Jerry Sandusky insists he's not guilty

Lawyer: Jerry Sandusky insists he's not guilty — As Jerry Sandusky insisted through a lawyer Monday that he is not guilty of sexually abusing children, a juror who voted to convict the retired Penn State assistant coach said she hoped the verdict would help his accusers heal.

The jury found the testimony of the eight victims who took the witness stand compelling, Ann Van Kuren said Monday. Jurors weighed the accounts and evidence diligently before finding Sandusky guilty last week of 45 counts for sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years, she said.

She expressed empathy for the eight men who offered emotional and explicit testimony.

 

Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, right, is escorted by Centre County Sheriff Denny Nau, left, as he is taken into custody at the Centre County Courthouse after being found guilty of multiple charges of child sexual abuse in Bellefonte, Pa., Friday, June 22, 2012. Sandusky was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years on Friday, accusations that had sent shock waves through the college campus known as Happy Valley and led to the firing of Penn State's beloved Hall of Fame coach, Joe Paterno. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

"I really feel for the victims and any other victims that are out there that haven't come forward," Van Kuren said. "That all of them need to heal. I'm hoping that this trial, with this verdict, will help them heal."

The sweeping case rocked the Penn State community following Sandusky's arrest in November. The ensuing scandal led to the ousters of Sandusky's former boss — Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno — and the university's president, while forcing a re-examination of the role that college administrators played in reporting abuse allegations.

Sandusky, 68, is under observation at the Centre County jail, where he is being kept away from other inmates pending a psychological review that will help determine the next step toward his sentencing in about three months.

"He's defiant and wants the truth to be told. He wants people to know that he's not guilty," said defense lawyer Karl Rominger, who visited his incarcerated client Monday.

Also Monday, Judge John Cleland ordered county probation officers to evaluate whether Sandusky is a sexual predator, a finding that could factor into his prison placement. Such orders are pro forma in sex abuse cases. Sex offenders are required to undergo treatment while in prison, so Sandusky, if deemed a predator, would likely be sent to a facility with such a program.

Sandusky, who has been placed under a suicide watch, said he doesn't want to kill himself and wants to get the separate psychological examination done so that he can receive visits from his friends and family, Rominger said.

"He's fine but he's just not been evaluated," the lawyer said.

"He is very disappointed to be in prison. He is anxious to get out of this suicide watch," Rominger said, adding that Sandusky told him: "If I have to keep sitting in this room for another three or four days without being able to talk to anybody, I might start to need help at that point."

The state investigation into Sandusky didn't begin until after the ex-coach was barred from a high school in 2009, when a mother complained about the former coach. At the time, Gov. Tom Corbett was the state attorney general. Charges were filed in November 2011.

Investigators took into account Sandusky's status as a celebrated assistant coach in building the case, Corbett said Monday when asked in Harrisburg why charges weren't filed after the first accuser came forward.

"If it's one-on-one and now put the celebrity status in, put (that) Jerry Sandusky is loved by everybody ... how can anybody say there must be something wrong," Corbett said. "You'd better corroborate it, and that's what they started doing. They started pulling strings and gathering and gathering and gathering, and that's my experience. You build those cases, as well as you can."

Corbett said that while he worried that Sandusky might find a new victim while the investigation continued, "I believed (Sandusky) had to know we were looking at him at some point in time. In a sense, if you know that they're looking at you, you kind of back away. But it was a calculated risk, not one that you really easily want to take."

Sandusky has repeatedly maintained his innocence. He will likely die in prison, given mandatory minimum sentencing requirements.

The conviction is just the start of possibly years of legal proceedings over the case. Besides appeals, there remains an active investigation into Sandusky by the state attorney general's office, as well as a federal investigation.

Corbett said Penn State trustees are still awaiting the results of an internal investigation by former FBI director Louis Freeh into the school's handling of the Sandusky case.

The university could also face a wave of new lawsuits. An hour after the verdict Friday night, Penn State said in a statement it was inviting victims to "participate in a program to facilitate the resolution of claims against the university arising out of Mr. Sandusky's conduct." The school said it sought to address victims' concerns privately, expeditiously and fairly.

Asked to clarify Monday, school spokesman Dave LaTorre said the university won't discuss details about litigation or how much money might be set aside for potential settlements, and declined to comment further.

The verdict was another hurdle for a fractured Penn State community eager to continue what figures to be a long, arduous healing process. Artist Michael Pilato hoped to aid in that effort Monday when he painted a blue ribbon — a symbol for awareness of child sexual abuse — on the portion of his "Inspiration State College" mural downtown that once included Sandusky.

Over the weekend, he replaced the Sandusky image with Van Kuren's red handprint and a depiction of Dora McQuaid, a poet and advocate for domestic and sexual violence victims and issues. McQuaid is a Penn State graduate and former professor.

Van Kuren said she and Pilato were connected over the weekend through a mutual acquaintance.

"These young people that were the victims of the Sandusky case in my mind are the survivors," Pilato said. He painted the blue ribbon around McQuaid's image.

Van Kuren, who runs a nonprofit dance company, called the last few weeks difficult as she and other jurors were ordered to refrain from watching or reading the news and talking about the case with family and friends.

Jurors, she said, took a systematic approach in deliberations, weighing the counts in order as laid out in the state's presentment. Van Kuren said that in instances when jurors had additional questions for the judge — such as when the jury requested a re-reading of key prosecution witness Mike McQueary's testimony of a 2001 allegation between Sandusky and a child in a shower — they put counts related to that victim aside and moved to the next set of charges.

Asked about her perception now of Sandusky, Van Kuren said "I think we all felt that when we saw him, and even now what we hear about him, (that) he knows what he did."

The jury had a good rapport, but the difficult part about deliberations, she said, was the volume of testimony and evidence that had to be weighed. The jurors were respectful of the situations of "all parties" and took everything into consideration, she added. ( Associated Press )

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Eating fish linked to longer life

Eating fish linked to longer life: US study - People age 65 and older who eat fish may live an average of two years longer than people who do not consume the omega-3 fatty acids found mainly in seafood, a US study suggested on Monday.

People with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids also had an overall risk of dying that was 27 percent lower, and a risk of dying from heart disease that was 35 percent lower than counterparts who had lower blood levels, said the study.

The research was led by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health and was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

AFP/AFP/File - People age 65 and older who eat fish may live an average of two years longer than people who do not consume the omega-3 fatty acids found mainly in seafood, a US study suggested on Monday

While other studies have demonstrated a link between omega-3 fatty acids and lower risk of heart disease, this research examined records of older people to determine any link between fish-eating and death risk.

Researchers scanned 16 years of data on about 2,700 US adults aged 65 or older. Those considered for the study were not taking fish oil supplements, to eliminate any confusion over the use of supplements or dietary differences.

Those with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids found mainly in fish like salmon, tuna, halibut, sardines, herring and mackerel, had the lowest risk of dying from any cause, and lived an average of 2.2 years longer than those with low levels.

Researchers identified docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as most strongly related to lower risk of coronary heart disease death.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was strongly linked to lower risk of nonfatal heart attack, and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) was most strongly associated with lower risk of dying from a stroke.

The findings persisted after researchers adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and diet factors.

"Our findings support the importance of adequate blood omega-3 levels for cardiovascular health, and suggest that later in life these benefits could actually extend the years of remaining life," said lead author Dariush Mozaffarian, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health.

"The biggest bang-for-your-buck is for going from no intake to modest intake, or about two servings of fatty fish per week," said Mozaffarian. ( AFP )

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Osama Bin Laden - The false story of his life meets the false story of his death

Osama Bin Laden - The false story of his life meets the false story of his death - First we hunt you down. Then we blow a hole in your face. Then we dump your body in the sea, where no one can find your grave. Then we destroy the last thing left of you: your reputation.

This isn't cruelty. It's strategy. Al-Qaida's greatest strength—diffusion—is also its greatest weakness. It's a scattered network held together by the legend of Osama Bin Laden. We took his life. Now we're out to liquidate his legend.

John Brennan, President Obama's counterterrorism coordinator, understands this. Killing Bin Laden was only the first step. The next step is to use his death to demoralize and divide his followers. "We have a lot better opportunity now that … Bin Laden is out of there to destroy that organization, create fractures within it," Brennan said at a White House briefing Monday. "The number two, Zawahiri, is not charismatic. … You're going to see them start eating themselves from within."

Osama Bin Laden - The false story of his life meets the false story of his death

To accelerate this fratricide, Brennan issued a damning account of Bin Laden's behavior during the raid on his compound. "He was engaged in a firefight with those that entered the area of the house he was in," said Brennan. During this shootout, "there was a female who was in fact in the line of fire that reportedly was used … to shield bin Laden." Brennan concluded:

Here is Bin Laden, who has been calling for these attacks, living in this million-dollar-plus compound, living in an area that is far removed from the front, hiding behind women who were put in front of him as a shield. I think it really just speaks to just how false his narrative has been over the years.

At a Pentagon briefing, a senior defense official told the same story: Bin Laden was "living in a mansion that was eight times the size of any other structure in the neighborhood, living rather comfortably. He and some other male combatants on the target appeared to use—certainly did use women as shields." A senior intelligence official repeated that Bin Laden "died during a firefight" and that "many of his terrorist associates in other parts of Pakistan and throughout the region are living in much more dire conditions. So you have to be wondering what they're thinking at this moment when they see that their leader was living, relatively speaking, high on the hog."

Across the Atlantic, British Prime Minister David Cameron echoed this talking point:

The myth of Bin Laden was one of a freedom fighter living in austerity, risking his life for the cause as he moved around in the hills and mountainous caverns of the tribal areas. The reality of Bin Laden was very different: a man who encouraged others to make the ultimate sacrifice while he himself hid in the comfort of a large expensive villa in Pakistan, experiencing none of the hardship he expected his supporters to endure.

But the image of Bin Laden shooting at U.S. commandos from behind an innocent woman also turns out to be a myth. Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a revised "narrative" of the raid, courtesy of the Defense Department. It says the commandos started "on the first floor of the Bin Laden house and worked their way to the third floor." The people who fired at the commandos died on the first floor. Bin Laden was upstairs and "was not armed."

A reporter asked Carney "which of those women was being used a human shield, as Mr. Brennan suggested yesterday." Carney answered: "The woman I believe you're talking about might have been the one on the first floor who was caught in the crossfire. Whether or not she was being used as a shield or trying to use herself as a shield or simply caught in crossfire is unclear." What's clear is that Bin Laden, who was upstairs, couldn't have used her as a shield.

Carney blamed the misleading early reports on the "fog of war." But a fog of war creates confusion, not a consistent story like the one about the human shield. The reason U.S. officials bought and sold this story is that it fit their larger indictment of Bin Laden. It reinforced the shameful picture of him hiding in a mansion while sending others to fight and die. It made him look like a coward.

This is the narrative that's really at stake. A narrative isn't just a chronology. It's a tale woven with themes. For 20 years, Bin Laden peddled a tale of oppression and jihad. In elaborate video and audio messages, he depicted al-Qaida's trail of bombings as a Muslim struggle against Western persecution. He wasn't just a terrorist. He was a storyteller.

That's the story Brennan sought to undermine when he cited Bin Laden's use of a human shield to show "how false his narrative has been over the years." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also targeted Bin Laden's story. In a statement trumpeting his death, she argued that "people across the Middle East and North Africa are rejecting the extremist narratives and charting a path of peaceful progress." Carney, too, warned against false interpretations. "It would be a shame," he warned, if Bin Laden's killing "became a piece in a partisan narrative."

Carney is right. So are Brennan, Clinton, and Cameron. Bin Laden was a delusional mass murderer, and his narrative was false. But you can't debunk one false narrative with another. The firefight at Bin Laden's compound, it now appears, pitted two or three men against a dozen or more commandos. Bin Laden didn't engage in the firefight and used no human shield. He wasn't even armed. We shot him dead anyway. That's the truth. Deal with it. ( salte.com )

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Missouri Dinosaurs Get National Attention

Missouri Dinosaurs Get National Attention - There haven't been many dinosaurs in Missouri. Because of its unique location and geological formations, most fossilized specimens in the state are smaller and older water creatures such as Trilobites. Many fossils include shells and also shallow water plants.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports a new Discovery Channel show entitled "Prehistoric Chicago" delves into whether or not dinosaurs would have been prevalent in that part of the United States. One story includes looking into Missouri's one and only true dinosaur find in the Bootheel.

Missouri Dinosaurs Get National Attention

The show speculates what prehistoric life would have been like in the midsection of the United States before the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago. The show is nothing new to scientists. They know dinosaur fossils have been found on every continent including Antarctica. But dinosaur finds in the Midwest are not as common.

A Hadrosaur species known as Hypsibema missouriense was discovered in 1942 when local residents near Glen Allen, Mo., were digging a well in clay formations. The farmers discovered strange hardened bones and a visiting scientist investigated.

Upon further inspection by geologist Dan Stewart, the mysterious bones were identified as a plant-eating dinosaur with a duck bill-like structure for its mouth. The Smithsonian bought the bones for $50 and at the time they determined the bones to be a new herbivore species.

Paleontologists studied the bones in the 1970s and determined they were from a previously known species in North Carolina. The name stuck because they were found in different locations. The Bollinger County Museum of Natural History still has replicas of bone fragments. The Hadrosaur is also the official State Dinosaur.

Later digs at the same site have yielded two other dinosaur species--one related to Tyrannosaurus rex and another species similar to a Velociraptor. More Hadrosaurs were also uncovered.

In the grand scheme of things, Missouri's geologic past isn't as well-known for dinosaurs as it is for older fossils and shells. Once volcanically active and part of a shallow inland sea, Missouri's prehistory was teeming with life. Just because fossils don't exist doesn't mean dinosaurs weren't in Missouri.

Fossils are rare in Missouri because the geology of the area doesn't lend fossil formation. Seeping water and Ice Age erosion have worn away rocks in various parts of the state. Ancient volcanoes would have destroyed and melted any evidence of life. The site in the Bootheel rested near the flood plain of the Mississippi River and would have allowed for the process of fossilization to occur and be preserved as layers of sediment covered bones for millions of years ( news.yahoo.com )

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Just the most stupid target for those student rioters to pick

Just the most stupid target for those student rioters to pick - Further education is hardly worth the Government investing in, if the standard of research behind Saturday’s student demo against spending cuts is anything to go by.

The breakaway group that headed for Piccadilly had evidently chosen their target, or “secret location”, well in advance: the grocers to Her Majesty, Fortnum & Mason. This target presumably represented to these inheritors of the finest traditions of direct action everything that was Cameronesque, fat-cat, exploitative and privileged.

To which the only reasonable response is the one that students might most readily recognise: “Duh!”

Fortnums is owned by the Weston family, which probably ranks third behind the Wellcome Foundation and all the Sainsbury trusts added together in the amount of money it gives away – yes, gives away in addition to the tax it pays – to exactly the causes that are close to the heart of UKUncut and the services that it was supposedly marching to maintain.

Now, pay attention at the back, especially the youth that I spotted in the Fortnums atrium holding a sign saying “Share the Wealth” without any apparent sense of irony. The Garfield Weston Foundation owns nearly 80 per cent of Wittington Investments, a company registered in the UK, which is the ultimate holding company of Associated British Foods, Fortnum & Mason and interior stylist Heal’s. Dividends flow upwards to the Foundation, principally from ABF given that retail is having a tough time and Fortnums has just been through a major investment programme, which then distributes grants (a word students may still be familiar with).

Typically, the Foundation distributes about £40 million a year, though in good times much more. A glance at the trustees’ report – I presume UKUncut’s organisers know how to use the internet – would reveal that the Foundation gives grants to schools and universities, as well as to hospitals and housing associations. The Weston Foundation gave £25 million, for instance, to Oxford University last year alone for the development of the Bodleian Library, so I hope any Oxford students who “occupied” Fortnums will honourably refrain out of shame from using that facility for the remainder of their studies, out of respect for the Westons.

There is barely a new college benefactors’ plaque in the country that doesn’t bear the Weston name. So much for “Share the Wealth” (you muppet). And it’s difficult to think of an institution more likely to step in to the gap left by Government funding. The trustees’ in their latest report explicitly say that they have prudently made some reserves because they “have also been mindful of the possibility of requests for urgent funding being made by charities which have had their funding from other sources cut due to the difficult economic conditions”.

So well done, you students. Of all the locations you could have picked, you’ve actually chosen to bite one of the hands that promises to feed you – and one of the most generous hands at that.

Not that these were particularly hungry protesters. Not exactly in the Jarrow tradition. I hear these sons and daughters of our bourgoisie made their way through the food halls to loot the fine wines and Champagne. Clearly close to the the harsh realities of the 21st-century.

Incidentally, I also hear that afternoon tea was served throughout on the fourth floor, with André undisturbed at the piano. Which I suppose means that it really was a thoroughly middle-class riot throughout – while the children played downstairs, their mummies and daddies were properly “kettled” upstairs. ( telegraph.co.uk )

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Sex, lies and pomegranate juice focus of US legal battle

Sex, lies and pomegranate juice focus of US legal battle – If the claims are to be believed, pomegranate juice can change your life, preventing prostate and breast cancer, protecting against heart disease and even alleviating erectile dysfunction.

Could it be the elixir from the original fruit of the Garden of Eden? No, says the US Federal Trade Commission, which is suing the California group POM Wonderful for making "false and unsubstantiated claims" about its products.

POM has said it would challenge the FTC, setting up a high-profile battle between the maker of the popular juice and authorities over the so-called superfood which has also been purported to help fight Alzheimer's disease and arthritis and improve sperm quality.

AFP/File – A bottle of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice is seen in this file photo. If the claims are to be believed, …

"Any consumer who sees POM Wonderful products as a silver bullet against disease has been misled," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection.

The company, a unit of the Roll International group that includes Teleflora and Fiji Water, is gearing up for battle. It has filed its own lawsuit against the FTC alleging interference with its free speech rights for POM, which does not publish financial results but is believed to have sales of some 100 million dollars a year.

Even after the FTC filed its action, POM Wonderful launched a new campaign with television ads produced by French-Canadian director Francois Girard showing the sex appeal of pomegranates.

In one ad, a nearly naked actress Sonja Kinski is lounging on a bed of greenery with a snake slithering up her body. The voiceover reads: "Some scholars believe it wasn't an apple, but a ruby red, antioxidant-rich pomegranate with which Eve tempted Adam."

Another with Swedish actress Helena Mattsson links pomegranates to the legend of Aphrodite, saying the Greek goddess of love and desire declared the fruit "an aphrodisiac."

The company says it makes no claim that its juice or supplements are drugs, but just nutritious food.

"Because POM products may in fact offer the promise of better health, we believe it is important to share the research results as they become available," the company said in a statement, refusing to directly answer questions on the court case.

"This is especially true since our products do not carry the risks associated with pharmaceutical drugs. It's a shame that the government is unable to understand this fundamental distinction, and instead is wasting taxpayer resources to persecute the pomegranate."

Ivan Preston, a University of Wisconsin professor emeritus of communication and specialist in truth in advertising, said POM Wonderful appears to have overstepped the accepted bounds of advertising on the product.

"If they say in their ads, 'backed by science,' they are making a medical claim," he said.

Preston says that in order to promote medical benefits for pomegranate juice, the makers would have to go through a rigorous testing process for clearance by the Food and Drug Administration.

Although POM Wonderful said dozens of studies support its claims, the FTC said the benefits are not supported by accepted scientific standards -- using double-blind groups including one with a placebo.

According to the FTC complaint, POM executives "knew that a large, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, funded by POM Wonderful... showed no significant difference after 18 months between consumption of pomegranate juice and a control beverage in reducing carotid arterial wall thickness."

For prostate cancer, "the evidence relied on by respondents consisted of results from an unblinded, uncontrolled study" and the scientists said it was "controversial" whether the benefits were delivered. The FTC said other health claims also were unsubstantiated.

"The aim of POM's first ever TV advertising campaign is to educate consumers in a provocative and sensual way about the intriguing history of the pomegranate," says POM company president Matt Tupper.

"POM is proud to have explored the mythic properties of pomegranates using modern science."

But Marion Nestle, a New York University nutritionist and author, said the POM case shows "how easy it is to design studies to give you the answer you want."

"POM research demonstrates that pomegranate juice has antioxidant activity and acts as an antioxidant in the body. Of course it does," Nestle writes on her blog.

"But so does every other fruit and vegetable and what this research does not do is compare the effects of pomegranate juice to those of orange juice, for example." ( AFP )

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Seven Things Women Find Boring in Bed

Seven Things Women Find Boring in Bed - I'm sure that "boring lover" is not something you want on your dating resumé. In order to help you circumvent this horrible fate, I have compiled a list of the seven things women find boring in bed.

So read on and learn what not to do if you want to keep 'em coming back for more.

Asking for permission

There's nothing sexy about a man who asks for permission to have sex with his woman. A good lover knows how to let her know he's in the mood and turn her on without ever having to ask. Something as simple as an intense look or a certain touch is a much better way of going about it.

Predictability

If you've been together for a while, this can definitely be a problem. Part of the reason why things were so hot between you and your woman when you first got together was because you didn't know what to expect. If you want to maintain a similar level of excitement with your woman months or even years down the road, you have to keep it fresh.

Don't be afraid to try new things that you'll both enjoy; never let it get to a point where she can anticipate your every move. For instance, if you usually spend five minutes on foreplay, spend 15 minutes next time and tease her mercilessly. She won't know what hit her. And soon, neither will you.

Mechanical sex

Most women will agree that sex without passion is quite dull; no woman wants to be treated like a blow-up doll -- well, maybe occasionally. I'm not saying that every sexual encounter has to be mind-blowing, it's just that you should never ignore the fact that, no matter how cool she is, she's still a woman who would like nothing more than to be treated as such. So be the lover of her dreams and make love to her at least once in a while.

If you never go the extra mile, she just might find someone who does...

Not going the extra mile

Although many women – as well as men – feel that they must be content with whatever sexual act they engage in with their partners, the truth is that they will eventually tire of a bare-bones routine – pardon the pun. So, if you want to prevent her from ever tiring of you, you must put in a little extra effort every once in a while.

Here comes the dreaded "R" word. You guessed it: romance. The fact that most women don't even expect this at this point in the devolution of dating is to your great advantage because if you are romantic every once in a while, she'll wonder what distant planet you hail from and be all over you – trust me.

For instance, leave her love notes describing what you'd like her to do to you, what you'd like to do to her, and what she should slip into or out of while she anxiously awaits your return. Make her a romantic dinner for two, play some mood music, and seduce her. Write her a song and make her melt. Make it about pleasing her next time and not only will she not be bored, she may just do anything to please you in return.

Same location

If your woman has memorized the cracks in your bedroom ceiling, you're in trouble. But don't worry, a simple change of location can fix this situation. Take it to the shower, the kitchen table, your car, a secluded beach, the woods... the possibilities are endless. Use your imagination and try not to get caught.

Too vocal or not vocal enough

Excessive grunting or repeating certain words can be just as tiresome as making no noise at all. So try to find a comfortable medium that lets her know you're enjoying yourself without letting the whole neighborhood know as well. The right choice of words can also be a turn-on for many women, and no, it doesn't necessarily have to be the three little ones that you dread.

Telling her that what she's doing feels amazing, that she looks hot, or what you'd like to do to her or have her do to you will go a long way in preventing the boredom from setting in.

Never experimenting

If you've been with your woman for a while, and want to keep each other turned on, you had better try some new positions, spill your fantasies, engage in role playing, and anything else that will serve to spice things up, or you risk breaking up out of sheer bedroom boredom.
Pour yourselves a glass of wine or two, and talk about what turns you on, and you may just end up fulfilling these fantasies sooner than you think.

Dream lover

That about sums up the seven boring bedroom blunders. But don't stress, most women don't have insane expectations, they just want to see you make the extra effort every once in a while.

Just remember that the opposite of boring is spontaneous and unexpected; so if you try to be the latter sometimes, you should never bore her in bed. Just make sure that you're with a woman who'll want nothing more than to please you in return. ( foxnews.com )

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How To Have Happiness and Abundance in Marriage

How To Have Happiness and Abundance in Marriage. Many couples don’t realize how they are slowly pulling themselves away from each other mentally, emotionally, and physically because of the separate lives they lead. The husband is doing his own thing, and not thinking about his wife’s feelings, and the wife is doing her own thing, not thinking about her husband’s feelings. This kind of marriage has its priorities confused.


Priorities in many marriages are backwards. What should be priority number one is on the bottom of the list and what’s on the top of the list should be on the bottom. This is exactly why infidelities and other marriage issues happen. Couples don’t realize where they are taking their marriage when priorities are not aligned properly. In a typical marriage husband puts himself above God. He doesn’t mean to do this, but he does not have a firm grasp or understanding of how to direct his marriage.


If a husband thinks he is at the top of the priority list then who is he accountable to? Himself? Who is he responsible to? If a man lives his life as a “one man show”, without responsibility to his wife, family, or marriage, there will be problems! This man will never be fulfilled and happy in life because he has no purpose. He does not understand the importance of marriage. He does not understand that he could be the king in his own home by making his wife his queen.


The wife’s priorities are backwards too. She is not putting God first in her life, and therefore she lives her own life under her own understanding. Who is she accountable to? Who is she responsible to? If a wife lives her life as a “one woman show”, without responsibilities to husband, and family she will never be happy in her relationships or fulfilled as a woman, no matter who she is married to.


How can I say these things with such conviction? At one time in my life I did not put God first in my life and everything around me deteriorated. You see, God has a plan for you. His plan is for you to succeed in everything that you do. Yes, in everything that you do! But there is a stipulation – you must put God first in your life then He will give you happiness and abundance.


The fact is God created marriage to be a partnership between a man and a woman – they are team players working together for the benefit of the marriage and family. Is this how your marriage is? Who are you accountable to? Some couples don’t think they are accountable to anyone, not even their spouse. Is that why some spouses have affairs?


In the marriage that God designed, a husband is to be accountable to God first and then to his wife. That means a husband has responsibilities to his wife to take care of her, and to love her, even when he doesn’t feel like it. This is the most important purpose you will ever have in life. God wants you to take care of your responsibilities wisely, and then there will be blessings.


Wife, you are accountable to God and to your husband also. You have a responsibility to support and to respect you husband. This is what God created you for. God created the union of marriage to work best when both husband and wife KNOW what their duties and responsibilities are to each other.


Marriage is not about going your separate ways like marriages do today. Wife has her career and friends and husband has his career and friends. Wife has her endeavors that she embarks on and husband has his. Is this a marriage of one flesh or is this two people living separate lives?


Marriage is about building each other up in the Lord and creating abundance and happiness for yourselves and family. It is about happiness, love, and abundance. Do you have that in your marriage? Why or why not? What can you do to bring abundance into your marriage?


Society has taken marriage and turned it upside down. The intention of “loving each other for life” is a nice thought, but if couples aren’t really committed to working together and helping each other be all that they can be, then they are probably going to have an unhappy marriage. It’s all about priorities, priorities, priorities. If a husband is putting himself above his wife then that is being selfish. If a wife is putting herself above her husband then that is being selfish.


What does all this mean? Well, next time you feel like doing something outside the bounds of your marriage, as a separate individual from the marriage, remember you are married and have responsibilities in your marriage. Check your priority list and see if your behavior is the proper thing to do. Will your actions be beneficial to the marriage or harmful to the marriage? We should be accountable and responsible to God first and then to our marriage. ( heavenministries.com )

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Male menopause? Yes, it’s real

Male menopause? Yes, it’s real. Waning testosterone in your aging partner could cause mood changes. Is there really such a thing as "male menopause"? Conventional wisdom says that menopause is a "woman's condition," but as men advance into their 40s they also experience a progressive decline in hormone levels, namely testosterone. The result can be andropause, which is estimated to affect about 5 million American men.

The hormonal decline that men experience isn't nearly as abrupt as it is in women — it's more like walking down a hill than jumping off a cliff. However, waning testosterone is likely to make a guy moody, irritable and depressed.

(Upon hearing this list of symptoms, one woman joked of her husband, "Is it possible he's had menopause since he was 20?") A decrease in available testosterone also increases a man’s risk for heart disease, and makes him more prone to injury because of decreasing bone density.

Let's be clear: Andropause is not the same as a mid-life crisis, which is a psycho-social issue. And not all guys who experience aging — and the inevitable decline in testosterone that comes along with it — can be qualified as having andropause.

Andropause is a medical condition, diagnosed with a blood test by a physician that reveals testosterone levels below a certain level. If a diagnosis of andropause is warranted, treatment with testosterone replacement may be an option, depending on a man’s health history. Just as there are various hormone replacement therapies for women, there's also testosterone replacement therapy for men — and research is still ongoing into potential side effects.

However, the biggest, and most misunderstood, symptom of declining testosterone is a decrease in libido. Testosterone is truly the hormone that stokes the flames of desire. Many men confuse andropause with erectile dysfunction (ED), because they often occur around the same time.

These men often turn to an ED medication, such as Viagra, to improve their erectile ability, which works for a time in most cases. However, as men get older, the gap between desire and arousal widens and many men become deeply disappointed when Viagra doesn't give them the desire to have sex. That's because Viagra doesn't boost testosterone levels.

The first issue for men, and their partners, is to accept the very concept of male menopause, talk about it as a couple, and, if they’re concerned, make an appointment with an endocrinologist to check hormone levels. But beyond medical therapies, it's also about knowing, understanding and accepting that sex evolves with the passage of life.

For guys who can embrace a deeper intimacy and open themselves up to a different experience of sex, the passage of time brings many rewards. Unfortunately, many men have a limited idea of sex, and they feel that if they're not having sex the way they were at age 20 or 30, then something must be wrong.

It's too bad more men aren't open to sharing their experiences with each other, since changes in sexual function are so common. Fortunately, if women know what's going on and realize that hormonal decline can affect their partners, too, then they can take a proactive lead in starting a dialogue.

For more on this subject, consider reading Jed Diamond's "Surviving Male Menopause: A Guide for Women and Men." ( msnbc.com )

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Seven ways to keep your bloke

Seven ways to keep your bloke. He is so gorgeous you'd love to hook up with him - or you've had a few dates and want more.

Here psychologist Dr PAM SPURR offers seven subtle ways to grab then keep his attention without appearing too desperate or obvious.

Got a hold on you ... happy couple

WORD PERFECT:

The choice of words you use around him is crucial to him wanting more time with you.

This is known as verbal attraction, when you make him like you even if he doesn't know why he feels this way.

When you chat with him, use feelgood lines such as: "It's lovely to have bumped into you." Or: "This cocktail tastes heavenly." Or: "This is a wonderful place."

These words will zoom straight into his subconscious and he won't quite know why he always feels good around you - but he will.

SPEAKS VOLUMES:

Sticking with the theme of what you say, your vocal tone is also crucial to attracting him.

Relationship research shows men are attracted to softer, slower and slightly lower tones than the high-pitched, excitable tones in which we gabble to our girlfriends.

Being wise with the way you speak will subtly seduce him. All he'll be conscious of is that he likes the sound of you speaking. But let him get a word in.

FOCUS HIS MIND:

To seduce him into getting together with you, then staying with you, grab his attention. He needs to concentrate on you - and only you.

Which is why choosing a crowded, noisy bar for a first date is a bad idea. With loads of distractions, you'll be unable to focus on each other.

Choose a place which has subtle background music and lighting. Save clubbing for another time.

THE FOOD OF LOVE:

It's rare for a woman to have a good appetite on a date. Instead, she pushes her food around on her plate.

But you give him a sexy subconscious message if you eat with a passion because he'll think you are also hungry in the bedroom - the two are linked.

SOME THINGS SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN A MYSTERY:

He loves the fact that your skin is soft, you don't have facial hair and you smell wonderful.

So if he rings when your face is slathered in a mud mask, don't tell him.

He really doesn't want to know how you make yourself so delicious - keep tweezing, plucking and shaving but in complete privacy.

A LITTLE DISTANCE GOES A LONG WAY:

You've had a couple of hot dates, you can barely keep your hands off each other and you want to see him 24/7.

But keeping a little distance between each other during the first few months has a positive psychological effect - he will want more of the wonderful you.

Despite wanting to see him every evening, carve out time with your friends and yourself - so heightening his interest.

FIND YOUR TOMBOY SIDE:

Of course men love us because we're women but one resounding criticism is that we never let our girly sides slip.

Have perfect make-up and wear sexy little black dresses on dates but surprise him by sometimes mucking in with guy stuff.

He'll think you're even more gorgeous if you grab a paintbrush and offer to help him paint his sitting room - rather than back off in horror for fear of spoiling your nails.( thesun.co.uk )

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Top ten sex romps

Top ten sex romps. Are you always complaining that your sex life is running out of steam? Well, what’s stopping you from getting adventurous and innovative? Charge up your sex life using this list of the 10 craziest places to fool around...or you could get inspired and think of a few of your own!

1. On the couch: After the bed, the couch in the living room is screaming for attention. And the best part...it’s comfy too. The cushions work as a support system to get those curves and arches to enjoy the perfect moves, while the lack of space will keep up the intimacy levels. Want some more action? Put on a wild flick on video and you have a perfect mood maker!

Word of caution: Watch out your moves, going out of control is injurious...for the couch of course!

2. In the bathtub: Things can get real hot even in a cool bath tub. For the ultimate romantic experience, arrange for a bubble bath with aromatic rose petals and passion perfume. Add some mood lighting, splash a few drops of ‘ylang ylang’ essential oil and be certain that the sensuous experiment will lead to some supah hot sex.

Word of caution: Check out the water temperature, you don’t want to end up with painful blisters or a frozen lover...isn’t?

3. In the kitchen: Be it 91/2 Weeks or Fatal Attraction , the kitchen has borne witness to quite a number of sexapades. The sturdy surfaces and shelves offer great support, especially for stand-up acts, while the feeling of being at an unconventional place pumps up the excitement to newer heights. And how can you miss the yummy treats your kitchen is loaded with? Eat them, but off each other’s hot bods. Think chocolate, cream, jams and jellies!

Word of caution: Know the stuff you are eating and applying...some edibles are good only to eat. So watch out for allergies!

4. In the pool: Though not many are privileged to have one in the confines of their home, if you are one of the lucky few, make the most of it. Challenge your swimming skills and get under for into some underwater escapades. Who said that the inflatable water turtle is meant only for tanning, use it for some steamy adventure...ride it together and get a new high!

Word of caution: You need not be swimming champs, but fairly decent floating skills are definitely expected to get into the water-y fun.

5. In the car: Yes it’s crammed, but it’s cosy too. A quickie in the backseat can rekindle the excitement that you felt during your heady college days. Put on some romantic retro tracks and switch on the AC. Don’t fret, it won’t cool down the passion. When the place is different, the position can’t be a drab. It’s tough to adjust facing each other, but turning the world around can definitely help...hope you got the clue!

Word of caution: Just be careful where you park...you don’t want to get busted!

6. In the dressing room: How about catching her unawares in the dressing room of a store? Sounds dangerous but thrilling too! The fear of getting caught will only add to the sensual experience, while the lack of time is perfect to give you a never before quickie. Thinking comfort? Sorry! All you have is a stool...let him stand as you take charge!

Word of caution: Making noise is not allowed here and do take care of hidden cameras and key-holes.

7. The stairs: If you are thinking they can be a pain to one’s body, think again, as they can be adventurous too. After all, they can give you those highs and lows, especially when the girl is comparatively short.

Word of caution: Don’t get really aggressive if getting cramps in your lower back is not on your mind.

8. On the roof : Yes, this can be a great playground; the gentle moonlight, a cool breeze to caress your passionate entwinings. Pep it up with some paper lamps or scented candles and light music, which will just add to the mood. You have all the space to set the ball rolling...so go ahead and explore her contours under a starry sky.

Word of caution: No physical risks are involved...but just take care of peeping Toms around.

9. In a sleeping bag: Nothing could bring you as close as that sleeping bag that’s meant for a single person and is loaded with two! Why not get into some naughty action and add to a fun-filled camping trip? Instead of the normal position, turn around and have some fun from behind. Talk about kinky fantasies!

Word of caution: Zip the bag properly, you don’t want end up killing insects in the mid of the act.

10. On a plane: You can try the toilet and if that’s too cramped, the seat in a Business or First class cabin. Some airliners with long-haul flights now boast of recliner seats that go as flat as a bed. Take a flight of fantasy.

Word of caution: Don’t try it if you already have flight phobia and take care of people lining-up outside the loo. ( indiatimes.com )

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Turn a Temp Gig to a Full-Time Job

Turn a Temp Gig to a Full-Time Job. Just a few short years ago, Ryan started as a temp in a local office of a paper distribution company but today he's the VP of marketing for that same company. OK, so this happened on "The Office" and he's still referred to as "The Temp," but this happens in real life, too.

Paulette Beete has gone from temporary to permanent twice. "When I moved to Chicago in 1994, my first temp assignment was on the fixed-income desk at J.P. Morgan. I got the [permanent] job just a few weeks later, and I was there for five years." She's now a public affairs specialist for a federal grant-making agency in Washington, D.C.

Beete started temping while still in college. "[Temping] helped me to learn basic job skills and gain corporate work experience before I officially entered the job market," Beete says. "It taught me how to deal with a range of people -- from assistants to CEOs. And it taught me how to jump right in no matter what the job situation."

Two of Beete's friends at J.P. Morgan also started as temps and moved on to lasting positions. One is now a vice president in JPM's futures department; the other moved from temporary to permanent assistant to equities sales trader, which she now does at another firm, she said.

There are many reasons why you might seek a temporary job: You're testing the waters of a career change. You've been laid off and need income while you search for long-term employment. You want to keep your résumé gap-free. This tighter job market is not producing the jobs you're seeking.

But what about the reasons why you should seek short-term work? According to the American Staffing Association, 88 percent of staffing employees say temporary or project work made them more employable and 80 percent of staffing clients say staffing firms offer a good way to find people who can become long-term employees.

Project work frequently leads to full-time roles, says Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of "Human Resources Kit For Dummies" (John Wiley & Sons Inc.). "Increasingly, organizations are realizing the value of using temporary assignments as a means of evaluating candidates for full-time positions. This provides a low-risk opportunity for managers to determine how an individual will perform on the job."

Lest you think there isn't much project work out there, consider this: The American Staffing Association reports that staffing companies employ 2.96 million people each day and 11.4 million people over the course of a year.

So who are these staffing companies and what jobs are they looking to fill? Here are 10 staffing companies that hire and place temporary workers:

1. Accountemps

Specializes in: accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals.

2. Kelly Services

Specializes in: office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, light industrial, education, health care and home care

3. Labor Ready

Specializes in: construction, manufacturing, hospitality services, landscaping, warehousing, retail and more.

4. Manpower

Specializes in: office, light industrial or call center environment

5. NurseCore

Specializes in: nursing, allied and medical office professionals

6. Office Team

Specializes in: office services including executive and administrative assistants, office managers, project coordinators, Microsoft certified specialists, receptionists and data entry

7. Robert Half Legal

Specializes in: attorneys and legal support

8. Select Staffing

Specializes in: on-site services, risk management, human resources, training and employment law

9. The Creative Group

Specializes in: creative, advertising, marketing, Web and public relations

10. Volt

Specializes in: administrative, manufacturing, accounting, technical, professional, IT, engineering and human resources

Tips to make your temp job permanent

Act as if you are on a job interview. Some people think that just because it's temp work, they don't need to impress. When you meet the recruiter at the staffing company, treat it as an interview ... because it is. If you don't make a good impression with the recruiter, chances are you won't get as much consideration as the candidate who does.

Treat is as a "real" job. If you want to get a full-time position where you are temping -- whether in that position or another -- you need to be serious about it. Impress the boss and show your professionalism and competence. Dress professionally, arrive (and leave) on time and resist the urge to blow off a day.

Learn as much as you can on the job. Take every opportunity you can to learn new software or build skills. Not only will you add inventory to your résumé, it makes you more valuable to the employer.

Ask for the job. Talk about your intentions and desires with the placement company or hiring manager. Even if an opportunity doesn't exist today, you don't know what may happen down the road. ( msn.com )

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Job Search Reality Check

Job Search Reality Check. A strong hiring environment may cause you to think that your job search will be a piece of cake. But the truth is that finding the right job can be hit or miss. It's important to have realistic expectations to keep your spirits high and limit frustration. So that you enter the process with your eyes open, here are some job-search perceptions you may have and the reality behind them:

Expectation: My job search will take no time at all.
Reality: There's no guarantee how long it will take to find a new position.

Finding the right opportunity is not always easy. The open positions you come across may not seem challenging enough, or certain details about a job, such as the salary or commute, may not be appealing. Along with searching classified ads and online job boards, you'll increase your chances of finding a job quickly by tapping your network of friends, former co-workers and industry contacts for leads.

In addition, hiring managers may take several weeks to respond to your application. After all, they have full-time jobs with demands of their own, and hundreds, if not thousands, of résumés to review. That said, don't be afraid to follow up with a prospective employer to help move the process along. Eighty-two percent of executives polled by Robert Half International said it's a good idea to do so within two weeks of submitting a résumé.

Expectation: I need to send out only a few résumés.
Reality: Finding a job is a numbers game.

As mentioned above, a hiring manager may receive countless résumés for an open position. That's why it pays to spread a wide net. And while you want to keep in mind your goals, it may be unwise to hold out for the "perfect" job, which you might not find -- or which might not even exist.

Also keep in mind that some of the résumés you distribute may not reach their destinations. If you e-mail your résumé, it could end up in the hiring manager's spam folder, depending on the words it contains. For instance, if you "won an award" for being a team player, your message could be seen by an e-mail filter as a sweepstakes or moneymaking promotion. "Received formal recognition" would work better.

Networking with members of your professional network is one way to save yourself some time and effort. Hiring managers give preference to personal recommendations and may move your résumé to the top of the pile if someone you know puts in a good word for you.

Expectation: My résumé and cover letter are terrific!
Reality: You could probably improve your application materials.

Take a close look at your résumé and cover letter. Do they sell your skills and qualifications? Make sure that, instead of simply listing your previous duties, you detail your accomplishments and contributions in previous roles. So rather than saying, "Wrote one high-tech column for company intranet each week," try, "Wrote weekly high-tech column for company intranet that increased readership by more than 200 percent and helped employees better utilize company systems." This will show a prospective employer exactly how your work improved the bottom line and why he should hire you.

Also make sure your materials are targeted. Research the company before responding to an ad to determine how your qualifications can meet its business needs. In addition, read through the job description and include specific terms from it in your résumé and cover letter. Doing so will demonstrate to a hiring manager that your skills are a good fit for the position as well as increase the likelihood that your documents will be flagged as promising by résumé-scanning software.

Expectation: My skills are top notch -- any company would want to hire me.
Reality: You may not be as marketable as you think.

A common mistake job seekers make is overestimating their marketability. Although you may think your skill set is solid, take an honest look at your qualifications to determine how in demand you really are. Keep in mind that your marketability depends on many things, including factors that may be out of your hands. For instance, you may live in a part of the country where many other individuals with similar experience are also looking for employment.

Of course, there are some factors you can control. For example, many firms seek employees with well-developed soft skills, such as communication and leadership abilities. Enrolling in a class or seminar can help you build these competencies. Industry publications, members of your professional network and recruiters can help you determine your weaknesses and identify ways of strengthening those areas to improve your marketability.

Finding a new position is difficult, and it's easy to fall prey to your frustrations. But by maintaining a realistic outlook, you'll be better able to overcome any hurdles and land a job quickly. ( msn.com )

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Getting Out of Prison and Into a Job

Getting Out of Prison and Into a Job. Federal, local governments offering tax incentives to hire parolees. Clayton Smalls has come a long way since he was holding up tellers behind bank counters.

Today he works as a deli man behind the counter of a Fairway Market in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Smalls, 49, who got out of prison in October 2007 after serving 17 months for selling marijuana, has spent most of his life in and out of jail for everything from robbery to drug dealing.

But he's finally ready to change his life, and the job he landed -- thanks to help from America Works, an employment agency that trains and finds jobs for hard-to-place candidates like ex-cons and welfare recipients -- has gone a long way in motivating him.

"I get to work every day an hour early," he says proudly. "The store manager has high hopes for me. He's teaching me how to cut salmon."

"This job is the most important thing in my life," he adds.

There's a growing desire in this country to get ex-offenders jobs as a way to keep them out of jail. The federal government and some municipalities are doing what they can to help parolees get job training and offering employers incentives to hire former prisoners, spurred by skyrocketing incarceration costs and exploding prison populations.

"Acquiring employment is crucial," says Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Ill. "If they don't get employment, many of these individuals will be back on the corner hollering 'crack and blow.' "

That's part of the reason Davis co-sponsored the Second Chance Act, a bipartisan bill President Bush signed into law in May 2008 authorizing $165 million annually for a host of initiatives to curb recidivism, including money to train ex-offenders for jobs. (About 700,000 people are released from prisons every year, and about two-thirds of those are expected to be back in prison within three years, according to the Department of Justice.)

The federal government already offers employers a tax incentive of $2,400 to hire parolees, and some municipalities are following suit. Last month, the City of Philadelphia announced a program offering employers in the city a $10,000 tax incentive for every ex-offender they hire.

"We need employers to set up and give them an opportunity to show everyone they can be good employees," says Everett Gillison, Philadelphia's deputy mayor for public safety. "These people are trying to turn their lives around and stay crime-free."

It makes economic sense for the ex-cons and for the city that has seen its prison population hit an all time high of 9,250. "The best anti-crime package includes giving people a good job," Gillison adds.

Unfortunately, it's a daunting mission. Many parolees don't have the skills they need to land jobs, and ex-felons are restricted from a host of positions because of their criminal records. In addition, most employers just don't want to hire ex-cons. And forget about hiding your past in this Internet age, experts say, where hiring managers can find out everything about you in a quick Web search.

Take Megon Valencia, 32, who was released from prison in January of last year after serving four years for using a fake name to lease a car, which legally is viewed as stealing.

She got 60 college credits while in prison, and ended up getting an accountingbookkeeper for a wine distributor, but decided not to disclose her record because she figured she wouldn't be hired. certificate. When she got out she landed a great job as

"He did research on me after I started working and found out I was on parole. He flipped out and fired me," she says. "After that I thought no one would hire me."

There are generally few if any employment protections for ex-felons, says Dianna Johnston, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. "Some courts have ruled that an employer that has a broad practice of excluding people from all jobs because they have had an arrest or conviction has a disparate impact on African-Americans," she explains. "A similar impact may apply to Hispanics."

But, for the most part, a hiring manager can legally toss your application in the trash bin if you've been incarcerated, and they do.

Devah Pager, an associate professor at Princeton University, has studied discrimination against ex-offenders and is currently doing field experiments looking at this issue. "I hire young men to pose as job applicants, applying to real entry-level jobs in Milwaukee and New York, to see how employers respond to their race and criminal background," she says. "Having a record reduces a job applicant's chances of getting a call back by half, [and] more if the applicant is black."

Happily, Valencia was lucky to find an employer open to hiring people who need a break.

She ended up landing a job as an administrator for Empowercom, a Denver-based telecommunications company where she makes $12 an hour, plus benefits, and handles bookkeeping and invoicing tasks.

"I'm trying to get my life back together," she maintains.

The company's founder, Terri Jackson, says the mission when the company started was to "hire the disadvantaged or people who ordinarily would not have the best opportunities to be employed, including those on welfare, at-risk youth, ex-offenders or non-English speaking citizens."

And when it comes to ex-cons, it's paid off.

"Of all the groups we targeted, ex-offenders turned out to be the best employees, in part because they usually have a desire to create a better life for themselves," she says. "They are often highly motivated and many have usable job skills that are desirable for an employer. They come to work every day and do not engage in the type of behaviors that will land them back in the penal system."

While many people may disregard the issue of jobs for ex-felons as something they don't have to worry about, we may all be forced to confront the issue sooner or later given the growing ranks of parolees.

"The number of ex-felons in the United States is at the highest level in our history," says Chris Uggen, a professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota, who estimates there are about 12 million former felons living among us today. With an impending job shortage as baby boomers age, employers may be forced to start considering former prison inmates whether they like it or not, he surmises.

"Work is not a panacea, but a stable job and a good home situation really improves the odds that people will get out of criminal activity," he says, adding that a job does help keep ex-offenders out of jail, especially among older parolees.

So what should ex-felons do if they want to land a job and turn their lives around?

Peter Cove, the founder of America Works, suggests parolees move quickly to land a job, any job, right out of prison so they're not dragged into the criminal world yet again.

Experts suggest former inmates find an agency in their town that focuses on finding jobs for hard-to-place candidates and take advantage of whatever skills training they can get from the government, nonprofit groups and employment agencies with parolee experience.

The nationwide America Works locations can be found on its Web site.

Uggen also suggests checking out the following Web sites for help: The Sentencing Project, The Legal Action Center, and The Prisoner Reentry Institute.

The key to getting a job -- especially for an ex-con -- is references, experts say. To that end, some former inmates may have to take a low-level job, work their tails off and use that employer for recommendations for the next gig.

Networking also is important. In today's economy, where jobs are becoming more and more scarce, few people are able to land jobs without connections. There are many support groups for ex-inmates throughout the country that could be great resources.

Once parolees land a job interview, one of the hardest things is explaining their tainted pasts.

"Go: Getting On After Getting Out," a book on re-entry put out by the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, offers some great guidelines on how to answer questions about a conviction.

Don't lie, give excuses or harp on the details of a conviction, the authors write. Instead, they recommend showing remorse and describing the efforts former inmates have made to improve themselves. The interviewer is ultimately looking for a future employee, so parolees could talk about how they're ready to move forward with life and how hard they're willing to work to get there.

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