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ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (formerly known as ADD) is a neurological condition that causes children to lose focus and behave in ways that, if untreated, may make it difficult for them to successfully participate in school, social and family life. Children with ADHD can be inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive, and many have a combination of these behaviors. Other learning disabilities or mental conditions can also accompany ADHD.
Although it's the nation's most common childhood mental disorder—8 percent of all U.S. kids, which translates to about 5 million, have been diagnosed—ADHD can be surprisingly hard to spot because it affects individual children so differently. ADHD kids can be rowdy troublemakers who get into fights and fail at school, excessively chatty straight-A know-it-alls who constantly interrupt their teachers, or "space cadets" who stare out the window unaware that rest of the class has left for lunch. While all young children can be impulsive, hyperactive or inattentive at times, for children with ADHD these behaviors are so frequent and severe that they interfere with normal activities, often leaving them confused, frustrated, or angry.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (9.5 percent of all boys, versus 5.9 percent of girls) but experts are unsure if that means more boys actually have the condition, or if they're just more likely to have the type of ADHD that results in disruptive behavior. Kids who act out, especially in school, are more likely to be noticed and referred for diagnosis than those who drift off into their own world.
The good news is that a great deal of research has been done on ADHD (which has been a recognized mental condition since the 1960s) and there are a number of strategies, including medication, behavioral modification and school accommodations, that can help children manage their condition and lead successful, happy lives.
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- At the Doctor
- Treatment
- Medication
- Therapy
- Complementary/Alternative Treatments
- School Strategies
- Child's Experience
- Mom's Experience
- Age-by-age Guide
- Support
Most children are evaluated for ADHD shortly after they enter grade school because their inability to focus, follow directions and control behavior becomes a real barrier to success in that structured setting.
ADHD has three subtypes; predominately hyperactive-impulsive, predominately inattentive, and combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive. That means your child may have all of the symptoms in one category, or several from each.
The symptoms listed below come from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, (DSM IV) and are the criteria a doctor would use to diagnose your child. However, because living, breathing kids are more than a collection of lists in a diagnostic manual, we'll also provide some examples of how these behaviors can play out in real life.
For the behaviors listed below to be truly considered signs of ADHD, they must last for six months, be more severe than in other children the same age—i.e., they're causing significant problems at school, home and/or in social settings—and some symptoms should have been present before your child turned 7.
ADHD/Inattentive Type
This is the child that gets labeled as lazy, spacey, ditzy or incompetent. His teacher may groan in frustration at how he daydreams and tunes out during class. She may come home with her sweater buttoned wrong, inside out or forgotten altogether. He may leave his glove at Little League—every single practice. Parents may have to deal with the terror of waiting at the bus stop for a child who doesn't show up because he got on the wrong school bus and didn't notice till it drove away. A child may lose friends because she forgets she was invited for a play date or walks right past playmates without seeing them because her mind is elsewhere.
A child must have had 6 of the following 9 symptoms for more than six months to be diagnosed with ADHD/inattentive type:
- Does not pay close attention to details, makes careless mistakes
- Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks
- Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
- Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish work or chores (because of failure to understand, not defiance)
- Often has trouble organizing activities
- Often avoids or dislikes things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time
- Often loses things needed for tasks and activities
- Is often easily distracted
- Is often forgetful in daily activities
ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
Only about 5 percent of kids who have ADHD are classified as this type, which is typically diagnosed at preschool age. Most of those diagnosed will later go on to develop the inattentive or combined type.
People think of hyperactive and impulsive kids as wild, obnoxious, bratty problem children or, worst of all, just plain bad. She may grab toys and refuse to share long after others have gotten the concept. A hyperactive child will keep playing tag while his classmates line up. He may frighten or intimidate other children by pushing or yelling, or he could be the loveable, but virtually untamable class clown. Hyperactive kids are often daredevils, prone to taking flying leaps off the couch. Parents of hyperactive and impulsive kids dread calls from school or a neighbor asking them to come get their misbehaving child, and they're driven to exhaustion by kids that never nap, sit still or stop talking.
A child must have 6 of the following 9 symptoms for more than six months to be diagnosed with ADHD/hyperactive-impulsive type:
- Often fidgets with hands and feet or squirms in seat
- Often gets up from seat
- Often excessively runs about our climbs when not appropriate
- Often has trouble playing or doing leisure activities quietly
- Is on the go as if driven by a motor
- Often talks excessively
- Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished
- Often has trouble waiting his turn
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others
ADHD Combined Hyperactive-impulsive and Inattentive Type
This is the most common type of ADHD, with symptoms of both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive types. Remember, not all children with ADHD display all the symptoms.
Research has not determined what exactly causes ADHD, but scientists believe it could be in imbalance in neurotransmitters, the chemicals that regulate how the brain processes and regulates responses to stimuli. Also, a landmark 1996 study conducted at the National Institutes for Mental Health (NIMH) also found that two portions of the brain thought to regulate attention are smaller in children with ADHD. Since then, brain imaging technology has advanced and many other studies have shown disparities between the brains of children with and without ADHD, including one 2007 study that showed that the brains of children with ADHD mature in the same pattern as those of other children, but up to three years later. Scientists are still working to discover just what these differences mean.
Why does one child's brain have trouble regulating attention and activity levels, while another's doesn't? There doesn't seem to be one overwhelming reason, but there are a number of factors that can make a child more likely to develop ADHD.
Like many mental conditions, along with other traits ranging from diabetes to alcoholism to red hair, ADHD seems to run in families. However, since the disorder (called minimal brain dysfunction or hyperactivity in previous decades) may have gone undiagnosed, parents will have to look for clues on their family tree. School failures, delinquency, multiple divorces, employment problems and addictions can all be signs that family members may have had undiagnosed and untreated ADHD.
Smoking, drinking and drug use during pregnancy
Several studies link each of these damaging behaviors with children later developing ADHD. Smoking and drinking are linked to prematurity, another factor in ADHD, but researchers are discovering other links. For example, a 2009 British study found that smoking disrupted the thyroid function of both mother and fetus, which they theorized could lead to chemical imbalances in the infant brain. Smoking can also reduce oxygen flow to the embryo's brain.
Infants born prematurely are more likely to develop ADHD as children. In 2006, Danish researchers found babies born between 34 and 36 weeks were 70 percent more likely to develop the condition later. The "why" of prematurity and ADHD is still a mystery, but theories include lack of oxygen and damage to the brain.
Preschoolers exposed to high levels of lead are more likely to develop ADHD. The brain develops at a breakneck pace during a child's first three years, and lead is thought to disrupt enzymes needed to build the "roadways" of synapses and neurons that process information.
Nutritional Triggers
The idea that sugar makes kids hyper is probably a myth. Medical evidence has found no strong link between sweets and ADHD. However, recent research has indicated that some other food additives, like artificial colors and preservatives, as well as pthalates (chemicals found in some plastics) may contribute to hyperactivity.
You can't do much to prevent ADHD—more and more research links it to genetics. But you can minimize unnecessary risk factors.
- Don't drink, smoke or do drugs while pregnant or trying to conceive (like we even need to tell you!) Follow your doctor's instructions for reducing the chance of preterm labor and delivery, especially if you have special health conditions that put you at risk. Eat healthy, take your vitamins, get your (approved) exercise, and minimize stress.
- Once your baby is born, be wary of environmental risks, like lead paint in older homes (keep in mind it wasn't banned by the US government until 1978). Keep up with the advisories on lead in imported toys and other baby items. Avoid bottles, microwave containers and other items using pthalates.
- Make sure your baby/toddler/young child eats a healthy diet and keeps a regular schedule with plenty of sleep and exercise. While these strategies won't prevent ADHD, a chaotic home or life and unhealthy lifestyle will make an already hyper and/or distracted child worse.
If you feel your child may have ADHD, your first call should be to your pediatrician. Some pediatricians feel comfortable diagnosing and prescribing treatment for ADHD, others may refer you to a specialist, like a developmental pediatrician who specializes in the condition, a neurologist or a psychologist.
Since there is no blood or imaging test to diagnose ADHD, your pediatrician or the specialist will review your child's medical records and conduct a thorough physical examination to rule out other causes for your child's problems, like:
- Poor vision
It's hard to pay attention when you can't see the book, computer or blackboard.
- Poor hearing
Hearing loss can make a child appear as if she's not listening. Even children whose hearing is tested regularly can develop middle ear infections and subsequent hearing problems.
- Hyperthyroidism
If your child's thyroid is producing too much hormone, he could appear nervous or develop a "spacey" stare -- symptoms that mimic ADHD.
- Emotional trauma or response to change
Life events such as divorce, a recent move or a death in the family can alter a child's behavior and cause him to lose interest in school or become aggressive.
- Situational problems
A chaotic classroom, a disorganized home life or chronic lack of sleep can cause children to lose focus or act out.
- Other learning disabilities or mental conditions
Anxiety, depression, dyslexia and other problems can cause symptoms similar to ADHD, or can co-exist with ADHD.
At The Doctor
Finding a Specialist
Your pediatrician may refer you to a specialist to diagnose and/or treat ADHD if she does not diagnose or treat ADHD (or she may refer you for diagnosis, but manage treatment once the diagnosis is made). Developmental pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, social workers and other medical professionals can, if properly licensed, diagnose ADHD. However, only medical professionals can prescribe medication.
If your child has co-existing conditions, like learning disabilities or other mental disorders, that may influence the kind of professional you choose. You also may want to get a referral from your insurance company to ensure diagnosis and treatment are covered. Universities and large hospitals often have ADHD centers and can provide names of specialists. And of course word-of-mouth is always an excellent way to find help.
You can also go to CHADD.org (Children and Adults with ADD) and access CHADD's professional directory. CHADD doesn't endorse or recommend any professionals, but does provide a list sorted by region. Local chapters in your area may also be able to help.
At the Doctor's Visit
Once your doctor eliminates other explanations for your child's behavior, your doctor or a specialist will evaluate your child for ADHD. Come to your appointment prepared.
- Bring a written list of your child's issues, when they started and why they're causing problems. Otherwise, it's too easy to "go blank" when a doctor asks questions.
- Bring all relevant school, medical and daycare records.
- Be prepared to be asked brutally honest questions and give brutally honest answers about your family lifestyle, diet and any recent changes or events that could affect your child's behavior. Does your child routinely stay up past bedtime? Has the family been experiencing any big changes? Honesty is the best way to get your child the help he needs.
- Both parents should come if at all possible. If you're a single parent or only one parent can come, consider bringing a friend or relative.
- Have one person take notes; it's an emotional process and you'll want to remember everything the doctor says.
At your appointment, your doctor will probably:
- Interview you and your child
- Ask a series of questions to see if your child's behavior meets the symptom criteria of the DSM-IV (see symptoms)
- Review school records
- Have you complete rating scales, ie, Does your child have trouble sitting still? Yes, no, somewhat
Your doctor may also want to gather information from teachers, childcare providers and others who have observed your child in his daily life before making a diagnosis.
If your child has demonstrated a significant number of symptoms over a long period of time, and that behavior is wreaking havoc on his life in and outside the home, your doctor will most likely diagnose ADHD.
There is no "cure" for ADHD, but your doctor will suggest a number of treatment strategies that can help control your child's symptoms and make it easier for him to lead a normal, happy, successful life. Common treatment strategies include a combination of medication, behavioral therapy, parent training and school accommodations. Although controversy has continued to shadow ADHD treatments, most research shows that a combination of medication and behavioral therapy is most effective for most children.
Treatment can begin immediately, but while some children see nearly instant improvements, others must try a number of medications, dosages and therapies before getting optimum results.
Seventy to 80 percent of children with ADHD respond to treatment with stimulants, so this is often the first line of defense. Doctors sometimes prescribe nonstimulants for the approximately 20 to 30 percent of children with ADHD who don't respond to stimulant treatment.
There are over a dozen stimulant medications on the market, but here are the most common.
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana, Metadate, Methylin, Focalin): The most widely-used drug therapy for ADHD and still the most common.
- Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall)
- Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
- Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse)
It seems strange that giving stimulants to an already hyper child could help, but researchers believe they may help adjust the levels of neurotransmitters in the brains of ADHD children. Stimulants can be prescribed in short-acting and long-acting forms, so your child may take medication as often as three times a day or perhaps only once a day. Medications come in pill, liquid, capsule and patch forms.
Most children experience some side effects, the most common being insomnia, decreased appetite, or weight loss. Occasionally, kids will experience irritability or a "rebound" effect when the medication wears off. Very rare side effects can include facial tics, which most often disappear with a lower dose or change in medication, and a reduced growth rate. Kids should be screened for any pre-existing heart conditions before starting stimulants.
Nonstimulant medication
There are two nonstimulants specifically for ADHD treatment in children.
- Atomoxetine (Strattera): Strattera increases the levels of the neurotransmitter/hormone norepinephrine to the brain. Researchers think this chemical plays a key role in focus and attention. This drug may also reduce anxiety. Strattera can cause some rare but very serious side effects, including jaundice and other liver problems, and suicidal thinking.
- Guanfacine (Intuniv): This newer form of Tenex, a drug for high blood pressure, was approved for ADHD treatment in fall 2009. Again, doctors are not really certain why it works, but it may help control behavior by affecting the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that serves as a check on our impulses. The most common side effects of Intuniv are tiredness and sleepiness. Other side effects may include low blood pressure and low heart rate, dizziness, fainting episodes and nausea.
Therapy can be important in treating ADHD, either alone or with medication. Many parents object to giving their children drugs before first trying other strategies. Others start with therapy and then progress to therapy plus medication, often when school becomes more complex and challenging. A good doctor will work with you to find the treatment strategy best suited for your family and your child. (Get help starting your search.)
Individual and family sessions with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other counselor specializing in ADHD can help children and families deal with the anger and frustration it can cause and create a more positive environment for working on coping strategies.
Behavioral Modification
Medication can help a child focus, but behavioral techniques will give him (and you!) concrete methods to help change his behavior, often through charts that provide visual reminders and offer rewards for positive actions, like remembering books or standing quietly in line (For some sample free charts for every age group, go to the Association for Comprehensive Neurotherapy). Children, parents and teachers or caregivers can learn behavioral therapy techniques from psychiatrists, psychologists, or other counselors (sometimes called coaches) who specialize in ADHD.
Parent training
Kids with ADHD don't always respond typically to common parenting techniques. If you ask them to set the table, and they don't do it, they may need a warning or two before you lower the boom. Parent training provides ADHD-specific strategies for discipline as well as teaching organization and problem-solving skills.
Some tips on parenting children with ADHD include:
Reinforce natural consequences of actions
Most children will learn from their mistakes, but ADHD children may not make the connection between actions and consequences the way parents expect. Most kids who, for example, swing from a second story banister and break an arm will know not to do it again. An ADHD child may come home from the ER, climb back up on the banister, cast and all, and break his other arm. ADHD children who push, shove and annoy other children can be puzzled when they don't have friends. Even if it seems obvious, parents should stress (in a positive and loving way) the cause and effect relationship between a child's behavior and results.
Use positive discipline
While with non-ADHD children parents often can simply correct misbehaviors, with ADHD kids it is better to focus on teaching and reinforcing good behavior rather than waiting for mistakes. For instance, don't just give a time out for pushing on the playground, give your child praise or a sticker for playing appropriately.
Be clear and consistent
This is a good idea with all children, but essential for those with ADHD, who can't intuit what parents want if it isn't spelled out clearly for them. Don't say "Play nice!" Instead tell your child "Do not hit or push. If you do, we'll have to leave the park." Don't say "Behave for Grandma" but instead "Only walking is allowed in Grandma's house" or "Last time at Grandma's you drew on the walls. She was sad and you had a timeout. Here is your paper. It is the only thing you are allowed to draw on."
Support groups
Peer support can give families coping with ADHD encouragement, advice and information. Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD) lists local affiliates, many of which offer support groups, on its website, chadd.org.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Type "natural cures for ADHD" into your browser and discover just how many people are willing to take your money—and possibly harm your child!
Currently, medical evidence does not support the idea of alternative therapies for ADHD, although there is some promising research into certain diets and neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback where children look at visual images of their brainwaves and learn to control them—therefore controlling the ADHD behaviors that produce them.
A 2001 study on 56 boys with ADHD showed symptom improvement in the 19 boys who received Interactive Metronome Training, a computerized simulation of the simple piano metronome. This promising study launched a whole industry of metronome training, when really what is needed is more research.
No legit scientific evidence backs up online favorites like megadoses of vitamins or herbal remedies for ADHD, and these supplements are so poorly regulated that you can never be sure what you are buying or giving your child.
If you do wish to explore complementary therapies (those done in conjunction with, rather than as an alternative to, conventional medicine), try those that are first of all harmless, and second can benefit health in some way, even if they're not proven for ADHD. Examples include yoga or eliminating food additives in your child's diet. But always consult your doctor first.
Also, remember that complementary medicine doesn't necessarily mean taking a pill or eating special foods. Activities like exercise, soothing music at meal or bedtime, and a schedule that ensures your child gets adequate sleep can all be considered "therapy" for ADHD.
School Strategies
Public school districts are required by federal law to offer reasonable accommodations for kids with ADHD under section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a civil rights act. Your child's teacher can put you in touch with the appropriate special education administrators in your school district.
Children may also qualify for school services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Your school district's special education team will know which law applies to your child. Children who qualify for services under IDEA (IDEA can sometimes provide more extensive accommodations than a 504 plan) will receive an Individualized Education Plan or IEP that will spell out just how the school will accommodate your child and what their goals for his education are. The plan will be reviewed and needed changes made each year. For more information, go to https://idea.ed.gov. Even preschoolers can sometimes qualify if they are identified through Child Find, the government early intervention program, although ADHD is most often diagnosed in school-age children.
Parents may be hesitant to have a 504 plan or IEP for their child for fear of stigmatizing them. (This is probably a leftover from the days when "special ed" was segregated from the rest of the school and often a dumping ground for anyone teachers couldn't deal with.) But a 504 or IEP is really just a way to make sure the school is working together as a team to help your child achieve maximum success in school. It also offers parents legal protection and remedies if the school does not make needed accommodations. Teachers and administrators are not going to share this information with students. And remember, ADHD is such a common disorder that it's likely numerous children at your child's school will have the most common accommodations, like extra time on tests.
Parents who choose religious or other private schools will have to organize accommodations outside this official process (unless they are referred to private schools because the local school system cannot accommodate their child). These schools may not offer the same level of support for ADHD children. However, they may have smaller class sizes and other advantages for children with ADHD. Parents will have to evaluate the differences and the cost, and make the decision.
You can also encourage your child's teacher or principal to attend a seminar or workshop on ADHD, where they can learn more about behavior modification and other strategies to help their classroom run more smoothly for all students.
Children with ADHD can be angry, frustrated and depressed, especially before they're diagnosed and treated. Think about it -- kids love to please. Imagine trying, day after day, and failing miserably, and wondering what is wrong with you and why you are different. Kids reports feelings of sadness, anger and frustration:
- "It's like he's in a three ring circus trying to juggle five things—and he can't juggle," says Carla Nickerson, of Largo, FL of her son, Jacob Aylen, 11. Jacob and his step brother both have ADHD.
- "In kindergarten he cried a lot and was very sad and felt he couldn't do things to the expectations of teachers and parents," says Penny Williams, of Asheville, NC, mother of Emma, 10 and Luke, 7. Luke was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago.
- Jeanne Bailey's daughter, now 16, of Alexandria, VA began to have problems keeping up in school age nine and worked hard to compensate in school. Under that pressure, she became explosively angry with family members at home.
Because children don't know they have a medical condition, they may not share their feelings with parents until after they start treatment and realize the difference in their ability to keep up with peers and control their behavior. Once they realize they are not "bad" or "stubborn" or "spacey," they can feel relief.
"When I take my medication, I hear everything," is how her stepson describes it to stepmother Carla Nickerson. When Jacob Aylen's medication wears off, he tells his mother, "I'm so confused, I need to take my pill so I can 'come back.'"
Getting ADHD diagnosed and treated early can make a positive difference in a child's attitude and personality, says Karran Harper Royal, of New Orleans, the parent of two sons with ADHD, Khristopher, now 23, and Kendrick, 14. Kendrick was diagnosed more quickly than his brother because Harper Royal knew about ADHD the second time around. "Kendrick did not go through years of getting kicked out of the classroom and it makes a difference in his whole disposition. He doesn't have that built-up anger and rage."
Some kids may be embarrassed about having ADHD. Parents, doctors and counselors each play an important role in making children feel confident and comfortable with the fact they have a medical condition that needs treatment, just like asthma or diabetes. For children who find reporting to the school nurse for meds embarrassing, long-acting medications that can be given at home and last the whole school day can help.
Mom's Experience
Parents of ADHD kids often experience some of the same feelings as their children—frustration, anger, sorrow and a sense of failure.
- When Khristopher was little, Karran Harper Royal had never heard of ADHD. All she knew is that she was the mother of the "bad" child in kindergarten. She even quit her job to work in the classroom to try and control Khris. "It was always 'Mrs. Royal, Khris did this, Khris did that!' He was always being put out of the classroom," she remembers. She was humiliated—and worried. Her brothers had behaved just like Khris, and ended up as dropouts. One even went to prison. When a teacher told her about ADHD and she had her son evaluated, she was relieved—he had a condition that could be treated. (Khris is now a successful musician who attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.)
- One of the most difficult decisions, parents say, is whether or not to put their children on medication. Because ADHD is a mental condition and there are no specific tests, like MRIs or blood tests, to diagnose it, some critics insist it doesn't exist, despite the fact that the same thing is true of other conditions, like depression and schizophrenia. Acquaintances and family members not educated about ADHD can be dismissive and even cruel.
- "Society is so judgmental," says Carla Nickerson. "People say 'how do you know it's truly a syndrome or disease?' Even I thought it was crazy!" She notes that no one criticizes her in the same way for giving Jacob, who also has diabetes, insulin.
- "It took me about three or four days of grieving before I agreed to do the medication," says Penny Williams. "Like the general public, I had this [mistaken] idea that I was going to medicate my child to get him to comply."
Once ADHD is diagnosed and kids are started on a course of treatment, parents say things get smoother—but only with hard work. Parents have to rethink their discipline and organizational techniques, keep up with medication schedules, watch for troubling side effects, and advocate with schools so their children get accommodations and the best education possible. Many describe it as a full time job.
"I had to stay involved every step of the way," says Harper Royal of raising two sons with ADHD. But the payoff, she says, has been huge.. "I don't have to worry about my son going to jail or being a drug user." (statistics say children with untreated ADHD are more likely to do drugs or get into trouble with the law.) "He's made good choices."
Age-By-Age Guide
There is no legitimate way to diagnose an infant with ADHD, but the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that all of the following can be signs of a tendency to develop ADHD later.
- Colic
- Poor sucking/frequent feedings
- Irritability
- Thumb sucking
- Difficult to comfort/dislikes being held
- Poor sleeper
Of course many babies exhibit these behaviors and do not go on to develop ADHD. They're of more concern if the baby has other risk factors, such as a family history of ADHD or prenatal exposure to drugs, alcohol or cigarettes.
Diagnosing toddlers with ADHD is extremely controversial since developmentally, most lack impulse control and have short attention spans. However, children that will later be diagnosed with ADHD can exhibit these traits to the point where they are actually dangerous—hitting, taking toys, even dashing into the street—on an ongoing basis. Children with ADHD may have frequent and violent temper tantrums, and be poor sleepers and picky eaters as toddlers. (But please remember, none of these signs guarantees your child will have ADHD!)
Some parents do seek diagnosis and treatment for very young children with severe behavioral issues. But because the brain is still rapidly developing at this point and few psychiatric medications are approved for very young children since side effects can be severe and troubling, doctors are most likely to recommend only parental training and behavior modification.
Grade-school Children
The vast majority of children are diagnosed with ADHD during the first few years of school when their inability to focus and lack of control make learning and social functioning difficult.
Children with ADHD may be rude, aggressive or inattentive in class. They are likely to forget assignments and lose materials. Many will fall behind because of ADHD behaviors or learning disabilities, which are common in children with ADHD. However, ADHD children can be extremely bright and may compensate, working feverishly to get good grades. Children with ADHD may have difficulty behaving appropriately on sports teams, at parties and on family outings. ADHD behaviors can cause family stress and strain parental relationships and marriages.
Once diagnosed with ADHD, children are most often treated with a combination of medication and therapy, however, some will only need one or the other. These therapies are effective in most children, but they're not magic—many ADHD children will struggle more than their peers to succeed in school and social environments.
Early diagnosis and intervention is key to later success for ADHD children. Thanks to federal civil rights laws, public schools are required to provide accommodations or strategies and aids to enable children with ADHD to learn and compete with their non-ADHD classmates.
The Middle School Years
Many kids who have the inattentive type may be diagnosed for the first time around this age. Whether your middle schooler's been recently diagnosed or not, an increasingly difficult curriculum and adolescent hormones can wreak havoc in the lives of ADHD kids (not to mention their parents!) Parents, teachers and doctors need to be ready to readjust treatment strategies, including changing medications and doses, and developing new methods for organizing more complex schedules.
Middle schoolers should also begin to take more responsibility for their decisions and therapy. Some experts recommend that kids take a "holiday" from medication if they want and see how it affects their lives and their school performance. Otherwise it can become an area of conflict with parents.
Behavioral therapy should also focus on strategies that kids, rather than parents, can employ to remember homework and materials. Color coded charts will give way to notebook or computer organizers.
Beyond Middle School
All teens are impulsive, but since ADHD kids can be even more so, the dangers that lurk for all teens—car accidents, drinking, drug abuse and irresponsible sex—are magnified for them. Experts used to think children outgrew ADHD in their teen years, but now research indicates that about 60 percent of children with ADHD will have the condition as adults, although symptoms become less severe over time. That's why it is important for children to continue treatment and for parents to continue to advocate for their education. ADHD students may qualify for accommodations like extra time on standardized tests in high school and college.
Experts say teens who have learned how to schedule themselves and how to make appropriate decisions through therapy earlier in life will be less likely to struggle in school and with social relationships during the critical teen years. This will boost their self-esteem and lead to happier, healthier kids.
There are many ADHD websites on the web, but surf carefully! Some are selling bogus "miracle cures." Others are focused on political agendas surrounding diagnosis and medication. The following will give you facts, support and links to other legitimate sources of information.
Children and Adults with ADD (CHADD)
Possibly the best comprehensive website on ADHD with fact sheets, connections to local groups, educational info and more.
National Resource Center on ADHD
This site is the clearinghouse for all the latest news on ADHD research.
The website of Patricia O.Quinn, MD and Kathleen Nadeau, PhD. You'll find lots of easy-to-digest information on ADHD, with an emphasis on girls and women.
ADHD Momma
Follow Penny Williams' great blog on being an ADHD parent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


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If you're like me, you're stoked that the waves and wind are beginning to fire up on the coast. Or...you are just getting into wave sailing and thinking that now is a good time to get dialed in. Either way, I've been at Waddell the last couple weekends and feel that a refresher may be necessary for fun times to be had by all.
Just a few tips to have a good time at places like Waddell. I will use Waddell as the location here but it applies to all wave spots.
This can be argued over and over but the general rules of the road are different in the ocean. It is more of a surfers right of way than a kiters right of way. Kiters are there to catch waves...that's it. There are often limited set waves and when a rider works hard to get one, you don't want to be the guy/gal who messes it up for them.
1. The rider closest to the peak has the right of way no matter what tack you are on. I will repeat this in different formats as it seems to be the main issue.
2. When heading off the beach (starboard tack) at Waddell, you need to keep your eyes pealed for incoming wave riders. If someone is infront of a wave and upwind of you (north) they are likely going to make a bottom turn and head down the line (covering a lot of downwind territory as they go. If you are standing on the beach ready to go out, it is best to let the set go by and let the riders get their waves, then make a pass at going out. Keep your kite over the beach so as not to have it in the way of wave riders. If you can slip out downwind of a wave rider give them more than an entire line length of room downwind. It is yoru responsibility to stay way out of the way of the wave rider...go way downwind and work your way back upwind on the outside.
3. When riding a wave: Look upwind. If someone else is on the wave, get off. This means if you are on the wave and someone else is closer to the peak, give them the wave (pull out the back). It's the same as surfing. The guy closest to the peak has the wave. Don't milk it and then get off when they get close...you inhibit their ability to work their kite down the line and you make the wave section out ahead of them.
4. Never take a wave from the outgoing tack (chicken jibe) unless there is noone anywher near that wave. (I had this happen to me three times at Waddell this weekend and the second time resulted in wrapped kites and the third, I actually had to give up my wave to avoid wrapped kites.)
5. If you've never kited Waddell, do as I have seen a few wave newbs do and spend some time watching the rotation and catching kites. You will really learn a lot about kiting there and earn good graces from the local crew.
These are the main points I feel are quite important to safe and fun wave riding. If anyone has anything to add, please do so. For many, it is a long drive and to have your session ruined b/c someone didn't know what they were doing and your kite wound up in the drink just sucks. Riders at places like Waddell have good memories and it's not a place you really want to be noticed.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Former Baltimore Ravens Chris Carr has signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers, the team announced.
Cut by the Minnesota Vikings during their final major roster cutdown, Carr recently visited the New York Jets.
Carr was due a $2.5 million base salary and carried a $3.45 million salary-cap figure for next season before being cut by the Ravens.
Carr signed a three-year, $14 million contract with Baltimore last year that included a $3.8 million signing bonus.
"Chris is an experienced player," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "I was fortunate to be with him for a couple years in Oakland. He's bounced around the league a little bit but has played at a high level. He's been a starter in a couple of places so he brings experience. He can play in the slot and on the outside, so he's a good addition for us."
For his career, Carr has 209 tackles and six interceptions playing for the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and the Ravens.
He was due base salaries of $3 million and $4 million in 2013 and 2014.
Carr dealt with hamstring and back injuries that limited him to nine games last season after starting every game the previous year.
His production dipped last season from 67 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass deflections and three forced fumbles in 2010.
Last season, he started one game and recorded 19 tackles, one sack, three pass deflections and no interceptions.
"I'm extremely excited to join the Chargers," Carr said. "I know a lot of coaches on this staff and a lot of players. They're a contender and a good team that competes year after year. San Diego is a beautiful place, so I'm really excited about this opportunity."


text:
In the late 1960s and early '70s, a divorce revolution swept the nation. For the first time, state legislation—pioneered by California—permitted a divorce to be obtained unilaterally. Eventually, two-thirds of the United States followed suit, bringing about a mass rethinking and restructuring of the American family.
Divorce rates doubled. Families splintered. Only a few states—including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—retained tough barriers to the dissolution of marriage: specified grounds and a substantial burden of proof. Elsewhere, those barriers were dismantled.
Before this social revolution, a wedding was seen as entrée to a fixed, stable, and permanent set of social and economic circumstances. "Women entered marriage expecting it to define their entire lives," says Kristin Mammen, an assistant professor of economics who graduated from Columbia, holds a PhD from Princeton, and has done extensive research on the economic well-being of women and children. At Barnard, Mammen teaches courses on statistics and the economics of gender, and advises upperclass students on their senior thesis. She continues, "The increasing divorce rates between 1965 and 1975 changed these expectations. There was a strong sense of dislocation. Older housewives had expected never to work, and were especially hard-hit."
But widespread divorce reform was never meant to create economic parity between men and women. The new legislation came into being because, prior to liberalization, perjury ran rampant in matrimonial hearings. In many instances, law firms hired women to pose with their clients (divorce-seeking husbands) for incriminating hotel-room photos, in order to furnish courts with supposed evidence of adultery. "Husbands lied, wives lied, and judges were complicit," Mammen says.
Widespread dishonesty made a mockery of the court system, and liberalization was needed to restore integrity. The laws weren't intended to numerically affect divorce rates at all. But legislators grossly underestimated what the public response would be. The divorce rate doubled from 1965 to 1975, and although the rate has declined slightly since 1980, it's projected that 40 percent of today's marriages will end in divorce.
For decades, scholars have studied divorce's impact on women, children, and families. Today it is common wisdom that women's financial resources decrease about 30 percent after divorce, whereas men's increase about 10 percent. Less recognized is how this massive social revolution affected the attitudes and circumstances of those who were launching their careers when the divorce laws were changing—even if they weren't themselves members of divorcing households.
In 2006, seeing that no one else had focused on the long-term effects of the divorce law liberalizatoin on those who were young adults in the late 1960s, Mammen set out to analyze the data and to discuss what the research revealed about contemporary society. "I've always been interested in how women's economic well-being is affected by their biological and traditional roles in childrearing and homemaking," she says.
Mammen isolated data for people who, in the late 1960s and early '70s, were between 16 and 25 years old—the years when people traditionally enter the workforce. She compared the residents of the reform states to those in states that hadn't changed their divorce laws.
She found that, as divorce rates climbed in the reform states, something fascinating happened among older teenagers and young adults. Her evidence suggests that around the time of the legislative change, young women in the reform states began entering the labor force in greater numbers. And today, those same women are more likely than other women to still be working. They also continue to earn more, and to be more financially secure.
Mammen says that even if a woman's own marriage lasted, because that woman perceived an increase in the overall risk of divorce, she would likely adjust her family and career decisions. She might especially choose to spend less time at home and more time in the workforce, in order to protect herself in case her marriage did end. As a result, American women entered a new age of autonomy.
But with autonomy came tradeoffs. On average, wealthier people are thinner, eat better, and receive better medical care. Yet, while Mammen's reform-state subjects—male and female—are by and large wealthier than their counterparts, they suffer from poorer health. The reason, Mammen speculates, is that when two people specialize—one in the labor market, the other in home production—both may be better off, health-wise. One person has a high-powered career, walks in the door and gets a hot dinner. The other can schedule doctor's appointments and cook healthy meals. Both get more sleep. But Mammen believes that with more women entering the labor market, this division of labor diminishes, possibly explaining the negative health effects in her subjects. Especially in the past, there was little social support for women taking on the dual roles of breadwinner and homemaker. And even today, although men increasingly take part, many women struggle to fit these two full-time jobs into a 24-hour day.
When couples do divorce, Mammen says, the financial hit is "greatest for middle-class women and women in older marriages." But, she adds, their "identities are not as tied to being married as they used to be, [and they] are better prepared to support themselves and their children."
More recently, Mammen researched the impact of children's gender on the probability of divorce and child support. "Previous research indicates that having boys in a marriage has a small but measurable affect in keeping marriages from ending," she says. Mammen decided to go a step further and study the impact of a child's gender on child-support payments. She found no impact, and last year published her first paper on those findings.
Mammen, who is herself happily married with two daughters, 17 and 10, and who rejoices in the rise of women's independence, also waxes philosophical about the persistence of traditional roles amid immense social change: "There's been a lot of progress for women. The gender wage gap has decreased. More women than men graduate from college these days," she acknowledges. "But family responsibilities do appear to hold women back in earnings. Women with kids earn less than those without, while having children makes no difference to men's wages." She further notes the irony of women being the economic lifeline for children: "Often, the ultimate responsibility for kids is pushed onto the people who are least able to provide."
-Jean Tang, illustration by Chris Silas Neal


text:
Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
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No. Do you know the difference between sex and a legal contract? The mother doesn't want it. If you're the one forcing her to bear and birth the child, then it's only fair that you assume the obligation to take care of it.
You don't define human life at conception. You define human life at the implantation of a human soul.
I'm sorry if you cannot resolve your opinions, but that doesn't mean you get to be disingenuous.
For the cost of legislating your opinion. If you want to make a law that says that cooking must be taught in grade school, you have to provide a source of funding for the kitchens. If you want to make a law that brings babies into the world that the mothers do not want, then you have to pay. Take responsibility.
I always say what I mean. But sometimes I'm a sarcastic prick whose tone can't be properly communicated via text.
You said you would gladly take responsibility. What have you already done, to that end? What responsibility have you taken on yourself, to take care of unwanted children that were not aborted? Adoption is the most direct way to do this. How many children have you adopted this year?
There are states with only one clinic that performs abortions [insert medical procedure]. Many people live hours from the nearest clinic that performs the procedure. What if you don't have a car? How are you going to get there? What if you are working for minimum wage? How are you going to afford it?
Many states have imposed 72-hour waiting periods. Why?
Did you know that 16 states have never even overturned their abortion prohibitions since Roe v. Wade made them unconstitutional?
Do you intend to make a woman seeking an abortion hire a lawyer and file suit against the state, out of pocket?
As someone who has tried to sue a state agency himself, I can attest to the difficulty in even finding an attorney that is without conflict of interest (i.e. a lawyer that has never done work for the state), not to even talk about competence or affordability or willingness to take a case suing for abortion rights. Most states make a point of hiring every decent attorney at least once so that they won't ever have to face them in court. If you think that sounds absurd and paranoid, you're right. It does sound absurd and paranoid. Unfortunately, it's also absolutely true.
Parental notification, spousal notification, both obstacles, both completely unnecessary.
Many states severely restrict abortions based on type of procedure and stage of pregnancy.
46 states have laws that allow medical personnel to opt out of performing abortions [insert medical procedure] due to personal beliefs.
Five states prohibit public employees from offering any referrals to abortion facilities.
Some states force medical practitioners to read or present materials to the person considering an abortion, materials that are often patently false.
Many states refuse to allocate any public funding for abortions.
Five states prohibit insurers from paying for abortions either, unless a special premium is paid. Pennsylvania requires insurers to provide policy alternatives, excluding abortion.
There are also many states with laws restricting use of chemical abortion techniques and access to emergency contraception.
Some states require proof of sexual assault as necessary evidence for receiving certain services.
As has become somewhat infamous, the woman currently on the Republican ticket for vice-President passed a law in her town requiring women who wanted to demonstrate that they had been victims of sexual assault to pay for their own "rape kits", at a cost of between $500 and $1200 dollars. At federal minimum wage, $500 is about the post-tax wages for 100 hours of work. $1200 is about 250 hours. What do you think the likelihood is that the average woman you see walking home from work at night has savings amounting to between 2 and 6 weeks of full-time work? How about your average high-schooler? Or community college student? Or waitress?


text:
Lin Jensen
Steve Hagen
Genpo Roshi (even if he sometime teaches by showing us what not to do)
My parents
The little sense of mystery and suspicion that lets me believe the Buddha may have been onto something instead of being on something.
Mother nature, her topography, ebb and flow, flora and fauna, rocks and water, soil and space, human shame and human dignity.
Sorry I feel so Zenny today. It's a byproduct of life.Zen wrote:Before practice, there are mountains and valleys. During practice, there are no mountains and no valleys. After practice, there are mountains and valleys.
You forgot to put me on your list... just kidding, but that is quite a long list. If you had to pick your top 5 (most influential - however you decide to determine that), who would you pick? The reason I ask is from your previous posts I respect your opinion, but I need to know where to start on your list.


text:
Is there any way to run it on mac osx? I know that cpulimit works fine on osx
Is there any way to run it on mac osx? I know that cpulimit works fine on osx
@gagginaspinnata, I don't know, I don't have a mac, but osx is a unix like system, so it may work. You will need to test it to see how it is working - most probably the start-up scripts will not work, but cpulimit deamon could.
I have two processes on my server with the same name and using your scripts it only traps one of them.
So for example is you ran this commend twice to generate fake load.
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null &
And then in the blacklist you set the variable equal to dd
it would only trap the first instance of the process name. Can you let me know how I can trap all processes with this name on the server rather than just the first one.
P.S. abcuser - u provided an awesome script.
Don't limit root processes. When I tried to limit Xorg process via
gnome-terminal, system hanged(ubuntu 12.04).
Please add "root" to white list as below
I realise this thread is a few years old already, but I found it only today and I can confirm the script is still very useful. It works and it is very clever. Thank you, Abcuser, if you are still reading this.
There is one small change I had to make, which was to insertas the second line (after #!/bin/bash of course). Since the script uses the output of top and other commands, this line makes sure this output conforms to the default locale.Code:export LANG=C
For instance, the CPU usage column in top is shown with a comma as the decimal seperator in LANG=nl_NL.UTF-8, which is my system locale, but the script expects a decimal point.
It makes sense to always use LANG=C in every script you write. Or at least, if you are going to publish them on an international web forum...
@Olav, thanks for your info. I can't edit first post in this thread anymore. I can't do it for years... some forum policy that old post can't be changed.
There was also another decision that tutorials are moved to some wiki or something... don't know in my humble opinion bad decision, because in forum you can always get feedback as author of tutorial and end-users can report bugs, ideas etc. So double way communication, collaboration etc.
I have an issue with this daemon.
I'm using it on Debian GNU/Linux 7.3 .
The problem is that it keeps crashing the MySQL server.
If I stop the daemon, MySQL works normally.
To debug this, I tried running "/usr/bin/cpulimit_daemon.sh" in console.
And this is what I get:
while the script is still waiting.Code:root@hsh:~# /usr/bin/cpulimit_daemon.sh /usr/bin/cpulimit_daemon.sh: line 9: tar|zip: command not found
After a short period of time, I get this:
And this is the moment I get MySQL crashed. The MySQL crash is confirmed by /var/log/syslog also:Code:Process 20913 detected Process 20913 dead!
If I let the script running, it keeps crashing MySQL on and on.Code:Jan 13 10:12:07 hsh mysqld_safe: Number of processes running now: 1 Jan 13 10:12:07 hsh mysqld_safe: mysqld process hanging, pid 20913 - killed Jan 13 10:12:07 hsh mysqld_safe: mysqld restarted
In /usr/bin/cpulimit_daemon.sh at line 9, i have the following code:
tar and zip are the proccesses I'm watching for not to override my limit.Code:BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST= "tar|zip" # Limit only processes defined in this variable. If variable is empty (default) all violating processes are limited.
No matter if I write any process in the black list or not, I keep getting MySQL crashed.
Does anyone have any clue about this?
Last edited by likudio; January 13th, 2014 at 11:06 AM.
It looks to me that NEW_PIDS_COMMAND also gets into MySQL process. Maybe NEW_PIDS_COMMAND variable is not correctly assined by deamon.
In terminal can you please execute command:
Please look at the last column of above output. Is there any of MySQL process involved? Please post the output to this forum.Code:top -b -n1 -c | grep -E 'tar|zip'
Grep command above looks for regular expression pattern!!! For example if process name (from top command) returns e.g. mysqltar (notice tar in the name of the process) then this process is going to be assigned to NEW_PIDS_COMMAND. It looks to me that at least one of MySQL process has 'tar' or 'zip' in its name.
So for example if above command returns the: "mysqltar" and you would like to limit only "tar" you can use a regular expression to properly filter out only "tar". So try this out or one of its variations (with or without ^ OR with or without $)
Note: ^ - is a special character that tells grep that string has to be the FIRST character in the line.Code:BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST= "^tar$|^zip$"
Note: $ - the same as above but LAST.
Hope this helps. If not then please reply to this forum the output of first command above.
Last edited by abcuser; January 13th, 2014 at 01:27 PM.
Nope, that doesn't seem to be the issue.
Here's the only output of your command:
No MySQL process involved in the grep pattern.Code:root@hsh:~# top -b -n1 -c | grep -E 'tar|zip' 24753 root 20 0 7780 880 768 S 0 0.0 0:00.00 grep -E tar|zip
I even tried to delete all the string from the blacklist line and still crashes MySQL, even without having any text in the pattern string.
Line 9 looks like this now:
...and the result:Code:BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST= "" # Limit only processes defined in this variable. If variable is empty (default) all violating processes are limited.
Confirmed by /var/log/syslog:Code:root@hsh:~# /usr/bin/cpulimit_daemon.sh /usr/bin/cpulimit_daemon.sh: line 9: : command not found Process 23990 detected Process 23990 dead! ^C
So the issue still remains.Code:Jan 13 14:42:00 hsh mysqld_safe: Number of processes running now: 1 Jan 13 14:42:00 hsh mysqld_safe: mysqld process hanging, pid 23990 - killed Jan 13 14:42:00 hsh mysqld_safe: mysqld restarted
But, as a side question... if the purpose of the daemon is to limit the CPU usage, why does it crash?
It has to do with mysql_safe which thinks that the proccess is hanging and tries to restart it, right?
Anyway, this was just a side question.
Still can't figure it out why does it try to limit the MySQL process (and crashes it also)...
As a (PHP) developer, I started to debug the code.
I have put the following echos in the if lines to see which block gets execute.
It's pretty hard for me as I don't know exactly the bash syntax... but I hope I'll figure it out. (any help is appreciated).
And I get 40 all the time, no matter what I put in variables.Code:# Check if one of the variables BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST or WHITE_PROCESSES_LIST is defined. if [[ -n "$BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST" && -n "$WHITE_PROCESSES_LIST" ]] ; then # If both variables are defined then error is produced. echo "At least one or both of the variables BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST or WHITE_PROCESSES_LIST must be empty." echo 10; exit 1 elif [[ -n "$BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST" ]] ; then # If this variable is non-empty then set NEW_PIDS_COMMAND variable to bellow command NEW_PIDS_COMMAND="top -b -n1 -c | grep -E '$BLACK_PROCESSES_LIST' | gawk '\$9>CPU_LIMIT {print \$1}' CPU_LIMIT=$CPU_LIMIT" echo 20; elif [[ -n "$WHITE_PROCESSES_LIST" ]] ; then # If this variable is non-empty then set NEW_PIDS_COMMAND variable to bellow command NEW_PIDS_COMMAND="top -b -n1 -c | gawk 'NR>6' | grep -E -v '$WHITE_PROCESSES_LIST' | gawk '\$9>CPU_LIMIT {print \$1}' CPU_LIMIT=$CPU_LIMIT" echo 30; else NEW_PIDS_COMMAND="top -b -n1 -c | gawk 'NR>6 && \$9>CPU_LIMIT {print \$1}' CPU_LIMIT=$CPU_LIMIT" echo 40; fi
So... the last if block gets executed and that's the reason why I get MySQL crashed.
1. I'll let you know as soon as I get any more information... I don't know why the first if blocks don't get executed.
2. Anyway... the script purpose it's to limit the cpu usage, but MySQL crashes. How to avoid that? I still think that mysqld_safe thinks that the server is hanging and it restarts it... I have to find a way to avoid that.
Last edited by likudio; January 13th, 2014 at 09:20 PM.


text:
Alexander Skarsgard: Hot, Flat, and Crowded!
True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard arrives back home to Los Angeles via LAX airport with his Battleship director Peter Berg on Saturday (July 10).
The pair just returned from Honolulu, Hawaii, where they worked on their new movie, Battleship.
Alex was seen carrying around the book, "Hot, Flat, and Crowded 2.0," which explains why we need a green revolution – and how it can renew America. Looks like Alex is looking into the perils of our resource-strapped world!
15+ pictures inside of Alexander Skarsgard back from his trip to Hawaii…


text:
West Mullan Fire Winding Down – Now 75% Contained [AUDIO]
The West Mullan fire that has been burning near Superior since July 14 is now on the downhill side, after nearly a thousand personnel worked the fire and over $7 million dollars has been spent.
Fire Information Officer Pat McKelvey says mop-up activity is producing a little more smoke that usual.
"There was some burning that went on today," McKelvey said. "People are seeing a little more smoke that usual coming off the north end of the fire. Even though we had those containment lines brought together after the night shift, we still had to go in there and burn those pockets of fuel out that were left between the line and the actual fire itself."
McKelvey said the U.S. Forest Service firefighting teams are preparing to hand off the job to local crews.
"We're working with the local district and with the Lolo National Forest to get their turn-back status. We'll see how far into the black do they want this cooled by our forces, and then what do they want left."
The Mineral County Sheriff's office is now actively searching for information as to who started the fire, using a Crimestoppers news release. The fire started near the junction of Mullan Road West and Pardee Creek Road, with a reward offered of $1,000. The fire has cost over $7 million dollars to fight.
West Mullan Fire Information Officer Pat McKelvey


text:
Amanda Plummer — whom you may have seen on LA Law, in The Fisher King, or as Honey Bunny (as in, "be cool Honey Bunny") in Pulp Fiction — has been cast as Wiress in Catching Fire. Wiress is a verteran tribute whom the others nickname "Nuts," and Plummer often plays slightly unhinged characters, so she fits the bill.
Meanwhile, we're still waiting on Finnick casting news.


text:
GlitchingGecko's Congrats Game, Round 4
Posted 24 August 2010 - 11:06 AM
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
It's 2 years later.
You've finished college and moved in with your boyfriend.
You've both settled down into careers, and your child has started school when you find out you're pregnant with twins!
His Job
1 - FireFighter
2 - Police Officer
3 - Construction Worker
4 - Truck Driver
5 - Bank Clerk
6 - Journalist
Your Job
1 - Teacher
2 - Photographer
3 - Accountant
4 - Doctor
5 - Receptionist
6 - Social Worker
1 or 2 - Girl/Girl
3 or 4 - Boy/Boy
5 or 6 - Boy/Girl
First Names
Middle Names
Eye Colour
Even - Yours
Odd - His
Hair Colour
Even - Yours
Odd - His
Posted 24 August 2010 - 11:48 AM
Me: Violet Pearl Phillips
BF: Everett Levi King
DS: Ethan Paul
DS/DD: Max Austin / Grace Matilda
Posted 24 August 2010 - 12:34 PM
Roan Imogen Murphy & Brian Abel Green
My name is Roan Imogen Murphy. When I was a junior in highschool I became pregnant. My boyfriend at the time, Clay Zachary Foster, didn't want anything to do with the child. On August 18th the summer before my senior year of highschool I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Jane Imogen Murphy.
[Jane at age 1 year (L) at age 3 years ®]
With my parents help I was able to finish highschool and go to college. In college I met the man in my life, Brian Abel Green. It is now three years later and I have finished a degree in Computer Science and Brian has a degree in Business. Brian is hoping to start his own business but we need money first so he took a job as a Bank Clerk and I am working as a freelance Photographer until we can get some money to start our own business.
Surprise we recently found out we are pregnant with twins!!!
Peter Elias & Max Oliver
We now have two amazing baby boys, both have brown hair like their daddy and my amber eyes.
Posted 24 August 2010 - 01:47 PM
Jade Margaret Campbell
Amber eyes and black hair
Majoring in music education. Hoping to teach music in a school.
Graduated, working dream job as a music teacher.
Brian Caleb Scott
Grey eyes and brown hair.
Majoring in chemistry. Hoping to get a job as a chemist.
Graduated, working as a journalist.
Owen Jay Campbell
Amber eyes and light brown hair
Ella Cassian Scott
Amber eyes and black hair
Alec Julian Scott
Grey eyes and black hair
Owen's Dad
Cody Matthew Simmons
Green eyes and light brown hair
Decided when I was pregnant he wanted nothing to do with Owen
Hartford, CT
Brian Scott and Jade Campbell; Owen, Ella and Alec
Posted 24 August 2010 - 02:15 PM
I recentley discovered I'm pregnant with a baby boy! Christian decided he doesnt want anything to do with the baby so I'm raising him with the help of my parents. His name will be Ethan Joesph. Joesph being a variation of my middle name Joesphine. Ethan was born just a few days ago, he has brown hair and green eyes.
Its been 3 years since Ethan was born and I've just finished college. I recentley met a wonderful guy by the name of Andrew Noah Wright. He's majoring in chemistry. He has green eyes and light brown hair.
Its been 2 more years and Ethan is now 5 years old. Andrew has moved in with us, I have a job as a photographer and Andrew has a job as a bank clerk. We recentley learned I'm pregnant with twins! We're naming them Timothy Isaac and Grace Adela. They were born 2 days ago and they both have green eyes and black hair.
Ebony & Andrew
Ethan, Timothy & Grace
Posted 24 August 2010 - 05:29 PM
Round 1
My name is Jade Imogen Carter. I have grey eyes, and blonde hair.
My boyfriend is called Kai Jacob Griffin. He has blue eyes, and black hair.
We're 16 years old, and have just started our junior year of high-school in Boston, Massachusetts.
Round 2
I'm pregnant! Unfortunately, Kai wants nothing to do with the baby. My parents said they'll help me though.
I have a little girl who has my grey eyes and blonde hair. I name her Madeline Jade Griffin-Carter.
Round 3
Three years later, and I've finished my first year at college doing a degree in Physics.
I've met a great guy named Ethan Noah Adams who has amber eyes and light brown hair.
He's taking a degree in English Literature.
Round 4
It's two years later and I've moved in with Ethan. He's working as a Journalist and I'm working as a Teacher.
I've discovered I'm pregnant, and we have twin boys.
We name them Tobias Kieran Adams-Carter and Matthias Damian Adams-Carter.
They have amber eyes and light brown hair.
Posted 24 August 2010 - 06:43 PM
Timothy Blane nn. Timmy Baker-brown eyes, brown hair
Charlotte Antonia nn. Charlie Baker-amber eyes, brown hair
Posted 24 August 2010 - 07:57 PM
I found out that im pregnant and having a boy. His name is Nathaniel Caden Foster. He goes by Nate or Nathan though. Too bad Caden doesn't want anything to do with him): He looks just like me:D
I met this wonderful guy named Ethan Caleb Wright at college! I am majoring in acting and hope someday to become an actress. Ethan is majoring in teaching jounior high. He loves kids! He has grey eyes and blonde hair.
It's been 2 years and I moved in with Ethan. Nate is starting school and Ethan and I are settling down into careers. He is a firefighter and I am a social worker. I started feeling sick and went to the doctor to find out I am pregnant with twins! Oh my. 8 months later I had a set of girl twins. Charlotte Gemma and Skye Natalia Wright. Charlotte is called Charley though. Charley has gray eyes and brown hair. Skye has gray hair and brown hair. They are identical!
Posted 24 August 2010 - 08:27 PM
Posted 24 August 2010 - 09:31 PM
Poppy Agnes Campbell (red hair and hazel eyes) photographer
Imogen Callie *Ginny* Campbell (blonde hair and hazel eyes)
Everett Gideon Baker (light brown hair and green eyes) journalist
Lyle Adrian (light brown hair and green eyes) / Lucy Antonia (light brown hair and green eyes)
l to r Lucy and Lyle
Posted 24 August 2010 - 10:56 PM
Both of us were 17 when I found out I was pregnant. When I told Cade, he decided I didn't want anything to do with the baby, su I decided to keep it anyway, after my parents promised they would support me. I had a little boy who I named Henry Cade. I believe he looks exactly like his father, with green eyes and light brown hair.
Three years after having Henry, I finished my first year of college studying biology and I began seeing I new guy called Arsenio Jonah Green. He is a professional guitarist and is studying music. I was a bit worried when I introduced him to Henry, but it turns out he loves to spend time with both of us. Arsenio has blue eyes and white hair.
Two years later and I have finished college and am now working as a photographer. Just before Henry started school, Arsenio and I moved in together. He now has a job as a journalist. Henry had been going to school for less than a month when I found out I was expecting twins!! It came as a huge shock, but Arsenio was really supportive. We had two amazing little boys, naming them Jess Austin & Alec Elias. Both of the boys have blue eyes like their dad and light brown hair like me.
Posted 25 August 2010 - 05:57 AM
When I was 17 I fell pregnant. Eli didn't want anything to do with the baby, and we broke up. After a lot of deliberation and research I decided to keep the baby, and my parents totally supported my decision. Mum even said she'd look after it when I was at school. I knew I owed my parents a lot after that, and decided to honour my parents by naming the baby in their honour. I had a baby girl, who I called Evianna Nora. My father's name is Evan, and my mother is Nora. My middle name honoured my mothers, and Evie's sort of honours mine. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful little girl. She has my light brown hair and grey eyes, and in a way I am glad that she doesn't look much like Eli. My parents love her to bits, and Evie goes crazy over her Mum-Mum and Dad-Dad. Life couldn't get any better.
Evie is 3 and I have just finished my first year at college. I have started dating a guy at my college called Griffith Saul Adams. Griff has black hair and grey eyes, and loves spending time with me and Evie. Evie loves him too, though she can't say Griff yet, and wanders round calling him Jiff. Griff is majoring in Chemistry, while I am majoring in English Language. He wants to be a high school teacher and teach Chemistry, and I think he'd be good at it. He's great with kids, especially Evie, and he just loves teaching. I am looking to be an authoress, so I am majoring in English lanuage. I think Griff thinks I am mad, but if that doesn't work out then I'd love to teach kindergarten, I think I'd be good at that.
Evie is now five, and I have finished college. Griff and I moved in together, and are doing great. Evie calls him daddy now, and I don't want to stop her, it's quite cute really. Evie is starting school in a few months time, and I am returning to my job as an accountant. Even though I didn't major in math, I still enjoy my job, and I'm good at it. Griff is a Police Officer. After getting his major in Chemistry Griff decided he' much rather work for the police force, and he loves it. I can't say I hate it, because it's great knowing that I live with a hero (well, sort of), and Evie loves her 'daddy' helping out in the community.
Evie started school last year, and she is loving it. She's a real quick learner, does really well in everything. Just after she started I began feeling ill, and went to the doctors. Surprise surprise I was pregnant. Griff was so excited, and we elected not to find out the genders. It was a big shock at the next scan that we were having twins, and Evie was very happy to become a big sister. A month before school finished I gave birth to twin boys George Breccan and James Finnian. They are identical and both have Griff's black hair and grey eyes. Evie loves the boys to bits, and so do Griff and I.
Posted 25 August 2010 - 08:19 AM
We just recently found out that we were expecting a baby, but Camden decided he didn't want to be a part of the baby's life, but my parents said that they would help support the baby, so I have decided to keep him. William Matthew Parker is his name:) Liam has hazel eyes like me, and light brown hair like Camden.
Three years after Liam was born I was in college and met Quinlan Jonah Baker, Quin has blonde hair and blue eyes, and a great personality, he enjoys spending time with Liam and myself. Quin is persuing a degree in Law.
It has been 2 years and i am now living with Quin and Teaching at the local school where Liam has just started kindergarten, Quin is enjoying his job as a firefighter, and we are having twins!! Max Austin and Sam Elias arrived with blue eyes like daddy, and black hair like mommy!
Posted 25 August 2010 - 03:08 PM
Hazel Frances Campbell (23)
Brown hair and green eyes
Teaching Degree
(ex: Caleb Aaron Hayes (24)
Blonde hair and blue eyes)
Dbf: Andrew Levi Carter (25)
Light brown hair and amber eyes
English Literature Degree
DS: Ethan Kaleb Campbell (6)
Blonde hair and blue eyes
DS/DS: James Finnian Carter / Milo Conan Carter (nb)
Brown hair and green eyes
Posted 25 August 2010 - 11:53 PM
Round 1
Emerald Margaret Campbell but everyone calls me Emmie. I have brown eyes and blonde hair
Kristofer Jacob Hayes. Most people call him Kris, but I call him KJ. He has hazel eyes and brown hair.
We are 16 years old and live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Round 2
I found out I was pregnant, not that KJ wanted anything to do with our little boy, Nathaniel Jacob aka Nathan. Nathan has brown eyes and blonde hair.
Round 3
Im in college and Nathan is now 3. Ive met a wonderful guy named
Andrew Levi Nelson but everyone calls him Drew. He has green eyes and black hair. He is getting his law degree.
Im getting my degree in Computing
Round 4
2 years later, Nathan is 5, I am a Accountant and Drew is a Police officer. About 9 months ago I found out I was pregnant with TWINS. We are having girl/girl twins. We have named them Ella Mabyn and Grace Natalia. But Nathan started calling them Ellie and Gracie and now so does everyone else. Ellie has green eyes and blonde hair and Gracie has green eyes and black hair.
Posted 26 August 2010 - 01:40 PM
Hello, I'm Sienna Iris Campbell. I'm currently in junior year, my boyfriend is Cameron Matthew Russel, whose in my year. We live in, Albany, New York. I have Brown eyes, and light brown hair, and he has blue eyes and blonde hair.
Round 2
Not long after I found out I'm pregnant, I'm shocked and overwhelmed. Unfortunately Cameron doesn't want anything to do with me or the baby. It's a girl and I name her Ava Charlotte. She has the most beautiful brown eyes, and blonde hair.
Round 3
Three years have past, and Ava is a happy and healthy three year old. I've finished my first year of college and I've decided to get a master in drama, so I'll teach drama to high school kids. I've met a great new guy, and we spend all our time together. He's called Andrew Levi, he's a real lovable and sociable geek whose getting his masters in computer programing. He has grey eyes and light brown hair.
Round 4
Two years later I've graduated college and live with Andrew, who is now a journalist. I'm now a social worker, and life was good. Ava was now in school, and guess what. I found out i was pregnant again, it was happy surprise. To my shock, it was twins. We named them Heidi and James. Heidi looks a lot like me, with her brown eyes and light brown hair, where's James has his daddy's eyes, and brown hair like both of us.
Posted 29 August 2010 - 12:51 PM
Hey! My name is Henna Josephine Perez. I have been dating Cai Benjamin Bryant for a little over six months.
We live in Trenton, New Jersey. I have brown eyes and long light brown hair and Cai has brown eyes and short blonde hair.
When Cai and I were seventeen we discovered that we were pregnant. I was scared but ecstatic at the same time. However, Cai was the complete opposite.
He wanted nothing to do with me or the baby. After talking to my parents, I decide to keep and raise the baby with the help of my parents.
Sophia Hanna Perez-Byrant was born with brown eyes and light brown hair, and looks just like me.
Sophia just turned three years old and I have just finished my first year at college. I met an amazing guy that loves spending time with me and Sophia.
His name is Griffith Asa Wright. My major is elementary education and Griffith is studying mechanical engineering.
Griffith has brown eyes and brown hair.
Sophia is now five years old and just started kindergarten. Griffith and I have both finished college and are now moving in with each other. We have both found jobs and settled down in our careers.
Griffith is working as foreman for a construction company. I am teaching Pre-K and I love it. Recently, we just found out that we are pregnant with twins. Griffith and I are both ecstatic.
We found out that we are expecting a boy and a girl. Charles Quentin and Eloise Seraphina Wright were born just ten months after we moved in together.
Charlie has brown eyes and brown hair. Ellie has brown eyes and light brown hair.
Posted 29 August 2010 - 02:38 PM
1 year later: About 10 months ago I found out I was pregnant. Casey didn't want anything to do with the baby. After many long talks with my parents I decided to keep the baby. They promised to help me while I was still in school. Two months ago I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. I named her Ava Ruby. She has black hair and blue eyes. She is beautiful.
3 years later: Ava is 3 and I just finished my first year in college. I'm majoring in music and hope to be a music teacher one day. I met an incredible guy, his name is Andrew Levi Nelson. He has brown hair and green eyes. He is getting his teaching degree, he wants to be a history teacher. Drew is so great with Ava, he loves spending time with both of us.
2 years later: Drew and I have both finished college and moved in together. We both changed our minds about our majors over the last couple years. Drew is now a FireFighter and I am a Social Worker. Ava started school this year, I can't believe how fast she is growing up. The big news though is that we found out we were pregnant with twin girls. Celeste Natalia & Charlotte Felicity were born two weeks ago. They both have their daddy's brown hair and green eyes.
Posted 10 December 2010 - 08:01 PM
About one year later, I found out I was pregnant. I knew right away I wanted to keep him or her, but Klayton didn't want anything to do with it. My parents promised to help while I was in school. 9 months later, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. He has my green eyes and Klayton's blonde hair his name is Henry Isaac Collins-Diaz.
3 years later, I met a great guy at school named Everrett Gideon Baker. He loves Henry and plays with him nicly! He majors in Law, he wants to be a lawyer and he has the most loving brown eyes and hair to match. I have dicided to major in Engeneering.
2 years later, I became a Social Worker, and Everrett became a FireFighter! I moved in with him, and now I'm pregnant with twins! I gave birth to two beautiful baby boys! Matthias Blane and Timothy Elias! Matthias has my eyes and hair and Timothy has my eyes and Ever's hair!
Posted 11 December 2010 - 12:05 PM
BF: Andrew Levi Carter (Blue Eyes, Blonde Hair) Police Officer
Live in: Trenton, New Jersey
DD: Olivia Scarlett Roberts (Hazel Eyes, Light Brown Hair)
DS/DD: Lyle Austin and Lucy Matilda (Blue Eyes, Blonde Hair) and (Blue Eyes, Blonde Hair)
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The phyto-aromatic healing water
More than just a toner, this healing mist is a true phyto-aromatic fountain of beauty, essential for re-balancing and preparing the skin for everyday beauty products. Alcohol-free, it refreshes, tones and sanitizes the skin, the energizing effects of its essential oils can be felt throughout the whole body.
Fresh and soothed skin, radiant complexion. A beautiful aroma that helps you unwind.
In the morning and evening, spray a generous amount of lotion onto the face and neck after carefully cleansing. Massage in any excess with the effleurage and tap technique.
As a complement to MASQUE 105: spray the lotion on the mask to reinforce its action.
Essential Ingredients
• Quintessence Yon-Ka : essential oils of Lavender, geranium, rosemary, cypress, and thyme - balancing –REevitalizing - purifying
• Plant glycerin - hydrating
200ml btl
Yon-Ka recommends you:
Soft peels
Exfoliating, Purifying, Hydrating, Soothing
Purifying, Soothing, Radiant complexion
- Related Professional Treatments
- Advice & tips
Le Grand Classique
Deep cleansing treatment, healing and relaxing
Time Length: 75 min
Le Grand Classique is a cornerstone facial to indulge in once a month to keep skin healthy and in top condition.
purified skin, a toned complexion, and optimum relaxation.
Find Yon-Ka beauty salon or spa near you Find an authorized Yon-Ka center
Can be used at any time of the day for an immediate and refreshing boost.
Calms sunburn, insect bites, when used in a compress.


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About Us
The Division of Solid Waste & Recycling provides service to approximately 290,000 residents in 110,000 dwelling units. This includes all 1-4 unit residential buildings, and any buildings with five or more units that contract with the City for solid waste services. Crews also collect garbage and recyclables from an additional 40 City buildings, and from 500 litter containers placed at Bus Shelters throughout the city.
Services are provided by City of Minneapolis crews, and a consortium of private garbage haulers, Minneapolis Refuse Incorporated (MRI). The City and MRI each collect from approximately half of the city.
The primary source of funding is the Solid Waste Base Fee and Disposal Fees charged on the Public Works Utility Bill.
Garbage Collection
Residential garbage is collected weekly. The Division of Solid Waste & Recycling also collects garbage from 500 litter containers, and City buildings including fire and police stations. Learn more.
Large Item Collection
Each customer may set out two large items per week. Burnable large items are collected weekly with the garbage.
Large items that are at least 50% metal, such as aluminum storm doors and filing cabinets, are collected every other week on recycling day and delivered to a scrap metal dealer for recycling.
Major appliances, such as air conditioners and refrigerators, are collected every other week on recycling day. After collection, PCB-laden capacitors and fluorescent light ballasts are removed for disposal at a hazardous waste facility. Mercury switches are removed for recycling. Freon is removed, filtered and reused in city air-conditioning equipment. The appliances are then sent to a scrap metal dealer to be recycled. Learn More.
Recycling Collection
Newspapers, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, magazines, household batteries, phone books, office paper, dry-food boxboard, household batteries, and corrugated cardboard are collected biweekly for recycling. Approximately 90% of the households served by Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling participate.
Learn more.
See yearly tonnage information.
Yard Waste Collection
Leaves, brush, grass clippings and other yard trimmings are collected for composting weekly from April through November, weather permitting. Learn more.
Voucher Program
The Division of Solid Waste & Recycling operates the South Transfer Station for drop off of excess garbage, paving and construction materials, and tires. Minneapolis residents are eligible for:
- Six vouchers per year for disposal of excess garbage, appliances, or construction and demolition debris.
- Two vouchers per year for tire disposal (8 tires per voucher).
The concrete and asphalt collected are both reused. Concrete is stockpiled during the winter months, and then crushed and used as a granular road bed. Asphalt is also crushed and used in varying amounts for new paving projects. Learn More.
Clean City Programs
Solid Waste & Recycling offers many partnership opportunities for residents to clean and improve the livability of their own community. Clean City Programs recognize that partnerships between the City and its residents are a powerful force in improving our neighborhoods. Neighborhood groups, as well as proactive individuals, do what they do best: provide people power and the desire to make a difference. Learn More.
Last updated Nov 26, 2018


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A courageous female journalist's classic exposé of the horrific treatment of the mentally ill in nineteenth-century America
In 1887, Nellie Bly accepted an assignment from publisher Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World and went undercover at the lunatic asylum on Blackwell Island, America's first municipal mental hospital. Calling herself "Nellie Brown," she was able to convince policemen, a judge, and a series of doctors of her madness with a few well-practiced facial expressions of derangement.
At the institution, Bly discovered the stuff of nightmares. Mentally ill patients were fed rotten, inedible food; violently abused by a brutal, uncaring staff; and misdiagnosed, mistreated, or generally ignored by the doctors and so-called mental health experts entrusted with their care. To her horror, Bly encountered sane patients who had been committed on the barest of pretenses and came to the shocking realization that, while the Blackwell Island asylum was remarkably easy to get into, it was nearly impossible to leave.
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Nellie Bly (1864–1922) was born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A writer, inventor, and lifelong advocate for a variety of feminist causes, she came to national fame with a series of articles about abuses at the mental asylum on Blackwell Island, America's first municipal mental hospital. Ten Days in a Mad-House (1887), a collection of articles originally published in Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, helped to change official mental health policies and pioneered a new form of investigative journalism. Bly also wrote a book about her record-breaking seventy-two-day journey around the world. After marrying successful manufacturer Robert Seaman, she became one of the country's leading female industrialists and earned several patents for her inventions. She eventually returned to journalism, covering the Women's Suffrage Parade of 1913 and reporting from Europe's Eastern Front during World War I.


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Record producer David Anderle has sold his home in the Hollywood Hills West area for $3.7 million.
The Spanish-style villa, built in 1925, was once used as a speak-easy. Features include decorative tile work, beamed ceilings, a wine cellar and an artist's studio. The three-bedroom, 31/2-bathroom house contains 3,813 square feet of living space and sits on a third of an acre.
The former A&M Records executive produced songs for Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson and the Circle Jerks, among others. He worked with Brian Wilson to help him form Brother Records and is a portrait artist.
Judy Feder of Hilton & Hyland in Beverly Hills was the listing agent. Yvonne Fernandes represented the buyer.


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WALKER, LA (WAFB) - Investigators say a 28-year-old pregnant woman was stabbed in the abdomen and her baby cut out of her. Her husband was arrested for the crime.
Officials with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office says it was a gruesome scene. They responded to an emergency call on Milton Road in Walker, LA around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday. They report that a kitchen knife was used to cut the woman's throat and sever her belly and then the baby was forcibly removed from her womb. She was about seven and a half months pregnant.
The woman survived, but the baby did not. At last check, the woman is in critical but stable condition. Her name has not been released. According to reports, when officers arrived on the scene, Reynolds was found kneeling over the victim.
Jeffery Reynolds, 31, has been charged with first-degree feticide and second-degree attempted murder.
Deputies and neighbors described the attack as vicious, but added it is hard to put into words.
"I have no words right now on how she must feel losing a child she was pregnant with," said Ana McDonald, whose parents live across the street from the victim. "I've carried a child. "You get attached and someone doing that, I can't explain how she feels right now."
"I've seen crime scenes before, but this one was very challenging," said Sheriff Jason Ard. "They all are, but this one was one that I don't think I've ever seen anything like this. We're doing everything we can to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, so this may take some time and try to get answers. We don't know motive or the cause. We just know we have a man that committed this crime."
Deputies said Reynolds was combative during the arrest. Steele said he did not suffer any injuries, but was taken to a hospital to be evaluated. A toxicology test was run on Reynolds, but the results have not come in yet.
Ard added he has no record of any problems from the home before Tuesday.
Reynolds is being held in the Livingston Parish Jail on a $500,000 bond.
An investigation into the attack is continuing.
Copyright 2012 WAFB. All rights reserved.


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Slick, but not thick
The students of Christian County, KY, were supposed to attend school today -- President's Day -- to make up one of the many "snow days" they've enjoyed recently.
Old Man Winter intervened. Sunday evening, a thin glaze of ice formed on the roads, and half an inch of snow fell on top of it. The new surface was very slick, so school was canceled today. The holiday, which had been declared a make-up day, became a holiday again.
This morning, Dennis decided he would push our wheeled trash-bin down our hill (pictured below) as he usually does. (He always thinks it's easier to push the trash down than to load the trash-bin into the truck and haul it down.) When he got back to the house, he admitted that he had fallen. The new glaze over the old snow-pack on the hill was slicker than he had expected. Fortunately, he didn't break any bones.
I felt a little shaken by Dennis's fall as I left for work. The small rural blacktops had a white icy crust. I was determined to avoid the vehicular equivalent of falling on the ice, so I drove with an excess of caution. Finally, I reached larger highways that had been salted. I was a little late for work, but I arrived in one piece. About half of the staff stayed home, so it was an interesting day.
Isaac was home from college this past weekend. He went back yesterday before the precipitation began freezing on the roads. When I talked to him on the phone this evening, he told me that the sidewalks on the Murray State campus were treacherous this morning. He nearly fell several times on his way to his first class.
If Keely had any mishaps due to the ice, she didn't tell me. She's careful because she doesn't want to re-injure a previously sprained ankle.
I hope we -- and you, gentle reader -- can all get through this season without accident or injury. Be careful!


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ST. PETERSBURG | The nurse gave Lisa Wheeler-Brown something to empty her stomach. The St. Petersburg mother already felt like she had been gutted. Days earlier, she had learned her firstborn was dead, murdered along with another man in a mysterious incident at a Lealman building that housed an auto repair shop and recording studio. Detectives had no suspects.
ST. PETERSBURG | The nurse gave Lisa Wheeler-Brown something to empty her stomach. The St. Petersburg mother already felt like she had been gutted. Days earlier, she had learned her firstborn was dead, murdered along with another man in a mysterious incident at a Lealman building that housed an auto repair shop and recording studio. Detectives had no suspects. Wheeler-Brown tried to purge the pain with vodka. On the seventh day of her binge, she ended up in a hospital bed, an IV in her arm. Wheeler-Brown closed her eyes, saw her son's face and made a promise. To him. To herself. To the community. And to the killers.
"They took my son's life, but they didn't know his momma," the 44-year-old said recently. "And if they knew how close I was to Brady, they would have known: I would not stop."
• • •
On Tuesday, one of the men police say murdered Cabretti "Brady" Wheeler, 21, and his friend, Kyle Lynn Ellis, 24, in September 2008 will go to trial in Pinellas County.
Jerry Jones, 23, was charged last year with double homicide and the attempted murder of a third man who survived. That man, who has never been identified publicly by authorities, is expected to testify at trial. Authorities said he picked Jones out of a lineup.
Authorities don't believe Jones acted alone and detectives continue to seek accomplices.
When Pinellas deputies were called to the building at 8191 46th Ave. N., Wheeler and Ellis already were dead inside.
The man who survived told police he lived in an apartment above the business and heard gunshots about 2 a.m. When he went downstairs, he was shot five times.
He ran outside, hid in a retention pond and watched as a gold Oldsmobile was driven away. Jones owned a gold Oldsmobile at the time of the killings, authorities said.
For Lisa Wheeler-Brown, the trial is more than just a chance to get justice for her son.
It's the culmination of years of work by a woman who has since become a well-known community activist and a vocal critic of what law enforcement calls the "no-snitching" culture.
She is a mother who, when she felt like police weren't doing enough in their investigation, went to the streets herself for answers — and got them.
• • •
Wheeler-Brown had always been strict with her two sons. She had Cabretti at 18, and his brother Chris three years later.
Wheeler-Brown feared what would happen if her black boys became black men who ended up in jail or in a gang. She raised them with discipline she learned during her Army career.
Cabretti was still living with her in September 2008. The 21-year-old worked as a pool tech. He and his girlfriend had a 1-year-old son and another on the way. On the weekends, he liked to hang out with Ellis. Both liked rap music.
"He was responsible," his mother said. "He worked hard."
Wheeler-Brown had a rule for her kids: Call if you weren't going to be home at night and check in with mom by 11 a.m. the next day.
Cabretti Wheeler followed that rule — until Sept. 6, 2008.
That morning, Wheeler-Brown was waiting for her son to return home when his stepbrother showed up with the news.
• • •
Two days later, detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office came to her home to update her on the investigation.
It wasn't much.
But Wheeler-Brown knew the answers were out there.
"The streets always know who did it," she said. "People talk in the streets."
Soon enough, people approached her at church, in the grocery store, at the gas station. They dropped nicknames of possible suspects. They passed on rumors.
But both Wheeler-Brown and investigators struggled to get people to come forward. No one wanted to be called a snitch.
After about a year, Wheeler-Brown felt like authorities were treating the case like a cold one.
In reality, they were.
In a deposition this year, Detective Todd Greene said the murder case had been "suspended" when he got it in 2010, the same year the case was featured on a billboard after Wheeler-Brown pressed authorities for answers.
But Greene said Wheeler-Brown's work and tips helped kick-start the case.
In depositions, Greene said she "took it upon herself to go start an investigation talking to people in the community."
The two began talking weekly. Wheeler-Brown gathered tips from the community and passed them to Greene. One was about a heavy-set man with a scar on his head. That also matched the survivor's description of the shooter.
• • •
Wheeler-Brown cut back her schedule as a private nurse aide and devoted her life to finding out who killed her son.
But she was angry. With the murderers, and with those who would not talk.
"I don't understand the mentality," she said. "If death comes knocking on your door, and takes one of your kids, you're going to want someone to talk."
Wheeler-Brown created a foundation in her son's name. She organized marches against crime and fundraisers for victims' families.
The St. Petersburg Police Department called on her to help unveil a new gun bounty program a short time after the April 2009 murder of 8-year-old Paris Whitehead-Hamilton stunned the city.
"She does a good job of being out front on some of those issues," said St. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Harmon. "I wish there were more people like her."
When a St. Petersburg woman was caught in the crossfire of a Sunday morning shootout at a busy intersection last month, Wheeler-Brown stood on a corner with signs and shouted "Enough is enough!"
A couple weeks later, she was in front of a class at her son's old school. She pleaded with the Boca Ciega High School students not to get trapped by fears of being labeled a snitch.
"She's an advocate for doing the right thing," Harmon said. "We don't solve crime without the community's help."
• • •
Wheeler-Brown is expected to take the stand this week. Prosecutors have told her she needs to bring her "A-game."
Her son's oldest, Cabretti Jr., is 5. He has been crying at school lately, asking for his dad. He told a teacher he wanted to die so he can go to heaven, too. Cabria, 3, was born a few months after her father was killed. The little girl knows his face through the T-shirts her grandmother still wears two or three times a week.
Wheeler-Brown, who is now studying to be a paralegal, said she will continue to wear the shirts and to gather tidbits from the streets — because there are other killers still out there.
"You know how people talk about getting closure? To me, there's no closure," Wheeler-Brown said. "You just learn to live and accept."
Kameel Stanley can be reached at email@example.com or (727) 893-8643.