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March 5, 2008
Endicott College Sports Information
BEVERLY, Mass. - With a 30-28, 30-17, 30-28 victory over Endicott College on Tuesday night, Paul Dill became the first coach in the history of the MIT men's volleyball program to reach 100 career wins. The nationally-ranked No. 14 Engineers improved to 15-8 on the year and extended their winning streak to four.
MIT opened the match with four straight points, but the Gulls quickly knotted the game and eventually went up, 10-9, capitalizing on a hitting miscue. Powered by a kill and strong serving by Praveen Pamidimukkala, the Engineers regained the lead at 18-14. Endicott battled back and tied the score at 20, which prompted a timeout by MIT. The see-saw battle continued late in the game as both teams were deadlocked at 28. The Engineers rallied to score the final two points to capture the game.
The Cardinal and Gray carried the momentum into the second stanza as it established a 10-6 edge. The visitors pulled ahead, 17-11, by capitalizing on several miscues by the Gulls. Scott Pollom served the Engineers to victory as he helped lead a charge that extended MIT's margin to as many as 13 points.
In the final frame, Endicott inched out to a 9-8 advantage before scoring three straight points to gain some breathing room. The Engineers countered with an 8-2 run that put them ahead, 16-14. The two-point cushion did not last for long as the Gulls rallied to regain the lead at 22-21. Both squads exchanged points over the next several serves with Endicott maintaining its one-point edge, 27-26. MIT immediately tallied the equalizer on a kill by Michael Demyttenaere. Pollom continued his strong night as he found a gap in the back corner of the Gulls' defense, giving the Engineers the lead for good.
Pamidimukkala paced MIT with 14 kills, 10 digs, and three aces as Kenneth Rosche notched 14 kills. Pollom totaled eight kills, four blocks, and two aces while Ryan Dean amassed 38 assists, 11 digs, and four blocks. Matthew Ng rounded out the defense with 10 digs.
A.J. Witkofsky led Endicott with 14 kills and 12 digs as Zeke Kubisch posted 10 kills. Ben Foster distributed 41 assists while Dan Coleman collected 15 digs.


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Despite the worst drought since 1956, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that U.S. wheat farmers will produce a larger crop than last year and will stand ready once again to supply high quality wheat to the world.
In its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released July 11, USDA lowered its 2012/2013 U.S. wheat production estimate for the second straight month to 60.5 million metric tons (MMT).
However, that is still 12 percent greater than last year's production and 2 percent above the five-year average.
A larger hard red winter (HRW) crop accounts for much of the total increase. In its first by-class estimates of the year, USDA estimated HRW production up 32 percent from last year to 28.1 MMT.
The July WASDE indicates HRW production is on pace to become the largest crop since 2008/2009, exceeding the five-year average by 10 percent.
As of July 15, 80 percent of the HRW crop is in the bins, ahead of the worst of the drought in most places.
USDA also expects hard red spring (HRS) wheat production to rebound in 2012/2013, despite the lowest planted area since 1983/1984. USDA forecasts HRS production at 11.8 MMT, up 9 percent from last year but 13 percent below the five-year average.
Greater yields in North Dakota, which produces about half of all HRS, will help offset the reduced acreage. USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) expects North Dakota's HRS yields will average 40 bushels per acre, up from 30.5 bushels per acre in 2011/2012.
Most north of heat, drought
Most of the spring wheat production area is north of where other spring-related crops are suffering from heat and drought. Virtually all of the U.S. HRS crop has headed, and USDA's latest conditions report shows that 65 percent of the crop in good to excellent condition with 27 percent in fair condition as of July 15.
After a year with the lowest durum production since 1988/1989, U.S. production including Desert Durum (virtually all of which is irrigated) will increase 62 percent in 2012/2013 to 2.23 MMT according to USDA. Estimated harvested acreage in the top durum producing state, North Dakota, for 2012/2013 now stands at nearly double the 2011/2012 number, and yields are expected to improve from 25.5 bushels per acre to 31.0 bushels per acre, according to NASS.
USDA expects both soft red winter (SRW) and white wheat production to fall following above-average crops last year. SRW production will fall an estimated 6 percent from 2011/2012 to 11.7 MMT but remain 4 percent above the five-year average of 11.2 MMT.
White wheat production will fall 18 percent from the 15-year high of 8.53 MMT reached in 2011/2012 to 7.03 MMT this year. If realized, white wheat would fall just below the five-year average of 7.08 MMT.
Although the U.S. wheat production outlook is positive, world weather conditions are affecting prices. Uncertainty about Black Sea wheat conditions and a rapidly declining U.S. corn crop have helped drive wheat futures sharply higher at a time when prices normally decline.
Since June 1, the benchmark CBOT September SRW contract gained 40 percent, KCBT (HRW) increased 37 percent and MGEX (HRS) gained 33 percent.
As the corn crop declines, global wheat feeding will likely increase. Some analysts also predict quite a bit of volatility in this "weather market" and suggest that the market will not stabilize until the final impact of the drought becomes clear, probably by late August or early September.
For more from U.S. Wheat Associates, please visit http://www.uswheat.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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Daniel Craig: 'Adventures of Tintin' Premiere!
Daniel Craig arrives at the premiere of his new movie, The Adventures of Tintin, on Sunday (October 23) at the Odeon West End in London, England.
The 43-year-old English actor voices criminal Ivanovich Sakharine in the computer generated 3D film.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Daniel Craig
Here's the film's synopsis: "Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor. But someone else is in search of the ship."
10+ pictures inside of Daniel Craig at the premiere of The Adventures of Tintin…


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Whole Wheat Flax'N Apple Muffins
Yield: 12 muffins
1/4 cup ground flax seed
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup AP flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups finely chopped apples. I used 1 apple.
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup soy milk
1/2 cup chopped peanuts or any kind of nuts you like
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- Combine all dry ingredients except nuts and apples in a bowl.
- Beat egg, sugar, vegetable oil, and milk together in a seperated bowl.
- Add dry mixture into egg mixture and stir until blended. You don't really have to use a mixer. if you don't have it. Stiring it with fork works just fine. I used a stand mixer with stir to low speed.
- Fold in nuts and apples. Batter will be thick.
- Line tint cups on a muffin tray. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop out batter 2/3 full to a tray.
- Bake for 18 mins or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
|Fold in apples and nuts
|Fill 2/3 cup full
|They look great, taste great, and smell great!
|Would you like a bite?


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The Buckeyes had little trouble in either contest. In the first game they jumped out to a 22-0 halftime lead before cruising to a 42-6 victory. They bent a little defensively at times during the game, but never broke. They did struggle a bit with extra points in the second half of the game, but were so much more talented that their opponent that it was never an issue.
In the second game, the Bucks continued to struggle with extra points, missing all three of their attempts, but they still had a commanding 18-0 lead at the half. The improved in that area in the second half and made one 2-point conversion and a 1-point conversion, and rolled to a 39-6 win.
Gilmer is in a tough pool at the State Tournament, as they will face Cuero, Boerne and Sweetwater in Pool L play on Thursday games at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. All 64 teams participating will advance to the playoffs beginning at either 8 or 9 a.m. Friday morning. The top two teams in each pool will go into the Championship Bracket and the bottom two teams will drop to the Consolation Bracket.
In order to win State on Friday, the Bucks would have to play and win five games. Friday's games are single elimination, and when you lose, you're done. Gilmer has lost only one game during the 7on7 season. That loss was to Waskom at the first tournament held at Buckeye Stadium back in late May. The Bucks have a very legitimate chance to win the Title this week.
The Mirror will have complete coverage both online and in the printed paper. Good luck, Buckeyes. We're cheering for you to win the first of two State Championships in football this year!


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Must-Read Moms Runners-up: More Mom Blogs We Love
From the hilarious to the heartwarming, check out 40+ mom blogs we can't stop reading
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"This afternoon, a woman I had never met before came into my bedroom and asked to see my breasts. Within 20 minutes she was squeezing them and it wasn't objectionable at all. In fact, I paid her to do so. Oh the Lactation Consultant, she has changed my life."
Why We Love It: Amy is extremely hilarious and honest, using video, pictures, thoughtful posts to show humor in breastfeeding and motherhood.
"When she walked away, Amy and I reverted to mean moms. We did. We talked about this mom. I admit it. I don't see a shopping cart as a girl toy. [...] I don't play into girl toys and boy toys. JD eats Cheerios out of his pink Dora bowl every morning. I didn't force it on him--he picked it out."
Why We Love It: Written by Christine Coppa, Glamour.com's modern mom blog tackles her unexpected journey into single motherhood.
"I don't know about you, but I find it comforting every single time I see a new study published where the researchers were focusing on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Even if I can't read it because I have no idea what half the words mean (prodromal? specificity?), I'm still delighted to learn that someone out there cares."
Why We Love It: After suffering from postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder with her first child, Katherine Stone created this informative blog to educate and provide support for those dealing with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
The Broke Socialite
"He is your typical teenaged boy...listens to his music too loud, leaves a trail of socks between his bedroom and his bathroom and got caught cutting class (he went to Taco Bell...alone...Tip: If you're going to skip, make it good, Son. Not over a burrito. Alone.) a couple of weeks ago."
Why We Love It: Shameeka Ayers gives tips, tricks and advice on how to live like a socialite without spending like one. She's got great (budget-conscious) recipes, points her readers to fantastic deals and steals on everything from designer clothing to home decor. Her Modern Manners Monday posts, which ask readers for their advice on etiquette, elicit great response from her readers.
Princess Nebraska
"I think sometimes maybe we're overexposed to parenting horror stories, us folks who spend a lot of time hanging out here on the internet. Sometimes it seems like everyone out there had a difficult baby, or that's what you hear about, and so you think that whatever your baby is up to can't actually be that bad."
Why We Love It: Elizabeth isn't the biggest blogger out there, but she's one of the best and most vulnerable writers.
To Think is to Create
"We beat the odds when they told us parents of autism have an 80% divorce rate. Though we did test that theory...And then our daughter was born. Born asleep. Born into God's arms. And you held her and I saw love unlike any I'd ever known. Your rough and strong hands delicately cradling her earthly vessel. Singing to her like we always had every other baby."
Why We Love It: This is an amazingly thoughtful blog written by the mom of three autistic sons. Life isn't easy, but Arianne is incredibly introspective, and does a terrific job opening her heart and mind to her readers, which seems cathartic not only to her but for her loyal audience, which regularly offers up virtual hugs to Arianne.
"Before I was a mother, I didn't really care for other people's children. Sure, I could appreciate a cute one here and there, but I was never particularly drawn to the little creatures. Puppies were where it was at."
Why We Love It: This funny blogger speaks the truths about motherhood, when other mothers aren't willing to admit it.
"I turn 50 today. I've been going around making surprised faces and saying, 'Yes, I know, I can hardly believe it.' Then I tuck my flab into my low-rise cougar jeans, and tighten the straps on my high-heeled gladiator sandals, so they cut attractively into my swollen ankles."
Why We Love It: San Francisco- based single mom, Lisa Okuhn writes about politics, current events and parenting a teenage boy to hilarious effect.
"I knew that he was going to be just like his Dad. Valedictorian of his class...captain of the football team. So when the director of his prestigious preschool pulled me aside and whispered 'I think Jack may not belong here...' I was shocked. Defensive. I just couldn't see it."
Why We Love It: This activist mom writes about her son's severe autism and agitates for more research. She is a total fighter for her son and doesn't gloss over the sadness she still feels about the diagnosis. She also provides a lot of valuable information for people just getting a diagnosis.
"In these early preschool years, I'm baffled as to why my husband's fatherly behavior is perceived to be so rare. Why are so many women surprised to see him go beyond the 'goofy-dad' role and see him actually nurturing, caring, and tending to her?"
Why We Love It: Melanie is a Floridian of Puerto Rican descent. She gives us traditional mom blog information -- giveaways, parenting tips, food -- but with some Latina flavor thrown in. She embodies the acculturated, bilingual American of Latin descent -- interested in the same sorts of things everyone else is, but she also provides a welcome mat for the increasing number of Latinas who are seeking information online.
"Henry (loudly): You curse in front of me!?
Me: I do not. Your father does. Please get the two of us straight.
Henry: I don't know, 'shoot' sounds worse to me. Because it's like guns.
Me: You're absolutely right. Stick with 'shoot.' Much worse."
Why We Love It: Though hardly undiscovered, this blog is so hilarious, off-the-wall, and completely clever.
"My mother is descended from a race of people who are compulsive clean-freaks. The stories of my great aunts who each had their own personal broom and dustpan are legendary. These people cleaned things. Every. Day. And liked it. Sadly, that part of my Cuban ancestry must be recessive."
Why We Love It: Fantastic writing from the Latina perspective. On Tiki Tiki, being Latina is a celebration on its face, but also a testament to how much we all -- no matter our culture, background, race, financial status, etc. -- can find common ground in being humans who want to live an authentic life and raise our kids to be that much more better than us. (And the recipes?! Oh. My.)
"After the age of 10, Paige started to turn on me. She started making me do things like go to Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Gilly Hicks all in one day (which is just cruel). She ran up my phone bill by sending something like 15,000 text messages in one month. [...] She stopped holding my hand (even when no one was looking). Obviously, this was all very traumatic for me."
Why We Love It: Giyen Kim is the single mom of a teenage daughter, who lives on an island off the coast of Seattle. She writes with great wit about the trials of raising a teenager and her battle with losing weight.
Fabulous Financials
"We spent less than $300 on prom. This includes her dress, alterations, shoes, clutch, jewelry, hair, makeup, nails, corsage, prom ticket, limo and dinner. If I may say so myself, my baby looked absolutely gorgeous! I'm the Bargain Hunter Queen."
Why We Love It: Although Single Ma's focus has shifted somewhat for 2010, in 2009, she did more of what she's done best for years: shed light on the personal and financial struggles and planning of a single mom. She's smart, savvy, and honest. Those needing financial advice will find her no-nonsense approach informative, and those not needing financial instruction will still be fascinated to follow along with her steps towards building a full life for herself, one practical goal at a time.
The Road Less Travelled
"An inevitable fear of childless women, of course, is "What will happen to me when I grow old? Who will take care of me?" [...] While we hope that friends & relatives will look out for us, the fact is that (even if we do have children!), most of us will wind up living alone at some point in our lives."
Why We Love It: A mother without her child gracefully and inquisitively navigates a world where her counterparts have living children. Lori's child was born still and she and her husband decided to live child-free after infertility. She is someone who is deeply comfortable with her decisions and is happy to discuss them and help others over that hump when they decide to live child-free -- which does not mean that she is grief-free even if she is comfortable with her choices. Her posts are always eye-opening and extremely respectful of others' decisions as well.
"Dear Volkswagen,
Your current ad campaign resurrecting the Slug Bug/Punch Buggy concept is very cute. [...] But for placing your ads on Nick Jr - and thereby teaching my children to beat the crap out of each other while howling "BLUE ONE!" - I hope you die in a fire."
Why We Love It: Her ability to laugh AT her kids isn't insulting or disturbing when she writes about it. Readers do not feel the least bit guilty giggling along as she posts pictures of her children wearing crazy hats or expressions.
"I have seen children flying and flitting through stores with such speedy and breakneck joie de vivre that it makes my heart ache for my own childhood...only for that fond reminiscence to come to a screaming halt when a kid trips and smacks his head (eyeball) on a display table."
Why We Love It: This "Irish-Polish-Lithuanian-Italian-PA Dutch" mom blogger chronicles hilarious adventures in detail, making this laugh-out-loud blog one you'll definitely want to bookmark.
Baby Makin(g) Machine
"When I bribe or threaten my baby to come out it doesn't mean I don't believe she won't come out when she's ready... I know she will, but that doesn't mean I won't try to make her ready. [...] I'm sure she doesn't MIND being fashionably late for the sake of putting on a few extra pounds and lots of locks. This is my daughter we're talking about."
Why We Love It: Jennifer, a.k.a. Future Mama, is absolutely AH-dorable. She kicked off her blog last year with posts pondering whether she and her husband of five years (both of them are in their 20s--fresh, young, and breath still smelling like Similac!) should get pregnant. Baby Makin(g) Machine is about her journey from young wife to pregnant young mom-to-be. We love the innocence of her posts; she genuinely thinks about every angle of conception, pregnancy, and motherhood, and invites her readers to give her advice on everything from how to keep the grandparents in check to whether she should be a stay-at-home mom to the "push" gifts she wants from the hubs.
Read more of Jennifer Johnson's posts on Project Pregnancy!
The Family Room
"For the sake of clarity, he's on the autism spectrum; autistic if you prefer. Still is, probably always will be. We're not talking recovery or magical thinking here. His autism is a part of him, as much as his sandy hair, his brown eyes, his impish sense of humor."
Why We Love It: Susan's generous spirit, intelligence, and craft set whatever she writes aglow, especially when she writes about her son and his autism.
"I went out to hang a load of laundry on the line. I am sort of relishing saying that. Like saying 'I went out to pick black raspberries for breakfast.' It has elements of both idyll and righteousness: I am Mother, and I am serene and lovely as I go about my simple and lovely daily household tasks."
Why We Love It: Swistle has a way of explaining something that makes everyone, even if they disagree with her point, totally understand where she's coming from. Also, she's hilarious.
"I'm still getting used to the new routine, one week on and one week off at a time. The weeks without the kids are all about me, which makes me feel strangely guilty and self-indulgent, but Note To Self: you live alone now. Who else are the lonely weeks going to be about? The dog?"
Why We Love It: Based out of Washington, Amanda is honest, upfront, and hilarious, and offers great words of wisdom and adorable photos of her two kids.
"My children's birthdays are a month apart, which meant we had back-to-back birthday parties at the rat lair, otherwise known as Chuck E. Cheese. I have made my distaste for Chuck E. known, which is probably why both my kids love it so much. TO TORTURE ME."
Why We Love It: Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, former television writer and producer Lindsay Ferrier writes about her blended family (one daughter, one son, and two teenage step-daughters) with honesty and wit.
"A local parent who disseminates all manner of autism-related information and misinformation had circulated an email with a SafeMinds headline asserting that "scientific evidence" had emerged linking autism, vaccines, and mercury. Suppressing the impulse to hurl all over the beach towels at the prospect of yet another mole to whack (or, more unlikely, something valid to grapple with), I asked what the gist of the 'evidence' was."
Why We Love It: Emily is a scientist, homeschooler, and fearless thinker who relentlessly explodes assumptions about parenting and autism.
"As my mom says, the worrying won't completely stop since that is a part of a mother's job. [...] Why can't I just be one of those calm, relaxed, not-a-care-in-the-world people? Can you buy that type of personality?"
Why We Love It: This new mom chronicles her life in detailed posts describing everyday encounters and (lots!) of adorable photos.
"I might be slipping, figuring that the next step is to spend my next free Saturday night glued to the TV, watching depressing movies, pigging out on pizza, Fruit Loops and Capri Sun -- so that I can be a complete cliche. Oh, I kid. That's not gonna happen. Who ever heard of a mother having a free Saturday night?"
Why We Love It: Tere is raw, honest, funny, and daring. She writes about the things that mostly stay in the folds of our own brains -- our wants, our foibles, our desire to improve ourselves. She has written candidly about her marriage, her divorce, and her child. We have traveled with her through her fears and her joys.
"In this mission to raise her bilingual, I am guilty of using certain words in English for their simplicity and ease in memorizing them. Am I doing something wrong? Sometimes it's just that I simply don't remember the word in Spanish; other times it's that the word in Spanish is much longer and therefore harder for a two-year-old to pronounce."
Why We Love It: Roxana and Ana run one of the most informative and thoughtful sites on the Web. They share their own stories about raising bilingual children in the U.S. and they pull together the best experts in the field of language and family out there. Spanglishbaby is a beautiful and thriving community that reaches not just Latinos, but anyone who is raising a bilingual child.
"Um. Yeah. W is totally that kid. He made several kids cry at Ikea this weekend. (Yes I go there often. It has a free indoor play area and it is air conditioned and I can usually convince friends to join me there. AKA: please hold W so I can pee.)"
Why We Love It: She is a single parent by choice, living with her mother and (until recently) her grandmother--four generations together. She is funny and sassy and has a huge heart. We love her parenting posts about raising her son, but we also love her posts about her grandmother who had Alzheimer's and passed away this year.
"Anyone want to adopt two girls? They're only slightly used, potty trained and eat only when forced. (Make sure you've got plenty of ranch dressing and hot sauce.)"
Why We Love It: This is the blog you go-to when you need to chuckle, only you will be laughing in full guffaws before you leave. Short but hilarious/poignant posts consistently.
"The woman who sold us this house used to let a bobcat sleep in the shed. A bobcat who seemed nice because it purred. She told us this after she had walked us through the house to 'explain' a few things. Only, later we found out that all those explanations were lies. So we started to think that maybe it was a mythical bobcat. Which, hey. That's kind of awesome."
Why We Love It: Not exactly an undiscovered gem, but it has been a joy reading about the birth of her second child, her unexpectedly med-free birth and her struggle not to fall into postpartum depression (She was committed after her first child). No one does zany tinged with sweetness better.
Into the Woods, Living Deliberately
"When you have a special needs kid you begin the race of parenting with one hand tied behind your back, no map of the course, and a delayed start. There are no books which have been able to help me parent my particular child. They have all been too cheesy, or too sad, or too assuming, except perhaps My Baby Rides the Short Bus."
Why We Love It: Jennifer never retreats from the realities of parenting a child with multiple disabilities, nor does she hesitate to share her life's hard-won sweetness. She makes readers want to be her best friend.
Smitten Kitchen
"These are not bad problems to have; "Woe is me! My peaches are too juicy!" doesn't exactly make a room nod in sympathy but the week I made the mistake of letting the peaches go a whole 48 hours uneaten the only thing left to with the misshapen lot was to bake them."
Why We Love It: Smitten Kitchen is a beautiful, photography-rich recipe site -- but it's so much more. Before sharing recipes that are simple enough that anyone can do it, but fancy enough to make you feel like a true gourmet, Deb writes really witty background on the recipes which can range from the history of the dish, to where she first had it, and why she was inspired to make it, to why it's just the best dish to have.
"I was going back to work after having said eleven-week old and the pantyhose was a last-ditch effort at getting my pants on without my thighs exploding from them all Incredible Hulk-style. (I had to go out the next day and buy three pairs of pants in a jaw-droppingly large size.) (It sucked.)"
Why We Love It: Emily can turn a small insignificant anecdote into the funniest story you've ever heard. If you need a laugh, you are guaranteed one here. She can make pretty much any topic hilarious, and makes no bones about the fact that parenting is the most frustrating job in the world.
From Here to There and Back
"If I could ease one thing for my son, it would be the disconnect between his brain and his body. The way one doesn't always follow the other's directions. It wouldn't take away his fear, but it would go a long way toward enabling him to master the things he still can't do--like scaling the u-bars on the playground, or riding a bike, or playing little league on the big field."
Why We Love It: Kristen's clean, crisp style underscores the heartache and stark joys of mothering a son with invisible disabilities.
The Arthur Clan
"There are many locations in this beautiful country of ours that I look forward to seeing with my family in the future as well. But there is nothing (absolutely nothing!) like pulling back into our driveway whether I've only been gone for a few hours, a day or a week. And just being...home."
Why We Love It: If a picture is worth 1,000 words, the Arthur Clan is War and Peace. This is a totally delicious blog about the family of photographer Angie Arthur, told in pictures. Her posts can be heartfelt, funny, sweet, and always beautiful, especially when she trains her lens on her four beautiful children.
"Five years later, five miscarriages later, I wake up in the morning with the same thought, each and every day... just around the time I am staring into a mirror and putting on my makeup... 'Is this sadness ever going to leave me?'"
Why We Love It: She is funny and self-deprecating, but she is also serious and thought-provoking. She can put into words that anger we all feel from time to time about the unfairness of life, which we think is an amazing talent.
Irene Nam
"Some days I wonder. If balance is something that has to be achieved, or is experienced ever so briefly whenever I find pure joy in the little details and ordinary moments that collectively provide a glimpse of what a fulfilling, imperfect, authentic and happy life truly is."
Why We Love It: Irene is a photographer and writer based in Paris, France. Although English is actually her third language, she is astonishingly fluent (almost poetic), chronicling her life with her twin boys with frankness and poignancy. A beautiful site.
Still Life with Circles
"Lucy shows up a lot in our conversations now. Just ordinary conversations about the boy/girl ratio in our family, or who looks like whom. I love those moments when it feels like Lucy is living a normal life with us. And it hits me that I have three children, not just the two I am looking at. Not that I ever forget Lucy-girl, it is just easy to get wrapped up in the two whose butts I am wiping."
Why We Love It: This blog is written by a talented writer who covers her living daughter, the death of her second daughter, and now her current pregnancy. Reading her blog is like eating a dense, protein-rich meal. You always leave full.
"I know why you are giving us that look. You feel bad for my child: Poor little boy. He is so cute, too bad he has some sort of disability, which is clear to see because he is drooling. He can't quite use his hands. [...] You feel bad for me, too: Poor woman, she has a child with special needs. Her life must be so difficult. But that sympathetic look you are giving us is making me uncomfortable."
Why We Love It: This inspiring and informative blog is written by a mom whose son has cerebral palsy. From dispelling misconceptions about parents of special needs kids to describing Max's everyday adventures, this blog is honest and beautifully written.
Tea & Honey Bread
"I reflected on the twenty-two birthdays Favorite Guy and I have shared together and the family we've created, thinking how young we both were, and my heart sank. Ack! We were Jordan's age! In a moment of clarity magnified by the tears welling behind my camera lens, I realized that my leading man- the one before me, cheeks puffed to exaggerated capacity for a single candle-is someone's 'boy'."
Why We Love It: She's thoughtful, her words are beautiful, her ideas are creative, and we adore her insight into life as a mom, a wife, and an all-around artist and thinker.
This is Worthwhile
"I parent Hollis with a keen memory of my own experiences as a shy child and also with the educational awareness of a counselor -- I want very badly not to project my own childhood personality (and issues) onto him -- I want him to navigate this world as Hollis, not as Jessica's Son, so when I knew he was going to protest me leaving I was truly torn."
Why We Love It: Jessica has captured the sandwich generation dilemma perfectly -- the heart ache of care facilities and cost; the impossible balance of caring for child and home and trying to be a reliable support for a grandmother; feeling the need to give back to your aging relative some of the love she showered on you growing up. Jessica takes you on her journey with great prose, great pics and great heart.
Is There Any Mommy Out There?
"In the beginning, I utilized their new found need to turn everything into a race -- from sitting down at the dinner table to getting their pajamas on -- to my advantage. [...] That quickly backfired, becoming dangerous, what with the pushing on the stairs, and the screaming tantrums thrown by whichever two children failed, for whatever reason, to complete the assigned task first."
Why We Love It: Stacey is such a treat to read. She is so very clever; her poignant posts tug at the emotions -- make you laugh, cry, nod your head furiously in agreement when she writes about her journey as a mom of four, all under age 6, including an adopted daughter from Haiti. She hits all the right notes, and always manages to include an emotional "a ha!" moment in her pieces, whether they're about the crazy antics of her children, or the frustrations of living out of the country with kids, or her deep and abiding love of her husband, whose support was pitch perfect as the two dealt with the in-vitro loss of one of their twins.
"The challenges of sex at this point in pregnancy do not make for the most romantic, amazing experience ever, but we still had some fun. It's quite difficult, though, to clear your head of non-sexy thoughts. You know, things like mucous plugs..."
Why We Love It: This is a blog written by husband and wife (he said, she said format). It's great to hear things from a male perspective. The authors are very descriptive and great at interacting with the readers (i.e. asking questions at the end of each post).
Like a Shark
"Back when she was little and I was convinced that she had --ahem-- speech delay -- we were going through evaluations and diagnosis. The evaluator at the time gave me vague and terse and mysterious answers to my quivery questions. To say that the professionals involved were unskilled at bedside manner would be an understatement. They scared the holy hell out of me."
Why We Love It: Francine writes with a force that spears your heart on her stylus. Yet she's smart, warm, witty, and beyond fabulous.
"Yes, I still want another head to wash in the bath at night, baby curls encrusted with the day's leavings. I want to rock with another sweaty head on my shoulder in the wee hours, to calm the fears of another sleepless one."
Why We Love It: Evenshine is poetic, thoughtful, funny, and honest. You can always laugh, or ponder, or relax when reading her writing, which can be about anything to her longing for another child, to her students, to news and pop culture.
Bread 'Em and Weep
"My life now: I wince easily. I flinch. I duck. I double over. I gasp at what I find, and cry at what I can no longer find. I hold my own truth up to the light. Sometimes, I can see right through it. Sometimes, it blocks out the sun."
Why We Love It: Berkshire mom and successful playwright Jennifer Mattern has been writing poetry and comical musings on this thoughtful blog since 2005.
"When I wake up on Monday morning, instead of finding a clean house and an organized work space, I'll find a heart full of great memories from this past weekend."
Why We Love It: Ali Edwards is a life artist and scrapbooker extraordinaire. A mother of two, her blog is chock-full of examples of how to capture the small special moments of your life, though photography and both digital and traditional scrapbooking, interspersed with her own thoughts and musings on her own life.
"The easiest way to screw up your baby's awesome sleep habits is to talk about how awesome they are. At the beginning of July, we were visiting with friends who asked about how well Olivia sleeps. Doesn't everyone? 'Is she a good sleeper?' 'Does she sleep through the night?' Because they want to know if your baby is good or bad."
Why We Love It: The author is painfully honest with a sarcastic humorous tone about the reality of parenthood. She says what most mothers are afraid to say out loud, and further explains her thoughts through funny photos.
"Last week I noticed my license was weeks expired. A shocking realization to some but for me it was more like, 'Oh look! I'm late again,' because that's kind of what I do best. Poor Hal, who has decorated our house with calendars; who personally texts me daily tasks so that I don't forget to take our son to the dentist or, you know, school."
Why We Love It: Hip L.A. mom Rebecca Woolf writes LOL-funny posts on beauty, healthy eating, and her transition from a rock-and-roll lifestyle to motherhood.
ExecumamaMeet our 10 favorite bloggers for 2010
"Ever wish your stomach didn't look like it needed a good hot iron and some spray starch to get the wrinkles (bka stretch marks) out? Me too, chile! We birthed babies, our bodies changed, and then we were left standing in our mirrors thinking, 'How the hell am I supposed to feel about this?' I struggle with it at times."
Why We Love It: This mom blogger chronicles her work/life balance as a young mom and wife. Her motto is that we CAN do it all. She does a really nice mix of written posts and vlogging, and sometimes even lets her daughters take the reigns.


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I am an atheist/ agnostic but after careful thinking, I've decided that perhaps virulently promoting atheism (as this community is doing) isn't really good for society. Please don't get offended, just read my arguments below calmly and rationally. If you can argue that I am wrong, I will listen to those arguments and change my opinion.
Note 1: I am using science in all my arguments, not religion.Not all my links point to scientific studies, but I'm sure you could find relevant evolutionary psychology papers if you googled for it.
Note 2: Please don't take offense, I'm not a sexist or a misogynist. I am trying hard to be as unemotional as possible in my arguments.
Argument 1: Polygamy is bad for society
What percentage of our (pre-civilizational/ barbaric) ancestors are males? The answer is not 50%. As evolutionary psychology points out, 80% of our female ancestors managed to reproduce but only 40% of our male ancestors did so. (Link: http://www.psy.fsu.edu/~baumeistertice/goodaboutmen.htm). Simply put, in barbaric societies, males were the high-risk high-reward sex whereas females were the low-risk low-reward sex.
Males are genetically polygynous (interested in sex with as many women as possible - this makes sense as men can produce millions of sperm every day and have a low reproductive cost)
Females are naturally hypergamous (interested in only one man but the best; the top 'alpha' man - this makes sense as a female produces one egg per month and has a high reproductive cost due to pregnancy and child birth).
When sexuality is uncontrolled, the combination of male polygyny and female hypergamy results in polygamy a.k.a harems (one man having sex & children with multiple women).
The ones who suffer are the beta males - the ones who have been sexually selected out. They typically become violent and don't contribute to society. There is an argument to be made that the Taliban practices polygamy and this is the source of violent behavior of terrorists from that part of the world. (Link: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200706/ten-politically-inco...)
When promiscuity is controlled through strictly enforced monogamy, every man gets a wife. This reduces violent behavior and unlocks the productive capacity in males. I don't have the link available but a man who is already married or believes that he will marry in the future will be 4x productive as an unmarried man who does not believe that he will ever marry (e.g.) Japanese grass-eaters ostracized by an increasingly promiscuous Japan (Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/27/japan-grass-eaters-sala...)
Alpha men don't significantly contribute to society - they are not scientific geniuses or hard workers. They are typically physically aggressive men. Contrary to feminist dogma, physically dominant men (even dominant to the point of abusive) are attractive to women because they exhibit alpha tendencies - The Dark Triad of Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy.
Alpha men understand their higher attractiveness (compared to betas) and adopt a pump-and-dump sexual attitude. They have many sexual partners but don't bother helping with raising their young; some of their young will die due to lack of resources but they make up for it in numbers.
Betas adopt a nourish-and-protect sexual attitude. They have only one sexual partner, whom they win by proving their love and commitment. Then they have children with only this partner, but provide resources and protection to ensure their children grow up successfully.
Monogamy is the cornerstone of civilization. See the Moralia versus Libertalia argument (Link: http://www.hookingupsmart.com/2011/10/14/relationshipstrategies/how...). In a monogamous society, with greater male economic participation and lesser violence, prosperity, rule of law and art flourish.
Argument 2: Promiscuity naturally leads to beta ostracism and harms society
Promiscuity - Defn: Any form of sex outside of monogamous marriage (including exclusive relationships)
Non-exclusive relationships (polyamorous relationships) are almost always polygamous (one alpha man with many women). This results in many beta men losing out.
Exclusive relationships also result in beta men losing out - Why? If enough alpha men are not available, hypergamous females would rather not enter into any relationship at all rather than be with beta men - "The Where have all the good men gone?" tirade from many women in modern promiscuous culture.
Promiscuity is the leading cause of single motherhood. Many women will rather have children with alpha men (who will later abandon them) rather than with good beta providers (whom they find dull and boring).
The social effects of unleashed promiscuity are enormous - 40% out of wedlock births, single motherhood and increased Govt debt/ taxation to support single motherhood by the State which steps in to replace the father.
Single motherhood produces children 2 to 10 times more likely to suffer from:
(Link: http://owningyourshit.blogspot.com/2012/03/transcript-of-fempocalyp...)
Argument 3: Atheism promotes promiscuity (Edit: by being silent about it)
I am not saying that atheism caused promiscuity (that happened in the 60s due to a variety of other reasons including feminism) but atheism has played a role in the rise of moral relativism, especially with respect to promiscuity.
The Golden Rule is perhaps the first tenet of religious morality but it is not the only one. The second most important tenet of religious morality is monogamy.
I have seen many arguments about how atheists are equally moral (if not more so) than religious people. In all these arguments, people assume that morality = Golden Rule.
Based on my personal experiences, many atheists seem to think that:
Morality = the Golden Rule
Promiscuity = personal freedom (i.e.) promiscuity is acceptable behavior that the Church restricts because the Church is old and stupid. Many atheists don't seem to realize the far reaching social effects of promiscuity.
This moral relativism on promiscuity is obvious even in this site. For example http://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/atheists-are-not-moral-peo... does not deal with promiscuity at all. http://www.thinkatheist.com/forum/topics/what-is-your-stance-on-mar... has answers from many atheists clearly exhibiting moral relativism on the subject of promiscuity.
[Edit: The majority of your arguments were against this. I can understand why this may look like a strawman argument. Let me clarify:
There is a strong correlation between divorce risk and low IQ. There is also a strong correlation between high IQ and atheism (giving you folks a compliment, take it :) ).
Atheism as a movement, originated primarily amongst high IQ society. But it has now gone mainstream and is growing fast, scarily fast almost. As Uncle Ben put it, "with great power comes great responsibility". But Atheism does not seem to be taking up that responsibility from the Church. Yes, the Church is broken and old and corrupt and its practitioners are bigots and hypocrites. But, it is still the only thing out there taking a stand against promiscuity. Atheists seem to walk away from the responsibility of condemning promiscuity and most Atheists promote sexual freedom.
Morality naturally comes to Atheists because they are high-IQ individuals who are better able to visualize the impact of their life choices in the future. But, as atheism goes mainstream and the Church dies out, what happens to all the voices condemning promiscuous behavior?
We are not more evolved now in anyway than we were in the past. We are, still at our core, apes struggling to build great civilizations. We all (especially low IQ individuals) need moral guidance to help us in this struggle, to make better life choices.
Can you point links to me about prominent Atheists condemning promiscuity? Is the Atheist movement willing to take up the mantle of promoting social morality from the Church after slaying it? ]
[Edit 2: I am not a troll, I've just been super busy last few days, I will have more time this weekend to reply to some comments below. The essential thing I am trying to say is that religion is not pure evil, and we should not look at it in terms of black and white.
There are definitely good things about religion. There is a very interesting theory that religions also evolve over time and the most popular religions are the most useful ones to society, and they became popular precisely because they were an advantage to societies that adopted them. For example, societies with religions that promoted monogamy were almost always more successful in combat over societies that had religions that did not emphasize monogamy. The reason is because in societies that practiced monogamy, soldiers had a genetic stake in survival of that society (they had their own children to protect). Rome fell because of polygamy - the top politicians had harems and orgies and monopolized the women, resulting in loss of morale amongst troops who did not get the chance to be fathers. Rome was increasingly forced to rely on mercenaries rather than patriotic troops to protect her. After the treasury ran out, Rome collapsed because disenfranchised beta males, who had no genetic stake in Rome, simply walked off and allowed the barbarians to invade.
My point of view has always been "What is best for society?", and not "What is true?". Atheism is the correct working hypothesis because there is no proof for God and we have to use Occam's razor at all times. I don't see any downside consequences of high IQ people discovering/ discussing Atheism. But, we have a moral obligation (as the high IQ elites in our society) to do what's best for society. Imagine a ghetto filled with the poorest, uneducated people in our society. We have to make the decisions that will benefit them.
I don't really have a problem with Atheism, but I have significant issues with the Atheist Movement. For instance, take the advertisement "There is no God, Relax". This advertisement is targeted at people who have made bad choices in their life and have been sexually irresponsible. They are probably feeling guilty about these choices and the Atheist Movement is offering them an easy way out. It tells them "There is no Hell or Heaven, so relax and continue making bad choices". In reality, there is no hell or heaven, but there are societal consequences of your choices. In reality, guilt is often a very useful biological mechanism for correcting bad behavior, but Atheism is offering them a way to rationalize away their guilt so that they can continue making bad choices. I am speaking about this from personal experience, I have known people who commit adultery and rationalize their guilt because they think that the concept of 'sin' is meaningless as there is no God.
Also, to all people accusing me of being a sexist and having double standards, I am not asking for double standards from men and women; I am demanding high standards of expected social morality from both sexes. How is that sexist in any way?]
I am going to judge the merit of a social construct on the basis of its usefulness, not on the basis of its truthfulness. I will only promote an idea to society only if I am convinced it will help society.
If the Traditional Conservative Church (not the Modern version that tolerates no-fault divorce) is useful to society as an institution that encourages monogamy, I would rather have that than Atheism.
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Fair enough. I tend to play my interpretations fast and loose. At the very least it'll give this discussion a different perspective from the trending hate and discontent. I say some of these people should take it as a sort of 'worst case scenario' rather than an attack considering he regularly states that he's not trying to cause a stir.
I can think of one thing. Alpha males snatching up all the women. Kinda hard to get laid when chivalry gets passed up for douchebaggerry.
you sure have a narrow view of women!! that is the point of all the discussion on this thread. men in general view women as vessels of procreation, an attitude which crosses the entire spectrum of beliefs/non-beliefs and any other factor you can come up with.
history shows us that human beings are NOT monogomous by choice or by nature, but that monogamy is a social contract that was developed and imposed to control women and their reproductive capabilities. from the earliest 'civilization' records we see men trying to control women for sexual reproductive reasons. we are now finding that women are just as likely to have been promiscuous as men as far back as they can determine. religions in general are created as a means of controlling the masses through fear, fear and surprise, and an almost fanatical.. wait, that's a monty python sketch... sorry.. and what better way to control men, than to control their natural desire to procreate with any willing female.
anthropology has a lot to say on this and writers are now explaining how we developed as a society, and monogamy has very little place in it.
sex at dawn is an excellent book on this topic...
as for atheism promoting promiscuity, i say religion does a much better job driving kids to get naked than non-belief in some sky fairy deity ever did!! tell a kid they will burn in hell if they get naked and have sex or masturbate and the stage is set... the premise of his discussion is flawed from the outset and thus, not worthy of anymore discussion.. so, let's just keep talking about sex!
and eric, if you or anyone can, please explain why you think all the women want an alpha-male?? that is not an accurate presupposition either!!
A lot of it's already described by Shankar or in the links provided. From personal experience though, it is not a presupposition, it is fact. Men who exude a more commanding presence in a social setting is invariably going to end up with more women desiring him. The alpha mentality beats out the gentleman hands down.
i feel sorry for you that this has been your experience Eric! n=1 studies can rarely find support in data from reliable sources. perception is a powerful tool that many people use to manipulate others into submission or acceptance of a situation or what is or isn't 'reality'.
if you are intimidated by other men, then the issue is not with women, but within your own perception of yourself. the problem really comes down to what the purpose of sex and sexual attraction is in the first place. perhaps if we understood that issue more, we would understand why humanity is driven to have sex with as many people as they can for as long as they can. if the purpose of sexual attraction is to find a mate and live with them for many decades, then why does it not shut off once that mate is actually found? why does the urge to wander after other men or women drive pretty much our entire species 24/7/365/6 ? i offer that if you or other men are NOT that alpha male type, then wait and see the ones that aren't attracted to them! IF your goal is a mate for life, then being an alpha male is going to have a hard time fitting that need most of the time while women who exhibit the same tendancies are called by many names that should not be in print as our society still can not accept that women enjoy sex as much as men do and want it as much as men perceive that only men should!
if the goal is just sex, then i think that this is such a broad brush you paint women with and such a narrow one you offer men. sexuality is so much more than grunt/sex/grunt/baby and move on! we have such a distorted view of the place sex has to our species due to many factors such as the religious influence that has been so prevelent for thousands of years...
most of the links i looked at don't support his very narrow and biased view of humanity but, like the bible and most religious books, allow for interpretation to support just about any position that is trying to be supported.
i will trust real scientists on these issues, not psuedo-atheists who don't know what an atheist really is...
"...monogamy is a social contract that was developed and imposed to control women and their reproductive capabilities."
This is horseshit. Marriage and monogamy benefit women a lot more than men (when it works) by giving her a provider and protector. Maybe it wasn't always called marriage or sanctified by ceremony, but this bond almost certainly goes far, far back into prehistory.
The idea that guys inherently WANT marriage and monogamy just (I'm sorry) doesn't even pass the giggle test. Men have always been the less naturally monogamous sex. Even today, if you want proof I'm right, just go to the magazine rack and find BRIDE magazine. It's huge. Now, look for GROOM magazine. Search the entire universe till the end of time and there will never be such a thing.
By comparison with females, males just don't give much of a shit about marriage.
That could explain why bees go from flower to flower, instead of flowers going from bee to bee. Well, that, and the whole flower immobility thing --
Maybe it also explains why the quantities in hot dog packages and bun packages only very rarely match up.
Ah, but they do, if you're cooking for 80!
Nature is set up to benefit the alphas and pass their stronger genetics along to the next generation. Why should people be any different from wolves, lions, groundhogs, or shrews?
i agree with your qualification of the clear alpha/beta structure here Kris.. that is the essense of my points but i was not sure how to define them!


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Would never return to Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital. They so unnecessary tests and treatments that they over charge for. And if don't want a test/treatment done they play on your emotions for your pet saying things like "you are shortening your pets life by not doing it" or "your pet could die if you don't do this"
They pull healthy teeth to make more money when pets have dental's there and every animal has some kind of allergy that needs special medication and food.
Dr. Christy and Josh Fisher are in the business of making money to pay off their fancy facility.


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A guide to understanding and curbing this upsetting (but normal) toddler behavior
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Stephanie Rausser
On a recent evening, as I was standing at the kitchen counter checking my email, I felt something pinch my rear end. I spun around and was surprised to find my almost-three-year-old, Ben, looking up and baring his teeth at me. Yep, that was no pinch I'd felt -- he'd just bitten me on the butt. It was the first time he'd bitten anyone -- and luckily the only time (so far). And while I was glad that it had happened to me and not his baby brother or a nursery school classmate, I was still alarmed that it had happened at all.
But, fellow moms of toddlers, take comfort. The good news (and the bad) is that toddler nips are neither uncommon nor unusual. To, uh, bite into this meaty issue, we sought the expert advice of a developmental psychologist, a pediatrician, and an early childhood educator. Read on to find out more from about this disturbing (but normal) phase of development, and how to handle it.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Why Toddlers Bite
Although infants bite primarily as a form of exploration or because of teething pain, toddlers may chomp away for a variety of reasons, and not all of them are malicious. Dr. Claire B. Kopp, Ph.D., author of Baby Steps: A Guide to Your Child's Social, Physical, Mental, and Emotional Development in the First Two Years, suggests that, "frustration, temperament, language skills, gender, time of day, and parent sensitivity are all important factors in biting and aggression; there's no single defining characteristic or trait of biters."
Some other reasons might include:
- They're curious
- They want attention
- They're trying to show affection
- They're hungry
- They're anxious or stressed
- They're scared or defending themselves
- They're bored
- They're mad or unhappy
- They're overstimulated or overtired
- They're reacting to changes in their environment
- They're teething
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Liz Banfield
Why It's Normal
"I usually explain to families that biting is an outcropping of children exploring their surroundings -- trying to taste things like toys. It becomes more of a social problem when they try to bite other kids," explains Dr. Paul Horowitz, a pediatrician at Discovery Pediatrics in Valencia, California. "It may be because another child took something, or out of frustration or anger, or it's the terrible two's and other kind of acting out -- they don't have the language necessary to express themselves, so they hit, have a tantrum, or they bite." So, for most children, once they gain the vocabulary necessary to express themselves, the likelihood that they will bite decreases.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Boys Bite More than Girls
"Males typically engage in more acts of physical aggression than females," says Dr. Kopp. "Toddler boys tend to be stronger than toddler girls, and often they may have a smaller repertoire of words." In other words, the inability to verbally express frustration combined with growing physical strength can lead all toddlers, but especially little boys, to lash out.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
When It Starts
The terrible two's is really a misnomer; biting is most common in children between 12 and 36 months old, when developmental theorists believe that it serves as a crude form of communication before children acquire enough language to express their emotions, and when most kids are suddenly exposed to many more kids at preschool.
Susan Stephenson, an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)-trained educator and a director of the Michael Olaf Montessori Company in California, explains: "[Biting] is most common at the stage just before the child bursts into spoken language. He is learning words to express himself and suddenly cannot find just the right ones and instead of using his mouth to speak, uses it to bite." In one study of children in daycare, physical aggression peaked at 24 months of age, at which point 1 in 4 kids engaged in aggressive acts. And the National Association for the Education of Young Children estimates that 1 out of every 10 2-year-olds engages in biting behaviors.
"With the development of language, young children turn to hurtful words and/or ignoring another -- instead of biting -- to diffuse their anger or frustration," says Dr. Kopp. Something to look forward to!
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
What's Normal, What's Not
You definitely shouldn't freak if your child bites once or twice, but when should panic mode set in?
In Dr. Kopp's view, "a toddler who resorts to hitting or biting once or twice a month is not at risk. The behavior should not be ignored, but addressed in low-key ways. If a toddler hits and or bites several times a week, that is cause for concern."
Also, if a child begins to lose friends because of biting, that in turn may lead to a bad self-image, says Dr. Horowirz. "The child seen as a 'biter' is the one that isn't invited places or can't be in the same playroom as other children." Talk to your child's teacher if this is the case so you can work together to prevent your child from being ostracized.
And, because children should acquire language skills to tell others what's bugging them by age 3 or 4, the problem should naturally clear up by then. If your child's still consistently and frequently biting well into the preschool years, it might be a red flag for tactile dysfunction, where a child responds negatively to touch. Talk to your pediatrician if it continues to be a problem.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
How to Handle a Bite
There may be a moment of shock for everyone following a bite. "It's scary for the victim and for the biter," says Dr. Horowitz. While the victim is understandably upset at being bitten, the biter may also be frightened by her own actions. And of course, it may be scary for you, too. Nobody wants their child to be known as a "biter," right?
But try to put yourself in your child's shoes and treat them the way you'd want to be treated if you did something you were ashamed of. Stephenson adds, "Would you like to be labeled as a an unkind person, or would you prefer for someone to acknowledge that you are undergoing stress and already feel bad about the unkind thing you did?"
Here are some Do's for dealing with the biter immediately post-bite:
- Remain calm.
- Let her know this is unacceptable, telling the biter, "We don't do that" in a firm tone, suggests Dr. Horowitz.
- Put her in a time-out, he suggests, depending on the age of the child. Time-outs can be used for kids as young as 1 (and should last one minute per year of age), but may not be truly effective until some time after age 2.
- Re-direct the biter if they're too young for a time-out.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
What Not to Do
It's natural to let emotion take over, but how you handle the situation now may help you to avoid future incidents. "The important thing is to not set up a victim-aggressor situation," says Stephenson. "In order to prevent this labeling of one child as bad, and the other as the victim, the caregiver should treat each child with the same sympathy. 'I am so sorry that you have been hit and are hurting,' and 'I am so sorry that you were angry enough to hit your friend.'"
Here are some additional Don't's for talking to the biter post-bite:
- Don't try to explain why biting is wrong; it's likely beyond the child's comprehension.
- Don't scream at the child -- and of course, never hit.
- Don't bite the child in attempt to show him that it hurts.
- Don't try to get the biter to empathize with his victim; it's too abstract of a concept, says Dr. Horowitz.
- Don't try to force an apology. "The old-fashioned 'Hug your sister and say you are sorry,' teaches a child to lie, and is more likely to cause further anger than forgiveness," says Stephenson.
- Don't make a big deal out of it. "Depending on how you handle it, you can actually reinforce the behavior," says Dr. Horowitz. "By giving the biting too much attention -- positive or negative -- you can lead your child to bite again."
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Dealing with the Bitee
After what was surely a scary incident, it's important to offer both physical and emotional comfort to the child who was bitten. Here are some good first steps:
- Offer first aid to the child. If the skin hasn't been broken, wash it with soap and warm water. If the skin has been broken, run it under the faucet to flush it out, clean it with soap, and apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage. If there is blood present, call your pediatrician, who may want to prescribe an oral antibiotic. Keep an eye on the skin around the bite marks, and call your doctor if it starts to go red over time.
- If the child is crying, pick him/her up, and if possible sit him/her on your lap or on a chair or couch, suggests Dr. Kopp.
- Empathize with the child, suggests Dr. Horowitz, and do what you can to keep the child from biting back (which is fortunately not usually an issue). Let him know you are genuinely concerned.
First Aid for Bites
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Interaction between Parents
Should you apologize to the parents if your kid goes all vampire on a friend? Or do you need to stand up for your kid if they got bit? There's no etiquette guide for handling this one, and it's really up to you if you even want to bring it up at all. It might depend on how well you know the other parent, how effectively the teacher handled it (if it happened at school), and if it's the first or tenth time it's happened. If you do decide to address it with the parents, make sure you do so without anger and without placing blame, says Dr. Kopp.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Preventing Biting
In biting, the best defense is a good offense. Be proactive in watching your child so you can recognize and avoid situations which trigger aggression, like a particular playmate, fatigue at the end of the day, or a friend grabbing a toy. "When you see that the child is about to bite, that's the time to re-direct him to a less frustrating situation," says Dr. Horowitz.
In my case, I'm trying to limit email checking until after Ben's bedtime and offer him my full attention so that we can nip this problem in the bud -- instead of me getting nipped in the butt.
6 Solutions for Kids That Bite
Teaching Your Child to Handle Anger
5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Book Resources
If you're dealing with a biter -- or want to make sure your child doesn't become one -- you may want to subtly incorporate these lesson-teaching books into your bedtime reading:
- Teeth Are Not for Biting by Elizabeth Verdick (baby to preschool)
- No Biting! by Karen Katz (baby to preschool)
- No Biting, Louise by Margie Palatini (preschool to Grade 1)
- Don't Bite Your Friends! by Lisa Rao (Yo Gabba Gabba; preschool to Grade 2)
8 Disciple Mistakes Parents Make
How to Handle Preschool Bullies
6 Ways to Stop Sibling Fighting
The Bright Side of Bad Behavior


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Many companies are embracing the concept of open innovation, but few are doing so in strategic ways.
Our research found that when large corporations work with external parties to augment their internal R&D, they use four basic modes of open innovation: a traditional intellectual property contract, a partnership, a contest or a community.
Strategic success relies on knowing when and how to use or combine these four basic modes in the most effective ways.
German multinational engineering and electronics company Bosch wanted to develop environmentally friendly storage solutions.
Bosch launched an open innovation contest on a third-party's platform to develop environmentally friendly storage solutions.
Partnering with three candidates, Bosch defined three levels of sensitivity of information and prescribed sharing rules.
Today, Bosch dedicates 200 full-time employees and 20 percent of its innovation budget to open innovation.
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly drew on the contributions of top scientists from around the world to accelerate the drug discovery process.
Eli Lilly created an open innovation community using a three-step compound-screening process to encourage a collaborative approach to drug discovery.
Shared samples are tested more rapidly against biological assays—making the process resource efficient and time-bound.
Internally, the program supports ongoing learning. Externally, scientists can access more tools and connect with non-profits seeking cures for serious global diseases.
German specialty-chemicals maker Evonik wanted to develop non-vacuum-based process technologies to produce electronic devices at lower cost.
Evonik built a unique open innovation community—then let members run it themselves to arrive at the best technology solution.
An external consultant was recruited to outline a shared vision. Various governance models were used to coordinate innovation activities.
New technologies were developed, such as iXsenic® S for high resolution displays. Individual external scientists also benefitted from the Evonik Meets Science program.
Detroit-based Ford Motor Company wanted to develop new smart mobility solutions for Ford vehicle drivers.
Ford Motor Company formed a unique community of smart mobility innovators known as OpenXC.
OpenXC is being adopted as an industry standard.
Pooled expertise has developed new applications, such as a haptic gear knob.
Advanced research group, HP Labs, wanted to create a new technology for rendering movies to support on-demand production of 3D animated films.
HP Labs partnered with specialist DreamWorks Animation.
The company introduced a new Utility Rendering Service.
The new technology is licensed to more than 100 movie studios.
China-based Huawei Technologies Co. established a diverse range of collaborations to create an Internet of Things cellular solution—in record time.
Huawei selected an open innovation collaboration with a number of diverse industry partners with shared interests.
The company designed a problem-solving process that centered on customers' needs and facilitated brainstorming.
New technology was introduced in just three years—two years faster than before.
New York-based Pfizer Inc. wanted to develop a smart, technology-enabled packaging device for its demand-led prefilled syringes.
Pfizer used a team-based contest approach working with an intermediary to deliver a smart packaging design solution for pre-filled syringes.
Different internal teams supported the effort and the solution exceeded expectations creatively and technically.
The contest generated many additional prototype ideas, delivered on a fixed-cost basis.
South Korean conglomerate Samsung wanted to focus its innovation efforts on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for its ARTIK platform.
Samsung held an innovation contest for 500 developers.
The company realized around 30 contributions for its future IoT platform.
The ideas helped Samsung gauge the size of the market for ARTIK.
About the Study
Accenture undertook a joint research initiative with the Research Center for Open Digital Innovation at Purdue University. We studied the research and development operations of dozens of large corporations with headquarters in the United States and Europe. These companies had more than 1,000 employees and total revenues of at least US$250 million.
About Accenture Research
Accenture Research shapes trends and creates data-driven insights about the most pressing issues global organizations face. Combining the power of innovative research techniques with a deep understanding of our clients' industries, our team of 250 researchers and analysts spans 23 countries and publishes hundreds of reports, articles and points of view every year. Our thought-provoking research—supported by proprietary data and partnerships with leading organizations such as MIT and Singularity—guides our innovations and allows us to transform theories and fresh ideas into real-world solutions for our clients.


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We announced Built last week and just published our Mobile Social SXSW 11.
Note this year we're just riding around Austin to bring back the ride as it was a few years ago. We'll end up where we like for beers and tacos, but no big kegger.
A remix
Photo: David Schloss
We're mixing it up this year with a new event and an old ride. See you there.


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In a hard-fought New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's volleyball match on Tuesday night, visiting Springfield College emerged with a 23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-19 victory over MIT. The loss lowered the Engineers' ledger to 10-7 on the year and 2-2 in conference play while the Pride improved to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in the NEWMAC.
With the opening frame tied at six, Springfield mounted a 10-4 run which later resulted in a timeout by MIT. Following the break, the Engineers chipped away at the deficit and capitalized on a pair of miscues to even the set at 20. Each side traded points as strike by Lauren Torvi put Springfield ahead, 23-22. The Cardinal and Gray rallied with three straight points to capture the set.
In the second set, MIT gradually established a 9-6 edge. The Pride responded with a 13-3 run to establish its largest margin of the night (19-12). The Engineers then strung together seven consecutive points, featuring four kills by Trinity Leonard, to even the score at 19. After a Springfield timeout, Tessa Smolinski registered back-to-back kills to give her squad some breathing room. MIT stayed within striking distance and eventually knotted the frame at 23 on a kill from Jenny Li and hitting error by the Pride. A service error gave Springfield set point, but a hit from Kelly Schulte off the visitors' block extended the set. Heather Lively registered a kill while Torvi and Kim Giaquinto collaborated for a block to clinch the game.
MIT quickly created a 6-2 lead in the third frame, but the Pride recorded nine out of the next 10 points to go ahead for good. The Engineers narrowed the gap to one on seven occasions, the last at 21-20. What proved to be Torvi's third consecutive kill coupled with a hitting miscue by the hosts prompted a timeout by MIT. The Engineers capitalized on a service error; however a hitting error resulted in set point (24-21). A hit from Kelly Schulte extended the game, but Smolinski's strike secured the win.
Springfield jumped out to a 12-6 advantage in the final set, but MIT countered with an 11-6 spurt to close the gap to one (18-17). The Pride generated a late rally to score seven of the last nine points of the night.
Leonard tallied 16 kills, three blocks, and two aces while Li posted 15 kills. Schulte notched seven kills and two blocks as Cecily Joujon-Roche contributed four blocks and two aces. Sharon Hao totaled 36 assists and six digs while Katie Spielbauer collected 12 digs. Kate Kelly and Natasha Jensen both earned a pair of aces as Kelly added six digs. Emma Gargus rounded out the Engineers' defense with two blocks.
Torvi finished with 12 kills, followed by 11 from Sarah Lang-Rodean. Smolinski registered 11 kills and five digs while Meaghan Hart paced the Pride with 11 digs. Kelsea Hellyar dished out 44 assists in the win.
Both squads will return to non-conference competition this weekend. MIT will travel to Stevens Institute of Technology for the Ducks Invitational while Springfield will do battle at the Johnson & Wales University Invitational.


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Jay Electronica Bombs On Solar Live On Stage! "F*ck You P*ssy. Guru Don't Want Nothing To Do With You"
Jay Electronica calls Solar a p*ssy
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Plymouth Farmer's Market
Plymouth Farmer's Market
Give local growers and producers of agricultural commodities alternative marketing opportunities. Encourage environmentally sound and sustainable agriculture practices and access to local health foods.
Provide educational opportunities for producers to test and refine their products and marketing skills. Enhance the quality of the life in the Marshall County area by providing a community activity which fosters social gathering and interaction and contributes to a vibrant downtown Plymouth.
Teach consumers about the taste and health benefits of eating fresh locally grown food. Provide increased access to healthy locally grown food by low income, minority, and at-risk populations. Provide a vehicle to achieve a friendlier, more united community and stronger sense of neighborhood, and a positive community image. Your Downtown Source for Fresh Produce!


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Another high-profile, veteran-friendly organization has ranked Niagara University as one of the nation's top institutions when it comes to embracing America's veterans as students.
Military Times - the family of publications that includes Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times - announced its "Best for Vets: Colleges 2014" rankings today, a list that includes Niagara University.
Military Times placed a new emphasis on academic rigor this year when conducting and scoring the fourth annual Best for Vets: Colleges survey, a highly respected 150-question analysis of a school's complete offerings for veterans.
"As with all of the Best for Vets rankings, Best for Vets: Colleges is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that make an institution a good fit for military veterans," said Amanda Miller, editor of Military Times EDGE.
The news comes less than two months after Niagara was designated as a "Military Friendly School" for 2014 by Victory Media for being among the top 20 percent of all schools nationwide that are doing the most to embrace America's military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.
"It's wonderful to be recognized by these organizations for our commitment to help servicemen and women transition to college life, and prepare them for success in the civilian workforce," stated Robert Healy, Niagara University's veterans services coordinator. "As a fellow veteran, I continue to be impressed by the accommodations this institution is willing to make for these very deserving individuals."
Best for Vets provides servicemen and women a gauge by which to judge whether a school or degree program will truly benefit them. The rankings factored in service member enrollment, percentage of tuition covered by the GI Bill, and availability of specific programs to help service members.
The extensive evaluation process also factored in statistics commonly used to track student success and academic quality, including student loan default rates, retention rates, graduation rates and student-faculty ratio.
The rankings are published in full in the November issue of Military Times EDGE magazine, the premier publication for military transition, and online at MilitaryTimes.com, as well as ArmyTimes.com, NavyTimes.com, AirForceTimes.com and MarineCorpsTimes.com.
The Veterans Day release of Best for Vets: Colleges 2014 coincides with several Military Times initiatives to celebrate service members. The #MyVeteran social media/online campaign allows people to post pictures, videos and stories about a veteran in their lives.
Niagara University will celebrate its student-veterans throughout this week, with a different branch of the military being recognized each day. Student-veterans will man displays on the Gallagher Center's lower level, which Healy said is a way to help students, faculty and staff understand what it meant for these men and women to serve our nation.
In addition, on Nov. 15, Niagara University will hold its annual Military Appreciation Day at Dwyer Arena as the NU men's hockey team takes on Army. Those who have served in the armed forces will be recognized during the game.
Among the numerous opportunities Niagara offers student-veterans are four-week online courses through the General Education Mobile (GEM) program, which are designed specifically for military members. Complete information on the program can be found at www.niagara.edu/gem.
For more information about Niagara University's efforts to assist American veterans, call 716-286-8341 or visit www.niagara.edu/veterans.


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Ryan Braun: Setting His Sights As An ALL-Time Brewers Great
Like us on Facebook hereFollow @mlbreports
Thursday January 3rd, 2013
Ben Dobson ( Baseball Writer and Brewers Correspondent): Follow @brewerpride06
1982….Mention this date to any Brewers fan and immediately you will witness a smile and a nod of the head. Very little has to be said that isn't communicated with that simple smile and subtle shake of the head. Harvey's Wallbangers; Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas and Ben Oglivie to name a few. Coming off a (3-2) AL Division Series loss to the Yankees in 81′ the Brewers stormed in to 82′ ready to make amends. The Brewers began 82′ slowly going (23-24), thus Harvey Kuenn replaced Buck Rodgers. The Brewers made history going forward posting a (72-43) record leading the league in runs and HRs. This team poured it all out on the field before losing in Game 7 of the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals. Yount, Molitor and Cooper will forever be household names associated with the epic '82 team.
Fast-Forward 26 years….2008 & 2011….The Brewers finally made it back to the postseason. This time the club was led by Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks. These were both magical years but neither year ended in a World Series appearance. The constant and consistent cog of these two playoff teams was Ryan Braun. The "Hebrew Hammer" lead the team in batting both playoff years and put up power numbers as well as speed numbers. This perennial All-Star continues to perform as one of the best in the game, but how does Ryan Braun compare to the 82′ heroes of Yount, Molitor and Cooper. The following statistics were taken during 6 consecutive seasons for each player (only exception is the 84′ season for Molitor who was limited to 13 games, 85′ season was substituted).
Ryan Braun Highlights in 2012: Suggestive Mature Lyrics-Parental Guidance Advised:
Runs: Hits: Hone Runs: RBIs:
Braun-614 Cooper-1108 Braun-202 Braun-643
Yount-579 Braun-1089 Cooper-134 Cooper-602
Molitor-538 Yount-1010 Yount-103 Yount-461
Cooper-522 Molitor-928 Molitor-64 Molitor-284
Stolen Bases: Average: On-Base%:
Molitor-180 Braun-.314 Braun-.374
Braun-126 Cooper-.312 Molitor-.357
Yount-75 Yount-.295 Cooper-.351
Cooper-49 Molitor-.294 Yount-.344
Looking at these basic comparisons it would appear that Ryan Braun is the "best" Brewers player in the history of the franchise. But most of us know better and realize this is a very small statistical sample of 6 seasons in each of these players careers. Yount, Molitor and Cooper all had long careers and had consistent if not excellent performance numbers throughout. Ryan Braun will soon begin his 7th season in Major League Baseball and hopes to continue the pace that he is currently on:
2007: 91 runs, 146 hits, 34 HRs, 97 RBIs, 15 SB, .324 Avg, .370 OBP
2008: 92 runs, 174 hits, 37 HRs, 106 RBIs, 14 SB, .285 Avg, .335 OBP
2009: 113 runs, 203 hits, 32 HRs, 114 RBIs, 20 SB, .320 Avg, .386 OBP
2010: 101 runs, 188 hits, 25 HRs, 103 RBIs, 14 SB, .304 Avg, .365 OBP
2011: 109 runs, 187 hits, 33 HRs, 111 RBIs, 33 SB, .332 Avg, .397 OBP
2012: 108 runs, 191 hits, 41 HRs, 112 RBIs, 30 SB, .319 Avg, .391 OBP
2013: 106 runs, 200 hits, 37 HRs, 115 RBIs, 35 SB, .329 Avg, .390 OBP
With these numbers stretched out over another 10 or 12 years in Major League Baseball, Ryan Braun will become the most talented player to ever play the game of baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers. When you combine the All-Star Appearances (20), MVP's (3), Silver Slugger Awards (15), a Rookie Of The Year Award and (2) Hall of Famer's, you have a group of players that could rival any team's past or current All-Stars. When comparing Yount, Molitor, Cooper and Braun it is nearly impossible to decide who is or was the "best." Milwaukee Brewers fans have been, and always will be proud just to say these four players played for the greatest team in baseball in one of the greatest baseball cities in the United States.
When watching a game at Miller Park you can't help but notice the numbers that will forever be enshrined in Milwaukee baseball history. Bob Uecker, #4 Paul Molitor, #19 Robin Yount, #34 Rollie Fingers, #44 Hank Aaron and #42 Jackie Robinson (Major League-wide). Twenty years from now I can see my son writing a similar article to this but with one addition; the list of retired numbers will include #8 Ryan Braun. #8 will forever be cemented in Milwaukee Brewers history and stories of success, skill and performance will be passed from generation to generation.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***
A big thank-you goes out to our Brewers Correspondent Ben Dobson for preparing today's featured article. Ben is from Janesville, WI. He works for the County Government in working with at-risk youth in the community. he works with the youth in the Middle Schools as well as out in the community running groups. Ryan Braun is far and away his favorite baseball player. The anticipation of Spring Training help the long winters pass here in Wisconsin. Baseball is the "only" sport you can sit outside, relax, talk with friends, cookout, and listen to on the radio and still have the feeling you are at the game. Baseball is a game that brings people together. Nothing compares to those warm summer nights listening to Bob Uecker on the radio. Ben says "GO BREWERS!" Feel free to follow Ben on twitter and talk the game of baseball Follow @brewerpride06
Please e-mail us at: email@example.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. To subscribe to our website and have the daily Reports sent directly to your inbox, click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
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Posted on January 3, 2013, in The Rest: Everything Baseball and tagged 1982 ALCS, 1982 World Series, @brewerpride06 on twitter, ben dobson, ben ogilvie, Bob Uecker, buck rodgers, cecil cooper, corey hart, gorman thomas, hank aaron, harvey kuenn, harvey's wallbangers, jackie robinson, miller park, milwaukee brewers, NL Central, paul molitor, prince fielder, rickie weeks, robin yount, sr. louis cardinaals. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.


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The 305th career win for Ken Soper was a rather uneventful 49-6 romp back on Oct. 29.
The Dove Creek football playoff win left the 74-year-old just one victory away from tying the all-time Colorado record for high school victories by a football coach.
Two wins away from achieving an amazing accomplishment. Who wouldnt want that astonishing record linked to their school?
The Dove Creek High School decision makers, thats who.
The schools administration and Dolores County school board pointed Soper to the pasture back on March 21.
But Soper isnt ready for the pasture, the recliner or the rocking chair.
Ken Soper is a coach and he even remains the Bulldogs baseball coach at least through this season.
Not mincing words but choosing them carefully, he voiced his frustration and confusion over the decision following a recent Dove Creek baseball game.
It took me by surprise, he says. (The principal) said they decided to go in another direction. But he never explained that to me. No one has ever explained it to me.
The first time Soper heard about his dismissal was in August, when he was told that the season would be his last as football coach at Dove Creek.
The mild-mannered coach kept that discussion to himself.
I didnt say one word to the players because I didnt want to bring them into this situation.
Wanting to keep Soper away, the board strategically scheduled the March 21 meeting the same evening that Soper and the Bulldogs were in Cortez for a doubleheader.
Another insult to a man who devoted five decades to Dove Creek.
Back in 1962, when gas was 28 cents a gallon and the Russians sent missiles to Cuba, Soper was beginning his coaching career with the Dove Creek Bulldogs.
Now, 305 victories later, Sopers career was torpedoed two victories short of the all-time record.
Could this possibly be about angry parents?
Yes it could.
Coaches have long been targets of disgruntled parents. It comes with the job.
One Dove Creek parent, who happens to be school board president Travis Randolph, confronted Soper after a 2010 game about his son not carrying the ball more.
After a half century of coaching, Soper knows the game and he knows the game off the field. Unfortunately, he didnt keep his enemies as close as he probably should have.
As a coach, youre going to make enemies. Parents get upset because their kid didnt play enough or didnt carry the ball enough. So Im sure I have some parents who are against me.
Coach Soper then reveals the satisfying part of this ordeal.
But I sure was proud to see how many people are for me.
As the rumors of Sopers dismissal swarmed around Dove Creek and the surrounding agriculture land, people shouted their disapproval of what seemed to be the inevitable end to Sopers football coaching career at the school.
Soper, in his calm, thoughtful demeanor, says the situation has been good and bad.
The bad is obvious: I wont be coaching again. And coaching thats me, coaching is my life and Im going to miss it.
The good is from the outpouring of support hes received.
Its good to know that I have as many friends as I do. I found that out afterwards. I never knew I had so many friends, he says with a chuckle.
Whats most obvious is that Soper is frustrated, confused and angry with the decision.
At 74, he admits that he would have probably walked away in a couple more years.
But that wasnt going to satisfy those influential Dove Creek parents, who want their kids to get more playing time and more carries, and in their minds, more victories.
Football state titles are as rare as the elusive four leaf clover.
You always want to win the state championship, Soper says. But you also have to be realistic. Coaches are more realistic than parents.
As Vince Lombardi said Winning isnt everything, its the only thing. But he also said Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is.
Soper wants to win and coaches his players to believe that, too. But in high school sports, theres a greater cause than victory.
When those glory days are in the dust, what kind of young men were produced by those athletic fields and high school classrooms?
Its not all just football and baseball, and I tell my kids at the beginning, Im not just going to teach you football and baseball, Im going to teach you things in life that youre going to need to have, the passion in Sopers voice rises. The discipline and the dedication and things that they are going to need. Its a life teaching thing, not just the sport itself.
After five decades of coaching, hes helped prepare thousands of young men for the real world.
And this year, he has three girls on the baseball team that hes impacted.
When former players heard about the decision, Sopers phone started ringing.
I got phone calls from out of state, in state, people who graduated calling me and telling me what kind of influence I had on their lives when they were here, he says.
Those calls were as special as any one of his 305 victories.
As for the future, Soper still hopes that something will happen where he can return to the sidelines at Dove Creek. But he knows that is a very long shot.
He says he might coach somewhere else but it will be difficult to leave Dove Creek in his rear-view mirror.
Ive got so many friends in Dove Creek that it would be tough to leave. But if I take another job somewhere else, then I may have to leave.
If this is indeed the end of his football coaching days, Soper is comfortable with his 305 wins.
It would be nice to set that record but records are made to be broken, he says with a smile.
Its hard to believe that a record like that would ever be broken.
For now, the decision is an insult that feels like the result of a bad breakfast. But he still has the hunger for coaching youngsters.
Theres sweetness that I lasted this long, but there will be a little bitter taste on how it ended.
Soper has handled the decision with class and dignity. For those who know him and who played for him, its exactly what they expected.
Coach Soper smiles about being called coach.
I consider it an honor when someone calls me Coach.
The new inexperienced coaching staff at Dove Creek just might take the Bulldogs to the pinnacle of high school football.
For Soper, he hopes they do. Its never been about him, the victories or individual accomplishments. Its always been about helping kids enjoy high school and preparing them for the real world.
I will be rooting for the kids, regardless of whos coaching or whos in the administration, he says.
Coach Soper may not be roaming the sidelines, but he will always be Coach Soper.
Reach Dale Shrull at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Of course, you can't worry about a "with nap" layout. Here you can see that the back pieces are opposite from the front; the butterfiles are flying down instead of up:
I don't think anyone will notice. Or care. Also, I was concerned when I cut this out because I had to lay out the pattern pieces on the crosswise grain, rather than the lengthwise. I usually prefer to layout out on the lengthwise, so that the slight extra stretch in the crosswise grain goes horizonally around my body, given me that little extra give in the waist and hips. But even being on the crosswise grain, the skirt fits fine.
So I have great plans for all those feedsacks I bought at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival this year! (Except for today - my AC isn't working; why does the AC always conk out on a holiday when the expected high is 95 degrees????) They will all be turned into summer skirts which, I have found, never seem to wear out.
I, not suprisely, wore this skirt yesterday to Anne's family's annual Memorial Day fishing trip in the Chesapeake bay. The Carpenter went too, and you can see that he really loved the t-shirt VickiW tie-dyed for him which he got for his birthday: