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May 3, 2015

You’re listening to WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw

Good Morning, Ravenclaw, you’re tuned to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It’s Thursday, so get the recycling ready to go out tonight and meanwhile enjoy the Horoscope. Your Horoscope this week is brought to you by Haumea, the dwarf planet which is visually right near Arcturus at the moment. Arcturus is visible in the morning in this season, just follow the arc of the Big Dipper backward to the Really Bright Star. That’s Arcturus. Wave toward it and you’ll be greeting one of the Solar System’s favorite Trans Neptunian Objects. We used Haumeamancy to generate our predictions this week, so hold on for a stellar-fast ride!

Octopodes 10+: “Dwarf planet, one-third the mass of Pluto”. this seems to indicate that you’re headed for a growth spurt. Alert your parents to fire up the crock pot and get yourself out there hiking, running, chopping wood, and carrying water. A growth spurt after about age 13 is all about putting down layers of muscle, so go do the things that your body is perfectly designed for! Get Strong, Stay Strong!

Neon Tetras 20+: “Claims of discovery have been disputed and no discovery date or team is official.” My word. This week, Tetras, reinvent yourself! You’re not nailed down, you can rock the identity change. Here’s the thing. you discover yourself, decide what your major themes and minor motifs are then be yourself as hard as you can. thank you, Sir Terry Pratchett.

Lions 25+: “Designated a dwarf planet and named after the Hawai’ian goddess of childbirth.” I don’t think it’s your height that could be growing. So, remembering that images of gestation and birth are about all kinds of creativity, it’s time to choose your next creative venture if you haven’t already, to block other creative ventures from happening if you take my meaning, to dedicate yourself to doing it the best you know how. That means swatch for your OWL, commit to writing 5K words/day then editing out 3K of them, or decide on some 25-year-plan goals.

Fancy Goldfish 30+: “Its shape has not been directly observed, calculations from its light curve suggest it is an ellipsoid, with its major axis twice as long as its minor”. Well, I think this is clear - no one else can quite focus on you, use that air of mystery to your advantage, be a shapeshifter. Also, sort your Tasks into major and minor then give twice as much heart and love to the Things which are major.

Narwals 40+: “Rapid rotation, high density, and high albedo.” OK, it’s going to be a heck of a week, Narwhals, full of high density and rapid rotation, but you will do really well at it and you’re gonna shine!

Capybaras 50+: “Its gravity is sufficient for it to have relaxed into hydrostatic equilibrium.” Yeah. I’m with you, Sister Capybaras, a little extra gravity and a relaxed waistband are just about the price we’ve paid for the hydrostatic equilibrium. Would you care for a vodka martini while we wait for the children to grow up?

Cougars 55+: “A surface of crystalline water ice”. Incoming diamond jewelry. Act surprised, but cool.

Peacocks 60+: “the result of a giant collision, which left Haumea the largest member of a collisional family that includes several large TNOs and Neptune’s two known moons.” First, brace for family drama, and second if we are to be a bit less metaphorical, for the love of all that’s holy, buckle up. We care.

Dragons 80+: Your mediation is requested, Ma’am. The Planetary Geologic Society is suing the International Astronomical Union for making decisions on sticking their noses into rock business instead of keeping with the burning gasses.

I need some of that Frozen North action -

She’s Natalya Arctica,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network!

SECURITY ALERT! SECURITY ALERT! LEVEL ONE! ALL AGENTS!

Printers have been identified as a level one threat! They sleep most of the time, but when they break dormancy the best way to subdue them is to swat quickly and repeatedly at any paper that comes out. Printers become loud and angry and begin eating paper. The paper is changed after the printer has eaten it, and can not be trusted. It is not known whether or not the paper itself is a threat, so jump on it! Then, immediately lay on the paper until you know it is safe. There seems to be a great deal of printer unrest this morning, so be very aware, and protect your humans from the dangers of printers!

Security Chief Andromeda

Good Morning, Common Room, you’re listening to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It’s the Friday Fondoo Review!

Here’s our Fondoo Recipe of the day - today a Very Savory Fondoo!

If your household has fondoo tonight, remember We Want Pictures here in the Common Room because this is Extremely Magical Radio. With pictures.

Tonight, we’re going old school: get out your Uno decks!

This weekend, the Advanced Studies Team will be on alert to help you with those last-minute thoughts!

And now, the weather.

• It is snowing where I am. That is all.

The Weather Report is brought to us weekly by Wimbledon’s WeatherWorks, guaranteeing excellent weather for your venue since 1877.

And now back to the music. Any music. I am rolling my dice… Woo-Hoo! A magical choice indeed!

She’s the White Welsh Witch herself, Stevie Nicks!

 I’m GazeboGal,  

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

Goodnight, Tower!

In the great bronze Tower

There was a group of ‘Claws

and skychairs to be inhabited soon

And a picture of-

a dragon jumping over the moon

And there were three little narwhals decorating the walls

And a few NEWTS

And many many OWLs and BROOMs

There are some Pantheons

And a young Trickster God

And of course a great many octopodes

Goodnight, Tower

Goodnight, ‘Claws

Goodnight dragon jumping over the moon

Goodnight Narwhals

Goodnight NEWTs

Goodnight to the OWLs and the BROOMs

Goodnight Pantheons

Goodnight gods

Goodnight Octopodes

Sorting’s coming soon

Thank you, Handdrawnviolist

Good Morning! You’ve tuned in to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It’s Wednesday, April 29th, except in Oceania where it is possibly 2017 by now.

Just a few news highlights today -

It’s raining in Devonshire
it is not yet time to plant out your tomato seedlings, the Muggles will be confused when they thrive.
Benjamin Bagby concert in Chicago Friday night!
It has come to the attention of the Ministry that an Anistasis spell was illegally released in 2010 over many portions of the Wizarding World. If you have acquired a pet or familiar since then, watch carefully for signs that this creature could be an Animagus trapped in her or his animal form! Signs include, but are not limited to: vivid dreaming (evidenced by sleep-woofing); hypervigilance; constructing sandwiches out of human food.

The Fresh Pot of Coffee is sponsored on Wednesdays by Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes - whether your wakenings are wailsome or wacky, our winsome wares will work out the wants of your workshop. We whizz the werewolf’s whiskers and wow the wildest widgeons! So wax their waffles, wobble their woolies, work up a list of wishes and wants, witches and wizards, and wander to Weaselys’ Wizarding Wheezes. Wednesday is WibblyWobbly Day - 10% discount to all patrons wearing a fez!

Oh, dear sweet quaffle, it’s Wednesday, let’s get straight to the music. Taking it classic today, our nerves can’t handle much else -  

He’s George Gershwin,  

I’m GazeboGal,

 and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

Tower, we have another letter from ChrisFixedKitty in Lindisfarne. Chris?

Dear Towermates,

Hallo, everyone! My apologies for the delay in writing, but the regular postal owl convoy only comes to Lindisfarne once a week. Just as all the books about the history of medieval calligraphy say, this is a back-end-of-nowhere place, easier to reach by sea than by land, which is almost hard to tell from the sea much of the time, it’s so marshy. Yes, I said ‘postal owl convoy’, because lone owls are pretty much flying playtoys in the view of the younger dragons. No wonder poor Skrim was so raggedy when he brought me the directions here.

The young ones do seem to understand that brooms sometimes bite back, so to speak, so flying in and out is pretty safe. Although there are a few dragons here that like to sniff all incoming visitors, in-flight, and say ‘hi’ at length. They really need to add a warning about that in the directions. Imagine a flying great Dane the size of a city bus jumping all round you and barking enthusiastic “hihihi!”as you enter a friend’s house. It’s like that, only include in your mental picture that said ginormous beastie has just barged straight up out of the treecover and nearly inhaled you and your broom and the airstream of its leap has flipped your broom over into barrel rolls. Yeah. I don’t care if Walter is “a graaaate beeg softie, he couldnae love people more, here, have a towel for tha’ slobber. No, he rrrreallllly likes ya!” A warning would have been nice. I have no regrets about having thrown up on him during said barrel rolls. Walter, I mean. I do feel bad about hurling on Mr. C.

Be assured that we arrived perfectly safely, although 2 days later than we were expected. So we were met some distance out from camp by one of the search parties, and it probably saved me another day of trying to pinpoint the camp itself. Preep has made several new friends among the drakelings and the preserve workers, but she-- yes, Preep has been confirmed as a she-- is still insistently huddling around the humans’ ankles every night after dinner. What –do- you do with a dragonlet who is afraid of being away from people in the dark? It turns out the usual answer is giving them a week to get over it and putting some magical nightlights around the camp. We’re on day 5. No change yet, fingers crossed.

During the day, she seems happy enough here, scampering off after breakfast to play with the other dragons, and I’ve been playing Muggle tourguide around the Lindisfarne ruins and museum. One of the regular tourguides has been taken ill with dragonpox, and I’m already pretty familiar with the history of the place and Muggle vacationing expectations, so I’m going to be filling in for a bit. There’s a lot around here that they really shouldn’t be noticing, so there’s always one behind-the-scene illusionist and one up-front tourguide for every group. It works out pretty well. Some of the illustrations in the museum are like magical portraits, and a few of the monks have senses of humor about the tourists that are positively not helpful to maintaining wizardly secrecy!

I expect to return with Skrim guiding me back a few days before the start of term. I should arrive the day before classes start. See everyone again real soon! -CFK

Thank you, ChrisFixedKitty.

Good Morning, RAVENCLAW!!

Welcome to the Common Room for The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It’s Thursday and that means Horoscopes - Find your age, learn your Animal, and let the voices speak.

10+ Octopodes:They still do not expect Duct Tape! Use this to your advantage. We’re not quite sure how, but you still have the element of surprise going for you.

20+ Neon Tetras: The world is waiting for your leadership. This week, show them all how it’s done: hand knit socks and sandals. From strappy pumps to Birkenstocks, we count on you to answer the timeless question of “now I have these great socks, but no one will ever see them.”

25+ Lions:You have not swatched yet!!! Dear Sweet Quaffle go swatch for your OWL!!!

30+ Fancy Goldfish: Run, run, I tell you to the Prefects’ Challenge thread. We’re Crafting to the International Space Station! This is your term to knock back at least two miles of yarn. Yes it is.

40+ Narwhals: Project bags? check. Frozen meals? check. May and June schedule made out and on the wall/Google calendar for the family? check. Teacher gifts queue’d? check. You’re ready.

50+ Capybaras: Oh, dear one. It’s April. Almost May. Get another cup of coffee , you’re in for a bit of a bumpy ride. The stars say you’ll be close to caught up in about 10 days, but don’t aim for 100%.

55+ Cougars: There will be excellent … art… on Saturday morning on the green in town. You should go appreciate it.

60+ Peacocks: Today at 3:17 PM local time. They are going to mess up big time. Be there. Catch them in the act. Say nothing and let them blather on. Walk away silently.

80+ Dragons: We hope this met with your approval, Ma’am!

Friends and Ravenclaws, the Fresh Pot of Coffee will be taking a term hiatus while we work on our Not-A-NEWT here in the station. This will be our last broadcast until August. We want you to know how much fun it is to serve you here on the airwaves. Keep the music rolling - we’ll leave you with some Serious Wizarding Power:

They’re the Wyrd Sisters,

I’m GazeboGal,

And you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network!

Dear Ravenclaws,

This is station manager TindraTieren. I would like to let you know that despite the hiatus that the Fresh Pot of Coffee is taking, Radio Ravenclaw will continue broadcasting. We are constantly seeking fresh content, so if you have suggestions, ideas, or just want to drop us a line, please, let me know.

Thank you.

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21 April 2015 0

Apr 21, 2015

You’re listening to WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw.

Good Morning, Ravenclaw - you’ve tuned in to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It looks like a beautifully sunny (or perhaps rainy) day out there, we suggest that it’s an excellent time to hang up some fresh laundry to dry (or get that softening effect of rainwater). What? the weather’s not until tomorrow!

It is, in fact, Thursday, so time for your Horoscope!

Octopodes (10+): That was really surprising, that thing you did! some of you are ahead on points and some of you lost them, depending on the thing, but you should know that your Surprise Factor just about doubled. This is an excellent way to approach the weekend, as your people have no idea what to expect from you and will be eager to give you permission to do things lest you do Other Things on your own. Ask - they will say yes! Also, i before e.

Neon Tetras (20+): That thing that was making you anxious? There’s a right time to worry. In fact, the right time to worry is today from 17:45 to 18:00 local time. Worry as hard as you can. Burn serious calories with the amount of worry. At the stroke of 18:00, let it go. Any worry, concern, or anxiety after that point will have exactly zero effect.

Lions (25+): Do your grocery shopping today (don’t forget safety pins) because Friday afternoon there will be an awesome opportunity offered and you want to be in a position to say “Yes!” You might even run a load of laundry tonight.

Fancy Goldfish (30+): Sorting is Open! You have been going back and forth. Sign the form, buy the pattern, blow us out of the water. This is your term to Succeed Spectacularly!

Narwhals (40+): Your weekend will be less simple, I’m afraid. There is an injustice in need of your tusk. Get a cozy Thursday and Friday evening to build up your spoons, kick butt on Saturday, then you’ll have all of Saturday evening and Sunday to recover and realize that you did a fabulous job and lots of people are going to be happier because you were so brave!

Capybaras (50+): Good News: The chocolate stash that you forgot about is in the freezer. Less Good News: You’re gonna have to defrost the freezer. Worth it.

Cougars (55+): You have worked very hard this week; you thought no one noticed, but the stars did. You have completely earned an at-home spa day. Salt scrub for your feet, lavender bubble bath, candles, favorite music, clean sheets, new brain-candy novel. Yes. Do it.

Peacocks (60+): Public event Friday? You’re going to rock it! The stars suggest keeping your wand handy because there could be opportunities. You know what I mean.

Dragons (80+): Do you need a driver this weekend, ma’am? The opening of your new wing will be lovely.

The Fresh Pot of Coffee is sponsored on Thursdays by The DecRomancer, a new shop on Diagon Alley specializing in custom fortune-telling and tarot cards, delicious divinatory tea blends, and genuine Viking runestones. All your high-end Divinatory needs in one shop. Personal crystal ball attunements will be handled on Tuesdays by appointment. They’re located next to Flourish and Blott’s, and don’t bother knocking.

Now on to your Thursday music, one of our most out-and-proud witches and the Muggles still don’t realize…

She’s Bette Midler,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

We have a special message from PICOT (Person In Charge of Testing), Spike:

Dropping a note here in your planning thread about some upcoming changes for next term and the term after. These are not just minor tweaks, please take note.

First, as of now, we will no longer be accepting OWLs that are proposed based on just time spent crafting. You will no longer be able to propose a specific amount of time with an undetermined amount of crafting resulting from that time. We now will need an estimate of how much will be crafted by pattern, weight, or by yardage. If you require assistance with writing your proposal to fit these guidelines, please see your House’s Advanced Studies thread.

Spring 2015 term is the last term that the Care of Magical Creatures: Option 4 (commonly referred to as the Bowtruckle option) will be available. It is still and always has been possible to learn a new craft with any of the other OWL subjects and options (a note that it is a new to you craft is something to put in the Considerations portion of your proposal).

Thank you, Spike.

Good Morning, Common Room, you’re listening to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It’s the Friday Fondoo Review!

First and Foremost, here’s our Fondoo recipe of the week - complete with SCIENCE! It turns out that the white wine is chemically necessary, but it can be the cheapest stuff ever. Also, our kitchen wizard makes excellent observations about Gruyere and Emmentaler cheezes.

If your household has fondoo tonight, remember We Want Pictures here in the Common Room. Because Radio. Also, we suggest “Apples to Apples” as your board game winner for tonight.

Our Quidditch team is hosting a Broom Basics workshop this weekend. Captain SarahTheEntwife will staff the Broom Maintenance station, BrooklynMomDoc will teach us all on-the-pitch First Aid, FangAili and Gipcsoul are reviewing flying basics, and MrsWingnut has a quiet little activity on how to fold your own origami Snitch!

And now, the weather.

Ocean-going fans are going to be treated to lightning strikes a couple of times per minute for the next several days.
Flooding in Atlantis - no one is likely to notice.
Snow melt in Canada will, as ever, lead to those beautiful vernal pools. Let’s protect the delicate ecosystems which depend on these ephemeral sources of water by observing them without bright lights, sounds, or other interference. Perceptum incognitum spells only, please.
Remember if the clouds are out not to hang up your laundry outdoors, the Muggles will expect it to get wetter, not dryer, and then the Secrecy Statue could be in danger.
Weather wizard Inger Ingersson has published a fascinating new paper explaining how the effects of La Niña can be explained by the weak nuclear force. When asked “What exactly is the weak nuclear force?” Ingersson replied, ”Mumblety mumblety radioactive decay mumblety.” You heard it here first.

The Weather Report is brought to us weekly by Wimbledon’s WeatherWorks, guaranteeing excellent weather for your venue since 1877.

And now the music. Did someone call for earworms? I believe someone called for earworms, and who am I to deny our fans?

He’s Burl Ives,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

Public service announcement: there are some chapeaux that even a Hat Specialist like Martin Freeman cannot wear. Sorry, Martin. Not this time.

Thank you for your attention. This has been your daily Break Month Levity with Martin Freeman, I’m Cyprienne.

appearance on The Hobbit panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012

Good Morning, Common Room, you’re listening to The Fresh Pot of Coffee

It’s Monday, so it’s time to

Prep With Foxy!

Time to consider Advanced Studies

If you’re a NEWT student, we know you’re already well on your way to Glorious Victory!

The rest of us, it’s time to choose the project which will define our term.

Remember: one adult sweater in worsted or smaller weight is a worthy OWL. While we love to be spectacular, we work smarter, not harder. The Advanced Studies Advisory Thread is full of people to check your ideas with. They’ll talk you down from the edge, help you polish your proposal, and test your photo-posting skills. Let’s say that I want to make a sweater for myself and a matching sweater for my 8 year old niece and a matching sweater for her doll. I could do that in an OWL for 200 points. Or I could do the sweater for 200 points as an OWL, the child sweater as an Order of the Phoenix Mission for 100 points, and the doll sweater for a class earning 15 points plus yardage bonus. Which path is smarter? Check in the thread, because every case is different - the OWL examiners will see if you have a non-standard speed with your crafting.

Also remember: the Order of the Phoenix is an excellent place for a beginning crafter to challenge themselves: teens and pre-teens, you can propose something there which might take an experienced knitter less than six weeks. Make it clear that you’re just starting out and this will be a skill-building Mission as well as project-producing one.

Corollary: the Order chiefs do get a bit fussy1 when experienced crafters see a 12 year old getting permission to do 16 washcloths and want to propose the same thing. Guideline: see how long it took me personally to complete a project like yours, because my own crafting time is my instinctually-available measurement.

Swatch Now! While acknowledging that swatches lie, Swatching saves lives.

Draft your Proposal Now

Check into the Advanced Studies thread now!

The Fresh Pot of Coffee is sponsored on Mondays by Mrs. Madrigal’s Magical Knitting Emporium. They make many great tools for the crafty Witch or Wizard, including their famous Patented No-Snag, Self-Knitting Needles Now with Advanced Auto-Tinking Technology!

Thank you for your continued support and good luck out there. Now back to the music. Screaming is called for.

She’s Annie Lennox,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

I can say that, I’m one of them.

We have a message from Mama Eagle OmeletsMom:

Calling all Ravenclaws!

I know you love your House and all of its quirky traditions. Wouldn’t it be nice to share that love with a newly hatched Ravenclaw Eaglet?

Why not volunteer to be a Big Eagle? We are looking for mentors for all lineages (see the current lineage chart here if you are not sure which is yours), especially those that have not been represented recently.

Students from all years are welcome -- our Little Eagles can benefit from someone who has recently been a First Year as well as someone who has long experience in the ways of Ravenclaw and the House Cup.

Please PM me, OmeletsMom, if you are interested in mentoring one of our newest Ravenclaws or if you have questions.

Thank you, OmeletsMom.

Good morning! You’ve tuned in to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

Sorting is Open until Saturday!

Information has leaked to our star reporter AnnieCC that the famous Thaumaturgical researcher Cascadienne will soon make an important announcement. The rumour goes that Casca has a successful prototype of her Poncho of Bee Summoning. Annie will remain poised on the doorstep of the lab for the press release.

We here at the radio station are putting a few inches on a group-created project. It’s a Hug Shawl for one of the darling dragon-ladies of the church and we younger gals are putting on an inch and passing it on each Sunday. Question for our viewers: When you participate in a collaborative project, how do you account it in your project pages? Ignore it? Count it? Count it as done when your portion is finished? Make a page for it but keep it hibernating until it’s done? Write to us here at the station, we want to know!

The Fresh Pot of Coffee is brought to you on Tuesdays by Geckito’s Garden Exotic Seeds: Are you tired of having a boring vegetable garden? Need to have the most interesting front yard on the block? Try Geckito’s Garden Exotic Seeds! New this year: Super Spaghetti Seeds!” As we say here at the station when contemplating the bounty of a Geckito Garden, “OMG! DIRT!”

It’s kind of a “hazelnut, double cream, double stevia” day here at the station, if you know what I mean. Four typos in the previous sentence. So we’re going to fall back on that spectacular Siberian singer/songwriter to signify the start of a silly semester…

She’s Natalya Arctica,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network!

Download this Episode

15 April 2015 0

Apr 15, 2015

You’re listening to WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw.

Congratulations to Gryffindor for winning both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup! Ravenclaw came in a very close second, followed by Hufflepuff and Slythern.

Thank you to all House and House Cup staff for another excellent term.

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/hp-knitting-crochet-house-cup/3180580/1-25#15

That means it is time for Sorting Signups. Sir Hat?

Excitement runs through the Great Hall

Snakes, Badgers, Eagles and Lions

I’m here to sort them all

Each of the houses can help you shine

But how to know which house is the best?

I can tell you they are all mighty fine.

Before you place me on your head,

Take my advice, and explore the castle

Visit each common room, explore their threads.

The houses have a lot in common

but each also has their unique identity

Here are some ideas for you to start on

Gryffindors roared with For the Mantel this term,

They have Marauder’s Missions, the Knight Bus, Study Halls

And of course Chocolate Frog Cards to earn.

Hufflepuffs are fiercely loyal it is true

With Puffopoly, HuffleTainment, Eye Candy

and SWorD there is plenty to do.

Ravenclaws in sky chairs soared high

With Moonpaths, Convocation, Specialists Studies

and Mad Scientists, oh my!

Slytherins plotted in their underwater digs

With Slytherin Quest, Dueling Club, Hotties

and of course Hedwig.

As you explore, I’m sure you will find

The gems each house has to offer

And remember next term you can change your mind.

The House Cup has Four Houses Strong

We compete for the House Cup

But with Yarn, Friends, and more, we all get along!

Thank you.

Please follow the posted link to sign up for the new term.

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/hp-knitting-crochet-house-cup/3182835/1-25

PorcupineSnuggles has announced that the winner of the Mrs. Lovegood Memorial Mad Scientist of Ravenclaw Tower Award is…. Hypercycloid!!!

Congratulations!!!

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-tower/3104536/76-100#76

Head of House PickleMommy has announced staff for the Spring/Summer term:

Already announced were Head of House PickleMommy and Head Girl CathyCake. They are supported by Prefects DrusillaWormwood, KayPendragon, LostMoonOfPoosh, and senkatnovo. Mama Eagle OmeletsMom is supported by Auntie Eagle LASH.

The All Points Bulletin Team is AnnieCC, electronjam, lsgarner, and 3trees. Advanced Studies consists of Auora, greenheron, Hreow, and matematichica. The Quidditch Captain is SarahTheEntwife, with BrooklymMomDoc, FangAili, Gipcsoul, and MrsWingnut rounding out the team.

Convocation Conjurer Bacs will be assisted by elekanahmen. Spreadsheet Sorceress llim is assisted by NoNeinNyet and senkatnovo. Gwenschweitzer will handle Interhouse Activities, while AH77 is the NQFY Ambassador. Tower Reporters akasha111182, Bacs, irreverentyarns, and TindraTieren will keep you all up to date on the latest news.

Mad Science Maven PorcupineSnuggles will continue to search the Tower high and low for crazy awesomeness (and awesome craziness), while Candle Mistress Jayannell and Lighters caranam and irreverentyarns keep the lights burning. Mail Mistresses akasha111182, caranam, indigoroses and Tikabelle will keep the owls in order, while Birthday greeters gwenschweitzer and kaypendragon keep a steady supply of cake on hand.

Portrait Artist SarahTheEntwife will visually dazzle, Chaplain GazeboGal will calm and comfort. Soprano1 continues as archivist, with SadieLou manning the Madness Meter. IsisOnEarth will maintain the Tower Genealogy, and sugaroni and xamonster will act as floaters.

Thank you all for volunteering to help the Tower soar to a House Cup win!!!

Hey guys, you know what Martin Freeman’s favorite cupcake filling is? JAM.

Thank you for your attention. This has been your daily Break Month Levity with Martin Freeman, I’m Cyprienne.

Swinging with the Finkels, movie still

Hello! This is Cascadienne, bringing you today’s Delightful Words segment. I have two entries for you today, both from the world of linguistics.

First up, we have the phrase hapax legomenon (pronounced HAY-packs le-GOMM-uh-nonn) – Latin for a word or phrase that appears only once in a text, the works of an author, or the written record of a language.

While researching today’s words, I found a dailywritingtips.com article on this topic, and it turns out that the epic poem Beowulf has many hapax legomena. One of them is the word orcneas – it seems to be a bit complicated to define exactly what that is, but the long story short is that it’s the plural word for a sort of demon. If you think it sounds vaguely familiar, it might be because J.R.R. Tolkien used it as the basis to create the word “orc” for one of his terrifying Middle Earth creatures. If you’re interested in reading the entire article, check out the podcast notes and transcripts for a link.

(The entirety of the article can be found here:http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-that-a-hapax-legomenon/)

Next up, we have haplology (pronounced hap-LAWL-uh-gee) – the omission of one of two similar adjacent syllables or sounds in a word, as in the pronunciation “PROB-lee” for the word “probably.”

A well-known example to Americans (and to Britons, perhaps?) is the name of a certain anchovy-based condiment, frequently used – at least in my family - to flavor pork chops and Chex Mix: it’s a sauce with a name spelled Worchestershire, but in my Midwestern-American-variety-English, it becomes WURR-stuh-shurr sauce. I gave up trying to spell it on grocery lists a long time ago. That example was suggested by Grammar.about.com – if you’d like to see others, there’s a link to the full article in the podcast notes and transcripts.

(Haplology article link:http://grammar.about.com/od/fh/g/Haplology.htm)

This has been Delightful Words with Cascadienne. Thanks for listening, and as a reminder, Professor Flitwick asks that you kindly reshelve your dictionaries in the reference section before leaving the Tower library!

Next up: The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

The station apologizes for the lack of fresh coffee on Monday and Tuesday. You’ll be pleased to know that the esteemed Doctor of Thaumaturgy Dwayne (Francis) Dierwynt of Puddleby-on-the-marsh will be publishing his latest research, “An Estimation of Entomological Effects of Stale Coffee on Slabs of Marble” in the next issue of Advanced Wizardry. Go, Dr. Dierwynt.

The Ministry of Magic has declared it officially Spring, and all employees may wear short sleeves. Station Antarctica has yet to ping back acknowledgement.

The 2015 rules for Pet Quidditch have been posted for the season. Humans are banned from using their hands - even to stay on their brooms - and the pets will score 10 points for each 30 second block during which they maintain control of the quaffle. Graduating from the Amateur Pet League, famous Border Collie Mitsy has been selected as second-string Seeker by the Holyhead Harpies. Harpies’ Captain Ginny Weasley told this reporter, “We have every expectation that Mitsy will be a fabulous professional Seeker. She’s fast, maneuverable, and so many snitch-catches happen close to the ground anyway that we feel she has no natural disadvantages.” Mitsy will be paid on the same scale as the other Harpies with her salary going to her own comfortable maintenance and health program, her handler Midge Midwater, and the Holyhead Animal Rescue League shelter. Good luck in your new career, Mitsy! We’ll be cheering for you!

Let’s bring you into the work day with some mellow tunes from a magical Muggle -

He’s Jimmy Buffet,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

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13 April 2015 0

Apr 13, 2015

You’re listening to WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw.

You’ve tuned in to The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

It’s Laundry Day, folks. That’s right, just flick and swish your wand in the general direction of your wardrobe with a soft Tergeo and then it’s time to get the binoculars. Watching the Muggles wrestle with huge baskets of wet clothing baffles me every time. They hang them out, then it rains, then they take them in and hang them upinside their houses…

We’d like to note that the after-full moon was not enough to wash out Arcturus last night - that kingly little star just kept shining past the moonglow!

Today’s debate, folks - if you convert wooly fluff to yarn, does that technically add to your stash in a stashdown? Discuss!

Some members of the station staff believe that heating season is over. This member of the station staff does not. Amusement is thin on the ground.

In a recent interview, Cornelius Fudge, former Minister of Magic, revealed that he waits until our broadcast before making his own literal Fresh Pot of Coffee. He says that the sympathetic magic of our powerful signal boosts the caffeine in his double-mocha.

Now some music to get you through the morning - a new non-human duo making their coffee house debut anywhere that can accommodate juvenile dragons…

They’re Mifwyte and Deedlebops!

I’m Gazebo Gal

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

The “does spinning contribute to or remove from stash?” debate rages on. KayPendragon posits that as long as the fluff is being used for its intended purpose, it is not increasing stash. TiggerishJen feels that spinning is simply an intermediate step on the way to ultimate stash removal. AnnieCC points out that undyed stash has triple the points-earning potential of yarn. Way to think smarter Annie!

Oh, you’re all talking about spinning fluff into yarn? Martin Freeman thought you were asking about who had a winning ruff. Well. That’s very different. He’s going to go change, brb.

Thank you for your attention. This has been your daily Break Month Levity with Martin Freeman, I’m Cyprienne.

Nightwatching, movie still

It is time once more for The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

Here’s my personal note to all of y’all: when you’re hiding out in the Muggle world, you have to push the button on the coffee maker. Today’s lesson. Yes indeed.

Also, an alert for the pen enthusiasts and Narwhals - there is a Narwhal Pen. Skip back to post 33749 in the Common Room.

Sock Update: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1…

Thursday is Horoscope Day!

Octopodes (10+) - the stars say that this is a fabulous week to do that experiment with insects in your fridge.

Neon Tetras (20+) - Alert! there is an important piece of paperwork which you forgot about! It is on your desk, but it got wedged under something over on the right-hand side. The stars are pretty insistent about this, so go clean the desk.

Lions (25+) - It is exactly the right time to try that designer thing you were thinking about. Was it tea? Shoes? A new knitting pattern? Write back to us here at the station and let us know! Also, Sound Technician Sgiobalta has turned four, which is twenty eight in dog years, and she would like to show you all her zebra toy, in solidarity with her Lion-birthday sisters.

Fancy Goldfish (30+) - Driving is on the dangerous side for you this weekend. The augury suggests stocking up on comfort food tonight, get home from work early Friday, and spend the weekend sorting your stash - you will find a surprise in there! if you do have to go out, public transit will be fine, so just hail the Knight Bus.

Narwhals (40+) - if you can keep your head while all about you are losing theirs… seriously, narwhals, you have earned a nice treat this week. Whether it’s a narwhal pen, your favorite place for dinner, or a quiet hour with headphones and your journal, please tell your subconscious “job well done.”

Capybaras (50+) - The tea-leaves predict a sudden relocation to South Carolina. Probably temporary, so don’t put down your wand.

Cougars (55+) - out into the garden this weekend! It needs you!

Peacocks (60+) - They will be idiots again at 15:23 local time today. Be there with The Look. They will wonder how you always seem to know ahead of time. It will be our little secret.

Dragons (80+) - your special order will arrive before tea-time today, ma’am.

The Fresh Pot of Coffee is seeking a Thursday sponsor - if your business would like exposure on the most popular feature on magical radio today, reply here!

It’s time this morning for our Bill-Paying playlist, so let’s enjoy one of the mellowest Muggles out there -

He’s Jimmy Buffet,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network!

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07 April 2015 0

Apr 7, 2015

You’re listening to WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw.

Martin Freeman is TEAM SURPRISED CAT SURPRISE! It wasn’t a voting option before, but it is as of right now, and he forgot to tag his turn-ins… anyway. CAT, wheeee!

Thank you for your attention. This has been your daily Break Month Levity with Martin Freeman, I’m Cyprienne.

photo credit: Jay Brooks for Time Out London magazine

Voting has begun for the Mad Scientist Award for the Winter 2015 term. Current Head Girl PickleMommy is awarded the Golden Spectacles of Spectacularity for her work in bringing gram positive and gram negative bacteria to knitted life, and for test knitting the Chocolate Frog Mittens. DrusillaWormwood received another set of Spectacles for her work in creating the Chocolate Frog Mittens, and for inviting *another* pantheon into the Tower to possess Tower residents.

The list of nominees for this year’s Award is:

Bacs for single-handedly writing this term’s Convocation

Hypercycloid for her OWL involving blogging her use of antique wheels. And four units of cork guards.

Xamonster for her narwhal tiara

ec0g33k for creating a… well, I’m really not sure what. But it is fabulously mad. Just go look, okay?

kbowman123 for crocheting an entire garden full of sea creatures. In one day.

Brooklynmomdoc for fabulously insane amounts of yardage used between classes and advanced studies.

Nightgigjo for researching and documenting the traits of the different known breeds of dragons, allowing many ‘Claws to save time on homework turn-ins

Craftyshanna heard that a particular tree fluff was “impossible to spin”. Her answer? “Challenge Accepted!” She proved it *could* be spun!

Senkatnovo designed and knit a wonderfully mathy shawl.

Finally, Tower Personal Trainer TindraTieren started the ball rolling of getting WWRVN on the air.

Thank you to all who nominated, and be sure to cast your vote!

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-tower/3104536/26-50

Next up, we have GazeboGal’s with The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

Great news is rolling in from Risasukka, our correspondent in Finland! congratulations on being asked to interview for that program!

Also, don’t miss the Giant Break Month Game of Tag in the Great Hall!

what else do we do in Break Month? That’s right, it’s time to

Prep With Foxy!!

This week and through the weekend, our tasks are

Love your Queue make sure the front page of your queue represents projects you really want to make soon and have the materials for!
Love your Stash make sure your physical stash is where you want it and stored in the way that you’ll use it best. Then make sure your Ravelry queue is the way you want. For us at the station, we sort our stash by “WIPs”, “Queue’d Project Yarn”, “Unplanned Sock Yarn” and “Other Unplanned Yarn”. In the “other” bin we do have two sub-category bags: “yarn which would make good mittens” and “special yarn”. I’d like to thank my Stashdown Accountability Partners over the ages for the fact that my stash now mostly fits in four bins!

Please reply in the Common Room or phone in to the station to tell us your tips and tricks for taming your stash!

Saint Mungo’s has announced the construction of a new hospital wing. Major sponsors include the Dunfries family of Mid-Lothian and the EverBlue Medical Products Corporation. Saint Mungo’s representative Bartholomea Scintillia denies that the generous donation from EverBlue has any relevance to the multi-patient lawsuit going on right now inthe Wizengamot regarding the gentle blue tinge of several consumers of SkeleGro.

We were lucky enough to get her to drop by LIVE at the studio this morning after her amazing concert last night in Lancaster. She’s unplugged, she’s brilliant, she’s giving us the best taste of her cutting-edge next album!

She’s Natalya Arctica,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network!

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06 April 2015 0

Apr 6, 2015

This is WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw.

We have a jam-packed show for you today. We begin with field correspondent elekanahmen reporting on activities for the last month of term:

I’m sure you have all been waiting on the edge of your seats for the results of the Epic Cat Battle! Sorry to have kept you waiting, but I wanted to make sure everyone had time to edit their tags in if they forgot, and then of course it takes a little while for the search database to update… Or really, well, I’ve been grading and Official Cup Duties are a bit more important than silliness, even such important silliness as this!

I looked over all the entries for all three feline contestants and I found it interesting that 2/3 of them had at least one SoS vote, and one of them had three different SoS supporters! 2/3 also had NQFY support from two different prospective students! All three of them, in fact, had at least one vote from SoS knitsNhikes!

But of course what you all have been waiting for is the final result!

In third place, with 36 votes, is TEAMTOEBEANS! Good showing, Burt!

image title

In second place, with 53 votes, is TEAMLEMONBELLY! Great job, Lemon!

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And blowing them both out of the water and taking the win, with 81 votes, is TEAMMIGHTYHUNTRESS! Congratulations, Athena!

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And of course the real winner is the lovely lady owned by these three crazy kids, our own beloved out-going Head of House, OneNeedleKnitting!

Thank you elekanahmen!

We received a letter from ChrisFixedKitty on her way to to Lindisfarne Dragon Refuge.

Dear Towermates,

Hallo everyone! Hope you’re all doing well, enjoying the Break Month party with Martin Freeman, Fondoo, *sigh*

I’m camped for the night in the middle of nowhere, in a very pretty little green glen with a stream. The broomwagon is holding up, despite a certain wee dragon’s tendency to flip it over mid-flight to, I don’t know, get a better view or try to get more of her face into the wind. Thankfully, Preep doesn’t seem prone to airsickness. I’ve given up on covering her crate with the tarp and she seems a lot happier, especially when something catches her attention and she lunges to one side or the other of her crate. Makes my broom veer, too, and I think this might just be her new favorite game of All. Time. Sadly, I –am—prone to airsickness during prolonged turbulence, so we’re not making very fast progress toward the preserve. Lots of little breaks.

I owe a great deal of thanks to Skrim, or maybe it’s Trim. My Tongue of the Little Creatures is coming along, but I gather my native Chicagoan accent is possibly the worst human accent to combine with it, shy of the New Jersey Shore. Anyway. He’s kept us on track, and his knowing the way has allowed me to push my broom to its speed limit, such as it is. I think this is the longest I’ve gone on a new trip without a major ‘getting lost’ incident, which makes for a really nice change. So nobody needs to worry about me. I’m in good talons.

Annnnd… ah, well. Preep seems to have caught a rather large rabbit while I was setting up camp, so she and Skrim are well-fed and I get to eat all of my meatloaf sandwich by myself. Preep seems very willing to share with her new friend, very nice of her. That’s a big relief, both because I didn’t really have the weight to carry much in the way of vittles for all of us and because it means Preep already has some survival skills down. I’m hoping this means that she’ll make the transition to life at the preserve fairly quickly. As a bonus, one of the local owls is willing to carry this letter back in exchange for their leftovers.

My love to all, and please make sure Robin the Feline Wonder is getting ONE dinner per night and not so many treats he turns spherical? Also, please make sure Little Bat gets some milk at the end of the night. Thanks everyone, more soon,

CFK

Thank you, Chris. Speaking on behalf of all members of the Tower, we’re gonna miss Preep.

Speaking of Break Month Levity…

Martin Freeman begs you, please enjoy his Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it…

he’s obvs the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.

Thank you for your attention. This has been your daily Break Month Levitywith Martin Freeman,

I’m Cyprienne.

We have an update from Security Chief Andromeda:

Wasps! are a major security threat. You must keep your eyes on Wasps! at all times to keep it outside. If a Wasp! gets in, it makes the humans crazy and they run around and get in the way of your napping and fling things around to try to combat the Wasp! because even they recognize the threat. So for their safety and yours, staring at Wasps! should be your main duty this weekend.

Constant Vigilance!

On a lighter note,

It’s time for Laughter with LMNOP

In honor of Saturday morning cartoons and other fond childhood memories today’s joke comes via my 2nd grade play years ago.

If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do astronauts get?

Missile-toe!

We’ll be taking caller’s favorite childhood jokes all day, so call in with your favorites now.

I’m LMNOP and this has been Laughter

Last but certainly not least is GazeboGal with the Fresh Pot of Coffee!!

The remains of last weekend’s Mini Dragon Egg Hunt are still being cleaned up by the Audubon Society. They have managed to get the Muggles involved in collecting the brightly-colored things by telling them the eggs are left by a rabbit and the Muggles still don’t believe in magic! Wow.

Someone here at the station forgot to get half-and-half. Just saying.

Other things are higgledy-piggedy at the station this morning. Sound Booth Techie Sgiobalta started asking at 3:00 if it was time to wake Your Humble Broadcaster and then tried to do her “go get the kids” trick at 5:00. Where’s the timer re-set on these things??

Thank you for your continued support. Now we turn to one backside-kicking witch to wake us all up!

She’s Annie Lennox,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

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03 April 2015 0

Apr 3, 2015

This is WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw.

Faithful listener llim called in again to the station to remind people that there will be a lunar eclipse this weekend visible to much of North and South America, Asia and Australia. Unfortunately, it may be too cloudy over her location to see it (and she’s not sure she’ll wake up at 5am) but perhaps the conditions will be more favorable for you other listeners.

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2015-april-4

Good Morning and welcome to The Fresh Pot of Coffee on Ravenclaw Radio.

It’s Friday - and that means Fondoo Review!

Polyglot Scrabble (R) is scheduled tonight in the Common Room. Remember our rules, if it is recognized by yourself and at least one other player at the table as being a valid word in any language, it’s good. Kanji tiles are being knit as we speak.
Merry Beasts were last seen “sneaking” loudly off to the dungeons to abscond with a wheel of cheezes. Ahem
It is rumoured that RHoH SadieLou - known to the Muggles as Sadie O’Hades - will be coaching a “learn-to-skate” night up on the sixth floor round balcony. Bring your own skates, and personal safety spells are required.
Break Month Levity has returned - watch for Martin Freeman’s daily lighthearted appearance as captured by our reporter in the field Cyprienne.
Those of you who like your Fondoo on the explosive side are invited to join the Lab crew tonight at 10. Hijinks will ensue.

And now, the weather.

Nøtt slowly releases her grip on the North American Eastern Seaboard

Clouds here at the station with a glimmering of sky in the east.
Does everyone know the Summer Triangle asterism? It’s clearly visible before sunrise nowadays, about 4 or 4:30 AM wherever you are. Look up and slightly eastish if you have clear skies outside of a city.
The Jolly Island of Ærø expects a bit of hail today. Clucks will be safe until they decide to gorge on hailstones.
A blue cloud over London worried the muggles yesterday. Order of the Phoenix Chief FrickNFrack issued a statement that the Cornish Pixie problem at OotP headquarters rapidly dissipated thereafter.
We see no chance of meatballs in the near future, but some yahoo is trying to call lightning down onto the Sahara so that the desert glazes and becomes a skate park. We call upon the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to take care of this mess!

Now, fans, go stick your hand out a window, count to ten, and bring it back in. If it’s covered in white stuff, your region has snow. If the white stuff is little ice balls, you have hail. If it’s wet, I predict rain, and if a few fingers are missing - gale force winds for you (or loose tigers).

Time for some of those century-old sounds. You know the ones. The original earworms. “It’s punk,” said early reviewers. “This is not serious music!” said others. Who’s laughing now? Let’s queue up “Pirates of Penzance.”

They’re Gilbert and Sullivan.

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

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02 April 2015 0

Apr 2, 2015

This is WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw. Today is the second of the Spring Break Month - time to relax those wrists, or get in those NEWT proposals! Go NEWTlings! Mad Science Coordinator PorcupineSnuggles would like to remind everyone to submit nominations for the Luna Lovegood Memorial Mad Science Award. Nominations will be closing on April 7th.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13XQXl_NBeW09gHmtFzi3WoO_2bN1l1RC82dQ7Hhsug0/viewform?authkey=CK7m6ks&authkey=CK7m6ks&formkey=dDE3dy1OTHFwX0hGWWh0dl96ZWltbWc6MA

Up next: GazeboGal’s Fresh Pot of Coffee.

Security Chief Andromeda has released this important public service notice: Wednesday was stolen. In the wee hours, witches or wizards unknown removed Wednesday from the week, never to be seen again. A substantial reward has been offered for information which leads directly to the capture of the parties responsible or to the safe recovery of Wednesday in our usual line up. As it was the Weasley Twins’ Birthday, we do have a few clues…

Since this is Thursday, that makes it Horoscope Day!

Octopodes (10+) - well done on that get-your-Mama prank on April Fool’s Day. She is still trying to get the squid ink out.

Neon Tetras (20+) - you are miles ahead of your fellow-neon-tetra who recently told this reporter that his fanfiction was going to improve the work of her favourite author. Miles ahead. Just… take this free pass through the weekend, because you are all wonderful.

Lions (25+) - Your luck is changing due to an intense dose of thaums you received when you ate that gazelle. So, however things have been going for you? Today it changes, at 9:47 AM. This change of luck will revert on Friday evening at 22:12.

Fancy Goldfish (30+) - the stars (Antares and Altair) say things are looking up. The tea leaves (Lady Grey) say things are looking down. Your choice. The cards say “Jack of Hearts trumps King of Diamonds.”

Narwhals (40+) - you are probably the only person who is going to remember that important thing. Everyone else is going to forget it. You are going to Save the Day! by remembering it! Also, brush up on your obliviate spell in case things are not quite panning out as predicted. Sometimes the fates need a nudge.

Capybaras (50+) - speaking of the Fates - you know the Fates?? - they’re coming over for dinner Friday.

Cougars (55+) - well done, you! (you know where of I speak)

Peacocks (60+) - You are marvellous - and the stars suggest that this is an excellent weekend to find a whole new place to share your marvellousness! Try the opera or the opening of a hip little bistro. Wear the dragonhide strappy sandals.

Dragons (80+) - Please ignore that comment about ethically-harvested-post-shedding dragonhide, ma’am. I’ll do a PSA on animal cruelty next week.

The Fresh Pot of Coffee is seeking a Thursday sponsor - if your business would like exposure on the most popular feature on magical radio today, reply here!

Whew! Barely dodged that one.

Let’s change the energy with some Waking the Kids music fresh from Finland!

They’re Varttina,

I’m GazeboGal,

and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network!

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31 March 2015 0

Mar 31, 2015

Good Morning, Tower!

It’s Tuesday, March 31st and you’re listening to The Fresh Pot of Coffee on WWRVN Radio Ravenclaw.

OWLS AND NEWTS are due today! Knit like the wind! SOAR!

You can do it and we completely believe in you! check in here with your exciting updates, but only if you have time!

MARCH CLASSES are due - if you have had Real Life smack you upside the crochet hooks, please, please, please inform Head of House OneNeedleKnittingright this instant so she can get you excused from March classes and maintain your Sorting priority!

We here at the station would like to compliment the young person who delivered our order of take out food last night and affirm that yes, indeed, it holds over very well for breakfast.

It’s still March, which means it’s still snowing here at the station. Of course it’s snowing. It’s March. Certain neighbors of the station might choose to move south. Yes, they might.

We’re delighted to let you know that the Common Room is the site for a Grand Weaving In Ends Party all day here on the last day of term! get out those tapestry needles and join in the fun!

Let’s see if we can get a judgement call from Hreow of the All Points Bulletin Team - Hreow, would you say that it’s better points-wise to hand in that Small Item Made While Waiting Around Today as a Detention or as a seventh class?

Also, last day of the month, please let us all know what you wind up having for “Cheesy Grapefruit Surprise1” tonight! Reply right here and there will not be a prize - lots of fame, though. We give out lots of fame!

We’re going to start the day off right with some mellow music to go with your java - one of the greatest jazz wizards of any age -

He’s Thelonious Monk.

I’m GazeboGal

And you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

Prepare for the battle of the lineages! IsisOnEarth has thrown down the gauntlet. How will the other founding members of their lineages react? What form will this challenge take? Who will come out on top?

Lineage leaders, please PM your sigils to OmeletsMom for next term’s adoption ceremony.

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-tower/3101471/30001-30025#30025

In the Common Room, a discussion of the development of the writing system used by Turkish and the adoption of surnames by the Turkish people led to a discussion of naming conventions, and what happens when cultures collide. Also, the TSA. Which made LMNOP think of a joke...

She was thinking about saving it for May the 4th, but the opportunity has presented itself so…..::drum roll::

What do you get when Ella Fitzgerald marries Darth Vader?

Ella Vader!

This has been Laughter with LMNOP.

Up next: a taste of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Make sure to show some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

One final thought before we go off air from CathyCake:

Felinification causes catatonia.

Thank you for listening to WWRVN, Radio Ravenclaw

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30 March, 2015 0

Mar 30, 2015

Good Morning, Tower - it’s Monday, March 30th, and this is The Fresh Pot of Coffee!

For those of you managing in Muggle towns, it’s trash day. Carry your bagged refuse to the curb and put onone and only one trash sticker. If you’re out of stickers, check the fridge, the Muggle Life Adaptation committee has put extra ones in the Fridge Network.

By tradition, Monday is also Baking Day, so we present one of our favorite recipes:
2 C Quite Warm water
2T yeast
4T honey
4C whole wheat flour
stir and let it rise an hour in a protected place (like in a still oven)
1c olive oil
4 T salt
enough white flour until it feels right (about 4 cups)
knead, rise, punch down, rise, cut into rolls, rest, bake at 400 for 20 mins.

We have a bit of news to share from the weekend: The “Plague of Locusts” trickster, who gained notoriety for releasing 10 thousand insects at a time on unsuspecting villages, has been stopped. It turns out to have been a terrible thaumaturgical accident involving two wizards who were renting space in the same laboratory building. Also, Dorset County sherrif’s department is no longer looking for stolen insects from the Happy Shelters facility.

This weekend saw MINIHAIL falling from the Hampshire skies and wizards and muggles together swept the central market clear by creating a “frozen bounce house” for local kids. They’re the only ones left who aren’t going stir-crazy from the winter weather - you go, children of Hampshire County, we expect excellent videos of you swimming through the stuff!

Thank you for your continued support. We’ll begin our musical day with some classic 20th century crooning… Was he a wizard? Was he not? The world may never know.

He’s Frank Sinatra,
I’m GazeboGal,
and you’re listening to Radio Ravenclaw on the Wizarding Wireless Network.

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