Wild Child

Pretty interesting article by Michael Chabon in The New York Review of Books a few weeks ago: The Wilderness of Childhood. Relatively oft-repeated lament, that our children are growing up much more protected than in the good ol' days, with parental fear replacing common sense, despite the fact that stranger-danger has remained fairly consistent (and low) for decades.

And it's true -- I rarely if ever see children walking to school without a parent, or playing on the Green out front without adult supervision. So different from my day (oh, cast my mind back into the eons ago) where I got myself to school from age 5 (right mom?) whether by foot or bus. And I certainly remember riding my bike all over (admittedly small) Durham, NH, especially to the library and swimming pool.

Those were my adventures, as Chabon characterises those adult-less forays. But what I found most thought-provoking about his article is not so much the fact children are more protected these days, but how it might affect literature of the future. As so much story telling is based around adventures and journeys, what happens when the writers of tomorrow have no experience of adventuring themselves today?

As a parent, now, though... how much adventuring will I let Paige do? I'd like to think I'll be laid back about her wanders... but imagine that's unlikely to be the case as I watch her every (eventual) step.

Weekend adventures

This Sunday, with Ashley's cousin Deb and kids, we ventured into London via a less frequently used method of transport these days -- boating down the River Thames. Less frequently used, because it takes 50% longer, only makes 2 - 3 trips / day, and costs about 3 times as much. But the trade-off is a gentle journey and a different perspective on London -- never a bad thing.

We went as far as Westminster (well, we would've gone further, but that's where the boat stops), Elbows out for protection, we somehow made it through the massive crowds near the London Eye, Aquarium, and Dali Museum (huh? I always wonder what that's doing in London...) to one of my favourite spots -- the Southbank Centre.

As part of its latest exhibition -- "Walking in my mind" -- the Hayward Gallery on Southbank has decorated the nearby trees with polka-dot wraps. And passers-by have decorated the trees. We were encouraged to do so ourselves by a little girl signing her name... and so we did. And then I saw the next sign... oh well - at least we weren't the first.

As far as legal interactive art goes, we also participated in the Southbank Summer Snapshot booth -- so now Paige, Ashley & I are recorded for all eternity. Or at least as long as Flickr survives...

Burn baby burn...

Huh. Turns out there's no law against bonfires in Richmond, no matter how residential your area may be.

Why do I know this? Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, so we had most of the windows in the flat open. About 2:30, I noticed a burning smell -- which we first thought was the regular weekend barbecue in the pub next door. But I quickly realised it was a much stronger, less meaty smell... and that's when I noticed the smoke - and lots of it. And realised the smell had completely filled our little flat, of course Paige's room most of all.

Turns our our other side neighbour was having a little bonfire. Full of righteous indignation (is there any other kind?) I thought 'This cannot possibly be legal!', at the same time wondering if I would have the nerve to call any sort of nuisance patrol, and risk neighbourly tension.

But turns out, though the firestarted did not 'give neighbours advance notice' as required, I don't think I'd have a case.

Fortunately it stopped early enough for me to open the windows again and air the place out before bed.

Funny thing is - I actually quite like bonfires... but my preference for them is on a crisp Autumn evening, out in the countryside somewhere -- not invading my flat! Then again, I do keep telling Ashley we don't really live in London -- and here's the proof.

Secret Starbucks

What the? Starbucks is introducing 'unbranded' stores? 'Stealth cafes'? Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks... I love ya, but just don't see how this will work.

People who like Starbucks will go to you whatever branding you've got. People who *don't* like Starbucks may go once, but if they find out the 15th Avenue Tea & Coffee is actually the evil empire of coffee, they're not only unlikely to come back, it will just reinforce the idea of a sneaky company, doing whatever it can to capture sales.

And as for the bit about these stores being more community focused -- erm, can't Starbucks do that anyway? How does the corporate branding and Starbucks name impede having local poetry readings or other events and activities specific to the area? The good Starbucks do those things already -- like one near us that has a special children's play area and hosts mother & baby groups.

Finally, from a financial standpoint, I can't imagine these little local cafes are scalable -- there will be no economies to be gained from rolling out this concept in cities across the country / world. So each one will be similar to launching a brand new cafe, which needs to build a brand new customer base, with brand new design and brand new brand. Or they'll replicate the idea from place to place, which will make them, um, another Starbucks. So much for the local stealth idea.

As a Starbucks lover, I hope I'm wrong... but this just doesn't seem the best way to go.

PS -- any Seattlites reading this (and I can think of 2), can you send me a picture of any of these new cafes when they open, if you happen to find one, hidden as they are?

Ligyrophobia?

That's a fear of loud noises, by the way, at least according to The Phobia List. And I think Paige may be a ligyrophobe... She's never been particularly found of the garbage disposal, so we tend to run it in short bursts, and try to do it when she's out of the room, or when one of us can be giving her a cuddle at the same time.

Well, today I learned the vacuum cleaner is another no-no. And before you say 'Hey - she's 7 months old! Does that mean this is the first time you've vacuumed in 7+ months?' I'll let you know that *yes* I have vacuumed in that time! But always when Paige has been out on a walk with Ashley. And in fact I was *going* to vacuum yesterday afternoon, but decided to accompany daddy and daughter on their walk (aka, Starbucks run) for a change.

So hmm -- guess that means no more vacuuming for me. Shame. At least until Paige is a little older and I can send her out on walks by herself.

What demographic am I in?

I read today that Facebook is introducing more targeting tools for advertisers. I'm all for that -- I really don't mind seeing ads on a free service, especially if they're actually for things I might be interested in.

I'm hoping that targeting isn't fully in place yet, however... otherwise I wonder what my profile says about me that I just received *this* ad!

Time to up my game

Hmm... my infinitely wittier, well-read, interestingly-opinionated and altogether more erudite brother-in-law now has a blog. Must up my game. Write more. And get some opinions somewhere. Or at least do some things worth opining on. (On which I feel worthy of opining?)

Paige's new baby group

It's a bit hard to see, because everyone moves around quite a bit, but Paige is in the back on the right...

Thanks Nana!!

Thanks very much Nana for these very cute pants, made by hand with love. And I think Paige's keister is about the only place that doesn't get sticky banana-sweet potato-pea-carrot goop on it whenever she eats, so the lovely handiwork should stay clean!