A Dude's Guide. . . to everything

Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do?

Okay, so here’s the deal. It seems that — according to an actual real-deal white-lab-coat scientific study — girls really do prefer the bad boys. There’s this thing called the dark triad: it’s a series of personality traits that seem to encompass all the bad behavior. The dark triad is made up of the self-obsession of narcissism, the Machiavellianists’ manipulation, and the impulsive and thrill-seeking behavior of psychopaths. So, that’s evil and nobody really wants that.

However, “being just slightly evil could have an upside: a prolific sex life.” It seems that the study, which looked at more than 200 college students, found that those who rated higher on the dark triad were more likely to have an active sex life, full of short-term relationships. And, according to the big heads in charge of the study, this sort of thing looks like it crosses into most cultures as well.

Personally, I’m more than a little appalled by this. Of course, that might be because I was always the male friend, the nice guy who finished last in the romantic races, except for when it counted most. (Hi, Wife!) Still, why is it that the “slightly evil” are the attractive ones? Is it because those with those traits are more likely to be more confident in their ability to find partners?

As I read this article, all I could think about was that I hoped my three little dudes wouldn’t fall into the “slightly evil” trap. I hoped they would, instead, be the nice guy who could finish first when it really matters. That, I think, is the goal we should all be striving for in raising our little dudes: let’s have a generation where the nice dudes are the ones who finish first.

– Richard

Honeymoon!

Three of the ‘big four’ are visiting their grandparents this week for camp. My wife and I are so relaxed it’s a little scary. We don’t know what to do with ourselves with only our 3 1/2-year-old here.

Last night we went to the pool and I was swimming with my little girl and looked up and saw my wife just sitting there totally mellowed out. I asked her what she was doing and she whispered, “relaxing.” UNREAL!

Here is a list of other things we did not have to do and things we can do this week:

1. Wake up at 5:45 a.m. to get everyone ready by 7:30 a.m. for school.
2. Break up the nightly fights between the boys and their 6-year-old sister.
3. Say “Because I said so!” 1,000,000 times.
4. Go to bed before midnight because we can actually get some housework done before then.
5. Plop the toddler in front of a DVD without a fight over what to watch.
6. Yes! Other stuff too. <wags eyebrows up and down suggestively>

- Barry

Show Me The Money, Dude!

Here’s a depressing thought. I just read an article where it was suggested that a great high-school graduation present isn’t so much a brief case, but it’s an appointment with a credit counselor and money manager. I mean, I knew college was getting more expensive, but I had no idea. . .

Remember when the best advice you could give a recent graduate consisted of one word: “Plastics?” Yeah, me neither. Still, It’s an amazingly sobering thought that kids are having to choose between a college education or a life time of debt. Sometimes both.

It’s enough to make me think I should be working with my little dudes about the value of a dollar. You remember, you can use it to buy a quarter of a gallon of gas. Yeah, that dollar.

– Richard