Kenney Myers

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10 Sitcom Stars Named Ken

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Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

Sitcoms are a treasured institution in television, with roots that reach all the way back to the earliest days of programming. These 10 men have brought to life some of the most beloved characters in sitcom history, sharing in the grand tradition of making people laugh. In addition to a shared career path, the 10 people on this list also share a given name. For your reading enjoyment, here are 10 of the most well-known sitcom stars named Ken.

  • Ken Berry – While Ken Berry started his career as a dancing military man, he found lasting fame as a sitcom star. His breakout role in the classic show “F Troop” allowed him to make a name for himself, with roles on “Mayberry R.F.D” and “Mama’s Family” to follow. “Mama’s Family,” a spin-off of “The Carol Burnett Show,” allowed Ken’s character to live on in syndication for the better part of 20 years.
  • Ken Jenkins – While Ken Jenkins is something of a Hollywood veteran, his real claim to fame is an eight-season stint as the irascible Dr. Kelso on the hit sitcom “Scrubs.” He’s also an accomplished theatrical star, with an average of 10 stage productions under his belt each year for the last three decades. A playwright, director and an actor, Ken Jenkins is one artist whose contributions to the dramatic arts stretch far beyond a few supporting sitcom roles.
  • Ken Curtis – While “Gunsmoke” was a long-running Western, there were elements of comedic relief to be found amidst the gunslinging and outlaw behavior. Ken Curtis, the actor behind the role of “Festus,” was often the source of those laughs. Unfortunately, this Hollywood treasure passed away in 1991 after suffering a heart attack in his sleep. Still, his legacy lives on, as “Gunsmoke” is still in syndication 50 years after it first hit the airwaves.
  • Ken Jeong – While this Korean-American star may have started out in the field of medicine, he’s quickly become a household name in comedic circles. In addition to his work on laugh-riot films like Knocked Up and The Hangover franchise, he’s also enjoyed a bit of sitcom fame. The role of Señor Chang in the hit series “Community” has solidified his place in television history.
  • Ken Marino – Launched to fame in the MTV sketch comedy series “The State,” Ken Marino has since enjoyed steady work in film and television. His roles on sitcoms like “Eastbound & Down” and “Reaper” have earned him the title of “sitcom star,” but he’s most well-known for appearing in the cult hit “Veronica Mars.” Much to fans’ delight, he will reprise his role in the upcoming feature film that follows up the abruptly canceled series.
  • Ken Foree – With roles in a variety of horror films, Kentotis Foree may not be the first Ken who comes to mind when you think of sitcom stars. Still, he did enjoy quite a stint on the Nickelodeon hit sitcom “Kenan and Kel,” which helped costar Kenan Thompson become a full-fledged member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast.
  • Ken Howard – After a breakout role on the long-running drama The White Shadow, Ken Howard went on to star in a variety of sitcoms and to head up the Screen Actors’ Guild. Most recently, he’s been acclaimed for his turn as Hank Hooper on the hit series “30 Rock,” which was sadly canceled in 2013.
  • Ken Osmond – Kenneth Charles Osmond, better known as “Ken,” was never able to break out of the typecasting mold after bringing Eddie Haskell to life on the family hit “Leave it to Beaver.” While he later became a Los Angeles police officer after the cancellation of “Leave it to Beaver,” he still lives on in the hearts of fans everywhere.
  • Ken Lerner – Roles on classic, hit sitcoms like “Happy Days,” “Lavern & Shirley,” “Newhart,” “Valerie,” “Family Ties,” “The Facts of Life,” “Who’s the Boss,” “Dharma & Greg” and “Will and Grace” have solidified Ken Lerner’s place in sitcom history. His most famous role, though, is that of Principal Flutie in the Joss Whedon cult hit “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
  • Ken Weatherwax – No list of sitcom stars named Ken would be complete without child star Ken Weatherwax, the actor behind the iconic role of Pugsley Addams on the iconic series “The Addams Family.” While his career stalled out after his stint on the hit show, his childhood face is still immediately recognizable to legions of stalwart fans.

5 Preventable Life-Threatening Injuries to Kids and How You Can Stop Them

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girlwindowLife-threatening injuries are tragic when they strike families with young children, but the tragedy feels magnified when the accidents and injuries could’ve been prevented with a few simple precautions. As a parent, one of the smartest things you can do is take the necessary steps to make sure accidents like these don’t come into your life. You can’t control everything, but you can do a lot to stay safe. Think about these tips as you plan your home and care for your child:

Falling From a Window
A screen isn’t enough to keep a child from pushing through an open window and falling, even if it’s securely attached. They’re ultimately too flimsy, and they aren’t designed to do anything but loosely sit in a window frame and let air pass through. Even on a ground floor of a home, falling out of a window can be a life-threatening injury for a child. To avoid this situation, you’ll need to install high-quality window guards and locks designed to keep children from tampering with window openings. Window locks usually attach to the edge of the window frame and keep the window from being opened past the lock point, so you can keep the window from opening more than, say, three or four inches if you want to. That lets you open the window to let in air but not worry about leaving a gap wide enough for a child to pass through. A window guard looks like a lot like a pet door guard, and it has bars that extend across a window opening that prevent a child from exiting through an open window. They’re childproof but still removable by adults in emergency situations.

Heat Stroke
It’s estimated that several dozen children die heat-related deaths every year after being left in hot cars. It’s never OK to leave a child in a car, even for a few minutes. The lack of air and the oppressive heat — in any weather — can overpower even an adult, leaving kids totally defenseless. Being absent-minded isn’t OK, either. To make sure you never leave a child in the car, always open your rear door and check the back seat when you arrive at your destination. This might sound goofy — how could you forget if your child was with you? — but it’s a worthwhile habit. Similarly, do mirror checks of the back and give everything a once-over everytime you arrive at a destination to make sure you’ve got everybody.

While you’re at home, your kids might want to play in your car, not knowing how dangerous it can be. Always, always lock your doors and make sure your kids can’t get to the keys when you’re home. Your kids should never be able to access your car without your presence and permission.

Drowning
Pool and swimming safety is another area that requires solid supervision. Almost 10 people per day die from unintentional drowning, two of those 10 are kids under 15, and children between 1 and 4 years old have the highest drowning rate. It’s a major cause for concern, especially since so many life-threatening situations could be prevented. Be smart when it comes to how you and your kids interact with the water. Swimming lessons are wise, and you should always supervise all swimming activities, even if it’s a tiny inflatable pool in your backyard. Floating accessories (foam noodles, water wings, etc.) can help kids stay afloat, but these are not safety devices, and it’s not OK to think that the presence of these toys can mitigate disaster. Always, always watch your kids when they’re in or near the water.

Bumper Pad Suffocation
Crib bumpers were intended to protect against injury while sleeping, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says that bumpers don’t do anything to prevent injury and in fact pose a major risk for suffocation and entrapment. Infants don’t have the motor skills necessary to turn their heads or untangle themselves if they become stuck in the bumper pad. Other types of bedding, and even some mesh bumpers (which are more breathable), are much better alternatives and will keep your baby safer.

Seat Belt Accidents
Car accidents are, unfortunately, impossible to predict. You can do everything in the world to be a better driver, but you can’t control other people or tell when one of them might cause a wreck. To that end, it’s vital that you properly secure your child in your car when you’re driving so that, should an accident occur, they’ll be safely belted in and not at risk for serious injury or death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a great resource for parents that goes over car seat basics, proper fit, seat evaluations, and more. There’s also The Car Seat Lady, which has a wealth of tips, tricks, slideshows, and other breakdowns of the latest in child safety protocols. For example, many parents make the mistake of fitting a lap belt across a child’s belly, when it should go snugly across the lap. It holds the body down, not back, putting strain on strong leg muscles and not weak stomach areas and internal organs.

The real lesson here: Plan smart, do your homework, and keep a close eye on your kids. The saddest injuries are the ones you could have prevented.

10 iPhone Apps to Help You Train for Your First Marathon

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couchTraining for your first marathon is going to be an enormous challenge, and will require complete dedication. Ideally, when you start you’ll have the best training partners and programs out there to make sure you’re prepared for that challenge. Unless you’re rich or a celebrity sports-personality, however, you’re probably not going to be able to afford that level of training. Fortunately, iPhone’s ever resourceful app developers have created some amazing software that delivers professional training right to your handset. These 10 apps will put you through your paces in preparation for your first marathon, so that when you get to the starting line you’re prepared to go the distance.

  1. Couch to 5K – Since this will be your first marathon, you’re probably bursting to get out there and start training. This app will make sure that you get through your first training session. A mistake that many new marathon runners make is overdoing the first few training sessions. Couch to 5K is designed to ease you into a routine, with training designed by Active.com trainers. The app is available for $1.99 and comes with a great workout journal to log your progress.
  2. Fleetly – If competition is what drives you, Fleetly is the perfect training app. You can earn points for completing your workouts, as well as compete against athletes at all levels. Although you will use this free app for your marathon training, Fleetly supports training in every competitive sport you can think of.
  3. RunKeeper – Successful marathon runners know that pace is important, so make sure you include RunKeeper in your arsenal of training apps. Using GPS and a variety of technologies, this app tracks your pace, heart rate and much more, creating effective logs that help tailor the perfect workout routine to get you in the best shape.
  4. Nike Training Club – This free app from Nike provides users with access to exclusive workout material from celebrity trainers. Nike Training Club is promoted as “Exclusively for Women,” but these great workouts are ideal for anyone who is training for a marathon. Expect to see lots of familiar faces, as there are also a number of workouts led by celebrity trainers.
  5. My Fitness Pal, Calorie Counter – All your training may be for naught if you’re not actively keeping an eye on your diet. This free app will keep track of your calorie intake and help you achieve your ideal weight for competing in a marathon.
  6. FitnessBuilder – Like other fitness apps, Fitness Builder has a multitude of built-in training modules to increase your fitness level. What’s different about this app, however, is the drag and drop feature that allows you to create your own personally-tailored workouts. There are also daily, weekly and intelligent workouts, which have been designed to ensure you receive the best training. The app is linked directly to the Fitness Builder website, where you can also stream videos and fitness news directly to your handset.
  7. Boot Camp Challenge – Designed by an ex-army drill sergeant, this app will give you the edge that you need over the competition. Despite the name, Boot Camp Challenge is not solely designed for hard-core fitness fanatics. There are training programs for beginners also, which get increasingly harder as your fitness improves. The app is available from the iTunes store for $3.99.
  8. Kinetic GPS – This app is both simple and incredibly intuitive. With Kinetic GPS you can easily track your speed, distance, altitude and much more with a touch of the screen. The app does have an extensive training program, too, which was developed by a former London marathon runner. For $3.99, this is one app that you will want as your virtual coach.
  9. Fitocracy – Motivation is something that every athlete needs, and Fitocracy delivers. This is not just a fitness app, it is a game that pushes you to unlock more challenges by completing fitness tasks and quests. Fitocracy is a community-focused app, so you can converse with and compete against other athletes from around the world. This app won’t lighten the load of your wallet, however, as it is free from the iTunes store.
  10. All-In YOGA – You may be asking what yoga has to do with running a marathon. Well, you will need to keep your muscles supple and flexible if you want to endure the distance. There are over 40 ready-made yoga programs available with the app; however, you can also create your own. Over 3000 poses, which include photos, videos and detailed instructions, coupled with over 30 breathing exercises make this free app a great accessory to your training regimen.

Rules, Rules, Rules

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commandments
Rules, rules, rules it’s like people create them just so they can confuse me
Wrong or right, right or wrong a rush to judge don’t take very long see
Rules for the sake of rules will certainly create a bunch of fools indeed
Trying to change or rearrange the essence of what a person should be

Don’t get me wrong without law & order societies don’t last long agreed
But we have to prepare and take care of each other if we dare to believe
Because it’s love from above that gives us a shove & directs humanity
They were written in stone by God alone and will last for an eternity

For these are his commandments written down for you and me to read
Starting with the one and only God whose name starts with a capital G
Our God is a jealous God wanting only what is best for you and for me
Helping us to avoid the void that is created by following any other deity

These other gods with a small g will do anything to grab our minds daily
Becoming idols in our eyes before we realize they are mind controlling
We have to be strong to turn away to never stray from the one Yahweh
He is the alpha and omega the only God we need now and for always

When we say his name we have to give it the respect that it deserves
Saying it in worship and respect knowing that our God always observes
We shouldn’t say it in vain or disdain when people get on our nerves
We call his name to request a bit of his time which he lovingly reserves

Speaking of reserving time this is a tough one for you and certainly for me
We are instructed to respect the Sabbath and to keep that day holy
For God created the world in six days the heaven, the earth, and seas
On the seventh he rested as we should rest to recharge our batteries

We are told that we are to honor our father and mother and he told us why
Because through honoring and loving them we will live more fulfilled lives
Likely because they love us, lead us, and offer guidance to help us survive
God knew we would need them and wants us to listen to their advice

Surviving, thriving, and providing a safe place for our families to live
Free of murder or thoughts of death that the devil may violently give
Satan can plant pain, envy, & anger driving our inability to forgive
But we must love not hate and steer ourselves clear of being abusive

The love we give to each other when we exchange vows is divine
We are bound to each other as our lives are interwoven like a vine
We must not think about or lie down with another at any given time
Because once two become one to step out simply steps us out of line

There’s no side stepping or dancing around the truth when we lie
The guilt we feel builds whether it was little or big, yellow or white
We usually deceive only ourselves no matter how hard we might try
Because the truth will truly set you free and the guilt will waive goodbye

We should use our hands for the greater good and not for the good of one
Because stealing to line our own pockets can never be completely undone
Theft changes a man and becomes increasingly easier for us to condone
But right is right and wrong is wrong and jail is certainly not there for fun

When you see a neighbor with something or someone that you covet
You have to refrain from desiring it or them no matter how you love it
What’s theirs is theirs and whatever is mine is mine and that’s just fine
Don’t look and don’t touch because it’s far too easy to cross that line

These commands and rules exist for our own good I know that is true
They are about how to love God and teach me how to show love to you
These rules are there to help us in everything that we say and that we do
They help us to find meaning and to provide his heavenly point of view.

10 Famous Scientists Named Ken

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s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

The world of science, innovation and technology is a cornerstone of modern life. From changing the way the world is viewed to making everyday life simpler and safer, advances in science are the result of diligent work and effort from pioneers in their fields. Even the world of science fiction brings a bit of entertainment to the world of scientific speculation and imaginative study. It is easy, however, to sometimes forget the great pioneers who make life so much easier through their contributions. Here are ten Ken’s who became famous because of their work and background in various scientific fields.

  • Ken Ham – As one of the founders of the Creation Science Foundation, Ken Ham is one of the world’s leading young-Earth advocates. Ham believes that the world is 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs coexisted with man. The Australian scientist, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science, with an emphasis in Environmental Biology, also questions the reliability of the radiometric dating method used by geologists to determine the age of various rocks.
  • Ken MacLeod – Although MacLeod holds a degree in zoology and wrote a master’s thesis on biomechanics, his claim to fame is as a science fiction writer. Two of his books, which are part of a series, are Fractions: (The First Half of the Fall Revolution), and Divisions: (The Second Half of the Fall Revolution). Other titles include Newton’s Wake: A Space Opera, Learning the World: A Novel of First Contact and The Highway Men.
  • Sallman Ken – The fact that this Ken’s name serves as his surname is not the only deviation he takes from the rest of the entries on the list. Sallman Ken, as it happens, is also an alien. Before you go running for the hills, though, you should know that he is a fictional school science teacher from the book Iceworld, written by Hal Clement. An astronomer who was educated at Oxford, Clement is better known for his books, Mission of Gravity and Needle.
  • Kenneth Ford – Already a big name in Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC), Ford was thrust into the public spotlight with the announcement that he would head The Defense Science Board, which is part of the US Department of Defense. The board was put in place to provide valuable scientific knowledge on advances in weaponry, as well as to determine the best utilization of new technology.
  • Kenneth Branagh – Sir Kenneth Branagh himself may not be a scientist, but he did play the infamously experimental Victor Frankenstein in the 1994 version of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, opposite Robert DeNiro as the notorious monster. Branagh’s version included the artistic telling of the tale along with the monster’s ability to speak, which had been left off previous big-screen releases of Shelly’s masterpiece.
  • Ken Kennedy – Here is a scientist whose achievements in computer science are almost too many to list. Kennedy held, among many other accolades, a fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association for Computing Machinery, and a W. W. McDowell Award. The Ken Kennedy CS Award was named in his honor after he succumbed to pancreatic cancer on February 7, 2007, at the age of 61.
  • Ken Yeang – Renowned as the world’s greatest green architect, Yeang has a background in ecological science and, of course, architecture. By combining the two, he aims to create sustainable, green eco-architecture. So important are Ken Yeang’s designs to potential future environmental sustainability that he has won a number of awards, including the particularly relevant Merdeka Award in the “Environment Category.”
  • Kenneth J. Dunkley – 3D glasses have revolutionized the cinematic experience, and it’s all thanks to Kenneth J. Dunkley. By blocking two points in a human’s peripheral vision, Dunkley was able to create a 3D effect from a 2D image. He went on to file a patent in 1986 for his 3D viewing glasses, which didn’t require the use of mirrors or special lenses, and the rest, as they say, is history.
  • Kenneth Libbrecht – It may surprise you to learn that this solar astronomer, rather than gazing out at the stars, is most famous for his fascination with snowflakes. Libbrecht is so awestruck with winter’s most beautiful crystals that he has written a number of popular books on the subject. Some of Ken’s most successful titles are affectionately named, The Snowflake: Winter’s Secret Beauty, Ken Libbrecht’s Field Guide to Snowflakes and The Little Book of Snowflakes. When he is not out wandering in winter wonderlands, Libbrecht can be found serving as a professor of physics at Caltech.
  • Kenneth R. Miller – A Roman Catholic cell and molecular biologist, Miller is a strong advocate for the compatibility of evolution and the belief in God. However, he is an opponent of the Creationist theory, and has written two popular books on the subject, Finding Darwin’s God and Only a Theory. Kenneth R. Miller is also a Professor of Biology and a Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence at Brown University.

18 of the Best Blogs for Helping Kids Find Their Passion

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passionThere has been much talk about helping kids find their passion so that they can live a full life, but how do you help your kids find that spark?  As a parent you can open the door to experiences and opportunities.  You can encourage your kids to try different things and to always be curious about life. But you can’t force your kids to love something. However, maybe one of the most important things you can do as a parent is to study your kids and take note of what kinds of activities make them excited and happy.  These 18 blog articles will give you some ideas on how to help your kids find their passion.

Introduce Your Kids to Options

Many parents let their kids try out all sorts of different activities in order to expose them to different experiences, which is a smart idea.  If kids are never exposed to different activities, they’ll never know if something makes them happy or not.  Talk to your kids and find out what they are interested in, then see if you can help them learn more about it.  These six blog posts will explain more about how to introduce your child to various experiences.

Be Encouraging

Cheer for your child when they are participating in something new, but not too much.  Kids are smart and will know if you are pushing them in a certain direction.  Stand back and let your child make up his own mind about an activity.  Encourage him to stick with anything that is new long enough to get a good feel for it. For ways to encourage your child without pushing him, take a look at the suggestions in these six blog entries.

Observe Your Child’s Reactions

Be a quiet observer of your child and see what he likes and what excites him.  Try to avoid nagging your child about finding his passion.  The pressure you put on him may make him say that something is his passion just to make you happy; you will know when something makes your child light up and he can’t get enough of it.  Check out these six blog articles for ways you can watch your child and recognize the spark of passion.