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Men Changing Nappies

January 22nd, 2010 Filed under: Pre-School, Work | Tags: , , ,

Does this image disturb you? Why?

Nappies are just another part of the job description when working as an early childhood educator in New Zealand. Unless you happen to be a man that is. For some reason, being of the male persuasion leads to all sorts of awkward questions during interviews when it comes to the nappy changing policies. Are you comfortable changing nappies? What’s your stance on nappies? How do you feel about changing soiled children? Of course, these questions are usually followed up with some sort of polite statement roughly translated to “We know this is a non-issue now a days, but we feel like we have to ask”.

You’re right, in this day and age it is a non-issue, but you asking is making it an issue, isn’t it? For me personally, I have no problem doing nappies and believe that it comes with the job. I would be happy if I was just expected to do it and no one batted an eye or suggested otherwise. I mean, it seems to me that the only way it’s going to really become a non-issue is if that’s how we treat it.

But instead, I feel pressured into giving the centre permission to ask the parents if it’s alright with them if all staff (including the new guy we just hired) changes nappies, soiled clothes etc. It seems like the easy way out. The company gets to cover itself.

I wonder if there will ever be a time when I start at a new centre and this isn’t brought up. Or a time when if a parent does have a problem with me changing their child’s nappies, management will tell them that I’m an employee like any other and to get over it rather than awkwardly asking me to not to change little Susie’s nappies anymore.


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Dinosaur Jr. – Farm

January 17th, 2010 Filed under: Music, Reviews | Tags: ,
Dinosaur Jr. - Farm

Dinosaur Jr. - Farm


1. Pieces ★★★★☆
2. I Want You to Know ★★★☆☆
3. Ocean in the Way ★★★☆☆
4. Plans ★★★☆☆
5. Your Weather ★★★☆☆
6. Over It ★★★★☆
7. Friends ★★★☆☆
8. Said the People ★★★☆☆
9. There’s No Here ★★★☆☆
10. See You ★★★★☆
11. I Don’t Wanna Go There ★★★☆☆
12. Imagination Blind ★★★☆☆

Overall: ★★★½☆


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The Antlers – Hospice

January 17th, 2010 Filed under: Music, Reviews | Tags:
The Antlers - Hospice

The Antlers - Hospice


1. Prologue ★★★★☆
2. Kettering ★★★★★
3. Sylvia ★★★★☆
4. Atrophy ★★★★☆
5. Bear ★★★★★
6. Thirteen ★★★★☆
7. Two ★★★★★
8. Shiva ★★★★★
9. Wake ★★★★☆
10. Epilogue ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★½

I really wanted to get away with just rating albums with stars and not having any written description. Mainly because I don’t really have the writing skills to differentiate in words how one album or track makes me feel compared to another.

Unfortunately for me, this album does require a description. This is an album that needs to be listened to in its entirety in one sitting. You also need to be really focusing on the music to get the most out of it. The ten tracks tell a story of a relationship with a terminally ill child. With tracks made up from hospital scenery, snippets of conversations with doctors, terrifying dreams, and prayers. They take you on a emotional trip through guilt, duty, mortality, and hope in the face of hopelessness.

As overly depressing as all this sounds, the album is surprisingly uplifting. Make no mistake, you will feel the emotional strain that singer Peter Silberman is going through, but by the end you will see that even in our darkest moments there is unfathomable beauty.


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Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk

January 15th, 2010 Filed under: Music, Reviews | Tags:
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk

Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk


1. Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.) ★★★★☆
2. Say Please ★★★★☆
3. Whole Lotta Losin’ ★★★★☆
4. Temazcal ★★★☆☆
5. The Right Place ★★☆☆☆
6. Baby Boomer ★★★★☆
7. Man Named Truth ★★★★☆
8. Goodway ★★★★☆
9. Ahead of the Curve ★★★★☆
10. Slow Down Jo ★★★☆☆
11. Losin’ Yo’ Head ★★★☆☆
12. Magic Marker ★★★★☆
13. Map of the World ★★★★☆
14. The Sandman, the Brakeman and Me ★★★☆☆
15. His Master’s Voice ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★½☆


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Artisan Guns – Bird & Bone

January 14th, 2010 Filed under: Music, Reviews | Tags: ,
Artisan Guns - Bird & Bone

Artisan Guns - Bird & Bone


1. Tuesday Night ★★★★★
2. Autumn ★★★★★
3. Goodbye ★★★★☆
4. Rose ★★★★☆
5. Ballad of a Red Man ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★½


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Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

January 13th, 2010 Filed under: Music, Reviews | Tags:
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend


1. Mansard Roof ★★★★☆
2. Oxford Comma ★★★☆☆
3. A-Punk ★★★☆☆
4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa ★★★☆☆
5. Boston ★★☆☆☆
6. Campus ★★☆☆☆
7. One ★★☆☆☆
8. Bryn ★★★☆☆
9. Walcott ★★★☆☆
10. The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★☆☆


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MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

January 13th, 2010 Filed under: Music, Reviews | Tags:
MGMT Oracular Spectacular

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular


1. Time to Pretend ★★★★☆
2. Weekend Wars ★★☆☆☆
3. The Youth ★★★☆☆
4. Electric Feel ★★★☆☆
5. Kids ★★★★☆
6. 4th Dimensional Transition ★★☆☆☆
7. Pieces of What ★★☆☆☆
8. Of Moons, Birds & Monsters ★★☆☆☆

Overall: ★★★☆☆

Show Comments (1)
  1. 1 Simon said at 11:13 am on January 13th, 2010:

    I give it a solid 3.5. I enjoyed the album. Short but pretty packed. And upbeat.
    However, MGMT came to NZ (or are coming.. I forget the date) and are playing multiple gigs *only in Auckland*. For that they receive a big fat middle finger.

    For similar (but IMHO, better) check out Phoenix. And I’ve just been listening to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album too. Both good.

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