thduggie’s blog

There are new photos up in the usual place, and they include our fourth family member, Vivienne Linda.  After the winner of our son’s baby pool was the paternal uncle, the winner of our daughter’s baby pool is the maternal aunt.  Depending on how you extrapolate that, we can’t have any more kids…  Anyway, congratulations, and the prize is purchased (for both!) and will soon be on its way.

Birth data is included in the photo captions!  Those who don’t know the login and password, just ask me.

There are more photos up at the usual place, with the usual login and password.  As usual, write me if you don’t know them and want to see the photos.

Then, as a visual reminder and perhaps aid in the baby pool #2, here is a photo of Janet taken on December 15th, just about a month ahead of the due date.

You can still vote on the baby pool here!

— 1 —

Another Dots in Books update: My first sale! I sold a copy of the mid-length version of my counting book for kids to the Kantonsbibliothek Baselland, where I will have to stop by one of these days to check on how it’s doing. Next step: write a bunch of libraries.

— 2 —

The White House has also published something: their 2011 Christmas card. It seems people are upset about it because there’s no tree in it and that’s not christmasey enough.

— 3 —

So I’m adding some christmasey artwork just in case.

— 4 —

But finally, it’s not christmasey looks but christmasey deeds that make a Christmas christmasey. I’m sure that’s how the KMart customers felt whose layaway bill was paid for by anonymous donors.

— 5 —

But if you want to make sure your Christmas is christmasey enough, leave it to the standards bureaus. Their standard-bearer this season is the Dutch office with their NEN 0512 Guidelines for Sint-Nicolaas Festivities.

— 6 —

Just make sure you comfort those kids who ran into Zwarte Piet, because new research seems to show that letting very young children cry uncomforted is bad for them.

— 7 —

And instead of writing a seventh take, I’ll take time for Christmas, and later time to listen to the seven takes before and after mine.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

lazy video version

— 1 —

Here’s to pollination, in all its forms, and to beautiful nature camerawork:

Judging by the end, it’s from yet another TED talk.

— 2 —

And here’s to the power of sight restored:

The Christoffel Blindenmission ran this call for donations, which I enjoy because of the emphasis on the outcome, not the pitiable current state.

— 3 —

Finally, here’s to the power of words well-deployed (not entirely safe for grandkids):

There are four episodes of this yeoman warder guiding entertaining visitors to the Tower of London.

— 4 —

And because we’re lazy, here’s to the power of cool tools. The Wacom Inkling lets you sketch on paper and transfer the drawing to your computer as a vector graphic!

If I did serious any sketching, this would be high on my wish list.

— 5 —

Speaking of power, the largest Swiss railroad company, the SBB, uses mostly electric power to move its trains. They used a total energy of 2.4 GWh in 2009. Google uses electric power to run its servers. They used a total energy of 2.3 GWh in 2010. They both say they make the planet greener by using loads of energy.

— 6 —

And if you want to gain extra power, here’s the new sports drink fad: pickle juice.

— 7 —

Finally, I knew of the (limited) power of positive thinking as evidenced by the placebo effect, but had no idea of the power of negative thinking as evidenced by the nocebo effect. An extreme example of how strong this effect can be is the story of a 26-year-old participant in a clinical trial of antidepressants who tried to overdose on his pills, eating a month’s worth. He “experienced hypotension requiring intravenous fluids to maintain an adequate blood pressure” until someone found out and told him that he’d overdosed on placebos.

What do we learn from that? First, attempting suicide with stuff from a clinical trial is stupid. Second, let your spouse read about the possible side effects of the medicine you’re taking, or you may fall sick from the knowledge of the possibilities alone. Third, this is why Advent should be a time of quiet fasting, not stressful shopping, so that we’re actually healthy come Christmas!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

— 1 —

As usual, we start with the Dots in Books. I’m happy to announce two… drum roll… likes! But who are those guys who like my counting books for children? David is the founder of jAlbum, the (free) software I use for presenting my photos. It’s because I got to beta-test their Blurb API that I published the Dots in Books with Blurb. Todd, as you can see, has a vested interest in my product selling - he works for Blurb… I guess it’s about time I return the favor and go like jAlbum!

[Done. That was easy!]

— 2 —

Other exciting news in the world of software is that Google Maps can now map indoors. Yes, that’s right: you no longer need to ask where the restaurant bathroom is, you can just whip out your Android and be guided there.

— 3 —

Of course, the exact same technology is also was also used for other purposes, one case in point being tracking customers in a mall on the busiest weekend of the year. It made perfect sense on the drawing board, but ended up getting a US senator involved. I just wonder who else is triangulating phones without announcing it!

— 4 —

Here would be a candidate: CarrierIQ. For once, I’m happy I’ve got a Windows Mobile 6.5 OS on my phone.

— 5 —

So, let’s turn to impressive feats in the physical realm. I wonder how he practices.

— 6 —

Speaking of tossing, I frequently toss Joseph around, like most dads I’ve seen. It’s made me think about how dependence and trust act as a channel for greater joy, about how the greatest pleasures on earth (& beyond) come from trusting someone fully, and not from the independence that’s so highly valued in our society. Of what joys do I deprive myself because I dare not give up my independence? True community, in the family and beyond, requires interdependence. Independence stunts community.

— 7 —

The other day, we had a visit from the midwife. She showed us one position to massage Janet, and Janet made some groaning noises to get Joseph used to a louder mommy. What does Joseph do? He helps massage Janet’s back, and then groans himself. Joseph’s a great imitator. He observes us closely, assuming we are right, consistent, and worth imitating. There’s no skepticism in his mind, no doubt. Is it a sign of adulthood to approach other people with skepticism and the notion that they very well could be wrong? Or is that one of those traits we need to let go of in order to be truly childlike?

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Joseph dancing to some boogie woogie from the keyboard. He got to that tune by pushing “random” buttons.

He’s got the rock piano performer down pat.

“A Picnic with Monet” is one of his favorite books.

So is “Go, Dog. Go!” In both books he knows a few words.

“S! S!”

Happy First Sunday in Advent!

We’ve got some photos up in the usual place, with the usual login and password.  Ask me if you don’t know it.

— 1 —

Joseph, besides being adept at turning pages in his counting book, also has (inadvertently) exposed a favorite parable on heaven and hell, that of the long spoons. Told as in this source, it reduces the inhabitants of both heaven and hell to an intelligence below that of a 15-month-old. Joseph knows he can get a long spoon into his mouth by simply not holding it at its handle end, but closer to the business end. The folks in the parable either starve or resort to elaborate cross-feeding schemes.

So, if you’re tempted to tell this parable, use a better version.

— 2 —

Years ago, I bought a CD from the now-defunct band TDK. One of the members has since come out with solo music, so if you’re interested in some Bernese Swiss German to Country-esque tunes, Burgersongs might be for you.

— 3 —

I bought shoes this summer, for $11 plus tax, at Payless. They are American Eagle, wide enough for my feet, and have a semi-sporty semi-classy look. Well, in less than half a year, on both shoes a loop holding the laces has slipped out of the seam that was supposed to hold it, and I now have symmetric glue spots on my shoes. I’m not sure $11 plus tax comes with a right to complain, but from new to hemi-demi-semi-classy in just a few weeks made me search for “American Eagle Sucks.” Looks like, in a preemptive strike, AE bought www.americaneaglesucks.com. What I can recommend, however, is UHU glue.

— 4 —

So, if we use Facebook extra often, is it like being married?

— 5 —

Somebody decided on this questionable public health ad campaign in Milwaukee. To me, it looks like Graco bought the politicians: “All ads follow up on the initial shock they may cause by offering a phone number for parents to call to receive a free Pack ‘N Play, a collapsible crib, she said.”

— 6 —

Somebody decided Blacksburg’s the best place to raise kids. We used to call it a drinking town with a football problem.

— 7 —

To finish this off, a rather odd hate crime: Mullets trim beards. So, you can’t own a phone, but when you’re meting out justice, battery-powered trimmers and cameras are ok? Looks like those Mullets need their heads inspected.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

You’ve seen Joseph and his counting book before, but I still wanted to include it on a video page.

Joseph one day decided he wanted to carry his pot to the toilet himself. It’s often a slightly harrowing experience, but generally he does a good job - with a little help from his friends.

This is a task he’s been doing for a longer time and clearly enjoys.

Joseph discovers jumping off the couch.

One day we’ll stop posting videos of Joseph on the phone.

But not today.

Joseph’s hard to get with a regular camera.

Joseph has discovered his building blocks cart as a vehicle.

Joseph likes to dust off things like his mommy does.

Joseph still really likes his noisy book.

Goofing off with mommy’s socks.

Joseph helping with another chore.

Joseph loves Sendak’s “In der Nachtküche” (In the Night Kitchen), which is technically a gift from dad-o.

Joseph names his memory pictures.

Do hold your breath: I have more videos uploaded, which will come soon.