RavenLore -- Fondoo and Frances

Were you aware that you have a secret middle name? No matter what your real life middle name is, your Ravenclaw middle name is Frances/Francis. This one goes WAY back, almost seven years ago, when the HPKCHC was just entering its 4th term.

Several of the students were discussing how, because of the nature of on-line communities, it's easy to picture everyone in the group is the same age as yourself, no matter their real life age. GazeboGal then piped up with how she assumes everyone's middle name is Frances -- because hers is.  And it stuck. GG is Gazebo Frances Gal.  PickleMommy is Pickle Frances Mommy.  I am (for some very silly reasons that I will not go into right now) The Honorable OmeletsMom, Lady Frances The Larch. 

Word of the Week: Fondoo -- A weekly Ravenclaw meet-up that used to be held every Friday night in the Tower chat room.  I believe the spelling originated in the old Merry Beasts thread (because, like lolcats, merry beasts cannot spell!) and spilled over into the CR shortly after.

What's Happening This Week -- March 27 --April 2

Quidditch Match #4 -- Due by midnight POT 3/27

Detention -- Due by midnight POT3/30 for badge

March Classes  -- ALL CLASSES DUE BY MIDNIGHT POT 3/31!  Contact PickleMommy before then if you need to be excused!

OWL Finals -- Completed OWLs accepted through midnight POT 3/31.

NEWT Finals -- Completed NEWTs accepted through midnight POT 3/31

March Great Hall Treasure Hunt -- Through  midnight POT 3/31

March Class Tetris Photo Contest --  Through midnight POT 3/31

WINTER TERM FEEDBACK SURVEY

Ongoing:

MAD SCIENCE NOMINATIONS

Class Tetris - Goals and Plans

Prefect's Challenge

Remembrall sign-up

Great Hall Badges

Last Week in the Common Room: Fill up the Magic Cupboard!

Cast iron pans. Have you heard the good word?

Board games for babies! Or toddlers at least.

The Order of the Fountain Pen will soon have a new recruit, it seems!

Why are overalls back?

Work dress codes, piercings, and bright hair color!

Thank you for the new addition to the lexicon, HelpfulKitten. Hereafter the dishwasher shall be known as The Magic Cupboard. 

Self-deprecating comments don't help anyone. Don't apologize for being the smart, thoughtful, productive person you are! Go out and shine!

Knitting continental vs knitting English for speed. 

CASPN!

Firstie (and Transfer!) Friday

It's Firstie Friday again - and we have another fabulous Ravenclaw Transfer to feature! 

Kneadling (Caroline)

How long have you been playing in the Cup? What houses have you previously been a part of? What led you to Ravenclaw this term? I have been playing in the cup for about 2 years I think….this is my 5th term. I have played as Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff (2 terms) and now Ravenclaw, which I LOVE. 

Now that you’ve been here for two months, what is the one thing that you feel is Quintessentially Ravenclaw? I think for me welcome, the attention to encouraging newcomers, and I also LOVE the class tetris.

What, in your own estimation, is your wackiest/most awesome project and why? I’m not especially wacky with knitting, I’m still a bit new. But I did love my first Ravelry project - -a shawl for my mother that has bobbles along the edge. It’s Joji Locatelli’s Way to Brighton shawl. I’m about ready to make it again. Those bobbles are the BEST.

What is currently on your needles? I’m presently making a cowl by Romi for a friend’s 70th birthday (which was in February - oops). A long arm sewing machine is making its way to me and I”m setting up space for it. That has most of my creative mojo attention.

What is on your crafting bucket list? My bucket list is full of all the things. The challenge is to pick one. just one for the next project!

RavenLore -- The Egyptian Pantheon and the Flamingauge

Have you ever seen someone speaking in bold letters in the Common Room? Still wondering what the heck they were talking about when they referred it as to their "god voice?" The answer is Pantheons.  Sometimes, when you get a bunch of intelligent and creative people together, strange and amusing things happen.  The various Ravenclaw pantheons are an example of this.  They each have a unique origin story and some stories are a bit more involved than others.

As usual, the links are an entrance into the conversation. Follow the replies forward to see the whole story.

The first was the Egyptian Pantheon.

It all started Fall term 2013 when this thing appeared in the lab. It was a sarcophagus, somehow imported from the Stargate universe. Around the same time, DrusillaWormwood was working at a somewhat challenging location. After a particularly difficult day, she declared she was dead, and spent the night in the sarcophagus in an effort to revive herself. Something went wrong (as these things always do) and she came back as the Egyptian sun god RA.

Shortly thereafter, there was a discussion in the CR that started with music, wandered into the musical tastes of gay men, took a turn into what constitutes girl talk, and eventually arrived at a point where various 'Claws were declaring they were giving up their girl cards because they were bad at girl talk.  At that point, Dru (in the guise of RA) stepped in, revoked everyone's boy and girl cards, and invited everyone to get a new card from her/him.

RA/Dru, with the help of Cyprienne, issued everyone cards with mysterious clues on them. After much debate and various guesses. the Pantheon was finally revealed. There followed an entire term of RA RA Ravenclaw and Ancient Egyptian themed hijinks. RA was wrestled back into the sarcophagus at the end of the term, and it remains in a deep subbasement of the Tower. As far as we know.

Word of the Week: Flamingauge.  A lawn flamingo used the measure the depth of snowfall.  Originated about two years ago when Hypercycloid used a lawn flamingo to demonstrate to the Common Room how much snow had fallen during a particularly bountiful snowfall.

What's Happening This Week -- March 20 - 26

March Classes

Missions --  ALL MISSIONS DUE BY MIDNIGHT POT 3/26!

Quidditch Match #4 -- 3/16 -3/27

March Great Hall Treasure Hunt

March Class Tetris Photo Contest

OWL Finals -- accepted through 3/31

NEWT Finals -- accepted through 3/31

Ongoing:

Quidditch earburn sign-up

Class Tetris - Goals and Plans

Prefect's Challenge

Remembrall sign-up

Great Hall Badges

Last Week in the Common Room: Say cheese!

We show our love with books and food and yarn, obviously. 

Still bats. And discussion about whether squealing is instinctual or learned. 

Clearly the Mallet has been locked up somewhere, because someone just cast on a Hitofude with 20 days left in the term. 

Lots of IKEA furniture being assembled around the Tower!

Also many languages being spoken, often in one big jumble. 

Absurd amounts of cheese are being turned into sauce. 

How many cheeses are in your fridge?

A sweet horse! Cute kitties!

The flamingague is out again!

Guinea pig in a sweater. In. A. Sweater. 

Poutine, cheese hats. Cheese puns. 

Languages! French, German, Latin, and more!  Plus grammar. 

Lots of spices, especially from Penzey's. And an offer to mule. 

Silk stockings were hand-knitted for Elizabeth I. 

Lots of helpful animals. Working on ... "werping loons."

Geek of the Week - Carol Shaw

Ravenclaws love to blaze trails through new frontiers and defy expectations – and this week’s Geek of the Week is no exception! Carol Shaw is credited with being the first female video game designer for her work on 3D Tic-Tac-Toe on the Atari 2600 system in 1978.

Shaw was born in Palo Alto, California in 1955. As a child, she enjoyed computers and railroad sets, and gained an appreciation of technology from her father, who was a mechanical engineer at Stanford. She used a computer for the first time in high school, and decided to focus her further studies in the field of computers. She graduated from Berkeley with a BS in Electrical Engeering and Computer Science, and then completed an MS in Computer Science, also at Berkeley.

After Berkeley, Shaw began work at Atari, where she wrote several games for the Atari 2600. In 1980, Shaw moved to Tandem Computers, and then Activision in 1982. At Activision, she programmed and designed Happy Trails and the popular game River Raid.  

As a trail-blazing game designer, Carol Shaw is a very fitting Geek of the Week!

For more information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Shaw_(video_game_designer)

http://www.stuffmomnevertoldyou.com/blogs/stem-women-hall-of-fame-the-first-female-video-game-designer.htm

Firstie (and Transfer!) Friday

It's Firstie Friday again, and we're showcasing more of our fabulous Transfer Students! 

Graceness (Gracie)

How long have you been playing in the Cup? What houses have you previously been a part of? What led you to Ravenclaw this term? I’ve been playing in the cup for about… uh… well I’m a B2 so however long that is? I’ve been in all the Houses now :) Ravenclaw was my last stop, but I’ve been hanging about in the CR and elsewhere for a long time!

Now that you’ve been here for two months, what is the one thing that you feel is Quintessentially Ravenclaw? Cephalopods. And the fact that there are ahem no dragons here. Not a one. Nope.

What, in your own estimation, is your wackiest/most awesome project and why? Actually I’m pretty partial to the Minion bride & groom I made for a friend who was getting married. I am not particularly a huge fan of minions but I’m proud of the work I put into them, deviating largely from the original pattern work and even managing to make a garter to match the garter I had also made for her. She loved them so much she ended up taking them on her honeymoon and they took all sorts of photos with them!

What is on your crafting bucket list? Oh, egads, so much. I pine to one day have the spirit, talent, and determination to create Alistair’s Rose Pi Shawl. I also adore pretty much all the patterns from Hilary Smith Callis and Lisa Mutch. Oh! And the Butterfliege pattern is on my soon-to-do list! Right TwistedSts2? OH! And last year when I was OWL assisting, Hreow and I witnessed the creation of the absolutely splendid Great White Shark Blanket completed by Eternally of Gryffindor.

What is currently on your needles? Currently making a baby sweater for a friend who is having a grandson soon. I also have a cowl or two kicking around here dying to be completed. My crafting has been a bit scattery of late. :/

KnittingIma (Lara)

How long have you been playing in the Cup? What houses have you previously been a part of? What led you to Ravenclaw this term? I’ve been playing in the Cup since January 2013. I started in Gryffindor, where I stayed for 4 terms and had great fun. Then I wanted to travel and went to Hufflepuff. My plan was to return to Gryffindor after one term, but I liked it so much in the Den that I stayed there. The badgers are a friendly bunch. Last year the travelling bug bit me again and I decided to let Sir Hat decide where to put me. That led me to Slytherin last term. Well, that only left Ravenclaw to explore and here I am.

Now that you’ve been here for two months, what is the one thing that you feel is Quintessentially Ravenclaw? Watching Ravenclaw as an outsider I always thought AS were Quintessentially Ravenclaw. Now that I’m here… I don’t know. I think I need a few more terms here to get a better feel. ;) I do like that it’s okay to be nerdy or a bit strange. And ambitious in a good sense. Not just to win, but to stretch yourself.

What, in your own estimation, is your wackiest/most awesome project and why? I think my wackiest project is the lighting rug I made last year for my daughter. But I also still like the skirt guards I made for my cargo carrier bike.

What is on your crafting bucket list? Weaving on a floor loom. And generally trying new techniques.

What is currently on your needles? On my needles are currently 4 blankets, my OWL shawl moonraker and a pair of socks for my Mission. Now that I’m in Ravenclaw I want to get that PhOwl badge!

Aridella (Chris)

How long have you been playing in the Cup? What houses have you previously been a part of? What led you to Ravenclaw this term? My first sorted term was fall 2011 so I think I am an M3 this term. I spent my first 3 terms playing in Gryffindor, spent 1 term in Hufflepuff and then the last umpteen terms in Slytherin. This term I decided it was time for a change and since I’d never tried Ravenclaw here I am. I spent some time here over the last break month and really liked what I saw so that solidified my desire to sort to Ravenclaw this term.

Now that you’ve been here for two months, what is the one thing that you feel is Quintessentially Ravenclaw? So far I have loved everything about Ravenclaw! I love how the class descriptions are easily found in one place and I can see at a glance what options are available or each class. I’m also enjoying the pickle badges and convocation.

What, in your own estimation, is your wackiest/most awesome project and why? This is a really hard one since I am known to “go big or go home” lol. My currentowl is pretty insane as it is my first double knitting project and it is insane! Finished projects I think my Aeolian Shawl would take the prize. It was my first large shawl, first beaded lace (with over 2200 beads), first time doing nupps…lots of firsts. And at the end I gave it to a friend who lost her husband unexpectedly 2 weeks before I finished it.

What is on your crafting bucket list? Steeking a sweater! I’ve only steeked a mug cozy so far but I have all the materials to make a steeked sweater.

What is currently on your needles? My owl and that is all since I am frantically trying to finish it before it gets into the desperate phase. Hopefully by the time this is published I will be done! Then I need to cast on some washcloths for classes.

Stormrage (Rianne)

How long have you been playing in the Cup? What houses have you previously been a part of? What led you to Ravenclaw this term? This is my fourth active term. I’ve spent three terms in Hufflepuff, plus an SoS term somewhere. Honestly, a great many things drew me to Ravenclaw, but the most appealing one was definitely Mad Science. I love that attitude of striving for greatness with just that little bit of insanity mixed in.

Now that you’ve been here for two months, what is the one thing that you feel is Quintessentially Ravenclaw? The inclusiveness of the group. I’ve never seen a group that goes through so much effort to make new people feel like they’re part of the community: the Big Eagle system, the lineages, the Firstie Fridays. And extending on that, I also love the Pickle Badges because it’s an amazing showcase of “we are Ravenclaws and this is what we do,” a very cool way of getting everyone involved with their Housemates’ projects.

What, in your own estimation, is your wackiest/most awesome project and why? My awesomest project is definitely my Evenstar dress. I love it so much, not just because it’s gorgeous, but also because it really pushed my knitting skills. When I first started it felt like the whole thing was waaay over my head, but I did it anyway because I really really wanted that dress, and everything worked out. That definitely gave me an amazing confidence boost in my crafting. :) Close to that one on the favourites list is also my MiniStormy doll. I made her for a Quidditch match a while ago and everything just worked out so splendidly - the project, the photo, the story; everything just clicked. She’s cool to make clothes for from leftovers, or just when I feel like some fiddly knits. I still need to make a Ravenclaw uniform for her - I planned it for this term but it wasn’t cooperating. Maybe next term!

What is on your crafting bucket list? One major thing I still really want to learn is to knit stranded colourwork. I love the looks of it so much, but for some reason it’s just never been a priority to learn it; I always seem to busy with something else. One of my long-term crafting dreams is to make an IVKO-inspired jacket for myself, with lots of colours and detail, so at some point I should probably start practicing. :D

What is currently on your needles? My St. Brigid sweater! This has been one of my dream projects for a very long time and it’s so much fun to actually be working on it.

From the Desk of the Spreadsheet Sorceresses: Stats Update!

As we head into the home stretch, you are probably wondering how Ravenclaw is doing.  The short answer: well, but it's still very close!!

In classes, Ravenclaws have pulled into a slim lead. 

In Advanced Studies, Ravenclaws normally shine, and this term is no different.  But the other houses are close behind!

Overall, it's anyone's game!  We have Quidditch Match 3 starting today!  Order Missions are currently being accepted and they can arrive any time through the 26th!  Let's finish strong and SOAR!!

RavelLore-- Ravenclaw Zodiac and OMSQ

Did you know you have a Ravenclaw Zodiac sign as well as an astronomical one?  Tower horoscopes are not based on the stars however, but upon one's age.  There is a bit of backstory behind this one.  Follow the linked conversations back and the replies forward for the whole story.

It all started with a narwhal...

Back in July of 2012,  TriGirlJ decided to knit Rebecca Danger's Napoleon the Nervous Narwhal for a friend's birthday. He was turning 40 and he loved the Narwhal Song, (beware; it autoplays an annoying song) so what better present could there be? And so, in the way things usually evolve in the Common Room, the narwhal became the traditional present for one's 40th birthday.

Fast forward to late 2014.  Several of us were lamenting that we had not received narwhals for our 40th birthdays.  (There is an amusing set of narwhal battles around that time, but that's a bit of a tangent for this post.)  That inspired conversations about which animals would represent other ages, and the ever imaginative DrusillaWormwood came up with this:

10 is your octopus birthday because you’re still all over the place

20 is your neon tetra birthday, because you think you’re an adult but you’re still kinda loud and tacky

25 is your lion birthday because you’re a quarter of a century old and that makes you want to roar a little.

30 is the fancy goldfish birthday (koi in Japan) because you are maturing into an interesting and beautiful creature

40 is your narwhal birthday because you start using your tusk

50 is your capybara birthday because you’re getting rounder and a little fuzzier

55 is your cougar birthday because cougar

60 is your peacock birthday because you don’t give a damn at all anymore

which was amended to add:

80 is your Dragon birthday. Don’t mess with dragons.

and the RavenBaby zodiac (created by KnittingLinguist):

Newborn: Sea Cucumber: Beautiful to look at, but doesn’t do much. Not capable of self-locomotion.

Head-Holders: Turtle: Spends a lot of time looking around, albeit very slowly.

Sitters: Koala: Clings to parents as a tiny not-bear would cling to a eucalyptus tree.

Crawlers: Wombat: Similar to a koala in appearance. Pretty gosh darned cute. But now capable of self-locomotion at surprising speed.

Walkers: Tasmanian Devil: Needs no explanation.

2yo: Wallaby: Moves at high speed. Great at foraging for things that are probably forbidden or at least not recommended. Gets carried (in a pouch).

3yo: Kangaroo: Slightly larger than a wallaby. Great at causing trouble and then just hopping away. Travels in a group known as a mob.

5yo: Dingo: Oh no! A dingo ate my baby! Getting big fast. Not really a baby anymore. Will insist upon not being a baby anymore.

which brings us back around to:

10yo: Octopus: We have now arrived at the start of the Ravenclaw zodiac.

So there you have it!  The complete Ravenclaw Zodiac!

If you would like to have an illuminated manuscript version of the Ravenclaw Zodiac printed, ChrisFixedKitty created one and has it available for printing on various items in her RedBubble shop.

Word(s) of the Week: OMSQ - Oh My Sweet Quaffle.  A mild wizarding oath, used to express amazement or frustration.  May be amended to OMSELQ - Oh My Sweet Ever Loving Quaffle - when one is especially exasperated.