| ||||||||
RefBan
Friday, March 8, 2013
Top Stories from the last 24 hours
10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a Parent
March 8th, 2013Top Story10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming a ParentBy Melanie Pinola
1. Making a Baby Isn't as Easy as It SoundsSome people are able to reproduce as easily as bunnies, but for others, that's not always the case. Before I got pregnant, I naively thought that whenever I would want to have a child, my husband and I would just have sex every day for a month and, bam, that would be it. The human body doesn't really work that way. So if you're thinking of having a child someday and want to plan the pregnancy for a certain time period, consider giving yourself some extra time and try not to stress out about the whole thing. A great book on this subject is Taking Charge of Your Fertility. (It's also awesome even if you're not thinking of getting pregnant but just want to know more about the female body.) 2. The First Few Months Are Pure Torture
Others told me it was hard. But it's impossible to truly convey just what it's like to wake up at night every two hours for several months. Or try to calm a baby who's screaming inconsolably. Or deal with your body now being three sizes bigger than it used to be (graciously, this happens to dads as well as moms). Or struggle with not feeling like yourself for not just months but maybe even years. The other thing to know, though, is that as bad as it gets, you'll get through it. (Just don't be afraid to ask for help, especially if you suffer from post-partum depression.) There are blissful, amazing moments during that period too, and, after enough time passes, you might even think back wistfully on this period and even be crazy enough to go through that torture again. 3. You Will Lose and Sorely Miss SleepEven past the infant and toddler stages, you might have sleep issues. Middle-of-the-night nightmares, kids sleeping between you and your significant other, difficulty getting them up in time for school, and so on. I think it gets better (my daughter is seven and still climbs into our bed at night). I've asked fellow Lifehacker editor and parent Walter Glenn for reassurance, but he's keeping awfully mum on the subject. A word to the wise: Don't start a sleep or nighttime habit (like letting your kid into your bed in the middle of the night) you don't want to continue until your child is in college. 4. You Don't Need a Lot of Baby Stuff or Clothes
Many new parents fear their babies will get bored or will need constant stimulation to develop super baby brains, but the truth is infants pretty much just sleep, wake up and cry to be fed, then fall asleep after being fed. You don't need multiple, endless ways to occupy them even when they've started toddling, because everything is entertaining to a young child. (It's also why baby-proofing is important.) Also, kids tend to discard even new toys quicker than it took you to look for and buy them. I have a garage full of baby distractions and stuffed animals (the bane of my existence) just waiting for garage sale season. To this day, I'm thinking, why didn't I just buy blocks or make toys out of toilet paper rolls. Similarly, I wish I hadn't bought so many baby clothes—at least new ones. For one thing, family and friends love to gift adorable outfits (who can resist buying tiny shoes, even if the baby can't stand up?). For another, kids grow like weeds, so some outfits are rarely even worn before they don't fit. If I could do it over again, I probably would've bought only on-sale or used clothes, enough to last two weeks of laundry. Of course, if your kid gets dirty a lot, you might have to buy more clothes, but wait until you know before hitting up the kids clothing department. 5. Children Rack Up a Lot of Surprise CostsThere is one thing you will need a lot of in the first few years: Diapers. A whole lot of diapers. You know that already, but you're probably still underestimating how many diapers you'll end up buying (or washing, if you go the cloth route). This makes subscribing to a newspaper for the diaper coupons worth it alone. I also wish I had joined Amazon Moms way back when. Other expenses will seem to come out of the blue over the course of your child's life. Music lessons, for example, for a couple of hundred dollars a month, class trip costs, babysitting costs, and even medicine and medical fees can take you by surprise. Perhaps the biggest shocker, though, is the higher-than-college cost of daycare. (It's like you need to take a second job to pay for the daycare that lets you work your first job.) So spend less on baby gear and keep in mind these unexpected (or unexpectedly high) costs that really add up. 6. You Can Work from Home with a Child (But Only Up to a Point)
So even if you're lucky enough to get to work from home, you should plan on getting childcare help once your child is old enough to demand your complete and undivided attention. 7. Don't Worry If Your Child Isn't Reaching Development Milestones
Looking back, though, I accept each kid develops on his or her own timeframe. All that time my daughter wasn't learning how to walk, she was using her energy to learn how to speak. So try not to rush getting your child to talk, walk, run, or read. They grow up all too fast anyway. (By the way, I tried that "teach your kid to be potty trained in one day" mythical method, and it totally backfired. I should have just done what Walter did with his two kids and waited until she was obviously ready.) 8. You Can Never Take Too Many Pictures or VideosIn the first few years, you're probably going to constantly take pictures and videos. Sadly, that falls off as you and they get older. You will never regret having too many pictures of your rapidly growing child, though, so it's something to watch out for. It also helps if you develop a habit of organizing your photos and videos soon after you take them. Otherwise, you'll have a mess of images and videos that are as daunting as the thousands of emails you have in your inbox. Most important, though: Backup, backup, and backup your photos and videos, both locally and offsite. (We like Crashplan for an automated, bulletproof backup system.) Those files are probably the most precious ones to save. 9. Going Out—Anywhere—Will Never Be the Same
Eating out is also a whole new experience. There are Cheerios on the floor to feel guilty about, crayons to keep from rolling off the table, and angry-looking fellow diners (at least in your mind) to deal with. And if you manage to get out for a date night alone with your significant other, you'll probably spend all of the time talking or worrying about your child. Photo by Lordcolus 10. You Will Never Be the SameParenting changes you. I expected this, but I didn't expect just how radically it would. It's not like you turn into your mom or dad overnight, but your values, perspective, and habits get realigned to one single creature: your child (or your children, if you have more than one). It also means:
Finally, just one last thing to know: None of the negative stuff on this list—as terrible and messy as they sound—will really bother you in the long run. You'll discover many new things about yourself as a parent—things that make you stronger, and more vulnerable in a sense too. Author Elizabeth Stone made this terribly true observation: "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart walking around outside your body." I think most parents would agree that it is so, so worth it. Just think of this as mental preparation. Click to view |
|
Gas Masks, Angel Wings and Fainting Spells: The Week We Lost Justin Bieber
March 8th, 2013Top StoryGas Masks, Angel Wings and Fainting Spells: The Week We Lost Justin BieberBy Caity Weaver
It's been such a weird, action-packed few days, that even Justin Bieber might have trouble sorting it out. Which is why we bring you: The Week in Biebz. Friday March 1 (morning): A Sweater Made of Skin    Click to view    From top: Bieber on March 1; Bieber in concert earlier that night; Bieber in gas mask on March 6; Bieber after fainting on March 7; Bieber threatening a photographer on March 8; two more shots of Bieber on March 1; and Bieber, in happier times before his weird week, on February 27. All photos via WENN.com.After performing a show in Birmingham on Thursday night, Justin Bieber returns to his London hotel at 3 a.m. Despite the winter weather (the low temperature on Friday was 37°F), Bieber makes the trip from his car to the hotel shirtless, his brief-clad bottom hanging all the way out of his saggy leather sweatpants. The leather sweatpants are worn for no apparent reason, as warmth is clearly not important to him and they cause him to walk like the Unclean son of Marky Mark and a gorilla. He is later photographed eating kebabs in a Lebanese restaurant at 6 a.m. Friday March 1 (afternoon): Bad KarmaJustin Bieber's friend Lil Twist is pulled over by police in California while driving Bieber's Fisker Karma. (Bieber received the car, rumored to have cost at least $100,000 on the Ellen show one year ago as a birthday present.) Lil Twist receives a ticket because the custom tint job on the car's windows is too dark. Note: Lil Twist was driving another of Bieber's cars earlier this year when a paparazzo tailing him was struck and killed by another vehicle. Friday March 1 (night): The Worst Birthday EverJustin Bieber is unable to enter a club with a group of his underage friends, possibly including Will Smith's 14-year-old son, Jaden. Justin Bieber observes on Twitter that this has been the "worst birthday ever." Monday March 4: A Loofah's LamentJustin Bieber arrives on stage two hours late (according to witnesses) or 40 minutes late (according to Justin Bieber) for a show at London's O2 Arena. The next day, Justin sends out a series of tweets blaming his lateness on "technical issues," apologizing to "anyone upset" and repeatedly remarking that his relationship with the media is not "easy." Various British papers publish comments allegedly from concert workers who say that Bieber came onstage late because he was playing video games and then, already behind schedule, refused to perform until he had showered. Many attendees reportedly have to leave the show before Bieber takes the stage at 10:23 (7 minutes before the show was originally scheduled to end), in order to catch trains home. Parents rip into him on Twitter. Tuesday March 5: A BFF's Big Fuck-UpFriend of Bieber and Enemy of Cars Lil Twist crashes the Fisker Karma he is borrowing into some cement poles at a liquor store. According to TMZ, shortly after the accident, a BMW pulls into the parking lot, and Lil Twist and his passengers pick up all the pieces that have fallen off the Fisker and put them in the BMW. The men then pull away, leaving the Fisker behind. This story is not reported in the media until Thursday. Wednesday March 6: A Passing Gas MaskJustin Bieber goes on an extended, intermittently coherent Twitter rant, blasting rumors (the concept) and serving God ("but know this...im only judged by one power, and i serve him"). That night, he walks into London's ritzy Mr. Chow restaurant wearing a gas mask. This is the second appearance of Bieber's gas mask on the London trip; he was also photographed wearing one while shopping on February 25. Gas masks have not been so in vogue in London since WWII. Thursday March 7: The Fainting CouchJustin Bieber reportedly collapses backstage during a London performance and is treated with oxygen. His manager takes the stage to announce that Justin was instructed to go to the hospital but has chosen to continue the concert FOR THE FAAAAAAAANS. Laster, Bieber posts a shirtless picture of himself lying on a hospital bed to Instagram, with the caption "Gettin better listening to Janice Joplin." Some people question whether the alleged collapse was a ploy to stem the wave of bad press the singer has begun receiving. Here's a video of Bieber pausing for breath shortly before exiting the stage. Fucking Friday March Fucking 8: "I'll Fucking Beat the Fuck Out of You"Rocked back to health by Dr.Janice Joplin, Justin Bieber is in fine fighting form. As the singer hurries from his hotel into his SUV, a paparazzo begins yelling at his security guards, who have pushed photographer out of the way in order to clear a path for Justin. All of a sudden, Justin jumps out of the car and squeaks at him: "What the fuck'd you say? What'd you say? I'll fucking beat the fuck out of you!" while a security guard "restrains" him. The effect is very Malibu's Most Wanted. TMZ has a hilarious video. Focus on FashionHere is a partial list of the raiments with which Justin Bieber adorned his body during while in London: He's due in Lisbon next Monday.  |
|
![Oversharing Dude Gets Vibrating Dildo Stuck Up His Ass, Livetweets Trip to ER [UPDATED with X-Ray]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tJqacdYgV4HvQEMBX_JEE-5lvfg5L_eYINLjW3z0P6NNaB6PGVdkFOImlqa0xsliIYitUkVAt926hTfx9YTSEenoxC321VFJ_IRQU6-c2rOwGtTdpcrwTCaFzaTF8=s0-d "Oversharing Dude Gets Vibrating Dildo Stuck Up His Ass, Livetweets Trip to ER [UPDATED with X-Ray]")
Proof That American Gamers Really Do Want Japanese RPGs
March 8th, 2013Top StoryProof That American Gamers Really Do Want Japanese RPGsBy Jason Schreier
Ask your average gamer—or your average game developer—and they'll tell you that the JRPG is a dying genre. They'll tell you that Japanese RPGs haven't evolved, or that nobody buys them anymore. That JRPGs are too niche to bring to America. That the style isn't worth anyone's time. America disagrees. For a long time now, I've been arguing that JRPGs are under-appreciated—that the genre is far more diverse and interesting than people believe. I've also argued that the fanbase for JRPGs is larger than most people think it is. Robert Boyd thinks so too. Boyd, an American indie developer who makes turn-based, Japanese-style RPGs, believes that there are tons of westerners who would happily buy more JRPGs or JRPG-style games. If only there were more to buy. "I think the market for quality JRPGs outside of Japan is grossly underestimated," Boyd told me in an e-mail yesterday. His proof? Boyd's 2011 game Cthulhu Saves The World sold 300,000 copies on PC alone—and another 100,000 on mobile platforms and the Xbox indie marketplace. Cthulhu Saves The World is a traditional turn-based RPG that in many ways emulates classics like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. It's also funny, charming, and interesting in its own way. And it's a big success. Granted, Cthulhu is a cheap game, and Steam has promoted it a few times with bundles and sales. But those are massive numbers even for a $3 game, and Boyd believes his JRPG isn't an anomaly. "Zeboyd Games is a two-man studio and we made Cthulhu Saves the World in under a year (and not even working full-time on it)," Boyd said. "Not only that, but at the time, we had very little previous development experience. If we were able to find that kind of success with our low-budget JRPG-style RPG, I don't see why a bigger studio with a solid understanding of the genre couldn't find even more success with bigger-budget higher priced games." There are some other Westerners making JRPGs—Adam Rippon's Dragon Fantasy has been a success on iOS and will soon be on PS3 and Vita, and a number of developers have started Kickstarters for JRPG-style games like Echoes of Eternia. But Boyd thinks the market is still untapped. "PC in particular has exploded in the US over the past few years thanks to Steam's growing popularity and the rise of indie games," Boyd said. "And yet there are still very few JRPG-style games being released professionally on the PC." You don't have to be an indie to get an audience—despite common consensus, big-budget console JRPGs have also found a fair amount of success over the past two years. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told me he was quite pleased with Xenoblade's sales when we chatted last year, and Xseed has said that The Last Story is their most successful launch to date. Most recently, the stellar Ni no Kuni tore up the charts in early 2013—according to one person in a position to know (who spoke to me under condition of anonymity), Namco Bandai was very pleased with the RPG's sales in the United States. Although the publisher has yet to say anything about the game's reception, Ni no Kuni was the number-one seller in the UK in January as well. People want to play good JRPGs. Just look at the charts for February's PSN sales, via Sony: Yeah, that data happens to coincide with Square Enix running a sale on Final Fantasy games for half of February, but it's not a coincidence. People aren't just buying up old Final Fantasy games because they're cheap. People are buying them because they want to play great JRPGs. So let this be a message. To a few different groups of people. To Japanese publishers: Bring your games to the west! If they're good, people will buy them. Word will spread. We'll help. To game developers: Make JRPGs! They're not obsolete. People want to play them. Not every role-playing game has to feel like Skyrim or Mass Effect. There are a lot of different styles to play around with. Most importantly... To gamers: Speak up! Let your voice be heard. Support great JRPGs. Spend your time telling companies like Square Enix that you want to see games like Bravely Default come to the West, and tell indie developers that you'd love to see them make more JRPGs. Don't lose faith, no matter how many people tell you that this is a niche, undesirable genre. The numbers tell a different story. Random Encounters is a weekly column dedicated to all things JRPG. It runs every Friday at 3pm ET.  |
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)