Only Two Things - Who Cheats More - Men or Women?

This week an LPGA cheating scandal hit the internet.

In involves accusations based on secondhand accounts, and some suspect that an ugly element of anti-Korean xenophobia may have come into play because the accuser, LPGA caddy/blogger, Larry Smich has a history of "issues" with Korean players.

The situation is currently under investigation and I think it's wise to reserve judgment until the facts become clear, however I did receive an email not long ago from a reader/listener who asked, "Which sex is more likely to cheat, Men or Women?" She'd just played in a scramble at a golf event with some colleagues and was quite surprised to find what she described as "a culture of cheating among the men".

"Though it wasn't a highly competitive event," she complained, "there was a "nice prize" for the winning team, and as such the "so-called lite cheating" struck me and the other women who were playing as blatantly wrong".

My reader didn't go into detail, but from what I gathered the men had no such qualms, and that's what led to her question. In light of the LPGA incident last week, I think this makes for a very interesting topic.

So here's the question: "Which sex is more likely to cheat, Men or Women?" And we'll apply it not only to golf, but also to relationships, business and life in general.

That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.

#1

No need for an introduction or any sort of start drool...
Begin with today:
Don't read Vanity Fair, if your hair is dry use a Palmer's Coconut Oil Deep Conditioning Protein Pack, ask your Mom if she owned a record player in high school and you may be surprised to find out that she did and she used it to listen to YES on repeat, Vikings hit North America 492 years before Columbus, Sarah Palin gone win "something", if a pile of money falls at your feet go and purchase a satellite radio rig, always have a glue stick handy, kraut for dinner, Baby Gunner been outta the womb one whole day.

What makes any day a good day:





Max made this happen...thank you, Max.

Of Tiger Stalkers, Sex Journalists & Golf Media Guidelines

No doubt about it, we're living in an era of unprecedented change when it comes to communications and media.

"The old way of doing things just won't cut it anymore." ~ That phrase has become a well-worn cliche, and the changes that have taken place in reporting, writing and publishing sports news have already been epic. They've happened very quickly too. To the extent that lines are being blurred... and crossed... all the all the time. Sometimes the result can be awesome and groundbreaking. Other times awkwardness ensues... or disaster perhaps. Or maybe something in between.

An amusing example of the "in-between" took place last week on the pastoral fairways of Ridgewood Country Club. Not surprisingly the incident involved Tiger Woods, whose extraordinary fame... and salaciously spectacular fall-from-grace... precipitated a figurative "opening of the floodgates" in the golf media world.

Whereas just last year the idea that any self-respecting tabloid would waste resources covering a golf tournament would have been laughable... this year the PGA was fielding inquiries from the likes of TMZ, not to mention myriad other "non-traditional" media sources. Apparently standard operating procedure calls for a individual evaluation of each of these "non-traditional" requests, which this year resulted in denial of credentials for some.

But... in that new gray area where traditional and tabloid-esqe often overlap... it's best to expect the unexpected. And "the unexpected" unexpectedly happened last week at The Barclays, when on the first hole of the ProAm a "traditional journalist" cavalierly crept under the ropes and breezed over to interview Mr. Woods. Right there on the fairway. Right after he hit his approach shot.

The "traditional journalist" in question was Andrea Peyser ...and there she was, with her notebook and pen, possibly before Tiger's Titleist even landed on the green.

Ms. Peyser is an award-winning columnist with the New York Post and has a journalist career that spans more than two decades, thus one might assume her credentials may have been awarded without much in the way of scrutiny. Supposedly, the major New York dailies are automatically credentialed despite their tabloid-ish tendencies and without regard for what kind of reporter they'll be sending. And that's how the postmodern media-mix-up took place.

Because although Andrea Peyser is, by any definition, a traditional journalist, she's not a "traditional golf journalist". Though her columns have won awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the Newswomen's Club of New York and the New York Associated Press, the sanctimonious scribbler, had never been to a golf tournament. Ever. In her life. Therefore she didn't... uh... "know the ropes" so to speak. If you'll pardon the pun.

You see, Ms. Peyser normally writes about politics and gender, with a stridently conservative voice. In their amusing post on this incident, Gawker describes her as "a sex journalist" ...which would actually be funny if her voice weren't so vitriolic. In reality Andrea Peyser is a sanctimonious scribbler who demonstrates about as much tolerance for tolerance as Carol Mann.

Anyway, the fairway interloper was promptly stripped of her credentials and sent packing by "a pretty, blond automaton", thus becoming another symbol of the slippery slope that exists for the PGA, LPGA and other sports brands, between ensuring maximum coverage and maintaining some degree of control.

August 24, 2010 - Photos by Scott Halleran/Getty Images North America

OH NO! Eyewitness Charity Auction has begun!

Grace, Meghan, and I all have pieces up for auction this week! Click here to bid on our pieces for the Eyewitness reports auction. This profits from this fundraiser go entirely to support 826LA, a fabulous literacy organization. Bid on an original piece of children's book art and support a great cause!

This is what my piece looks like:

Tuesday Eclectic - A Weekly Collection of Notable Links

Interesting, under-reported golf stories or well-written renderings of the most talked about events.

Innovative or unusual products... provocative people... inviting places. Once a week I'll link you up with my discoveries, here at Tuesday Eclectic.

Show and Tell: The Latest Video from Show me The Golf is fun and entertaining. As always.

Meet Miss Par: An awesome new site by Christina Ricci, author of the Golf Survival Guides. Miss Par lives the golf lifestyle to a tee.

The Other Brothers: Brent Kelly discovers some brotherly predecessors to the Molinaris.

Sexy Sophie Horn: She's a gorgeous golf presenter with a 6 handicap, and now she has a sexy new website.

Playing With Ryo: Japanese Golf Champion Ryo Ishikawa is a doll. I mean literally.

New Game in Town: It's a new way to enjoy golf. Those who like Texas Holdem... among many others... will approve.

Sob inducers

A while ago Josie Levitt posted about crying in public over a book on the Publisher's Weekly Shelf Talker blog. I'm proud to say that she was sobbing over one of the books I edited, Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick, a book I had also sobbed over in public the first time I read it.

Sorta Like a Rock Star is one of two books that I've edited in my career that have made me more than just cry--they've made me sob. Actual, stomach-heaving sobs. Not just moved, not just having tears well up in my eyes, but really cry. The other book was Rubber Houses by Ellen Yeomans.

I was remembering some of the books I sobbed over as a kid. The ones that stick out in my mind are My Brother Sam is Dead, Where the Red Fern Grows, Charlotte's Web, Summer of My German Soldier, and A Taste of Blackberries. I remember the sobbing, the streaming tears, the nose blowing and crumpled tissues. I remember feeling simultaneously anguished and reborn when I finished the books. God, I loved that feeling. A big cry feels good, particularly if it's not my own life's tragedies that I'm crying at.

As I always tell agents and announce at writer's conferences, I'm a sucker for books that make me cry. I just finished reading a wonderful book, One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams. And yes, I had tears streaming down my face while on the train--although no actually sobbing this time, probably because they were tears of joy, rather than agony. But if you want sobbing, The Book Thief is your book.

I marvel at the skill of these authors to write such real characters, so real that I suffer true pain at the loss that the characters suffer, or pain when I lose them altogether. That's something.

What are some of your favorite sob inducers?

this is my contribution for the auction...

The Marvelous Molinaris Make History... Again

Over the past 10 months, Francesco and Edoardo Molinari have made history numerous times.

It happened twice in one tournament when they won the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup last November. There they were the first pair of brothers AND the first Italians to ever win the event.

Then there was Accenture Match Play in February, where they became the first set of brothers to take part in a World Golf Championships event.

Writing about the Molinari brothers in early April, ESPN Golf Columnist Jason Sobel noted that they were about to become the first brothers in a decade to compete together in the Masters.

And after Edoardo Molinari's extraordinary win at the Johnny Walker Championship today, the brothers are poised to become the first siblings to play together on a Ryder Cup Team in almost 40 years. Edoardo grabbed one of the Captain's pick spots today with his amazing Gleneagles victory, Francesco had already made the team, and both were inspired by Italian golf icon Constantino Rocca, who played on the 1993, 1995 and 1997 teams and is only Italian ever to make the Ryder Cup... till now.

I've written about the Italian siblings a number of times over the past year... so much so that some readers seem ready to attribute me with ownership of the prodigious pair, at least figuratively, as in: "you must be happy to see "your Molinari brothers" at the top of the leader board."

OK, wishful thinking. But I'm simply a fan, like an increasing number of other Americans, and of course I've been happy to see them doing well this summer because they're brothers, which is heartwarming, and because they come from an awesome country where there's extraordinary potential for golf to grow.

So here's the deal: Two brothers win the World Cup AND compete together in a World Golf Championship event plus... two majors, AND play on the same Ryder Cup team... all within a one year period. That's certainly a fraternal feat for the golf history books.

Many are second guessing Colin Montgomerie's newly announced Captain's choices, but few are questioning the one called Molinari.

Photographs: Ian Walton/Getty Images

Knitting rhymes - Episode 115 - The Knitmore Girls

Listen here:


This week's episode has been sponsored by:

What could be better than knitting a pair of Knitmore Vanilla Socks? Knitting socks with Cashmere! Introducing Temptation, a new yarn from Abstract Fiber. 10% Cashmere, 80% SuperWash Merino, 10% nylon. We love this blend, but ours is a little thinner than some, just perfect for socks. Heavenly soft, but with nylon for durability, we think this is the ultimate sock yarn. Only $30 for 100g of luxury for your feet. Temptation is also perfect for anything right next to your skin, cowls, scarves, gloves.


Everything's coming up Cassidy at Purlescence Yarns! Join us for our fabulous fall Cassidy Knit-Along, featuring Chic Knit's wonderful cabled cardigan pattern. We're loving this piece knit in Manos Rittenhouse Merino 5-Ply, Cascade Venezia & Eco Wool, Lorna's Laces Green Line Worsted & Shepherd Worsted, to name but a few. Mention the Knitmore Girls when you place your order for 10% off your yarn purchase for the KAL through the end of September. And don't forget, Amy Singer is coming November 2 to teach her Non-Wool Socks Class. Seats in this class are limited, so sign up early!



Entrée to Entrelac by Gwen Bortner is designed as a series of skills and concepts, each building on the last. The progression builds an understanding of the basics, stretches the possibilities with slightly more advanced techniques, then opens the door on creative combinations with other knitting disciplines. Gwen’s teaching experience allows her to translate in-depth knowledge into concise instructions; clear, step-by-step illustrations and a user-friendly layout for an especially effective learning interface. This is a reference book for knitters not only interested in learning about entrelac, but in learning more about knitting.
The book presents practice pieces as well as projects — from scarves and bags and afghans to mittens, slipper socks, and hats to garments for the entire family — all worked in a wide range of yarns. Entrée to Entrelac makes knitting entrelac a dream!

On the Needles: (00:33)

Gigi has cast on the Merope shawl out of Dream in Color Baby (color "Purple Rain"). Jasmin's Cabled Raglan Tunic is up to the armholes. Gigi is working on assorted vanilla socks with afterthought heels. Jasmin is working on her Garter Yoke Cardigan, made from her Blue Streak handspun, which she's wearing in the Off the Needles calendar.

Gigi has finished finishing a striped sweater for a friend. Jasmin mention the Scunci steamer. Jasmin has been carrying around Meghan's Twist cardigan (Sweater Swap 2010). Jasmin is working on her Supernatural socks! She declares her love for the Knitpicks nickel (fixed) circular needles for sock knitting.

Contest: (17:42)

The Head to Toe design contest has been launched. Details can be found in the contest thread. The contest ends 9/3/2010. Prizes include:

• 1 Year Subscription to Knitter’s Magazine
• Think Outside the Sox
• A skein of Knitmore Sock yarn
• Little Box of Socks, with signed bookplate from Charlene Schurch.
• Toe Up! by Chrissy Gardener, with signed bookplate.
• Bags by Loumms - three ADORABLE bags!
  

Events: (19:11)
- 9/6: Monterey Wool Auction (Here's the link to the Director's Cut episode about selecting fleeces.)
- 9/24-26: Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. We'll be staying at the Days Inn and Suites Wilsonville.

Mother Knows Best: (19:58)

This week, we talk about how to schedule in and motivate yourself when the number of works in progress gets overwhelming.

Ask an Intern: (27:47)

Katrina is back! She has taught someone to knit, and shares a couple of knitting rhymes. She is knitting the Sadie cardigan. She has a knitting attack, with a pair of footlets.

Review: (39:00)

This week, we review Swing Swagger Drape by Jane Slicer-Smith.

Straw into Gold: (48:40)

Jasmin has gone back to the Three Bags Full (in Crimson Shadows) that she's spinning for Gigi to knit a Sunrise Circle cardigan. Jasmin has finished plying the baby cormo for her Baby Cables and Big Ones Too sweater. Jasmin mentions that the Crown Mountain Farms Exotic Fiber Club has opened.

Freelancer's vacation

I haven't taken a going-away vacation,

or, in fact, ANY declared,I'm-not-working-for-two-weeks time in 5 years. Freelancers! What about you? Who else hasn't?


So I declare from now until the Tuesday after Labor Day TIME OFF. Time out. If you (like me) can't go anyplace, make a vacation at home -- do things you don't normally do. Me, I baked a peach pie yesterday (gluten free) which the guests declared the best they'd ever eaten.

Today I'm going to the beach.


And every day from now until the Tuesday after Labor Day, I'll do something really fun -- probably, by the water. Noel Streatfeild writes in both her autobiography and her Bell family books about a holiday by the sea, "a mountain top of a holiday; one by which all the others could be measured. Afterwards the family all knew what was meant by 'nearly as good as St.Anne's.' " (Most of their holidays were rather horrible for the children: their father lived in a dreamland where everyone loved swimming in cold English water under grey skies, lips blue all day (the picture below is me and my siblings at an English beach -- but our parents didn't make us swim! Neither did anyone else's! Most kids didn't even wear bathingsuits!),

as much as he did, and relished staying in out of the way cottages with no books, no games, nothing at all for the children to do. The children's real feelings would slip out afterwards in casual comments:
"Isn't it glorious to be home after that awful Poppy-land!" or, when drinking some new medicine:
"It's nearly as nasty as Derbyshire.") But this was a real, true, happy family vacation.

Of all the places my family went -- and as anyone who's read Blow Out the Moon knows, we travelled a lot -- OUR best vacation was when we drove to Okracoke Island, in those days only accessible by four-car ferry (just visible in the small picture, very clear if you look at it full-size)

and inhabited by not very many people and a herd of wild ponies. One of the many highlights of the vacation -- to us, at least -- was when one

stuck his head through our (closed) car window, smashing it and not hurting himself one bit. Grace is on Okracoke as I write this: Grace, I hope your time there is as happy as ours was!




As for my vacation: no babysitting, no client work, and if, or as they say in math, IFF ("if and only if") I want to, my own writing. I bet this will bring something new to it, whether I write or not over the vacation.

"One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach, waiting for a gift from the sea." --Anne Morrow Lindbergh (probably mis-spelling her name, but the vacation starts now, with not worrying about things like that!)

Playmate Shannon James on the Art of the Golf Hookup

Shannon James is one of Playboy's most popular playmates; a brown-eyed platinum blonde with a stunning... smile. Among other attributes.

As hostess at the Playboy Golf events that take place all over the country, this playmate spends quite a bit of time on the golf course. And in Playboy.com's popular column, The Hookup, she recently offered advice to golf guys on how to best link up with ladies in a golf setting.

Shannon addresses golf apparel issues, as well as possible pick-up lines, suggesting some moves that might be effective, and cautioning against others that... probably wouldn't wouldn't work too well. It's all done in the brand's characteristically playful, tongue-in-cheek (don't even go there) manner.

The thing that stood out for me was that the article was actually inspired by the fact that more and more women are playing golf these days... and that this can actually make a day at the course more fun.

Now guys, you should keep in mind that it's important to assess a woman's ability before following Shannon's suggestion to... "give her some pointers, like showing her how to properly hold the club and swing." ~ I can think of a few women... like our ladies league champion, or my friend with a single digit handicap... who would probably not respond well to that form of flirtation. But as long as you keep such details in mind, you should be fine.

The piece also contains a poll that invites readers to weigh in on the question: "Would you hit on a woman while you’re on the golf course?" and the answers might surprise you... or not.

Finally, the Playboy Advisor deals with a question that's been coming up a lot lately: Is Golf On the Way Out? I think you'll appreciate the answer. So check in with Shannon James and the other golf-minded people at Playboy.com.

And... don't forget about the Playboy Scrambles. Last week's NY event was rescheduled due to rain. It'll now be held on October 12. In the meantime on September 27, there's the Boston event. I'm going and I'm really looking forward to it. There are still foursomes available too, so check it out if your in the market for a fun day on the golf course.

David Williams Solves Golf Memorabilia Mystery

My compliments to David Williams of Willow Golf in Melbourne, Australia.
His response was the last one to come in today, and... he got it right. ~ The dainty looking object of mint green glass... with the tiny duffer on top... is actually a lighter that dates back to golf's golden age.

There were many valiant attempts to identify the odd little item, but in the end, Mr. Williams' answer was the only correct one. I know I wouldn't have gotten it, I was clueless until I saw the lighter illuminated in one of the small photos. It was only then that I actually understood.

But David Williams... I found out today when I read his story... grew up with golf and has dedicated his life to the game. He's a PGA professional who's played... and won... at a high level and is now the Teaching Professional at Beaconhills Country Golf Club. He attributes his success as a golf coach to the time he spent in the US with Chuck Evans of the Medicus Golf Institute.

Willow Golf's motto is "Live to Play Better Golf, and their site contains copious content to assist in that mission including podcasts and videos. They also have a Facebook page.

So thanks again everyone for participating in this little golf guessing game, and once again, Congrats to David. The following is the full seller's description of this awesome object:

Rare Antique Cigar/Cigarette Lighter. Electric, Jadeite, Art Deco Glass, Golfer, ca. 1920's - 30's.

"Here is a wonderful electric cigar or cigarette lighter, vintage 1920s to early 30s. It is green jadeite, art deco style with a golfer on the top, made of base metal with remnants of silver-plate remaining. It is electric, and in full working condition.

This seller has never seen anything like it before. An exhaustive search on-line has failed to turn up anything like it. It is difficult to determine the manufacturer, but it may be Fire King, McKee or Jeanette Glass Co.

This piece is 2 1/4" tall, or 3 3/4" tall including the golfer. The electrical cord has been replaced, it has been rewired, and it works! The lighter is in perfect condition. There are no chips, cracks, flakes or crazing. There is no rust or discoloration. The bottom has a mica disk. When plugged into an electrical outlet and turned upside down, electrical points make contact and the lighter immediately glows red.

This is a wonderful and VERY RARE piece of tobacciana for the collector -- of lighters, jadeite, golf memorabilia or curiosities."

The Mystery Deepens Around an Enigmatic Golf Item

NightLight, lamp, music box, egg-warmer, thimble, electric jello mold, snuff box, heater, radio, buzzer, envelope sealer.

All good guesses but not one of them is correct. Or even that close. So I've posted another view of the enigmatic item. I'll also give you a couple of hints:

* To clarify scale, the perforated circular inset shown above on the bottom of the piece is about the size of a nickel.

* It was used for an activity that's less common today than it was in the 20's, but one that still takes place.

* There are many modern versions of the item, that bear almost no resemblance to this antique version.

So, that's about all I can say. If you have any final guesses post them here, or on my facebook/twitter pages... or send them via email. I'll reveal the answer tonight.

POETRY FRIDAY: Fireflies by Marilyn Kallet

Sorry I’ve been missing in action the past two Fridays. I was away on vacation at a beautiful waterfront house on Westport Island in Maine. Except for one rainy day—we had glorious weather. It was warm and dry. My daughter and her husband and two close friends came up for the weekend—and other friends joined us later in the week. We cooked and ate outside and chatted and laughed and enjoyed the view and the sound of lobster boats putt-putting around and put together jigsaw puzzles and played Scrabble and bocci. I also had an opportunity to do some reading and crossword puzzles. It was a relaxing and fun-filled vacation.

As we near the end of summer, I thought I’d post this lovely poem about fireflies and memories that I found at Ted Kooser’s site American Life in Poetry.

Fireflies
By Marilyn Kallet

In the dry summer field at nightfall,
fireflies rise like sparks.
Imagine the presence of ghosts
flickering, the ghosts of young friends,
your father nearest in the distance.
This time they carry no sorrow,
no remorse, their presence is so light.
Childhood comes to you,
memories of your street in lamplight,
holding those last moments before bed,...

You can read the rest of the poem here.

**********

At Wild Rose Reader, I have a post titled Going Back to School…with Poetry 2010. The post includes a brief review of and excerpts from Betsy Franco’s book MESSING AROUND ON THE MONKEY BARS AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS FOR TWO VOICES—as well as links to my reviews of other school-themed poetry books and my original school-themed poems.


The Poetry Friday Roundup is at Book Aunt.

Golf Memorabilia: Rare & Wonderful, but What is It?

According to the experts this little item is probably from the twenties.

It's made out of green jadeite, in an art deco style and yes that's a golfer on the top, made of base metal with remnants of silverplate. It is electric, and in full working condition.

But what does it do?

nostalgia

I was thrilled to receive from Albert Whitman the beloved Flicka, Dicka, Ricka & Snipp, Snapp, Snurr books that I adored from childhood. If you recall, they are the books that inspired Ling & Ting! They are actually still in print--do you remember them now? Seeing them is like seeing a bit of my childhood all over again.

I forgot about "Flicka, Dicka, Ricka and the Strawberries"...I think Ling and Ting are going to have to go berry picking in their next adventure!

Only Two Things - Do Guys Care What They Wear?

You've probably seen them at your course: Dowdy Dan and Sloppy Sam. Lumpy Larry and Baggy Bill will often round out the unfashionable foursome.

The clothes they wear are classic... but not in the good sense. No... I mean in the unimaginative, oversize sense... that such men swear by. Muted colors, conservative cuts... outfits that look like afterthoughts.

Meanwhile, many/most lady golfers dress for success... sartorially speaking... and now have an extraordinary choice of designers and styles. They shop at pro shops, or on the internet, and anecdotal evidence suggests most shop with some degree of enjoyment.

There are of course, guys like Ian Poulter and Rickie Fowler... fearless individualists who've never met a skittle color they didn't like. But many guys I know, when they're heading to the course, just throw on whatever they find in their closet that day.

So, do guys care what they wear? Or is it just not something that'll ever be too important to them. That's what we'll be talking about tonight on "Only Two Things". We'll be broadcasting from 9:30 - 10:30PM ET. And you can weigh in on-air by using call-in number 917-889-9592. Or join the conversation in the chat room or on Twitter... or just listen at BlogTalkRadio. Talk to you tonight.