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Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

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Kenney Myers

What a Background Check Covers (and What It Doesn’t)

April 6, 2015 by Kenney Myers

checkThe background check. It sounds intimidating, all-encompassing, legally binding and almost invasive in scope. Many people — employers or employees — never deal with them directly, and have only the vaguest ideas of what they really are or what they might reveal. In the childcare industry, though, background checks can be life-changing documents, for both nannies and families. They can guide parents to make hiring or firing decisions; they can proudly vouch for a nanny or haunt them for years. For these and many other reasons, it’s important for you to learn about background checks no matter what part of the hiring process you’re in. When you truly understand what a background check is and what it isn’t, you can use them to make the best decision possible regarding childcare.

Background Checks: A Definition

A background check isn’t just a phone call to someone’s former employer to verify work history. If you’re dealing with childcare, it doesn’t mean just verifying that your nanny worked where she or he said they did. There’s a lot more to it than that. In fact, the phrase “background check” is so broad it’s almost meaningless.

In the context of employment, a background check is a thorough investigation of criminal and automotive history, and it’s performed to give employers the most information possible when it comes to making a hiring decision. According to the National Association of Professional Background Screeners — a trade group devoted to ethics and best practices in the field — these types of background checks are typically conducted by licensed third-party consumer reporting agencies that are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FCRA regulates the method of collecting and distributing consumer information as a way to protect employees and consumers. It’s crucial to note that fair and legal background checks require the consent of the person you’re investigating. If an agency tells you they can run a background check on a nanny you want to hire without actually telling the nanny, that’s a red flag. You need their authorization for the search.

Things That Will Appear on a Background Check

A proper background check can cover a variety of areas, including (but not limited to):

• Drug test information.

• Verification of employment, and if the applicant has earned any licenses or degrees they claim to have earned.

• Criminal record checks verified through local, state, federal and even international courts.

• Registry investigations, including searches of sex offender registries and child abuse registries.

• Credit history (minus an applicant’s actual credit score).

• Driving records.

As you can tell, the point of a good background check is to give an employer as much information as possible about the applicant in front of them. This is important in any job, but it’s especially important when you’re hiring a nanny, someone who will spend long, unsupervised hours every day with your children for months or even years. A nanny needs to be able to transport the children, make purchases for household items and be trusted caring for the kids; all things that tie into the areas covered in a background check.

To find this information, consumer reporting agencies check a variety of databases, including a family of systems at the FBI. There’s the FBI Identification Record, which covers criminal history and information connected to arrests. There’s a caveat here, though: some state laws prohibit using arrest and conviction records when making hiring decisions, so even if you find out an applicant had some criminal issues in their past, you might not be allowed to let that bias your decision. According to the NAPBS, California restricts the use of some marijuana-related convictions in the decision-making process if the applicant’s conviction is more than two years old. You should always consult with your consumer reporting agency about the findings of a background check to see what’s clear for you to know and use for employment purposes.

There’s also the Interstate Identification Index System (aka, the III), which allows for federal and state law enforcement agencies to share information about misdemeanors and felonies for background check purposes. However, the burden falls on the states to keep the databases updated, so sometimes the III might not have the latest data, especially about someone who’s lived in many states.

In addition to database checks there are also primary records searches. Considered the “gold standard” in criminal background checks, the county courthouse criminal records check requires a court runner to manually check the records at county courthouses if the records aren’t current and available online. Since sometimes records for felonies and misdemeanors are stored in different courts within a county, it is imperative that the proper court house records are checked to get an accurate picture of what, if any, records are available on an applicant.

The point of all this is that, though there are many helpful resources available for conducting background checks, there remains no single unified system that contains complete and updated criminal history for people. Searching multiple databases and sources is a good measure, but it’s also the only one we have.

 Things That Won’t Appear on a Background Check

This naturally leads people to wonder: if there’s no single database for background checks, is it possible for some things to be overlooked? Yes.

Some things won’t appear on a background check because they’re not relevant or allowable to the scope of employment. For instance, medical records are out, as are records for anything that might have happened to the applicant as a juvenile. As mentioned above, while credit history is covered, specific credit score isn’t. Minor things like parking tickets may not be included, either, because they’re not fingerprintable incidents.

But the biggest thing that a background check won’t catch is obvious: if the applicant committed a crime and got away with it. That, and if the applicant committed a crime outside of the area that was searched. By definition, a background check can only turn up things that made it to the courts. A check can list a person’s criminal history, but that doesn’t mean it lists their entire history. Such a thing would be impossible.

That’s why it’s so important to remember that a background check is not a shield against future criminal activity, but merely an information-gathering tool designed to give employers the most information possible to help them make the best decision they can. You should absolutely perform a background check on anybody you’re considering hiring as a nanny, but you should never let that check give you a false sense of security. Just as old criminal history can be a sign that someone’s turned their life around and gotten their act together, so too can it indicate someone who might be willing to break the rules again if given the opportunity.

The bottom line is that there’s no such thing as a bulletproof background check. A background check should be used in conjunction with other interviewing tools, ranging from fact-finding questions to time spent with someone to gauge their personality. Using as many information gathering tools as possible and pairing what you’ve gleaned with good judgment will help you to make an educated and informed hiring decision.

Filed Under: Article, Catch All

What in the World is Twalliteration?

March 29, 2015 by Kenney Myers

tonguetwisterSo one day I had a crazy idea, okay that actually isn’t unusual… Anyway, I was deciding what to tweet and I came across something that was a little bit like an alliteration.  I began to think that it was interesting but not particularly challenging.  So for my next tweet, I decided I would string together as many words as possible that started with the same letter/sound.  I was able to achieve what almost seemed to make sense and use all 140 characters!  Okay, so the way my mind works that was awesome!  I can’t really explain why it was awesome, it just was and so I decided the next day that I would try it again and it has basically become my thing.  I try to string together as many words as I can and still have a meaning behind the tweet.  With that said here are a few of my rules:

  1. You have to try to fully use the 140 characters with no more than 10 characters left.  Of course, the closer you get to zero the better.
  2. The words actually have to make sense together so just stringing together random words is not twalliteration, it is just noise and twitter + pollution.  In my mind it is prose, a poem of sorts when done properly.
  3. You can’t use the same word more than once (preferably not even a derivative of that word if you can avoid it, but sometimes that just doesn’t work out).
  4. Under no circumstances can a word start with a different letter (this isn’t alliteration, it is twalliteration).  So, just matching the sound doesn’t actually count like it would with plain old ordinary alliteration.
  5. Just because a word starts with the same letter does not mean the sound is right (so it also does not count).  So for instance chair and car don’t both belong in a twalliteration because the sound one makes when pronouncing the two words is different.
  6. There should almost always be a hidden meaning behind the twalliteration so not only do the words need to make sense but there should be a backstory to it which could either be public or insider information, that doesn’t matter.
  7. If you take less than 10-15 minutes to write the twalliteration then you really better think about it before posting it because it is hard to imagine that it meets all of the criteria.
  8. Because you have hopefully used all of the characters, you unfortunately cannot use the hashtag #twalliteration unless it is in a reply to your tweet.
  9. If you are into daily twalliteration like I am, you really should avoid using the same letter/sound two days in a row just to keep yourself challenged and your twalliteration skills sharp (ha, I am joking here folks).
  10. Slang or urban dictionary words absolutely do count in twalliteration so don’t be afraid to use them, but do be prepared to defend them.

So speaking of the urban dictionary, twalliteration used to be called twitteration.  However, I found out that indeed that had already been taken.  So I tweeted out a request to my followers asking about renaming this technique and my good friend @mykitchensyc and I agreed to go with the new name of twitter + alliteration or twalliteration.

So now, next time you see a tweet about twalliteration or see some strange tweet from me that looks a bit like a tongue twister, you will know what to call it when you retweet it to all of your followers!

Filed Under: Catch All, Poetry

Aargh! 9 Famous Pirates Named Ken

March 20, 2015 by Kenney Myers

piratekenEveryone secretly wants to be a pirate; there’s even an international “Speak Like a Pirate Day” held each year on September 19th around the world. Still, there’s more to pirating than saying “aargh!” and having a parrot as a best friend. These nine entries cover pirates from all walks of life (alas, I couldn’t make it happen with seafaring pirates); all of whom just happen to be named Ken.

  1. Ken Brett – Ken Brett was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1967 to 1981 and spent a year with the Pittsburgh Pirates between 1974 and 1975. During his time with the Pirates, Brett was the winning pitcher of the 1974 All-Star Game. All in all, Ken Brett had outings with 10 Major League teams in his 14 year career, including the Boston Red Sox (1967, 1969–1971), New York Yankees (1976) and Chicago White Sox (1976–1977).
  2. Pirate Ken™ – It is no secret that Barbie and Ken like to play dress-up, so it’s also not a surprise that that the Ken doll has donned a full pirate suit to celebrate Johnny Depp’s wildly popular turn as everyone’s favorite pirate, Jack Sparrow.
  3. Dread Pirate Kermit – Ken Morton, aka Dread Pirate Kermit, was a popular motorbike rally champion who sadly lost his life when he was thrown from his bike during the 2011 Utah 1088 rally. Morton was well known for his unique stickers and patches depicting Kermit the Frog wearing a pirate hat, set in a crossbones background. Although it is unclear exactly what caused Ken’s accident, it is widely believed that wind conditions on that particular day were the most likely contributor.
  4. Carry On Jack – Kenneth Williams plays a British Navy Captain in this comedy caper made in 1963. Williams’s character is named Captain Fearless, however, Fearless does not live up to his name. In typical Carry On fashion, Captain Fearless finds himself set adrift from his ship, only to end up in a sea war with Patch, Pirate Captain, aka Roger.
  5. Ken Evans – Not a lot of people will immediately recognize the name “Ken Evans,” but Evans was instrumental in the launch of both Radio Atlanta and Radio Caroline. During the sixties, both of these ships became famous the world over for illegal radio broadcasts. By mooring more than 5km off the coast outside of British territorial waters, pirate radio stations were able to transmit and avoid government regulation. Ken Evans was one of the pioneering producers of pirate radio; he later went on to work for the BBC in traditional radio.
  6. Ken Dilger – From 2002 to 2004, Ken Dilger was a mainstay for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his first year with the Buccaneers, Dilger saw victory as part of the Super Bowl XXXVI winning side. Ken is now a noted speaker, who appears in promotions on behalf of WGU Indiana (Western Governors University, Indiana).
  7. Kenny Chesney – This country singing star is absolutely obsessed with all things ocean, featuring beach bums, pirates and related themes in a lot of his music. Most notably in his track “Pirate Flag,” from the album Life on the Rock. The country singer draws parallels between simple country life and the life of a rebel pirate, which makes for an interesting spin on this traditional music genre.
  8. D. B. Cooper – While a fictional reference, the name comes from the hijacking of a Boeing 727 in November, 1971. The perpetrator parachuted from the aircraft after claiming a $200,000 ransom and was never found. Many years later, in 2003, a Minnesota man, Lyle Christiansen, came forward claiming that the hijacker was his brother, Kenneth Christiansen. Although the authorities found no plausible evidence to support the claim, a detective, Skipp Porteous, published a book in 2010 that aimed to prove that Christiansen was the perpetrator of the audacious hijacking.
  9. The Boat that Rocked – All good pirates need a nemesis, and who better to fill the role than British actor, Kenneth Brannagh. “The Boat that Rocked” tells the story of a group of pirate radio hosts defying the British government’s attempts to monopolize the airwaves during the sixties. Brannagh plays the part of Sir Alistair Dormandy, who will use any means possible to bring the party to an end. Dormandy becomes the typical anti-hero in this period comedy, leaving the audience wondering who the real pirates are.

From fictional seafarers to country singers with a penchant for the open waters, there’s no shortage of pirates in pop culture!

Filed Under: Kens

30 Blogs With the Best Asthma Care Plans for Elementary School Children

March 12, 2015 by Kenney Myers

asthmacareElementary school children who suffer from asthma are at risk from a number of factors. Everything from the products you use at home, the air outside and at school and even parental stress levels can have an effect on the child’s health. As a parent, you can have a huge impact on how your child copes with his asthma, especially when he’s at school and you’re not there to offer the assistance he needs. To help you improve your child’s quality of life, these 30 blogs cover a range of areas where you can make changes, both at home and school, in an attempt to build an asthma care plan.

Government and Support Groups

Government and support groups are great sources for asthma care plans and new initiatives. These groups provide the latest information on causation, treatment and medication. You can also find out how to contact local support and advice groups, or even start a local community group for other parents of asthma sufferers. To help keep you up to date on all your asthma news, follow these five blogs.

  • Addressing asthma Disparities: Helping Children Breathe Easier
  • $AVE YOUR MONEY
  • Boston Globe on Children’s Hospital Boston asthma Program: Two Implications for Legislation
  • Breathing Easy – Physical Activity for Kids with asthma
  • Building Your Own asthma Caregiver Support System

Cleaning and Products

While eliminating dust, mites and other asthma triggers from your home is a good thing, some cleaning methods and products actually exacerbate attacks. In most instances it is easy to identify products that are acting as asthma triggers. However, some products may not cause symptoms to appear for days or even weeks after they are used. Find out which cleaning methods and products are most friendly to asthma sufferers in these five blogs. You may even need to bring a list of known triggers to school administrators to determine what products are used within the building, and the information here can help to bolster your case.

  • Monday Clinic: Can cleaning be bad for children with asthma?
  • Green Cleaning: Avoiding asthma and Allergy Triggers
  • How We Reversed asthma Symptoms in our Family
  • asthma – the facts
  • Toxins in the Home and Environment Affecting Family and Pet Health

Clean Air Plans

Air pollution is a major trigger of asthma attacks for people of all ages. While there is very little that you, as an individual, can do about external factors, you can provide a clean environment within the home. There are a number of options for purifying the air in your home; however, systems can range in price from $40 to $900 or more. The system that you should choose will wholly depend on the severity of your child’s condition. For more information on air purification, have a look at these five blogs.

  • How Clean Air Can Reduce asthma Attacks
  • To Control asthma, Start With The Home Instead Of The Child
  • Clean Air Health Fair
  • asthma and Allergy Prevention with a HEPA Air Purifier
  • Air Purifiers For asthma, How To Choose The Best Air Purifier For My asthma?

Medication and Care

Obviously your doctor should always act as your first port of call for advice on medication and care. However, you can’t easily bookmark your doctor for later reference. With that said, there are some great resources out there to keep you informed on alternative support for children with asthma, too. Regardless of the source, always check with your doctor to ensure that any medication or recommended treatment is safe. Here are five blogs that offer great advice on managing and treating children who suffer from asthma.

  • 6 easy and more natural ways to treat your child’s asthma
  • asthma and Allergies in Kids: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
  • Coping with Food Allergies, Eczema, and asthma – A Parent’s Guide (Guest Post)
  • Does Your Child Suffer from asthma?
  • Tips for Parents Whose Kids Suffer From asthma

Asthma and Schools

Having a child with asthma, it is your job to educate the educators. Schools are often inadequately equipped to offer support or even the right environment for sufferers. Cleanliness and air purity are just two areas where schools can improve with a little encouragement from well-educated parents. These five blogs will help you better communicate your child’s needs to his school, and ensure that he can learn in a safe and healthy environment.

  • School asthma Epidemic in September
  • IAQ: asthma in Schools
  • Back to School! Allergy, asthma and School Age Children
  • Supporting children with asthma at school
  • Q & A: Back to school with asthma

Stress Related Asthma Attacks

If you weren’t aware of the connection before, make it a point to educate yourself on the relationship between stress and increased asthma attacks now. A stressful environment is never a good thing, but it is especially detrimental to children who suffer from asthma. If you think that stress is a factor in you or your child’s life, follow the advice in these five blogs.

  • Stressed Parents + Air Pollution = Kids with asthma
  • asthma Linked to Stress in Home, Parental Depression
  • How do I deal with the stress of food allergies and asthma?
  • The Relationship Between Stress and asthma
  • Stress, asthma Exacerbations And Children

Filed Under: Catch All

10 Reasons CrossFit is Here to Stay

March 10, 2015 by Kenney Myers

crossfitFitness fads come and go, many fading into memory as the next big thing arrives. CrossFit, however, doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of disappearing any time soon. One of the most popular fitness trends across the country, there are thousands of affiliates and gyms, known as “boxes” in CrossFit slang, established in the United States alone. While devotees know exactly why they stick with the hardcore training regimen, it can be baffling to an outsider. If you have no experience with CrossFit and wonder about the secret behind its staying power, here are ten of the reasons it’s probably not going to go the way of legwarmers and Jazzercise.

  1. It’s Effective – While it’s far from the only driving factor behind the program’s longevity, it is one of the most powerful: done properly, CrossFit is incredibly effective. Enthusiasts do see very real results through dedication, changing their bodies and boosting their own self-esteem.
  2. Existing Members are Strong Recruiters –Those results achieved because CrossFit is effective have a sort of two-fold power. Because they look great, CrossFit enthusiasts are a walking advertisement for the system. Because the program works so well on so many levels, these enthusiasts also become evangelists for the program. Because numbers of participants continue to grow and continue to reach others, the growth potential of CrossFit is incredible.
  3. A Sense of Camaraderie – CrossFit isn’t just exercise, and participating at each session is akin to running a gauntlet. Going through such physically demanding and intense workouts while encouraging one another to go harder, faster and stronger builds a sense of community not often seen in other fitness programs.
  4. It’s a New Approach to an Old Problem – Getting and staying in shape is by no means an exclusively modern concern. Fitness buffs have been trying to find a way of revolutionizing exercise for decades, but many systems are rehashed or retooled versions of those that came before. CrossFit tackles the problem head on, without relying upon the often confusing equipment, aloof attitudes and elitism of typical gyms.
  5. A Culture of Coaching and Support – People love to make a real difference in themselves and the world around them, but even the most seasoned athlete will appreciate some support from time to time. Unlike a traditional gym membership which will typically consist of spending money to use complex equipment incorrectly with no guidance, CrossFit is built around guidance and support.
  6. Providing a Strong Sense of Accomplishment – One of the things most often cited by CrossFit devotees is the sense of accomplishment they get from doing something they never would have thought their bodies capable of before starting the program. By accomplishing astounding feats in boxes around the country, CrossFit participants stimulate the reward centers of their brains. Very literally, the brain of a CrossFit fan rewards them for pushing their limits at every turn.
  7. Strong Beginner Programs – CrossFit may have started as an underground sensation, but it’s firmly planted in the mainstream of fitness culture now. One of the reasons for not only it’s continued growth is the scalable nature of workouts designed to benefit the most machine-like specimen of the human body and the absolute beginner alike. Paired with the guidance of coaching staff and the supportive attitude of other participants, CrossFit is as able to court beginners as it is to keep established members coming back for more.
  8. Inclusive Attitudes – Traditional gyms and programs are places where gender lines can be sharply divided, with women feeling left out, harassed or marginalized in many traditional gyms. Almost sixty percent of long-term CrossFit participants are women, and this culture of inclusion makes for strong growth and staying power among both sexes.
  9. Active Recognition – It’s human nature to want recognition for a extreme effort, something CrossFit knows and capitalizes upon with not only verbal congratulations at every turn, but daily rankings for all to see. People keep coming back because they’re striving for that recognition, just like they’re striving for the perfect body.
  10. Formal Competition Opportunities – When you’re great at something, it’s natural to be interested in formal competition. If you’re great at Zumba or a master of the elliptical machine, though, there aren’t too many opportunities to compete. CrossFit competitions, though, do exist and are publicized, giving people a definable goal for which to strive, which keeps them coming back and working hard in boxes across the country.

Like any popular exercise system, CrossFit has its share of detractors and naysayers. Still, even the vocal nature of these critics shows no sign of slowing down the growth of CrossFit around the world.

Filed Under: Article, Catch All

10 Reasons Martial Arts Benefits Kids

March 9, 2015 by Kenney Myers

In a culture that seems to glorify violence in everything from music to video games and television shows, the idea of enrolling your child in martial arts training classes doesn’t always seem like a good one. While martial arts-centered action films seem to be filled to the brim with violent behavior and gory injuries, you may be surprised to learn that martial arts’ training is actually very beneficial to kids. Like so many other things that Hollywood doesn’t always get right, martial arts isn’t quite the brutal, vicious pastime that it seems. In fact, these are 10 of the reasons why you may want to consider martial arts training for your kids.

martialarts
  1. Fostering Self-Discipline – One of the central tenets of all forms of the martial arts is an absolute focus on self-discipline. Today’s kids are so accustomed to receiving instant gratification that lessons in self-restraint and discipline aren’t always easy to come by. Kids with a martial arts background, however, are continually reminded of how essential self-discipline is.
  2. Boosting Socialization Skills – Kids who don’t always thrive in highly social environments may find it easier to get to know people and make new friends when they’re in a room filled with peers who share a common interest. The kids on the playground may not always have much common ground, but devotees to the martial arts are able to get to know one another through shared pursuits. Partner-driven forms like jiu jitsu can also foster camaraderie, as they force kids to pair off and build their skills together.
  3. Encouraging Physical Activity – Limiting screen time is a great idea when it comes to getting kids off the couch and encouraging them to be more active, but it only goes so far. Enrolling an inactive child in such a physically demanding pastime not only discourages the sedentary lifestyle she’s used to, but also gives her an enjoyable activity that inspires her to keep moving.
  4. Learning to Set and Achieve Goals – Most forms of martial arts are based around an accomplishment system of colored belts that signify the wearer’s degree of skill. When your child strives toward each new belt, he’s learning valuable lessons about setting and reaching his goals.
  5. Increased Self-Esteem – Confidence comes with achievement, so your child’s self-esteem level will get a boost with every new move he masters and every belt he earns. Kids who struggle with a low sense of self-worth usually become more confident as time progresses while they’re enrolled in a martial arts class.
  6. Instilling a Sense of Respect – Learning any martial arts style will require your child to show her instructor unflinching respect. Today’s kid culture doesn’t always include respect for authority, adults or those in advanced positions. When she goes to her karate or tae kwon do class, though, your child will be learning lessons in respect along with new moves.
  7. Encouraging Non-Violent Conflict Resolution – Thinking that martial arts instruction promotes violent behavior is justified if your only experience with the activity comes from television or movies. In fact, many defensive styles teach kids peaceful, non-violent conflict resolution skills and emphasize the importance of avoiding a physical altercation.
  8. Improving Listening Skills – In order to master the skills she’s being taught and advance through the belt ranks, your child will have to exercise superior listening skills. Kids who aren’t always adept when it comes to paying attention to what they’re told can benefit from the verbal instruction and one-on-one work in her dojo.
  9. Developing Teamwork Skills – Whether he’s breaking boards to get a new belt or sparring in a practice setting to master a new maneuver, there are few things that your child does in his martial arts classes that will be done on his own. Working together to learn new things and accomplish goals is an important life lesson for kids to learn, and instruction in the martial arts can help your child learn that lesson.
  10. Improvement in Other Areas of Life – The benefits of martial arts training don’t end in the dojo. The boost in confidence, increased fitness level and new cooperation skills will also help your child navigate the academic and social aspects of school, affect his behavior at home and have an all-around good influence on him as he develops into an adult.

If you’re still concerned about encouraging violent tendencies or teaching your child to fight, it may be helpful to visit a few dojos/gyms in your area. Speak with the instructors, administrators and other parents to get an idea of how things operate, and hold off on forming a negative opinion of the martial arts until you’ve done a bit of exploratory research. You may even find that training is the perfect activity for your entire family to do together!

Filed Under: Article, Catch All

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