Newton Citizen

Rob Jenkins: Stupid things I have said, 2012 edition

As we bid farewell (and good riddance) to 2012, it's time once again for me to revisit some of the stupid things I've said in this space over the past calendar year.

Rob Jenkins: Finding that old Christmas spirit

Here are four strategies to invoke the Christmas spirit.

Rob Jenkins: An exclusive interview with the author

You might not be surprised to learn that I have been given unprecedented access to the author of the hit new book, "Family Man: The Art of Surviving Domestic Tranquility."

Rob Jenkins: Thanks, Big Box Stores, for ruining Thanksgiving

Apparently FIBBS (the Federation of Intergalactic Big Box Stores) has decreed that this week, Friday will fall on Thursday.

Rob Jenkins: Charter school debate comes down to turfism versus choice

If there's one point on which liberal teachers union activists and conservative school administrators agree, it's that the proposed charter school amendment would be bad for Georgia.

Rob Jenkins: Don't be ashamed to take a stand against pornography

So, parents, when was the last time you talked to your 4-year-old about porn?

Rob Jenkins: How to be a guy: basic family meal preparation 101

Most family men are capable of at least elementary food preparation: boiling, thawing, toasting, microwaving, dialing.

Rob Jenkins: Elvis was right, and I'm not feeling so bad myself

I have established an account on that legendary social network known as Twitter, and I have begun to share with the world my innermost feelings, fondest dreams, darkest fears, and other random inanities, all in 140 characters or less.

Rob Jenkins: Could weird animal behavior be a sign of the apocalypse?

I've noticed that the wild things seem to be behaving a bit strangely these days.

Rob Jenkins: Forget the tie, here's what Dad really wants

This year I decided to write my Father's Day column a week early, as a service to all the fathers out there, including myself.

JENKINS: For high school grads, it's not too late to go to college

The Gwinnett area offers many options for access institutions.

Rob Jenkins: Summer blockbusters can become rainy fall Saturday fare

My family loves to go to movies. Unfortunately, we also love to pay our mortgage, and the two things aren't necessarily compatible.

JENKINS: There's nothing quite like the pure love of a child

Ever since my daughter went off to college seven years ago, I've felt an incredible sense of loss.

Rob Jenkins: How I traded one pathology for another

Coaching is an all-consuming profession.

Rob Jenkins: Family pressures can lead to naming disasters

The best policy is for the happy couple to please themselves, whether in the naming of their children or anything else.

JENKINS: To increase college completion, online classes may not be best solution

When it comes to keeping kids in college, having them on a real campus is better than connecting them by the web.

JENKINS: What's so bad about pornography?

My son's question put me in an awkward positon of explaining what is so bad about pornography. Quite a bit, I told him, durng an uncomfortable but necessary discussion.

JENKINS: This one's for all the single ladies

When it comes to finding the man of your dreams, ladies, it's best to leave a little to the imagination.

JENKINS: Black conservative meat eaters need not apply

The leftist indoctrination of our youth continues unchecked.

ROB JENKINS: From Paris with love: More unique ideas for Valentine's Day

Ideas on how to make a French connection.

ROB JENKINS: Leadership and control are not the same thing

True leadership requires humility, a willingness to listen, to admit that others might know more about a given area or situation, to acknowledge that one might actually be wrong on occasion.

JENKINS: Sure signs that you're on the downhill slope

Nose hair is one. Constantly searching for a restroom is another.

JENKINS: Combining math with other subjects isn't necessarily a bad idea

My take on real-life questions.

JENKINS: For Falcons, 'pretty good' may not be not good enough

Team has made marked improvement but needs to take the next step toward being great.

ROB JENKINS: Three uncomfortable truths about the Christmas season

To be honest, the Christmas season doesn't always live up to its hype.

JENKINS: Lessons learned from decades of Christmas shopping

For one, don't make eye contact with kiosk attendants.

ROB JENKINS: Create your own holiday newsletter with handy template

It's never too late to create a fascinating, informative letter or email portraying immediate family members in ways that are both flattering and largely fictional.