Blogs List
Momsense
 Betsy Bethel |
Touchy subject Part 3 -- Hands off!Fri, May 9, 2008 @ 2:00PM On the flip side of mothers cementing physical and emotional bonds with our babies, what about the people outside our immediate families who insist on hugs and kisses from our little ones? Big, burly men saying, "Come here and give me a hug!" or "Climb up here on my lap." Acquaintances — and even extended family members — who see the child only once or twice a year, saying, "Give me a kiss!" or greeting your child by tickling him or her. What is UP with that? Granted, in the case of the hugging, if it is a good friend of yours, and you're right there, it shouldn't be a big deal, as long as your child knows he or she has the right to refuse. A child should NEVER be forced to give hugs or kisses (not even to parents or grandparents, IMO), and no adult should take it personally if the little tot freaks out and runs to Mama. Sure, Aunt Martha or Uncle Joe's feelings might get a little stung, but if they are well-adjusted adults, they'll realize a 2-year-old they haven't seen since last Fourth of July is not making a personal judgment. If Emma knows you and likes you, she's a little hugging machine — you don't have to ask, and in fact, she might surprise you with a sneak-attack hug or slam you with a running-start hug. But if she's asked for a hug from someone about whom she's not too sure, she immediately looks to me searchingly, as if saying, "Is this OK?" I encourage her ... or not ... depending on my instincts.
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Sports Views with Hughes
 Mike Hughes |
A Long Overdue HonorThu, May 1, 2008 @ 11:07PM Ohio Valley native and former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz was one of 15 people inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday. And in this writerás opinion, it's a long overdue honor. Say what you want about some of Coach Holtz's ramblings as a commentator on ESPN, the man could coach football. From his start at William & Mary in 1969 to his final season at South Carolina in 2004, wherever Holtz coached at the collegiate level, he won. True, his one venture into the professional ranks resulted in a 3-10 record with the New York Jets in 1976, but it doesnát, and rightfully shouldnát, tarnish his overall record as a coach. He took over six programs and led all six to at least one bowl game, culminating in 1988 National Title as the Fighting Irish beat West Virginia, 34-21, in the Fiesta Bowl. Holtz should have had two titles, but Florida State, despite boasting an identical record (11-1) as Notre Dame and having lost to the Irish during the regular season, was voted the champs instead of Notre Dame. He's the only coach to take six different programs to bowl games. He's also the only coach to have four different teams finish ranked in the top 20. One of his best moments had to come in the 1977 Orange Bowl against Barry Switzerás Oklahoma Sooners when Holtz was in his first season at Arkansas.
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Myer on Politics
 Mike Myer |
It's Time to Say Good Night, HillaryWed, May 7, 2008 @ 1:54PM Hillary Clinton is beaten - but refuses to throw in the towel. After the primaries in North Carolina and Indiana this week, her opponent, Barack Obama, was just 184.5 delegates short of the 2,025 he needs to win the Democratic Party nomination for president. He'll get the additional delegates he needs. Yet Clinton stays in the race? Why? Is it ego - or is she determined to wreck the Democratic Party?
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Reality According to Rine
 Shawn Rine |
NFL Draft - Steelers StyleMon, April 28, 2008 @ 7:37PM While I was surprised at their first pick - Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall. But I liken the Steelers' second-round pick to that of the day they selected Ben Roethlisberger. That day, I was standing in front of the TV yelling, screaming, pleading for Pittsburgh to draft Big Ben. When they did, I knew we had something special. I got the same feeling when the Steelers' pick came up Saturday and Texas receiver Limas Sweed was still available. We need a big receiver, and now we got them. I also liked what Steve Young had to say about the picks ... it makes sense. He said the Steelers realize if they want to compete for Super Bowl berths in the AFC with the likes of New England and Indianapolis, they are going to have to score a lot of points. The days of one-back systems are basically gone. So now we have Willie Parker paired with Mendenhall. At receiver we have Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Sweed. Man, this is going to be a fun season.
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"Out There"
 Phyllis Sigal |
At the CrossroadsMon, May 12, 2008 @ 3:15PM Legend has it that Robert Johnson met the devil at the Crossroads of Highway 61 and Route 49 in Clarksdale, Miss., where he sold his soul in exchange for fame in the blues world. Johnson has become known as the "King of the Delta Blues" and the "Father of Modern Rock and Roll." I stood at the crossroads last week, where I learned so many facts about the legends of the blues. And I didn't even have to sell my soul to learn those facts. The Mississippi Delta, not far from Memphis, Tenn., is the birthplace of the blues; and being in that birthplace in the past few days certainly has stirred emotion deep within me. I was in Tunica, Miss., for the Blues Music Awards, where the tops in the blues world are nominated for awards in many categories. It’s like the Grammys, but just for the blues. The audience is privileged to hear performances from dozens of the nominees. Being in the presence of the great blues musicians was more magical than I had imagined. Prior to the awards event, the governor of Mississippi spoke at a dedication ceremony celebrating a new Mississippi Blues Trail Marker, this one on Highway 61 – the road that ran from downtown New Orleans to the Canadian border, a major route for southerners migrating to northern cities. On this day, Route 61 was named “The Blues Highway,” thanks to a bill signed by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who said, “Today is a great day to remind Mississippians of the ...
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Heather's Corner Desk
 Heather Ziegler |
Check your register tapeSat, May 3, 2008 @ 10:31PM It happened again and I did not catch it until I got home. I was overcharged on a sale item at a store. In today's economy 79 cents is more than I want to be overcharged especially on a store-advertised special. Now I have to decide if it's worth the gas to drive back to this particular store outside of my usual driving pattern to get my 79 cents back. Something tells me I should just suck it up as my own fault because I didn't pay attention sooner. But at this particular store, you don't see what the prices are as they are being entered into the cash register computer. I have to admit there are stores that go above and beyond in correcting an error. Kroger, for instance, gives you the item free if they charge you the wrong price. I once felt sorry for them when I was charged $3.69 for a loaf of bread when it cost $2. They not only gave me all my money back but the bread was free. I was willing to pay but they didn't bat an eye at the refund. My grilled cheese sandwich tasted better than ever on that bread. Thank you very much. In today's economy, it pays to pay attention.
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