Dads Unplugged

When it comes to talking about Public schools everyone has an opinion. One teacher in NYC decided to someone else's money where his mouth is. TEP, The Equity Project Charter school is paying their teachers $125,000 per year. They say they are holding everyone to higher standards even their students. Is it working? Would that work in your hometown? Kent (Public schooling) and Todd (Private schooling) debate whether this is a good idea. Can it fix the issues that are derailing public schools and therefore the education of our children?

With Charlie Sheen grabbing headlines for being one heck of a Dad, Todd and Kent thought who else is a horrible Dad? Not just on TV, but in real life? There are plenty to go around. That inspired a conversation that talked about what it really takes to be a good Dad and how more men around the country can take certain steps to be better. What's the one thing you do everyday to be the best father possible?

With Kent in Toronto eh, Todd had centerstage and a soap box. Good Lord! This was an episode that women should hear as well. He touched on plenty: The Uterus Police trying to make something happen in Georgia; a Mom who went way too far and may have caused some long term damage to her son; the New Zealand earthquake aftermath and of course there is Rush Limbaugh looking like Homer Simpson and painting a big red bullseye on his plump belly, except he wasn't saying, "Here T-shirt, T-shirt, T-shirt" Don't take shots at our first lady Rush, who by the way could probably whoop Rush's large butt even with a mouthful of ribs.

I say Valentine's Day and you say...Roses, Chocolate, Diamonds. Which one of those three can actually kill her? Diamonds? No way! Chocolate? Well, if she chokes on it I guess. Roses? Those deliciously looking, beautifully smelling red roses? Yup, those are the ones. How can something so pure and so green hurt the one you love? Do you actually know the process that flowers go through before you buy them at a supermarket and at many Floral shops? You will after this show and you will not want to buy certain types of flowers again. Josef Reiter, the owner of Botanica Floral Design joined us to talk about the difference between flowers grown in Portland or in your home town vs the ones that are imported into our country, which most are. This won't stop you from getting her flowers or even roses, but it will make you think twice before lazily grabbing some on the way home Monday night.

Two completely different discussions on this episode. 1st: Kent returned from his Hawaiian vacation with some tips about how to travel with a group, save TONS of money and have a great time in a HUGE house. The Big Island was ideal! 2nd: Asked if they want our kids to grow up and be just like them? Todd stunned Kent when he said "No way!"  Plus what  traits do they and don't they want them to have? Even those answers from these two dads will surprise you.

Look at your schedule. Do you find it difficult to even have the time to sit down and enjoy lunch peacefully now? If you live in the Northwest, it's not easy. The weather outside is horrble, forcing you inside to eat. There is usually a line and that makes it worse. So what to do? Portland and some of the amazing people here decided to start making great meals out of Food Carts. They are everywhere. But are they good? Yes. They are. Have I eaten at all of them? No. But as a business man who is trying to get the most out of his day before having to pick up the kids, it's important to know where I can get great food at a good price and have it Take Out style. On this edition of Dads Unplugged, Kelly McNiece (http://www.mcniecetech.com/), our IT and food connoisseur (http://www.burgerfaire.com/) filled in for Kent Lewis who was out on assignment. We decided to try the whole "Take Out" scene, except we were too busy to go pick up the take out. So how did we do it? Portland Pedal Power (http://portlandpedalpower.com/). What was our experience? That's what today's show is about. Can a businessman get what he wants, when he wants it and have it still be hot and extra delicious when it arrives? I guess you will just have to listen and if you do, you will learn about one cart in Portland that may have the best sandwiches you have ever tasted (http://bigasssandwiches.com/).

How did your dad, grandpa and/or great grandpa influence you and your path? The question was posed by Kent and answered by both. Did they influence you positively or negatively? How have you gotten past that? How have you used it to your advantage. Most Dads say they idolized theirs and while that may be true that is putting undue pressure on yourself and might be too tall an order. There are some wonderful things about everyone's dad, but not all Dads were wonderful. Our history tells us a great deal about our future and it starts with fathers. Tell us about yours. Kent and Todd are honest about their feelings towards their own influences. It's a episode that dads can't afford to miss.

North Carolina is a beautiful place, but not when it comes to children. They are to be seen and not heard in that state and that's a real problem for Todd as he wailed on the restaurant, Olde Salty that put up a sign, "Screaming children will not be tolerated". Maybe they should change their name to "Olde and Crotchety" Also, have you seen what the Government is planning on doing with School lunches? It's a good idea but as usual the layout stinks. Todd and Kent break it down and tell them why it's wrong and how they should do it so that more kids will eat healthier. Kent and Todd took opposite sides when it comes to vaccinating your kids. Kent says there's only one choice. Todd was adamant that you should NOT listen to your pediatrician. In fact, he knows and shares a better way to keep your kids healthy.

Ted Williams may be dead and without a head, but he is alive and well now in Cleveland! A great story of how a viral video has taken off with over 5 million hits and has taken the life of a homeless man and turned it around in a little over 48 hours. The same can be said for ESPN's Ron Franklin, a broadcaster who said the wrong thing off-air to a college and lost his job because of it. Is America getting too PC? Is that killing America? What to do about the workplace. And maybe most importantly in the discussion, why isn't it a two way street?

Alright, one of these days these Dads are going to learn to speak directly into the mic, but in the meantime they are having some fun! The topics ranged on this particular Mancave Night, but the one that really stood out was the best ways to make sure your wife stayed #1 in the family. Kids can take a lot of our energy and focus. When we do that too much the marriage suffers and so it was our job as Dads to share our own ways of making sure our relationship with our wives stayed at the top of the list. How do people do it? With Divorce rates nearing 60% how do people stay together anymore. We believe this bunch of Dads has the answer.

Ok, let me put it simply, there are Christmas stories and then there are the stories of Adam Sawyer, co-host of the KEEN HybridLife Radio show. His childhood memories of Santa made this a Dads Mancave edition to remember. Plus you get to find out how he learned there was no Santa Claus. Sure we talked about whether we should say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Some Dads even owned up to getting plastic trees and then we debated which is more "Green". Overall this was one of those Dads Unplugged shows that you may find yourself rewinding, because you thought, "wait, did I just miss something?" Enjoy and Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, Kwanzaa or whichever way you celebrate this time of year.

Do you ever find yourself wondering, should I say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. In this world of PC, it's a tough question. In fact, it's a question only a bunch of Dad can answer and they did in this episode. They also debated what is "Greener": buying a tree grown in a tree farm or buying a plastic tree and sticking it back in the box ever year. How do Dads help the moms and kids handle the holiday stress? It's everywhere at this time of year, but if your dad is looking out for you, then you should make it through the holidays fine. But there are some hurdles we all have to get over and you can if you listen to our ideas. Straightforward and to the point, the Dads deliver.

Get inside your Teen's head. Yes, it is not easy. Parade.com had an article about this, and explained in detail what is going on inside a teen's mind so parents could understand why they can be so maddening. However, Todd didn't agree with their 4 Stay-Sane Strategies. In fact, he thought 3 of them were horrible. and would make the whole situation worse. Todd and Kent don't have teens yet, but they have both been teens and shared their memories of what it was like, including Todd's thoughts of suicide as a teenager. Find out who got him through it and how they did it as well.

John Badalament believes we all can, and in his book, The Modern Dad's Dilemma he shows us how. It's not that hard. No matter what age your child, 2, 12, 22, 42, you can still have that relationship you have always wanted. However, it will be emotionally difficult to make that first step. In this book, he shows you how. He shares stories of other fathers who have made the step. This is a book that is a must this holiday season. Why not start 2011 with a goal of becoming the father you always wanted to be? Why not start it out with the chance of hearing what your children think of you as a dad. It's important to face the facts now rather than 20 years down the line, or heaven forbid, when they are a teenager.

Most men around the world dream of one thing and it's not dating a supermodel. It's owning, wearing and showing off a great mustache. Some of us can do it. Some can't come close and yet still try (e.g., co-host Kent Lewis). No matter where you rank, you will always be welcome at the American Mustache Institute (http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/Default.aspx). Yesterday, we had Dr.  Aaron Perlut, the CEO and Founder of this prestigious organization on the air for a fun filled 30 minutes. We discussed Tom Selleck and Goose Gossage and their influence on American society. We also talked about The Mustached American of the Year (http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/) award. On that note, there is only one week left to cast your vote, so do it now. As for the interview, it is packed full of manly wisdom, mustache history, pop culture and excellent grooming tips. On a more serious note, we also talked about Movember (http://us.movember.com/?home) and something we men should all be thinking about: prostate cancer. If you want to change your life for the better, I recommend listening to it at least four times and sharing it with a least 10 people. And while you are doing that, listen to AMI's Mustache Anthem (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jameyscott)on their website. It goes something like this: "I've got a mustache, and it kicks ass..." Awesome!