Some of you who follow our coverage may have noticed from social media posts that a few of us recently visited Basin and Range Cellars, a local winery producing estate wine. “Estate” is a term used by vintners (winemakers) and brewers (beer makers) to denote that the ingredients they use are grown entirely on site….
Category: Guy Stuff
While it’s just us dads talking, we thought we may as well reserve space for “guy stuff” – an opportunity to discuss those things we enjoy and that keep us entertained.
All Mickey’s Eve
Witches and demons. Ghosts and goblins. Devils and monsters. These (usually adorable) creatures used to roam the streets of suburbia on Halloween, wandering from house to house. Every knock and ringing doorbell signified the arrival of another group of evil spirits, there to demand treats at threat of “tricks”. (Yes, this social contract is the lesson…
How to Build a Busy Board Step-by-Step
I spent a lot of time growing up in garages. They were the manhood museums of my late grandfathers; they held a half-century’s worth of their work and whatchamacallits. Tools, scraps of metal and wood, sawdust, two-stroke motors, and oil cans tell the story of the men in my family. It was in those garages…
I Won’t Yell at Referees Anymore, Thanks to this Facebook Page
New Facebook page raises awareness of parents who act like fools at youth sporting events, and deservedly so When I was a teenager, I experienced a rather embarrassing moment at a University of Nevada baseball game. The umpire made a call that everyone in the seats behind home plate disagreed with, including me. “YOU GOTTA…
The Journey of Fatherhood as Told Through 20 Star Wars Quotes
One of my favorite film series of all time is Star Wars. So, to celebrate Star Wars Day this year, I thought I’d share some fatherhood moments as expressed through Star Wars quotes. And no, I didn’t take the easy way out with the “I am your father,” Vader quote (even though I really wanted…
American Traffic
My First Trip to Thailand “Girls?! Girls?!” That was the first thing the Thai street vendor said to me when I stepped off the brow of the USS George Washington. It was the summer of 2011, and we has just pulled into port in Pattaya Beach, Thailand. I was more than excited to finally touch…
Reno Dads Podcast Episode 3: Best Movie Dads
Best Movie Dads In this episode, the Reno Dads gathered in the podcast booth to discuss the best movie dads. More specifically, we set out to create our own personal Mt. Rushmore of Movie Dads – each nominating four movie dads. This is a topic that can be debated endlessly. In fact, you’ve likely even…
The Modern Male Ethos: Improving the Merits of a Man’s Principles
In embarking upon the journey of discussing and hopefully improving the modern male ethos, I’ve offered my thoughts about “Improving the Merits of the Mind” and “Improving the Merits of the Heart”— two worthy endeavors for men and women alike. This article is to be my final installment in my three-part mini-series on male improvement….
A Former CIA Officer’s Guide To Teaching Your Kid Situational Awareness
Like any dad, I love sharing my experiences and passions with my boys. One skill is situational awareness. While I can’t share with my boys the specifics of my work at the CIA, I can share with them some of the skills I learned. We can bond over these skills like a father teaching his…
The Modern Male Ethos: Improving the Merits of the Heart
I had previously written about the frail condition of many modern men. Sexual misconduct, emotional weakness, and intellectual self-destruction have become the unfavorable hallmarks of a skewed male ethos. To recalibrate our slumping social position, I’ve set out to offer some notes on and examples from men of character and of history to increase our…
Reno Dads Top 10 of 2017
As the year rolls to an end, we often pause for reflection – and in this case we’ll reflect on the top 10 posts from 2017. These top 10 were decided based on unique views on the site. If you’re new to Reno Dads, or just want a trip down memory lane, you’ve found the…
The Modern Male Ethos: Improving the Merits of the Mind
When I teach argumentation and persuasion in my English 101 course, I delve into the Grecian modes of persuasion: ethos (credibility or character), pathos (passion or emotion), logos (logic or reasoning), and kairos (timing or opportunity). I always begin, however, with a detailed analysis of ethos. The ancient Greeks believed that if an individual’s ideas…