Netflix considering changes to subscription policies – analyst says 10 Million watch for free

Netflix is reportedly looking at changes to its current subscription model which allows 2 devices to stream content simultaneously on 1 subscription.

Analysts claim as many as 10 million individuals are getting a free ride, and effectively stealing content. Netflix is considering family plans that will allow them to charge for these freeloading preschoolers. [Bloomberg]

Blackberry taking BBM to Android and iOS

Blackberry is finally looking to make its signature messaging service available on iOS and Android devices (subject to marketplace approval in the iTunes and Google Play stores.)

BBM has never truly been duplicated, although What’s App arguably may be close. And while giving up BBM was a serious consideration for me before I eventually did switch from Blackberry, and I do miss features it offered, I fear it may be too little too late. [Mashable]

Fuad feuds with grieving Sextuplets Father

Minister of Health Fuad Khan has publicly called the parents of Trinidad & Tobago’s first sextuplets ungrateful, for daring to question whether the couple should have sought to have their babies delivered overseas rather than here at home.

Inexplicably Minister Khan has decided to engage and reprimand parents grieving the loss of 2 of their 6 children. The issue of gratitude being raised certainly says a great deal about the way the hospital preparations for multiple births of this magnitude has been personalized and projected on the family. What should be a feather in the Ministry’s cap, and a beacon of hope for expectant parents of multiples in the Caribbean, has quickly devolved into public embarrassment of the family and a political spectacle.

In the unlikely scenario that the healthcare provided truly was deficient, the hospital does not look good. However, the approach of dealing a tongue-lashing to a parent in grief under any circumstances does not exactly fill anyone with hope that empathy and professionalism are the order of the day in T&T healthcare. One can only imagine Dr Khan intended to show support to his hard-working colleagues, but instead he may have unwittingly given credence to the impression so many in the public have – that doctor-patient disconnect is very real.

It is not to late to bring this back on the right course, and one would hope that the good Minister would take steps to do so upon his return from Dubai. The mainstream print media’s early sensational handling of the sextuplets care does not go unnoticed. [Trinidad Express]

North-West

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Mother’s Day at the water’s edge…

VIDEO: Silk Cotton floats down to the waves on Macqueripe Bay.
The silk cotton barely shows up in the video, but I’m leaving it up for the sound of the waves.
It was such a magical feeling floating in the waves and having the silk cotton sprays float down everywhere around you. Half expected to see fairies hitching a ride!

Let’s travel the world together!

It’s FREEBIE FRIDAY!

After SEA Special Edition

This week’s selections are especially geared toward the pre-teen age group. Hard working students need to wind down and relax!

The Time Hunters (Book 1 of the acclaimed series for children of all ages)
‘The Time Hunters’ is a thrilling adventure that takes Becky, Joe, Uncle Percy and Will on a quest through time to find the legendary Golden Fleece.

“This book has been called a natural successor to Harry Potter and indeed it has the same magical qualities that I found in those books.”

“I had a great time with this book even though its target are kids. I found it to be well written, fast paced and most importantly the story hooks you right from the beginning.”

Nimpentoad
5 star rating from 94 Amazon reviews, Wired Magazine’s Geek Dad talks about this collaborative work between a father and his 5- and 7-yr old sons.

“There are lessons of teamwork, creativity, perseverance, leadership and anti-bullying peppered throughout the tale. The illustrations are spectacular, the book reads at the level it was written for (young readers just at that chapter book level) and it isn’t laden with overbearing fantasy or sci-fi concepts.

Instead, it’s a basic tale of adventure with fantasy creatures that tell an engaging story that children and adults will love.”

Wraith
Jane struggles with adjusting to her new home and school after an abrupt move. She wants one thing in life—to be like everyone else at school, but that’s hard to do when you’re the new kid. But she does manage to make one friend, Evan—he’s sixteen, charming, and protective. Everything a girl could want in a best friend…with one minor caveat.

He’s dead.

She thinks he’s here to be her friend, to take care of her, and that’s why no one can see or hear him. That is until a new boy shows up at school. Connor can see Evan and he’s not convinced the ghost is being completely honest.

EXTENDED – Previously Featured, Still Available

Logic to the Rescue
Logic to the Rescue is designed to teach kids 10-14 critical thinking. A combination of fiction and non-fiction, it weaves examples of logical fallacies into a fictional sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Simple examples for testing a hypothesis and setting up experiments in chemistry and physics are integrated into the plot.

No Way Out – And Other Scary Short Stories
A series of short spooky stories for ages 9 and up.

Mysterious without being horrifying.

The Light Keepers, a FREE Epic Fantasy Adventure (ShadowLight Saga)
(Based on Norse Mythology.) Isolated because of what she is–because of the power she holds inside–Astrid longs for contact with another human being. Her well-intentioned mother locks her away from society in order to protect her from an evil that seeks to use Astrid’s abilities for his own means. But the resulting loneliness drives Astrid deeper into the shadowwalk–a power she is forbidden to use, a magic that lands her directly into the arms of the Shadow.

Special mention:

The Anne Stories
I dearly loved the Anne of Green Gables series when I was a child. I related to Anne (with an E!) and her stubborn streak, and loved quiet Matthew’s support of the defiant redhead. As for Mariella, I loved to hate that dear woman, until I grew to love her. My only regret is that I never got to read the entire series – some of the later books were very hard to find back then.

Which is why I thought I would mention that the series is available on Kindle right now for just 2.99!
It was 99c when I first noticed it, so it’s fair to think this price is NOT going to last long.
I must note that the final 2 books in the series are not included, but this is still a great deal and a great opportunity to get a little one reading.

1. LEGO® STAR WARS™ THE YODA CHRONICLES
By The LEGO Group
For hundreds of years Yoda™ has trained the Jedi Knights™ of the future, but never for something like this. The Dark Side is preparing a weapon more powerful than any Jedi™ has ever faced before. Play now to take control of the galaxy!

2. Tap Tap Muppets
By Disney

Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal and the rest of the gang for the most sensational, inspirational, and celebrational TAP TAP music game ever!

TAP TAP MUPPETS features nine full tracks — three of the most memorable songs from the tribute compilation, The Green Album, three all-time favorite Muppet Show tracks, and three songs from the soundtrack to the movie event of the holidays, The Muppets!

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Very early yesterday morning I came across an article about Charles Ramsey – the Cleveland man who kicked in a door and called 911, rescuing Amanda Berry who had been missing for 10 years.

The article included a video of the gentleman and stated that Mr Ramsey was about to be famous – the next “Sweet Brown” – and they were right. By last night that video clip had gone viral, and Charles Ramsey’s animated retelling of the story had been seen all around the world.

Now I won’t lie, I watched it. I forwarded it. What a story! And what a retelling! I’m still going to say this man has some Trini roots in him somewhere, because he told that story like he was one of us! You could almost smell the barbeque and feel the beat of the salsa music! He had the humour in there, even in the midst of this serious situation, and he told it as it is no matter how uncomfortable it made that poor TV reporter!

He reminds me so much of Charlie around the block from me, especially with his double-take “…until today!”

Man, I am glad Charles Ramsey was there!

Come to think of it… I wish Charles Ramsey was here.

Imagine if he was a Trini!

Imagine if Charles Ramsey was little Amy Annamunthodo‘s neighbour. Would he have taken on Marlon King? Would he have said “No man, this is not right!” when little Amy was tortured and beaten for all to hear. Or would he have decided it was best not to get involved in people’s business?

What if he lived in Arima and knew of the young girls brought there by their “friends” on whatever pretext, only to find themselves drugged and abused. Would he stand up and say “No buddy, this is not how real men treat women.” Would he call the police and let the chips fall where they may.

I have no idea.

I don’t know Mr Ramsey, I don’t know his history and I don’t know his character. I have no idea what spurred his actions on this day. I do believe him when he says that he is having difficulty sleeping, difficulty reconciling himself with the fact that he lived for a year next to this house of horror doing nothing sooner to save the victims trapped within.

It says a lot about his character that he took action when he did, that he is grappling with the feelings that he is, and that he has refused the reward posted for the rescue of these missing girls.

He sees his actions as simply doing the right thing, and what I’d like to say to him is…

That’s exactly what makes you outstanding sir, in this world where so many people have forgotten what that means.

See Anderson Cooper’s interview with Charles Ramsey here:

Watch @andersoncooper‘s intvw w/ Charles Ramsey, the man who helped rescue the missing women in #Cleveland: on.cnn.com/ZFNfZ7

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) May 8, 2013

It’s FREEBIE FRIDAY!

WHAT a GREAT response about the books and apps last week!!!

In our own family, dear daughter read (or had read to her) 2 of the books over and over again, and the boys (daddy included) enjoyed the memory game and adventure game.

I hope you enjoy this week’s picks just as much!

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
The beloved story of a boy and his mongoose, a bird and a snake, India and the British Empire. Rudyard Kipling’s dramatic tale, here excerpted from the greater volume of The Jungle Book, is the story of the loyal mongoose, Rikk-Tikki-Tavi, and the lengths to which he must go to protect his adoptive human family.

PEQUENA THE BURRO Hispanic Heritage Children’s Picture Book
(Fully Illustrated Version)
A surprising find, this story for the 3-6 set follows Pequena the Burro (Donkey) as she discovers her heritage, her true identity, her inner strength. Touching and inspiring!

Leaf & the Rushing Waters (Twig Stories)
“When a melting glacier bursts through an ice dam, the Rushing Waters river is set loose on an old growth forest. The flood surrounds an ancient tree, where impish, stick creatures – the Old Seeder Twigs – are stranded.” An entertaining Tween read.

Logic to the Rescue
Logic to the Rescue is designed to teach kids 10-14 critical thinking. A combination of fiction and non-fiction, it weaves examples of logical fallacies into a fictional sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Simple examples for testing a hypothesis and setting up experiments in chemistry and physics are integrated into the plot.

The Light Keepers, a FREE Epic Fantasy Adventure (ShadowLight Saga)
(Based on Norse Mythology.) Isolated because of what she is–because of the power she holds inside–Astrid longs for contact with another human being. Her well-intentioned mother locks her away from society in order to protect her from an evil that seeks to use Astrid’s abilities for his own means. But the resulting loneliness drives Astrid deeper into the shadowwalk–a power she is forbidden to use, a magic that lands her directly into the arms of the Shadow.

Forty-Four (44)
Last year after falling through the ice, seventeen-year-old Abby Craig woke up from death.

But she woke into a world she barely recognizes. She can’t see colors, memories have been erased, and her friends all hate her. And then there’s Jesse, who she loves, but who refuses to forgive her the one mistake she made long ago.

1. Finding Andy
By Mofables sp. z o.o.
‘Finding Andy’ is an interactive game with a plot of a story. The child actively takes part in the story by searching for the mouse along with the characters. This way, the child becomes one of the characters and therefore is given a very responsible task to complete – to find the little mouse.

2. SoundMatch by EdNinja
By Club LIA

Challenge your child’s memory with a fun audio-memory game.

Children love card matching games, and this one adds a little fun to the mix for little ones:
sounds assist with the visuals of each card (a lion’s roar along with his picture when his card is turned over).

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Recently, I read a post called An Alternative View of Tantrums and Emotional Upsets that I thought ALL parents should read. I really wanted to share it wildly – this “Aha Moment” that I’d had and the article that sparked it – but I just couldn’t get the words out.

Why? Because in doing so I’d have to own up to some pretty crappy mistakes I’ve been making as a parent.

When I read that post, I did not expect to find anything useful for my own home. My kids are 4, 8 and 12 and our days of dealing with “terrible twos” tantrums are long behind us. What I overlooked in the title was the “Emotional Upsets” and what I couldn’t have known I’d find in the content was a powerful reminder that kids are people too.

What Rebecca Thompson teaches here is universal, and it applies to all relationships, because it comes down to a basic human need – to be understood.

Far too often we think about children’s reactions or overreactions in such a different way than grownup outbursts. Thompson attributes it, in part, to advice from the myriad of “parenting experts” who tell us to ignore, or punish. And the fact is that while these work to get us through that specific incident, it doesn’t really “solve” anything.

Have you ever seen a normally contented, happy toddler work himself into a complete meltdown that prompts the parent to say “Okay something’s really got to be bothering him, because he never acts like that!” What happens when he’s picked up, spoken to, connected with? Usually the child calms all the way down from the hysteria that was unleashed just prior.

Because the tantrum wasn’t really about the obvious trigger. It was about frustration at not being heard.

It’s no different for you, or me. Nothing can escalate a crappy customer service situation like someone dismissing you out of hand – and nothing can reclaim it like someone who appears to be genuinely listening.

What we all need is someone to say “Hey, I’ve got your back. You’ve got my support. I get what you’re saying/feeling.”

For me this was definitely an “Aha moment” – very much why hadn’t I ever thought about this before?! Except… I have.

Not consciously perhaps. But this is exactly what I did with my middle son with his tantrums.

I made sure that he knew he was heard – even when the words weren’t there.

And with my youngest – a tantrum from her would mean her screaming until her throat would start to bleed. Very frightening experience to have with an infant, so I learned early on to lean in and connect with her.

My oldest was just the happiest child. We would talk and reason, and I genuinely enjoyed parenting him through every up and down. So, I ask myself, how come it’s so different now.

He has more outbursts than he ever did before. Now at 12.

He definitely feels misunderstood, and unheard. And I understand where that comes from.

As the oldest he feels like he has to be responsible, and he has to look out for his siblings. And for him that also means keeping them in line and making sure everyone’s doing the “right” thing.

He’s got my sense of “justice” and feels that he has to speak up when anything is going wrong (even when really, it doesn’t concern him).

And of course, he’s at that awkward tween age where he’s starting to assert his independence and try to figure this “Life” thing out.

Here’s what I want to say to him: “I get you. Really I do. We are more alike than you can realize right now. But I don’t agree with you.”

And I’m not sure how to say that without a wall.

When he’s acting up and being bossy, or defying me to insist his way is best, I withdraw and my position is firm and unwavering. I do give opportunity to be heard, but it isn’t gentle nurturing hearing. It’s more like dispassionate, justice is blind hearing.

That wall makes me neutral, keeps me at a distance so I don’t react emotionally.

Making an emotional connection, on the other hand, is about breaking down walls.

So as valuable as this post has been to me, it is just the tip of the iceberg for me. How do I lean in and emotionally connect, and distance myself enough to be disciplinarian?

April showers are here now, but not after some fierce bush fires took their toll on the landscape.

It was very scary for my youngest two. They didn’t sleep properly for days. Not at all that first night.

And over the next few days we would hear crackling and know that a spark had reignited somewhere close by.

And then the rains came. Lovely thunderous rains that go so well with warm cosy beds.

But restful sleep only for some. Because on hills like this, with all the vegetation washed away…

… it’s, sadly, only a matter of time until the floods arrive.

Where Are the Dinos?
I definitely recommend this book for the 6 and under set, but parents will enjoy this read which is funny for all ages.

Dino facts, a dino drawing how-to and a dino word scramble are included at the end of this book for those who are especially into Dinos.

How to Draw Collection 1-12
This collection has over 400 pages of step by step walkthroughs for drawing characters from Pirates to Wild Animals and more (12 themes in all).

Easy to follow even for the not-so-artistically inclined!

Ages 6+

MOLLY’S MAGIC
Problem Solving Children’s Picture Book (Fully Illustrated Version)
This is a sweet short read (28 pages) about Molly the pig and how she tries to help her family improves its fortunes.

Nicely illustrated. Appropriate for 8 and under.

The Mystery of the Missing Money (The Mystery Series, Short Story 1)

A mystery novel for tweens and up in the spirit of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

This book can stand on its own, or readers who connect with the characters can rejoin them in follow up books in this series

No Way Out – And Other Scary Short Stories

A series of short spooky stories for ages 9 and up.

Mysterious without being horrifying.

The Keeper and the Rune Stone (The Black Ledge Series)
Rated 5 stars by Amazon readers, this book is a mystery adventure for tweens and early teens.

It follows 4 siblings on the adventures that await them when they move into an old house with a lot of history.

Muskie Attack (An Up North Adventure)
This 5-star rated book is NO LONGER FREE!

1. Bee Leader
By Flightless
Bee Leader – It’s busy time!
The bees need you! Become a Bee Leader and help the bees fill their hives with honey.

*** App Store Best of 2012 – Wow!
*** Editors’ Choice on New Zealand, Australian & Brazilian App Stores!
*** #1 iPad app & game in NZ & Australia!

Fly around the world and hover over flowers to collect nectar. Look out for enemies and bad weather! Collect as much nectar as you can before the sun sets. The faster you get nectar back to your hive the more honey you’ll make! Pick up plenty of bonuses along the way – nectar, honey, time, and bee buddies. The more bee buddies you find, the more nectar you’ll collect. More nectar means more honey – sweet!

2. Hidden Doodles
By Invedars

Train your memory playing in this awesome “hidden objects” game.

1. The Cardboard Collective has a great idea for little kid storage. A Cardboard and Cap Peg Rack for keeping all those necklaces and such that end up in corners around the house.
Easy peasy with stuff you’ve got around the house.

2. I like a recycle too bad. These Recycled Bottle Hanging Vases are a quicky craft that your kids can get into.
Let them help with the vases AND choosing the plants. Get them to change the water frequently to avoid mosquitoes though.

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For a detailed listing of events check out the Calendar

Community Cinema

This weekend the trinidad + tobago film festival presents it’s Community Cinema outdoor screenings (in conjunction with bpTT).

Friday night at the T&T Sailing Association, check out “Wind Jammers”.
Saturday and Sunday are 15+ screenings – Sat at UWI (“Buck”, “Captain of the Sands”) and Sun at Adam Smith Square (“Playing Away”).

All screenings are FREE and begin at 6pm. Food and drink available for purchase on Friday and Saturday. Feel free to bring your own refreshments to the Adam Smith Sq screening.

Click HERE for film details including synopses and trailers

KFC Children’s Bocas Lit Fest

The KFC Children’s Bocas Lit Fest promises a full programme of children’s events at the National Library, including readings by children’s authors, writing workshops and storytelling.

For a full schedule and info on each storytelling session click here:

Jewelry Making Workshops

BeadCafe’s April Workshops continue with 2 classes at the Arouca studio this weekend.
On Saturday a wire-wrap ring and earring workshop takes place, followed by an Intro to Jewelry Making workshop on Sunday.
To register email design@beadcafett.com
For further details – click the flyer below.

FUNDRAISERS & OUTREACH

There are a couple of fundraisers and walks happening this weekend. Please come out and show your support!

The Just Because Foundation Kiddi K 6 and Family Day
Uniting against Pediatric Cancer.
Sat 27th 10:30a – 5:30p

The Republic Bank Walk for Autism
Raise awareness (and funds!) for the non-profit association The Autistic Society of T&T
Sat 27th 3p – 5:30p

The Living Waters Society Family Day
Come out and support this organization that works behind the scenes to do so much for so many, especially our forgotten and homeless. Admission is just $5 for everyone above 10yrs old.
Sun 28th 9:30a – 3:00p
Princess Elizabeth Center Grounds

Surf Classes – North Coast (Tyrico Bay)

Beginners surf classes available at Tyrico Bay every Saturday morning from 9am to 12 noon and Saturday afternoons from 1pm till 4pm. Week day classes are also available upon request.
Call or email to confirm: trinidadandtobagosurf@gmail.com – (868) 355-5691/ 385-1150
Facebook: Trinidad and Tobago Surf Experience

Point Fortin Anniversary Celebrations – Youth Diary

Point Fortin Borough Anniversary celebrations begin this Friday and continue through the end of May.
The Youth Schedule of Events is included below (click to enlarge).

For more events

including details on the upcoming SUNDAE FEST (yes you read that right – a family day celebrating ICE CREAM!) check out the Calendar.