Will Favre & the Vikings be dancing their way into the playoffs?

Last week we took a look at the AFC in preparation for the upcoming season, this week I took a couple minutes out of my day contemplating which college football games to watch to make some equally wild NFC predictions. Yes, I am aware the win/loss math might not add up, but you get the picture. Frankly, I could have fixed it but I was having problems opening Excel, nah, that’s a lie. Just lazy is all. Anyway, here are my NFC predictions for 2010. Enjoy.

NFC North

Chicago Bears Last Season: 7-9 I will hereby refer to the Bears at the Bucs of the North. Because they too, will suck. Really, this is all it took for me to see that this team does not have it’s shit straight. Coach Lovie Smith says Devin Hester won’t return kickoffs. Are you kidding? The one highlight on this formerly great franchise isn’t being allowed to do what he does best. Hester makes a mediocre receiver at best, but a game changing and dynamic kick returner. Now, Smith could be just trying to not show his hand on this, but we’ll find out week one I suppose. With Hester returning kicks, the Bears could be unpredictably good. Without? Boring and unispired. Predicted Finish: 8-8

Green Bay Packers Last Season: 11-5 Aaron Rodgers came out from under the shadown of Favre and it was good. Even though they bit it in the playoffs last year, the Packers had a lot going for them on offense and the defense just keeps getting better. Rodgers will be the caliber quarterback that he looks like, even with the beard. The Packers will go deep into the playoffs this year and I’m actually predicting them to go all the way to the Superbowl. Predicted Finish: 14-2

Minnesota Vikings Last Season: 12-4 Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. Favre. And they’ll lose twice to the Packers. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Detroit Lions Last Season: 2-14 Two words. Ndamukong Suh. The Lions have had the worst defense in the league for three straight years. Perhaps Suh can change that. Stafford is looking like a real live NFL quarterback. However, this is still the Detroit Lions and they have a perrineal habit of losing. Ah, what the hell, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and say Suh gives them an extra win just from bostlering the defense just a little bit. Predicted Finish: 3-13

NFC East

New York Giants Last Season: 8-8 Tom Coughlin needs to go. Since his Superbowl win, he’s slowly been losing control of the team. It’s this odd thing, but the Giants constantly seem stressed out. Eli Manning doesn’t have the composure that his older brother has, it seems like he’s always frustrated at his offensive line or at the slumping defensive line. The success of this team rests on how well they do in the division, as it does for all of the East. With McNabb still around, the Cowboys offense and well, the Eagles existing, this could be a rough year for the Giants. Predicted Finish: 7-9

Dallas Cowboys Last Season: 11-5 This is a tought team to call. Wade Phillips is a good coordinator, but he tends to fall apart in the playoffs. I know he’s the head coach, but still. Whiner Patrick Crayton is gone, thankfully, which means that Miles Austin will be the star receiver in Dallas. The Romo to Austin connection will be frequent, but not as frequent as that Romo to Whitten connection. The real question with the Cowboys is once they get to the playoffs, can they keep their shit together? I think this is going to be an exciting team to watch this year, but fans could be setting themselves up for another letdown. Especially in this division, which tends to be tough on itself. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Philadephia Eagles Last Season: 11-5 Hey, it’s Kevin Kolb! The Eagles were the Cowboys bitch last year, losing a record three times to Dallas. How in the hell this team made the playoffs I have no idea. Oh yeah, with the running of McNabb and Westbrook. While McNabb will be scrambling on almost every play in Washington, Westbrook is no longer part of the Eagles franchise. Could Andy Reid not see past the lunch buffet to realize that this team needs the strong ground attack skills of both McNabb and Westbrook? Kolb is a drop back passer, that puts a lot more pressure on the offensive line that caused McNabb to run for his life so many times. Hey, at least they have Michael Vick. Predicted Finish: 8-8

Washington Redskins Last Season: 4-12 I’d like to start with a quote from my 2004 pre-season preview, “As long as Snyder is in the house, the Skins’ will not see the playoffs except for on television.” I still hold this statement to be true, no matter how good this team might look on paper, no matter how many upsets they can pull off against Dallas, with Snyder running the show they will be a terrible franchise. Constant coach turnover, constant coordinator turnover, I’m surprised McNabb signed there. Donovan McNabb will have to play his former team twice this year, and he’ll be lucky if they can carry him away from those games in one piece. Another player fighting retirement, McNabb is in for a rude awakening. Welcome to the land of no pocket protection Donovan. Predicted Finish: 3-13

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Last Season: 3-13 There isn’t much to say about the Suckaneers, as they are affectionatly referred to in my home area of Tampa Bay. Since their Superbowl run this team has steadily declined, losing Monte Kiffen in the middle of the season was the last crack in their already fragile spine. Two young quarterbacks, an even younger coach and highly questionable running backs and wide receivers. I’m sure Kellen Winslow is loving his decision now. That was sarcasm. The Bucs suck and will suck. The only reason I’m giving them four wins is because they play the Browns. Predicted Finish: 4-12

Carolina Panthers Last Season: 8-8 Any Cats fans out there? No? Finally ditching Delhomme for Matt Moore seemed to be a good call last year for the Panthers. Picking up Clausen in the draft was also a good call because after all, this is the NFC south. Collar bones will be broken. The strong point with this team has always been their ground attack, expect more of the same this year. I’m talking to you defensive coordinators out there. The NFC South plays the AFC North this year in cross conference play, so this should be interesting because all three AFC North teams have strong run defenses (save for the Browns, who suck.) I don’t see the Panthers overcoming the defenses they’ll be up against to do better than last year. Predicted Finish: 8-8

New Orleans Saints Last Season: 13-3 I would love to say that Drew Brees and the high flying Saints offense will be back on top this year, headed straight back to the Superbowl. I think they playoffs are in their future, but knowing what we know – that’s a stretch. So what is it that we know? Well, Drew Brees graced the cover of Madden 11. We all know about the Madden curse? Right? Yeah, I know that’s some serious voodoo, but Brees is doomed. Aside from all that, the offense hasn’t changed much since last year, so the playoffs should be a lock as long as Brees can fight the curse. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Atlanta Falcons Last Season: 9-7 The Falcons are no longer a team to be ignored. Finishing the season by beating the Jets, the addition of Michael Turner last year seemed to help the ground game. Matt Ryan is on his way to becoming a great quarterback. However, this is a tough division to be in this year, as the other teams are heavy on the defensive end of things and Atlanta’s defense, not looking too fantastic. However, the only offensive minded team they have to worry about is the Saints, and we already know why they are doomed. Predicted Finish: 12-4

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks Last Season: 5-11 Am I the only one that thinks Matt Hasselbeck is just looking tired? Tired of playing for a team that lost to the Steelers in the Superbowl and hasn’t seemed to recover? Tired of playing in the rain, tired of throwing interceptions and just plain tired. How is this guy still playing? Is he on Zoloft or something? And now stuck with Pete Carroll hopping off the USC train to go back and take another shot at the NFL? And dealing with the loss of T.J. Houshmanzada? Ouch. Too many questions with this team, I predict doom. Predicted Finish: 6-10

San Francisco 49′ers Last Season: 8-8 Mike Singletary didn’t do half bad last year. A lot of times ex-players as coaches tend to bomb. However, Singletary didn’t take crap from anyone and pushed his team to perform. Frank Gore is damn fun to watch and Alex Smith looked like a bonafide NFL Quarterback. Sadly, there was one player Singletary rolled over for, Michael Crabtree. Without Crabtree, before giving into his ridiculous salary demands, the Niners were 8-5. After signing Crabtree, 5-7. Bad mojo abounds. Thankfully, being in the single worst division in football kind of helps. Predicted Finish: 9-7

Arizona Cardinals Last Season: 10-6 Matt Leinart will finally be getting the start over the now retired Kurt Warner. Wait, the Cardinals dumped Leinart? Really? Ok, so Derek Andersen will get the start after being shedded like dead skin from the Browns roster. Gone from the Cardinals are Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby and Anquan Boldin. Ken Whisenhunt is still there though, and he’s managed to turn this franchise around from the laughing stock they used to be. It all comes down to quarterback protection and clock management, something the Cardinals struggled with in the playoffs last year. If not for being in the worst division currently in football, playoffs wouldn’t be in their future. Predicted Finish: 11-5

St. Louis Rams Last Season: 1-15 Who cares? Sam Bradford cries himself to sleep every night. Predicted Finish: 2-14

So, if you missed it, my rundown for the playoffs:

NFC North: Packers
NFC East: Cowboys
NFC West: Cardinals
NFC South: Falcons
Wild Cards: Vikings, Saints

Stay tuned on Thursday for NFL Week One Predictions!

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This is why when my friend Colin Bower shared with the world what he is going through trying to get his boys back I was heart broken and instantly wanted to do what I could help to raise awareness about it and get those boys home.

What is going on is that two American children, Noor William Noble Bower aged 8 and Ramsay Maclean Bower aged 6, were kidnapped from their Boston home on August 11, 2009 by their mother, Mirvat el Nady, a British and Egyptian citizen.

Colin went to pick up the children from the mother’s residence on Sunday August 17, and received a call from an Egyptian mobile number. The male caller was unknown to the father and spoke English with an accent. This man told the father he would not be able to see or contact his children again if he did anything about the fact that his children were missing. The father asked many questions, but the caller did not give any information as to the condition, whereabouts, or any further detail regarding the children. Colin hung up and called the police.

According to US Immigration official records, the mother used Egyptian passports in the name of “Power” to travel to Egypt with the boys to Cairo on August 11, 2009. There is a US federal warrant outstanding for the arrest of Mirvat el Nady on charges of kidnapping and an outstanding international Interpol red notice has also been issued.

The mother has not allowed the boys to speak with their father since kidnapping them, despite ongoing pleas by Colin and others to her family, friends, government and now the press. Colin does not even know where the boys are, but has been to Egypt five times this year and now has an Egyptian court order to visit with his children.

Regardless, the mother did not comply with the court order, which is a crime, and still refuses to divulge her or the children’s whereabouts.

Can you imagine going through this? I know I can’t.

All of us in the dad community have been doing what we can to help Colin out. He was a guest on Digitial Dads TV: Episode 5 sharing his story and we talked about it a bit on Cast of Dads 30 this week.

The one part that I hadn’t thought about until Colin was in studio talking with me is that the reason he finally went public with this is because he realizes that his oldest son is probably starting to get online and the hope is that he is looking for himself and his father. By having lots of content, posts, etc online the hope is that he will see it.

We need to bring these boys home. Their rightful (and legal) place is with their father here in the United States. This woman needs to be locked up and never seen again for doing such a horrible thing.

YOU can help by going to http://www.HelpBringNoorandRamsayHome.org and finding out the latest information.

Please use whatever channels you have to share this story so that we can all bring those boys home immediately.

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Today marks the start of school in my town and I just watched as both kids left. As you can see from this picture they are growing up just as fast as ever.

But, as I watched the school buses roll away, I began to think a lot about the year ahead for them and at a higher level the entire state of education in America.

If you haven’t noticed, it is completely broken. Sure, our kids are passing tests, going to college and doing ok for themselves. Not all of them and not nearly as many as I’d like to see, but you know what I mean.

I look at my kids and see how different they are and yet I know they are being taught the exact same way. Dylan is logical and direct. He excels at math and science and is on the fast track to some sort of engineering job if I were to guess. Emily on the flipside is overly creative. She excels at all subjects, but is a very free thinker and goes way outside of the box whenever she can. I don’t know what she will end up being, but it is going to be fun to watch.

But, our schools are teaching the same way they have for the past several decades. Same subjects, same approaches and all of it leading up towards passing standardized tests.

A couple of years ago we got called in to talk about Dylan being disruptive in class. When we talked to the teacher she told us that he was always getting his math work done before the rest of the class and then would try helping other kids finish theirs. That is disruptive? Come on now! We asked if he could bring a book in to read while he waited and she said sure. Why couldn’t she have thought of this? It isn’t exactly rocket science.

We need to challenge our kids. They are growing up in a world that moves at a super fast pace. Technology must play an active role in the classroom and teachers at all grade levels must understand and embrace it.

I don’t have all the answers, but I know that the way it is being done right now isn’t the right way. I’ve seen glimmers of hope out there and success stories happening and I pray those continue. We need to value and pay our teachers more. We need to insure that our kids are learning to think on their own and not just memorizing words and facts from ancient textbooks.

I know I’m not the only one worried about this. I also know that I’m going to see what I can do to help change it.

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Can Brady stay healthy enough to propel the Pats into the Post-season?

I don’t know if you’ve all noticed, but the NFL season is just about upon us. It’s descending quicker than the housing market in central Florida. Alright, that metaphor might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s almost here. So that means it’s time for some vague and most likely incorrect assumptions about the upcoming season, but as an NFL fans, we’re all Monday Morning Quarterbacks. Without further fanfare, this week I’ll take a look at the AFC, starting with the AFC North.

AFC North

Cleveland Browns Last Season: 5-11 As a Browns fan myself I can say this, at least we’re not the Rams. Finishing with five wins last year was actually a plus for the Browns. Like I said, not the Rams. However, now that the Browns have cleared out Derek Andersen and Brady Quinn for now veteran Jake Delhomme – wait, did I type that right? The Browns dumped Brady Quinn, a young arm yet to prove himself to start Jake Delhomme, who is clearly on the tail end of his career. Not just content with the aging Delhomme (who has actually looked good in preseason) they also picked up Senaca Wallace to back him up. The only really good news is having Mike Holmgren in the front office. Perhaps the Browns will win six this year. I can say this for them, they have a hell of a receiver core. Predicted Finish: 6-10

Pittsburgh Steelers Last Season: 9-7 Strong defense has always been the crux of this team. This year, with Rothlesberger and Holmes out of the picture for a bit, the defense is going to have to work even harder to support Byron Leftwich & Charlie Batch. I don’t think a 9-7 finish is going to be hard to believe, but that’s going to depend on how they play within the division. The AFC North plays the NFC South this year in out of conference games, at least one against the hapless Buccaneers. Of course, the Browns play the Bucs too, who won’t seem as hapless. Predicted Finish: 9-7

Cincinatti Bengals Last Season: 10-6 Wait, the Bengals made the playoffs last year? I must have missed it. I was watching Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch. Aside from Ochocinco, both Terrell Owens and Dhani Jones have television shows. Will this kind of selling out assist in a distraction from the field? Perhaps. The Bengals already wasted two million on T.O. The Bengals season will be decided in Week One when they face the Jets, who spanked them in their last two games of the season last year, including a playoff loss. There is too much indivdual ego on this team for them to succeed this year. Predicted Finish: 8-8

Baltimore Ravens Last Season: 9-7 A wild-card appearance last season was all the Ravens really could have hoped for. With young gunslinging Joe Flacco at the helm and a competent defense, the Ravens will pose a serious threat in the division and around the AFC in general. With the Steelers hurting, the Browns being well, the Browns, the Bengals are the only reason to take pause when predicting the Ravens will easily take this division. Even though Suggs is gearing up to be a high dollar bust, the addition of Boldin will bolster the long pass threat. Look for the Ravens to top the AFC North for the whole year. Predicted Finish: 12-4

AFC East

Miami Dolphins Last Season: 7-9 The Dolphins were the most exciting team to watch last year. The continuation of the wildcat, the dual running back power of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, the explosiveness of Ted Ginn Jr. finally coming out of his shell made for a hell of a season. Sadly, it wasn’t enough for the Dolphins. This year, it’s going to be more than enough. Clearly the trick play stuff isn’t going to work as much anymore, but this is a team that looks like they are having fun. If the defense can hold when they get a lead, the Dolphins will see the playoffs this year. Predicted Finish: 10-6

New England Patriots Last Season: 10-6 Go ahead, name Tom Brady’s back-up. I bet you can’t. Looking at the depth chart it’s Brian Hoyer. He got some action last year in their 59-0 win over the Titans. While the Patriots made the playoffs, they weren’t convincing doing so. This year Bill Belichick will be running the team as head coach, the offense as offensive coordinator and the defense as defensive coordinator. Can you say power trip? With his Napoleanic behavior and resting the team and the season on the health of Tom Brady, the Patriots are setting themselves up for a possible let down. Predicted Finish: 7-9

New York Jets Last Season: 9-7 The move to bring in LaDainian Tomlinson could go one of two ways. He could completely explode on the scene in New York and propel the Jets through the season, or he could simply look tired and lost, a la Emmitt Smith in Arizona. Sadly, I predict the latter. Letting Thomas Jones go, who still has gas left in his tank, could come back to hurt the running game of the Jets. But their strength lies in a speedy and capable secondary. This is going to be another tough test for Mark Sanchez, who led his team to the playoffs lost year. I predict the same for this year. Predicted Finish: 10-6

Buffalo Bills Last Season: 6-10 The Bills have turned into the gray cloud that covers the city of Buffalo in the winter. Last year coach Dick Jauron seemed to give up sometime after halftime every game, and the team felt it. Perhaps with new coach Chan Gailey the Bills won’t actually look like losers as they lose. Trent Edwards is not the winning quarterback that the Bills need to succeed. Look for Ryan Fitzpatrick to step in probably before mid-season. The offense will rest on the back of downhill runners Fred Jackson & Marshawn Lynch, but the major questions will be with the offensive line – can they protect at all? Predicted Finish: 6-10

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts Last Season: 14-2 Really, what else needs to be said about this team? The only reason they missed the playoffs was taking it too easy the last two games and taking acceptable losses. It made Peyton and crew rusty. There was a lot of finger pointing after the playoff loss, let’s hope they are over that by the time the season starts. Peyton is just getting started in his hall of fame career as far as I’m concerned. I’m giving them one extra loss in the hopes that the Texans take one from them. Predicted Finish: 13-3

Houston Texans Last Season: 9-7 The Texans had the number one passing game last year. Did you hear that right? Not Manning and the Colts, not the Saints – the Texans. So what happened? How come they weren’t in the middle of the lunch room with the cool kids? It was two losses to the Colts. Just one win against their interdivisional rival could change the course of this teams season, this is that season for that to happen. It has to happen. The Texans will never reach the playoffs until they get Peyton’s monkey off their back. Predicted Finish: 10-6

Tennessee Titans Last Season: 8-8 Now that Vince Young has learned how to play football again (mostly mentally) and Chris Johnson has solidified his place as the premier running back in the league, the Titans are the team to beat in the AFC. Hell, the Titans will be the team to beat in all of the NFL. Coach Jeff Fisher, who has been around since the Oilers days, is consistent and passionate about his team and the game. This is why even at 8-8 last year, the Titans looked like winners. The only question this year is the defense, which seems to be a trend with a lot of AFC teams. If they come strong, the Titans finish strong. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Jacksonville Jaguars Last Season: 7-9 There is still a team in Jacksonville? Someone needs to tell the residents of the city. Failing to get a sell-out last year – at all – the Jaguars still had a winning home record. Too bad the rest of the games count. They just look like a tired team all around as the season progresses. They put up a fight against the Colts every time, but it’s never enough. Predicted Finish: 6-10

AFC West

Denver Broncos Last Season: 8-8 What the hell is going on in Denver? They ditched a perrenial winner in Mike Shanahan last year for newbie Josh McDaniels. His break even finish is nothing impressive. Jay Cutler, who wasn’t at all terrible was shown the door and now they are sitting with unproven Brady Quinn, injured Elvis Dumervil and most popular draft choice Tim Tebow. Thankfully, the system of producing amazing running backs is still in place, right? Wait, that was under Shanahan. Does McDaniels have the offensive fortitude to make this year any different than last? Will Tebow be the deciding factor? If he plays. This is a team that it’s easy to say, same as last year. Predicted Finish: 8-8

San Diego Chargers Last Season: 13-3 What happens to Philip Rivers and crew when the playoffs come around? Rivers has shades of greatness during the regular season, but fizzles in the post season. The Chargers seem to think they are untouchable going into the post season, but then lose any aggressiveness they might have had. This year you can probably expect more of the same, Norv Turner seems to be okay with that trend. Predicted Finish: 12-4

Kansas City Chiefs Last Season: 4-12 Only the Lions had a worse defense last year than the Chiefs. That’s not very inspirational. This year the team is stacked with brain power courtesy of the Patriots. Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis and Scott Pioli are on the sidelines, shouting into the helmet of Matt Cassel, the impressive back-up to Tom Brady last year. Forget about the horrid defense for a second, what about the offense? What the hell, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and throw in one more win than last year. Predicted Finish: 5-11

Oakland Raiders Last Season: 5-11 What do you want me to say here? The Raiders are season after season of suck. They dumped JaMarcus Russell after he was tortured behind a crappy line. Now they brought in Jason Campbell to be tortured behind a crappy line. I think moving the Raiders to Los Angeles might be something the Raiders franchise might want to consider. Or switching to the Arena League. Predicted Finish: 4-12

So, if you missed it, my rundown for the playoffs:

AFC North: Ravens
AFC East: Jets
AFC West: Chargers
AFC South: Colts
Wild Cards: Titans, Dolphins

Thanks to C.C. and the Digital Dads for giving me a reason to watch NFL Tonight every night so I can write a weekly NFL column and stay tuned next week for my annual NFC Preview!

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Now, I don’t know about you, but the idea of sitting in a room all day being shown dials and buttons on washers and dryers does not sound all that fun to me. Before this event, that is exactly what I expected it to be because that is all I knew Kenmore was about. We don’t own any of their products and while a quick look at the Kenmore site showed me they made more than just washer and dryers, I still wasn’t sure what to expect.

In full disclosure, roughly twenty of us were flown to Chicago and put up at The Wit Hotel. They did a great job making sure there was a car service to take us to and from the airport and showed us a good time while in town. All of this of course was on Kenmore’s dime (except for the Al’s Italian Beef that I had to sneak out and get while we were in the neighborhood and they forgot to feed us *grin*)

The trip started on an extra high note as I got to the airport and we had been told that we’d be sharing cars with other bloggers arriving at similar times. I didn’t know many of the other people taking part, but there were two that I was really looking forward to finally meeting face-to-face and as the door of the car opened there sat Tanis aka “The Redneck Mommy” in the flesh and I’m ashamed to say we both may have squealed a little bit at this moment. If you haven’t read her site before, she is one of the most blunt honest writers on the Internet and she doesn’t take shit from anyone which is just another reason to love her. By the end of our time in Chicago we had certainly bonded and I have a new friend that I can’t wait to get together again with soon.

In the morning we all jumped on a bus and headed out to Sears HQ. It sits on a massive compound far outside of downtown Chicago so the trip out gave us all time to chat and get to know one another. I sat with Shannon of Whiskey in My Sippy Cup and we talked about our book ideas, life, business and the craziness that is the web. Count her as another new friend that I’m looking forward to causing trouble with in the future.

Once we arrived at Sears, we spent most of the day in a large room surrounded by appliances. They had set up the room to be very open, with snacks, water and everything else to keep us going. They had product managers from all the different divisions give short presentations on how they’ve changed the entire line of Kenmore products over the last few years. I was shocked to see just how much thought, process and dollars had gone into this complete redesign. They started it in 2008 and the process they went through seemed almost overkill for appliances and felt more like the tactics a luxury car company would take. I mean, they went to Milan to find inspiration! Really? Hmm…

But, all that being said the appliances look great. They really wanted the Kenmore brand to have a consistent feel so they went so far as to put the same blue LED lights in all the products, redid the logo and even now have a Kenmore font that is used throughout the products. Personally, when it comes to appliances I am MUCH more interested in the function over the form, but maybe I’m in the minority on that. They did show us their upcoming new touch screen interfaces that will be on their devices and that not only is good looking, but also has lots of great features.

What I did like hearing was how much time they spend talking to current and potential customers. They are constantly showing their products, doing focus groups (we took part in one in the afternoon) and asking for feedback. Even more important, they are listening to what they are hearing and taking it to heart and putting it into practice. For instance, they heard that people didn’t really know how much space “a cubic foot” was when it came to refrigerator capacity, so they filled their newest one with 465 cans of soda since everyone could relate better to that sizing. Part gimmick, part smart. I love it.

Two big things I took away that I didn’t know about before I went was that Kenmore had a line of small appliances and the awesomeness of induction cooking. I guess they’ve always had blenders, food processors and mixers, but I had no idea. Extra points to them for the sleek new black boxes that they are packing these in. They are very modern looking and sexy. I can’t wait to try some of these out in the future.

As for induction cooking, I can’t begin to explain it fully, but lets just say it uses magnets between the stove and the pans to heat up very quickly. Chef Billy Parisi (who did a cooking demo for us) was raving about the technology and the more I talked with him on-on-one, the more convinced I was that I want to try it. I have a feeling it would take some getting use to, but as someone who loves to cook I’m intrigued enough that I want to find someone with one of these ranges in their house who would let me use it in exchange for making them dinner. Anyone?

At the end of the day we were taken over to the Kenmore Live Studio. This state of the art pop up store (that doesn’t sell any products currently) is used to host weekly live events showcasing their products. Going on that night was a Foodie Bloggers vs. Mommy Bloggers Throwdown. They have a multi-camera set up and live in studio audience space and stream these events live on the web. The whole production was top notch and it was a packed house. It was obvious that they committed some serious dollars towards the effort and it seems to be building awareness and great content for the brand on a regular basis, so the marketer in me is psyched for them.

In the end, my worries about being bored held no merit. Kenmore is committed to staking their claim in the appliance world. From talking to people before, during and after the event, I found out I’m in the minority for not owning any of their products. They are constantly improving their products and are committed to listening to customers. That alone is something that every company needs to start doing more of so I’m proud of Sears for making it such a priority.

A special thanks to Rich from Kenmore for making sure that Dads were not forgotten about on this trip and respecting how much we are involved in purchasing and using the types of products they manufacture. Plus, from the first e-mail until the last goodbye he was a down to earth guy who realized it is more about being human than anything else. Plus, like me he likes Tequila!

Do you have opinions about Kenmore? I’d love to hear them since I still haven’t actually used any of their products but I’m sure some of you have.

Disclosure: Cmp.ly/3

No related posts.

Outdoor activities like this are important and fun time for a family. The opportunity to teach about fitness and the outdoors alone make it worthwhile. Plus, as someone who grew up hiking and camping I really want to pass this onto my kids and it is a free activity that anyone can do.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to try out a couple of Crumpler backpacks that the company sent me to review. They sent me a blue Baby Anchovy for Dylan and a pink Baby Pea for Emily. Having no personal experience with Crumpler outside of their yearly samples in the SXSW Gift Bags, but knowing that many of my friends swear by them I was curious to see how they performed and what the kids thought of them.

The hike was great and my knee held up quite well. Since it was mainly flat it wasn’t challenging to any of us and the trees just starting to bloom and the breeze coming off the lake kept it chilly enough to minimize the complaining. If you’ve never taken your kids for a hike you’ll realize that they enjoy complaining about the heat, the hardness and being bored more than anything else. Start easy and someplace with a lot of things to look at and discover. On this trip we discovered an old abandoned stone fireplace and chimney that lead to a lot of fun theories of who might have used it.

Both backpacks are smaller than I would have imagined with the Pea being almost too small to carry anything of value. My daughter did fit in a water bottle and a couple of snacks, but anything more and it would have been too full. The good thing about this though is that even your youngest child could wear this and carry some of their own items to get them use to carrying their own share of the needed things for the hike.

The Anchovy is small as well, but has easily three times the space of the Pea. Dylan may of had more room, but this is way to small to be a school backpack for anything other than a couple of notebooks and maybe a lunch. Even then it would be a tight fit for sure. I’m sure it would work fine for a child up to first or second grade, but after that might not be big enough to carry everything they need.

That being said, the quality of both bags is rock solid. I LOVED how the straps on the Anchovy are one big piece of the same fabric as the actual bag. I had never seen a design like this before and since the bags are not cheap ($50-$60) I was happy to see such great design and craftsmanship. This alone made me check out the whole product line in more depth.

By giving each kid a pack of their own it let them determine when they needed a break. They didn’t need to ask me to get out a water bottle or a small snack. They would just sit down and get it out themselves. One important part of hiking is that each person needs to learn their own pace and I believe this helps children get use to it. Of course their pace sometimes can be too slow and you have to nudge them a bit, but that is also part of the fun of family hiking. (should I have put fun in quotes? *grin*)

In the end we had a great day in the woods enjoying nature and the backpacks performed perfectly. Since that day the Anchovy has been used many times for different activities, but the Pea has been shelved as just being too small for this age. Younger toddlers it would be perfect for, but mine are a bit too old for it even though both found it very cool looking.

Thanks Crumpler for letting us test these out and share our honest opinions with you and our readers. An extra thanks for giving me also a great reason to get the whole family outside.

Disclosure: http://Cmp.ly/2

Related posts:

1. Gaming Kids

001. Blackstar Warrior

“Space isn’t Black enough to hide from him!”

002. Bus Stop People

Digital Dads is pleased to feature this video by one of our own, Chance!

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Watch / August 6th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Watch / September 3rd, 2010
3. Digital Dads Watch / July 30th, 2010

Using the gift card they provided to buy the ingredients I returned home with a nice collection of yummy ingredients to work with. What surprised me was that although I’ve bought lots of cuts of beef in my time, I’m not sure I’ve ever bought a Strip Steak at the store. A NY Strip is one of my favorite cuts to get when dining out, but these were a bit thinner than I was expecting.

It was a simple recipe to pull together and what excited me was that it was very different than any way I had ever cooked a steak before.

I’m usually a simple olive oil, pepper and salt sort of guy on a steak. Or I’ll marinade it for a bit or dry rub some seasoning on it. This recipe was basically a dry rub, but with the fresh chopped herbs and garlic it was extremely different then anything I had ever made before.

I couldn’t so much “rub” it onto the steaks as sort of press it into the meat so that it would stick a bit. If I make this again I think I need to chop the herbs up even smaller and perhaps add some form of liquid into the mix to give it a different consistency. But, as you can see here on the steaks, it does add a really nice fresh color to them.

The vegetable trio was interesting as well. With Emily still not eating steak when we made this she was all kinds of excited to try something new. Asparagus is not something I ever make, but was willing to try for this assignment. I’ve also never stuck a kebab spear through a potato to cook them in this way either. One word of advice is to keep the heat really low under the potato and onions or else they get a very weird shade of toasted marshmallow brown.

The steaks cooked up nicely and because I was going to slice them up before plating them I made sure they came in at perfect medium so that everyone in the house would be content with them.

Overall we loved the recipe, but it was weird because each bite of steak had a different flavor since the “rub” wasn’t completely evenly distributed. The girls also said that next time they wouldn’t put the liquid mixture on the onions because the lemon and onion mixture wasn’t as good as if the onions were just plain. I don’t eat onions so I have no comment on that.

So, now that I’ve got you craving some Lean Beef of your own, would you like to win a $100 gift card to help you buy some great steaks? All you need to do is take the their Lean Beef Personality Matchup Survey and leave a comment on what cut of beef you’ve been matched up with. We’ll then pick a winner and send you out the gift card plus some fun schwagg to help with the shopping and cooking!

Disclosure: The gift cards and schwagg for the give away were provided to us as part of the promotion from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. They also gave us a gift card to purchase the ingredients used in testing out the recipes.

Related posts:

1. Shopping For Beef
2. 7 Can Chili Recipe
3. Fruity Sausage

We know that you all can’t tune in live to the show and because of that we’ll be sharing an archive of each episode here on the site as well in addition to links to topics we discuss on the show and any other information that we think we should share with you.

Today’s show included a special guest when author and former mistress Holly Hill joined us live from Australia to discuss her books and belief of how negotiated infidelity may help save relationships. We also talked a bit about how I had no idea that Katy Perry was so damn beautiful until the latest issue of Rolling Stone showed up this weekend. We also got a follow up report from DaDaRocks on his experience as a guy at BlogHer.

Watch and links after the video.

Helpful links:

• Cast of Dads
• Media Hacks
• Katy Perry in Rolling Stone
• Holly Hill on CNN
• Sugarbabe: The Controversial Real Story of a Woman in Search of a Sugar Daddy
• Toyboy
• Polyamory Weekly

Related posts:

1. Announcing Digital Dads TV

Come summer time BBQ season the world breaks into two camps, one that thinks Hawaiian shirts are acceptable, and one that doesn’t. The one that doesn’t is comprised of waaaaaay more sexy, powerful and interesting women and men. Being in that camp doesn’t mean you have to arrive at your grill fest as Blandville, population you. Here’s how to infuse color and relaxed festivity into your look without a trace of silliness; think Most Interesting Man in the World instead of Rodney Dangerfield. Let’s start at the top and work our way down.

Shirt: Your safest bet is to pick a light hue rather than a saturated bright color. Look for summer weight cottons and linens, they’ll keep you cooler than a regular dress shirt and probably have the right length for an untucked button down. Roll the cuff near or at your elbow. If you’re gonna wear it open with a T-shirt underneath don’t go Hanes or freebie, make the T shirt count.

Shorts: Don’t be afraid to leave your khakis at home, try a seersucker or linen with a subtle pattern. You don’t have to match the colors of your tops and bottoms or be afraid to wear more than one color, again keeping the hues light minimizes chances of clashing. Try multiples. Just like in other areas of life, threesomes win here too.

Shoes: We know you are not one to confuse athletic sneakers with real shoes. A boat shoe, driving moc, or other slip-on in charcoal or weathered tan will coordinate with any colors and solidify you as the coolest dude at the party.

Related posts:

1. AskEmmi – 3 Tips for Better Holiday Style

001. Machete Red Band Trailer

It is our opinion here at Digital Dads that Machete, starring Danny Trejo, needs no introduction. Please note that this trailer is not safe for viewing at work or around children.

002. Sucker Punch

Close your eyes. Open your mind. You. Will Be. Unprepared. What is likely to be 2011’s version of Twilight for young men looks to be an entertaining two hours of well placed eye candy that only be delivered by the director of Watchmen and 300. Please note that this trailer may not be safe for viewing at work or around children.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Watch / August 13th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Watch / July 30th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Watch / September 3rd, 2010

001. TPUTH

Humorous like The Onion and informative like The Guardian, TPUTH is a, “Socially Generated , Machine Filtered, Hand Polished, Electronic Newspaper for Geeks, Designers & Venture Capitalists“. Read more about TPUTH from its designer/creators at iA.

002. Executive Edits

Life. Culture. Curated. The tagline for the new online publication—Executive Edits, speaks volumes. Established by former print publisher Michael Allen, Ee aims to bring interesting and unique perspectives to the forefront—without overwhelming its audience with the standard narrative fare of traditional long-form content.

003. The Browser

There is no shortage of aggregated content sites on the internet, however, there do exist some that deliver quality content that can be truly informative. The Browser is one such site. It regularly features the Best of the Moment from around the internet and they declare, “Give us 15-minutes of your time and we will give you everything that matters in the world”—we believe them.

004. Flipboard

For those who love magazines and wished for their daily dose of content to have a stylish magazine look and feel, then the Flipboard application (for the iPad) is an absolute must have. It’s your magazine. The stuff you care about. All in one place.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / August 31st, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010

Now, it should be known that I’m a big fan of red meat. Yes, I know it isn’t the healthiest thing on the planet, but few things make me as happy as a perfectly cooked steak. Whenever I’m in a new town, I love to go to the local “best steakhouse” and trying it out.

As our family has been getting into healthier routines we have been choosing leaner cuts of beef which is what this whole outreach program is about. I’m sure they’ve been getting beat up lately, so this approach focusing on leaner cuts of beef is a smart one. They’ve even got a Healthy Beef Cookbook that I might add to my wish list since I can never have enough cookbooks in my house (although Laura would disagree).

The first part of the project involved me taking a personality quiz to match me up with my perfect cut of lean beef. The concept of this gave me a giggle, you can also take the Lean Beef Personality Matchup Survey for yourself to see what cut of beef is right for you. The quiz told me that mine was Strip Steak.

I’ve talked about it before that I do all the grocery shopping in our household, so going through the meat case to pick out good cuts of meat has never been something hard for me.

But, because it can be confusing there is even an “interactive meat case” that you can go to online to help you with the shopping process. One bit of advice for you is that if you are at the grocery store and feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most people who work behind the meat counter will be more than happy to give you advice and to help you find what you are looking for. I’ve learned a lot over the years from talking to them about all kinds of meat.

As part of working with the Beef Association, I’ve agreed to try one assigned recipe and then pick another one on my own to try out. They’ve assigned me Tender Pepper-Rubbed Strip Steaks with Grilled Vegetable Trio and I’ll be making it and sharing my experience with everyone here later this week. I’m still not sure what my second recipe will be since they’ve got so many to choose from and I haven’t picked one yet. They all look so damn yummy. But, whatever I choose you can be sure to see some yummy photos here shortly.

Of course besides drooling over the yummy steaks I’ll be cooking, I get to share the fun with you as well. Read the upcoming recipe posts to find out how you can win a Beef gift pack including a reusable shopping bag, apron and a $100 gift card to help you go shopping for your own personal lean beef adventure.

Happy eating!

Disclosure: I’ve been given a gift card to pay for the groceries used in these blog posts and of course the give aways have also been provided to me by the Beef Council and their PR Agency. If the recipes suck, you can blame them since they also provided those to me. *laugh*  http://cmp.ly/3

Related posts:

1. Pepper-Rubbed Strip Steaks
2. The Veggie “Problem”
3. 7 Can Chili Recipe

As part of The Pulse Network, the show will be airing every Monday from 2-3 pm ET LIVE! We’ll have in studio guest, guests connecting via skype and plenty of surprises in the weeks to come.

We wanted to make it clear that this is a show for guys and not just dads. We’ll be talking about entertainment, music, cooking and anything else that you might see here on the site, you’ll see on the show.

If you can’t tune in live, the shows will be archived and you can watch them that way. If you can watch them live, please feel free to call in via 1-877-PULSE-411 so that I can talk to you on the show.

Here is today’s episode.

Today was the kick off show and we had Matthew Ebel as a guest, talked about Mad Men and The Smoking Jacket and then after a bit of a rant of how the advertising world is being clueless about Dads we took a bunch of calls to end out the show.

Related posts:

1. Katy Perry Gets Hot & Sugarbabe Holly Hill
2. Cast of Dads: Are You Listening?
3. Television for Toddlers

001. DC Universe Online

Every one of us at Digital Dads can remember that favorite superhero comic rolled and stuffed into the back pocket. For each of us, heroes like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman jumped off the page—larger than life. Now they, along with a host of other heroes and villains from the DC comics universe will come alive once more as part of the massively-multiplayer DC Universe Online.

002. Tron Legacy Comic-Con 2010 Trailer/HD

The sequel to TRON, TRON:Legacy is one of the most anticipated films of the year. The third trailer, recently released at the San Diego Comic-Con 2010, continues to excite everyone at Digital Dads and we absolutely are looking forward to multiple viewings of the film come December.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Watch / August 6th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Watch / September 3rd, 2010
3. Digital Dads Watch / August 13th, 2010

So yesterday when the demo version of Madden 11 came out for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 we had to download it immediately.

I still think that every August, there should be a holiday dedicated to the release of the newest Madden. But, for some reason the Government hasn’t stepped up and made that a reality yet. *grin*

As I fired up the demo and saw that familiar “EA Sports…It’s in the game” logo and voice come up I couldn’t contain my excitement. It did feel a little weird playing alone since my son is at camp this week and he usually would be right there playing against me, but I couldn’t wait a week.

One warning for the die hard NFL fan though. Depending on who you are a fan of (I’m a life long, die hard, Miami Dolphins fan) this demo may cause you conflict. It only allows you to choose between the Jets or the Colts to play with. This gave me great pause because I’m not a fan of either, but had to go with the Colts since there is no way I could play as the Jets unless I wanted to just let the quarterback get sacked over and over and laugh the whole time. (sorry Gary…)

The look and feel of the game is very similar to last year. I’ve held a belief of buying the game every other year when the big changes get made. Madden 10’s graphics were a huge jump in awesome and this year looks a lot the same. Sure, they’ve added a lot more B-Roll footage for each stadium including tailgaters and angry fans leaving in droves if you start to whip the home team.

Game play has some great new features. My favorite being the double stick control of runners. Now the left stick controls your direction and the right stick controls upper body movement making it a lot more effective to juke and shift directions better than you ever have been able to. There is also a new feature that allows you to see who from your friend list is online and instantly set up multiplayer games. They actually show a screen shot of playing 3-on-3 and while I’m not quite sure how this would work, I am looking forward to trying it out.

While I usually turned off the commentators after the first few games, I did miss hearing John Madden’s voice in the game. Gus Johnson Cris Collinsworth provide a realistic feel, but it still doesn’t feel right not to have him as part of it.

Some other new features that I’m excited to dive more into include:

• Full game playbook design that allows you to fully customize what plays you want to choose from so that you don’t have to scroll endlessly looking for your favorites.
• Game times are cut down to roughly 30 minutes for a full game instead of 60.
• GameFlow, the new play calling system that automatically selects the best play for your team based on situational, authentic NFL game plans.
• Seeing all the customizations (including chants, music, etc) that they’ve put into each stadium.

Overall the demo does just what it should: Make you want to run out and pre order a copy today so that you can play the full thing on August 10th when it comes out.

If you get the game, let us know your gamer tag in the comments below and perhaps we can get some good multiplayer action going between the Digital Dads community.

Related posts:

1. NFL Preview: AFC Predictions
2. NFL Preview: NFC Predictions
3. Gaming Kids

You need to know that I do all the cooking in my house. I plan the menu, do the grocery shopping and then do all the cooking. Over the years, I’ve learned what the family does and doesn’t like and can keep the variety going pretty well.

Then two weeks ago, my daughter Emily announced that she wanted to try being vegetarian. I thought this was great for her to try and was very nice these past two weeks not cooking some of her favorite dishes (such as salmon and steak) that might tempt her. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for her to try it during her two weeks.

But, then yesterday she told me that she is going to keep on doing it. I asked her why and she said. “because I kind of like it.”

Now, I FULLY support the idea of being a vegetarian. For me, it is just not something I could do as I enjoy all food and wouldn’t want to limit myself. We’ve always joked about how Emily could be a vegetarian because she has always loved her vegetables, but she also loved fish and meat as well. I suggested to her that she could definitely dial down the meat and fish in her diet without giving it up completely.

But, I’m stuck now because I don’t know what to do and I’ve got some worries including:

• I want to make sure she gets enough protein and iron in her diet.
• The idea of cooking almost two separate meals every day is not something I’m looking forward to.
• I don’t want to fall into the “well we can just make pasta again” trap because that is far from healthy.

I know there are plenty of books, articles and blog posts about this out there, but I also wanted to throw it out to you guys and gals.

While on the good side it’ll force us all to eat more veggies, on the other side this feels like a big old headache coming my way. I want to support my kids in all the decisions they make in life, but I also have to look at how this decision effects me as well.

Advice?

Related posts:

1. Memorial Day Essentials

I grew up playing them and then due to a stupid doctor, I was scared out of playing them in high school. But, all that aside I can plop down on the couch and pretty much watch any sporting event.

Right now though is what I refer to as “the dark days of sports.”

While I love going to a baseball game and watching it live, I just can’t watch a game on television. Not unless it is October and it is the playoffs. THEN I can watch baseball on TV. I find it boring and I’d almost rather watch golf. Which by the way is the one sport that I have zero interest in. I’ve tried playing it and watching it and neither do anything for me.

For me, once the NHL and NBA playoffs are over I get bored with sports. The occasional tennis match will grab my attention and this year we thankfully had the World Cup to cheer for. But, right now there is nothing for me.

I know we only have a few weeks left until the NFL starts back up. More than any other sport I’m a die hard football fan. I’ve rooted for the Miami Dolphins my entire life (which is loads of “fun” when you grow up in New England) and this year they finally look like they have a better then usual chance of doing something good. Go Fins!!

Thankfully I’m blessed with a wife who is also a football fan (she roots for the Baltimore Ravens) and Sunday in our house is nothing but football. Opening day we always go over the top and cook a ton of tailgating food to celebrate. I don’t know what is on the menu yet this year but it is always yummy and bad for you. As good tailgating should be.

Am I the only one who gets down in the dumps missing sports this time of year? I’m curious.

Related posts:

1. Why I Love Sports
2. NFL Preview: NFC Predictions
3. NFL Preview: AFC Predictions

I love Shakespeare, have seen numerous performances of Rent and own more then one soundtrack from a musical.

I was late on jumping on the Cirque du Soleil bandwagon because I had never had a chance to see a show. That changed a couple of years ago when Steve Coulson and I checked out Love in Vegas and I was blown away. Since then, I’ve become a big fan and love that every show they do is completely unique and inspiring. When I heard that a new production called OVO was coming to Boston I got excited.

About OVO
OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non‐stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

The name OVO means “egg” in Portuguese. Graphically, OVO hides an insect in its name: The two “O” letter represent the eyes while the letter “V” forms the nose.

The cast of OVO comprises 54 performing artists from 16 countries and director Deborah Colker, a renowned choreographer, has integrated dance movements into many of the acts in the show.  It was cool (and a bit surprising) to read that Colker is the first female Director at Cirque du Soleil.

Want To Win Tickets?

Thanks to the official automobile sponsor of Cirque Du Soleil, Infiniti, you have the chance to win a pair of tickets to a special sneak preview performance of OVO.

At Infinit, the intention is to move people emotionally as well as physically so this partnership is a perfect match.

All you have to do to win a pair of tickets is tell us about an “inspired performance” that you have been part of or witnessed. That is a rather open topic, so please have fun with it!

Leave a comment telling us about it or write a post on your own site and link back here in the comments.

On Monday morning we’ll pick two winners who will each win a pair of tickets to the Wednesday, July 21, 2010 performance here in Boston. I’ll be going to the show as well so we’ll be sure to take some pictures to share here on the site with the winners.

Good luck!

Update: This contest is closed as of 11:00 am EST on Monday July 19, 2010

Related posts:

1. Dew Tour – Boston, MA

While neither of us are heavy into the skateboarding world, we both enjoy watching it and when Sony offered us tickets to come on down and check it all out how could we say no?

We arrived early and found all sorts of booths and experiences set up outside of TD Garden. With an extreme sports angle, the variety of what people were offering surprised both of us. Where else would you find the National Guard letting kids ride segways and then just down the way a Paul Mitchell salon doing hair cuts and coloring directly across from a gigantic inflatable Nerf Dart Tag arena?

Sony had three tents set up as well, each with a unique theme that was an instant attraction for Dylan. Inside of one, they had a huge 18 wheeler truck that opened up to have screens and Playstation 3 consoles all along both sides and inside as well. Kids (and parents) could walk up and play some of the newest game releases. Dylan was stuck playing Time Crisis for quite some time and I wasn’t going to complain because the air conditioning felt awesome.

For me, the coolest thing we saw was the new 3D gaming options from Sony. I had to give my license to check out some glasses, but then we got to play and let me tell you that it was amazing. I haven’t been caught up in all the hype over 3D televisions and such, but after playing a couple of games in 3D I instantly got the appeal. I just hope that the glasses are not  expensive or it is going to suck for gaming because as you can see in the picture above, watching a game without the glasses sucks. Part of the fun of home gaming is having others be able to watch while some play.

Dylan’s favorite part was being able to play a game of Nerf Dart Tag. Before the tournament started (who knew they had a country wide tournament going on?) they were letting kids go in and setting them up in teams of four to play. It reminded me a lot of speed paintball except with Nerf guns. I got to go in and take pictures while he was playing and it was a lot of fun to watch. Of course I wish they rented the arenas, because it could be a lot of fun to set one of those up at a party!

After spending several hours outside at all the free exhibits we headed in to watch the competition. It was weird to see a half pipe inside of the Boston Garden, but it was a blast to watch. Dylan (and me) were looking forward to seeing Shaun White compete, but he was hurt so we had to settle for watching him get interviewed on the big screen.

All in all we had a great day together and ended it by getting some slices of pizza from Quincy Market before heading home.

The Dew Tour will continue on into the fall with stops in Chicago, Portland, Salt Lake City and ending in Las Vegas. You can buy tickets here as well as find out more information. If you get a chance to go, I highly recommend it!

If you want to see more picture, view my whole Dew Tour set.

Related posts:

1. Gaming Kids
2. The Dark Days of Sports
3. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games

Photo by Chris Milliman

Ben is unique among most of the men and fathers that I know. He is a talented designer and creative director for The Design Coop, a studio that emphasizes thinking differently. His wife is an organic farmer who lives on a bonafide farm in Montana, and Ben is also the co-founder of Freeman Transport—a custom hand-built bicycle company.  All of which he views as secondary to being a loving father to his four year old little girl.

Digital Dads is pleased to feature Ben and expose his thoughts and ideas on what it means to be a man and father living in todays world.

What is your perspective on what it means to be a man living in todays world?

Todays world is a total shit show. Environmental disaster, war, poverty, unsafe food, media sensationalism and the disappearance of farms. I think you need to ask yourself, what am I doing to make the world a better place because it’s up to us. No one is going to do it for us. We need to lead by example.

Growing up, what has influenced you the most and shaped the man that you are today?

Parents, wife, city, the farm and my daughter. Always growing up.

In the moments you are able to pause and reflect, what activity do you normally gravitate towards?

Cycling, hiking, fishing, skiing.

What is your parental philosophy?

Unconditional parenting.

What do you appreciate the most about being a father?

The opportunity to raise the next person to change the world we live in.

What is your favorite activity (or activities) to do with your children?

Playing. Cooking. Biking. Skiing.

What is the best way for a man and father to impart wisdom to his children?

Lead by example.

What piece of technology impacts you most during the day (and is that impact positive or negative)?

The blackberry.

How does technology shape the way you raise and influence your children?

It forces you to unplug and be present.

How do you think men’s roles will change in the future?

I have no idea.

‘Preciate that, Ben!

Be sure to explore Freeman Transport and visit The Design Coop

/// Digital Dads Exposed returns next month with more unique and interesting perspectives on manhood and fatherhood. Is there someone you would like to see  featured? Email us—digitaldads@gmail.com.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010

The essence of cool is to be an inspiration. Without words or explanation.  Where the unspoken is the epitome of meaning.  the impossible cool highlights through archival photographs those who have inspired us throughout the years.

002. Typostruction

Artist and designer Chris Piascik has an affinity for all things typography (and we at Digital Dads do as well)—and his site Typostruction features a fantastic curated collection of typography works from around the world. One of our favorite stops in our daily browsing.

003. smitten kitchen

Too many cliche’s exist regarding a man and the kitchen—but they are all true. smitten kitchen will inspire you to make it true for you as well.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010

In fact, I’d be thrilled to have a magazine subscription where I could luxuriously spend time on myself, but for now I’m hoping to avert a crisis – which I do, just in time. Granola pancakes with a touch of syrup happened to be on the menu this morning, the little chef being considerate of my diet to control my blood sugar, but adding sweetness to my ever bland breakfast he often gets. I thank him, but then I give a quick bark to get ready for the day – boy, how times flies.

As he runs off, I let out a deep tired sigh and think back to when I could hold my one year old world in my arms. It was just as exhausting and exciting, and I only had enough time to record his developmental milestones in bullet point form, in my handy red Moleskine journal meant for him.

You see, it’s a place where I record my thoughts for him, so that someday he’ll read them and come to find out what I was thinking throughout his young years. What it also is, is my quiet way of reminiscing of my boy. I’m terribly sentimental with him, so I often keep the things he’s made up for me – a lego garden, a handmade card, a bottle of our shared collected shells, rocks, and beach washed glass collected between the skipping of rocks. They are tokens that tell me I’ve done something right, reminders of our shared experiences, the highs and lows, which often soothe my momentary anxiety when I question myself and wonder if I’ve been a good enough of a father. Wondering, how will he turn out when his childhood is done?

Thanks to the task master, Papa, the morning moves like clock-work, and we’re all finishing at the breakfast table. Showered, shaved, and ready to start the day, I call my son over to get ourselves out the door. Per my routine, I pile on to my person my wallet, keys, change, phone, and note pad…except something is missing. I look around to no avail, and then my son calls my name, reaches into his pocket, and tells me, “Here’s your pen, Papa.” It’s my little chrome Space Pen that I carry with me wherever I go, so much so that people in shops do not offer me a pen anymore but simply wait for me to pull out my own. It’s small and novel, and something that has become a part of my identity –my son recognizes that! It makes me smile to think that he was trying it out in his own little pocket – yes, he will turn out to be like me, and more.

So, I’m reminded that the best Father’s Day gift I have ever been given has been the honor to be called, Papa, followed by the asking to come out and play. Someday, he’ll learn that his father never needed chocolate syrup, for as sappy as I get.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gift Guides

Giving books as a present is something I love doing. I think it really shows how well you know someone, when you can pick the perfect book out for them. I know this year I bought my Dad a couple of books for Father’s Day and when I saw them I knew they were perfect for him. He got them early and reacted just as I had hoped for.

All the links below are affiliate links, but of course you can buy them from wherever it is that you love to buy books. We think these would make great gifts for any Dad on your shopping list.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Don’t be distracted by the title of this book or the beautiful and talented Ree Drummond on the cover, this is a cookbook that any guy would love to have in his kitchen. Full of hearty, tasty and down right sinful recipes, this is my favorite cookbook I own (and I own a lot of them). I’m a huge fan of Ree’s photography and it fills the pages with step-by-step shots of each recipe so even the newest of cooks can figure out if they are on the right track or not. Her laid back, sometimes snarky commentary makes it fun to read as well. If you are unsure about this book, you’ll want it for the cinnamon roll recipe at a minimum. They’ve become a favorite in our house.

Heroes for My Son

Kodak sent us a couple of these books to give away, but I had already looked through it at the store and fallen in love with it. Each page highlights an individual that the author Brad Meltzer views as a hero for his son. There are world leaders, sports figures and politicians between the pages as well as a few personal ones. I found this book highly inspirational and while anyone would enjoy this book it would be perfect for the new father in your life. After Father’s Day, we’ll be holding a contest to give away a couple of signed copies, so stay tuned.

Shedworking

Every guy dreams of having their own space. It might be a room in the basement, something set up in the garage or their own full blown man town. But, another alternative is a whole new room in the backyard. The idea of shedworking is that what use to be just to store your lawnmower and shovel, the concept of a “shed” has evolved into something totally new as more people look for alternatives to commuting to an office. Full of photos and imagination this one is a surprise that keeps on giving. Of course now I’m eager to try one of these out in the woods behind my house.

Geek Dad

We are all fans of GeekDad.com (bookmark it now!) so when they sent us a copy of this book we were excited to read it. You’ll never have to go looking for a kid’s science project idea if you own this book. From start to finish it is filled with fun projects that a dad and his kids can do together. Everything from building the best slip n’ slide to building a lamp out of LEGO. A warning though that the minute your kids get a hold of this, you might be instantly busy with new things as they will want to start doing the projects right away. *grin*

1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die

The name sort of says it all doesn’t it? There is also a global edition, but the reality of visiting most of those is beyond my grasp, so I recommend this one as something with more fun close to home. Organized by state or province, we found it fun to see what they suggested people do in our home states and actually discovered some things that we had never done before. We all have our personal bucket lists, so why not give 1,000 more items to add to the list?

The Council of Dads

I’ve never had a book make me tear up in the first three pages before, but this one certainly did. I actually first heard of this book while flipping through the in-flight magazine of all places. The author who is the father to two little girls finds out that he has terminal cancer and sets out to put in place a council of other fathers that when he is gone can help raise and influence his kids. It forced me to wonder if I was in a similar situation who would I choose with such a deeply personal task? This is not an easy read because of the constant swing of emotions, but it is one you should make the time for.

Emergency

Are you ready in case there is a natural disaster in your area? What if a terrorist attack took out the power grid and you had to survive on your own. Could you do it? These are the types of questions the author asked himself as he wrote this story/how to guide for a variety of situations. Described as “one man’s story of a dangerous world–and how to stay alive in it” I found it to be a fun and informative read. It isn’t a dry, boring how to manual, but you will certainly learn how to be more prepared from reading it.

Now, these are just some of our favorites this year that we’ve read and think would make great gifts, but what are others. We’d love to hear from you what should have been on the list or what we should keep on our radar for upcoming birthdays and holidays for the guys on our lists?

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different
2. SteamPotVille
3. Save Reading Is Fundamental

001. WIRED UK’s The World Cup Predicted

Everyone is going crazy with all the futbòl action on the pitch in South Africa and The Section Design has a brief post featuring an infographic that predicts the winner—which was generated using a mathematical formula based on the GDP of each participating country. Could it really be Brazil?  Goooooaaaal!

002. Alphabet City ‘Out on The Streets’

This unique alphabet board book by street artist Michael De Feo features a unique, creative, and artistic perspective of the world—and how to present learning to children in very cool fashion (and Digital Dads loves every bit of it).

003. Edition 29 Issue 001 ARCHITECTURE

29GPS’s Edition 29 is pushing the publishing front on the iPad with their next-level photo essay magazines. The audio, visual, and interactive nature of each issue is going to set this series apart from other magazine attempts on the platform to be sure. Truly a glimpse into what can be in terms of near future magazine publishing.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

This Father’s Day consider ordering from one of the following companies to find that unique gift that is perfect for the special dad in your life.

Red Envelope

We talked about this company for Mother’s Day because they are great for the last minute shopper who wants something creative, but needs it fast. I’ve personally ordered from them many times over the years and can highly recommend the products they sell as top notch.

They recently reached out to us and offered to send us something for free from their Father’s Day Gifts. I chose their personalized pint glasses since I’m a lover of beer. They were bigger then the typical pint glass and nice and heavy as they should be. Any dad who loves a frosty beverage or has dreamed about owning their own bar would love to receive these. They have a large variety of gifts for every type of Father, so be sure to swing by for a visit.

Uncommon Goods

I talked about this company on Cast of Dads recently and am a huge fan of their offering. Their tag line is “find anything but ordinary” which fits the variety of items that they carry. I’ve ordered many holiday and birthday gifts from them over the year and people are always amazed at what they end up getting since it is far from the same old same old.

They have a Father’s Day Gift page as well and one quick scroll through it will show you what I mean by unique. Where else are you going to find record coasters or whiskey rocks? They work with a lot of independent artists and charities as well, which is just yet another reason I’m such a big fan.

2modern

A new company on our radar that certainly appeals to a certain type of guy. This isn’t a site for everyone, but if your dad enjoys reading magazines like Dwell or GQ then they should enjoy everything available here.

On their for him page you can find many modern items including a Magis – Voido rocking chair or a cherry wood ipod case. None of their gifts are inexpensive, but they are sure to make an impression. I know I found a couple of items that I’m certainly going to put on my holiday wish list.

While these are just three companies offering a variety of different Father’s Day gifts we hope you find something. Got something else that you think would make a unique gift? Let us know in the comments.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gift Guides
2. Father’s Day Gifts: Books
3. Mother’s Day Gifts

Aside from wishing I could have gone, seeing the video was interesting to me for a number of reasons. Since long before our son was born, we had heard from a number of friends how Disney World had really changed from when we were kids: how it had become too commercial. The videos were my first glimpse into that world since my own childhood, or at least an unfiltered view that wasn’t presented to me through the media to accompany marketing or a story (with an agenda) of some sort. The video Steph brought home was about Paul, not Disney World.

Based on the small volume of memory I have about my own childhood experience at Disney World, the park seemed to be less of a fantasy or dream world, and more of an amusement park. I don’t know that it appeared any more or less commercial though, just bigger. Watching Paul, it was absolutely a magic kingdom for him–the Magic Kingdom–and nothing less. He didn’t see actors in suits, he saw Mickey Mouse, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and any number of other characters who were very real. Steph and Paul went to the park several times and each time for my son was just as exciting as the first, seeing many of the same, and several new characters each visit. His birthday is now weeks behind us, we’re all back together again in Germany, and we know without a doubt Paul’s experience remains fresh; we know he even dreams about his time at Disney World and wakes up telling us stories and asking questions about where various characters are or what they’re doing today.

So is Disney, or specifically Disney World, more commercial? Probably. The machine that is The Walt Disney Company seems to be much bigger now than ever. Or more valuable in terms of its financial worth. I don’t have numbers to back this; it’s my perception. The scale/scope of the company and all it does just seems huge compared to what it’s been through past decades–theme parks globally, movie/film interests, comic/graphic novel interests, gobs of merchandise, etc. But I have to ask, so what?

Watching my son, and living a bit of my own youth through his eyes so many years later, I’m not convinced that anything has really changed from the perspective of a child. He saw nothing commercial; he was in a real, living dream. When he watches some of Disney’s movies, he sees other glimpses of a magic world and isn’t concerned or distracted by the things that aren’t in the realm of the possible. It’s all about his young, fresh and very active imagination. Anything is possible!

I’ve learned that whatever I think of Walt Disney Company today, what I see is through my adult eyes. My son, with a full three years under his belt, doesn’t see the machine behind the magic in the Kingdom. His experience now was mine so many decades ago. If I find I do or don’t like the way Disney conducts the business behind the magic, that’s for me to deal with. But I am convinced when the fruit of Disney’s efforts bubble up in the world of kids today, at least at Disney World in Florida, they can proudly declare success. Disney has preserved a world where kids can come and get lost in the magic, with none of the worries or distractions that too often burden us as dads; they don’t see the machine behind the magic. As a result of not being able to go this time and how much shear fun my Paul had, Stephanie and I are planning to take him back next year for his fourth birthday. It’ll be a long, expensive, and somewhat complicated trip for us, but that’s how it goes–we’re the adults. For my son though, it’s simply a return to the Magic Kingdom. I can’t wait!

It’s great to be a Dad!

Related posts:

1. Family Vacations: Atlantis

001. Wisdom Book

Andrew Zuckerman’s Wisdom: The Greatest Gift One Generation Can Give to Another, collects thoughts and perspective from Nelson Mandela, Clint Eastwood, Buzz Aldrin, Desmond Tutu, The Dalai Lama and more.  It is a fantastic book that reveals much about those providing the narrative.  Visit the website for photographs and films related to the project.

002. Teux Deux

Digital Dads are transparent in their enthusiasm about all things design related and we are pretty excited about Swiss Miss‘ design project collaboration. Teux Deux is a simple, design-y,  free, browser based to-do application that is both functional and appeals to our passion for good design.

003. Pictory Mag

Pictory is a collection of photo based essays, beautifully collected and presented.  Each showcase tells a different tale and it is difficult not to go back numerous times to experience each.

004. Netflix Origami

We all need a creative distraction from the productivity that is a common thread throughout most of our lives—Netflix Origami can help you satisfy those urges (and answers the question so what DO I do with those tear off slips from the Netflix envelopes???)

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

All kinds, really. I may not have a lot of time to be a spectator to live sporting events, but I watch, on TV, just about every playoff of most sports, every Grand Slam in Tennis (yea, waking up early before the Tivo days), the quaddrennials like the World Cup & the Olympics (both kinds), certainly the NFL, and every single football game that is played by my beloved Florida State Seminoles (the one thing, over and above everything,  I will. stake. time for.).

But beyond the obvious, beyond the competition, the one thing I love (maybe even most) is how sports can teach us.

Maybe you read about the big event that happened this week. No, not the start of the Lakers and Celtics NBA final (saw it). It was the attempt by Armando Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, to become only the 21st pitcher to pitch a perfect game in the HISTORY of Major League Baseball.

Think about it. This damn sport, obsessed about statistics above all other sports, has been around since the 1800s. Imagine the pitchers that have come and gone. And only 20 people have ever successfully gotten 27 up, 27 down. And the crazy thing? Two of them have happened this year. This would have been the third!

Bring you up to date, if you hadn’t heard:

Ninth inning, 2 outs. With a perfect game on the line, hitter drives infield towards the area between 1st and 2nd base. 1st baseman leaves the bag to field the hit, which means the pitcher runs over to cover 1st. 1st baseman throws the ball to the pitcher as he’s running over. That’s all the pitcher has to do: get to 1st base and tag the bag before the runner does.

Galarraga tags 1st base. Runner is out, right? But he’s not. Jim Joyce, the Umpire behind 1st base, calls him safe.

That’s right: no perfect game.

Except the replay clearly shows the runner was out. Galarraga got their first.

Crowd goes nuts, incredulously boos. Galaragga looks stunned, but smiles in a “Wow, did that just happen?” sort of way. He goes on to get the next runner out. End of game.

Here’s where it gets good

The way things are nowadays, you’d think it played out thusly:
Media/Blogosphere goes nuts. Pitcher pitches a fit. Umpire doesn’t own up to his mistake. Everyone yells at each other, unquestionable cynicism abounds.

But that’s not what happened.

Immediately after the game, Joyce the Umpire sees the replay and is heartbroken. He honestly believed he made the right call at the time, but he sees his mistake and immediately owns up to it. Without going to the clubhouse and showering, he immediately puts in a request to the Tigers Staff to see the pitcher. By all accounts I’ve read, he apologized to the Pitcher. Galarraga, displaying incredible class, actually said “hey, nobody’s perfect.”

Next morning’s news is nuts over this. Some people, mistakenly in my view, are calling for Joyce’s retirement or firing, but here’s where you lose me: the guy immediately owned up to his mistake and apologized. The pitcher quickly accepted the apology. I’m sorry: until you have a job as zero sum as a referee, I don’t think I’d be so quick to hate, as the kids say. Isn’t life about mistakes, and how you atone for them? Isn’t it true, what Armando said: “Hey, nobody’s perfect.”?

Here’s where it gets better

MLB told Joyce he could take the next day off. He didn’t. He suited up and, this time, was the umpire behind home plate. Displaying even more class, the Tigers’ manager, Jim Leyland—rather than himself bringing out the team’s lineup to the umpire before the game–instead instructed Galarraga to deliver the lineup sheet to Joyce. In this symbolic display of good sportsmanship, Galaragga extended his hand. Joyce, if you saw the guy, just looks like an old walrus; and old, gruff-looking, Irish walrus. Yet, he was visibly moved to tears. They shook.

Here’s where it sucks for a second

My understanding is the Commissioner of Baseball has an overriding authority to right wrongs in, as the rules state, “for the good of the game.” Bud Selig, who used his acumen as a car leasing executive for his father’s company to naturally fold toward a path to being Major League Baseball’s Commissioner, had this one served up on a silver platter. But he wasn’t about to stray from his well-documented list of gaffes. Not Bud. Not this day.

Listen, I get the slippery slope of revising history. It’s dangerous. “Then, why not ‘this’… if that?” is the theory. But I find this to be a once-in-a-generation possibility: The replay clearly shows the batter was out. The umpire is overwhelmingly of the opinion he made a mistake; all parties are playing the class act.

Of course, Bud Selig, who wouldn’t know an opportunity like this if it pricked him in the ass like a needle filled with performance enhancing drugs, refused to reverse the call.

Lesson Learned? Yes.

Well within your right, you could throw up your hands and cry foul. This is too quick, too simple, in my opinion. The no-brainer approach is that yes, Bud Selig is a douche. But it’s too obvious, and too easy to let get under our collective skins. Thing is, we have an incredible and unintended consequence happening right under our noses.

Think of it this way: If your arm was broken by someone, and you sued, you’d probably be involved with lawyers for a much longer period of time than the pain. The truth of the matter is, while you’re filing lawsuits and preparing testimony, your arm is healing. Every single moment that moves along the path of time, your arm is getting better, and I might add, getting stronger. By the time the trial starts, it’s more likely you’ve completely healed.

Think about that.

Jim Joyce, Armando Galarraga, Detroit Manager Jim Leyland (and the entire Tigers Organization) showed us how it’s done. I can look at my 14-month old son, and convincingly tell him hey, you play sports for the reasons they displayed: good sportsmanship, owning up to mistakes, displaying class in the face of pressure to cave into our baser instincts.

And they did it for one other reason:

For the good of the game.

This is why I love sports.

Related posts:

1. The Dark Days of Sports

OK, I know what I’m actually being asked, but I don’t really like the implication, even when the question comes from someone who’s close enough to my wife and I that the question isn’t offensive. It’s as if a memo went out from the Men’s Department to all the middle aged guys informing them they shouldn’t have kids after they enter middle age, and it appears I crossed the threshold and recklessly dismissed the memo’s authoritative guidance. Or perhaps I just didn’t receive it.

Being a Dad at any age is special and there are certainly uniquely special things about being a Dad at different times in your own life. With my wife and I, we made a deliberate decision to sacrifice our younger years (with all the associated strength and energy) to build an environment at home that would allow us to more comfortably raise a little one–primarily in two areas: our own maturity and financial stability.

So putting the oddity and perhaps the improper nature of the question aside, I love being a Dad. I mean I really LOVE being a Dad, more than I could have ever imagined. No regrets. I see and feel my own bodily limitations and know that these wouldn’t be issues if I were a twenty- or thirty-something, but that’s OK. I still see the world again through the eyes of my three year old son–at times causing frustration for my sweet wife who feel she has two three year olds. I might be a bit slower (or more cautious) but there isn’t anything I can’t do with my son. Maybe in 10 years he’ll be able to break my hip, but for now, I’m OK.

Here’s the real bottom line–if the time is right, it’s never too late to be a Dad. Compared to the gain, you lose nothing except perhaps a slice off the ego when folks ask the strangest question, or as you anticipate being in your 60s when your child is graduating from high school. I’m OK with that though and suspect that most of you other Dads out there are too. For those of you who worry about having a first (or another) child as a middle aged man, I’m your champion. Go for it! Who knows, I just might have to thumb my nose at the memo crowd and have another myself. It’s great to be a Dad!

No related posts.

Ok, let me get it right out in the open so there is no confusion. We are BIG Star Wars fans around here. When my son showed an interest in the movies I can’t fully express how psyched I was and how great it was to take him to the movies to watch them.

We’ve since watched all the films and were very surprised how awesome the television show The Clone Wars turned out to be and it is something we always watch together. It makes for something fun to bond over and a passion we both share.

Because of this, I’m psyched to share the news that this fall, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will release Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, a free-to-play, action packed virtual world. Focused on creating a fun and safe online environment for kids and families, Clone Wars Adventures will offer  minigames, dynamic activities, social events and thousands of customization options.  Players can even battle it out with friends alongside iconic Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano.

Dylan has been playing Free Realms for a while now which is also from SOE, so we’ve seen the game play on that and for an online game it is top notch. Watching the trailer for this new adventure made us even more psyched about the release.

“Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate destination for fans of The Clone Wars series and will bring the action and excitement of the show to players online so they can experience The Clone  Wars universe firsthand” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve worked with LucasArts and Lucasfilm to create a virtual world that is seamlessly integrated with the TV series and a true extension of the show. It’s also just flat-out fun to play.”

Virtual worlds hold a lot of promise for companies and game players. I’ve watched as Dylan has jumped from one to another figuring out which one he likes the best. One thing that I know will be appealing to players in this game is that they are going to allow you to fly through space in various starfighters, play as a clone trooper in tower defense challenges and even solve challenging puzzles which is something I know my son enjoys. It sounds like there is a lot of variety which is key in keeping a kid’s imagination and to bring them back to play over and over.

Of course, this is a business venture, so there will be plenty of options for kids to upgrade their accounts to buy new outfits, equipment and other virtual goods. The possibilities are really endless and I’m glad to read about the built in parental controls. Of course, I’m probably looking forward to playing as much as Dylan is at this point. I can’t wait to play.

There is no official release date yet except for “this fall” so stay tuned. Until then enjoy some screen shots from the game.

Related posts:

1. Gaming Kids
2. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games
3. Dew Tour – Boston, MA

001. Foreign Policy on The Magnificent Migrants

“Extraordinary photos of ordinary Mexicans”, is the byline for this fantastic photo essay capturing the everyday working lives of Mexican immigrants in America.

002. magCulture

Many of us at Digital Dads have a strong affinity for printed matter—especially magazines. magCulture has strong appeal for us due to its focus on creative design and innovation in print and is curated by London designer Jeremy Leslie.

003. The Selby

Everything about us contributes to the narrative that comprises the story of our lives—what we consume, whom we befriend, where we vacation, and even how we decorate our homes. The Selby takes an intimate look at the lives of creatives around the world through the lens of the spaces they live and breathe.

004. Monocle

If GQ had a knowledgeable, relevant and timely cousin, it would be Monocole magazine. Monocle is a magazine for the globally minded, “covering international affairs, business, culture and design“.

005. Edge Online

“Edge is the world’s most prestigious brand in games journalism.” We mince no words about our hardcore gaming tendencies here at Digital Dads. Edge’s comprehensive coverage of gaming industry news worldwide ensures that we’ll never miss out on where to spend our hard earned salaries and welcomed time suck machine.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

If we found an affiliate link for the product we will be using it, but of course buy from the vendors that you like and let us know of any other gifts you think we might have missed.

Canon PowerShot S90
Pictures make the world go around and while there are tons of great digital SLR cameras out there, sometimes you want something small and compact that can still take great pictures. We love the Canon S90 because while you can pop it into Auto mode and shoot beautiful photos, it also has tons of manual modes for the seasoned photographer to tweak to their hearts content. It takes a standard SD card and is small enough to fit in your pocket.

If you are looking for something more high end, we are all fans of the Canon 5D Mark II or the Canon 7D. Both are amazing cameras if you have the budget for them.

Apple iPad
This is one gift that any Dad would love to have. Trust us when we say that after a week with an iPad, anyone is going to love having the device in their house. Don’t believe us, watch what Emily thinks of it.

We’ll leave it up to you if the WiFi only one is enough or if the 3G model would be a better purchase. Every day new content is being released for the iPad and it makes the perfect coffee table computer. If you pick one up, consider getting a case for it as well. There are a lot of them out there, but we like the simple basic one from Apple that gets the job done great.

Sony Dash
We’ve gotten to know the team at Sony pretty well and they sent us a Dash. I’ve been using it as an alarm clock since my wife was sick of having the clock on her side of the bed go off early in the morning when I had to get up and catch an early flight or train.

While the UI leaves a lot to be desired, we’ve heard rumors of an update coming very soon. You can add all sorts of apps to it so that besides the time and weather it also pulls in other things. For instance, I’ve currently got mine showing a web cam of Jackson Hole, Wyoming (a dream place to visit), my flickr photos and the latest from The Onion. I love that it has a nighttime and power-saver mode for those times when you don’t need all the information. For the Dad who loves to always be connected this is a fun idea.

Google TV Logitech Box
If the iPad introduces us to the idea of no longer being bound to the sofa and TV for video entertainment, then the Google TV Logitech Box introduces us to the idea that you no longer need to be bound to broadcast television for an entertaining TV experience.  By harnessing Google’s search prowess and the internet, video viewing is taken to the next level with Google’s newest appliance.  The box can even be used with your paid television subscription—but why would you?

We debated having this on the list since it doesn’t actually come out till the fall, but it was too cool to pass up. Stay up to date on the latest here.

Crosley Revolution Turntable
The digital music revolution changed the game for all facets of music—production, distribution, and consumption.  For those who still savor vinyl, then the Crosley Revolution Turntable is for you.  Providing musical freedom at 33 1/3, the Crosley’s minimal design allows you to focus on what is important,  the crisp sound of vinyl.  Minimal in design, the Revolution includes accouterments that will satisfy any geekofile—battery powered, dual headphone jacks, built-in stereo speakers, and USB for analog-to-digital conversions.  This isn’t your fathers record player.  The Crosley Revolution is a turntable for the new millennium.

Red Dead Redemption
If the Dad in your life owns a gaming system of any sort you should get this game immediately. Set in the wild west, you play a gunslinger on a mission to clean up for his past. The free form game plays means that this game will rock for the most hardcore of gamers or the most casual. The visuals are beautiful and you could honestly spend hours just riding around in the world until you forget that the setting son is nothing but computer pixels.

Of course, since this game is from Rockstar Games (the creators of the Grand Theft Auto series) this is not a kids game. There are plenty of guns and blood so keep that in mind before you have your kids play along with Dad.

Griffin Simplifi Dock
We like to keep our desks organized and when we first reviewed one of these we fell in love. It serves as both an iPod/iPhone dock as well as a compact flash and SD card reader all in one. As if that wasn’t enough it has 2 USB ports in the back as well. We loved this product so much that we’ve bought several of them for all the desks in our lives.

What we are really hoping for though is that Griffin will come out with a new version that will also work with the iPad. But, we haven’t heard anything yet.

Kodak Pulse
Several of us here are avid photographers and are always on the hunt for a good digital picture frame. There are many of them out there and when Kodak gave us one of these to play with, we honestly were not expecting much different, but were pleasantly surprised. With a built in touch screen, anyone with a WiFi connection will be up and connected in no time. The frame allows photos to be uploaded from Facebook and the Kodak Gallery or have them e-mailed directly to it. We are still hoping they add a Flickr option in the future.

While we wish the frame came in bigger sizes (it only comes in a 7 inch version as of now), we do think this would be perfect for grandparents who have a WiFi connection because it allows for the newest pictures of the grand kids to be e-mailed directly to the frame for nice surprises. It can store thousands of photos so you won’t outgrow it anytime soon.

Related posts:

1. Mother’s Day Gifts
2. Father’s Day Gifts: Books
3. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different

It was the first thing I thought of when I opened the first pages of SteamPotVille, the new book from Steve Ouch.

Trying to explain this book is near impossible, as it is something you need to experience to fully appreciate.

It tells the tale of a silly little town that could be in your backyard. The residents have quite the life of bent reality as the author has taken photos of animals of every sort and still life images of life and somehow blended them into a bent reality that will have you and your kids turning the book over and over to find all the little bits of awesomeness.

The book is perfect for kids of all ages. The sing-song like poetry is fun and crazy and certainly doesn’t follow the norms that kids might be use to. Younger kids can play I Spy like games on every page. Parents will love it too as it somehow gets around the usual repetition headache that many children books suffer from.

If you are looking for a book that is both fun and educational, while being unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. More information on the SteamPotVille site.

No related posts.

First up, what might look like nothing more then a kid’s game, but is in fact some of the most fun you can have on a PlayStation 3. LittleBigPlanet 2 isn’t on shelves yet, but all of us here at Digital Dads are eager to give it a try and Clarence (our resident gaming guru) watches this video daily for creative inspiration.

You all know that guys like gadgets right? One of our favorite and the hottest out there at the moment is the iPad. But, while you can do a lot of great things with it, this guy realized that you could do a lot more with the addiction of one of the best and simplest inventions of all time: Velcro!

And while all the rage might be about the death of print and the rise of tablet based magazines, that doesn’t mean that some people are not getting innovative and trying to save print. 48 Hour Magazine caught our attention when it was first announced and while we are not sure if this is going to be a one time thing or an ongoing experiment, we love that they captured the first issue in this mini documentary.

Last, but not least, with the summer movie season in full swing and everyone around here a big time lover of going to the movies we have to share this piece of DIY awesomeness. We don’t know how they did all the 3D effect, but when the director of the real Iron Man movies tweets out a link to a video you know it has got to be good. Watch this “trailer” for a movie that should be made and you’ll see why.

Ok, we lied and have to give you one more video in celebration of Memorial Day Weekend. No one else could quite show their American spirit like the Muppets can.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Watch May 21, 2010
2. Digital Dads Watch / September 3rd, 2010
3. Digital Dads Watch / July 30th, 2010

While our kids probably don’t have to worry about suffering a heart attack, what can strike anyone is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) which is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. It kills approximately 250,000 people each year in the U.S. alone, more than from colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS, firearms, and house fires combined. Have I got your attention? Good, then read on.

Last year a friend of mine talked to me about how Congress had placed a priority on sudden cardiac arrest by declaring National CPR/AED Awareness Week the first week of June each year. The goal is to raise awareness for SCA and encourage our nation to prepare by learning CPR and how to use an AED.

While I had seen an AED before I didn’t realize the stats on how crucial they are for saving people of all ages. Once I became aware of them, I now see them all over the place, but I don’t find them as often as I would hope to.

The problem with them is that they are not cheap and average around $1,000 per unit. Improvements are being made all the time so hopefully that price will start to drop as demand raises.

Until then, would you like to win a free AED for your school?

As part of the National CPR/AED Awareness Week and, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is sponsoring the You Can Save a Life video awareness contest and giving away five AEDs to schools.

Students from elementary school through college are invited to write, film, star in and edit their own short (3-5 minute) videos promoting the importance of recognizing cardiac arrest and the use of CPR and AEDs. Entrants are encouraged to be creative and have fun with their submissions. The SCA Foundation panel of judges will review videos for overall message, creativity, originality, student participation, and likelihood to raise awareness about saving lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Finalists for all categories will be posted on the SCA Foundation’s website and its YouTube Channel and promoted to schools nationwide.

The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2010 so get them in today!!

Related posts:

1. Movember

If you ever have suggestions, drop us an e-mail and let us know what you’ve been digging. We always love watching great videos.

First up, the trailer for the new video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. We are big fans of the series and while there have been some shakeups behind the scenes of this game, this first full look is top notch and we can’t wait to play it at the end of the year and kick some ass.

Still not wired enough from all that action? Then take the next three minutes to dive inside the head of a World Cup Soccer Player from Nike. You don’t have to even like soccer to appreciate this.

We don’t want you to have a heart attack from all the action, but if you do I’m sure none of us would mind being saved by one of these two lovely ladies. All kidding aside, first aid is something every Dad should know and if you have never taken a class consider one from the Red Cross today. But, for now watch this instructional (no kidding) video from Fortnight Lingerie.

Finally, we wanted to end on a bit of a chilled out note with a life in the day of John Mayer. Love or hate his music, this video shot mostly by him on a Canon 5d mkII earlier this month is visually awesome. Of course now we are all wondering what the flaming drink towards the end is and where we can try one. Any ideas?

Like this new feature? Want to share something else cool with us? Leave a comment to let us know!

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Watch May 28, 2010
2. Digital Dads Watch / September 3rd, 2010
3. Digital Dads Watch / August 13th, 2010

Digital Dads will be posting a series of lists in coming weeks listing some of the best gifts we like in a variety of categories including:

• Gadgets & Technology
• Cooking
• Movies
• Music
• Books

Our goal is to highlight a variety of products and gifts beyond the same old tie, or custom coffee mug. Sure, those are fine for a couple of years, but then they get old and we want to help you find unique gifts that the guy will love, because we’d love to get them ourselves!

Stay tuned for them to hit the feed over the coming weeks and if there are other types of Dads that you need some help finding gifts for, leave a comment and we’ll try to help out.

In case you’ve forgotten, Father’s Day is June 20th this year.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different
2. The True Gift of Father’s Day
3. Father’s Day Gifts: Books

Our dog Roxie is an important part of our family. We found her through Petfinder and adopted her when she was a puppy. Bringing a dog into a house is not the easiest thing in the world, but the rewards for it are amazing.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week (who knew?) and I thought I’d give my personal tips on the basics to staying safe with dogs.

These are what we have taught our kids and if you want some more formal lists the Centers for Disease Control , The Humane Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association have all posted tips as well.

• Never pet a dog that you don’t know. When approaching a dog on a leash, ask the owner if it is ok to pet the dog or not.
• Before approaching any dog, hold out your hand with the palm facing up to let the dog sniff you and check  you out. This lets them know you are not a threat.
• If the dog is eating or chewing on a bone, don’t bother them. Especially don’t sneak up behind them while they are doing this. You are likely to startle the dog and they may snap at you.
• Don’t judge a dog by the bread they are. All dogs are good dogs and if the dog is not behaving properly it is because they have not been trained properly.
• Little dogs bite too
• While you shouldn’t be scared of dogs, never assume that the dog is friendly. Especially if they are off leash and not near an owner. Proceed with caution, but not fear.

At the end of the day, the most important rule is to be smart. I’m still bothered by hearing a friend one time tell their child, “just remember that dogs are dangerous.” Hearing that broke my heart because we should never instill that sort of fear in someone about anything. Yes, dogs can be dangerous, but so can every other animal in the world. We should teach caution but not fear.

What other tips would you advise for parents to teach their kids about dogs?

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1. Internet Safety For Kids – Be Involved. Not Stupid.

Last week I attended my first dance competition with my daughter. It was a lot of fun to see girls of all ages strut their stuff on the stage and do an amazing job at it. The talent in these young ladies was amazing to see.

What I wasn’t ready for was seeing young girls in fishnets, tight boy shorts and thigh high leather boots. The teased hair, fake eye lashes and gyrating bodies on stage. I talked about this on Cast of Dads #18 and was glad to hear that the other dads were equally upset by it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am the farthest thing from an uptight prude. But, as I sat there in the audience and watched the 6 & 7 year old teams shake things they didn’t have and perform moves that were more appropriate for a stripper pole then a school stage I had to stop and wonder. Why are we letting our kids do this? Worse yet, why were there parents in the audience hooting and hollering every time they did an extra sexy move? How is it that suddenly slutting up our girls is ok with parents?

If you need a visual to make this real for you, take a look at this video below. It hit the web yesterday and after Jessica Gottlieb wrote about it, I knew I had to share my thoughts. Keep in mind that the girls in this video are seven and eight years old.

I can appreciate the girls dancing skills (they are super talented in that video) and I’ve heard the arguments of “they are just costumes”, but all of it still pisses me off. If you can’t handle watching the whole thing, the last 20 seconds or so will be enough to make you scream.

I have a daughter. I see the way she is marketed to. I’ve taken her shopping and seen the outfits that hang on display. Most of it is fine, but so much of it is far from that. Sure, sex sells, but do we need to be selling it to girls so young that they haven’t even developed yet? There is no reason for that.

This is not going to be one of those scream at society pieces, because I firmly believe that it is the job of the parent to not let this happen to their own kids. It is up to you to say, “no you can’t wear that” and explain why something is inappropriate. We can scream all we want, but when I heard those other parents cheering on the girls on stage (just listen to the video) it made me shake my head in shame. I wanted to stand up and turn around and ask point blank, “what the hell are you doing?”

One thing, that this personal experience has taught me is that I’ve got to be more involved if Emily is going to continue doing dance. I had never seen the routines she was working on, until they were on stage. I had seen the costumes ahead of time and they were fine. But, if she had come home with some of the outfits that I saw other girls in what would I have done? I’ve been thinking a lot about that and I know for sure I wouldn’t have allowed her to do it. That would not have been easy as I know dance is turning into a bit of a passion for her, but I would have needed to do it.

My daughter is growing up with a deep rooted self confidence. I want her to know that whatever she ends up looking like that she is her own person. That she is beautiful, smart, awesome and unique. There is nothing wrong with being sexy and flirtatious. That is part of the fun of being a human and while I’m scared to death of when she figures that out, I know it is part of growing up.

Parents, you are the last line of defense here. The old saying that sex sells is a fact and we all know it. That is never going to change, but does sex have to sell in your house? No, it doesn’t. This is a problem that parents are allowing to happen. Complain all you want about what is happening in our world, but the more active you are as a parent and not allow things like this to happen the better we all will be.

Update: As of this afternoon, it looks like all copies of the video have been removed from YouTube, so the embed below won’t work. Can’t say that I’m dissapointed in this, but it does kill a little experiment I was going to do with my daughter.

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You’ve only got a few days to get a gift and while you should already have something, we wanted to give you a few last minute ideas that if are not speedy enough for this year, consider it for some time in the future. These of course go beyond the typical flowers and a card (which will always work) and make it all a bit more original.

• Pamper her with a gift certificate to a local spa. Most have special packages or will build a custom one for you. Others will have gift cards for multiple massages which are always appreciated. This is the sort of gift that many women will never buy for themselves, but have always wanted to try.
• Photos are always a great gift, but think beyond just a frame and a single picture. Digital frames have gotten cheaper and more powerful. Not sure which one to get? Try using the Amazon.com Digital Photo Frame Knowledge Center to pick out the best one for your needs. It is also easier then ever to make calendars, books and other gifts through a variety of services. If you are looking to frame a special photo professionally, I’m a big fan of using Imagekind to get them done and have been very happy with their work.
• While breakfast in bed is always a keeper (and extra fun with little kids), sometimes it is even better to take her out to breakfast or brunch on Mother’s Day. Use a service like OpenTable to find a restaurant that has openings in your area.
• If she loves music, movies or technology then consider getting an engraved iPod. Having it engraved takes it a step beyond just being another gadget and shows that you were thinking of her when you bought it. Get it early so that you can pre-load it with some of her favorite content.
• Most moms want one thing above all else and that is time. Give it to her by not letting her do anything for the day. Make the meals, clean the house, do the laundry. Let her just relax and enjoy not having a to-do list for the day. If you want to take it a step further consider hiring a cleaning service to come in and clean the whole house.
• Channel your inner child and make her something from scratch. Be smart about it though and don’t just whip something up at the last minute because you forgot. Take the time to really do it right. Make a nice card with printed out photos, write a poem or make her a video. There are so many options here and if it feels right and means something to you, then it will mean something to her.
• If all else fails there is still time to order unique gifts from some online retailers. Personally I’m a big fan of Red Envelope and Uncommon Goods for gifts that are different then most.

The key is that you make it a special day for her. It isn’t about the gifts, but rather a celebration of how much you love your wife and mother.

And to anyone out there who has a pregnant wife right now and might be expecting their first child. You really can’t forget Mother’s Day. Trust me, that you’ll win extra brownie points for getting her a gift this year and it’ll make for a special memory so do it right.

To all the moms out there reading this, all of us here at Digital Dads thank you for being moms and being who you are! We love you all.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different
2. Father’s Day Gifts: Technology
3. Just Because Gifts

A lot of men, especially-pressed-for-time fathers, tend to think items like a jacket and shoes in the purely functional sense unless they’re specifically dressing up for an event.  While that’s understandable it’s also almost always to their detriment, making them appear older and frumpier.  One of my clients this weekend had just that dilemma. 

He spends all day on his feet, and like many men before him, thought that there’s no way a good looking shoe could be as comfortable as his hiking boot.  He was also a little leery of giving up his windbreaker since he needs lots of pockets and thought a more stylish jacket would not give him as much ‘mobile storage’.  

We outfitted him in Johnston & Murphy shoes that were so comfortable he was grinning from the moment he tried them on and a Zara cotton military jacket with more pockets than his windbreaker.  Best of all, by switching out just those two items in his lineup he looks 10 years younger and infinitely cooler.   

So, in case you haven’t heard me say this a million times yet: Gentlemen, you no longer have to settle, no more choosing between comfort and style, they can now be commonly found sharing the same point in space and time. 

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If you over simplified the description of what one is, you could call it a big iPhone and while that isn’t far from the truth it is really not an accurate description. It is their first true tablet computer and one that I believe does have a place in your family and I wanted to highlight some of the apps for it that we are already enjoying.

Now, please remember that it hasn’t even been out for more then two weeks and these are only the ones that we’ve discovered or have been told about that are made for the iPad.

There are a ton of great apps that were released before the iPad that are family friendly and they will work on the iPad, but I wanted to focus on applications that have been built to take full advantage of the new platform rather than just working. I’m also not including prices because I know many have special pricing when I bought them and could change at any time. All links will go directly to the iTunes store.

In no particular order:

• Netflix
  You will need to have a Netflix account in order to utilize this, but what is great is that a portion of their library is now available for live streaming to a variety of devices including the iPad. So as I laid on the couch last weekend recovering from knee surgery with a couple of clicks I was watching Singles in my lap on this application.
• Artist’s Touch
  One of my students at the University of San Francisco told me about this program so I checked it out because I knew the kids (and me) would want to be able to sketch and draw. Out of all the applications we have tried, this is the best for simple doodling with enough options to really let an artist grow in it. Allowing you to choose from a variety of papers, textures, colors and creation tools, I might never get the iPad back from Emily ever again. One word of advice, unless you are a finger painting master I suggest buying a Pogo Stylus that my friend Whitney Hoffman told me about. It does a great job working as a stylus and the ones that come with a Nintendo DS don’t work. I know because I tried! *laugh*
• The Weather Channel
  Every morning now when the kids ask us, “what is it going to be like today?” we tell them just to look at the iPad. If you share your location with it, the local weather comes right up and clearly shows in animated pictures what the day and the week ahead looks like. If you want more detail it also has live streaming video weather, radar and other goodies.
• Epicurious
  We love to cook and every family should spend time in the kitchen together. Pulling new content from the web keeps this app full of fresh recipe ideas with big, bold pictures and shopping lists. Although you can’t print them out yet (a failing of the iPad, not the app), I could easily see us setting this on the counter in a cookbook holder while we made dinner. They have the ability to star favorite recipes, so we’ve been going through starring some new ones to try. Great way to get the kids involved in what you are eating.
• Doons
  Laura and the kids love to play casual games and this has quickly become one of their favorites. You are presented with a screen of funny faced blocks and you must shoot up new ones to make groups of three or more and they will fall away. As you level up, it of course gets harder and harder. Simple fun that as long as a child can match colors they could play this.
• Tumbles
  Based on the wildly popular Scope or Pop’em style of game, this takes it further by taking advantage of the accelerometer in the iPad and physics. You can now tilt, tap and move around the balls on the screen to line them up before popping them. I’ve gotten so many laughs out of watching Laura tilting the iPad around and around while playing this game. It is her all time favorite style. While, not my cup of tea, I do like that it has a head-to-head option so that we can play against each other.
• Labyrinth 2 HD
  Remember those old wooden boxes in class, that you turned the knobs to navigate a ball through a maze without falling into to holes? Well that is this, but in addition to the classic vibe, has been updated with lasers, fans and trap doors. I love watching the kids try to figure out the puzzles and trying over and over until they figure it out. Sounds easy, but it isn’t. Frustrated me in no time! I’m not much a puzzle fan.
• Marvel Comics
  I don’t want to start a DC vs. Marvel fight or anything like that and personally I’m rooting for a third party like Panelfly to push forward and come out with one big comic reader, but for now this is the app to get. The panel by panel reading takes care of the “I don’t know what order to read in” that Emily told me is why she doesn’t get comic books. One warning though, they make it super easy to buy more and I found myself spending a chunk of change in no time, which I haven’t done on comics since I was a teenager.
• GoodReader
  While not the sexiest of apps, it is one of the most useful. Able to open up documents of every common type it also will connect with locations that you store your documents including Dropbox, Google Docs and iDisk. It sounds overly simple and not needed until you actually start using it and then that is when you realize you must have this.

I’m sure as we use it more, I will find more, but I wanted to give you some starter suggestions in case your house now has an iPad in it.

What applications have you found that you and your family like?

Related posts:

1. Family Vacations: Atlantis
2. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games

Kielbasa is an interesting meat that can be used in a variety of situations from breakfast to dinner. If you didn’t read Chances breakfast recipe you should, but be warned it’ll make you hungry. We were sent two packages of Kielbasa and a cookbook that I can’t wait to try some new recipes out of. We thought it would be fun for Chance and I both to share a recipe and then let you win some sausage. (really not meant to be as dirty as it sounds!)

Here is my recipe for a quick, easy and tasty supper that is a breeze to make any day of the week. It is a little weird and a little different, but you can keep the ingredients on hand and whip it up when you suddenly have soccer practice and no time for anything else.

Fruity Sausage

Ingredients

• 2 packages Kielbasa
• 2 Large cans of Fruit Cocktail in heavy syrup
• 2 Boil In The Bag Brown Rice

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cut the Kielbasa into bite size chunks and place into a large frying pan over medium heat.
2. Cook until heated all the way through
3. Drain out as much of the fat as you can
4. Place the sausage back into the fry pan and pour in the two cans of fruit cocktail
5. Heat all the way through until the fruit is hot
6. Make the rice as instructed on the packaging
7. Place a few large scoops or rice on the plate and spoon over the fruity sausage mixture
8. The rice won’t be good left over, but the sausage and fruit will reheat just fine on it’s own

We want YOU to get something out of this in addition to 2 great recipes, so Hillshire Farm has agreed to give away a year supply of sausage to one lucky reader. This contest is open to US residents only and don’t worry about the size of your freezer, you’ll be getting coupons from the company rather then a stack of meat.

You can enter the contest one of two ways. Either rename this recipe for me since I had to make up one for this post OR post your favorite Kielbasa recipe in the comment field below and then I’ll pick a winner and announce it here on the site.

If you are looking for recipes, swing on by Hillshire Farm’s Recipe Page for a variety of options. If you try one let us know.

Related posts:

1. Chance Cooks- Sausage Fest Challenge
2. 7 Can Chili Recipe
3. Pepper-Rubbed Strip Steaks

Hi. My name is Chance.

A couple months ago, the founder of this site, C.C. Chapman, e-mailed me to ask if I wanted to participate in a Sausage Fest.

“Chance! Hillshire Farms wants us to make food with their sausage. You in?”

Quicker than I could say “that’s what she said”, I replied in the affirmative.

Soon thereafter, I then received a care package of a few samples of Hillshire Meats. They immediately screamed “breakfast food.” Now, it turns out that recently I’ve been very into cooking “off the radar”; that is to say, I go into the kitchen armed with no recipe of any kind, and simply pick ingredients from the pantry and fridge and well, you know… rock n roll!

Sunday mornings is such a time for such a time for these experiments. While I don’t have any flour tortillas, I did just buy some lavash bread. So, I think I’ll make some kind of breakfast burrito style wrap!

(Want to make this now? Go to recipe at bottom)

There you have it: time to raid the pantry!

Starting ingredients

Ok, I have 5 eggs. Phew, check. Always have some kind of onion, check. 3 cloves garlic, because I like, no LOVE, garlic. Cilantro (2 TB maybe?), chopped. Green onion (1TB?), chopped. Butter in case I need it. And of course, the Hillshire Beef Keilbasa that prompted this challenge.

Mise en Place.

Oooh! Found a can of refried black beans! Went ahead and cut up about 1/2 lb of the sausage, first in rounds, then quartered.

Over high heat, began getting a good seared color to the sausage. Normally, I prefer using stainless steel or even cast iron, but since I wanted to cook my eggs gently (and try to make everything in one dish), I went non-stick.

After rendering and searing, remove sausage from pan onto paper towels. Reserve the rendered fat for more cooking.

You can see it's about a tablespoon, which is perfect.

Meanwhile, crack your 5 eggs into a bowl, and whisk well. Add a tablespoon of milk, and season with Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Definitely don’t underwhisk these bad boys; you want a very uniform color, creamy and hell, even some froth.

Meanwhile, in a separate small sauce pan, warm up your black refried beans. Kick em up with the following spices:

• 1/4 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika**(see note)
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cumin

**Note: Smoked Paprika rules. I can’t emphasize that enough. Buy yourself some and you will be happy and name your children after me.

In this dish, I wanted the beans to complement the smokiness of the kielbasa. A little goes a long way, so don’t go overboard. If you don’t have any, then just go with regular paprika, but trust me, it’s not even close to the same. Just sayin’.

Back to Main Pan

Over medium heat, warm up the rendered sausage oil/fat, a minute or two. Add your onions, two minutes. Then add your garlic, one minute. We’re going for translucent.

But what are those green things?

Shhhh. It’s Serrano. Don’t tell your wife, girlfriend or partner. It’ll be our secret. Shhhhhhh.
Return your meat to the pan (that’s what sh…hahaha)

Warm for a minute or so, lower the heat and pour your whisked eggs into the pan.

Then let set.

Ok, here’s my trick:I like soft scrambled eggs. I think hard, over scrambled, rubberized eggs are fricking gross. Yes, I said fricking. Case that serves a point in my favor: My MOM makes over scrambled rubberized eggs. The first time I made her soft scrambled eggs, she about cried tears of joy. You think I’m stubborn?? She’s STUBBORN. Game, set match: soft scrambled eggs. Here’s how:

The trick is managing the heat by not just using the burner. Sure, you definitely want low to medium low. It depends on how deft you are (not def, yo), and how long you want to wait. But the real trick is the pan handle. Yup. Grab that puppy and lift it off the burner.

I can’t give you amount of time, here. Every stove is different. It could be 5 minutes, it could be 15 (seriously). Use your fork and lightly drag it across the eggs. You’ll see the curds begin to form. If it’s cooking too fast, you’ll know it. It happens fast when it’s too hot. If so, just physically lift your pan off the burner, and let it mellow out. You want a slow, measured approach. You have the time, trust me. If you want a more custard approach, take a soft spatula and constantly and slowly stir under the lowest heat. Up to you, but know it’ll take longer.

Ok, now that you’ve mastered your soft scrambled eggs, and you’re just about ready, go ahead and add your cilantro and green onions.

With herbs like these, I prefer to add them at the end, so the heat doesn’t kill the flavor I’m going for. Add kosher salt, and black pepper to taste, and remove from heat.

Assembly

Take your tortilla (or in my case, lavash bread), and place on a plate. Spackle some refried black beans on the base, then put a fair amount of the sausage/egg deliciousness. Make sure to not overdo the amount (something I almost always do), because you’ll want to fold/roll your behemoth.

Add a handful of grated sharp cheddar Cheese, and then—good god, man—do the right thing and add Sriracha sauce. Add more cilantro if you’d like.

Roll/fold your behemoth, and nuke in the microwave for 30-60 seconds (just to melt the cheese.

Then behold: your Hillshire Breakfast Behemoth with soft scrambled eggs, Hillshire Beef Kielbasa, black refried beans and sharp cheddar cheese!

Recipe: I’m guessing this will feed 2 VERY HUNGRY people or 3-4 normal humans.

(ingredient amounts are estimated)

• 5 eggs
• 1/2 lb Kielbasa Sausage, cut up in 1/2″ rounds, then quartered
• 1/3 cup chopped onions
• 1-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can black refried beans
• 2 TB Cilantro chopped (separated)
• 1 TB Green Onions, chopped
• 1 cup or so grated sharp cheddar cheese
• Large Tortillas or Lavash Bread
• Sriracha sauce or favorite hot sauce

Spices for kicking up the refried beans:

• 1/4 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika**(preferred; otherwise either eliminate or use regular paprika)
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cumin

Kosher Salt to taste

Black Pepper to taste

1. Over medium high heat, sear sausage for color and to slightly render. 5-8 minutes or so. Then remove from pan on to paper towels. Reserve the rendered fat in the same pan.

2. Meanwhile, crack 5 eggs into medium bowl. Add 1 TB of milk, pinch of kosher and couple grinds of black pepper, and whisk well. Looking for creamy, frothy, with uniform color.

3. Meanwhile, warm up black refried beans in separate sauce pan. Mix in spices (cayenne, smoked paprika, coriander, cumin. Kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Keep warm.

4. Back to main pan: warm rendered oil over medium heat. Add onions: 2 minutes. Add garlic: 1 minute. Return meat to pan: one minute.

5. Lower heat. Add whisked eggs to pan, and carefully scramble. Do not over cook: drag small spatula or lightly drag fork across eggs to lightly scramble.

6. Add 1/2 tb of cilantro/green onions (to taste). Remove from heat and add kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Assembly:
1. Place tortilla or lavash bread on plate.
2. Add a couple spoonfuls of refried black beans.
3. Spoon sausage/egg deliciousness mixture over beans, taking care to not put too much. just enough so that you can properly fold/roll your behemoth.
4. Add handful of cheese, then sriracha sauce. garnish with cilantro and roll/fold your tortilla/lavash bread.
5. Nuke in microwave for 30-60 seconds until cheese melts.
6. EAT!

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/2

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1. Fruity Sausage
2. 7 Can Chili Recipe

Stirring Up Wishes

I had never heard of this partnership before I was asked if Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark could send me a package including brownie mix, chocolate chip cookie mix and a branded Betty Crocker red spoon. In addition they offered to make a $25 donation to Make-A-Wish, so how could I say no? I get a fun night baking with the family and somewhere a child gets another wish granted. That is a win-win in my book.

Emily was inspired by the arrival of the package to create something new and we ended up making both, but before baking the brownies she put in clumps of cookie dough. I thought we were going to end up with a mess, but instead we ended up with an amazing mixture of Brownie Cookies. We liked it so much, that I know we’ve talked about making it again really soon.

But, this post is about how YOU can help Betty Crocker^® grant wishes.

There are two ways to help:

• You can support the Make-A-Wish Foundation online through the Give $5, Get $5 promotion. Until April 15, 2010, donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help make children’s wishes come true, and get $5 worth of downloadable Betty Crocker^® coupons. Limit of $5 in coupons per person.
• Next time you are at the grocery store, look for specially marked products and Betty Crocker will donate 10¢ to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 and a maximum donation of $500,000.

My mother-in-law has been active with Make-A-Wish for years and I’ve seen the great work they do so I hope you can take a moment to help with this great initiative.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/2

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In full disclosure, CMT is a client of mine at Campfire and we’ve been working on the campaign to raise awareness about this.

But, even with that being said, I wanted to share this with the Digital Dads community because after watching episodes of both shows, I think it is programming that you and your family can enjoy together.

Danger Coast follows the dramatic exploits of Miami Dade County’s elite waterborne Marine Operations Bureau as they fight against overwhelming odds to selflessly protect your lives, while risking their own. Not being much of a boater myself I never though about some of the dangers they’d run into. The premiere episode has one intense subject that involves a young woman and a boat motor that might be a little too intense for young kids, but they do a good job of not showing blood and focusing on the rescuing tactics. Of course, now my son wants to ride in the high speed fire boat that they use in a lot of rescues.

Gator 911 chronicles the life of Gary Saurage and his Gator Country Team as he rescues alligators from pipes, pools and ponds in Southeast Texas. When I first heard this, I’ll admit that I laughed a bit imagining what this show would be like. But, I was pleasantly surprised at just how crazy these people are, but that in their heart they are doing it for the conservation angle more then anything. THAT hit home for me and I instantly gained a respect for Gary and what his team do. They are still crazy to do what they do, but I’m glad to know why they do it.

CMT is not a channel that we ever go to in our household. Laura likes country music, but watching videos is not our usual cup of tea. But, I did set the DVR to watch both of these shows because the kids liked the premiere episodes (we got a sneak peek) so much that they want to watch more. This kind of real world job reality television is a growing market and if you like other shows of this type then I think you’ll enjoy these.

Want a little extra fun before Friday’s premiere? Head on over to WelcomeToAdventureCountry.com . You’ll find lots of fun little surprises by clicking around (hint: be sure not to miss the gator or the campfire). Also, if you watch this video, you’ll catch my family practicing a little birthday safety. *grin* If you are of the Facebook type, then we invite you to become a celebrated member of Adventure Country.

I’ve had fun working on this project and after you watch the show, I’d love to hear your comments on what you thought.

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1. Television for Toddlers

This morning our very own Clarence Smith Jr. welcomed his first son into the world. True Iyall Smith entered the world this morning weighing in at a solid 6lbs 2.7oz and 19″ in length.

With a powerful name like that, this kid is going to go places. Never mind the fact that with the awesomely unique parents he has, he won’t have a choice. *grin*

I was fortunate enough to have Clarence over to the house on Friday night and we both knew that it was going to be the last time I saw him before he became a Dad and we talked about the variety of emotions, fears and joys that lay ahead. We’ve become really close friends in the time we’ve known each other and it made my day to call him this morning as soon as he texted me the news.

Clarence won’t be online much for the next little while for obvious reasons, but please be sure to leave your congrats here or on Flickr because I know he will be reading them.

There is nothing in the world like a new baby. Clarence, you’ve just started on life’s best journey. Enjoy every moment of it!

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