#58 - Tux

Know the proper time to wear a tux, it's more often than you think.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#57 - Online Photos

Never post a picture online you wouldn't feel comfortable showing your Mother, Grandmother, boss, or dean of admissions.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

A photo like this would definitely qualify.

#56 - How to Play Horseshoes

How to Play Horseshoes

The Set:
A horseshoes set consists of 4 horseshoes weighing 2.5lbs each and 2 stakes 24” long.
Object of the Game:
Throw your horseshoes closer to the stake then your opponent to score points.
General Rules:
The game of horseshoes is broken down into innings, each consisting of 4 pitched horseshoes, 2 by each opponent.
The first player will pitch both shoes and then wait while the other contestant does the same. Each player must take care not to cross the foul line which is 3′ past the stake or risk having the thrown shoe deemed a foul disqualified from scoring.
Once points have been determined, players pick up their shoes and then begin the next inning, now throwing in the opposite direction.
Scoring:
In each inning, after all four shoes have been thrown, scoring is determined in the following manner. In order to be considered for points, a shoe must lie within 6″ (approximately the distance between the open ends of the shoe) from the stake - all shoes outside of this area score no points.
Of the shoes within this 6″ area around the stake, the closest shoe gets one point. If one player has two shoes closer than any of the opponents’, it’s worth 2 points.
Leaners are shoes which lean against the stake and worth 1 point are considered closer than any shoe which is not touching the stake but not closer than Ringers.
Ringers are shoes which completely encircle the stake so that the ends can be touched with a straight edge without touching the stake.
Ringers are worth 3 points each. If a player has both a ringer and the closest other shoe it would be worth 4 points.
Cancellation Scoring Anytime the shoes of opposing players are equal distance from the stake or of equal value they cancel each other out and score no points. For example: If both players have ringers they would cancel out and the next closest shoe within 6″ from the stake would score 1 point. Or if Player One has 2 ringers and Player Two has 1 ringer - two of the opposing ringers would cancel out and Player One would score 1 ringer for 3 points.
Winner of the Game is the first player or team to reach the predetermined point total.
Doubles Play:
Four players can play horseshoes in teams of two players each. Players of each team pitch from opposite ends of the court against an opposing team. The points of the players of each team are added together and players do not change sides after each inning. Otherwise, doubles play is no different than conventional singles play.
Winning the Game:
In backyard play, it is not uncommon to play to 15 points. The winner of the Game is the first player or team to reach the predetermined point total.
The Court:

excerpt from: Everyday Weekender

#55 - Mark Twain Quote

"When I was a boy of 14 my father was so ignorant that I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in only 7 years."

-Mark Twain

#54 - Excuse Me

A gentleman does his best to control all bodily functions in public. That way, he will not have to say "Excuse me" all the time.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#53 - Excuse Me

A gentleman never uses the words "Hey," "Hey you," "Hey dude," or any phrase that starts with the word "hey" when he is trying to get another person's attention. He says, "Excuse me."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#52 - Saying Excuse Me Do's and Don'ts

Saying "Excuse Me" - Do's & Don'ts

> You Do

Say, "Excuse me," when you have to interrupt someone, like the librarian at your school who may be reading a book (that's what librarians do), to ask where the old National Geographic magazines are located.

> You Don't

Just stand around and wait fifteen minutes, hoping the librarian will finally notice you standing there.

> Why

It is perfectly all right to ask a question. "Excuse me" was invented for moments like this - when you need to get some one's attention.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#51 - Saying Excuse Me Do's and Don'ts

Saying "Excuse Me" - Do's & Don'ts

> You Do

Try to wait until you can get outdoors before you pass gas. At least try to get to a room where you will be the only one breathing the air for a while.

> You Don't

Assume, just because you can say, "Excuse me," that it's OK for you to pass gas, no matter where you are.

> Why

Accidents happen. But if it's not an accident, you're just being rude, and it won't take long for people to figure out that they don't want to be trapped in a room with you.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#50 - Saying Excuse Me

Saying "Excuse Me"

Whether you are stepping in front of someone in a store, or sneezing or burping, or trying to get another person's attention, "Excuse me" is a phrase you will need to use for the rest of your life.

It doesn't matter whether you are a young man or an old man. You are going to burp or pass gas or get the hiccoughs. You are going to have to step around other people on airplanes, at the movies, or in the bleachers at a ball game. You are going to have to interrupt someone to ask a question or ask for help. It just happens.

Saying "Excuse me" is the right thing to do, in all these situations. It doesn't matter whether you're getting in someone else's space, whether you've created an odor that smells like a dead animal, or whether you need to interrupt somebody to ask for directions. "Excuse me" is always the right thing to say.

You don't need to say, "I'm sorry," because you haven't done anything wrong -unless you have been rude and walked in front of somebody at the movies and stood there so long he or she missed half the show. That's when you need to say, "I'm sorry." But most of the time, "Excuse me" is all you need to say.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#49 - Defense

Ask you coach if you can guard the other team's best player.

No one is unstoppable.

-Love Dad

#48 - Heroes

Be on some one's list of heroes.

-Love Dad

#47 - Don Shula Quote

"The problem with most leaders today is they don't stand for anything. Leadership implies movement toward something, and convictions provide that direction. If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

-Don Shula, Former Miami Dolphins Head Coach

#46 - Sir and Ma'am

Address anyone who carries a firearm professionally as sir or ma'am.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#45 - Sunday

Sunday is the 1st day of the week, not the last.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#44 - Shoes

The most expensive shoes won't make you faster, stronger, or jump any higher; they'll look cool though.

-Love Dad

#43 - How to Play Checkers

How to Play Checkers

"Crown Me!"
If you don't know what that means, you don't know how to play checkers. Checkers is a fun, simple game that's been around for hundreds of years. It's a good game for kids and adults to play together, and you can easily make your own board and pieces. The version of the game that you'll learn here is formally known as "English checkers." Try it, you'll like it!

Sometimes you'll find yourself without a "real" checkers set. Not to worry! Checkers can be improvised from bottle caps, pieces of paper, or just about anything that can be identified as one color or the other. Checkerboards can be drawn on the sidewalk with chalk if need be. Just remember to have a good time!
The object of the game is to advance across the board in order to capture or block your opponent's checkers until they can't make any more moves. Try to make it all the way to the other side of the board - there are rewards for getting there.
Set up the board

A checkerboard is eight squares by eight squares. The squares alternate colors, one dark, and the next light. Arrange your board, so that a light corner square is to each player's right.
Place twelve pieces of one color on the first three rows of alternating dark squares. Repeat with the other twelve pieces on the other side of the board, again putting all pieces on the dark squares.
Play by the rules

Black always begins play, and players take turns from there. After the game, players switch colors. Here are the essentials:

• Checkers move diagonally, one square forward, always onto a dark square. If all the dark squares diagonal to a piece already have pieces on them, that piece is blocked and another must be moved. Checkers can't move backwards unless they have been "crowned" (see below).
• An opposing piece is captured by jumping (always diagonally) over it to an empty square just beyond it (the piece being captured). Take the captured piece off the board.
• Any number of checkers may be jumped over and captured in just one move, as long as each jump follows the rules. In other words, as long as you keep moving forward on the diagonal, and there are available squares immediately beyond the opposing piece, you can keep jumping. Many players spend most of their time figuring out how to do this. Blocking your opponent's checkers from moving is another important consideration.
• Officially, if an opposing piece is available to be captured, the player whose turn it is must capture that piece. If they fail to do this, the opposing player may a) insist that the moved piece be returned to its original position and the capture made; b) accept the move (but the capture must be made on the next move, if still possible); or c) remove the piece that should have made the capture from the board.

In practice, many people do not require pieces to be captured because they are available. An agreement should be reached beforehand on which method to play by (especially if you're outside of your neighborhood).
Emerge victorious

...or don't, but find out which.
The game is won by the first player to capture, or block, the twelve opposing pieces. Let the games begin!

#42 - Thank You

"A gentleman knows that a simple "Thank you" is usually fine. There is never any need to go on and on."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#41 - Thank You

"A gentleman does not put a price tag on his saying "thank you." He says, "Thank you," for small acts of kindness, just as he does for the big ones."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#40 - Please

"A gentleman says "please" to anyone offering him assistance. It does not matter if he is being offered an order of fries or free tickets to a football game."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#39 Please & Thank You

"A gentleman knows that "please" and "thank you" go together like nachos and cheese."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#38 - Saying Thank You Do's and Don'ts

Saying "Thank you" - Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Say, "Thank you," when your mom hands you your allowance, when the person behind the counter at McDonald's gives you your McNuggets, and when your dad helps you with your homework.

> You Don't

Assume, just because you're used to getting your allowance, pick up your McNuggets, or having help with your homework, that you don't need to say "Thanks."

> Why

It is important to be nice to people who do nice things for you - whether it is fixing your dinner or smiling when they hand you your McNuggets. When people treat you well and they see you behaving like a gentleman in return, they will be proud to know their efforts haven't been lost on you.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#37 - Saying Thank You Do's and Don'ts

Saying "Thank you" - Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Say, "Thank you," Whenever someone gives you a gift, even if you are not crazy about it.

> You Don't

Laugh or frown or do anything else that gives the impression that you do not like the gift.

> Why

You are not always going to like every gift you receive. Every young gentleman has an aunt who gives him underwear or a godparent who buys things that are four years too young for him. But it is always important to say, "Thank you." You don't have to pretend that you love something you don't like. But saying, "Thank you for thinking of me," gets the job done. And you are still letting people know that you appreciate them and their thoughtfulness.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#36 - Saying Thank You Do's and Don'ts

Saying "Thank you" - Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Say "Thank you," whenever anybody says something nice to you - even if you are not sure you're being paid a compliment.

> You Don't

Ask, "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

> Why

When people tell you that you look just like your grandfather, they are trying to say something nice. Even if you don't think being compared to someone who has lost most of his hair is a compliment - it is. Just say, "Thank you." It will make your grandfather very happy.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#35 - Saying Thank you

Saying "Thank You"

Saying "Thank you" is just as easy - and as important - as saying "please." Remember how easy it was to play T-ball? Saying "thank you" is that easy. You say, "Thank you," anytime anyone does something nice or helpful for you.

When someone holds an elevator door open for you - you say, "Thank you."

When someone tells you that you are the smartest young man they have ever met - you say, "Thank you."

When someone gives you a new video game - you say, "Thank you."

When someone hands you a saltshaker - you say, "Thank you."

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#34 - Saying Please Do's and Don'ts

Saying "Please" - Do's and Don'ts

> You Do

Say "please" any time you are asking someone to do something for you. That means, when you're in a restaurant, you say to the waiter, "My I have another soda, please?"

> You Don't

Assume, just because other people are doing their jobs, that you don't have to show appreciation for their efforts.

> Why

One day you will realize that you should be as nice to the person who opens the door for you at Trump Tower as you would be to Donald Trump himself. If you learn that now, you will be ahead of the game.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#33 - Saying Please

Saying "Please"

Saying "please" is the simplest thing you will ever have to do. It is like taking the easiest class at your school. It is a slam dunk. It's probably smart to start using the word "please" as often as you can, beginning right now. It will make life go much more smoothly for you.

Here's what's in it for you: Remember when you were three or four and you would ask for something, and before your mom would give it to you, she would stand there asking, "What do you say?" and of course you would say, "Pleeeeeeeeese." And she would give it to you. That was cute when you were three. But look how old you are now.

If you haven't already started using "please" all the time, you should be worried. And your parents certainly ought to be concerned. They may even be asking themselves, "Should we even bother putting him in the will?" or "Why should we be worrying about sending him to college? He can't even say 'please.'"

Learn how to use it, and start using it now. It will take you far.

excerpt from: 50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know

#32 - Emerson Quote

Be there for a friend in a moments notice.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." -Emerson

#31 - Dress for Work

Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#30 - The Godfather Quote

"A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."

-Marlon Brando as Don Corleone in The Godfather

#29 - Cato Quote

To keep one's head is a virtue, the anger of a moment can play havoc for years.

"An angry man opens his mouth and shuts up his eyes" -Cato

#28 - Start Over When you Fail

Life is not over when you fail.
It's really just begun again.

-Love Dad

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Thanks for continuing to visit the blog. I hope that you all have a healthy, prosperous, and blessed new year.