Simple Monet watercolor class
We have been hosting monthly art classes in one of our homeschool co-ops at our local library. Our librarian is amazing and supplies us with paint and paper as long as we clean up and supply the teaching! We have taken a break for the holidays, but I have decided to do a repeat of our first class for the families who didn’t get a chance to attend. It’s a very simple Monet watercolor class that even toddlers can do with parental help.
Have the kids paint a water scene. You can supply them with some examples to see to start with if they need them. Use Monet books from the library, like Monet Paints a Day, for examples, or make a handout to distribute. We usually create one-page write-ups about the artists we cover, followed by a copy of one of their famous paintings (or more).
Next, help them glue down a coffee filter and paint it like a lily. They can paint lily pad leaves around the flower, or they can cut out various leaves from green construction paper and glue them on as well. Many kids may want to paint a few paintings, so it’s a good idea to have lots of surfaces ready for them to dry on.
Here’s a supply list if you need it:
Painting paper (at least three sheets per child)
Masking tape to hold paintings down with—it’s a good habit to start kids with when they are painting with watercolor
Paintbrushes—at least one for each child, but you may want to provide every child with varying sizes of brushes
Watercolor sets—one per child if you can, though they can share
Water cups—be sure to change out the water regularly as it gets dirty
I have been trying to encourage families to take turns teaching the monthly art classes, but so far, I’ve only had one taker one time. It’s fun to host, but if you can create a schedule with just 12 moms or dads, you would only have to do it once a year! Of course, having everyone pitch in for cleanup is also quite helpful.
Simple art classes like these help introduce the kids to an art master and their style in a very comfortable, easygoing environment, which is definitely how art should be introduced. Without any pressure and with lots of freedom, kids can freely express themselves and explore new mediums with your patience and help.
Dolphin bite swarms news
Sometimes something pops up in my news feed that really brings out the worst in me. There are so many things that should be making the news that don’t, but as soon as something ridiculous happens, everyone eats it up because it brings in more people to read.
The piece I’m referring to involves a little girl who got bit (barely at that) on the hand while feeding a dolphin at Sea World. This small act of nature caused so much of a ruckus that the girl and her family even ended up making the rounds through television news sources, including Good Morning America. So why, exactly, does such a small event provoke such a reaction?
When people go to someplace like Sea World, to play with the captive dolphins and feed them, they somehow expect that these dolphins (and all the other sea life that have been caged there) have been magically transformed into domesticated animals.
So when the creatures act out a bit of their true nature, such as munching on a girl’s hand because they think it’s food, everyone gets alarmed. Are their children safe? How could the park let something horrible like this happen? Will the dolphins start tearing throats out next? Perhaps they will build a weapon of mass destruction and hold the world hostage?
The amusing thing is, as the girl made the press rounds, she expressed little concern over what had happened to her. Everyone aside from the one bitten was more distressed than she was. The parents put the video they took that had the girl being bitten and posted it on the Internet, so that other parents would realize the “dangers” of feeding dolphins at Sea World. Others accused the park of “trivializing” the situation.
And where threats of lawsuit loom, so do overreactions from the park. Sea World has issued all sorts of official press statements telling everyone exactly how much this concerns them and detailing how seriously they’re taking the situation. They’re putting on a grand show, despite the fact that they know (being trained in how dolphins actually function) a bite here and there is inevitable.
It only stands to reason that if you keep a wild creature in captivity, you’ll have to endure a few consequences of it not being human. Actually, humans tend to produce more grief than dolphins ever will, so I don’t see what the big deal is. If you don’t want little girls to get bit, then don’t keep the dolphins in cages and use them as an attraction. If you want to write a news piece about dolphins, pick a subject that is important, not this side-show event.
Review: Your Highness (2011)
Another movie that I watched on Netflix, this one caught my eye because I am, at the core, a geek who enjoys pretty much anything that has a good fantasy storyline. The idea of a comedic fantasy story sounded intriguing, so I thought I’d give it a try. The first thing I heard about the movie is that it was made by the same guys who did a flick called Pineapple Express. I’ve never seen it, but was told it was entertaining. With Your Highness, whatever goodness they brought from their previous film was muddled. The movie is almost good, but never picks a solid direction to go in.
The overall plot involves a layabout prince named Thadeous (Danny McBride) and his heroic brother Fabious (James Franco). In an effort to save Fabious’s bride-to-be, the two must set out and kill an evil wizard. Thadeous is, of course, not so hot on the prospect of risking his life for anything, but ends up going along to save his pride and prove that he’s not worthless like everyone suggests. Along the way they meet up with Isabel (Natalie Portman), a warrior-woman who wants to kill the wizard for her own reasons.
Comedically, the film is pretty much stoner humor combined with the typical “dick and fart jokes” routine. Sometimes it works, but more often it doesn’t. If they stuck to this format, the film might have worked in its own way. Instead, the story tries to take itself seriously at times and is left with a schizophrenic feeling that throws the viewer off. Alternatively, they could have made this a more serious film and kept the humor subtle. The special effects are decent and the writers were well-versed enough in fantasy clichés that they managed to convey a lot of interesting concepts that would make fantasy geeks very happy. Unfortunately, the comedy side kills any hope of that being a redeeming quality.
The only thing that saved this one even a bit was the presence of James Franco and Natalie Portman. They both do a good job of maintaining a straight-man character while existing within the ridiculous world of Your Highness. McBride is more irritating than anything and his comedic routine does nothing to help the story in any way. Pretty much anyone else could have played his character and gotten better results.
It’s not the best movie in the world, but fantasy lovers may find it worth a watch when there’s nothing else on Netflix they want to see (or they happen to have had a few drinks). The best reason to watch is, of course, Natalie Portman in a thong. It made much of the pain endurable, in my humble opinion.
Discovering ‘Skyrim’
I know the game has been out for over a year now, but as for myself I’ve only recently discovered the heroin-like addiction that is Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. For a long time I told myself that I would never become involved with this game. I sat and listened to my roommate explain how he’s logged more than 1000 hours on the game and decided that was too much of an investment for me. Besides, I’d tried Elder Scrolls III (back in the day) and didn’t really enjoy it too much, so why would I like Skyrim? When I finally ended up in an empty apartment with an XBOX360 and a copy of Skyrim at my disposal, I found out why everyone has been hooked on this game.
There are, of course, like any video game, good and bad points to Skyrim. The character generation is fairly detailed, but definitely not on the level that some games allow for. You can tweak the heck out of your character’s face and even buff them up a bit, but other than that everyone pretty much looks the same. The changes come later, once you start tricking out your character with the many weapons and armors that are available. Even those, however, are somewhat limited, offering about a half-dozen unique looks (at least practical ones).
Where Skyrim shines is in its utter versatility. You start out with the typical plot line hook - you are a convict (again) and are about to have your head chopped off when a dragon comes in and disrupts the whole thing. The dragon isn’t there to save you though, he just happened to show up at the right time and you manage to get away. But beyond that simple hook, you can pretty much go wherever you want. There’s no need to follow the main plot. Many different side-quests abound and you can literally play for weeks and never discover half of the game world. This is what makes the damn thing so addicting.
Customizing your combat style is also fairly interesting. There’s a limited array of weapons, but the way the leveling system works allows you to specialize in a specific type of weapon, such as one-handed or two-handed, as well as focusing even closer, such as choosing maces over swords or axes. The magic system is more detailed, with several schools to train through. There are also crafting skills, such as enchanting or smithing, so you can eventually make some unique and powerful items to help you along on your quests.
I’ve only made it to level 20 thus far and I imagine there’s still a load of content that I’ve yet to figure out. I’ve found some factions that you can work for, gaining prestige until you become important figures within them. You can also join up with the Empire or instead help the rebels and determine the political fate of Skyrim, but I’ve been avoiding that whole arc for now. The gods also get involved and send you on all sorts of quests to gain them power or undermine the power of their rivals. I’m not sure how all this pans out once you finish the game, but I’m really hoping that the finale is reflected in your decisions, otherwise the whole affair means very little in the long run.
It’s easy to sit down and lose many, many hours to Skyrim. If you plan on playing it, put aside a week to just get started and expect to invest a portion of your life to finishing the game. Sure, you can probably just run through it real quick and see what happens, but then you miss the majority of the game, which are all the little things that aren’t connected to the main arc. Those are where the true fun of Skyrim comes in.
So, in my opinion, the addiction is somewhat justified. This game is loads of fun and promises to entertain for countless hours. Replayability is high, since you can design different types of characters and join different factions, but the main arcs are still untouched, so you’ll have to go through those regardless. If you have the courage (and the strength of will to get up and eat every once in a while), give it a try. If you’re worried about your health declining, probably best to stick to something that won’t consume your soul.
Review: Memories of Ice - Book III of The Malazan Book of the Fallen
Memories of Ice is the third in Stephen Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen epic series. If you’ve seen my previous reviews, you know that I’m reading this one almost unwillingly, having it recommended to me by a plethora of friends as “one of the best fantasy series ever”. While it hasn’t so far measured up to being one of the best, it certainly is an interesting read, especially if you happen to enjoy incredibly complex worlds and stories of war.
As I’ve also stated before (I think), Erikson has a tendency to wander from continent to continent and tell stories about many different characters, tying them in only loosely as of yet. Each book revolves around a different campaign in a larger war and in the meanwhile other, more sinister plots are revealed as going on beneath the surface. In Memories of Ice, we are brought back to the continent of Genabackis, where Dujek, Whiskeyjack, Quick Ben and Paran are all leading their “rogue army” into yet another battle against a new deadly enemy. This time they’re fighting the Pannion Domin and have managed to secure Anomander Rake, Caladan Brood and several other former enemies as allies.
Like all of his books so far, this one introduces dozens of new characters that you’ve got to remember the names of. Some of them are interesting, such as Gruntle and Silverfox, while others come across as rather bland and seem almost alternate incarnations of other characters he’s already used. One thing I was happy about was a return of Toc the Younger, whose fate takes a strange twist as the story goes on. Also, Paran’s (another one of my favorites) fate is delved into a bit deeper and he finally gives in to the role the gods have set forth for him. Quick Ben is explored in more detail and as we find out about his history and motivations he becomes genuinely intriguing.
In this book as in the previous two, Erikson displays a talent for detailing the many aspects of war, from the brutality of battle to mundane complications such as moving an army from place to place. The atmosphere of his world is rich and he doesn’t overlook much when it comes to description. One of his biggest weaknesses is in bringing his characters to life in a way that makes them unique from his other characters. Some shine through quite easily but others only now take on a personality that defines them within the story. As the books continue, I imagine more characters will get the same treatment. For now, his constant shifting of the setting makes it hard to maintain interest sometimes.
Another great thing about Erikson’s writing is that he keeps the grand plot line deeply shrouded. Only in this third book do we start to understand what’s really going on at the root of all the warring. The Empire’s motivations become a bit clearer and all the decisions that sounded foolish in the first few books begin to make at least a measure of sense. There are more of those moments in this book as well - the ending left me particularly incredulous with some of the resolution - but I am putting my faith in Erikson that he’ll clear up the unspoken agendas at some future date.
I’m now about 100 pages into the next book, House of Chains, and will hopefully have a review to post in a few weeks (depending on how much it keeps my interest). All I can say so far about the fourth installment is that once again the cast has been changed and I recognize almost no one. I’m glad the entire series is already out for me to read. If I was forced to endure a year of waiting between each book, this format would have never kept my interest.
If you’re looking for epic war stories, check the series out. Just don’t expect a series of simple, linear arcs - you won’t get it.
Reading: The Walking Dead - #19-48
Once I started reading this title, there was no turning back. Into the wee hours of the night I kept going through issue after issue until my very dreams were saturated with zombies and tales of people dying in horrible ways. During this block of The Walking Dead comic books, Robert Kirkman provides both of these elements in abundance. Issues #19 through #48 cover the story arc that takes place at the prison as well as the town of Woodbury, two settings that watchers of the show are probably quite familiar with at this point.
Several things are the same as the show, but the comic version is definitely a bit more brutal with its delivery. There are also, of course, many character changes. There’s still no T-Dog, Daryl or Merle, but there is Tyrese, a character that the newest season of the show only just introduced, as well as several other side-characters both within the main group and outside it. Some characters that are dead in the show still survive (such as Dale) and others are dropping left and right.
One of the biggest changes from the book to the show is the character of the Governor. In the show there’s an attempt to make him seem at least somewhat human. He runs his town brutally, but in a way that he sees as necessary to the continued survival of its inhabitants. In the comic, there’s no pretense at any humanity within the Governor. From the moment Rick and his crew meet him, he’s a bastard. He does little more than torture them, try to kill them and think up ways to get at whatever supplies they happen to have in the prison. I found him to be quite bland in the comic as opposed to the television show, and serve as little more in the story other than an excuse to give Rick something to fight.
As far as the town of Woodbury goes, there’s not much to it in the comics. A few characters are introduced and one of them even flees back to the prison when Rick and his crew make their escape. But everyone else is just a gun slinging mercenary type or a faceless citizen. Kirkman’s portrayal of the city is one of desensitized survivors, similar in form to Rick’s group but without any sort of moral leadership.
As this block ends, tons of people die and what’s left of the group is forced to flee the prison. Rick and Carl end up on their own, and that’s where the next story arc picks up, with those two making their way on the road and trying to figure out where the rest of the survivors went.
Best be warned - if you try to read dozens of these books all at once (as I did), you may find yourself in a dark mood. As a writer, Kirkman has no problem killing the characters you like and making everything complete crap for those that live. Better to take the series in smaller doses or you too may end up dreaming of zombies for a week straight.
Next week, I venture further into uncharted territory, so the spoilers will probably be a lot heavier as far as unaired seasons of the show go. They’re changing a lot in the conversion, but there will still be that potential for things to be ruined. Tune in at your own risk.
Nucla Resolution 5K Race on Facebook
Be sure to "Like" 2013 Nucla Resolution 5K Run/Walk on Facebook for the latest news and updates of the third annual race. Race fans can then contribute photos, comments and suggestions to race planners. Click here to sign into Facebook and "Like" our race page.
And finally ... 2012 Spectometer "Composite" Leaderboards (Indicator of OPS)
OK, here is the final hitters leaderboard ... for the "Composite" score obtained by combining the "Plate Skills" and "Production" scores. The full explanation is posted in the article "What the Three Numbers Mean"
The first componet part, measuring Plate Skills, is here. The second one, measuring Prodcution, is here.
***
Once again, a recap of the ground rules:
- Ages 26 and over are considered "post-prospect" (for hitters), and are not counted (sorry Luis Rodriguez for plate skills and Joseph Dunigan for slugging).
- A season needs at least 100 plate appearances to count. Seasons between 50 and 99 PAs I will look at, and might note, but they won't go on the leaderboard.
- Seasons that are entirely in foreign leagues don't count. Mixed seasons with some foreign and some domestic stats I will count (but note with a caveat). Good news for Gaby Guerrero fans (of which I am one).
- The normal age-arc I use is Rookie/Short Season: 19 ... Low-A: 20 ... High-A: 21 ... AA: 22 ... AAA: 23. A guy who is younger than age-arc is noted in green. One year older than normal age-arc is not noted, but two years or more older earns an "age caveat" and is noted in blue.
- Ages are from baseball-reference.com "age season" (age as of midnight on June 30 of the season).
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Stat: "Composite Index"
Formula: Combination of Plate Skills (using "Hitter's +/-") and Production (using "Plausibility Index") (again, explained here)
Interpretive rule of thumb: The stat measures the combined Plate Skills and Production scores compared to an arbitrary "100" score, which is "roughly the minimum for a prospect likely to make an MLB roster." So any score over 100 indicates potential, and, obviously, the higher the score the better offensive year. The number is not a "projection" of potential OPS+ in the majors, but what I call an "indicator." It helps us rank and sort and classify.
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All hitters:
- Mike Zunino (21): 151-166-217
- Rich Poythress (24): 161-118-179
- Gabriel Guerrero (18): 116-126-142 (includes foreign stats)
- Daniel Paolini (22): 126-115-141
- Jabari Henry (21): 117-116-133
- Brad Miller (22): 118-110-128
- Dario Pizzano (21): 121-104-125
- Stefen Romero (23): 97-124-121
- Taylor Ard (22): 105-116-121
- Jack Marder (22): 100-120-120
- Ji-Man Choi (21): 121-97-118
- Timothy Lopes (18): 105-109-113
- Mike McGee (23): 106-107-113
- Joe DeCarlo (18): 116-96-112
- Marcus Littlewood (20): 123-89-112
***
Below age-arc hitters (Prodigies):
- Gabriel Guerrero (18): 116-126-142 (includes foreign stats)
- Timothy Lopes (18): 105-109-113
- Joe DeCarlo (18): 116-96-112
- Gabrial Franca (18): 112-94-106
- Isaiah Yates (17): 109-94-103
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Glove-position hitters:
- Mike Zunino -- C (21): 151-166-217
- Jabari Henry -- CF (21): 117-116-133
- Brad Miller -- SS (22): 118-110-128
- Stefen Romero -- 2b (23): 97-124-121
- Jack Marder -- 2b/C (22): 100-120-120
***
All hitters with age-caveat (almost-too-old) hitters excluded:
- Mike Zunino (21): 151-166-217
- Gabriel Guerrero (18): 116-126-142 (includes foreign stats)
- Brad Miller (22): 118-110-128
- Stefen Romero (23): 97-124-121
- Jack Marder (22): 100-120-120
- Ji-Man Choi (21): 121-97-118
- Timothy Lopes (18): 105-109-113
- Joe DeCarlo (18): 116-96-112
- Marcus Littlewood (20): 123-89-112
- Leon Landry (22): 82-127-109
- Chris Taylor (21): 117-92-108
- Johermyn Chavez (23): 108-99-107
- Gabrial Franca (18): 112-94-106
- Isaiah Yates (17): 109-94-103
- Christian Charmichel (20): 97-96-94
***
Notes:
- The "glove-position" chart is most impressive, especially when you figure that Lopes (2b/SS), Littlewood (C), Landry (CF), Taylor (SS), Franca (SS) and Yates (CF) all go on that list as well.
- Obviously, a huge question in 2013 will be how well Landry and Marder translate their power to AA.
- How complete was Poythress' transformation from slugger to "Greek God of Walks, Vol. 2"? Two years ago at High Desert his three-number composite was 119-132-151. This year, 161-118-179, a 180-degree turn. If he can put the two pieces together (as he started to do at the end of the year), he could still be a real sleeper.
Third annual Nucla Resolution 5K Race scheduled for February 2013
Montrose West Recreation (MWR) is pleased to announce the third annual Nucla Resolution 5K Run/Walk, scheduled for February 17, 2013 at 12 p.m. The start/finish location have yet to be determined, but the Nucla Fire Hall is a likely venue. Like in the past, the race will benefit Hoof & Paw, a local animal shelter.
With more than 85 participants at last year's race, MWR and race organizers are anticipating their biggest turnout since the race was created in 2011. The 5K (3.1 miles) race course will loop around Nucla streets, with moderate elevation gain.
Race organizers are currently in the process of designing the 2013 race logo for T-shirts, determining what refreshments to provide for participants after the race and hoping that the weather will be fairly mild for their third annual benefit race.
The Nucla High School Graphic Design class will be printing the commemorative T-shirts that all race participants receive with their race bib on race day. The $20 registration fee includes the T-shirt, race bib and post-race refreshments. All proceeds benefit Hoof & Paw. Please e-mail nuclaresolutionrace@gmail.com for more information or to register for this fun event!