Article

10 Kens with the Weirdest Occupations Ever

June 14, 2015 by Kenney Myers

The job market is tough at the moment, so if you want to land the perfect career, you’d better broaden your horizons. These 10 Kens weren’t afraid to take a chance on an unusual occupation, and now they are laughing all the way to the bank.

Ken Darnell – A snake handler from Alabama, Ken Darnell has the unenviable job of milking the snakes under his charge. If you’re imagining that snakes have tiny little udders for milking, you’d be wrong. The milking referred to in this case involves pressing the snake’s fangs against the side of a beaker, allowing the handler to gather venom for use in anti-venom treatments.
Ken Doyle – The difference between Ken Doyle and the average safe cracker is often the prize he retrieves. Doyle specializes in unlocking all kinds of safes – large vaults in particular. What’s more, the valuables in the safes that Ken cracks are sometimes people. Ken has rescued everyone from small children to senior citizens, and all at a relatively low cost of around $9,000, compared to up to $100,000 for other methods.
Ken Lindsay – If you like a drop of whiskey, this might just be the job for you. Ken Lindsay is the International Whisky Ambassador for Ballantine’s. The job involves learning and employing advanced tasting techniques for whiskey, and then jet-setting around the world promoting the product. Don’t go applying for the role just yet, though. With Ballantine’s ranked as the No 1 Scotch whiskey in Europe, Lindsay is obviously doing a good job.
Kenneth Muller – Since the 19th century, the use of leeches in medicine has been steadily on the increase. The blood suckers were originally used to draw out blood and infection before being discredited among most physicians, but now neurobiologists, such as Kenneth Muller, are conducting studies on the creatures, too. Muller has studied the nervous systems of leeches extensively, and has authored a number of scientific journals on the subject.
Ken Cavers – Everyone knows doctors have the worst handwriting, so you may find it strange that Dr. Ken Cavers lucrative hobby is designing exclusive fountain pens. Dr. Cavers has become world famous for his fountain pens, including one model that is designed in the shape of a bamboo stalk. Ken Cavers Custom Pens start off at a whopping $105, making them more of a luxury purchase, rather than something you would buy a child for school.
Ken Suzuki – Before you jump to wild conclusions, be aware that Ken Suzuki’s occupation is not as it sounds. Chick sexing is the process of separating male and female chicks after they hatch, and Ken is an expert in his field – or coop, if you prefer. Sadly, there is usually a mass culling of the males, as they are not able to provide eggs for the farmer. Since coming to the United States as a specialist chick sexer, Ken has moved on to growing Japanese organic vegetables and has established a rather lucrative trade.
Kenneth Catania – Worm grunting, or charming, is not something that Kenneth Catania ever studied while achieving his Ph.D in biology, but he is now an expert on the subject. Catania was invited to study the phenomenon by the Barrie’s Grace United Church, who effectively rub metal on spikes driven into the ground to lure the worms closer to the surface. The sound, Dr. Catania concluded, mimics that of moles deep underground, scaring the worms into action.
Kenneth Peters – As one of the whale trainers at Sea World Florida, Kenneth Peters puts his life on the line every day. Peters found out just how dangerous the whales he trains could be when 23-year-old Kasatka, a female whale, grabbed him by the leg and tried to toss him out of the pool. Peters was rescued by another trainer and escaped relatively unharmed.
Ken Flournoy – He’s the general manager of the Florida-based International Golf Co., a company that harvests golf balls for resell. Flournoy heads up a team who rescues golf balls from all sorts of predicaments, before selling them off to a good home. The company employs “golf ball divers,” who search areas surrounding courses, including rivers and oceans, for the coveted treasure.
Ken Gidney – Who would have thought that there’d be so much money in catching ants? Well, Ken Gidney has amassed a fortune of over £1.4million doing just that. He first started his career as an ant catcher in 1956 for a manufacturer of ant farms and has been raking in the cash ever since.

Tabata: Workout Anywhere No Equipment Needed

June 13, 2015 by Kenney Myers

Many people skip their workouts when they travel. It’s actually a really great excuse to slack off but it can truly be a time to give your body a break as well. However, let’s assume that most people really just use it as an excuse. I have heard and thought many times myself about how terrible the equipment is in the hotel “gym”. They call it a gym but it really is a treadmill and a universal weight machine with one pin (if you are lucky) for adjusting the weight for all the exercises. You know what though? In reality you don’t need a gym, you don’t even need weights! You really just need your body and the right attitude and you can do a tabata workout anywhere! So whether you are on the road for business, on vacation, or just can’t get to the gym, there is never an excuse to avoid a good workout.

There are probably a bunch of fancy definitions for a tabata workout but basically it is just interval training with periods of rest and periods of extra hard effort (resting in a working position). We do these very frequently as a part of our workout routines at our local kickboxing gym. The best part about it though is you quickly realize that you can get a sweat on with nothing but your body weight. Here is a tabata workout that you can do anywhere:

Feel free to do these exercises in any order:

Crunches

30 Seconds of Non-Stop Crunches (shoulders off of the floor mid-way don’t cheat and sit all the way up).
10 Seconds of Rest
Repeat this 3 times then
30 Seconds of Non-Stop Crunches
10 Seconds Resting in a Work Position (hold the crunch mid-way up)
Repeat this 3 times

Push-Ups

30 Seconds of Non-Stop Push-Ups (all the way down and back up – legs down only if you gas out).
10 Seconds of Rest
Repeat this 3 times then
30 Seconds of Non-Stop Push-Ups
10 Seconds Resting in a Work Position (hold yourself up arms and legs so just the hands and tips of your feet touch the ground).
Repeat this 3 times

Squats

30 Seconds of Non-Stop Squats (squat until your bottom is almost touching the back of your legs).
10 Seconds of Rest
Repeat this 3 times then
30 Seconds of Non-Stop Squats
10 Seconds Resting in a Work Position (hold the squat mid-way down).
Repeat this 3 times

In 15 minutes you will have gotten your sweat on. If you didn’t then you need to work harder (do more crunches, push-ups, and squats in the working periods). You can also do 4 instead of 3 of each round (so 8 total for each exercise instead of 6). If that still doesn’t work then make the periods longer. If that still doesn’t work then there is a chance you are superhuman.

So, you are thinking this is neat and all but how do I keep track of the time for this little workout routine? I personally use my iPhone and an application called UltraTimer (http://www.plainandsimplesoftware.com/Plain_And_Simple_Software/UltraTimer.html) to setup my tabata workout. I like this one because I can easily record my voice telling me what to do throughout the workout. With that said there are many tabata timers available for iOS and Android users if you search the respective app stores. You will easily be able to find one that will make working out anywhere using a tabata possible.

A Parent’s Guide to Running a Background Check on a Nanny

June 10, 2015 by Kenney Myers

As a parent, you want to make sure you do everything you can to keep your child safe. If you’re hiring a nanny, that means a rigorous interview to determine personality and fit, and it also means performing a thorough background check. What does that mean, though? And what should you know before, during, and after the investigatory process?

When and How to Request Permission for a Background Check
First, you should know that you’ll need permission from the applicant to perform a background check. Some firms might tell you that they can perform a check on their own, but true checks (fair and legal ones) require consent of the person being investigated. This is because background checks done for employment purposes (as opposed to those done, say, when you buy a firearm) are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA is set up to ensure that information revealed in the background check process is gathered and distributed fairly, and it oversees the consumer reporting agencies that perform these checks.

To that end, you need to notify the applicant as soon as possible, especially if you consider them a serious candidate. You’ve got options here, too: you can request consent for the background check before the interview, if you want to have as much knowledge as possible going in, or you can do it after, as a way to provide another check on someone you might want to hire. Whatever you do, though, you should be clear with the applicant that you want to perform the check and that you can’t do so without their permission. Clarity is key here.

What You Can Learn
A lot, frankly. Thorough background checks cover felony and misdemeanor records; civil litigation records; DMV records, though not minor violations like parking tickets; national-level searches on outstanding warrants; checks of the applicant’s name against sex offender registries; verification of an accurate Social Security Number; verification of professional licenses and certificates; and verification of education. Professional background checks use a variety of databases, including the FBI Identification Record and the Interstate Identification Index System. There’s no one central place where all this information resides, so thorough background checks have to include checking several databases. In cases where the databases are unavailable online or aren’t updated, manual county court record checks may need to be conducted.

What a Background Check Won’t Show You
There are two main areas that won’t be covered by a background check.

The first is anything that might come into conflict with state law regarding such investigations. Although the FCRA is the umbrella for background checks, some states restrict certain types of information from being reported. For instance, many states don’t report criminal activity that’s more than seven years old, but they will if the salary of the new position reaches a certain minimum threshold (e.g., $20,000 in New Hampshire, $75,000 in Texas). In Indiana, only convictions are reported, not infractions or the existence of expunged records. Many states also have specific directives about the method in which employers must provide a copy of the background check to the applicant. The consumer reporting agency that’s conducting the background search for you can help you learn more about your rights and responsibilities here.

The other thing background checks won’t show is so obvious that most people overlook it: anything the applicant didn’t get caught doing in the area that was researched. A background check can only turn up evidence, not intent, and in some states you’re even limited to the type of activity that can be included on the report. But if your nanny applicant has moved from state to state multiple times, it’s very likely that you might miss out on some things that you’d want to know.

The Most Important Thing to Remember About Nanny Background Checks
That leads to the most important thing that every parent and family should remember when it comes to investigating potential nannies through background checks. No matter how detailed the report, it’s just a tool, and an imperfect one at that. It cannot, by definition, tell you everything the person has ever done, nor can it prevent you from being harmed in the future. Your goal is to make an educated, informed hiring decision, and a background check is only one part of that process. Talk to the nanny about their experience and goals. Get to know candidates, and watch them interact with your children. Pair those in-person experiences with the background check to make the best decision possible for your family.

10 Professional Sports Coaches Named Ken

June 7, 2015 by Kenney Myers

A coach is someone who brings out the best in you. Professional sports coaches are renowned for driving athletes to give 100%, then turn around and give a 100% more. The 10 coaches in this list are no exception, and each one of them was blessed with the birth name Ken.

Ken Carter – Very few coaches can claim the distinction of having a movie made about them, but Ken Carter can. In 2005, the basketball coach was played by Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Coach Carter. The values that Carter set down for his college team during the 1999 season, mixing a solid grounding in academics with performance on the field, were the main subject of the movie that made him famous.
Kenneth S. Hitchcock – Currently coaching the St. Louis Blues, Hitchcock is an NHL coach and pro scout. In 1999, he coached the Dallas Stars to victory in the Stanley Cup, and has also acted as head coach for the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. Kenneth S. Hitchcock, or “Hitch” as he’s better known, is a native of Western Canada.
Ken Mushinskie – Until early 2013, Ken Mushinskie was the coach for the Beckman High School Patriots. After only two seasons with the team, he was forced to retire, citing a dispute of the direction the team was going. For the two seasons that Ken spent with the team, the Patriots had a record of 14-11, and he led them to the CIF Southern Division title game in 2011.
Ken Whisenhunt – The San Diego Chargers is where Whisenhunt currently hangs his hat, however, from 2007 – 2012 he was the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals. During his time with the Cardinals, Ken brought the team to the Super Bowl in 2008, which marked the first time in their history. Earlier coaching roles included the Baltimore Ravens (1997–1998), Cleveland Browns (1999), New York Jets (2000) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (2001–2003).
Ken Shamrock – Opposite his upcoming opponent, Tito Ortiz, who he was set to fight at UFC 61, Shamrock acted as head coach on the third season of the franchise reality TV competition The Ultimate Fighter. Team Ortiz dominated the competition, which was to become an omen of future for Shamrock at the main event. Ortiz beat Ken, effectively heralding the end of Shamrock’s UFC career.
Kenny Adams – An amateur boxer in his own right, Adams helped the U.S. team bring back nine gold medals from the 1984 Olympic games. In 1989, Kenny coached French fighter Rene Jacquot to victory against Donald Curry. He has also coached B.J. Flores, Michael Nunn and Ray Mercer.
Ken Niumatalolo – The United States Naval Academy is proud to have Ken Niumatalolo currently serving in the position of head coach. Ken came up through the ranks of college football as a quarterback, when he played for University of Hawaii. When he wasn’t playing football, Niumatalolo was pursuing his other love on the basketball court. He took on the position of head coach with the Naval Academy on December 8, 2007.
Ken Wood – With over four decades of coaching under his belt, Wood has helped a number of world champion-caliber swimmers achieve gold. He is currently acting as the head coach at Redcliffe Leagues Swimming Club in Queensland, Australia. Wood faced controversy after the 2008 Summer Olympics, due to one of his swimmers leaving his camp. The swimmer in question, Jessicah Schipper, left because he sold her training regime to rival Liu Zige of China. The move cost Schipper her 200m Butterfly world record and a defeat at the hands of Zige.
Ken Chertow – This American wrestler competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Chertow now runs extensive wrestling training camps throughout the U.S., which have produced a number of college wrestling champions. He dedicates most of his time to perfecting his program, which he also promotes across the country. Ken has won a number of titles in the sport, including the Olympic Festival Champion and the Tulsa National Team Championship.
Kenny Dalglish – One of the best known names in British soccer, Dalglish was instrumental in the coaching style of Liverpool FC. Kenny became player-manager for the side in 1985. Among some of the titles that Kenny won as a player with Liverpool are six Football League First Divisions, two FA Cups and four League Cups. He resigned in 1991, only to return as manager from May 2011 until he was released in May 2012.

10 Reasons Every Poem Should Rhyme and How it Could Impact You BIG Time

May 29, 2015 by Kenney Myers

While Ezra Pound is largely credited with starting the free verse poetry movement that created more relaxed style requirements and eliminated the wide-spread use of formal poetry, there are still plenty of aficionados out there who firmly believe that all poetry should rhyme. These are ten of the reasons they use to support their argument, and reasons why some believe that rhyming poetry is far superior to its free-verse brethren.

Establishing Structure and Rhythm – The placement of rhyming words and the establishment of structure, meter and vocal rhythm in a poem can significantly affect the way it sounds when read aloud. Fans of the formal rhyming styles insist that rhymes are necessary in terms of establishing rhythm.
Assisting in Memorization – One of the reasons why many early poems were penned with rhyme schemes can be traced back to low literacy rates and the desire to memorize verses. Those who couldn’t read poems were still able to recite them, due to the memory-sparking power of rhyming words.
Adhering to Style Guidelines – Formal styles of poetry dictate not only the number of lines and the number of syllables within those lines, but also a strict rhyme scheme that must be adhered to. In order to create classic, formal poetry, a poet must write verses that rhyme.
Creating Symmetry – Symmetry among the verses of a poem can rely largely upon the way that a rhyme scheme is created by the poet. For this reason alone, some poetry purists refuse to entertain the notion of unstructured, asymmetrical free verse.
Appealing to Younger Audiences – Kids are wild about poems that rhyme, making the creation of works that rhyme a wise literary and career move for poets hoping to appeal to a younger audience. From helping kids remember the words to their favorite verses to making it fun for them to recite, rhyming words are a cornerstone of kids’ poetry.
Appealing to Older Audiences – Though it was established more than a century ago, there’s something about the wild-eyed, unrestrained emotion of free verse that makes it more suited to young adults’ fancies than more settled adults. As a result, poetry collections marketed at the senior citizen audience almost always feature works with a defined rhyme scheme.
Carrying On a Grand Tradition – The works of greats like Emily Dickinson and William Shakespeare rhymed, and there are those who believe that carrying on that grand tradition has far more artistic merit than more relaxed, informal free verse.
Rising to a Challenge – Managing to adhere to formal poetry styles with an established rhyme scheme while remaining true to the inspiration behind the work of art without penning a contrived, forced or awkward poem is a very real challenge. For those who value such a challenge, rhyming work is the only way to go.
Lightening the Mood – Humorous poems, like limericks, often rely upon the clever turn of phrase and wordplay that comes with rhyming. Though it is certainly possible to write a serious, heartfelt poem with a classic rhyme scheme, it’s much more difficult to convey humor with free verse.
Fulfilling an Artistic Vision – Just as some visual artists work exclusively in a particular medium, so do some poets. Those who are dedicated to traditional, formal styles as part of their own artistic vision work exclusively within those bounds, eschewing free verse altogether.

Despite adherents like the Queen’s English Society, which demands that all poetry rhyme in order to be recognized as such, most poetry publishers balk at printing formal, rhyming poetry. In fact, the submission guidelines of some of the more popular poetry publications clearly state that rhyming poetry will not be considered. If you don’t plan to publish the poems you write, these ten reasons are more than enough to justify a refusal to write free verse poetry.

10 Famous Lawyers Named Ken You May Debate

May 24, 2015 by Kenney Myers

There are ten lawyers in this list, all of whom are named Ken. However, that’s not the only thing that they have in common, as each of these Kens has also flirted with fame over the course of their career. Robert Frost once said, “A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.” If that’s true, then each of these lawyers has more than adequately presented his case.

Ken Starr – Arguably the most famous lawyer in the world during his heyday, Ken Starr played a pivotal role in a number of investigations during Bill Clinton’s presidency. Two of Starr’s most controversial investigations were the death by suicide of White House counsel Vince Foster, and the Whitewater scandal involving Bill and Hilary Clinton’s real estate investments.
Ken Dryden – Before his career in law, Ken Dryden had already made his name as a NHL (National Hockey League) goaltender. In fact, due to his impressive record, he is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ken earned his degree in Law at McGill University, before eventually going into politics. From 2004 to 2011, Dryden held a seat in the Canadian government as a Liberal Member of Parliament.
Kenneth Feinberg – No stranger to difficult and sensitive cases, Kenneth Feinberg was Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund. Feinberg is usually the first choice when it comes to legal administration, and has served as a professor at the Columbia University School of Law.
Kenneth Kleinberg – Lawyer to the stars, Kenneth Kleinberg has represented the elite of Hollywood. Although Kleinberg’s client list is highly confidential, his string of awards – which includes the “2011 Entertainment Lawyer of the Year” – speaks volumes about his success in the industry. Kenneth Kleinberg is a graduate of UCLA School of Law, and has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Weintraub Entertainment Group.
Kenneth Okonkwo – A popular Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo holds a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy. The actor is best known for his role as “Andy” in the Nigerian film Living in Bondage. Although qualified to practice law, Okonkwo decided to step out of the limelight for another calling; he now frequently appears at Christian events as a guest minister.
Ken McKenna – In his long and successful career, Ken McKenna has worked on a number of high profile cases. However, the biggest case of his career was in representing the mother of a teenage suicide victim against the might of the record industry. The case involved two teenage boys who created a suicide pact while listening to the heavy metal band Judas Priest. One of the boys died instantly from a shotgun blast, while the other survived with serious face and head injuries. During the case, McKenna identified alleged subliminal messaging in a track that the boys had been listening to, which led to a landmark decision in the case.
Kenneth Clarke – This Conservative politician was first elected to the British parliament in 1970. Clarke is one of Britain’s best known politicians, and holds an honours degree in law from Cambridge University. Kenneth Clarke has held some of the highest positions in British government, including Health and Education Secretary. However, he saw his most successful years in government during his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer from May of 1993 to May of 1997.
District Attorney Ken Anderson – Former District Attorney for Williamson County in Texas, Ken Anderson found himself on the wrong side of the dock after being implemented in hiding crucial evidence in the murder trial of Michael Morton in 1987. Morton was subsequently given life for the murder of his wife, Christine Morton.
Ken Thompson – As a lifelong advocate of truth and justice for the poor and unrepresented masses, Ken Thompson has made quite a name for himself. Thompson was first thrust into the public light when he represented Abner Louima, in what would become one of the biggest police brutality cases to take place in New York. Two police officers were later found guilty of brutal attacks on Louima, which are still referenced in human rights cases today.
Ken Corning – Everyone has heard of the fictional lawyer, Perry Mason. However, few will know that the character was born in an earlier guise under the name, Ken Corning. Corning was a sleuthing lawyer and the main character of six short stories, which were featured in “Black Mask,” a popular magazine where Perry Mason creator Erie Stanley Gardner was a lead writer.