice. Are they trying to build up our trust in 13 and Coin, only to tear it down? Or have they decided to wipe out that whole aspect of the storyline (surely they can't??).
If the first option is correct, then they had better do it fast and well in Part II, that's all I can say.
And with Philip Seymour Hoffman lost to us, I don't know how much faith I have in their ability to do so…
In Which We Attend The Quidditch Global Games 2014 and are Blown Away by Awesomeness
Posted by IfByYes in Life and Love, Perfect Husband, Shhh, I'm Reading
balls, bludger, brooms, feminism, gender equality, global games 2014, Harry Potter, lgbtq, muggle quidditch, quaffle, quidditch, seeker, snitch, sports, trans equality, transgender, transgender rights, Vancouver
We found out about it totally by accident.
We were at an indoor play gym as part of our constant battle to keep our little extrovert entertained on the weekend. PH picked up a local paper to flip through while we sat in the overwhelmingly loud atmosphere.
"Hey, the Quidditch Global Games are in Vancouver," he said.
"Like, where people run around on brooms?" I said.
"Oh, we need to see that. When is it."
He scanned the article. "Today!"
So we packed Owl in the car and headed down to see.
It took us a while to find it. International competition not withstanding, the Quidditch Global Games had not attracted a large crowd. Most of the spectators were family and friends of the players.
We were geeking out.
"They have MERCHANDISE!" I said, running over to the booth. There were shirts from many of the international teams. After much hemming and hawing I bought shirt from the Mexican team, where were newcomers this year and could only afford to bring half of their team.
The shirt says "Viva Quidditch, cabrones!" and really, how often do you get a chance to buy a shirt that says (loosely translated) "long live Quidditch, bitches!" in Spanish?
We showed up at the perfect time, because Canada was just starting their match against Australia. We watched as all players bowed their head while the "Snitch" – a heavyset dude in yellow with a sock hanging out of the back of his pants – ran off of the field to hide.
When the Snitch was out of a sight, a whistle blew and all hell broke loose. The players grabbed their brooms, mounted them, and then fought to get a "Quaffle" (which, confusingly, was white) through the other team's hoops. Since they were all holding onto their brooms, all throwing and catching was done one handed.
It all sounds pretty silly, until you watch it played.
This sport is FULL BODY CONTACT, guys. They were tackling each other like mad. We saw at least one person carted off of the field in a stretcher, and several more down for a good 5-10 minute count. This isn't about some silly geeks LARPing in a soccer field. It's like Rugby with extra balls and literary roots.
While Chasers fought one-handed over the Quaffle, Beaters were throwing dodge balls at the players. Whenever one of them got tagged by a "bludger" they had to dismount and run back and touch their hoops before they could re-enter play.
After 18 minutes the Snitch returned to the pitch and then the play became (if possible) even more intense. The seekers tried to tackle the Snitch, who wasn't afraid to knock them down repeatedly, while opposing team members tried to interfere with play. Meanwhile, the Chasers are still trying to get the Quaffle through the hoops while also helping out their Seeker.
You don't even know what to watch – keep your eyes on the Snitch and miss another incredible goal? Or watch the Quaffle and miss the capturing of the Snitch?
Craziness.
We were able to stay long enough to watch Canada come in third. We had to take Owl home to bed before the final match, which the USA ended up winning (Muggle Quidditch originated in the U.S, and the page for the international association is actually called USquidditch.com, which bothers me. Hopefully as international teams increase, there will be a truly international page set up).
Some friends of ours who are both sporty AND geeky also came out to watch.
"Why don't we play this?" one of them asked.
PH has been missing sports in his life for many years.
In his high school yearbook, you can find his face in pretty much every team photo. Soccer, baseball, football, curling… he did it all.
In University he refereed several sports. But it's surprisingly hard to get involved in sports here. There's a big population and a lot of demand. When we moved to B.C. he tracked down the local baseball league and was rejected several times – they just didn't have room for more players.
He did curling for a year or two, but since he had to take what he could get, he was shunted onto a team of lackluster players who he never quite jived with. He gave up in frustration after two seasons.
So then he decided to try refereeing. He got qualified as a soccer referee, but was only every called out to a few games, earning a grand total of a hundred dollars over a whole season. The next year they only called once. He didn't bother re-certifying the next year.
Last year he decided to get certified as a softball referee. It cost us $150 and they never called him at all.
Quidditch, on the other hand, could be a whole other ball game.
PH tracked down a Quidditch referee to ask how he could get involved and they practically leaped on him. Turns out that there was a team in Burnaby that was looking for players, and they are short on referees.
By the time we left the field he had exchanged emails with several people and they were hoping to see him on the Quidditch pitch next Saturday. Today he downloaded the 150 page rule book and began memorizing it.
Quidditch rules, by the way, are awesome.
Not only is it a delightfully geeky and yet truly challenging sport to play, it is also heartwarmingly unlike other sports.
Besides being the only sport to involve multiple balls in play at once, the International Quidditch Association is dedicated to inclusivity and equality.
Teams MUST be co-ed, and it specifically addresses transgender issues in the rulebook. The co-ed rule reads:
Each team [is] to have at least two players on the field who identify with a different gender than at least two other players. The gender that a player identifies with is considered to be that player's gender, which may or may not be the same as that person's sex.
The rule goes on to acknowledge that some players may not identify as male OR female, and that is okay, too.
If that rule wasn't enough to make Perfect Husband and I fall head over heels in love with Quidditch (we consider ourselves ardent LGBTQ allies), our hearts were entirely won over when we learned that Quidditch also had a decree called Title 9 3/4 (a play on Title IX) which is devoted specifically to gender equality in the sport.
It's so awesome, and I'm proud that PH is getting involved. I can cheer on Quidditch in a way that I just can't with other sports. The literary roots of the sport generate some interest in me, and the gender-equality factor makes me want to support it.
I can't wait to attend more games.
brave, Harry Potter, hermione, ron, smart, underestimated, weasley
Recently, JK Rowling admitted in an interview with Emma Watson that she sometimes regrets putting Ron and Hermione together romantically. Like the rest of us, she wonders whether bumbling, incompetent, lazy Ron could really have made the industrious and brilliant Hermione happy.
That made me really sad. Because the last couple times reading through the series, I've been paying attention to Ronald Weasley, and I've realized something:
Yes, Ron is lazy. Yes, Ron buggers off on Harry twice. Yes, Ron has inferiority problems. Yes, Ron is flawed.
But Ron is also the most underestimated character in the series.
Ron is continually underestimated by Hermione, by Harry, by his family… he even underestimates himself.
If you actually WATCH Ron, you start to notice things.
Ron Is Smart
We all remember how Ron saved the day in the first book by winning the game of chess against McGonnagle's giant chess set. If you think about it, that's pretty impressive, since the artificial intelligence of the opposing side was meant to defeat adults.
Maybe you, like me, dismissed this as an out-of-character moment, since Ron's supposed brilliance at chess never really comes up again.
Except it does.
When I started paying attention to Ron, I noticed that he never stopped winning at chess. Hermione is always interrupting Harry and Ron at games of chess throughout the books, and Ron never appears to be losing.
Now, if Ron is good enough at chess to win so consistently, he's not the dimwit that so many of us tend to think he is. If anything, he is a good out-of-the-box thinker who keeps his cool in stressful situations. It is Ron who suggests Felix Felicis as a way for Harry to get Slughorn to cooperate in Half Blood Prince. It is Ron who thinks of fetching Basilisk fangs in Deathly Hallows.
Furthermore, while we all tend to think of Ron as a poor student, he was one of only twelve students to take NEWT level Potions. In fact, he does well enough to attend NEWT level Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against The Dark Arts, and Herbology.
That means he got Exceeds Expectations on all of those OWLS. So, while he may not be the top of the class, he's a B-level student at least, which is nothing to be ashamed of.
Ron Is Good At Magic
Grades don't necessarily equal practical abilities, of course. Look at Fred and George, who barely got any OWLs at all but invent all sorts of cool magical items, which Hermione herself describes as "extraordinary magic".
Ron may be bad at the more academic classes, like History of Magic, and he may have failed his first Apparition test ("just barely", as Hermione points out in his defense). But he's not actually all that bad at magic, especially in emergency situations. Don't forget that he's the one who knocked out the troll in his first year. In his second year, he cast a non-verbal Slug Vomiting Charm at Draco Malfoy and it worked. Unfortunately, it backfired on him because of his broken wand. But it WORKED.
He picks up Defense Against the Dark Arts quickly – maybe more quickly than Hermione was willing to admit.
Did you see me disarm Hermione, Harry?"
"Only once" said Hermione, stung. "I got you loads more then you got me—"
"I did not only get you once, I got you at least three times—
He acquits himself well in battle, earning praise from Tonks, the Auror who rode with him in the Battle of Seven Potters.
Ron was great. Wonderful. Stunned one of the Death Eaters, straight to the head, and when you're aiming at a moving target from a flying broom —
"You did?" said Hermione, gazing up at Ron with her arms still around his neck.
"Always the tone of surprise," he said grumpily, breaking free.
Always-underestimated Ron disarms Bellatrix Lestrange, saving Hermione, at Malfoy Manor, and helps to bring down Fenrir Greyback in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Ron is no bumbler, and no liability to his friends in a fight.
Ron Is Brave
Ron is a true Gryffindor. The only thing that he fears is his own personal failures. Well, that and spiders. But Ron faces down an entire nest of giant spiders for the sake of a friend. Ron never hesitates to throw himself into danger to save the people he loves.
A lot of this got edited out of the movies, where Ron was portrayed in a much more cowardly manner.
In the movie version, Ron panics while Hermione coolly saves him from the Devil's Snare. In reality, it was Hermione who panicked and Ron who snapped her out of it. In the movie version of Prisoner of Azkaban, Ron whimpers on the floor with his broken leg while Hermione throws herself in front of Harry. In the book, Ron was the one who stood up with a broken leg and put himself between Sirius Black and Harry.
"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too!" he said fiercely, though the effort of standing up had drained him of still more colour, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.
Something flickered in Black's shadowed eyes.
"Lie down," he said quietly to Ron. "You will damage that leg even more."
"Did you hear me?" Ron said weakly, though he was clinging painfully to Harry to stand upright, "You'll have to kill all three of us!"
Ron sacrifices himself a lot. He lets himself get attacked by a giant stone statue so that his friends can save the Philosopher's Stone. He throws himself in front of Harry's would-be murderer. He disguises himself as Harry in the Battle of Seven Potters. He dives into an icy lake to save Harry and pull out Gryffindor's Sword. He begs Bellatrix Lestrange to torture him in Hermione's place.
Ron may have his flaws, but he is no coward.
Ron Is Hilarious
Ron serves as the comic relief throughout the books. But the only one who ever gives him credit for this is the perceptive Luna Lovegood.
He says very funny things sometimes, doesn't he?
Yes, yes he does. He brings light heartedness and wit to Harry and Hermione, who are far too gloomy when left to their own devices.
Of all the trees we could've hit, we had to get one that hits back.
Percy wouldn't recognize a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing Dobby's tea cozy."
Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?
From now on, I don't care if my tea leaves spell 'Die, Ron, Die,' I'm chucking them in the bin where they belong.
A brutal triple murder by the bridegroom's mother might put a bit of a damper on the wedding.
I don't know how to break this to you, but I think they might have noticed we broke into Gringotts.
IF WE DIE FOR THEM, I'LL KILL YOU, HARRY!
This is one of the reasons why Hermione and Harry need Ron.
There was much less laughter, and a lot more hanging around the library when Hermione was your best friend.
When Ron leaves Harry and Hermione alone for months in Deathly Hallows, the playful banter that we see between the friends throughout the series disappears.
There were loads of nights where we didn't even speak to each other. With you gone…" He could not finish; it was only now that Ron was here again that Harry fully realized how much his absence had cost them.
Ron balances Hermione. He tends to serves as a comic foil to Hermione's know-it-all seriousness, and he forms most of the punch lines in their interactions.
I suppose we're doing the right thing…I think….aren't we?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"Well, that clears that up," said Ron. "It would have been really annoying if you hadn't explained yourself properly.
"What's that?" said Ron, pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding.
"Bouillabaisse," said Hermione.
"Bless you," said Ron.
Excuse me, I don't like people just because they're handsome!" said Hermione indignantly.
Ron gave a loud false cough, which sounded oddly like 'Lockhart!'
Maybe we assume that the comic relief shouldn't be taken seriously, but for a character like Hermione, who desperately needs to be reminded to lighten up now and then, and someone like Harry, who broods far too much, Ron is vital to their mental health.
Ron Has A Talent For Imitation
Through most of the series, Ron's tendency to imitate people just seems like part of his general wit.
You can pretend to be waiting Professor Flitwick, you know." He put on a high voice, "'Oh, Professor Flitwick, I'm so worried, I think I got question fourteen b wrong…
Aaaah," said Ron, imitating Professor Trelawney's mystical whisper, "when two Neptunes appear in the sky, it is a sure sign that a midget in glasses is being born, Harry…
I'll make Goyle do lines, he hates writing," said Ron happily. He lowered his voice to Goyle's low grunt, mimed writing in midair. "I…must…not…look…like…a…baboon's…backside."
Ron's impressions are not only funny, they're genuinely well done. In Half Blood Prince he temporarily damages his friendship with Hermione by perpetrating a "cruel but accurate impression of Hermione jumping up and down in her seat every time Professor McGonagall asked a question".
But still, what use is that skill?
As it turns out, It's REALLY USEFUL.
In Deathly Hallows, while Harry grapples with Wormtail, Lucius Malfoy nearly comes down to investigate.
"What is it, Wormtail?" called Lucius Malfoy from above.
"Nothing," Ron called back in a passable imitation of Wormtail's wheezy voice, "All fine!"
If Ron hadn't pulled off a good Wormtail impression, they wouldn't have been able to escape and run upstairs with Wormtail's wand to save Hermione.
But his ability to imitate is put to the ultimate test when he and Hermione break into the Chamber of Secrets, which can only be opened by someone who speaks Parseltongue. Ron pulls off an imitation of Harry hissing to Slytherin's locket that is so convincing, it actually works.
He was AMAZING," Hermione said, "Amazing!
Ron Is Underestimated
So, it comes down to this: Ron is brilliant at chess, witty, not bad at school, a force to be reckoned with in battle, selfless, brave, with a handy ability to mimic others.
…but everyone, including his friends, family, even his own author, thinks of him as being slightly useless.
Ron Is Disadvantaged
Let's be honest about it – the Weasley family are basically considered to be the wizarding version of white trash – at least, by the other wizards.
My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.
Racism works along different lines in the wizarding world. No one seems to care particularly if you're black or white. Instead they care about how "magical" your family is.
The Weasleys are considered to be "pure-bloods", which makes them the wizard equivalent of Aryan. But they are also considered to be "blood traitors" and are scorned by the wizarding elite.
It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back at the Ministry all these years. Fudge thinks he lacks proper wizarding pride.
Nor do the Weasleys have a pile of inherited wealth like most of the other pure bloods in the books. Harry's parents lived off of his father's inheritance – they never held actual employment. Lucius Malfoy doesn't seem to have an actual job, either. He's just rich. He probably owns a lot of land and lives off of the rents.
By contrast, Arthur Weasley works at a low-level government job, and supports his large family with a lot of scrimping and hand-me-downs. Ron, as one of the youngest children, is therefore also the most disadvantaged.
I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat.
Unlike Harry or Hermione, who get brand new wands that are specially matched to them and their abilities, Ron is handed an old wand that his brother didn't want any more. That's a huge disadvantage at school.
First of all, it is stated many times in the series that while a wizard can make magic with any wand, a wand will never work as well for someone who is not its rightful owner.
Unless Ron won that wand in a duel with his brother – which is unlikely – Charlie's wand probably never worked properly for him, even before it got broken in second year.
Furthermore, the wand must have been pretty damaged for Charlie to want a new one. Ron says himself that the unicorn hair inside is showing.
Then, once the wand was snapped by the Whomping Willow, Ron is forced to keep using it for the rest of the school year, even though it simply doesn't work. It backfires constantly, injuring Ron, Professor Flitwick, some unfortunate beetles, Seamus, and finally Gilderoy Lockhart. Sometimes it smokes for no reason.
No wonder Ron did badly in class when he was younger.
Ron Is Humble
The Weasleys are a humble family in general, tending to think of others before themselves. But Ron takes his humility into the depths of an inferiority complex, and who can blame him?
Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first.
Ron comes into Hogwarts with a "why try" attitude that he doesn't really outgrow until the last chapters of the last book.
Can you blame him?
He spent his childhood being teased by Fred and George, the youngest and therefore most incompetent of the Weasley boys. His successes are compared to those of his older brothers, but his mother uses her older children's successes to shame her younger children when they come up short.
Ron stands there with his smoking, broken, hand-me-down wand while brilliant Hermione succeeds at everything and famous Harry gets all the attention. His own conviction that he's useless at everything tends to create self-fulfilling prophecies.
"Has Ron saved a goal yet?" asked Hermione, peering over the top of Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms.
"Well, he can do it if he doesn't think anyone's watching him," said Fred, rolling his eyes. "So all we have to do is ask the crowd to turn their backs and talk among themselves every time the Quaffle goes up his end on Saturday."
A lot of people in Ron's position would try to minimize the successes of those around them. They would turn into bullies like Malfoy who make themselves feel bigger by putting others down.
But Ron is always the first person to tell Hermione how smart she is, or to congratulate Harry when he does well.
Harry glanced down at Ron's grades. There were no 'Outstandings' there…
"Knew you'd be top in Defence Against The Dark Arts," said Ron, punching Harry in the shoulder.
And that's Ron all over. Harry outshines him, and he just accepts it.
The one time it became too much for him, he was back at Harry's side the moment he came out of his funk and realized that Harry was in danger.
Hermione constantly does brilliant things and Ron is right there, clapping his hands, admiring her.
How do you remember stuff like that?" asked Ron, looking at her in admiration.
"I listen, Ron," said Hermione with a touch of asperity.
We do try," said Ron. "We just haven't got your brains or your memory or your concentration – you're just cleverer than we are, is it nice to rub it in?
And yet, with all this, people don't think Ron and Hermione belonged together? They're perfect for each other, and I'll explain exactly why next time…
Poor Ron Part 2 is here!
If you haven't already, you might also like to check out some of my other Harry Potter rants.
**I wrote a book! Twilight annoyed me so much that I decided to write a story that was the exact opposite. You can check it out here.**
All About Tantrums – A Holistic View of Tantrums At All Ages
adults, All About Tantrums, attachment parenting, babies, books, child development, crying, discipline, emotions, independence, Karyn Van Der Zwet, older children, parenting, reviews, tantrums, teenagers, toddlers
Karyn Van Der Zwet, who you will see on my blog roll as Kloppenmum, came out with a new book recently, and she kindly sent me a copy to review.
All About Tantrums is probably the only book out there that really is ALL about Tantrums. If you Google books on tantrums you will come up with a lot of books about TODDLER tantrums.
But Karyn's book isn't age specific.
In fact, it gives multiple levels of advice based on the age of the tantrumming person, from 9 months old to teenagers to YOUR AGE. That's right – her book has sections dedicated to ADULT tantrums as well, and what to do when you have one.
What Karyn does is break down the word "tantrum" into (I counted them) 15 tantrums with 35 sub-categorized tantrum types. And she not only describes what each one looks like and how to tell one from the other, but how to deal with each and every kind.
It sounds like a lot of information, but it's actually insanely helpful, because I'm betting that every kid doesn't throw every kind of tantrum. Chances your kid only throws tantrums over a couple of things on the list. And when you realize that you've been following generic advice which would work great for, say, an Intentional Tantrum (subtype Entitlement Tantrum), but that your kid is actually throwing a Brain Pain Tantrum (sub type Has To Be Done Tantrum), you realize you've been handling it all wrong.
Even if your kid doesn't throw tantrums, it's a great explanation of why kids do the things they do.
Fifty Shades of Oh, Holy F***, Why Can't You Write?
criticism, e l james, fifty shades of grey, grammar, review, sexist, writing
I've been meaning to talk about the Fifty Shades of Grey series for a while now, since I've finally fought my way through the third book.
Oh dear lord, why is this famous?
I will reluctantly give it this – and those who haven't read both series may be surprised to hear this – it's BETTER WRITTEN THAN TWILIGHT.
Significantly, actually.
That doesn't mean it is GOOD.
"Better than Twilight" is like saying "better than having your eyes removed with a melon-baller". You could still be referring to a root canal or stepping on a piece of lego in your bare feet.
To briefly compare, let's go over all the things wrong with Twilight, shall we?
Oh, right.
Okay, well, let's briefly sum up the WORST things about Twilight:
1. Protagonist is dim witted and a terrible person.
2. Protagonist is a weak female who promotes all those unhealthy stereotypes of the fainting, delicate, door-mat princess who tries to look feisty by occasionally having an opinion about her own fate.
3. Love interest is a domineering, condescending, power hungry bad boy who repeatedly puts his own desires first.
4. Poor plot structure – story consists of purple prose romantic fantasy briefly interrupted by a random action climax completely unrelated to the previous 200 pages of story line.
5. Cardboard cut-out characters who often act against their directly-described characterization (e.g. a character is described as terse but then goes on long rambling diatribes).
Now, let's compare that to its spawn, Fifty Shades of Grey (for those who might be unaware, Fifty Shades originated as Twilight fan fiction which took Edward's creepy bossiness to a whole new level):
1. Protagonist seems aware of her surroundings and doesn't repeatedly lie to her father, flirt with someone she is uninterested in for the express purpose of extracting information, or blow off people who try to be nice to her.
2. Protagonist is still a weak female who promotes all those unhealthy stereotypes of the fainting, delicate, door-mat princess who tries to look feisty by occasionally having an opinion about her own fate. Also, slight hints at an eating disorder.
3. Love interest is a domineering, condescending, power hungry bad boy who repeatedly puts his own desires first… but at least the protagonist recognizes that this is a problem.
4. Poor plot structure – The first book ends at the climax, and you don't get the denouement until you pick up the second book. Then a random action sequence is inserted to create further tension in later books but seems constantly tacked-on to the main storyline
5. Protagonist and her love interest are actually surprisingly three dimensional. The rest of the characters are simply extras with no depth, however.
So, as you can see, it is MARGINALLY better.
If you put a gun to my head and said I had to re-read one of these two series, I'd pick Fifty Shades, hands down.
If you want, I can do a Twilight vs Fifty Shades series at some point, although it would sort of be like pitting Cow Pats vs Dirty Diapers.
Fifty Shades has elements that, in the right hands, could actually have made it good. It brought the world of BDSM into the light (albeit in ENTIRELY THE WRONG WAY), which is refreshing if also worrying. Although it's also annoying because suddenly bondage is a fad and I'm like "lol wut?"
Either you're into it, or you're not, right? Why is it suddenly hot when previously it wasn't? If women have been longing to be tied up all these years, why didn't they just go to their husbands and say "hey, tie me up, would you?" And besides, the BDSM style it brought into the light was female-submissive, male-dominant, which single handedly took feminism back 100 years.
Anyway, the character of Christian Grey is actually interesting, if not likeable.
But then there's the unalterable fact that it's badly written. It provides a hideously unhealthy relationship example – remember kids, if he's controlling, domineering, and seriously screwed up, you should put up with it as long as he's good looking and says that he loves you – and it has creepy subliminal-messaging-style references to anorexia.
Check it out (spoiler warning – if one can "spoil" something that is badly written erotica to begin with):
Random Twilight Rant
Posted by IfByYes in Life and Love, TwiBashing
facial expressions, humor, literary criticism, Twilight, writing
I am rereading Twilight, possibly out of self-hatred but ostensibly because I want to make sure that my Zombie Anti-Twilight story fully opposes it in every respect.
It's mind numbing; I am reading it in bed at night only… to help me fall asleep.
What's bothering me the most this time around are Edward's looks. Bella, who forgets to breathe and doesn't notice when she has come inside out of the rain, seems able to interpret the most complex facial expressions.
Like in the second chapter, when Edward looks at her with "unmet expectation" on his face.
Tell, me, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
I keep twisting my face around trying to create this painfully specific expression, and I end up feeling like Joey Tribbiani doing his "I have a fish hook in my eyebrow and I like it" look.
And then, a couple chapters later, Edward looks at her incredulously, but his face is also "hard" and "defensive" at the same time.
I've been working on it. What do you think?
The No-Cry Sleep Solution For Toddlers And Pre-Schoolers, and an Owl Sleep Update
Posted by IfByYes in From The Owlery, Shhh, I'm Reading
books, Elizabeth Pantley, night time, no cry sleep solution for toddlers and preschoolers, parenting, reviews, sleep training, sleeping alone, toddlers
It's about time I did this review.
I had been holding off until I actually felt like taking the book's advice.
And I finally did.
And now Owl goes to sleep ALL BY HIMSELF.
For those who have The No-Cry Sleep Solution, you'll find that this book is much the same… with one important difference.
The No-Cry Sleep Solution is aimed at little babies, babies who are young enough to be below the recommended cut-off for cry it out, according to child psychologists.
I admit to being a little dubious about the Toddlers and Preschoolers edition, because honestly, I think that crying isn't so bad for kids that old.
If anything, a certain amount of emotional distress is necessary to the developing toddler brain.
But Elizabeth Pantley mirrors my own beliefs back at me perfectly:
I'm a firm believer that babies should never be left to cry until they fall asleep. I also believe that toddlers and preschoolers should not be left for endless amounts of tears and anguish, contrary to some sleep books, which suggest doing this even to the point of vomiting. There are hundreds of ideas for helping a child sleep better without resorting to shutting the door on him and wringing your hands while he wails for hours. I have learned, however, that allowing an older toddler or preschooler a few minutes of fussing or moderate crying is not necessarily evil. Many loving, attached parents have put together complete and considerate sleep plans for their children and allowed a small amount of tears along the way.
There is a huge difference between putting a child in a crib, shutting the door, and abandoning her to hours of crying versus creating a complete and thoughtful sleep plan that includes a loving before-bed routine and then allowing a few minutes of protest at the time the lights are turned out. There's also a considerable difference between letting a tiny baby cry in the night and letting a four year old cry when he's put to bed but would rather stay up and watch a movie. […] So if your no-cry plan turns into a little-bit-of-cry plan, don't feel like you've been a failure.
A lot of the ideas in this book were either ones that I was already carrying over from the original book, or were aimed at a child much older than Owl.
Some tips were ones I had instituted on my own, based on my dog training experience.
For example, she suggests setting a clock radio to go off in the morning and telling the child that they can't get out of bed until it goes off, thus sending a clear signal about when it is ok to get up.
Well, we have a clock that we turn on at night, which we call "Mr. Sun."
Mr. Sun goes to bed with Owl, and we wave night-night to him. He winks, closes his eye, turns into a star (it's weird to say the sun turned into a star since the sun IS a star, but you know what I mean) and glows blue. In the morning, at the time we set, he lights up and turns into a glowing orange sun again.
Owl learned back in the night-weaning days that Mr. Sun was the signal that meant his fussing would be responded to with more than a simple "Shh, it's still sleepy times, I'll see you in the morning."
His first words in the morning are always "MR SUN IS AWAKE!!"
So that's that covered. We brought Mr. Sun with us to Disneyland and learned that Owl actually does wake up and lie quietly, waiting for Mr. Sun to turn on in the mornings.
But the place where we have gotten stuck is sitting with Owl until he falls asleep.
We did wean him off of being sung-to.
PH put his foot down last year and refused to continue to feed our extrovert's need for human interaction any further. If he tried to talk to us, we'd walk out of the room for a minute or two.
THAT caused some "moderate crying" as Elizabeth Pantley would call it.
But he learned, and for months and months and months now I have sat quietly in his room, reading to myself, while Owl drifted off to sleep.
And I knew that it was time to make the next step.
Most of Pantley's sleep plans involve steps. Wean off of one thing, and then another, and then another. So, we had weaned him off of being nursed to sleep, then we weaned him off of needing us to sing to him… but then we stopped.
It's not Elizabeth Pantley's fault.
We were just tired. And I didn't really mind sitting and reading for half an hour or so in Owl's room. It was easier than introducing a new battle.
But, honestly.
We really did want to have a kid that you could just kiss goodnight and walk away from, and we both knew perfectly well that it was our OWN fault that we didn't.
Owl had successfully weaned off of nursing at night. He had successfully weaned off of singing and endless recitations of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. There was zero reason to believe that he wouldn't wean off of human company while falling asleep just as successfully.
We were just… tired.
And lazy.
And so, I put off this review as well because she tells you exactly what to do about that in her book (she has a whole chapter on it, called "Mommy, Stay!": Needing A Parent's Help To Fall Asleep) and I didn't want to admit that I knew what to do but wasn't doing it.
So we finally did it.
The "I'll Be Right Back" Trick.
Pantley recommends weaning the child from the staying routine by making frequent trips outside of the room and quickly returning. The child gets used to you coming and going, and knows that you always do come back. That's the first step. Over time, you just stay away longer and longer.
Owl was used to this a little already.
Knowing that this was the next step, I did make a point of leaving the room at least once during the evening: fetching my book, running to the bathroom, etc. He usually waited patiently for my return, as long as I wasn't gone too long.
But that was as far as I had gotten.
Because I am lazy, and tired.
Anyway, last month we told Owl that he was not a baby, but a little boy now, and it was time for him to learn how to fall asleep by himself. So we would be giving him chances to fall asleep by himself, but we'd keep coming back to check on him.
Pantley recommends this as a way to be clear about things.
Once you decide on how you are going to handle bedtime, communicate the news to your child.
We told him that when he could fall asleep by himself, he could have a little boy bed, that he could get in and out of all by himself.
"Oooh! Little boy bed? I get in by myself? Ooh! OKAY!"
Owl loves his independence.
That first night, I kissed him, told him I'd be back in a couple minutes, and left the room.
Zero protest.
I went in after a few minutes and sat down for a moment, then got up again.
"Mommy, I want yoooooou," he said as I started to leave.
"I'll be back in a minute, bud," I said.
He waited patiently.
We repeated this, oh, maybe four or five times.
The last time I went in, he was asleep.
Seriously? It was THAT easy? I had been geared up for tears and war.
The next night I stayed away for five or ten minutes at a time. He was asleep by the third check in.
The night after that, he was asleep by the second check in.
The night after that, I kissed him goodnight and left without making any promises of return at all.
He fell asleep.
I CAN NOW KISS MY CHILD GOODNIGHT AND GO DOWNSTAIRS AND WATCH MY HUSBAND GET TEARY OVER UNDERCOVER BOSS IN THE EVENINGS LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING.
I can't tell you how freeing that is.
We started on Wednesday. On Sunday, Owl demanded his prize, and we delivered.
Little boy bed it is.
And he climbs in it on his own every night.
And he falls asleep on his own every night.
And he doesn't get out of it until Mr. Sun wakes up.
HALLE-EFFING-LUJA.
…And there wasn't even any crying.


text:
Scud the Disposable Assassin
Homecomics
If you haven't heard of SCUD before I am happy to be the one who introduces you to the awesome work of Rob Schrab. For a 24 issue comic series it took nearly 14 years to be completed due to a gap in the middle when the comic going off on a bit of a tangent. But in 2008 the comic series was finally finished with a 4 issue tidy up which closed the comic on a high.
The story is based on a pre apocalyptic future where society has deteriorated into a world where people hire assassin robots from vending machines to off rivals. SCUD is one of those assassin robots who realises he will self destruct upon completion of his mission to kill Jeff a mutant who is causing trouble for a big evil company. So in an attempt to stay alive he finds a loop hole in where he can shot off Jeff's limbs and keep her on life support to keep them both alive.
The story then goes on to leave SCUD with no money to afford the life support so he keeps up the assassin work to pay for Jeff's live support fee's. Well that is basically just the first issue the rest follow with werewolves, zombies, time travel and a group of crazy friends who help SCUD along the way.
Inspiration of SCUD comes from a lot of sources such as cult horror movies and Star Wars, in fact I always thought SCUD looked like a cross between C-3PO and IG-88 from Star Wars with the personality of Han Solo.
The entire collection was collected in SCUD The Whole Shebang which is currently available on Amazon and was until recently available at Forbidden Planet but has sold out, fingers crossed for a re print.
The action figure is also available from Shocker Toys
Posted by Adi Mursec on June 24, 2009
The Magic Order Volume 2 issue 1 review
A return to Mark Millars The Magic Order, it's a hidden war where weapons of magic battle to save the world from warring tribes of ancient magicians.
The Magic Order volume 1 review
A review of The Magic Order Volume 1 by Mark Millar, Olivier Coipel, Dave Stewart and Peter Doherty.
Oxygen by Andrew Wildman – comic review
Oxygen is a new creator owned indie comic by artist/writer and movie/TV storyboard artist Andrew Wildman. It debuted this at this years online Thought Bubble convention and is available online.
Getter Robo Devolution volume 1 review
A brief review of Getter Robo Devolution published by Seven Seas Entertainment based on the classic super robot story by Go Nagai


If you as we, believe that the key to a successful business is, talented people, working together in an inspirational environment, with a challenging and fun job, with a service that makes a difference in people's everyday life! we have the the job for you! We are now looking for our Head of People & Culture at Docly!
Develop and set-up an international recruitment strategy and model that identifies, attracts, hires and retains the best talents in the local regions through best practice recruitment model.
Develop and set-up a People & Culture structure and support system to support our growing teams locally within Europe with everything from creating contracts, filing, compensation framework, insurances and pension set-up to ensure compliance to local labor law.
Promote and nurture a positive and open working environment to continue together with the Docly team to build a culture that embraces a culture of so called test and learn approach, teamwork and entrepreneurial start-up environment.
You have experience from working in a international, dynamic and fast-paced environment. You have proven people and teamwork skills - you can navigate and build trusted relationships in multicultural, international environment, in small teams and across a matrix structured organization. You are curious and have a strong inner drive that helps you see opportunities and new ways to find your way and get the job done.
You are a down to earth person with a hands-on approach you are capable of switching between strategic thinking and operational work.
You are a problem solver, with your analytical mind you navigate obstacles on the fly in a thoughtful and logical way.
Our company language is english, if you speak any other european language that is a plus. Placement: Headquarter in Malmö. International travel depending on your own preferences and willingness to adapt the role.
Please send your CV and cover letter no later than December 28th.
Contact Christina Hedman, recruiter at People and Culture, christina.hedman@docly.com if you have any questions.


Dozens of Puerto Rican poultry producers, whose farms have closed due to the decline of the agricultural sector, have met in the capital, San Juan to demand more industry regulations.
The creation of a Poultry Inspection Office, which would expand government control over the poultry industry and punish such illegal actions as selling thawed chicken with a fresh label, is awaiting final approval by the House of Representatives.
The incumbent office president would "recommend public policies to the Secretary of Agriculture to guarantee that poultry products sold in Puerto Rico are appropriate for human consumption and meet all health standards established by the Poultry Products Inspection Act."
"Everyone should support this [office] because all poultry products need to be inspected," said Francisco Norat, president of the Poultry Farmers Association Canto Alegre-Picú (Avicapi).
Norat and the poultry producers would be at the Capitol building, he said, until the proposal is brought before the House of Representatives. Organisations like the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution (MIDA) and the Restaurant Association have expressed their opposition to the legislation.