Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

Article

20 Blogs Pinpointing the Health Benefits of Swimming and Water Exercises

by

swimmingIf you’re looking for the fountain of youth, you just might find it by taking up swimming. This low-impact exercise has a plethora of benefits. It’s a great workout for people of all ages, it’s easy on the joints, it gives the body a total body workout and  it’s a great alternative exercise for people who are injured or who are recovering from an injury. To learn more about the benefits of swimming and water exercise, check out these 20 blog articles.

Low-Impact

Swimming or exercising in the water relieves pressure off of your joints, making it a great alternative for people whose bodies can’t handle high-impact exercises. Because it’s so low-impact, it’s a great way for people who are overweight or injured to start or continue to stay active. Read more about swimming as a low-impact exercise option in these five blog entries.

Total Body

As you glide through the water, you are using your arms to pull your body and your legs to propel you through the water. These two actions together make swimming a total body workout that nearly anyone can do.  These five blog posts will explain why swimming is so beneficial.

Any Age

Swimming is a great workout for people of all ages, and it’s a workout that helps improve your overall health and well-being. Despite being such a low-impact sport, swimming allows both kids and adults alike to get their heart rate up and burn off extra calories. In addition to swimming, water aerobics and water running or walking are great low-impact options for people of all ages. In these five blog articles learn why swimming can be so beneficial at any age.

Heart Healthy

Swimming is an aerobic sport, meaning your heart rate increases and you take in more oxygen while doing it.  You can increase your metabolism, decrease high blood pressure and reduce your cholesterol by participating in a regular swimming exercise routine.  In these five blog entries you will find more reasons why swimming is so heart healthy.

10 Famous Preachers Proudly Named Ken

by

KennethEHaginWhile they hail from all walks of life and denominations, there’s one thing that each of these ten preachers have in common: the name “Ken.” Despite any differences in legacy or spiritual opinion they may have, they are all connected by their first name.

  1. Kenneth Hagin – Reverend Kenneth E. Hagin was reportedly “miraculously healed” of a longtime childhood ailment by the power of God. Hagin also began what is now known as Rhema Bible Training College. He has been referred to as the “Father of the modern faith movement.”  His son, Kenneth W. Hagin has taken over the ministry and it continues to flourish today, you can find out more by visiting their website.
  2. Ken Klaus – Klaus is known for being the Lutheran Hour Speaker, as well as being a minister for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), Klaus also has published several booklets. He has a master’s degree in theology and a B.A. in pre-seminary studies. The goal of the Lutheran Hour is to host programs that are significant worldwide and to speak the gospel to those who are unfamiliar with its teachings. The program then creates relationships with those interested in becoming more involved and in learning more about the Lutheran faith.
  3. Kenneth W. Wright – Wright is a minister at the New Iberia Church of Christ. He attended the University of Houston, the Houston Preachers Educational School and the Preston Road School of Preaching. On top of that schooling, he has received his Master of Theology. He helped establish the Southeastern Georgia School of Biblical Studies.
  4. Kenneth Copeland – Copeland started his own ministry and named it after himself: Kenneth Copeland Ministries. He and his family embrace the Word of God and form their lives around it. He became a born-again Christian soon after meeting his wife, and has been preaching ever since.
  5. Ken Hutcherson – Ken Hutcherson is the senior pastor and co-founder of Antioch Bible Church. Hutcherson became a Christian when he was in high school. He realized during college that several church groups did not focus as much on the scriptures as they did on who belonged to their sect and on the traditions of their particular church. He wanted to find a church that embraced every person, and promotes diversity among his congregation.
  6. Ken Kelly – Pastor Ken Kelly has his own blog, though he has been on hiatus from the blog since 2009.  He has been the senior pastor of Chapin Baptist Church in South Carolina since 1986. He’s also on Twitter under the user name @pastorkenkelly.
  7. Ken Endean – Pastor Ken Endean is a minister at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Maine. His father was also a pastor. He received a BA in Bible and an MA in pastoral studies. He followed his faith from a young age, when his mother taught him about the grace of God. He is now married with three children and is an active pastor.
  8. Ken Smith – This pastor also had a preacher for a father. He was deeply devoted to his church, but eventually left for a short time. When he became seriously ill, he promised God to follow Him if only he were to be well again. He kept his promise and began to regularly attend church. Now, as a pastor, he is doing God’s bidding by following his life calling.  You can find out more on his website.
  9. Kenneth Miller – While many pastors are known for their sermons, Kenneth Miller is known for his aid in a kidnapping case that took place in 2009. In the fall of 2012, he was convicted of helping arrange a flight to Nicaragua for Lisa A. Miller and her daughter (no relation to the pastor). The courts had ordered, in 2009, that custody be shared between Lisa Miller and her ex-lesbian partner Janet Jenkins.
  10. Ken Silva – Pastor Ken Silva is the founder of Apprising Ministries whose roots are in classic, historic and orthodox Christian theology. It is the goal of Apprising Ministries, and thereby Ken Silva, “to provide sound reasons to believe in Jesus, the Christ, as well as to defend the faith once delivered unto the saints from enemy attacks within the Church and from without.”

These famous Christian leaders do share more than a name, even if their doctrinal differences seem to keep them divided from one another. Regardless of the sect their churches belong to, they all strive to be champions of the Christian faith.  As a the son of a preacher I certainly have a ton of additional respect for the role and importance they play in the lives of their congregation and the church at large.

30 Famous Actors and Producers Named Ken

by

branaghAs a shortened version of the Celtic name Kenneth, which is believed to be either an anglicized version of the Pictish name Ciniod or the Goidelic name Cináed, Ken means “handsome; good-looking; fair. The standalone name “Ken” means “clear water” in Welsh, “strong; physically healthy” in Scottish, or “royal obligation” in Japanese. While they all come from different walks of life and backgrounds, these thirty “Kens” and “Kenneths” have one thing in common: reasonably successful careers in Hollywood as actors or producers.

  1. Sir Kenneth Branagh – Nominated for multiple Academy Awards for both acting and directing, Kenneth Branagh is originally from Northern Ireland. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,  Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and  Valkyrie are among his more notable projects.
  2. Ken Mok – A television producer whose projects include America’s Next Top Model, Stylista, Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious, Making the Band and Kitchen Makeover, Ken Mok has a number of successful shows under his belt. He also produced a major motion picture, Invincible.
  3. Ken Jeong – This Detroit-born funnyman is most well known for his role as Mr. Chow in The Hangover and The Hangover Part II, but his cameo in the Judd Apatow-helmed Knocked Up allowed him to play a medical doctor, a degree he actually holds.
  4. Ken Kirzinger – The slasher film had it’s heyday in the Eighties, and the iconic hockey mask worn by Jason Voorhees in the Friday the Thirteenth franchise was almost universally known. The man behind the mask, Ken Kirzinger, brought the eerie character to shambling life.
  5. Ken Stott – While he may not be so well known on the American side of the pond, Scottish-born Ken Stott has enjoyed a long career in the United Kingdom as a television and silver screen actor.
  6. Ken Wantanabe – A well-known actor in both the United States and his native Japan, Ken Watanabe is an Academy Award nominee and a two-time winner of the Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor.
  7. Ken Leung – Roles in the television series Lost and films like X-Men: The Last Stand, Saw, Rush Hour and Shanghai Kiss, Ken Leung is a New York-born actor who discovered his love for the craft at NYU.
  8. Ken Curtis – While Ken Curtis was a singer, he was most often recognized for his role in the television classic Gunsmoke as Festus Haggen.
  9. Ken Olin – Part of the ensemble cast for the hit television show thirtysomething, Ken Olin has also acted as a producer and director in Hollywood. He was a recurring guest, director and executive producer for the series Brothers & Sisters, which ran from 2006-2011.
  10. Ken Howard – Elected National President of the Screen Actors Guild in September of 2009, Ken Howard has been a working member of the SAG for more than four decades, won both Tony and Emmy Awards and made his film debut opposite Liza Minnelli in Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon.
  11. Ken Jenkins – While he’s been a reasonably successful actor since 1969, Ken Jenkins is perhaps best known for his role as the irascible Chief of Medicine, Bob Kelso, on the long-running series Scrubs.
  12. Ken Berry – Starring in such hit television shows as F-Troop, The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry RFD and Mama’s Family, Ken Berry is a “triple threat” dancer/singer/actor originally from Moline, Illinois.
  13. Ken Burns – Known for producing and directing documentary films, Ken Burns has been nominated for two Academy Awards and is the recipient of multiple Emmy Awards for his work.
  14. Ken Marshall – Known to Trekkies as the actor who brought Michael Eddington to live on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Kenneth Marshall also worked with Brooke Shields on the film Tilt.
  15. Ken Baumann – While he may be most well-recognized for his role as Ben Boykewich on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Ken Baumann is also a published author, the owner of a nonprofit publishing company and an angel investor in a learning platform startup.
  16. Ken Hudson Campbell – A television and voice actor, Ken Hudson Campbell’s projects include Down Periscope, episodes of Seinfeld, the Disney film Under Wraps, Hollywood blockbuster Armageddon, Groundhog Day and the voice of the titular character on the series Baby Bob.
  17. Ken Wahl – While “Ken Wahl” is a stage name for the actor born Anthony Calzaretta adopted from the name of the man who saved his father’s life during the Korean War, the actor did bring some measure of fame to the moniker in the 1980s and 1990s. The winner of a Golden Globe award and recipient of an Emmy nomination, Wahl now spends his time as an impassioned animal rights activist.
  18. Ken Weatherwax – Ken Weatherwax now works primarily as a studio grip or set builder, but he was once the face of Pugsley Addams on the cult classic series The Addams Family.
  19. Ken Duken – A German actor who is popular primarily in Europe, Ken Duken is recognized by American audiences for his turn in the Quentin Tarantino flick Inglorious Basterds.
  20. Ken Davitian – An Armenian-American actor, Ken Davitian’s popularity peaked when he starred in the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Davitian also starred a a series of music videos, including  The Smashing Pumpkin’s “Stand Inside Your Love.”
  21. Ken Kercheval – This Indiana actor has seen his share of  roles in a career that stretches over almost a half a century, but is probably most well known for his portrayal of Cliff Barnes on the soapy hit Dallas and its short-lived 2012 reboot.
  22. Ken Osmond – Beginning his acting career at the tender age of four, Ken Osmond has worked steadily since the late 1940s. His most recognizable role, however, was Eddie Haskell on the classic 1950s series Leave It to Beaver, and the 1980s revival The New Leave It to Beaver.
  23. Ken Daly – An actor in hit films like The Usual Suspects, The Karate Kid and Survival Quest, Ken Daly has also worked extensively on a variety of television series and acted as a producer for several projects.
  24. Kenny Bordes – With roles in both major motion pictures and a film made for television, Kenny Bordes is Louisiana-born actor who has worked with stars like Susan Sarandon and Burt Reynolds.
  25. Kenneth Ehrlich – As the producer of the Grammy Awards telecasts, Ken Ehrlich was the creative mastermind behind the historic reunion of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, the Police and conceptualized the infamous Eminem and Elton John duet.
  26. Ken Sanzel – The consulting producer on the hit television series Numb3rs and executive producer of the short-running Blue Bloods, Kent Sanzel also has credits as a writer and director under his belt.
  27. Kenneth Schwenker – A producer, Ken Schwenker works primarily within the horror film genre. He’s produced films like Runners, Lords of the Underworld and Shadows in Paradise.
  28. Kenneth Utt – An Academy Award winner for Best Picture, producer Kenneth Utt worked on films like The French Connection, All That Jazz, Something Wild and Philadelphia. He’s most well known for his work on the Oscar-winning cult smash Silence of the Lambs.
  29. Ken Atchity – An Emmy-nominated producer, Ken Atchity is the founder of Atchity Productions and Story Merchant services for writers. Films he’s produced include Hysteria, Expatriate and The Lost Valentine.
  30. Ken G. Hall – Widely considered one of the most important people in the Australian film industry, Ken G. Hall was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to the “Australian motion picture industry.”

Reasons Kids Benefit from Playing Team Sports

by

teamsportsTeam sports can be traced all the way back to the Native Americans, with the first organized collegiate sport between young men starting in the 1850s between Harvard and Yale. Since then, athletics have become a way of life and an integral part of growing up. Sports in adolescence is becoming more prevalent, and parents are entering kids into sports at younger ages, wanting their kids to experience the many advantages from playing on an organized team.

There are, in fact, myriad benefits a child can receive from playing team sports, ones that can be parlayed into adolescence and adulthood, into relationships and the workplace. Sports are a place where a child can excel and receive scholarships and honors; but they are also a place where a young one can learn many skills that extend far beyond the physical benefits. These skills and benefits range from mental health betterment to learning to work with others, as well as basic life readiness.

Physical Health

The topic of obesity is a prominent one in today’s society, and the importance of exercise is touted more than ever. The health benefits of a child playing sports are far-reaching. Not only does he have fun exercising, but he also has a structured form of activity where he can learn skills such as coordination and agility, and he is able to hone these skills by doing repetitive drills. The physical aspect of sports helps children build muscle and improve motor skills. Research has shown that kids who play team sports are stronger and all-around healthier.

Mental Health

The mental health benefits go hand-in-hand with the physical rewards earned from playing team sports. Athletics promote self-esteem, self-confidence and courage. Children learn what it takes to reach a goal and about their own strengths and abilities. They learn how to deal with the losses in appropriate ways, which can lead to better emotional control off the field. Team sports have been found to enhance a child’s brain development and possibly raise IQ.

Team sports are significantly important to young girls entering adolescence. A very self-conscious time for girls, they are often bombarded with unattainable physical images in magazines, on television and on the Internet. Sports can help young girls realize self-worth outside their appearance and direct their focus toward goals that are more rewarding on the inside.

Working with Others

Team sports teach children how to work well with others. While on a team, children must think of a group as a whole instead of just as themselves as individuals. They learn to be happy for their teammates’ successes in addition to their own, because every person’s success benefits the team. They learn to interact with peers and respect their fellow teammates and coaches. They are able to learn empathy for others.

Playing sports is a way for kids to learn from positive mentors other than parents. On a team, a child learns to respect the coach and honor his final decisions. That sense of organization, teamwork and following a skilled leader will help him in the classroom and the workplace as he grows.

Life Skills

A child or adolescent playing a team sport has the ability to learn essential life skills that he will carry throughout adulthood. Sports often provide valuable learning experiences and teach hard work, patience, persistence, focus and discipline. Children are taught how to respond appropriately to setbacks and failure. They realize that having a strong work ethic toward the sport will bring about good results. They have to learn how to balance school and athletics and, as they get older, part-time jobs as well. In fact, it has been shown that kids who participate in team sports are more likely to be hard-working students and better future workers as adults.

Tips for Parents

It is important for parents to be involved from the beginning to ensure their children are having a positive experience playing sports. While the benefits are numerous, there is still the possibility that a zealous coach or bully can sour the experience for the child. Also, it may take many tries to find the right sport, but knowing why a child wants to play helps guide the child toward the activity that makes the most of his talents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends age six as the earliest to enter a child into sports, as free play is most important before then. After age six, the child will likely want to have fun and make new friends in a sport.

Team sports can develop a large range of skills and give a child confidence, self-esteem and independence. With the right focus of both parents and coaches, athletics give children a way to discover their talents in a healthy environment. With the social, physical and mental health benefits, as well as life experience, team sports can lay the foundation outside of school to ensure a child is on his way to becoming a well-rounded, self-assured adult.

10 Ways to Avoid a Fight When You Encounter an Idiot

by

punchFor most people, a physical altercation is something to be avoided at all costs. There are those, however, who love nothing more than starting a fight when they’re angry. While it can be tempting to knock some sense into a loudmouth who just won’t quit, a fight will introduce far more complications than it solves. The next time you’re faced with a person of questionable intelligence who just won’t back down, try these ten methods of avoiding a fight.

  1. Don’t Give Them What They Want – More than a bloody nose or a round in the dirt, most violent and angry people want attention. The best way to avoid a fight with an attention-driven opponent, therefore, is to simply deny them the attention they’re seeking.
  2. Keep Your Own Emotions in Check – It’s easy to avoid a fight when you’re calm and collected, but it’s a much bigger challenge when you’re also struggling with your own temper. If you let your emotions get the better of you, you’re less equipped to diffuse the situation. Even if you’re offended or furious, try to stay sane and rational until you can put some distance between you and your antagonist.
  3. Give Up On Being Right – There are few things more infuriating than trying to get a point across to someone whose intellectual capacity just won’t allow them to see the light. You can shout them down until you’re hoarse, but you’re not likely to change their opinion. You know the person you’re arguing with isn’t so bright, so leave it at that. You don’t have to be formally acknowledged to be correct.
  4. Get Some Space – There’s usually no good reason for staying put when you’re trying to avoid a fight. Even if you’re able to diffuse the situation and talk your opponent down for the moment, you’re still standing next to a powder keg until you leave the area. Since you’re going to need to put some distance between you and your opponent anyway, why wait? Walk away and save yourself some headache.
  5. Apologize – Even if you’re in the right, what will you actually lose by dishing out an apology to smooth things over to avoid a fight? In these situations, you can be right, or you can avoid getting punched. The latter is usually the way to go.
  6.  Step Back – If you’re committed to solving the argument without resorting to violence, keep a few feet of distance between yourself and a not-so-bright combatant while you try to talk it out. You’re less likely to see an attack coming, or avoid a punch, if your opponent is in your face.
  7. Watch Your Language – While you want to avoid cursing at someone when you’re trying not to fight, this isn’t the only kind of language of which you need to be aware. Using phrases like “calm down” or “you’re being ridiculous” are counterproductive to your aims. Instead of using accusatory language to bring things down a notch, use phrases which imply mutual culpability. “Let’s talk this over” or “we should take it easy” includes both of you, and can be more effective.
  8. (Don’t) Put Up Your Dukes – Make a conscious effort to mind your body language, keeping your hands in a non-threatening, palms-out pose. Be sure you’re not making a fist without thinking, because this sends the signal that you’re ready to throw down.
  9. Watch Your Back – If you’re going to walk away and the situation is still tense, be careful about turning your back to your opponent. This gives them an opportunity to attack from behind, and you less of a chance to defend yourself. Back away until you have plenty of room.
  10. Assume Your Opponent is Armed or Trained – If you’re having a tough time convincing yourself that violence isn’t the answer, remember this: you have no idea if the idiot with whom you’re arguing is carrying a weapon. Assuming everyone in a potential altercation is armed is a great way to get your priorities back in line, so you can talk your way out of a sticky situation.  Also, keep in mind you don’t know how much combative training this idiot has had.  He could be a black belt in jiu jitsu and you could find yourself in a bad position very quickly.

At best, you’ll be walking away from a situation with the potential to end in stitches or criminal charges. A worst-case scenario can have far more permanent implications. While it may hurt your pride a bit to let your opponent “get away” with causing a scene, your pride will recover and you’ll experience no lasting effects from choosing not to fight.

10 Kens Famous for Their Inventions and This Ken Too

by

kenrichardsonWithout the genius and innovation of the world’s inventors, life on Earth would probably still be stuck in the dark ages. Some inventions have saved lives, others changed the scope of technology and design and others still were just plain fun. No matter what the invention, the work that these great men and women put into their creations deserves praise and recognition. All ten of the inventors on this list are named Ken, and each one has changed the world to some degree with their incredible products and inventions.

  1. Ken Richardson – This inventor holds the honor of being a famous fighter of fungus, with the development of fluconazole. While it may not sound like much, Ken Richardson’s work on the prevention of fungal infections has saved lives. Fluconazole has been used in the treatment of transplants, AIDs and burn patients. The discovery of fluconazole is considered the most significant advancement in the fight against fungal infections to this day.
  2. Ken Olsen – Olsen is perhaps most famous for his work on coincident current systems, a component of computer memory which makes it smaller. His work was instrumental in the development of core memory models, which can retain memory without the need of power. Ken Olsen’s work revolutionized how computers and processors were designed, making him a significant figure in the industry.
  3. Kenneth E. Manchester– By developing ion implantation, Kenneth E. Manchester changed the way all electronic devices were created. His invention allowed for the first Effect Transistor with Controlled Threshold Voltage, which is used in all integrated circuits today. Kenneth received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1955, before going on to work on ion implantation in 1962.
  4. Ken Ahroni – This is the invention that just keeps on giving. Ken Ahroni had a wish, but he had run out of Turkey wishbones. Lucky Break Wishbones are just like the real thing; they look the same, break the same and have the same chance of actually making your wish come true. Besides which, they’re a fun novelty idea for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner parties.
  5. Ken Butler – Some of Ken Butler’s best inventions are yet to be realized. The crafter of hybrid instruments is world famous for turning every day, household items into playable instruments. Ken began his labor of love with hybrid instruments in 1978, when he created a hatchet violin by adding a adding a fingerboard, tailpiece, tuning pegs and bridge to an ordinary hatchet.
  6. Ken Thompson – The UNIX operating system is regarded as one of the best operating systems ever conceived, and it is all thanks to the work of Ken Thompson. The system was developed in 1969, the same year that man went to the moon. Thompson was also the creator of the game “Space Travel,” which is considered the first PC game and the precursor to the development of console game play.
  7. Ken Hakuta – If you have ever had the pleasure of owning a “Wacky Wall Walker,” then you can thank Ken Kakuta. The toy, which usually took the shape of an Octopus or other creature, used a combination of gravity and adhesive suckers to walk down walls, providing hours of fun for kids in the 1980s. Ken Hakuta is also featured in the game “Trivial Pursuit” under the question; “Who is the inventor of the Wacky Wall Walker?”
  8. Ken Tarlow – Ken Tarlow is a world renowned product developer, with over 400 products under his belt. Tarlow now lends his talents to the “Make Money Expo,” helping other would-be inventors get their products and patents off the ground. As well as creating his own inventions, Ken is the author of “Mind to Money,” a successful how-to guide for creating and launching a product from inception to sale.
  9. Kenneth Dunkley– Everyone loves Three Dimensional Viewing Glasses, which is one reason why Kenneth Dunkley is a world famous and much loved inventor. Kenneth also lends his talents to the Museum of Scientific Discovery in Harrisburg, PA, where he delivers workshops on visual effects. Dunkley’s work is considered the most innovative advancement in 3D technology, which will only lead to further developments in the future. Kenneth Dunkley has literally changed the way that humans see the world around them.
  10. Ken Howard – This inventor first made his name with the popular board-game, “The Parliament Game.” He has since gone on to develop over 700 products, ranging from games to television shows. Howard now acts as an expert consultant to other inventors and product developers who are looking to break into the industry.

Lastly, I promised that in the title that I (Ken Myers) would discuss my own inventions.  I am listed as an inventor on a couple of patents with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.  The first invention was for an application with a GUI wizard and technology for using XSLT to transform text files from one format to another (from delimited to fixed length or XML to CSV, etc.).  My second invention was a business method patent for selling a plurality of home services based upon a person’s address (see WhiteFence.com).  These are both very meaningful to me and it was interesting to go through the process of filing and eventually earning the patents.  My guess is that several of the inventors in the list above feel the same way.