Posts by john@dads.cool
(DIR) Post #AMdRPXkPN3MDr0FwvY by john@dads.cool
2022-08-18T00:09:46Z
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@tedric They came up with thishttps://www.today.com/style/suitsy-business-suit-onesie-here-can-it-cut-it-big-t68101
(DIR) Post #AMhMaoBxz4EjwS8Qs4 by john@dads.cool
2022-08-19T21:34:39Z
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@hex I find I can remain on mute for 99.9%+ of an average all-hands. And if I'm having a hard time hearing over the background, that's cool I record meetings and can play it back later.
(DIR) Post #AMlVtfnfe6ExFUinWS by john@dads.cool
2022-08-21T21:37:47Z
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Other/Miscellaneous photos from the Canada trip. Saw this acronym spread about. I like to imagine this stands for "All Cops Are Police" and someone was just proud of this very, very mild slogan. I chose not to verify.
(DIR) Post #AMp8VzJJvy9EUp6Oci by john@dads.cool
2022-08-23T15:34:38Z
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I'm making a point of not boosting these more than once a day, because I know most of my followers are not interested. But if you are into it, click through to that account - there's plenty more.https://mk.nixnet.social/notes/949quet5n6
(DIR) Post #AMuFfXvkG6XPwXNaZU by john@dads.cool
2022-08-26T02:48:20Z
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@baturkey That escalated quickly.
(DIR) Post #AMy29jFi6g0T1G3WIS by john@dads.cool
2022-08-27T22:35:47Z
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> It's weird how sometimes you _drive_ the pool toy holder.My wife does not think very highly of my car.
(DIR) Post #AMzvewoDRWk4g73Qtk by john@dads.cool
2022-08-28T20:32:25Z
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To illustrate...
(DIR) Post #ANCmwzgj5TPJaaKXXU by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:26:06Z
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I'd like to offer something like a book report. The Upside-Down Magic Series: or at least the parts I've read with my daughterLily's getting a bit old for bedtime stories, but she hasn't seemed to fully realize it (though it is morphing from story time to just a chat, which kinda makes sense). One day she brought home a book from a book fair at school called Upside-Down Magic. From first impressions I assumed it was a cheap, Scholastic store-brand Harry Potter knock-off.1/?
(DIR) Post #ANCnCTCncnsrTliCAq by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:28:53Z
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And from what I've heard the "film" "adaptation" is pretty terrible and bears little resemblance to the book.However, it's really not Harry Potter. It's not high-fantasy. There's not a lot of world-building. Nory Horace, for all intents and purposes, lives in our world. Except there's a touch of magic. Not hidden - non-magic people are perfectly aware of the magic people and vice versa, e.g. Bax's dad was a normal accountant who just happened to have a weird magical talent he doesn't use.2/?
(DIR) Post #ANCnRrhyo1fvojdZDs by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:31:39Z
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And Nory's school is not _THAT_ different from our schools. It sounds a bit more dangerous, particularly with the "flares" not fully in control of their fire magic, but whatever, it's basically a normal school. And their experts come from a named real university (forget the name, something in Maine).Magic is basically a thinly-veiled allegory. And Nory's special Upside-Down Magic class she got sent to... it's straight-up a special-needs class. The rhetoric People's attitudes and match.3/?
(DIR) Post #ANCnjn0r0DuST00pO4 by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:34:55Z
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Now, we're biased. It's a happy coincidence that Lily and Nory are the same age, and the same grade. And although I don't think Lily has _exactly_ made the connection to special ed, Lily has been in various programs over the years as well (she's on the lighter end of the spectrum). She was even in a special class for a while.True, they're planning to take her IEP away. Frankly, Lily has gotten too good at coping and compensating. But nonetheless, it's like these UDM books might resonate...4/?
(DIR) Post #ANCnzNOK1wf7dWQD56 by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:37:44Z
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... in a way they might not with your kid if they don't happen to match up so closely. They did try to be inclusive, though. The various members of her class are written fairly well, with fairly realistic but various personalities. And the superficial diversity is there, too. And though in the first book Nory is the unquestionable protagonist, in each subsequent book she shares the limelight with one other member. So for example, in book 2 "Sticks and Stones", that's Bax's book. The...5/?
(DIR) Post #ANCoHvJod0Mq4Z9qiW by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:41:04Z
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... chapters switch off, a chapter with Bax & Nory together, a chapter where we're just following Bax and seeing things from his perspective, and then a chapter with Nory again, etc..Bax, by the way, is a somewhat macho Indian-American (I believe Hindu, though I admit some ignorance), with a depressed recently-divorced, recently-laid-off dad. And Bax is deeply ashamed of his differences, his talent/curse especially but also his family. Probably some young reader relates to him.6/?
(DIR) Post #ANCoYAoSmwDylEF2nI by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:44:01Z
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The underlying thesis of all the books is that differences are valuable. That we should be tolerant and empathetic, and also look for ways your uniqueness comes in clutch. There's a lot worse theses kids books can and do push.Since this is dads.cool I feel the need to mention that Nory's dad is frustratingly bad. One can see what is probably his logic, and that he's trying to do what's best for her and loves her and whatever, but we never hear that from him because we're following Nory...7/?
(DIR) Post #ANCokNT1Z9s5Tx26yW by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:46:13Z
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... and he basically just doesn't talk to her ever. Apparently hasn't really been able to communicate on hard issues ever since the mom/wife figure died (prior to the start of the first book). It's honestly kind of insane, he's sending her off to live with her aunt and never tells her? Even when the aunt comes to pick her up, he just hides (literally turns invisible) in his office? Kind effed up. We obviously don't know what he's going through in his head, but c'mon the kid needs her dad y'know?
(DIR) Post #ANCozvCMR7KmRQePq4 by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:49:02Z
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The other kinda heart-breaking, almost too on-the-nose part of the first book is the "Box of Normal". Nory basically figures out that she can be people want her to be, and what she thinks her dad will accept, and that she might get to move home again, if she practices repressing the most powerful and special parts of herself.And it kind of works, but there's a couple adults who disagree with the philosophy of it.9/10
(DIR) Post #ANCp7wi6hN2LRoKHp2 by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T01:50:29Z
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We also accidentally skipped ahead to book 8 ("Big Night" - Sebastian's book). We're currently reading book 3 ("Show Off" - Pepper's book). Gotta admit I kinda like pepper. She's cool :)Anyhow, would recommend, especially if your preteen kid feels like they don't quite fit in, and/or that the world around them is too narrow-minded (as Nory's clearly is).
(DIR) Post #ANCrwRGtXyjKcPnoxc by john@dads.cool
2022-09-04T02:22:01Z
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Oh and on a lighter note, I love the ridiculous made-up interjections. Zamboozle!Another thing I always get a good chuckle at, these books' magic school sports (their quiddich, if you will) is kitten ball. The fluxers (the kids with shapeshifting magic) turn into kittens (the standard starter animal) and bat around a ball of yarn, trying to get it up a climbing/scratching post and into a basket. Main line of defense is to step on the string and unspool the yarn. 😁
(DIR) Post #ANMW6DFcrGw5egzXEW by john@dads.cool
2022-09-08T18:04:20Z
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@nova37 Didn't expect you to be breaking news for me 😏
(DIR) Post #ANhqre1h1srfy7atAe by john@dads.cool
2022-09-19T01:05:57Z
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@tedric I thought what exactly happened was still a matter of debate?