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2008:
What Can Sports Teach Us About Ethics? June 2008 In recent years, the sports world has become entangled in countless ethical controversies. From steroids in baseball, to euthanasia in horse racing, to sexual harassment suits, and now, NBA referees rigging games. And that is only the first few that came to mind. Review: The Roots, Rising Down June 2008 Philadelphia is probably most traditionally known as the home of the world-famous Philly cheese steak. It is also storied to have once been a home to historical landmarks and political figures, as well as very competitive sports teams with lifelong fans. Philadelphia can also be attributed as the backdrop of the 1976 classic motion picture Rocky, but as of late it is known in music circles as the Mecca of the Neo-soul movement, as evidenced by fledgling artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, and The Roots. The Family Jewels June 2008 When I was a little kid and used to ask my dad about his job, he told me he counted paperclips all day and ordered more when it was time. Savvy Tips for Online Safety June 2008 Technology and social networking websites are expanding at a rapid pace, and kids of this generation are trading in neighborhood baseball games for neighborhood chat room sessions. Get In Shape... Take the Kid With You June 2008 There are some guys who manage to stay in shape no matter what life throws at them. A career, marriage, kids... they somehow magically manage to stay fit. And then there are the rest of us. 2008 Soundtrack of the Year... So Far June 2008 As 2008 approaches its halfway point, signs of life and logic seem to pop out of every nook and cranny of our ever-changing pop culture. Osburn On Tap: What the heck is a summer ale? June 2008 Summer ale or summer beer? What does it matter what we call them? Is there a difference? As is the same with most beer styles, arguments abound on the topic. Pill Panic? How to talk to your doctor about your child's medicine June 2008 Every week, a front-page article warns us about a terrible side effect of a different medication. This can be especially frightening if you're a parent, and your child's medicine is suddenly on high-alert. So, what should you do when one of your child's pills is on the news? The Art of Cooking: Taste of Summer June 2008 The season of swimsuits, sandals, and sunburns has arrived once again. The rising temperature leaves ovens empty and makes plenty of room for one great discovery: the grill. Into the Dawn: Home Alone June 2008 14 days ago I dropped my wife and daughters off at the airport. They'll return in another 40. It's a heck of a long time to be home alone, but not without its perks. From the Editor's... Muse June 2008 Ben Martin is Editor-in-Chief of The Father Life. Review: The Incredible Hulk June 2008 Just landing from the highs of their recent release Iron Man, Marvel did not disappoint with The Incredible Hulk. Less Stress for Dads: All in all, it's just a... 'nother brick in the wall June 2008 In the last house my wife and I lived in, we had a giant, poorly functioning brick fireplace which covered most of one wall in our living room. The Bond Insurance Boondoggle June 2008 Of all the storms that have spun out of the initial sub-prime mortgage crisis storm system, the one that engulfed the (so-called "monoline") insurance companies arguably has the biggest potential for long-term impact. A Father's Voice: All About I Love You June 2008 Because I pretty much never heard the words myself or even really felt loved growing up, I've been telling my boy/girl twins I love them since they were born a little more than 2.5 years ago. From the Editor's... Sleepy Sunday Night June 2008 It's been a long day. A good day, but a long day. After planning on just having a simple Father's Day, our plans completely changed in a short amount of time. Fathering Advice From a Music Exec? Tom Sturges' Parking Lot Rules June 2008 I'm not sure what you conjure up when you think of a music industry exec, but it's probably not someone you're going to go to for parenting advice. Senior PGA Championship Report June 2008 Rochester, NY, is home to Kodak and Oak Hill Country Club. While the former's tenure as a major US business player may be on the wane, the latter's presence on the greater-American golf scene is still very much established. Polk Audio SR-H1000 Review June 2008 Are you a home theater nut looking to jazz up your TV room? Take Stock of Your Greenery June 2008 Have you ever spent $40 at the grocery store only to realize that you are leaving with three bags of food? Recipe: Buffalo Eggs June 2008 Now that summer finally starts to be showing its evasive face, barbecues and picnic snacks will be coming into fashion very quickly. When I was younger, my brother would take full advantage of this opportunity. From the Editor's... Warm Living Room June 2008 Summer has arrived here in Rochester, with temps right around 90. We've got our window air conditioning units in, but the living room is without one... and it's warm. Back to the Future June 2008 If you have ever subscribed to HBO, you know that they replay their monthly movies over and over. There are more repeats in Pac Man Jones's rap sheet. NBA Finals Preview June 2008 The Lakers and Celtics have won a collective 30 NBA Championships. Review: Brian Culbertson Bringing Back the Funk June 2008 A wise old adage explains, "You can't know where you're going unless you explore where you've been." While this is certainly true in most other aspects of life, it's hard to imagine how this principle could hold true in regards to making music. Dad Blog Spotlight: Building Camelot June 2008 Imagine a website dedicated to helping men, where you could find great reflections on being a father and articles on things you find relevant, like golf, HDTV, even reviews on disposable razors... Kids of Your Own June 2008 The Accidental Parent is a column about a life-long bachelor, Michael Stusser, and his engagement to Vanessa, the mother of 11-year-old twins. The essays follow his marriage, cohabitation, and blending into a new insta-family. MLB Update: National League June 2008 It's time for the final installment of a 2-part series recapping the baseball season to date. From the Editor's... Bed June 2008 It's been a long weekend. It is late Sunday night as I type this. Usually by now, all of the work for the week's TFL has been long done, but not this week. Learn Your Options - Take Responsibility May 2008 When a property goes into default, that property finds itself on a variety of radars. MLB Update: American League May 2008 About a third of the Major League Baseball season is now behind us. For those of us who consider ourselves avid fans, we have been closely following our own team, and probably following the rest of the league a good deal as well. Major League Lacrosse 2008 Season Preview May 2008 Sports fans know that Canada is famous for hockey (their national sport), but few people know that hockey is one of two national sports, the other being lacrosse. The fastest growing sport at the youth level in the U.S., lacrosse is by far the most exciting sport that America overlooks on a regular basis. Osburn On Tap: The Great Debate Rages On May 2008 Should you feel bad for adding extra ingredients to your beer to enhance the flavor? In the case of Corona, I'm fairly sure it's mandatory. There really is no point in drinking a Corona if you forgot to purchase limes. I guarantee if you took a Pabst Blue Ribbon and added a lime to it; it would taste exactly like a Corona. But what about other brews? Should you feel any regret for adding another flavor or two into the mix? From the Editor's... Couch May 2008 don't know where this year has gone. Stanley Cup Finals Preview May 2008 Cue the conspiracy theorists. Less Stress for Dads: Who's driving who crazy? May 2008 Today I want to share my thoughts about our ability to choose to feel good whether our kids are behaving the way we want them to or not. Do our kids "make" us mad, or can we choose how we want to feel in any given moment? A Bouncehouse, a Ball, and a Belated Mother's Day "Thank You" May 2008 This past Mother's day weekend I made my wife breakfast and presented her with a card that had my and our toddler's equally illegible handwritten notes on it. I Am Their Daddy; Their Daddy Is Me May 2008 One of the most important tricks I have learned being a father is that who I am doesn't matter nearly as much as the fact that I am my children's father. The Art of Cooking: Strawberry Harvest May 2008 As the cool weather drifts away and the heat of summer starts to settle in, one of the first things that come to my mind is the strawberry season ahead. From the Editor's... TiBook May 2008 What's that, you say? A TiBook? What is that, anyway? Fathering IS Child's Play May 2008 Research continues to reinforce the notion that children benefit from having playful fathers. One study in Germany several years ago examined specific ways in which fathers and mothers cultivate close attachments with their children during the early years, and which of those early parental practices lead to deeper, long-term attachments during later stages of childhood. Fashion Advice: Artistic Style May 2008 Jeff Collins answers your fashion questions every month. Rent a Tux or Buy a Suit? May 2008 Wedding season is upon us and somewhere along the line you need to ask yourselves, "What are the guys going to wear?" Review: Digital TV and DigitalSTREAM DTX9900 May 2008 You've probably seen the public service announcements on TV about analog broadcasts ending in 2009. It's true; with very few exceptions, traditional broadcast television will no longer use an analog signal after February of next year. Recipe: Banana and Spinach Strata May 2008 Over the years, my parents have suckered me into eating mushy peas, onions, and garlic. Even now, I can almost tolerate bleu cheese, though at one time, the taste was enough to turn my face inside out, much to my loving parents' amusement. However, there are some foods that kids will never eat. From the Editor's... Wife's Sister's Husband's Parents' Living Room May 2008 What does that make us? Well, that is the question, isn't it? Review: Iron Man May 2008 Marvel has done it. They have made a super hero movie, complete with astounding special effects, that makes us both cheer and revere its complicated and flawed hero. As with the Spider Man franchise, the story of Iron Man allows us to imagine a world where an average man, even if he is a billionaire and a genius, can do extraordinary things. Covers: An Idiot-Proof Guide May 2008 For me, the "cover issue" is a rather polarizing subject. While there are, of course, many tastefully-done covers in the history of pop, there are also an equal (if not greater) number that fall flat on their faces. I began thinking of the characteristics of both tasteful and shameful covers, trying to distill them into a single document. What follows is my simple guide for original bands weighing whether or not to cover a song. Review: Madonna's Hard Candy May 2008 One of the two greatest things in life you can ever do to experience pure joy or happiness is to live life with no regrets. The other is to go out with a bang when you feel that life is coming to an end. Review: SIRIUS Backseat TV SCV1 May 2008 The Sirius Backseat TV allows you receive family programming 24/7 from channels like Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network Mobile, right from your car, truck, or boat. The Accidental Parent: Running Them Like Dogs May 2008 Little did I realize that a majority of parenting involves running your kids like dogs - from the park, to the pool, to the zoo, to the game, to the grandparents, to piano practice, back to the pool, to the dentist, to the store, to the playground, to the barber. And back. From the Editor's... Bed May 2008 My two oldest daughters aren't home tonight. They're at a sleepover, leaving us with just our two youngest. I don't recall this ever happening before. It certainly is a different experience. Drastic Plastic: Stay-at-Home Dad learns about dangerous plastic used in baby bottles April 2008 I rarely pay attention to childhood safety guidelines and recall notices. In our house, The Wife ensures we are compliant with the latest OSHA standards. Supporting their Progress April 2008 I must admit, I probably will not watch a lot of the Summer Olympics this August. I enjoy the games, and will usually stop to watch an event if I pass by it on the dial, but I am not interested enough to schedule it into my day the way I am with an NFL or MLB game, or even a PGA event (well, as long as its one of the majors). Into the Dawn: HSM April 2008 Everything we know we learned from High School Musical. My four year old daughter Sabrina loves Troy's girlfriend Gabriella. If you know who I'm talking about, you feel my pain. Sabrina is so much in love with Gabriella that on a recent trip to Target, while shopping for a friend's birthday present, Sabrina literally melted in the aisle when we came upon a Gabriella doll. She just had to have her. Osburn on Tap: Beer and baseball in enemy territory April 2008 "The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again." -Field of Dreams From the Editor's Long, Long Weekend April 2008 You ever have one of those weekends that never seems to end? Why is it that those are never the good weekends? The Road to the White House runs through Pennsylvania (and 49 other states) April 2008 And so the Hill/O - Drama Continues. Regarding Bad Music Criticism April 2008 I recently revisited a review on pitchforkmedia.com, the preeminent source of music criticism for the enlightened man, that consisted simply of a YouTube video depicting a monkey drinking its own urine (the subject, of course, was Jet's 2006 release Shine On). The Art of Cooking: Chicken Stir-Fry April 2008 Cooking has far outgrown its role as a basic means of survival and, over the centuries, has transformed itself into an art, a way to express imagination and creativity as well as to satisfy an appetite. Nevertheless, food preparation does not require extensive knowledge on the subject or a vast amount of resources. Make a simple trip to the local supermarket for a few key ingredients, and your very own work of art can be on the table in no time. A Father's Voice: Second Fiddle April 2008 My twin two-year olds don't seem to like me - at least not at night. Every evening before we put them to bed, my wife and I read them four books in Spanish and English. This is all part of the special ritual we've created to help them go to sleep at night. And like clockwork, our children go to sleep around the same time every night. It works pretty well - except for the fact that I feel completely unnecessary, like the side order that comes free with the meal, but nobody wants anyway. From the Editor's... Sunday Afternoon April 2008 There is one purpose for which Sunday afternoons were created, and one purpose only: the Sunday afternoon nap. R.E.M. Accelerates Back into Mainstream April 2008 R.E.M's latest studio effort, Accelerate, will make listeners remember why the group is revered in the hearts of millions of music fans worldwide. Recipe: Dad's Meatloaf April 2008 I don't know what binds me to my family, or, especially, my father. I have always been a Daddy's Girl, though not in the "he buys me everything" sort of way. I am not his little princess either. I'm the youngest of four, true, but what's always been so amazing is the time we've spent together. NHL Playoffs April 2008 To hockey fans, there is nothing in the sports world to compare to playoff hockey. Granted this is the same demographic that popularized the "mullet" as an acceptable hair style. But hockey fans also have a peculiar level of arrogance that leads them to believe that one game, one playoff game, is all that need be attended to turn a non-believer into a rabid, plan-your-honeymoon-around-a-game fan. Review: Snapple Antioxidant Water April 2008 My family is many things, but experienced product testers we are not. Nevertheless, when given the chance to try out the new Snapple Antioxidant Water, we couldn't resist. Soon we were the proud recipients of a rare treat: an overnight shipment of bottles of flavored water! From the Editor's... Futon April 2008 Inspired by Howard Ludwig's lead (see "May the Force Be With You"), we decided to introduce the kids to Star Wars this weekend. Love in a Time of Digital April 2008 My father entered the room to find his boyhood copy of Gerry and the Pacemakers Greatest Hits blaring. The floor was littered with records - some out of their protective jackets, some carelessly stacked on top of one another, and some still in a bin waiting to be played. The Accidental Parent: The Full-Time Gig Begins April 2008 The Accidental Parent is a column about a life-long bachelor, Michael Stusser, and his engagement to Vanessa, the mother of 11-year-old twins. The essays follow his marriage, cohabitation, and blending into a new insta-family. Be advised, it is NOT an advice column. Think of it like watching a roller-coaster. All you have to do is sit back and listen to the laughter - and a little screaming. All Hail April: Why It Beats October As the Best Sports Month April 2008 After careful deliberation, April has officially supplanted October as my favorite sports month. Let me count the ways (in no particular order)... Rooting For the Cheaters March 2008 When the Mitchell Report was released back in December, nearly 90 current and former MLB players found themselves being accused of using performance enhancing drugs at some point during their careers. Less Stress for Dads March 2008 This may sound ridiculously obvious to you: When dads are happy, we are more flexible, more open minded, more willing to spend time with our kids, and more creative when it comes to handling life's complexities. Music Review: The Odd Couple, Gnarls Barkley March 2008 In at time when music is more manufactured than original and artists are more about fanfare than fan-pleasing, it's refreshing when an album comes along and pushes the boundaries of our social norms. It's that much more refreshing when that album is three weeks ahead of the original release date! From the Editor's... Bed March 2008 Normally, if I'm writing this from bed, it means I'm working late. Today, however, it's still afternoon. May the Force Be With You March 2008 The Force is strong in my family. Or so I learned this month when my 20-month-old son fell in love with "Star Wars." I couldn't watch another episode of "Dora the Explorer" and stumbled upon the sci-fi classic on cable. Osburn On Tap: Time to Put Away Your Stouts and Porters March 2008 We all enjoyed Guinness (and some of us Beamish) last week, but now that April is approaching, it's time to finish off our last pint and move on to something else. That something else is Bock. Into the Dawn: Road Trip March 2008 I just got back from two nights and three days in Reno with my two daughters. My wife stayed back and 'let us have all the fun'. I've spent many a wonderful day and evening alone with my girls, ages 6 and 4, however this did give me cause for trepidation. I figured I could handle it. At least they weren't in diapers. From the Editor's... Saturday Afternoon March 2008 I love Saturday afternoons. I doesn't really matter what I'm doing or what comes up. I'm still at least 36 hours away from returning to my scheduled, regimented life. Beaches in Spain for Kids March 2008 Here's a list of reasons I plan on taking my seventeen-month-old daughter on vacation to the Spanish Mediterranean this summer. A Father's Voice: What I Have Instead March 2008 I fantasize about the life my wife and I would have if we were free to travel wherever we wanted. If we were free to go out to dinner together, see a movie, go to museums without worrying about who is watching our children and feeling guilty for leaving. After Shopping March 2008 A short story by Tim Myers From the Editor's... High Back Chair March 2008 This afternoon, while sitting in my favorite chair-in-which-to-get-work-done, the sun beamed in through the picture window. Probably not an uncommon event for many of you on a March day, but here in Rochester, it was a treat. Quenching the Father Thirst March 2008 Children feel that same urgent desire to be with their dads in a close, caring relationship. They yearn for male guidance and leadership, but too often it isn't there, so many children are forced to go on playing the game of life with that desperate, all-consuming thirst. The Art of Fatherhood March 2008 As a single father of a twelve-year old boy I am beginning to understand that fatherhood really is an art. Among other things I am learning that as much as I'd like to continue the semi-dictatorial regime that once ruled my home, the future is turning out to be much more democratic. Parallel Lines March 2008 Recently, my child came home with basic geometry homework. It covered simple concepts, shapes, lines, and angles. As I monitored his progress, he came to a question that asked him to draw parallel lines. He put pencil to paper, and freehanded two supposedly parallel lines. Pleased with his results, he moved on to the next question. From the Editor's... Living Room March 2008 My two youngest, Benjie, age 5, and Callie, age 2, never cease to amaze me. They can have fun doing anything. They don't need toys. They don't need help. I never hear them tell me that they are bored--something I can't say about my nine year old. MacBook Air Review March 2008 Ah yes, the MacBook Air. The mere mention of the name sends even the casual Mac fan into a daydream. But is it everything we've dreamed of? We went to our own inside guy for all things Mac, Gabe Stampone, to get some answers. The Accidental Parent: The Self-Centered Parent March 2008 The Accidental Parent is a column about a life-long bachelor, Michael Stusser, and his engagement to Vanessa, the mother of 11-year-old twins. The essays follow his marriage, cohabitation, and blending into a new insta-family. Be advised, it is NOT an advice column. Think of it like watching a roller-coaster. All you have to do is sit back and listen to the laughter - and a little screaming. Homelife: The Benefits to Men March 2008 For the last three or four centuries at least, men in our culture have generally spent most of their waking hours outside the home. And for many men, this has become a basic orientation; even in those few hours when they are home, some, as their wives and children would tell you, "aren't really there." From the Editor's... Bed March 2008 Believe me, this is nowhere near as racy as that title sounds. I'm just putting the finishing touches on this week's The Father Life, and it's late. The kids are all nestled safely in their beds, and I've tucked myself in my bedroom in hopes of joining them in dreamland soon. Osburn On Tap: Beer School 101 February 2008 "Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." Dave Barry Into the Dawn: Questionable Intent February 2008 I've recently been acting objectionably as a parent. So what else is new? Actually I'm sure there are some parents who would consider my actions perfectly reasonable. Others would feel that I might be pushing my own broken dreams and tattered ambitions on my child. I'm not arguing that point, and I can certainly see the potential for a dysfunctional disaster. I'd like to think that knowing that is a possibility will help me avoid it from becoming an eventuality. Dad Blog Spotlight: Spain Dad February 2008 After this month's Spotlight article on "How About Two?", I decided to apply that question to the whole Spotlight series... for this month, anyway. So it is without further ado that I present "Spain Dad, a baby blog" for your consideration. Dad Blog Spotlight: How About Two? February 2008 Our "spotlight" articles take a minute to highlight someone in the community of dads who we at THE FATHER LIFE think is noteworthy. This time around we're shining the spotlight on Robert Barron, author of the "daddy blog" at howabouttwo.com. A Father's Voice: Because I Don't See You February 2008 "I'm NOT crying," my almost 3 year-old little girl says to me while I'm cleaning her hands from our messy spaghetti and meatballs dinner. I certainly didn't think she was crying and am left wondering why she would say that? Is this one of those toddler things that just doesn't make any sense? Or was my little girl telling me something? Film Review: Cassandra's Dream February 2008 For me, Woody Allen's dramas can be just as good as the comedies he's better known for; and these dramas seem to fall into at least two different categories: those that are reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman's work, such as Interiors and September; and those that seem to be more inspired by the literature of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, like Crimes and Misdemeanors. Richie Velasquez Interview February 2008 Can you make a career out of rolling (translation: inline skating)? Yes, and you might even find time for a family too. Our own extreme sports enthusiast (and closet participant!) Ben Murphy managed to track down "New York City's Secret Weapon," inline stunt skater Richie Velasquez to find out just how he manages to keep it all together. It's a Nice View From the Press Box February 2008 A lot goes into covering a professional sporting event for a major magazine. My work begins long before I leave my house. I have to research all the teams I will be covering. Since the lacrosse leagues I write about aren't heavily featured on Sports Center, the players aren't household names let alone household faces. These are players that actually play more for the love of the game than for the money. The average salary for a professional lacrosse player per season is around fifteen thousand dollars. Fashion Advice: Artistic Style February 2008 Jeff, I'm in my early 30s and starting to make a good living as an artist. I just realize that my wardrobe is pretty much from all from a sporting goods store... not too impressive for higher end clients. I need a new wardrobe, but I also want to keep that artist style. Suits might be good, but I don't need to be decked out for the board room. Pointers? The Accidental Parent: The Garden Club February 2008 The Accidental Parent is a column about a life-long bachelor, Michael Stusser, and his engagement to Vanessa, the mother of 11-year-old twins. The essays follow his marriage, cohabitation, and blending into a new insta-family. Be advised, it is NOT an advice column. Think of it like watching a roller-coaster. All you have to do is sit back and listen to the laughter - and a little screaming. Film Review: There Will Be Blood February 2008 I've been a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson's work since I first saw Sydney (more commonly known as Hard Eight). His subsequent films, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk Love, were all decent films and had much to admire; however, with There Will Be Blood, Anderson has matured and created something spectacular. Dates With Dad February 2008 I recently gave a talk on compassion to about 70 men and I was amazed how many men were affected by the talk. Many of them told me ways that they were going to go home and show compassion towards someone that they love. One guy told me how he was going to repair a relationship with his mother that had been scarred for over 10 years. The Super Poll: The Good or the Bad? January 2008 The Patriots' perfect season, Tom Brady's boot and Tom Coughlin's corroded face -- that has to be hanging on by a pore -- are all great stories. Into the Dawn: Kids and Football Games January 2008 I had high hopes for this past season. My employer had season tickets to the 49ers, a team who had been projected to be in contention for playoff spot. If you follow football you know how well that turned out. Super Bowl Eatin'! January 2008 C'mon, you can do better than lousy chips and dip for your Super Bowl party! Dad Blog Spotlight: Steve of TheSneeze.com January 2008 Our "spotlight" articles take a minute to highlight someone in the community of dads who we at THE FATHER LIFE think is noteworthy. This time around we're shining the spotlight on Steve, one of the three finalists in the category "Hottest Daddy Blogger" in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards. A Father's Voice: Benefit of Losing Sleep January 2008 My heart aches. I have just come downstairs from putting my twin 2.5 year (32 month) olds to bed and my heart hurts. They aren't screaming or crying or calling my name. No, my beautiful children are lying in bed falling asleep silently. A New Age of Music? Vicci Martinez Brings Classic Sound To a Modern Time January 2008 The Triple Door peaks above rainy hills in the downtown streets of Seattle. It's one of Seattle's most visited of late nightspots. I myself have been there on four occasions over the past two and a half years, and I have no doubt that I would have been there far earlier if I had known I would see so many artists I would come to appreciate and watch for years to come--artists like Vicci Martinez. Fitness: Are You Up to the Challenge? January 2008 I am a father of two boys and a step-father to a daughter. I have a passion for physical fitness and have competed in bodybuilding, swimming, diving, baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling. I still enjoy these activities with my children and I plan to participate in these activities with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren because I am responsible for keeping myself in peak physical condition. I desire to pass along some ideas to assist those with the same goals; together, we can change a disturbing trend documented in the following article. Sweet Dreams: No Sugar Added January 2008 You know the phrase "sweets for the sweet." Does the saying apply to you and your kids? It probably does, and probably more than you think. The S-E-X Talk January 2008 This article originally ran as part of an ongoing column, "The Accidental Parent." The column is about a life-long bachelor, Michael Stusser, and his engagement to Vanessa, the mother of 11-year-old twins. The essays follow his marriage, cohabitation, and blending into a new insta-family. Be advised, it is NOT an advice column. Think of it like watching a roller-coaster. All you have to do is sit back and listen to the laughter - and a little screaming. Post-Partum Depression: What You Can Do January 2008 When your wife has postpartum depression (PPD), which affects about 1 in 7 women after childbirth, you might feel confused, annoyed, scared, sad, worried or any combination of these. My husband certainly did. Dates With Dad January 2008 As a father, sometimes it's hard to go back to my childhood and remember what's it like to be a child. To think and act like child again is difficult unless I make myself available to my two boys and their friends. Many times they ask me to play football or ping pong or X-Box and I tell them I will in a minute or I make excuses that I am busy doing other things. 2007: "And the Contestants Are..." 2008 US Presidential Candidate Overview December 2007 This November, the US will elect a new President to a four-year term. But to get down to that two-person race (Or will it be three? Keep reading!), we first must go through the primary process. Product Review: Flip Video Ultra December 2007 The latest gadget I've purchased is the Flip Video Ultra, a small, cheap (around $139), easy-to-use, video camera that you can easily take with you wherever you go. Eight Parenting Resolutions for '08 December 2007 Who you are matters more than what you do. This simple truth is the hinge upon which all your parenting techniques swing. Yet this fundamental fact eludes far too many parents. Don't let it happen to you. Make this the year you cultivate "intentional traits" for your child to emulate. The 2007 At-Home Dad Convention December 2007 Hello fellow at-home dads, we are back from the 2007 At-Home Dad Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a great event seeing so many committed at home dads there to hone their skills and to interact with their fellow at home dads. Speaking From Experience: Norman Leenhouts December 2007 "Speaking From Experience" is a new series of articles from THE FATHER LIFE interviewing men who have been successful at both career and family and whose lessons learned can be of use to the rest of us! Recently, Ben Murphy had a chance to interview Norman Leenhouts. Dad Blog Spotlight: Danny Evans, Dad Gone Mad December 2007 Our "spotlight" articles take a minute to highlight someone in the community of dads who we at THE FATHER LIFE think is noteworthy. This time around we're shining the spotlight on Danny Evans, one of the three finalists in the category "Hottest Daddy Blogger" in the 2007 Blogger's Choice Awards. A Father's Voice: "No Patch" She Said, "No Patch" December 2007 Yesterday while I was getting ready to put the eye patch on my 20 month old daughter, Jordyn, she looked right at me, shook her head and said, "No patch." I wanted to congratulate her on putting that sentence together to express herself, but all I felt was my heart breaking at what I was doing to her. Kids Book Review: The Legends of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving December 2007 It's easy to lose the spirit of the Christmas season in the midst of all of the shopping and planning for the upcoming holiday. Buying this and ordering that, I'm reminded of Linus bemoaning how we have "gone commercial" in the TV classic, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown." Dads, Kids and Video Games December 2007 The image of a video gamer has changed over time. We no longer think of video gamers as friendless college boys alone in their rooms. Today's video gamers are boys and girls of all ages. Even dads and moms play video games today. In fact, today's games are not only fun, but according to recent research many are educational. Fashion Advice: Tips for Winter Dress Shoe Care December 2007 Jeff Collins answers your fashion questions every month. Postpartum Depression: What You Need to Know December 2007 Having faced postpartum ("post-birth" in plain English) depression in both my mother and my wife, I've seen how difficult it is for a new mother to even recognize the problem, let alone determine what to do about it. I have first-hand experience as a partner who has no idea what's gone wrong or how to respond. Are You Involved With a Black Widow? November 2007 Being a victim of domestic violence, and having suffered thirteen years of fear, violence and anguish, you can image I was skeptical the first time a man told me he had been a victim of domestic violence also. I thought it was a sick joke, a way of making fun of my pain. The more the fellow insisted that he understood how I felt, the more I suspected he was giving me a pickup line. It wasn't until he showed me the scars on his bald head that I believed him. One Family, One Income November 2007 When I was growing up in suburban Maryland, I had a friend who was different from the rest of the kids. We made fun of him for being different...kids can be cruel. As teenagers, we would go out to the malls, fast food restaurants, record stores and concerts, and spend our money, just about as fast as we made it. A Father's Voice: Making My Time Away A Little Easier... For All of Us November 2007 You know how some parents look forward to going back to work to get a break from their children and spouses? I'm not one of them. I hate going to work in the morning. Absolutely hate it. I hate leaving my family - especially on Monday after I have spent so much time with them during the weekend. To make matters worse, my twin 19-month old children hate it, too. Sometimes they will cry and scream when I lean down to say goodbye. Other times they cling to me when I give them a hug and refuse to let go - as if I really want to leave in the first place. Welcoming Young Dads to the Fatherhood Party November 2007 In the mid-1990's, I was a dad of a teenage daughter and three other children under ten. Through my involvement in various fatherhood events in the Seattle area, I heard about the "Welcome To Fatherhood Party" from a dad named Griggs Irving. The idea came to him when his 32-year-old daughter was happily planning for a baby shower and his fatherly thoughts turned towards his son-in-law. "What about Steve? He's about to be a new dad. What could be done for him?" he thought. Thanksgiving Leftovers: Incredible Turkey Panini November 2007 In most cases, finding a satisfying lunch in the midst of a wintry day can challenge even the best of home cooks. There is no better time of year to save your turkey, chicken, or lamb scraps, whatever is around you or your mother-in-law's kitchen. This particular sandwich will impress your audience with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Parenting on the Fly November 2007 So much to do before you leave: pack, wrap presents, seal the fruitcake. Then you'll rush around the airport, clear security, and stumble to your gate. But what if you have kids on top of all that? Worried they won't exactly be angels in the airport? It's enough to become an experiment in hair loss. So, just what can you do to keep your sanity (and your hairline) intact? Fashion Advice: Winter Outerwear November 2007 Jeff Collins answers your fashion questions every month. Ben Parris Interview November 2007 Musician, producer, husband, father... Ben Parris is a busy man. Our own busy man, Ben Murphy, somehow managed to corner him for a few moments. Dates With Dad November 2007 We're glad to welcome Todd Melloh to The Father Life. Todd is the author 24 Dates With My Dad, a workbook to help you grow closer to your children and pass your values on to them. Trick or Treat? The Father Life NBA Season Preview October 2007 The NBA finds itself at a crossroads heading into this upcoming season. How will all the decidedly unwanted "tricks" play out with the average fan? Common Sense Health: Keeping Your Head in the MRSA Epidemic October 2007 If you haven't heard of MRSA (pronounced "mersa"), you've probably been living under a rock lately - or just watching more NFL Network than CNN. To bring you up to speed, MRSA is a form of staph infection that recently has been the cause of many deaths nationwide, especially in children. Getting A Good Home Workout October 2007 Have you ever dug into a muscle or fitness magazine trying to find an awesome home workout routine? Sometimes it can be hard because a lot of the exercises they list are done on the latest and greatest machines that have rolled out of the factory in the last month or two. Splitting Wood October 2007 There is something intrinsically fatherly, for me, about splitting wood. I'm talking about grabbing an ax, a sledge hammer, a steel wedge and whacking away at a cut section of log! (Can you feel the testosterone?). I learned to split wood from my dad when I was about 12 years old. It was a matter of necessity. A Father's Voice: Big Brown Eyes Looking Up At Me October 2007 The morning is a very busy time for me. I get up early to ride my bike so I can be back home in time to shower and get dressed before my twin 19 month-olds wake up. The morning provides some of the few moments I get with my children during the week - and it gives my wife a few precious extra minutes of sleep since she spends all day with them by herself. How Is Your Job Impacting Your Fathering? October 2007 A recent survey by CareerBuilder confirms the challenge among working dads to navigate the demands of work and family life. According to the survey, 38% of working dads, if given the choice, would take a pay cut to spend more time with their kids. Fashion Advice: Best Value for a Rising Professional October 2007 The Father Life is pleased to welcome Jeff Collins of MyHaberdasher.com as a regular fashion contributor. Whether at home, at work, or at play, we all want to look our best. Jeff has the know-how to answer those nagging fashion questions and to help you plan a comprehensive approach to getting the most out of your wardrobe. How Do You Become a Fathering Expert: Interview with Jeremy Schneider October 2007 In the world of published media, you find few regular columns devoted to the subject of fathers. Among those few, an even scarcer thing is the columnist who regularly takes time to share his own experiences as a father. That is what sets Jeremy Schneider apart. The New Parenting Media: Interview with Babble.com's Editor-In-Chief, Ada Calhoun October 2007 The driving force behind the founding of The Father Life was the lack of media available for today's dads. But it isn't just dads that have been left out; much of what is available as media for both moms and dads is from established names that many new parents feel are out-of-touch with generations X, Y, and beyond. Babble is one of those publications that, like The Father Life, have come into existence to fill that void. Movie Review: The Brave One October 2007 Admittedly my knowledge of British filmmaker Neil Jordan is lacking; I'm more familiar with his older works such as Mona Lisa, his gritty London underworld film from 1986. What he is probably best known for is his academy awarding winning 1992 movie The Crying Game, for which he won the Oscar for best director. The Promise of Palestine September 2007 As individuals with different experiences, we all bring a different perspective to the table. And as parents, we care about the world around us after all, our kids will inherit it someday... Too Many Choices! September 2007 As a father of a 5 year-old and a nearly 2 year-old, I recently discovered a phenomenon that may be obvious to others, but was new to me. Kids can't process too many choices... Family Finance Series (Part 2): Creating A Family Budget That Works September 2007 Remember the days when you hardly made any money, but you got by fine and were having a great time doing it? Ahhh, the good old days. We could always find a way to scrape together enough change to go to Oldies Night on Sundays at the local watering hole because there was no cover charge and beers were only 25 cents until 10PM... Movie Review: The Fallen Idol September 2007 The Fallen Idol from 1948 was the first film created from the collaboration of director Carol Reed and writer Graham Greene... Education: Discovery For Kids And Dads September 2007 Each new school year brings excitement, hope and sometimes, uneasiness for our children. Recently my college-age son and I fell into a conversation that lasted the better part of an evening... Weight Training: Basics Get Big Results September 2007 Most of us put on some "sympathy weight" when our kids come into the world... but with the craziness of family, jobs, and life that weight has a way of sticking around. Getting yourself back into shape is one of the best investments of time and energy you can give yourself and your family... Test Drive: 2007 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE July 2007 I'd love to say that Nissan sent us a nice new Maxima 3.5 SE to fly around in for a week, but we're not quite that cool yet. Maybe someday. The truth is that I had to rent a car for some business travel and ended up with a brand new, gorgeous Maxima 3.5 SE at my disposal for the trip... Family Finances July 2007 As the saying goes, "Men don't worry about the future until they get married," and while that statement is true, many fathers don't really worry too much about their financial future until children come into the picture. So, what happens now that kids are part of the equation? It takes the worry factor to a whole new level!... FINALLY! Great Snacks Done Right! July 2007 Lesser Evil is a newer company that produces great snacks made with real ingredients. Their story? "Simply put, we got fed up. After years of being forced to choose either junk food or healthier 'snacks' that were bland and unsatisfying, we decided it was time to put a stop to this bad snacking...or, as we like to say, prevent these 'Snackcidents!'... There Is No Work / Life Balance April 2007 Ok, I might be over exaggerating a bit, but it got your attention didn't it? And chances are it resonated with you on some level. The truth is that there is work/life balance, just probably not in most of our lives. The fact is that many men in this country have great careers and pathetic family lives... it's not intentional, it just kind of ends up that way. As a friend of mine says, "work is one hell of a drug."... It's Here! 2007 Baseball Season Preview April 2007 In much of the country, snow covers the ground in record amounts, but the sun is bright and the diamond green in Florida. And as grapefruit and cactus league games begin there, baseball fans know that another season is just around the corner... Mike Austin, Radio Dad April 2007 Welcome to our first Spotlight! The Father Life Spotlight is meant to keep you informed about fatherhood-related media that you should know about. We'll be spotlighting everything from people and organizations to websites and blogs. Enjoy... Magni Interview January 2007 Ok, for those of you who didn't watch any TV last summer, Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted, and Gilby Clarke (formerly of Motley Crue, Metallica, and Guns 'N Roses, respectively) aired a reality show on CBS called Rock Star: Supernova... Isn't There a Better Way? January 2007 Last year, the 2006 Rose Bowl between USC and Texas had the highest TV rating for a college football game in 19 years; it was a great game with huge star power between two well-known teams. That's the good news. The bad news is that the Super Bowl has not had a rating as low as the 2006 Rose Bowl since 1967... Fashion Profile January 2007 When the weather turns cold, it doesn't get much better than jeans and a hoodie or sweater for kicking back... Super Bowl Food January 2007 C'mon, you can do better than lousy chips and dip for your Super Bowl party! Artist Profile: Joe Guy Allard January 2007 Joe Guy Allard's style of art is by no means traditional, but it's important, as a new generation is redefining our perception of art... His eclectic blend of styles is representative of a new direction in art; one influenced as much by design, new ideas, and pop culture as by traditional art techniques meshed with digital design... Movie Review: Inside Man January 2007 Inside Man by Spike Lee is considered by many to be his first commercial film. While I agree with this sentiment, I believe that Lee is not simply pandering to a mainstream audience but drawing them in with convention and then offering more substance; straddling the line between commercial and independent... The Art of Fatherhood January 2007 As a single father of a twelve-year old boy I am beginning to understand that fatherhood really is an art. Among other things I am learning that as much as I'd like to continue the semi-dictatorial regime that once ruled my home, the future is turning out to be much more democratic... New Favorites January 2007 A Kodak Digital Camera, Truefitt & Hill Shaving Cream, Cadbury Drinking Chocolate, and a diaper bag that doesn't look like one... The original, full version of The Father Life Issue #1:  HTML |  .PDF |  .DOC
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