How to be a hero in your own house

ByJohn Brown

I have four daughters.

My four daughters have long hair.

That long hair finds its way into our drains. (Yes, despite our telling them to get it into that thing called a waste basket.)

Said hair might flow down the pipes. But said hair does not. Life is not that easy. Instead, some evil house spirit catches the hair just as it begins its voyage and turns it from a luscious thing of beauty into a gunky demon of drain death.

You would think that Drano could defeat this black magic. But Drano gets its butt kicked every time. Drano is in the pee-wee league against this thing. Drano is like a kitten. And gunk demons don’t listen to kittens.

So for the last few years, we’d blast with Drano and then still have to stand up to our calves in water when we took a shower. Or wait as the sink decided it might finally slowly empty and leave soap scum, whiskers, and toothpaste on the sides for everyone’s viewing pleasure. And then we had to do the slow clean (I hate the slow clean).

Recently, I was strolling along in a hardware store and saw this.

Zip-it drain cleaning tool

Click on the picture. Get a good look. I bought ye handy yellow flex sword. And I did verily slay the monster lurking in every drain in our  house.

I am the MAN!

If you have drain issues, let me suggest you be the hero and buy your own sword. It’s called the Zip-It drain cleaning tool. If you’re a weird-o, in addition to being the hero, you can also use it to draw forth disgusting things to scare nieces and nephews with. Just saying.

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  • My Most Favorite Movies of the Decade: 2000 – 2009

    ByJohn Brown

    I was bummed after seeing Clash of the Titans because the movie just didn’t work for me (although Medusa was cool). It was a total thumbs down. After expressing my disappointment, my wife said it seemed I never liked any movie we saw in a theater. To defend myself against this heinous accusation I shall list all my favorite movies of the last decade.  My only question is: where are all the love stories? I haven’t seen a great love story since Sabrina and Far and Away.

    Of course, I haven’t had time to see all the movies made in the last ten years. So if you have some favorites not listed here, post them.

    Top 10 Movies: 2000 – 2009

    10. A Beautiful Mind (2001, PG-13)

    John Forbes Nash, a mathematician, thinks he’s broken the code for a terrible Soviet conspiracy plot, but the real truth turns his world upside down. It’s full of mystery, suspense, and love.  Russell Crowe gives a brilliant performance as Nash. Furthermore, the film is based on the the true story of John Forbes Nash, Jr., a Nobel Laureate in Economics.

    9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003, PG-13)

    Swashbuckling adventure, a curse, and lots of humor. Probably the best pirate movie ever made. The next two movies fell flat for me, but this one was simply amazing.

    8. Gladiator (2000, R)

    Another Russell Crowe film. A corrupt prince betrays a Roman general and murders his family. They general is captured and made a slave to fight as a Gladiator. I was so drawn into the story that at one point in the movie theater I had to restrain myself from shouting out at a suspenseful moment.

    7. The Last Samurai (2003, R)

    Nathan Algren, a former US soldier in America’s west, drowns his regrets in alcohol. He becomes a military advisor in Japan, but is captured by the enemy. He learns from the enemy samurai, but does he become a new, better man? This one has Tom Cruise in it. I enjoyed it immensely.

    6. We Were Soldiers (2002, R)

    From the IMDB: “In a place soon to be known as The Valley of Death, in a small clearing called landing zone X-Ray, Lt. Colonel Hal Moore and 400 young fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, all troopers from an elite American combat division, were surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. The ensuing battle was one of the most savage in U.S. history. We Were Soldiers Once And Young is a tribute to the nobility of those men under fire, their common acts of uncommon valor, and their loyalty to and love for one another. The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War and the soldiers on both sides that fought it.” This is an incredible story. Mel Gibson and the others give an outstanding performance. I wept at their courage.

    5. Spiderman-2 (2004, PG-13)

    The first Spiderman stank. Sorry. It stank because the villain was too cartoonish. The third one stank as well. This one, however, oh baby. Peter Parker’s personal life is falling apart, he’s losing the one thing in life that would make him happy (yes, a girl). Furthermore, he begins to lose his powers just as he has to battle a brilliant scientist named Doctor Otto Octavius, who becomes Doctor Octopus (aka Doc Ock), after an accident causes him to bond psychically with mechanical tentacles that do his bidding. Loved this. Drama, gosh wow super-heroism, and a heart.

    4. Ice Age (2002, G)

    Another hilarious animated tale with heart. Set during the Ice Age, a saber tooth tiger, a sloth, and a wooly mammoth find a lost human infant and try to return him to his tribe. Of course, the saber tooth tiger was sent to lead the others into a trap. Sid the sloth is one of the best characters to come along in a long time. You’ll love this show. Again, another show I can watch over and over again.

    3. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000, G)

    I saw the previews to this and thought D-U-M-B. But it is one of the best films ever. Animated. Hilarious. Emperor Kuzco’s ex-administrator Yzma wants to kill him and rule. She turns him into a llama instead, and her not too bright side-kick doesn’t quite finish him off. Now the selfish emperor is on the run and needs to regain his throne. But the only person who can help him is the guy whose home he’s going to bulldoze. But that doesn’t capture the half of it. The characters are wonderful. Me and the kids watch this three or four times a year and still don’t tire of it.

    2. The Incredibles (2004, PG)

    A family of undercover superheroes tries to live a normal suburban life but is forced into action to save the world. This is Pixar’s best film. Every one of these characters is interesting. The family dynamics are real and often hilarious. There’s suspense, drama, and gosh-wow. Imagine James Bond as a family man. I LOVE this movie.

    1. The Lord of the Rings trilogy: Lord of the Rings (2001, PG-13), The Two Towers (2002, PG-13), The Return of the King (2003, PG-13)

    For those readers who aren’t familiar with this, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular series written in the last 50 years. His three books spawned a whole new genre. It is, in fact, the genre I currently write in. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh did an amazing job bringing the beloved epic fantasy to the screen. There’s heroism, suspense, and wonder galore. These movies transport you to another world, immerse you in it, and leave you wanting more.

    Runners Up

    Casino Royale (2006, PG-13)

    I gave up on James Bond years ago. This is Bond like you’ve never seen him. Loved this. The next Bond, The Quantum of Solace, fell totally on its face. But Casino Royale is the real deal–action, spy, and poignant love story all wrapped up in one.

    Luther (2003, PG-13)

    The story of the early 16th century German monk Martin Luther who, sick of Church materialism, begins the Protestant Reformation. I knew very little about Luther. This movie was an eye-opener.

    Matchstick Men (2003, PG-13)

    Nicolas Cage is a phobic con man who learns he has a teenage daughter. He plans another con, but things start to fall apart. In the end, well, let’s just say it was a heart-breaking, then absolutely satisfying.

    Seabiscuit (2003, PG-13)

    Based on the true story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted the spirits of the nation. This story is full of heartbreak and redemption. About not giving up on broken things. Loved it.

    Slumdog Millionaire (2008, R)

    A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.

    Walk the Line (2005, PG-13)

    This tells the story of country music legend Johnny Cash. It starts from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis. It shows how he fell to drugs, and how he climbed back out again. Marvelous performances and story.

    A Better Way to Rate Movies

    Life is too short to waste it on movies that offend instead of uplift.

    I have found over the years that the MPAA movie ratings are lousy at helping me avoid dreck. They’re okay as a rough guide, but they don’t give me enough information to make a good choice. Furthermore, the MPAA often rates a movie mature for elements I don’t find offensive and not for others I do. Luckily, there are other places that rate movies. The one that I’ve found most helpful is KidsInMind.com.

    The folks there give movies separate ratings on three things: sex/nudity, violence/gore, and profanity. But they don’t just present some mysterious number. They also list exactly what’s in the movie. What this does is give you the information you need to make a wise decision. By looking at movies that made me uncomfortable in each of those three areas and comparing scores, I soon pegged my acceptable KidsInMind levels.

    KidsInMind doesn’t tell me anything about the quality of the story or movie-making. But I can look at other reviews for that kind of stuff. What it does well is help me avoid movies with content I know I will find objectionable. Of course, I still look at the MPAA rating, but before I go see a movie or order it on Netflix, I check the KidsInMind ratings. It’s not perfect, but in almost every case it works like a charm. The only downside to the site is its five gazillion popup ads. But it’s a small price to pay for good information.

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  • Good Stuff! Crossnet and Bang!

    ByJohn Brown

    Today I have some good fun coming your way.

    The first is a game called Crossnet. It’s a mixture of volleyball and the playground game four square, and it’s a blast.

    You can have one person per square or two people. And just like four square, those wanting to play line up by square one, waiting for someone to get out.

    We did it with a huge group.  Our line always had 12-15 people in it, but you never waited long because the games moves fast. We laughed, teased each other, and had a great time.

    The other great thing was that we could play it with folks of all ages. We had folks from 55 all the way down to 8 playing. And they all enjoyed it.

    If you’re wondering what to do for the next family reunion or group activity, I think you’ll love Crossnet.

    *

    The next fun activity is a shootout card game called Bang!

    It’s played with 4-7 people. Each player is delt a unique Wild West character with special abilities and a role card. Some of the roles are on the side of law and order. Some are on the side of the outlaws.

    As you play you shoot it out, try to figure out who the outlaws are, get life points back, acquire guns, steal cards from each other, avoid the dynamite, and more.

    The game moves quickly. You can be done in less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for a family or date night. It’s one of our favorite family games.

    If you’re looking for a new, fun, quick game to play, give Bang! a try.

    I think you’ll be pleased you did.

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  • Good Stuff! Saving Mr. Banks, Elementary, Captain Phillips, & Lone Survivor

    ByJohn Brown

    Saving Mr BanksOver the last two months I’ve been able to squeeze in a couple of hours to watch a few shows and some episodes of a TV series. I was plesantly surprised to have actually had a wonderfully good run. If you haven’t watched any of these, you’re in for some awesome entertainment.


    Saving Mr. Banks

    I didn’t think I’d like this movie. I enjoyed Mary Poppins as a child and enjoyed it again with my kids. But a movie on Disney getting the rights to make a movie? Boring. Except I was completely wrong. This is not a story about some woman selling the rights to her story. It’s about why she never wanted to sell the rights to Disney in the first place. It’s about her childhood and the real source of Mary Poppins. And to pull that off Saving Mr. Banks has to tell two stories: an often funny one about P.L. Travers who does not want to license her story and Disney’s final attempt to win her over, and a poignant one that reveals why Travers was so resistant. And it leaves the last twist, one that expands the meaning of the title in the viewer’s heart, to the very end. I loved this movie. I loved Hanks as the affable Disney and Thompson as the irascible Ms. Travers. Loved all of the other characters. If you enjoyed dramas like Miss Potter or The Blind Side, you’ll love this too.


    ElementaryElementary

    I thought: another Sherlock Holmes series? Puh-lease. Yes, the two films featuring Robert Downing Jr. and Jude Law and the BBC series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman were superb. I loved both. But another Sherlock? Surely this is going to be some cheap attempt to capitalize on the success of the other two, something that is direct-to-DVD quality. Who is going to do it as well as Downing and Cumberbatch?

    Boy, was I wrong (yet again!)

    Elementary is delightful. Sherlock, played by the talented Johnny Lee Miller who made Eli Stone such a joy, is a modern day Brit living in New York. He’s in the final stages of drug rehab, living with a “sober companion.” The companion is Joan Watson, played by Lucy Lui. The Captain of the NYPD is one of Sherlock’s old friends an appeciates his skills and so brings him in as a consultant on various cases.

    So how could they do anything different? Yes, you have the quick powers of observation and intellectual acrobatics the other Sherlocks have. But the female Watson and the whole recovering addict angle takes the stories in a new direction. This Sherlock has a past that haunts him. And this Watson is maybe a bit quicker than the other two, as wonderful as they are.

    I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it, but there is room for three Sherlocks and Watsons. I can’t tell you which of the three pairs I enjoy more.

    Captain_Phillips_PosterCaptain Phillips

    As soon as the news stories about Somali pirates started breaking back in 2008 I knew it would lead to some thrillers. Heck, Abdul Hassan, “The One Who Never Sleeps” was one of the first zings I posted on this site. What I didn’t know was that the big thriller would be based on an actual story: the 2009 hijacking of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Phillips is played by Tom Hanks, who always gives a great performance. But I also found the portrayal of the pirates interesting as well. As I did the many unexpected details of how these pirates operate and how the incident was brought to a close. If you like realistic thrillers, you’ll enjoy Captain Phillips.

    Lone Survivor

    I reviewed the book Lone Survior back in 2011. You can read my full report there, but the bottom line is that it was an awesome read. However, as with all awesome reads, you become a bit wary of the films based on those books. I’m happy to say the filmmakers did a great job on this one. They paid huge attention to detail because they wanted to honor the fallen soldiers by getting it right.

    Lone_Survivor_posterIn order to get it right, they brought Marcus Luttrel, the author, and a number of other SEALs onto the project as consultants. The SEALs put the actors through some basic training before they even began shooting. This was to not only help the actors get to the point where they handle their weapons and gear as someone seasoned might, but also so they could feel what is was to work as a team, an important part of being a SEAL. The SEALs stayed on to provide input as well during the shooting.

    But the details went beyond that. I have never seen a military film that felt as real to me, especially when it came to the characters. SEALs are warriors. But that doesn’t capture the variety they come in. And in the opening 25% of the movie we see sides to these men that many movies do not portray. It was so refreshing! In fact, without the groundwork laid in the beginning, this film wouldn’t have had near the impact it did. Yeah, the action is ACTION! It’s thrilling. You have never seen some of the shots the film portrays. But the action means nothing without the men.

    And this story is about the men.

    It’s about what it means to be one of those guys and gals who put their lives on the line for the rest of us. And if you want a special treat, when the film is over, you’ll watch all the extras.

    The f-word is used about five million times in this movie. I usually don’t like a lot of vulgarity in my entertainment. But I cut the folks some slack in this case because I felt the story was worth it. Besides, I didn’t consider it entertainment anyway, more documentary.

    If you are interested in what it’s like for Special Operations forces, if you want a story to help you see what so many are doing for the rest of us, I don’t know that it gets any better than this.

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  • The MT Sandwich, To A Dying Girl, Bloody Jack

    ByJohn Brown

    you-MOM-ee

    I used to move along the salad bars, looking at the mushrooms, and think: they’re vegetable Styrofoam! Who ever thought eating mushrooms was a good idea? My answer, of course, was it must have been some starving dude lost in the woods who found they were easier to chew on than bark.

    Such were the days of my ignorance. Because while raw mushrooms are fairly bland, sautéed or grilled mushrooms are worthy of a passionate, say it slowly, “oh my freaking heck” (hey, I live in Utah).

    I now love mushrooms. And I’ve found they very easily replace tasty meats. Probably because they have loads of the fifth basic taste—umami (you-MOM-ee)—just as meats do. I know some of you are thinking, “hold on, didn’t I learn that the tongue can only taste four things?” That’s indeed what you learned. But you were wrong. In 1985 scientists discovered we have a fifth taste, popularly referred to as savoriness, that’s been sitting on the tongue with the sweet, sour, bitter, and salty all along. In fact, humans get their first experience with it in momma’s milk.

    But cooked mushrooms not only taste good, they are also actually good for you. They help safeguard against cancer, boost the immune system, supply hard to get nutrients, and can help you cut calories and saturated fats by, as I said before, moving some of the meat off the plate.

    With all this goodness it’s hard not to see new opportunities for consumption. And indeed I found one. I love a good BLT (bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, for any troglodytes who read this column), especially when the bacon is crispy and the tomatoes have some sass or a little feta cheese to accompany them. But one day while partaking of some of my fungus friends, my mind was expanded, and I thought: why not replace the bacon with some sautéed mushrooms? Why not, indeed?

    I replaced. I partook. And rejoiced. Then I ate my MT (mushroom-tomato) for lunch three more days in a row (I also found if you must have crispiness, two Sun Chips added to the top of the sandwich do the trick nicely).

    Do not disdain the fungus. Cook the little guys up and devour them with some well placed oohs and aahs on an open-faced MT.

    “To A Dying Girl”

    Clinton F. Larson was a poet who taught at BYU. I remember him coming in to read during one of my classes, but he soon retired, and I was never able to take any of his classes. How sad I am that I could not learn from him because he had much to teach, as evidenced by some of his poems. Here’s one of my favorites.

    To a Dying Girl

    How quickly must she go?

    She calls dark swans from mirrors everywhere:

    From halls and porticos, from pools of air.

    How quickly must she know?

    They wander through the fathoms of her eye,

    Waning southerly until their cry

    Is gone where she must go.

    How quickly does the cloudfire streak the sky,

    Tremble on the peaks, then cool and die?

    She moves like evening into night,

    Forgetful as swans forget their flight

    Or spring the fragile snow,

    So quickly she must go.

     -Clinton F. Larson

    The first reading fills the mind with vivid images and a sense of beauty and sorrow. Subsequent readings deepen the feeling. Especially when we reflect a bit on the three images he evokes of passing from life into death. First, the black swans arise to fly south for winter: graceful, beautiful, and dark as death. They’re the girl’s own harbingers, maybe her guides, coming from mirrors, reflecting in the depths of her eye. The second image presents fleeting grandeur and beauty with the stunning cloudfire that often awes us as the sun sets. Isn’t death the time we most value life? The time when, like cloudfire, it burns in glory and beauty and then is gone? The last image presents another image of passing, but not one of loss. It’s not a transition to blackness or cold or bitter loneliness, but of winter passing to spring. Of a fecund beginning.

    Of course, there are other things the lines and images evoke. This isn’t a poem to be wrapped up in a tidy bow. Poetry is meant to be felt, not dissected like a dead animal. In the end, that’s what Larson delivers: sorrow, loss, and hope all wraped in the music of his rhythm and words. Beautiful.

    A Great Read

    Sometimes a book’s beginning is so good you can’t not purchase it. Here’s one that forced my hand.

    “My name is Jacky Faber and in London I was born, but, no, I wasn’t born with that name. Well, the faber part, yes, the Jacky part, no, but they call me Jacky now and it’s fine with me. They also call me Jack-0 and Jock and the Jackeroe, too, and, aye, it’s true I’ve been called Bloody Jack a few times, but that wasn’t all my fault. Mostly, though, they just call me Jacky.

    “That wasn’t my name, though, back on That Dark Day when my poor dad died of the pestilence and the men dragged him out of our rooms and down the stairs, his poor head hanging between his shoulders and his poor feet bouncin’ on the stairs, and me all sobbin’ and blubberin’ and mum no help, she bein’ sick, too, and my little sister, as well.

    “Back then my name was Mary.”

    The book is a historical novel by L. A. Meyer called Bloody Jack. It tells the tale of Mary Faber, who is orphaned in London in the early 19th century and survives only by joining a street gang and then, posing as a boy, the crew of a ship. On board, she has to hide who she is and avoid the many perils of ship life.

    The book is delightful, transporting the reader to the time and place with excellent details and a style that evokes the speech and times. There’s humor, danger, adventure, and an interesting cast of characters. I recommend it highly. If you end up loving it as I do, you’ll then be happy to know this is only Jack’s first adventure.

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    Update and The Shape-Changer’s Wife

    ByJohn Brown

    Assassin is moving along. I’m heading into the last quarter of the book, which is where the fireworks start. I appreciate all of you who have been so patient. My goal is to end this arc of the series with a bang. 

    In the meantime, I’d like to recommend a fantasy novel. I enjoyed it many years ago and recently reread it, finding myself swept away with as much intrigue and delight as the first time. 

    It’s The Shape-Changer’s Wife by Sharon Shinn. 

    The story follows an aspiring wizard named Aubrey who is nearing the end of his training. He asks his mentor, the wizard Cyril, to teach him transmogrification—the art of changing form—but Cyril refuses. Aubrey protests. Cyril knows the spells. He has cast them himself. Still, he refuses. 

    Eventually, however, Cyril’s conscience gets the better of him. A well-rounded wizard should know every branch of magic, even the ones Cyril dislikes. So he writes to another wizard, a shape-changer named Glyrenden, and asks if he will take Aubrey as a student. Glyrenden agrees. 

    As Aubrey sets off, Cyril gives him a warning: “Learn everything he teaches you so well you can cast his own spells back at him. Glyrenden respects only those stronger than he is, and those he hates. If you cannot beat him, he will destroy you.” 

    And so begins the tale. 

    There’s mystery, wonder, betrayal, loss, battle, and even love. Best of all, it’s a complete stand-alone novel, a rarity these days. 

    If you’re hankering for a fantasy adventure that can be read in one volume, I think you’ll be very pleased with this one. 

    Happy reading,  

    John 

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  • Top 200 YA Authors of 2010, Part 2

    ByJohn Brown

    Okay, I’ve really got to get some writing done. But since I posted the idea of seeing which authors have the highest average checkouts per book, I now feel obligated to share it because some of those on the top 200 authors list drop off while others appear. So this one shows the authors getting the most readers per book. For more information on the lists and source of the data, please see the previous two posts.

    BTW, a number of Utahans made this list that we hadn’t seen on the others.

    1. Stephenie Meyer (3)
    2. Shannon Hale (4)
    3. Lisa Mangum (8)
    4. Jessica Day George (10)
    5. Aprilynne Pike (13)
    6. James Dashner (21)
    7. Bree Despain (32)
    8. Mette Ivie Harrison (40)
    9. M.L. Forman (52)
    10. Brandon Sanderson (64)
    11. Chris Heimerdinger (112)
    12. Julie Wright (145)
    13. Ally Condie (146)
    14. Kiersten White (151)
    15. Jack Weyland (188)

    If I’ve missed any Utah (or former Utah) authors, please let me know. Holy schnitzel, look at them all.

    EDIT: 1/16/2011 9:32 AM: Informed that Bree Despain is also a Utah author.

    EDIT: 1/18/2011 6:21 PM: Turns out Kiersten White grew up in Utah, but moved to San Diego after she married. I’m still claiming her, although I often wish I could trade subzero land for beaches and 70 degrees

    EDIT: 1/18/2011 10:20 PM: just informed that M.L. Forman is a Utah author.

    The List

    Author Times Checked Out Number of Titles Avg Check Outs per Title % Rank
    Suzanne Collins 888 3 296 2.68% 1
    Rick Riordan 989 8 124 2.98% 2
    Stephenie Meyer 529 5 106 1.60% 3
    Shannon Hale 517 6 86 1.56% 4
    J.K. Rowling 318 4 80 0.96% 5
    Cassandra Clare 309 4 77 0.93% 6
    Christopher Paolini 191 3 64 0.58% 7
    Lisa Mangum 124 2 62 0.37% 8
    P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast 393 7 56 1.19% 9
    Jessica Day George 328 6 55 0.99% 10
    Kristin Cashore 105 2 53 0.32% 11
    Cornelia Funke  51 1 51 0.15% 12
    Aprilynne Pike 101 2 51 0.30% 13
    Judy Blundell 48 1 48 0.14% 14
    John Flanagan 413 9 46 1.25% 15
    Kelley Armstrong 131 3 44 0.40% 16
    John Grisham  43 1 43 0.13% 17
    Michael Scott 165 4 41 0.50% 18
    Angie Sage 246 6 41 0.74% 19
    Maggie Stiefvater 153 4 38 0.46% 20
    James Dashner 75 2 38 0.23% 21
    Kimberly Derting 37 1 37 0.11% 22
    Frank Beddor 110 3 37 0.33% 23
    Carrie Ryan 69 2 35 0.21% 24
    Gail Carson Levine 34 1 34 0.10% 25
    Jay Asher 34 1 34 0.10% 26
    Becca Fitzpatrick 68 2 34 0.21% 27
    Libba Bray 136 4 34 0.41% 28
    Julie Berry 34 1 34 0.10% 29
    Richelle Mead 202 6 34 0.61% 30
    Elizabeth Knox 67 2 34 0.20% 31
    Bree Despain 66 2 33 0.20% 32
    James Patterson 257 8 32 0.78% 33
    Cornelia Funke 63 2 32 0.19% 34
    Lisa McMann 94 3 31 0.28% 35
    Carolyn MacCullough 31 1 31 0.09% 36
    Markus Zusak 124 4 31 0.37% 37
    Lauren Oliver 31 1 31 0.09% 38
    Emily Whitman 31 1 31 0.09% 39
    Mette Ivie Harrison 123 4 31 0.37% 40
    Ally Carter 152 5 30 0.46% 41
    Cameron Dokey 271 9 30 0.82% 42
    Jason Henderson 30 1 30 0.09% 43
    Caragh M. O’Brien 30 1 30 0.09% 44
    Scott Westerfeld 354 12 30 1.07% 45
    Carrie Jones 88 3 29 0.27% 46
    Lindsey Leavitt 29 1 29 0.09% 47
    Lois Lowry 86 3 29 0.26% 48
    Philip Pullman  57 2 29 0.17% 49
    Lauren Kate 57 2 29 0.17% 50
    Lili St. Crow 56 2 28 0.17% 51
    M.L. Forman 28 1 28 0.08% 52
    Alison Goodman 28 1 28 0.08% 53
    Marissa Doyle 55 2 28 0.17% 54
    Eoin Colfer 302 11 27 0.91% 55
    Rachel Hawkins 27 1 27 0.08% 56
    Joseph Delaney 240 9 27 0.72% 57
    Cyn Balog 26 1 26 0.08% 58
    Christine Johnson 26 1 26 0.08% 59
    Anna Godbersen 127 5 25 0.38% 60
    Shauna Cross 25 1 25 0.08% 61
    Veronica Bennett 25 1 25 0.08% 62
    Betty Smith 25 1 25 0.08% 63
    Brandon Sanderson 100 4 25 0.30% 64
    Melissa Marr 99 4 25 0.30% 65
    Tamora Pierce 634 26 24 1.91% 66
    Aubrey Mace 24 1 24 0.07% 67
    N.D. Wilson 70 3 23 0.21% 68
    Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 46 2 23 0.14% 69
    Lesley Livingston 68 3 23 0.21% 70
    Alex Flinn 68 3 23 0.21% 71
    Sara Shepard 181 8 23 0.55% 72
    Cinda Williams Chima 113 5 23 0.34% 73
    Melissa de la Cruz 154 7 22 0.46% 74
    Kay Cassidy 22 1 22 0.07% 75
    Louis Sachar 44 2 22 0.13% 76
    D.J. MacHale 328 15 22 0.99% 77
    Heather Brewer 108 5 22 0.33% 78
    Beth Fantaskey 43 2 22 0.13% 79
    Kimberly Pauley 43 2 22 0.13% 80
    Diana Wynne Jones 128 6 21 0.39% 81
    Herbie Brennan 106 5 21 0.32% 82
    Dia Reeves 21 1 21 0.06% 83
    Heather Hepler 21 1 21 0.06% 84
    Susanne Dunlap 21 1 21 0.06% 85
    Erica S. Perl 21 1 21 0.06% 86
    Linda Buckley-Archer 63 3 21 0.19% 87
    Lise Haines 21 1 21 0.06% 88
    Alyson Noel 188 9 21 0.57% 89
    Eva Ibbotson 41 2 21 0.12% 90
    Anne Osterlund 41 2 21 0.12% 91
    Sherrilyn Kenyon 20 1 20 0.06% 92
    Kenneth Oppel 80 4 20 0.24% 93
    story by Tohru Kai  20 1 20 0.06% 94
    M.R. Bunderson 20 1 20 0.06% 95
    Robin Palmer 59 3 20 0.18% 96
    Claudia Gray 59 3 20 0.18% 97
    Frewin Jones 155 8 19 0.47% 98
    Carl Hiaasen 58 3 19 0.17% 99
    Lisa Greenwald 19 1 19 0.06% 100
    Catherine Gilbert Murdock 76 4 19 0.23% 101
    Suzanne Harper 19 1 19 0.06% 102
    Suzanne Weyn 150 8 19 0.45% 103
    Rosalind Wiseman 18 1 18 0.05% 104
    Jen Nadol 18 1 18 0.05% 105
    Thomas W harton 18 1 18 0.05% 106
    Margaret Peterson Haddix 144 8 18 0.43% 107
    Ellen Schreiber 160 9 18 0.48% 108
    Patricia C. Wrede 158 9 18 0.48% 109
    Robin McKinley 105 6 18 0.32% 110
    Zoèe Marriott 35 2 18 0.11% 111
    Chris Heimerdinger 280 16 18 0.84% 112
    Amy Huntley 17 1 17 0.05% 113
    Rachel Ward 17 1 17 0.05% 114
    Sarwat Chadda 17 1 17 0.05% 115
    Nina Malkin 17 1 17 0.05% 116
    Chris Heimerd 17 1 17 0.05% 117
    Elizabeth Eulberg 17 1 17 0.05% 118
    Kathi Oram Peterson 17 1 17 0.05% 119
    Megan Whalen Turner 68 4 17 0.21% 120
    Chelsea M. Campbell 17 1 17 0.05% 121
    Rachel Vail 51 3 17 0.15% 122
    Becca Wilhite 34 2 17 0.10% 123
    Sarah Dessen 150 9 17 0.45% 124
    Debbie Viguie 100 6 17 0.30% 125
    Garth Nix 182 11 17 0.55% 126
    Michael Grant 49 3 16 0.15% 127
    Rachel Vincent 49 3 16 0.15% 128
    Jonathan Stroud 97 6 16 0.29% 129
    Lucy Christopher 16 1 16 0.05% 130
    Kay Lynn Mangum 48 3 16 0.14% 131
    Anna Jarzab 16 1 16 0.05% 132
    Sarah MacLean 16 1 16 0.05% 133
    Josh Berk 16 1 16 0.05% 134
    Lisa Klein 16 1 16 0.05% 135
    Jackson Pearce 16 1 16 0.05% 136
    Jacqueline Kelly 16 1 16 0.05% 137
    Caroline Goode 16 1 16 0.05% 138
    Kirby Larson 16 1 16 0.05% 139
    Lisa Shanahan 16 1 16 0.05% 140
    Katherine Applegate 16 1 16 0.05% 141
    Marthe Jocelyn 16 1 16 0.05% 142
    Ann Brashares 64 4 16 0.19% 143
    Holly Black 78 5 16 0.24% 144
    Julie Wright 31 2 16 0.09% 145
    Ally Condie 93 6 16 0.28% 146
    Juliet Marillier 31 2 16 0.09% 147
    Janet Lee Carey 46 3 15 0.14% 148
    Donita K. Paul 90 6 15 0.27% 149
    Tera Lynn Childs 45 3 15 0.14% 150
    Kiersten White 15 1 15 0.05% 151
    Jane Eagland 15 1 15 0.05% 152
    Sophie Jordan 15 1 15 0.05% 153
    Maureen Daly 15 1 15 0.05% 154
    Debbie Vguie 15 1 15 0.05% 155
    Leah Cypess 15 1 15 0.05% 156
    Jessica Brody 15 1 15 0.05% 157
    Rosie Rushton 15 1 15 0.05% 158
    Rachel Caine 134 9 15 0.40% 159
    R.D. Henham 104 7 15 0.31% 160
    Hilari Bell 178 12 15 0.54% 161
    L.J. Smith 326 22 15 0.98% 162
    Carol Lynch Williams 44 3 15 0.13% 163
    Laini Taylor 44 3 15 0.13% 164
    John Boyne 29 2 15 0.09% 165
    Victoria Hanley 58 4 15 0.17% 166
    Guillaume Prevost 43 3 14 0.13% 167
    Michelle Zink 28 2 14 0.08% 168
    Andrea R. Cremer 14 1 14 0.04% 169
    Lynn Weingarten 14 1 14 0.04% 170
    Kristopher Reisz 14 1 14 0.04% 171
    Andrew Klavan 28 2 14 0.08% 172
    Jessica Verday 14 1 14 0.04% 173
    Kim Harrison 14 1 14 0.04% 174
    L.K. Madigan 14 1 14 0.04% 175
    Heather Davis 14 1 14 0.04% 176
    Lauren Conrad 42 3 14 0.13% 177
    Sherman Ale 14 1 14 0.04% 178
    Alexandra Adornetto 14 1 14 0.04% 179
    Martine Leavitt 14 1 14 0.04% 180
    Morris Gleitzman 14 1 14 0.04% 181
    Charmian Hussey  14 1 14 0.04% 182
    Douglas Rees 14 1 14 0.04% 183
    Stephanie Hem 14 1 14 0.04% 184
    C.J. Omololu 14 1 14 0.04% 185
    Aimee Friedman 42 3 14 0.13% 186
    Kate Coombs 28 2 14 0.08% 187
    Jack Weyland 151 11 14 0.46% 188
    Michael Carroll 41 3 14 0.12% 189
    Philip Caveney 41 3 14 0.12% 190
    Pamela Wells 27 2 14 0.08% 191
    Grace Cavendish 27 2 14 0.08% 192
    Elizabeth Scott 54 4 14 0.16% 193
    Ridley Pearson 54 4 14 0.16% 194
    Laurie Halse Anderson 108 8 14 0.33% 195
    Gillian Shields 40 3 13 0.12% 196
    Simone Elkeles 93 7 13 0.28% 197
    Lisi Harrison 304 23 13 0.92% 198
    Patrick Carman 66 5 13 0.20% 199
    Darren Shan 313 24 13 0.94% 200
    Gary D. Schmidt 26 2 13 0.08% 201
    Gena Showalter 26 2 13 0.08% 202
    Michael Young 13 1 13 0.04% 203
    Miyuki Miyabe  13 1 13 0.04% 204
    J.V. Hart  13 1 13 0.04% 205
    Dandi Daley Mackall 13 1 13 0.04% 206
    Beatrice Gormley 13 1 13 0.04% 207
    Dodie Smith 13 1 13 0.04% 208
    Jaclyn Moriarty 52 4 13 0.16% 209
    Angela Morrison 26 2 13 0.08% 210
    James A. Owen 52 4 13 0.16% 211
    Nick Lake 13 1 13 0.04% 212
    E.E. Richardson 13 1 13 0.04% 213
    Fern Schumer Chapman 13 1 13 0.04% 214
    Priscilla Cummings 13 1 13 0.04% 215
    Stuart Hill 39 3 13 0.12% 216
    Jen Calonita 78 6 13 0.24% 217
    Valerie O. Patterson 13 1 13 0.04% 218
    Julie Kagawa 26 2 13 0.08% 219
    William golding 13 1 13 0.04% 220
    Lisa M. Klein 13 1 13 0.04% 221
    Lisa Mantchev 26 2 13 0.08% 222
    Gerald Morris 129 10 13 0.39% 223
    Cory Doctorow 25 2 13 0.08% 224
    Janette Rallison 125 10 13 0.38% 225
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2 Comments

  1. For a tub drain, those hair catching drain stoppers work pretty well. But they should be cleaned fairly often, with four daughter that might be daily. But it is a easy clean.

    Caustic drain cleaners work, if regular applications are used, maybe twice a month. Not when the drain is clogged. When the drain is clogged the cleaner has a hard time making to the clog.
    If you do use drain cleaners before the drain is plugged, the better way is to pour it down the drain when the drain is not going to be used for several hours. Overnight is good. After the caustic has done its work, run lots of hot water to flush the drain.
    If or when you use a caustic, do all the drains in the same room at the same time.
    Be careful with the caustic it will stain or eat away some metals used in sinks and tubs. Not just metals, but many materials that the caustic comes into contact with.

  2. I am in the same boat, 4 daughters, one wife. I found this tool at the big box store about 4 months ago. It has made cleaning all the drains a much easier task.

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