A Dad's Point of View

10 Elementary Differences Between Men & Women, Part One

With exceptions, here are my observations.

For this post I easily could have listed 500 or more, as the number of differences between the sexes is vast. Note that I used the word, “sexes,” rather than gender. I hate the word “gender” almost as much as I hate being politically correct! So, a disclaimer: If you are a professor of women’s studies, you might want to go visit Gloria Steinem’s web site. A second disclaimer: This man loves and respects women, so this column is not anti-woman at all! What it is, from this one father and husband, is my honest look at our differences with the only guiding principle being the truth, plus a touch of humor. I am going to alternate men and women, so there will be equality with five differences each. Men go first, of course, because we’re more …

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Lori Hultin

11:18 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Agree totally with contrejour. If you're going to talk about actual differences (of which there are many), that's one thing and kudos to you if you actually did that, but this is just a propagation of gender stereotypes. I personally hate sweet drinks, like red wine as much as white, don't watch Lifetime or Nancy Myers movies (don't even know what the latter is), love sports and action movies and…   more ›

Mind Over Platter

Make Mamma Happy With This Easy Omelette

It's mom's special day. When Mom's happy, we're all happy.

So my darling husband asked me yesterday, a scant three days before Mother's Day, what I wanted to honor my awesomeness. For those of you who think it might be cutting it a bit close, this is a vast improvement over past years, as he usually asks me at about 10:30 p.m. the night before. As I pondered the question, so many options ran through my mind. World harmony, inner peace, the sudden and miraculous loss of 50 extra pounds. Yeah, that would be sweet! On a more practical level, I'd like a new camera body, the Canon EOS 60D or the 7D, but I won't be picky, either one would make me very happy.   Those all sound like really great gifts in my mind, but I think I want what every mom wants on Mother's Day. I want to know that I'm loved and …

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Press Release

Have You Reported a Bicycle Stolen?

Sheriff's major crimes detectives are seeking victims who've had their bicycles stolen from their homes in order to return their property.

The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau held a press conference Wednesday to locate owners of expensive bicycles taken in residential burglaries. The bicycles that were displayed are a portion of those bicycles which were recovered at the culmination of a month long investigation of a residential 'hot prowl' burglary crew. These burglars would identify their prospective targets from the persons selling expensive bicycles on Craigslist. The suspects would make contact with the victims by using a fictitious name and email account. After establishing a dialogue about the bicycles with the sellers, the suspects would learn enough information to identify the residences where the bicycles were being kept. Much of this information was obtained directly…

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Family, Friends of Little Girl Battling Cancer Seek Community Support

As 2 1/2-year-old Zoe Feldman battles a rare form of cancer, close family friends step in to help.

Zoe Feldman, 2 1/2, was released from Children's Hospital Los Angeles Tuesday night, two weeks after being diagnosed with sarcoma botryoides, a malignant tumor of the muscles that are attached to the bones. Her father, Jeffrey Feldman, told Agoura Hills Patch that although she's been through some "terrible stuff," she's been "absolutely amazing." The Ilan Ramon Day School pre-schooler, where her mother Ravit also teaches, must undergo two forms of chemotherapy, which leaves her weak and susceptible to illness, as part of her ongoing treatment plan. "Right now her prognosis is good," said Feldman. In the meantime, the Feldmans' friends are rallying to support them during this difficult time. "Though I thought we were going to be okay on our…

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A Dad's Point of View

Entitled

Kids today need to earn what they desire, not expect to get it.

Where and when did it seem that everyone felt entitled? Entitled to an education, happiness, college, a home, every new tech toy, a new car now and then, etc. I know the answer, as it was an evolution and change in attitude that began in the sixties, in my opinion. Some might say it began with Lyndon Johnson and his “Great Society” and that may also have been a starting point. But, the sad fact is that Americans have a higher quality of life than any generation, anywhere, any time, in world history. Yet, I would assert that the happiness and satisfaction scales are not near as high as the quality of life now available to the vast majority of us, especially our children. Don’t we all know extremely spoiled children? Don’t many of us indulge…

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Mind Over Platter

Guac and Roll This Cinco de Mayo

Learn the secret to Mrs. Goldsmith's guacamole.

Now I'd like to think that living in Arizona for six years has given me the edge in guacamole preparation, but the credit—or at least the inspiration—has to go to the mother of a friend of mine, Mrs. Goldsmith. Don't let her name fool you, she was extremely proud of her Mexican heritage (Goldsmith is her married name), and she lays claim to making the best homemade salsa and guacamole ever! Seriously. I believe her secret was her garden fresh vegetables and years of practicing the art of creating the perfect blend of avocado, tomato and spices.  I have very fond memories of nursing away a Saturday night hangover at her home for Sunday brunch featuring chorizo and eggs and huge bowls of her guac and salsa. While I haven't seen her in years…

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A Dad's Point of View

7 Days Without My iPhone

Trying to get through vacation without the device I always carry with me.

Note: This column was written while on vacation for nine days at the start of April. I have just embarked on a heli-skiing trip to the Cariboo Mountains. I chose NOT to bring my iPhone. First, I had thought there was no reception at the lodge. Second, every time I go to Canada, I incur stupid charges that piss me off. And, third, I thought it would be a great experiment to go without it. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! It’s been three hours and I’m going crazy! No, just kidding. It’s been all day and while I have reached in my pocket for my iPhone a few times, the frequency is diminishing. So far, the biggest problem is knowing the time, since I have become used to checking the time on my iPhone rather than wear a watch, much like most kids do these days…

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What's Playing at the Regency?

Review: 'Chimpanzee'

See this and find yourself uttering, "Oh, how sweet!"

I knew that sooner or later, I’d see a movie with REAL animals and think to myself, “Wow! What wonderful CGI’s or animatronics.” Blame it on years of seeing films such as Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Men in Black, to name just a few. We’ve all been bombarded for so long by the artifice of films that reality comes as a sharp slap to the mind. One of the pleasures of the new documentary Chimpanzee is to remind us that no matter how far visual technology has come since the dawn of the computer age, there ‘aint nothing like the real thing, baby.  Although probably equally suited to home viewing with the kids, the film is gorgeously shot in the rain forests of the Ivory Coast, although Gabon and Uganda are listed in the credits as well. Take …

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A Dad's Point of View

An Ironic Father-Son Story #IRL

Bruce compares the new movie 'Chimpanzee' to real life.

I’ve often dissed Hollywood and Madison Avenue for their depictions of dads, and men in general, for that matter. It is still not optimal, but it is changing for the better. How surprising to me that the best current portrayal of a father-son relationship came in a documentary about chimpanzees! Yes, the DisneyNature movie, Chimpanzee, does their usual Disney formula of killing off a parent. But this time it’s mom and this time dad steps up. Not reluctantly, but with pride and purpose. And this time it was real and not a writer’s choice. I loved the movie. I loved how they captured the family structure, world and highs and lows of life in the rain forest. And, no, they did not choose the story–the story chose them. It was indeed #IRL–In …

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