Men’s Interests

Peering outward from behind a mottled screen of vines and leaves, the Green Man does not speak or sleep; he waits. His meaning and his origins are largely lost to time — the Green Man wasn’t named till 1939. We know, however, that this type of enigmatic figure was the work of artists, anonymous craftsman whose unsigned work adorns the crevices and walls of medieval cathedrals. This year we will appropriate the Green Man and the primeval spell he casts on our imaginations for a modern purpose. Our theme concerns humanity’s relationship to nature. Do we, as conscious beings, exist outside of nature’s sway, or does its force impel us and inform the central root of who and what we are?

Tickets to this year’s Burning Man will be made available on January 17, 10AM PST at http://tickets.burningman.com. The theme is The Green Man.

According to Larry Harvey there were some problems with ticket purchases last year. People logged on before the tickets went on sale and the system crashed. He says they’ve addressed the problem and hopes for a more positive experience this year. He says:

I really don’t want to be too hard on anyone. When you are isolated and feel frustrated it is very easy to lose your temper. But isn’t it ironic that all of the sturm and drang about getting there first, about competing with thousands of other consumers, should arise among a group of people who are dedicated to a non-consumerist event that is devoted to cooperation and collaboration.

If our first allotment of $195 tickets sells out, a second gate will silently slide open, offering another 10,000 tickets for $225 apiece. Finally, when the last gate is automatically triggered, yet another 10,000 tickets will be available at $250.

During the wait for your place in line, if your neck gets tense, if you begin to pound the keyboard, please rest assured - you’re not alone nor need you be alone. There is a place that waits for you in Black Rock City.

Join Parents Magazine and Beliefnet in examining today’s spirituality and parenting by taking this survey.

Visit MAXIM’s 2006 Hometown Hottie Kerry in this video.

From Three parents for Canadian boy | WORLD | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz:

A five-year-old Canadian boy can have two mothers and a father, an Ontario court ruled this week in a landmark case that redefines the meaning of family and examines the rights of parents in same-sex relationships.

In a ruling released on Tuesday, the Ontario Court of Appeal said the female partner of the child’s biological mother could be legally recognized as the boy’s third parent.

The biological father, named on the boy’s birth certificate, is a friend of both women and is taking an active role in the child’s life.

My opinion on this child custody case sets me apart in the fathers’ and equal parenting movements. Many people believe marriage should only be between a male and a female, and every child should have one father and one mother. Fathers4Justice in Canada has announced they do not agree with this court ruling.

While I believe the rights of every biological parent need to be respected, I also know how much children benefit by having other loving, devoted adults in their lives. I believe if a same-sex couple has a child, and both love and care for it, both of those parents should stay active in the child’s life. The children in these cases deserve the protection of the law to have the protection of their parents.

It’s obvious to me how much these women love this child. They didn’t have the non-birth mom adopt the boy because that would have eliminated the father’s rights. Since I wasn’t raised by lesbian moms I can’t say what life will be like for this child. But I’m happy to see three adults who love him so much they’re willing to set a legal precedent to be his parents.

same-sex marriage child custody fathers4justice fathers rights

The crime:

Mother roasts two children alive

INDIA: Nirmala twisted the neck of her one-year-old son Munna before throwing him in flames. She killed her daughter Shelly in the same way…

Petrified after seeing the horrendous act, Nirmala’s third kid Divya struggled for her safety and even clawed her mother’s face. The girl raised an alarm and was helped by neighbours.

The confession:

After committing the dastardly act, Nirmala wept inconsolably for her children. She explained that she wanted to destroy her family in a fit of rage.

The scapegoat:

On being interrogated, Nirmala revealed that it was the torturous behaviour of her husband Mansa Ram Chaurasia that provoked her to take this beastly turn.

Say what?

She further informed that Mansa Ram falsely blamed her for having an illicit relationship and that he beat her very often. Not only this he once stripped her and even hit her.

“…even hit her”? Doesn’t that contradict “…he beat her very often”? Maybe she wasn’t interrogated; maybe she was trained.

Just curious, where is the proof he beat her?

misandry domestic violence india child abuse

Here is a short Dads & Daughters self-assessment quiz. It’s a quick way to understand how well you’re doing as your daughter’s father. Answer honestly and add up your score before peeking at the scoring key. If your daughter isn’t school-aged, skip the 5 school-related items and subtract 15 points from the scoring key.

Sample question:

1. I can name her 3 best friends: Often - Sometimes - Hardly Ever

To take the quiz go HERE.

About DADs:

Father Resources

Dads & Daughters improves the lives of fathers, daughters, and their families with outstanding educational resources supporting fathers’ involvement in girls’ lives and advocacy for girls’ well-being.

DADs’ tools and resources help develop supportive and healthy father-daughter relationships. Strong, positive relationships between daughters and their fathers and stepfathers helps girls increase their self esteem, gives them greater opportunities for self-fulfillment, delays the onset of puberty, and provides many other benefits—including improving the father’s health.

More programs:

Daughters®: For Parents of Girls

Making the world safe and fair for our daughters by providing parents and professionals with the best information about girls’ needs and development. This unique bi-monthly print publication delivers effective parenting and communication techniques tailored specifically for parents of girls in all stages of adolescence (ages 8-16). An award-winning, highly-targeted, all-in-one-place parenting resource, Daughters blends the expertise of professionals with the ideas and wisdom of experienced parents–digested, filtered, and compiled in a compact, easy-to-read, take-it-anywhere reference.

See Jane

Gender equity has progressed in many ways, but male characters still dominate television, movies, and other media for young children. Since women and girls make up half of the human race, the presence of a wide variety of female characters in our children’s earliest media is essential for both girls’ and boys’ development.

See Jane seeks to engage professionals and parents in a call to dramatically increase the percentages of female characters — and to reduce gender stereotyping — in media made for children 11 and under. See Jane founder, Academy Award winner Geena Davis, says, “By making it common for our youngest children to see everywhere a balance of active and complex male and female characters, girls and boys will grow up to empathize with and care more about each others’ stories.”

NexGym is the new thing for parents looking for an indoor play facility for the younger set. What sets NexGym apart from other indoor play facilities is their focus on fitness.

Do you have a child who is hooked on video gaming? Have trouble getting him on a bicycle? Take him to NexGym where he can ride a stationary bike hooked to a video screen. The faster he rides, the faster his character rides in the game.

Do you have a child who is hooked on music videos? Have trouble getting her off the sofa? Take her to NexGym where she can play Dance Dance Revolution. She’ll burn calories and get fit, all while listening to her favorite tunes.

Kids 6-14 can play dodgeball or skip rope with other children, as well as participate in all of the high-tech activities like:

Makoto Interactive Sports Arena

This revolutionary fitness game puts you at the center of intergalactic hand-to-hand combat while providing dramatic improvement in hand-eye coordination, reaction time, concentration, and mental acuity. It’s a serious cardio booster to boot.

Cybex Trazer

Step right up and launch yourself into an interactive world where reaction time, acceleration, speed, power, and balance drive on-screen activities.

Treadwall Climbing Wall

It’s challenging, yet anyone can do it. It’s daunting at first glance, incredibly fun once you try it, and entirely safe for even the smallest mountain climber. Kids develop gross-motor skills, grow stronger and more flexible, and exercise their brains at the same time.

Kids FitnessNexfit Bike

An ingenious exercise bike that plugs into any video game and becomes the joystick, putting the rider in control. The result is an effective and entertaining cardiovascular workout.

Sportwall

This challenging team sport uses interactive technology that requires players to simultaneously track a ball, multiple targets, sounds, scores, and a time clock. The faster they play, the higher they score. While they’re having a blast, their bodies and minds are getting exercised.

Southlake Dance Dance Revolution

Hit dance numbers and exclusive new songs are the soundtrack for guided dance steps that teach you all the right moves as you follow along on your connected dance pad. This is a #1 smash hit with kids of all ages and a terrific aerobic workout.

Eye Toy

A digital camera trained on you and hooked up to the game player puts you at the center of the action. Your every move connects with kung fu fighters and other characters on the screen. Playing Eye Toy improves posture, balance, breathing, and stamina.

Potty-trained toddlers can be dropped off for morning playtime, and children 3-7 can take these classes:

Pre-K Sports Skills

This class teaches the fundamentals of sport skills. The emphasis is on teamwork and fun.

Pre-K Dance

Progressing principals of ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, taught by accredited instructors. Proper shoes and attire required.

Pre-K Hip Hop

A fun, high-energy dance class that teaches children the techniques of hip-hop dance while enhancing their coordination and rhythm.

Pre-K Yoga

This is FUN Yoga. Children play yoga by imitating animals and nature, and by using creative expression, games, and storytelling.

Children 5 and over can take Karate.

Traditional martial arts values (Integrity, Respect, Humility, Concentration and Indomitable Spirit) taught with a modern approach for developing self-defense and situational awareness. This challenging and rewarding program will maximize physical and mental development. Students will develop TRUE STRENGTH, not over others, but over their own bodies and minds. Southlake classes taught by experienced instructors from the American Defensive Arts Academy.

Kids 7-14 can take the following classes:

Sports Training

This class pumps you up with speed, agility, strength, and cardio drills. A true fitness class with warm-up, cardio, strength, and stretch segments.

Boot Camp

Come join the troops! You will love the challenge of circuit training, and basic fitness drills. You will learn weight training, cardio endurance, and more!

Strength and Conditioning (Parents Welcome)

This is a customized class, combining Mat Pilates, Yoga, body isolations, balance, core strength, and stretching. Kids Yoga

Yoga (Parents Welcome)

Balance, core strength, and flexibility are the key components of this invigorating class.

And kids 8-14 can take:

Kick Hop

This class is set to the latest (clean) version of your favorite Hip Hop tunes. Using a combo of Kickbox and choreography. A true cardio workout!

Hip Hop

We will do a jazz/ hip hop warm up, progressions, and create a routine so you’ll be ready to perform during half time at the Mav’s game.

You can schedule a birthday party at Nexgym, they have special classes for special needs children, and they offer Music Together classes.

NexGym is now available in Southlake, Texas, with a second location opening soon.

Southlake Town Square
1430 East Southlake Blvd., Suite 110
Southlake, TX 76092
Phone: 817-488-9300

See a News8 video report on NexGym by clicking HERE.

I hope this concept takes off and we see these facilities all over the country.

children fitness play birthday party

Millions Of Parents Miss Their Kids This Christmas

Fathers4Justice activists took to the freeways this week in Boston, Massachusetts, and joined Families4Justice in Vancouver to bring attention to the millions of parents and children separated by family courts. Photos.

From a single dad in the Yahoo Single-Parents- group, about a day in church with his daughter:

When she was five, I dressed her up in her Sunday best and headed off to Mass. This is the really long Mass a week before Easter. Of course she wouldn’t sit still through the long Mass and I kept having to whisper and sign to her to be still.

Eventually she had enough and when I whispered her to be quiet, she yelled “NO!�? at the top of her voice. Unfortunately this also coincided with the priest asking “Do you renounce the devil and all his works?�?

Everyone turned to see the devil child and the priest stared down from the pulpit and yelled back “YES!�?

I had to pick up my devil child and take the walk of shame down the aisle and out of the church. It took me a couple of weeks to pluck up the courage to return to that church.

Being a single dad is interesting at times.

dad father daughter church silly humor

Considering the lack of training, and little time these people have to get to know these families, and after all the complaints I’ve heard from fit loving parents, I’m not sure I support this law.

From the Pennsyvania Standard-Journal Online:

HARRISBURG — Legislation authored by Sen. Jake Corman (R-34) that will curtail the filing of frivolous complaints in child custody hearings and provide limited immunity for child custody evaluators recently became law when it was signed by Governor Ed Rendell.

Corman’s Senate Bill 845 became Act 175 of 2006 and will prohibit any person who is a party to a child custody hearing from filing a complaint against a court-appointed health care or behavioral health care practitioner who is making recommendations on the child custody agreement or court order. The prohibition will be in effect prior to the issuance of the final order and for 60 days after.

childcustody divorce custodyevaluators pennsylvania

I hope you enjoy Men’s Interests’ very first podcast, starring Bessie Hudgins from 3 Sides To Every Story. Bessie discusses the candlelight vigil planned for this weekend in Georgia, and the harm families do to children because of divorce.

Visit Three Sides To Every Story

Bessie Hudgins
Phone: 706-882-2897
Fax: 706-884-8137
P.O. Box 1009
LaGrange , Ga. 30241

podcast 3sidestoeverystory divorce childcustody candlelightvigil children

From author Tom Hinton:

1. We want you to know how much we love you. Yes, I know it sounds mushy, but it’s true. I’m not sure why, but it’s hard for fathers to tell their kids how much we really love them especially when their bedroom looks like a disaster area. I know you must think we hate you because we are the ones who oftentimes make the rules about when you need to be home for dinner, or telling you to get off the cell phone and do your homework. But the truth is we really do love you. Despite the fact that we badger you to get good grades, lots of sleep, and eat at least one healthy meal a day, we still love you. Having said that, don’t think we’re going to get soft on you. We’re still your fathers.

2. We want you to know that life is very fragile. On the outside, fathers are tough and strong. But, every morning when we read the newspaper about some young person who was killed in a senseless traffic accident or some kid who got mixed-up with the wrong crowd and was arrested in a drug sweep at the nearby high school, we tremble inside. We know from experience that life is very fragile and we don’t want to lose you. So, that’s why you’re not getting that red sports car for Christmas. And, that’s why we don’t want you carpooling with Fast Eddy. And, that’s why we set curfews and dating policies that bring you to tears. But, we do it because we were once teen-agers and we know how fragile life is. We know that kids rarely get a second chance to recover from a bad decision about alcohol, drugs, or speeding cars. The truth is we’re scared of losing you so that’s why we’re over-protective. Prove to us that you’re responsible and we’ll let you stay out to midnight. And, don’t even think of asking us to stretch that to 1:00 am.

3. We want you to succeed in life. I know you’re not thinking about this yet because just about everything you need in life we give you. But, know that we fathers are always thinking about your future and scheming in our heads on how to give you an edge. And, while we’re scheming and hoping you will amount to something someday, we understand that you just want to be left alone, locked in your bedroom so you can text message your one hundred best friends to find out who’s going where on Christmas break, and if there are any parties planned for New Years, or who wants to see a movie at the mall. We get it.

But, remember what fathers are always thinking about. We know there’s another side of life once you complete high school. We know that it’s a hard world and life gets damn tough. Frankly, it’s a pressure-cooker. Society continues to raise the performance bar and the competition is fierce. You’ve lived in this neighborhood all your life. But, out there, beyond the security of this community, there is a tough world that is just waiting to chew you up and spit you out. We know. We’ve seen it and some of it is not very pretty. We know that fewer kids are realizing their dreams. It’s getting tougher to get into a good college and earn your degree, or be accepted into a trade school where you can practice your craft. It’s getting more difficult to land a great job and earn good money that will put you on the path to success. And, while money and a good job aren’t the most important things in life, we fathers know that they are close to the top of the list if one day you want to enjoy Consumer Christmas in the style you’ve grown accustomed to.

Tom Hinton is the author of ‘Leadership Lessons I Learned on the Links.’

Leadership Lessons I Learned on the Links: Book One