Author Archives: BettyW

Teaching Cats (and Dogs) To Close Doors

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Okay, that title is a bit misleading – this is more like “teaching doors to close behind cats and dogs.” :-)

Do you have an animal in your house that knows how to bang open a door from one room to the next? If you are trying to keep the air-conditioning in or cold drafts out it’s annoying when they barge through and leave the door swinging wide open (think of showering in a steamy bathroom in winter, when BAMM! there’s a cat wanting your attention followed by a blast of cold air…).

Here’s a simple trick to mitigate that problem:

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Quick Friday Faves – 11-16-12

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Another quick FF – check out more of my friends’ Kickstarter projects – both of these albums will be well worth a listen, plus some of their KS rewards are fun (e.g., go bowling or skiing with the artist, or have a band record a running critique of the movie of your choice!):

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How To Fly With Your Musical Instrument

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Musicians travelling by air have long struggled with figuring out how/if/when they will be allowed to bring their instrument in the cabin, rather than expose it to the not-so-tender mercies of baggage compartments and handlers. The US government recently passed this law creating uniform rules for allowing instruments into the passenger cabin:

Musical-Instruments-on-Aircraft-US-Law-2012

BUT… as of this date it is not actually in effect, because it set a deadline

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue final regulations to carry out subsection (a).

In the meantime, here are some ideas to help make your instrument-toting travel smoother:

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Mini Friday Faves – 11-09-12

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Since I’m still proceeding at a good clip on my NaNoWriMo novel (16,494 words as of yesterday), here are a couple of new Kickstarter projects I like:

What Time Is It Mr. Fox is a great Boston band with a wide range of sounds, called variously chamber pop, artschool soul, bardcore, acoustic noir, gothic jazz and steampunk cabaret. They have recorded their new album but need $ for mixing, mastering and manufacturing:

 

The Parlour Trick is a ghostly, atmospheric chamber duo whose members are separated by the Pacific Ocean much of the time. I like their sounds, plus thereminist/violinist/singer Meredith Yayanos has backed more Kickstarter Projects than I have! So pay back her support: