Bear's Big Blog

Wednesday - August 31
The final list of nominees for the 2010 Country Music Association Awards were
announced Wednesday. Including Tuesday's announcement, here's the full list:

* Entertainer of the Year: LADY ANTEBELLUM; MIRANDA LAMBERT; BRAD
PAISLEY; KEITH URBAN; ZAC BROWN BAND

* Album of the Year: LADY ANTEBELLUM, Need You Now; CARRIE
UNDERWOOD, Play On; MIRANDA LAMBERT, Revolution; GEORGE STRAIT,
Twang; DIERKS BENTLEY, Up On The Ridge

* Female Vocalist: MIRANDA LAMBERT; MARTINA MCBRIDE; REBA MCENTIRE;
TAYLOR SWIFT; CARRIE UNDERWOOD

* Male Vocalist: DIERKS BENTLEY; BRAD PAISLEY; BLAKE SHELTON;
GEORGE STRAIT; KEITH URBAN

* Top New Artist: LUKE BRYAN; EASTON CORBIN; JERROD NIEMANN; CHRIS
YOUNG; ZAC BROWN BAND

* Vocal Group: LADY ANTEBELLUM; LITTLE BIG TOWN; RASCAL FLATTS;
THE BAND PERRY; ZAC BROWN BAND

* Vocal Duo: BROOKS & DUNN; JOEY + RORY; MONTGOMERY GENTRY;
STEEL MAGNOLIA; SUGARLAND

* Single of the Year (Award to Artist and producer): EASTON CORBIN, A Little
More Country Than That; BLAKE SHELTON/TRACE ADKINS, Hillbilly Bone;
LADY ANTEBELLUM, Need You Now; MIRANDA LAMBERT, The House That
Built Me; MIRANDA LAMBERT, White Liar

* Song of the Year (Award to songwriter): EASTON CORBIN, A Little More
Country Than That; LADY ANTEBELLUM, Need You Now; MIRANDA LAMBERT,
The House That Built Me; ZAC BROWN BAND, Toes; MIRANDA LAMBERT,
White Liar

* Musical Event of the Year: DIERKS BENTLEY/MIRANDA LAMBERT/JAMEY
JOHNSON, Bad Angel; ZAC BROWN BAND/KID ROCK, Can’t You See; BLAKE
SHELTON/TRACE ADKINS, Hillbilly Bone; KENNY CHESNEY/Dave Matthews, I’m
Alive; ALAN JACKSON/LEE ANN WOMACK, Till The End

* Music Video: BLAKE SHELTON/TRACE ADKINS, Hillbilly Bone; LADY
ANTEBELLUM, Need You Now; MIRANDA LAMBERT, The House That Built Me;
BRAD PAISLEY, Water; MIRANDA LAMBERT, White Liar

Manny Ramirez is nuts. He craves attention! in this video he is only speaking Spanish although he speaks English and was raised in New York!!

I see our President is riding a bike on vacation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not slamming

Mr. Obama, but isn't he riding a girls bike?

Is this the best baseball catch ever?

9 Signs You're Happier Than You Think

Surprising habits and traits that signify a sunny disposition

Are you a happy camper? Your emotional well-being isn’t just about your genes or the kind of home you were raised in. It turns out that some pretty interesting factors play a role in how joyful you feel. Scan this list to see whether your lifestyle is making you content—and then bone up on these 12 ways to lift your mood.

You were a smiley student

Adults who had the biggest grins in their college yearbook pictures were up to 5 times less likely to be divorced decades later than those who looked less happy, according to a new DePauw University study. A smiler’s positive disposition may attract other happy people or rub off on a spouse.

You have a sister

People with at least one female sibling reported better social support, more optimism, and better coping abilities, according to a study presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference. Sisters appear to encourage communication and cohesion in families.

You're not glued to the TV

The happiest people spend 30% less time parked in front of the tube, according to a University of Maryland study that analyzed 34 years of data from more than 45,000 Americans. They’re more likely to spend time socializing, reading, or going to religious services—habits that are linked to better moods and health.

You keep souvenirs on display

People who use mementos or photos to remind themselves of good times better appreciate their lives and are happier, says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside. Good memories remind you of your “happiness potential” and promise that soon you can reach it again.

You make exercise a priority

People who exercise more are less likely to be stressed and more likely to be satisfied with life, according to Danish researchers. Compared with sedentary people, joggers were 70% less likely to have high stress levels and life dissatisfaction, the study found. Couch potatoes who started moderate exercise—the equivalent of 17 to 34 minutes a day—experience the greatest happiness lift.

You have a healthy love life

Physical intimacy is a key contributor to happiness, found a study by Dartmouth economist David Blanchflower, PhD, and Andrew Oswald, PhD, of England's University of Warwick. Married people report 30% more sex than singles, which may be one reason they also report being happier.

You hang out with happy people

Socializing with a cheerful person in your neighborhood increases the likelihood that you’ll be happy too, according to a new study. How often you get together matters most, say the researchers: People who live within half a mile of a buoyant buddy increase their odds of being happy by 42%. If the friend lives farther away (within a 2-mile radius) the chances drop to 22%—probably due to fewer get-togethers.

You stay warm with hot cocoa

Clutching a steaming beverage—coffee and tea also do the trick—can elicit a flood of positive feelings, according to a Yale University study. This may be because people associate physical warmth with emotional warmth, say the researchers. Study subjects held cups of either hot or iced coffee; those gripping warm mugs were more appreciative of friendliness in others and also felt more generous and trusting themselves.

You have 2 best friends

Among 654 married adults, those who said they had at least two “best friends” (not necessarily including one’s spouse) were likelier to have better mental well-being, says a study. But additional friends didn’t lead to any more happiness than just a pair.

prevention.com

10 things teachers want parents to know

The relationship between teachers and parents is an extremely powerful component in student success. Yet so many parents go through the school year without communicating with the teacher or understanding what to do (or avoid) to make the most of the year.

So we went straight to the source and spoke with a teacher willing to reveal it all. Third-grade teacher Stacey Nelson is a devoted and successful educator in Tennessee, and on behalf of teachers across the country, she shared several things teachers wish parents knew before sending their children to school.

It boils down to three general guidelines: respect the teacher, be involved and be organized.

Respect the Teacher

• Remember that the teacher is on your side. Teachers truly care about your children and want them to be successful. "The child's success is our success," explains Nelson. If your child's teacher contacts you about a problem or something that happened at school, understand that the teacher is trying to work with you to resolve any conflicts that may be getting in the way of your child's success. You're all on the same team.

• Trust in the teacher's feedback. Just because a child doesn't exhibit a particular behavior at home doesn't mean he doesn't exhibit that behavior in the classroom. So if a teacher reports a particular behavior that you haven't seen before, don't rush to say, "Well, I've never seen him do that." The classroom and home environments are quite different, and oftentimes children behave differently when forced to follow rules and work with peers. Listen to what the teacher has to say and work with him/her to find a solution.

• Don't show up for a meeting unannounced. It's great if you want to meet with a teacher to discuss an issue or chat about your child, but don't show up at school without any warning. Instead, schedule a time to meet -- not only does this show that you respect the teacher's time, but it also gives him/her time to prepare for the meeting and provide you with everything you want to know.

• Don't go over the teacher's head. If you're having an issue with the teacher, your child, the subject matter or the classroom in general, talk directly with the teacher before going to the principal or other administrators. "Ninety-five percent of the time, a problem can be resolved between the teacher and parent with a simple phone call," Nelson says.

Be Involved

• Check children's agendas and take-home folders every night. According to the National PTA, talking with your children is one of the most critical steps of healthy parenting. "Communication is key," Nelson agrees. Not only does this help you stay on top of updates and what's going on in the classroom, but it also shows your child that you are checking in.

• Check on homework regularly -- but don't do it for the child! It's important to review your child's homework, but if she gets an answer wrong, take the time to help her understand why. "Please don't just tell her the right answer," Nelson says. "That defeats the purpose of homework!"

• Address behavior issues at home. "Children don't enjoy getting in trouble," Nelson says. "So when they come home and tell you about how mean the teacher is, keep in mind they may be telling the story in a way that they won't get punished." If this happens, try to get to the heart of the issue and uncover the facts so you can address it.

• Go to Open House Night. A good parent-teacher relationship leads to a good student-teacher relationship, so don't skip the open house! "In the past, I've had parents that I have honestly never met in an entire school year," Nelson says. "It's a sad fact." Use the open house as a time to get to know the teacher, ask questions, uncover expectations, address problems and find out what's going on in the classroom. Education.com tip: Ask the important questions first, in case time runs out.

Be Organized

• Establish a regular routine each night. This includes having children pack their backpacks the night before, to make sure they have everything they need for school the next day. "The number one thing my students tell me is, 'My homework is done, but I left it sitting on the table,'" Nelson says. A simple evening routine can prevent this and prevent children from feeling rushed or disorganized in the morning.

• Cut down on chaos and clutter at home. If your home life is disorganized, this can carry over into the classroom and make learning more difficult for the child. "When a child walks into my classroom, I can tell by the look on his face what kind of morning he had and what kind of day it will be," Nelson says. Simple things like keeping a tidy home, an organized homework desk and a clean bedroom can help the child feel prepared and focused on the day ahead.

  Teachers...what can you add to the list?