THEY GET IT!
Created by Elizabeth Ybanez of McDowell High School. The cartoon appeared in the student magazine called Blue and White Times during the February Valentine's Day issue.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fatherhood Highlight at the Super Bowl
Renae Smith, National Fatherhood Initiative's Special Assistant to the President, wanted to share this reflection on the Super Bowl. Here are her thoughts:
The New Orleans Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV certainly was a thrilling moment for the city of New Orleans, still rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Saints fans across the country rejoiced as their team won its first Championship in franchise history at their first Super Bowl appearance – including my crazy friends who jumped around the living room yelling and giving high-fives when cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning’s pass for a 74-yard touchdown, turning the game for the Saints.
But in the midst of the excitement, television viewers got a glimpse into a touching moment between a father and son when Drew Brees, quarterback of the Saints and MVP of the game, brought his one-year-old son Baylen onto the field to experience the victory celebration. The little guy seemed quite fascinated with the flashing lights and action around him, securely held by his father, who protected the little boy’s ears from the noise of the stadium with headphones. It was clearly an emotional moment for Brees, kissing his son, whispering to him, and maybe holding back a few tears – as you can see in this video.
During the Vince Lombardi trophy presentation, Brees put what he was feeling into words: “What can I say? The birth of my son this year as well, during the first year of his life we get a Super Bowl Championship - he’s been my inspiration as well, so it just doesn’t get any better than that.” It seems to Brees that as great as winning the Super Bowl is, it doesn’t beat being a father.
The television cameras captured another Saints dad experiencing the excitement with his children – linebacker Scott Fujita holding his two-year-old twin daughters.
My dad told me after the game was over that there’s something in every father that wants to share these special times with their kids. Though most of us have never been Super Bowl Champions, we each have small moments of victory and celebration that are made all the more sweet just by having our children there with us.
The New Orleans Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV certainly was a thrilling moment for the city of New Orleans, still rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Saints fans across the country rejoiced as their team won its first Championship in franchise history at their first Super Bowl appearance – including my crazy friends who jumped around the living room yelling and giving high-fives when cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning’s pass for a 74-yard touchdown, turning the game for the Saints.
Better than lifting the Lombardi
But in the midst of the excitement, television viewers got a glimpse into a touching moment between a father and son when Drew Brees, quarterback of the Saints and MVP of the game, brought his one-year-old son Baylen onto the field to experience the victory celebration. The little guy seemed quite fascinated with the flashing lights and action around him, securely held by his father, who protected the little boy’s ears from the noise of the stadium with headphones. It was clearly an emotional moment for Brees, kissing his son, whispering to him, and maybe holding back a few tears – as you can see in this video.
During the Vince Lombardi trophy presentation, Brees put what he was feeling into words: “What can I say? The birth of my son this year as well, during the first year of his life we get a Super Bowl Championship - he’s been my inspiration as well, so it just doesn’t get any better than that.” It seems to Brees that as great as winning the Super Bowl is, it doesn’t beat being a father.
The television cameras captured another Saints dad experiencing the excitement with his children – linebacker Scott Fujita holding his two-year-old twin daughters.
My dad told me after the game was over that there’s something in every father that wants to share these special times with their kids. Though most of us have never been Super Bowl Champions, we each have small moments of victory and celebration that are made all the more sweet just by having our children there with us.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Speak their Language this Valentine's Day
Ever give someone a thoughtful gift only to see them politely thank you for it instead of the thrilled “It’s what I’ve always wanted” exclamation you were hoping for? What about your spouse who may say “I love you,” but then walk by the piles of laundry and stacks of dishes?
What you may come to find is that you and your loved ones speak different languages when it comes to love. You may be thinking “Really, is that possible? Isn’t love supposed to be the universal language?”
Well not according to Gary Chapman author of the book The 5 Love Languages. In his book, Chapman uncovers the different ways people feel loved:gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time and physical touch. And the trick is, we tend to give love in the way we want to receive love.
Not sure what your love language is? No problem! Take the quiz below to find out what you are.
And when you’re done, try to figure out the love languages of your loved ones. Don’t forget to send them a Valentine’s Day e-card that speaks love to them!
Find the 5 Love Languages cards here: http://www.fivelovecards.com/
So celebrate this Valentine’s Day in a fresh new way by truly loving your special someone in their language.
What you may come to find is that you and your loved ones speak different languages when it comes to love. You may be thinking “Really, is that possible? Isn’t love supposed to be the universal language?”
Well not according to Gary Chapman author of the book The 5 Love Languages. In his book, Chapman uncovers the different ways people feel loved:gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time and physical touch. And the trick is, we tend to give love in the way we want to receive love.
Not sure what your love language is? No problem! Take the quiz below to find out what you are.
And when you’re done, try to figure out the love languages of your loved ones. Don’t forget to send them a Valentine’s Day e-card that speaks love to them!
Find the 5 Love Languages cards here: http://www.fivelovecards.com/
So celebrate this Valentine’s Day in a fresh new way by truly loving your special someone in their language.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Finding Her Confidence: Miss America 2010
Caressa Cameron is 22 years old and a senior broadcast communications major at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She is an average girl who is 5 foot 4 inches and wears a size 7.
But for Caressa, she’s accomplished something that many girls only dream of. On Jan 30, 2010 Caressa was crowned Miss American 2010. She is only the third Miss Virginia to ever win the national title.
See a picture of Caressa and anyone would quickly admit she’s beautiful. Hear her talk and you’d say she’s intelligent. Listen to her sing and she’ll stun you with her full and confident voice.
However, before she won Miss American and before she competed for Miss Virginia, Caressa Cameron would admit she was an awkward teenager at Massaponax High School. Watch the video below to hear her talk about what it was like to be teased and how she learned to embrace her unwanted nickname, Wolverine.
See the video by clicking: here
Thursday, February 4, 2010
New Study: Abstinence Education Effective; Comprehensive Sex Ed a Big Flop
New Study:
Abstinence Education Effective; Comprehensive Sex Ed a Big Flop
Robert Rector Senior Research Fellow
The Heritage Foundation
A new study released Feb 1st, shows that abstinence education is highly effective in reducing sexual activity among youth. It also showed "safe sex" and "comprehensive" sex ed programs to be ineffective.
Students participating in an eight-hour abstinence program showed a one-third decrease in rates of sexual activity compared to non-participants. This decrease persisted a full two years after they attended the class.
By contrast, safe sex (promoting only contraceptive use) and comprehensive sex ed (teaching both abstinence and contraceptive use) programs didn't affect youth behavior at all. Students in these programs showed no reduction in sexual activity and no increase in contraceptive use, in either the short or long term.
The study, involving black middle-school students, appears in the February 2010 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, published by the American Medical Association. Employing state-of-the-art evaluation techniques, the study used random assignment to place students into four groups: a group that received instruction solely in abstinence; a safe-sex group instructed in contraceptive use; a comprehensive, or mixed message, group taught both abstinence and contraceptive use; and a control group that received health education unrelated to sex.
The abstinence program proved very effective in delaying the onset of sexual activity. Students in this program were one third less likely to initiate sexual activity when compared to students in the other three groups. And if these same students did become sexually active, they were not less likely to use contraceptives than other students. By contrast, safe sex and comprehensive sex ed classes had no effect on student behavior; students in these classes did not reduce sexual activity nor increase contraceptive use when compared to the control group.
This study, conducted by Drs. John and Loretta Jemmott of the University of Pennsylvania, joins a long list of evaluations demonstrating the effectiveness of abstinence education. Prior to the current study, there had been 15 scientific evaluations of abstinence education, 11 of which had shown that abstinence programs were effective in reducing sexual activity. (See this 2008 Heritage paper for a review of these earlier studies.) However, the new Jemmott study is the first evaluation showing positive results which employed full random assignment. As a result, it cannot be dismissed on methodological grounds.
Click here to view the study
Click here to read the editorial
Abstinence Education Effective; Comprehensive Sex Ed a Big Flop
Robert Rector Senior Research Fellow
The Heritage Foundation
A new study released Feb 1st, shows that abstinence education is highly effective in reducing sexual activity among youth. It also showed "safe sex" and "comprehensive" sex ed programs to be ineffective.
Students participating in an eight-hour abstinence program showed a one-third decrease in rates of sexual activity compared to non-participants. This decrease persisted a full two years after they attended the class.
By contrast, safe sex (promoting only contraceptive use) and comprehensive sex ed (teaching both abstinence and contraceptive use) programs didn't affect youth behavior at all. Students in these programs showed no reduction in sexual activity and no increase in contraceptive use, in either the short or long term.
The study, involving black middle-school students, appears in the February 2010 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, published by the American Medical Association. Employing state-of-the-art evaluation techniques, the study used random assignment to place students into four groups: a group that received instruction solely in abstinence; a safe-sex group instructed in contraceptive use; a comprehensive, or mixed message, group taught both abstinence and contraceptive use; and a control group that received health education unrelated to sex.
The abstinence program proved very effective in delaying the onset of sexual activity. Students in this program were one third less likely to initiate sexual activity when compared to students in the other three groups. And if these same students did become sexually active, they were not less likely to use contraceptives than other students. By contrast, safe sex and comprehensive sex ed classes had no effect on student behavior; students in these classes did not reduce sexual activity nor increase contraceptive use when compared to the control group.
This study, conducted by Drs. John and Loretta Jemmott of the University of Pennsylvania, joins a long list of evaluations demonstrating the effectiveness of abstinence education. Prior to the current study, there had been 15 scientific evaluations of abstinence education, 11 of which had shown that abstinence programs were effective in reducing sexual activity. (See this 2008 Heritage paper for a review of these earlier studies.) However, the new Jemmott study is the first evaluation showing positive results which employed full random assignment. As a result, it cannot be dismissed on methodological grounds.
Click here to view the study
Click here to read the editorial
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