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I was thinking about getting satellite radio and was stuck on which provider to go with XM or Sirius. Not knowing much about either company or their product I did some research and thought I would share what I found with others who want to know which the better bargain is. Satellite radio is the newest way to get music, sports, and entertainment programming without all the bothersome commercials that we all hate and in the past forced us to seek to a different channel. Now with satellite radio we not only don’t have commercials but can listen to our favorite songs un-edited. Satellite radio also segregates all types of music to specific channels which make finding something to listen to easier. So let’s talk about the two service providers of satellite radio. First the price of both services which will normally be the top deciding factor. XM users should expect to pay 12.95 a month to get the basic 150 channels, and if you want to include the coveted playboy channel then an additional 2.99 is going to be tacked on to your monthly bill. XM also has a onetime activation fee they charge you $14.99 by phone, but if you know how to use the internet the information super highway is going to save you $5 making the registration online cost $9.99. Sirius has an almost identical pricing plan, for $12.95 you get 120 channels and the activation fee is the same and they even offer the $5 off if you register with them online. Sirius also offers service to up to 3 additional receivers for only $6.99 a month per receiver. So we know the prices but we still don’t know which service is better. XM has the obvious advantage of 30 more channels and optional playboy channel. But don’t count out Sirius yet. Even though they offer 30 less channels they standout by having more sports coverage than their counterpart. If you want the most channels XM has the upper hand with 150 channels and the option to have the playboy channel, but if you’re into sports then Sirius would better fit your needs. This could be harder to decide then if the chicken or the egg came first. Here is more information I found that I believe will be beneficial to your decision. XM radio boasts that no matter where in the continental US you are you will have service, they do state that terrain could temporarily disrupt your radio signal. Sirius also will provide coverage to the continental US but don’t have as much coverage as XM. If you are in one of our neighboring countries I am sorry to tell you that you can not yet have either service. Both XM and Sirius are working with Canada to provide their service but have not yet been successful. So these are the basic facts about the two Satellite Radio stations, you have seen price, quality, and coverage. Both have obvious advantages and disadvantages I think what it boils down to is which product has the most of what you want. I you want sports I would suggest Sirius radio they are directed towards what you want. If you want the most channels then go with XM they will suit your needs.

    More Americans die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined.  What is lung cancer and what causes lung cancer?  Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in either one or both of the lungs.  While healthy lung cells continue to multiply and develop into other healthy lung cells, abnormal lung cells continue to multiply as well and never turn into normal, healthy lung tissue.  Lumps of cancer cells, otherwise known as tumors, form and remain as such. 

More than over eighty seven percent of lung cancer patients are smokers.  Despite the high risk of lung cancer when smoking, not all individuals who suffer from lung cancer are smokers and not all smokers develop lung cancer.  Choosing to quit smoking greatly decreases your chance of developing lung cancer, but the risk is always there.  If you have ever smoked, even one time, you are at a far higher risk of having lung cancer than an individual who has never smoked.  Exposure to asbestos and radon gas and other carcinogens greatly increases your chances of developing lung cancer.  The risk of people around carcinogens having a greater risk of having lung cancer greatly increases when the individual is a cigarette or cigar smoker as well.

The estimate mortality rate for lung cancer patients in 2005 was over one hundred sixty three thousand.  In 2005, lung cancer accounted for nearly thirty percent of deaths related to cancer.  Annually, lung cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and lung cancer kills more women than breast cancer.  At least eighty thousand women will die this year alone from lung cancer in the United States.  Over ninety three thousand men will die this year of lung cancer. 

Lung cancer is more prevalent among African Americans than any other race in the United States.  Lung cancer will kill more African Americans this year than any other cancer.  African American men are at least fifty percent more likely to develop lung cancer than Caucasian men.  The incidence of lung cancer among African American males is over 115 per every 100,000 men, compared to 78 per every 100,000 Caucasian males.  African American women have the highest incidence rates of lung cancer followed by Caucasians, Asian Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and American Indians/Native Alaskans.

Non-small cell lung cancer is one among many types of lung cancers.  Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for over eighty percent of all lung cancers.  Within Non-small cell lung cancer, there are a variety of tumors. Epidermold carcinoma forms in the lining of the bronchial tubes.  Epidermold carcinoma is the most prevalent form of tumor when it comes to lung cancer among men.  Adenocarcinoma is located in the mucus glands of the lungs. 

Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of tumor related to lung cancer among women and among people who have never smoked.  Bronchioalveolar carcinoma is a rare subset of adenocarcinoma.  Bronchioalveolar carcinoma forms near the lungs’ air sacs. Recent clinical studies have shown that Bronchioalveolar carcinoma responds more effectively to the newer targeted therapies. 

Large-cell undifferentiated carcinomas form near the outer edges of the lungs. Large-cell undifferentiated carcinomas grow rapidly and often have spread by the time of diagnosis. Small cell lung cancer accounts for 20 percent of all lung cancers. Although the cells are not large, they multiply quickly and form large tumors that can spread throughout the body. Smoking is almost always the cause of small cell lung cancer.

As such, smoking is a problem that NEEDS to be eliminated. Not only is smoking deadly, it is also incredibly expensive. Studies have shown that more people quit smoking because of bad breath, cost of cigarettes, yellowing of teeth and appearance degeneration than because of it's deadly effects. Smoking is a problem, and there are some solutions available for it. The best programs that I have found to help with smoking are:

1. Quit Smoking Right Now
2. Quit Smoking Today
3.Easy Quit Smoking System

However, I do know that the best way to break through any addiction is to pray. God can totally deliver you. Just repent of your sin and trust in Jesus and He will rescue you.

Hope this helps.

Maybe the Army can't solve every problem.

Imagine for a moment that your neighbor's kitchen catches fire. The fire department roars in to put the fire out. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof to let the heavy smoke out. They crash through the back door thinking there may be someone inside. There isn't, thank goodness. They throw a lot of water into the kitchen. Once the fire is knocked down, they shut off the power to prevent electrocution and the water to prevent more damage. They pull down some of the walls and ceiling to get at hot spots. Eventually, when they are certain that the fire is out, the firefighters pack up their equipment and return to their stations.

You're standing on the sidewalk with another neighbor watching.

“What a bunch of bums those firemen are,” the neighbor says to you. “They didn't replace the kitchen cabinets. They didn't fix the walls. They didn't teach the family how to file their insurance. They aren't driving the kids to school. They didn't put a new lock on the back door. They've left the place in terrible shape.”

Now, except for the 'bunch of bums' comment, everything your neighbor said about the firefighters is true. What do you say to him?

How about this: “None of those things are jobs firefighters do. The things we expect them to do-fire safety and suppression-they did admirably. Besides, the house was in terrible shape when they arrived; it would have been worse if they hadn't. You're right that there's a lot of work yet to be done, but they aren't the right people to do it. Our neighbors need some carpenters, painters, an insurance agent, a locksmith, maybe a banker and an attorney. They need a lot of people but they don't need any more firefighters.”

The US military entered Iraq like firefighters. On the whole, they have performed admirably. There are some exceptions to this and they have been or will be investigated, prosecuted and punished. They should be. We hold our soldiers to high standards.

Almost six years on, we find a situation with few positives. But we must be honest about them no matter how few. We did indeed defeat the Iraqi army. With our allies, we initially secured the primary urban areas. We captured the brutal dictator Saddam Hussein and turned him over to the Iraqi judiciary.

Of course, when we look at conditions in Iraq today, we see a vigorous terrorist campaign being conducted against the civilian population. We see a civil war between the two dominant religious and ethnic groups. We see a national infrastructure so destroyed it cannot reliably feed, light, water, educate, medicate, police or shelter the people of the nation. The place is a mess.

And many of our neighbors start wringing their hands saying, “What's our military doing wrong?”

The short answer is: nothing.

The longer answer deals with the role of the military and the failure of the current US administration to put together the necessary economic, diplomatic and political teams to do all the work that Iraq needs but that the military is not equipped, trained or intended to handle.

The Army can't solve every problem.

As an American, that's a weird idea. We have a long history of military success. At their best, our armed forces have protected the weakest and most oppressed people in the world and defeated genocidal tyrants who turned their power to govern into savage bloodlust. The image of Adolph Hitler springs to mind but it is good to remember that Saddam Hussein also fit the description.

We also have a rather ugly history of military failures, almost none of which occurred on the battlefield. Most of our military failures have come about because we asked our warriors to do things that they weren't trained to do or that aren't appropriate for armies and navies to do in the first place. 'Winning the hearts and minds of the people' is one such made-for-failure mission. The adoration of the liberated masses, however intense, has the same shelf life as milk. It sours quickly.

The bottom line is that a military is designed to kill and destroy. This may conflict a bit with your local recruitment poster. But if these are not the primary design parameters, what in the world are all those guns, tanks and bombs for? There is, of course, nothing wrong with this.

This is why the US military needs to pull out of Iraq sooner rather than later-Iraq doesn't need more killing and destruction. The fire is out and we are making no longer improving the overall situation with a large combat presence. This isn't to say that the US has to abandon the country. But soldiers don't do the kind of work that Iraq most needs right now. In fact, much of that work is being thwarted by their presence.

“Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem,” Ronald Reagan said 25 years ago. His solution to problems was usually, at least in foreign affairs, some sort of military action. For President Bush this was the same no-brainer policy in the months after September 11th. Most of the nation agreed. But in Iraq, we see now that this strategy is exactly the wrong one. Iraq is wildly overpopulated with military people, official and unofficial. The country is being poisoned to death by too much military.

Iraq needs some good government.

So while the US Congress is tied into knots about the continued military role we are to play and pay for in Iraq, the most obvious and fundamental question is left unasked, undebated and unanswered. Why is the fire department still there when the fire is out?

Moreover, just as you can't squeeze a carpenter, an electrician and an insurance agent into a burnt out kitchen packed with 20 firefighters, you can't get an international contingent of engineers, jurists, medicos, educators and business people into Iraq when the country is full of soldiers, insurgents and terrorists.

We have to remember that the broader Iraqi population is neither impotent nor stupid. They have some of the highest per capita populations of physicians, engineers and professors in the developed world. They are sitting on a sea of precious oil. They enjoy the benefits of a culture infused with the strength and dignity of Islam (never mind that this faith is too often misappropriated by some terrorists).

The US should assemble and lead a 'Coalition of the Rebuilding' in order to conduct the business of rebuilding the war decimated infrastructure-roads, schools, hospitals, warehouses, power generation plants, universities, courthouses, book binderies, domestic army outposts, farms, a fully operational national internet and even fire stations. In short, the world needs to give the civilized Iraqis the support they need to reconstruct their civilization.

Looking at that list, there isn't a single role for the military of any nation to play. They are the wrong experts for the tasks that need to be done.

As for the violence undeniably yet to come, this is for the Iraqis to resolve by aggressive law enforcement, a vigorous judiciary, a reinvigorated economy (a good job is the best anti-terrorist incentive there is) and a reassertion of the peaceful tenets of Islam.

The Army can't solve every problem.

Usually I hear the No Child left Behind Act scowled upon in teacher’s lounges across the state or ridiculed by veteran educators. I may not know enough about the law itself to understand what all the negative attitudes are for, but I know that I had to take a lot of schooling and preparation to be able to teach these kids, and when I do get that job know that I am “highly qualified” and ready to perform to the best of my ability. I recently read an article from The Journal of School Health that discussed the “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB) in a positive way, proclaiming that it led to an increase not only in the academic achievements, but also increased their programs dealing with healthy social development and prevention. Numerous studies were conducted to predict academic achievement based on the child’s adolescent behavior. For example they followed students in the seventh grade until the tenth grade and found that the students with antisocial, emotional or delinquent behavior at that age, led to disruptive or defiant behavior in the classroom, physical and relational aggression, and early initiation of substance use in later years. 

The correlation between the young behavior patterns and the aged students was quite obvious. I, too, agree that students who use drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and practice other delinquent behavior would ultimately finish with lower grades and test scores, if they finish at all! With this said, the article showed schools had increased their bonding and peer pressure programs in order to meet NCLB standards. They feel that by focusing on the students social and emotional needs, everyone will benefit. 

Furthermore, not only are the teaching requirements harder, something that I have experience first hand, but the facilities themselves are feeling the pressure to help these students achieve higher standards. If this is what every teacher in America is so angry about, I am not sure I want to go into that teacher's lounge and associate with those negative attitudes.

If your Kenmore Elite Calypso washing machine won't drain, there's a good chance that that your pump is clogged, and you can fix it yourself without a call to the repairman. Not only will you achieve a sense of self-satisfaction, but you might save a couple of hundred bucks.

Tools Needed:

Thin screwdriver, pliers, needle-nose pliers, paper clip.

Problem History:

In March of 08, my newer Kenwood Elite Calypso washer decided to start pumping out errors rather than water, and I was left with a full tank of dirty water and half-washed clothing in my machine. The error was the Ld error, or “Long Drain”. The instruction manual was not as helpful as I would have liked, and only said to check for kinks in the drain hose.

That done, and like any DIY type guy, I searched around on the web for anything that would give me a clue as to how to fix this. It was my first repair of this kind, so I had no idea where to start.

Likely Failures and Possible Expense:

Based on information I gathered from the web, I narrowed it down to one of four things.

1) The plastic teeth on the pump which make contact with the motor shaft could be stripped.

2) The motor is burned out.

3) The pump is clogged (due to washing bathroom rugs)

4) The hoses are clogged.

A new pump and motor can cost over $200 dollars, so I wanted to take a crack at this to save myself some money.

Preparation:

The first thing I would recommend is moving the machine, even if it is full of water, out into a garage or to a place where you have plenty of room to flip it on its front and also a place where you won't cause any damage if you have some water spills. It will save you a lot of frustration in the long run because you'll have a better opportunity to examine the guts of the beast and also give you a place to test the machine and quickly dump any water that doesn't drain.

I worked mine out of our cramped laundry room by “waddling it” out into the garage, being careful not to do any damage to my walls or garage door frame. It might have helped if I'd had a dolly of some sort, but I managed just fine for being an average sized guy.

I positioned the washer near the open garage door.

Investigate:

I pulled the back panel off of the machine by removing the panel screws. I thought there would be a lot to look at, but all I saw was a tank full of water and two connection hoses, one located in the top right corner and one at the bottom left corner. They were attached with clamps that could be loosened by pushing the wire “tabs” together and working the clamp down the hose. Since I was in the garage, I removed the hose in the bottom left and pulled it so that it all of the water drained safely out of the machine, sweeping it harmlessly out onto my driveway with a broom.

I then put some door mats down in front of the machine and tipped it over on its front end. I removed the bottom panel by removing the fastening screws and took a look inside

There are some simple parts you can view from this angle, the chassis which harnesses the basket and also the water pump and pump motor which are located on the left side. In my model, the pump and motor are two separate pieces (the pump being a plastic, horseshoe looking piece), and I removed it by loosening the clips, removing the hoses, and pulling it off. It came off very easily.

I didn't feel mechanical enough to pull the motor off and test it, nor did I see any stripped teeth on the part of the pump that makes contact with the motor shaft. I pulled off the pump hoses and ran water through them from my garden hose to make sure they were clear

Repair:

I dumped the water out of the pump and took it inside, gathering a screw driver, some tweezers and anything I thought could use to clear a clog. The pump is a horseshoe looking object with an intake opening and a drain opening divided by a moving “wheel” piece inside the base. The wheel looks like something off of an old steam boat and is what the motor spins in order to evacuate the dirty water from your machine. After sticking a screwdriver into the one of the openings, I noticed the wheel was nearly impossible to spin. I sat on my couch and pulled out a reading lamp so I could get a good look down inside.

After pushing the wheel back and forth a couple of times, I noticed some thick threads coming loose within the base that looked amazingly like the bathroom rug I'd just washed! Filled with hope, I started trying to scrape out the fibers. After a few minutes, I got a paper clip out, bent it straight and then used a pair of needle-nose pliers to hook the end just slightly. With this new tool (yes I'm smarter than a monkey) I started pulling the fibers out with greater success. In fact, it became quite addicting. After an hour or so, I no longer cared whether or not this actually fixed the problem so focused was I on getting the fibers out. Other things came too, like hair, thread, and even some green fiber from an older bathroom rug. When I got tired, I handed it off to my girlfriend who continued to have good luck getting gunk out. After about three hours, we could turn the wheel to a reasonable degree, and could not see any more fibers or hair.

I went down, clamped the pump back on, and made sure the hoses were tight. I righted the machine and hooked up my garden hose to the cold water valve on the washer and started a cycle. It ran perfectly the first time and has done so ever since.

Recently, there have been many recalls of children's products because of the discovery of unsafe amounts of lead. These prompted some internet research on my part. I had a head start, armed with the knowledge of many symptoms caused by lead from previous research.

However, I wanted to re-check exactly what symptoms lead produced, as well as see if there were more symptoms I hadn't known about. I then wanted to compare the symptoms and effects to certain learning and behavioral conditions affecting children (LD, ADD, and ADHD ) to see if there was a connection between those and lead poisoning.

Symptoms of Lead Poising, or Plumbism
Firstly, you need to know that some lead poisoning can cause emergency symptoms, such as abdominal pain and/or cramping, vomiting, seizures, staggering or stumbling, muscle weakness, and coma.

However, it is more common for lead poisoning to build up over time and do internal nerve, kidney, and brain damage with either no symptoms or the following symptoms.

Lowered IQ, difficulty sleeping, slowed growth, hearing problems, behavior problems, attention/focus problems, failures at school, kidney damage, irritability, aggressiveness/aggressive behavior, low or reduced appetite, low or reduced energy, headaches, reduced sensations, loss of developmental skills (mainly in younger children), anemia, and constipation are all symptoms of lead poisoning.

Some Conditions That Have Similar Symptoms
Is it possible that in some of the cases of Learning Disabilities (LD), ADD, or ADHD, children might have had early or prolonged exposure to lead? If so was that causing these disorders?

Take a look at the symptoms that are shared with these problems.

The shared symptoms are low IQ, behavior problems, attention/focus problems, difficulty sleeping, irritability, failures at school, and aggressiveness.

Not all children will have all of the symptoms for either Plumbism or any of the other conditions mentioned. Some may have only one.

Is There A Connection?
Comparing the notes above, it seemed to me that some childhood conditions may in fact be caused by lead poisoning. For me, the rise in cases of some of the conditions above was even more proof.

Plumbism develops over time, so it would make sense as a possible reason for mental and behavioral conditions being more prevalent than ever before. This research suggested to me that there must be an underlying cause for these increases and that cause could very well be lead.

I then dug deeper to find an answer.

There have been recent revelations that children in poverty perform the lowest academically and, coincidentally, are the same children who are at the highest risk of lead exposure. Just think about how many children chew on things or put things in their mouth that they aren't supposed to. In a house where lead exposure risk is low, that may not be too big of a deal. However, in a house where lead exposure risk is much higher, this could be extremely dangerous.

Some recent recalls of children's products are dating back to 2003, which could explain why disorders are at an all time high, especially in elementary-aged children. If children were exposed to lead in 2003 (4 years ago), that would make a 1st grader about 2 years old then, a common age for putting items in the mouth. If there are other items with lead in them from that time, which is possible, then it would seem to indicate lead as a significant role in causing learning disabilities in young children.

At this government link, I also found mention of attention deficit disorder (ADD) as a symptom of lead poisoning.

I could not find the same information elsewhere, but the fact that the symptoms are so closely related and the lead filled items seem to have been around at the right time seems to suggest a link. There's also the fact that at least one government agency mentions it, which when all pieced together, it leads me to believe that many learning problems can indeed be caused by lead poisoning.

Now, obviously, not every case of these conditions will be related to lead, but based on this research, I will have to say that some of them very likely are.

Where Can Lead Be Found
Household paint made before 1978 can contain lead. Even if your home was made after 1978, there may still be old paint in your home, due to someone using paint made before 1978 that could have been stored somewhere. Always check the painted surfaces in your home for lead. Popcorn paint designs (paint with raised bumps) are likely to contain lead as well.

Children's toys and products have now become a possible source for lead contaminants, especially those made in China. Many toys have been recalled due to lead poisoning and it's very possible that some toys that have not been recalled could still contain lead that has not yet been detected.

Because of this issue being so prevalent right now, it is imperative that parents have their children's toys tested for lead, as well as keep a watchful eye out for new recalls. Also, be sure to have children tested for lead regularly. Each time a new product is purchased, parents should always register the product when registration is available, so that they can be notified if there is ever a recall.

Any painted or dyed product made before 1978 or made outside of the United States could contain lead.

Lead can also be found in the drinking water of homes whose plumbing was made with pipes sealed with lead solder. This practice was changed and any new homes will be made with different materials. However, some modern faucets still contain lead.

Soil near houses and highways could contain lead, due to exposure of lead through car exhaust over time.

Lead can also be found in the following: lead bullets, fishing sinkers, plumbing, pipes, curtain weights, faucets, solder (or crafts/hobbies involving soldering), stained glass, jewelry making supplies, pottery glaze, miniature lead figurines, paint sets (even those made for children), art supplies (even those made for children), pewter dishes, and storage batteries.

More Facts And Warnings: What You Should Know About Lead
1 in 20 preschool-aged children have high lead levels in their system.

1 to 3 children in a classroom of 30 will have ADD or ADHD.

There is no safe level of lead for human consumption.

There is a condition called pica, in which children or adults will eat paint chips or soil contaminated with lead.

Lead has been found in imported candy from Mexico and Asia.

People and pets can track lead inside the home from contaminated soil.

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health issue in America in relation to pediatrics.

How To Reduce Lead Exposure
Keep your home free of any dust.

Frequently wash hands and always wash them before eating or drinking anything.

Get rid of any old toys that are painted or dyed if you are uncertain about them containing lead.

Let tap water run at least 60 seconds before drinking it or using it to cook with.

Never use hot water from the faucet to drink. Drink only cold water.

Test your tap water for lead. If it tests positive, either install a lead-filtering system or switch to bottled water.

Avoid buying canned foods from countries outside the US. Some of the cans may contain lead.

Is There A Treatment For Lead Poisoning?
The main form of treatment is finding and removing the source of lead and making sure the child is drinking water and eating a healthy diet.

There is also a treatment for lead poisoning called Chelation for extreme levels of lead. However, chelation is considered a controversial treatment for ridding the body of lead.

There are experts who claim it works, as well as experts who claim that any amount of efficacy it has may not be the worth the risk of treatment.

Chelation is the process of using chemical agents to bind to the lead, which will in turn cause the lead to be excreted from the body.

The Importance Of Consulting Health Professionals
I am not a health professional. This article was simply written and researched out of my own curiosity and should not serve as medical advice or as a replacement of medical care or advice.

If you suspect you, your child, or anyone else has lead poisoning, contact a health professional right away. Lead poisoning is a serious matter.

If you have any concerns regarding any information contained in this article, consult with a health professional.

Sources:
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia – Lead Poisoning

Associated Content – Even Very Low Levels Of Lead Causes Brain Damage In Children

About.Com – The Major Symptoms of ADD/ADHD

ChildDevelopmentInfo.com – “About Learning Disabilities”

metrokc.gov – “Lead Facts”

Harvard.edu – “Chelation Therapy For Chilhood…”

Keep Kids Healthy – “Lead Poisoning Treatment”

Health Central – ADD/ADHD Statistics

Associated Content – China-Made Recall: Various Children's…

*To read more from this author, simply click on her name or avatar picture above.

**This author welcomes feedback and suggestions in the comments section below.

Playing video games could be good for children with ADD/HD. This may come as a big surprise to parents who might think that video games are at best a waste of time and at worst turn their children into wired zombies. A company called Cyberlearning Technology is betting that play video games will benefit children with ADD/HD. They have developed a product called S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames which has exclusive use of technology developed by NASA to improve pilot’s attention while flying.

The child with ADD/HD won’t be playing Grand Theft Auto but the system does enable play with some off the shelf games, especially those involving racing or jumping. The child puts on a helmet with three sensors. Data feeds into a smart box hanging around the player’s neck and hooked into Play Station 2. The data is processed with a program that affects the game.

People with ADD/HD or with cognitive disabilities produce large amounts of slower brain waves, like those created while we sleep or when we daydream. This makes staying focused very difficult. The headgear monitors the player’s brain waves and the child uses a controller modified by CyberLearning Technology. For example in a racecar game as focus improves the car can go faster but if focus wanders the player looses to other players. The system also measures stress. If the child experiences nervousness, she has more problems in steering the car. The goal is to have a child who is calm and focused.

Biofeedback is not new to the treatment of ADD/HD but a study published in the Berkeley Medical Journal found that children using standard feedback systems and those using the modified video game system both showed significant improvement. However, the video gamers were much more motivated and there were fewer no shows and no dropouts. Because the children already knew how to play video games, the cost of treatment was less because no time needed to be spent on instruction. Cyberlearning Technology also believes that the system can be used on a do it yourself basis.

As of 2004 the company claimed more than 50 clinics using S.M.A.R.T.
BrainGames technology and it has partnered with psychologists and pediatricians. In April of 2005 the company began selling the system on the Internet and by November had sold between 1200 and 1300 units. Each system costs $562.

Aside from the small study already mentioned, there have been no independent studies of this technology and it should be approached with cautious optimism. Most experts advise continuing medication even if you decide to have your child use the S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames.

Afrikaans – Ek is lief vir jou

Albanian – te dua

Arabic – Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak

Arabic (to the female) – Bahebbek

Arabic (to the male) – Bahebbak

Armenian – yes kez shat em siroom

Assyr – Az tha hijthmekem

Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) – Saya cinta mu

Bangla – Ami tomakay bala basi

Bavarian – tuI mog di

Bosnian – Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum

Bulgarian – Obicham te

Cambodian (to the male) – oun saleng bon

Cambodian (to the female) – bon saleng oun

Cantonese – Ngo oi ney

Croatia – Volim te

Czech – Miluji Te

Danish – Jeg elsker dig

Dutch – Ik hou van jou

English – I love you

Esperanto – Mi amas vim

Estonian – Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)

Ethiopia – afekereshe alhu

Finnish – Minä rakastan sinua

Flemish (Ghent) – 'k'ou van ui

French – Je t'aime

Gaelic – Tá mé i ngrá leat

Georgian – Miquar shen

German – Ich liebe Dich

Greek – agapo se

Greek – S'agapo

Gujarati – oo tane prem karu chu

Hawaiian – Aloha au ia'oe

Hebrew – Ani ohevet ota

Hebrew fem Plural – Ani ohav etkhen

Hebrew fem sing – Ani ohav otakh

Hebrew masc or mixed plural – Ani ohav etkhem

Hebrew masc sing – Ani ohaw otkha

Hindi – Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya

Hungarian – Szeretlek

Icelandic – Eg elska thig

Indonesian – Aku Cinta Kamu

Indonesian – Saya cinta padamu

Italian – Ti amo/Ti voglio bene

Japanese – Anata wa, dai suki desu

Japanese – Sukiyo Javanese (formal) – Kulo tresno marang panjenengan

Javanese (informal) – aku terno kowe

Kenya (Kalenjin) – Achamin

Kenya (Kiswahili) – Ninakupenda

Korean – SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei

Kurdish – Khoshtm Auyt

Laos – Chanrackkun

Latin – Te amo

Latvian – Es mîlu Tevi

Lebanese – Bahibak

Lithuanian – As Myliu Tave

Macedonian – Jas Te Sakam

Malay – Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu

Maltese – Inhobbok hafna

Mandarin – Wo ai ni

Nigeria (Hausa) – Ina sonki

Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) – Mo fe ran re

Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg

Pakistan (Urdu) – May tum say pyar karta hun

Persian – Tora Doost Darem

Pig Latin – I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea

Polish – Kocham Cie

Portuguese (Brazilian) – Eu te amo

Portuguese (Continental) – Eu amo-te

Punjabi – me tumse pyar ker ta hu'

Romanian – Te iubesc

Russian – Ya tyebya lyublyu

Scottish Gaelic – 'S tough leam ort

Serbian (accent 'O') – Volim te

Serbo-Croatian – Volim te

Sign language – Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.

Slovak – Lubim ta

Slovenian – ljubim te

South Sotho – Ke o Rata

Spanish – Te quiero / te amo / yo amor

Sri Lanka – Mama oyata aadareyi

Swahili – Naku panda

Swedish – Jag älskar dig

Swiss German – Ch-ha di garn

Tagalong – Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita

Tamil – Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren

Telugu – Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu

Thai – Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter

Thai (affectionate, sweet, loving) – Khao raak thoe

Thailand – chun luk ter

Turkish – Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian – Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayu

Urdu (to a girl) – Mea tum se pyaar karta hu

Urdu (to a boy) – Mea tum se pyar karti hu

Vietnamese – Toi yeu em

Vietnamese (Females) – Em yeu Anh

Vietnamese (Males) – Anh yeu Em

Welsh – Rwy'n dy garu di

Zambia (Chibemba) – Nali ku temwa

Zimbabwe – Ndinokuda

Zulu – Mina funani wean

Afrikaans – Ek is lief vir jou

Albanian – te dua

Arabic – Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak

Arabic (to the female) – Bahebbek

Arabic (to the male) – Bahebbak

Armenian – yes kez shat em siroom

Assyr – Az tha hijthmekem

Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) – Saya cinta mu

Bangla – Ami tomakay bala basi

Bavarian – tuI mog di

Bosnian – Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum

Bulgarian – Obicham te

Cambodian (to the male) – oun saleng bon

Cambodian (to the female) – bon saleng oun

Cantonese – Ngo oi ney

Croatia – Volim te

Czech – Miluji Te

Danish – Jeg elsker dig

Dutch – Ik hou van jou

English – I love you

Esperanto – Mi amas vim

Estonian – Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)

Ethiopia – afekereshe alhu

Finnish – Minä rakastan sinua

Flemish (Ghent) – 'k'ou van ui

French – Je t'aime

Gaelic – Tá mé i ngrá leat

Georgian – Miquar shen

German – Ich liebe Dich

Greek – agapo se

Greek – S'agapo

Gujarati – oo tane prem karu chu

Hawaiian – Aloha au ia'oe

Hebrew – Ani ohevet ota

Hebrew fem Plural – Ani ohav etkhen

Hebrew fem sing – Ani ohav otakh

Hebrew masc or mixed plural – Ani ohav etkhem

Hebrew masc sing – Ani ohaw otkha

Hindi – Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya

Hungarian – Szeretlek

Icelandic – Eg elska thig

Indonesian – Aku Cinta Kamu

Indonesian – Saya cinta padamu

Italian – Ti amo/Ti voglio bene

Japanese – Anata wa, dai suki desu

Japanese – Sukiyo Javanese (formal) – Kulo tresno marang panjenengan

Javanese (informal) – aku terno kowe

Kenya (Kalenjin) – Achamin

Kenya (Kiswahili) – Ninakupenda

Korean – SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei

Kurdish – Khoshtm Auyt

Laos – Chanrackkun

Latin – Te amo

Latvian – Es mîlu Tevi

Lebanese – Bahibak

Lithuanian – As Myliu Tave

Macedonian – Jas Te Sakam

Malay – Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu

Maltese – Inhobbok hafna

Mandarin – Wo ai ni

Nigeria (Hausa) – Ina sonki

Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) – Mo fe ran re

Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg

Pakistan (Urdu) – May tum say pyar karta hun

Persian – Tora Doost Darem

Pig Latin – I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea

Polish – Kocham Cie

Portuguese (Brazilian) – Eu te amo

Portuguese (Continental) – Eu amo-te

Punjabi – me tumse pyar ker ta hu'

Romanian – Te iubesc

Russian – Ya tyebya lyublyu

Scottish Gaelic – 'S tough leam ort

Serbian (accent 'O') – Volim te

Serbo-Croatian – Volim te

Sign language – Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.

Slovak – Lubim ta

Slovenian – ljubim te

South Sotho – Ke o Rata

Spanish – Te quiero / te amo / yo amor

Sri Lanka – Mama oyata aadareyi

Swahili – Naku panda

Swedish – Jag älskar dig

Swiss German – Ch-ha di garn

Tagalong – Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita

Tamil – Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren

Telugu – Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu

Thai – Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter

Thai (affectionate, sweet, loving) – Khao raak thoe

Thailand – chun luk ter

Turkish – Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian – Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayuAfrikaans – Ek is lief vir jou

Albanian – te dua

Arabic – Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak

Arabic (to the female) – Bahebbek

Arabic (to the male) – Bahebbak

Armenian – yes kez shat em siroom

Assyr – Az tha hijthmekem

Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) – Saya cinta mu

Bangla – Ami tomakay bala basi

Bavarian – tuI mog di

Bosnian – Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum

Bulgarian – Obicham te

Cambodian (to the male) – oun saleng bon

Cambodian (to the female) – bon saleng oun

Cantonese – Ngo oi ney

Croatia – Volim te

Czech – Miluji Te

Danish – Jeg elsker dig

Dutch – Ik hou van jou

English – I love you

Esperanto – Mi amas vim

Estonian – Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)

Ethiopia – afekereshe alhu

Finnish – Minä rakastan sinua

Flemish (Ghent) – 'k'ou van ui

French – Je t'aime

Gaelic – Tá mé i ngrá leat

Georgian – Miquar shen

German – Ich liebe Dich

Greek – agapo se

Greek – S'agapo

Gujarati – oo tane prem karu chu

Hawaiian – Aloha au ia'oe

Hebrew – Ani ohevet ota

Hebrew fem Plural – Ani ohav etkhen

Hebrew fem sing – Ani ohav otakh

Hebrew masc or mixed plural – Ani ohav etkhem

Hebrew masc sing – Ani ohaw otkha

Hindi – Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya

Hungarian – Szeretlek

Icelandic – Eg elska thig

Indonesian – Aku Cinta Kamu

Indonesian – Saya cinta padamu

Italian – Ti amo/Ti voglio bene

Japanese – Anata wa, dai suki desu

Japanese – Sukiyo Javanese (formal) – Kulo tresno marang panjenengan

Javanese (informal) – aku terno kowe

Kenya (Kalenjin) – Achamin

Kenya (Kiswahili) – Ninakupenda

Korean – SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei

Kurdish – Khoshtm Auyt

Laos – Chanrackkun

Latin – Te amo

Latvian – Es mîlu Tevi

Lebanese – Bahibak

Lithuanian – As Myliu Tave

Macedonian – Jas Te Sakam

Malay – Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu

Maltese – Inhobbok hafna

Mandarin – Wo ai ni

Nigeria (Hausa) – Ina sonki

Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) – Mo fe ran re

Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg

Pakistan (Urdu) – May tum say pyar karta hun

Persian – Tora Doost Darem

Pig Latin – I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea

Polish – Kocham Cie

Portuguese (Brazilian) – Eu te amo

Portuguese (Continental) – Eu amo-te

Punjabi – me tumse pyar ker ta hu'

Romanian – Te iubesc

Russian – Ya tyebya lyublyu

Scottish Gaelic – 'S tough leam ort

Serbian (accent 'O') – Volim te

Serbo-Croatian – Volim te

Sign language – Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.

Slovak – Lubim ta

Slovenian – ljubim te

South Sotho – Ke o Rata

Spanish – Te quiero / te amo / yo amor

Sri Lanka – Mama oyata aadareyi

Swahili – Naku panda

Swedish – Jag älskar dig

Swiss German – Ch-ha di garn

Tagalong – Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita

Tamil – Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren

Telugu – Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu

Thai – Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter

Thai (affectionate, sweet, loving) – Khao raak thoe

Thailand – chun luk ter

Turkish – Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian – Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayu
Afrikaans – Ek is lief vir jou

Albanian – te dua

Arabic – Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak

Arabic (to the female) – Bahebbek

Arabic (to the male) – Bahebbak

Armenian – yes kez shat em siroom

Assyr – Az tha hijthmekem

Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) – Saya cinta mu

Bangla – Ami tomakay bala basi

Bavarian – tuI mog di

Bosnian – Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum

Bulgarian – Obicham te

Cambodian (to the male) – oun saleng bon

Cambodian (to the female) – bon saleng oun

Cantonese – Ngo oi ney

Croatia – Volim te

Czech – Miluji Te

Danish – Jeg elsker dig

Dutch – Ik hou van jou

English – I love you

Esperanto – Mi amas vim

Estonian – Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)

Ethiopia – afekereshe alhu

Finnish – Minä rakastan sinua

Flemish (Ghent) – 'k'ou van ui

French – Je t'aime

Gaelic – Tá mé i ngrá leat

Georgian – Miquar shen

German – Ich liebe Dich

Greek – agapo se

Greek – S'agapo

Gujarati – oo tane prem karu chu

Hawaiian – Aloha au ia'oe

Hebrew – Ani ohevet ota

Hebrew fem Plural – Ani ohav etkhen

Hebrew fem sing – Ani ohav otakh

Hebrew masc or mixed plural – Ani ohav etkhem

Hebrew masc sing – Ani ohaw otkha

Hindi – Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya

Hungarian – Szeretlek

Icelandic – Eg elska thig

Indonesian – Aku Cinta Kamu

Indonesian – Saya cinta padamu

Italian – Ti amo/Ti voglio bene

Japanese – Anata wa, dai suki desu

Japanese – Sukiyo Javanese (formal) – Kulo tresno marang panjenengan

Javanese (informal) – aku terno kowe

Kenya (Kalenjin) – Achamin

Kenya (Kiswahili) – Ninakupenda

Korean – SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei

Kurdish – Khoshtm Auyt

Laos – Chanrackkun

Latin – Te amo

Latvian – Es mîlu Tevi

Lebanese – Bahibak

Lithuanian – As Myliu Tave

Macedonian – Jas Te Sakam

Malay – Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu

Maltese – Inhobbok hafna

Mandarin – Wo ai ni

Nigeria (Hausa) – Ina sonki

Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) – Mo fe ran re

Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg

Pakistan (Urdu) – May tum say pyar karta hun

Persian – Tora Doost Darem

Pig Latin – I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea

Polish – Kocham Cie

Portuguese (Brazilian) – Eu te amo

Portuguese (Continental) – Eu amo-te

Punjabi – me tumse pyar ker ta hu'

Romanian – Te iubesc

Russian – Ya tyebya lyublyu

Scottish Gaelic – 'S tough leam ort

Serbian (accent 'O') – Volim te

Serbo-Croatian – Volim te

Sign language – Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.

Slovak – Lubim ta

Slovenian – ljubim te

South Sotho – Ke o Rata

Spanish – Te quiero / te amo / yo amor

Sri Lanka – Mama oyata aadareyi

Swahili – Naku panda

Swedish – Jag älskar dig

Swiss German – Ch-ha di garn

Tagalong – Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita

Tamil – Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren

Telugu – Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu

Thai – Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter

Thai (affectionate, sweet, loving) – Khao raak thoe

Thailand – chun luk ter

Turkish – Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian – Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayuAfrikaans – Ek is lief vir jou

Albanian – te dua

Arabic – Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak

Arabic (to the female) – Bahebbek

Arabic (to the male) – Bahebbak

Armenian – yes kez shat em siroom

Assyr – Az tha hijthmekem

Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) – Saya cinta mu

Bangla – Ami tomakay bala basi

Bavarian – tuI mog di

Bosnian – Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum

Bulgarian – Obicham te

Cambodian (to the male) – oun saleng bon

Cambodian (to the female) – bon saleng oun

Cantonese – Ngo oi ney

Croatia – Volim te

Czech – Miluji Te

Danish – Jeg elsker dig

Dutch – Ik hou van jou

English – I love you

Esperanto – Mi amas vim

Estonian – Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)

Ethiopia – afekereshe alhu

Finnish – Minä rakastan sinua

Flemish (Ghent) – 'k'ou van ui

French – Je t'aime

Gaelic – Tá mé i ngrá leat

Georgian – Miquar shen

German – Ich liebe Dich

Greek – agapo se

Greek – S'agapo

Gujarati – oo tane prem karu chu

Hawaiian – Aloha au ia'oe

Hebrew – Ani ohevet ota

Hebrew fem Plural – Ani ohav etkhen

Hebrew fem sing – Ani ohav otakh

Hebrew masc or mixed plural – Ani ohav etkhem

Hebrew masc sing – Ani ohaw otkha

Hindi – Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya

Hungarian – Szeretlek

Icelandic – Eg elska thig

Indonesian – Aku Cinta Kamu

Indonesian – Saya cinta padamu

Italian – Ti amo/Ti voglio bene

Japanese – Anata wa, dai suki desu

Japanese – Sukiyo Javanese (formal) – Kulo tresno marang panjenengan

Javanese (informal) – aku terno kowe

Kenya (Kalenjin) – Achamin

Kenya (Kiswahili) – Ninakupenda

Korean – SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei

Kurdish – Khoshtm Auyt

Laos – Chanrackkun

Latin – Te amo

Latvian – Es mîlu Tevi

Lebanese – Bahibak

Lithuanian – As Myliu Tave

Macedonian – Jas Te Sakam

Malay – Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu

Maltese – Inhobbok hafna

Mandarin – Wo ai ni

Nigeria (Hausa) – Ina sonki

Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) – Mo fe ran re

Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg

Pakistan (Urdu) – May tum say pyar karta hun

Persian – Tora Doost Darem

Pig Latin – I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea

Polish – Kocham Cie

Portuguese (Brazilian) – Eu te amo

Portuguese (Continental) – Eu amo-te

Punjabi – me tumse pyar ker ta hu'

Romanian – Te iubesc

Russian – Ya tyebya lyublyu

Scottish Gaelic – 'S tough leam ort

Serbian (accent 'O') – Volim te

Serbo-Croatian – Volim te

Sign language – Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.

Slovak – Lubim ta

Slovenian – ljubim te

South Sotho – Ke o Rata

Spanish – Te quiero / te amo / yo amor

Sri Lanka – Mama oyata aadareyi

Swahili – Naku panda

Swedish – Jag älskar dig

Swiss German – Ch-ha di garn

Tagalong – Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita

Tamil – Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren

Telugu – Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu

Thai – Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter

Thai (affectionate, sweet, loving) – Khao raak thoe

Thailand – chun luk ter

Turkish – Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian – Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayu
Afrikaans – Ek is lief vir jou

Albanian – te dua

Arabic – Ana Ahebak / Ana Bahibak

Arabic (to the female) – Bahebbek

Arabic (to the male) – Bahebbak

Armenian – yes kez shat em siroom

Assyr – Az tha hijthmekem

Bahasa Malayu (Malaysia) – Saya cinta mu

Bangla – Ami tomakay bala basi

Bavarian – tuI mog di

Bosnian – Ja te volim (formally) or volim-te Turkish seni seviyorum

Bulgarian – Obicham te

Cambodian (to the male) – oun saleng bon

Cambodian (to the female) – bon saleng oun

Cantonese – Ngo oi ney

Croatia – Volim te

Czech – Miluji Te

Danish – Jeg elsker dig

Dutch – Ik hou van jou

English – I love you

Esperanto – Mi amas vim

Estonian – Ma armastan sind / Mina armastan sind (formal)

Ethiopia – afekereshe alhu

Finnish – Minä rakastan sinua

Flemish (Ghent) – 'k'ou van ui

French – Je t'aime

Gaelic – Tá mé i ngrá leat

Georgian – Miquar shen

German – Ich liebe Dich

Greek – agapo se

Greek – S'agapo

Gujarati – oo tane prem karu chu

Hawaiian – Aloha au ia'oe

Hebrew – Ani ohevet ota

Hebrew fem Plural – Ani ohav etkhen

Hebrew fem sing – Ani ohav otakh

Hebrew masc or mixed plural – Ani ohav etkhem

Hebrew masc sing – Ani ohaw otkha

Hindi – Main tumsey pyaar karta hoon / Maine Pyar Kiya

Hungarian – Szeretlek

Icelandic – Eg elska thig

Indonesian – Aku Cinta Kamu

Indonesian – Saya cinta padamu

Italian – Ti amo/Ti voglio bene

Japanese – Anata wa, dai suki desu

Japanese – Sukiyo Javanese (formal) – Kulo tresno marang panjenengan

Javanese (informal) – aku terno kowe

Kenya (Kalenjin) – Achamin

Kenya (Kiswahili) – Ninakupenda

Korean – SA LANG HAE / Na No Sa Lan Hei

Kurdish – Khoshtm Auyt

Laos – Chanrackkun

Latin – Te amo

Latvian – Es mîlu Tevi

Lebanese – Bahibak

Lithuanian – As Myliu Tave

Macedonian – Jas Te Sakam

Malay – Saya cintakan mu / Saya cinta mu

Maltese – Inhobbok hafna

Mandarin – Wo ai ni

Nigeria (Hausa) – Ina sonki

Nigeria (Yoruba langauge) – Mo fe ran re

Norwegian – Jeg elsker deg

Pakistan (Urdu) – May tum say pyar karta hun

Persian – Tora Doost Darem

Pig Latin – I-yea Ove-lea Ou-yea

Polish – Kocham Cie

Portuguese (Brazilian) – Eu te amo

Portuguese (Continental) – Eu amo-te

Punjabi – me tumse pyar ker ta hu'

Romanian – Te iubesc

Russian – Ya tyebya lyublyu

Scottish Gaelic – 'S tough leam ort

Serbian (accent 'O') – Volim te

Serbo-Croatian – Volim te

Sign language – Spread hand out so no fingers are touching. Bring in middle & ring fingers and touch then to the palm of your hand.

Slovak – Lubim ta

Slovenian – ljubim te

South Sotho – Ke o Rata

Spanish – Te quiero / te amo / yo amor

Sri Lanka – Mama oyata aadareyi

Swahili – Naku panda

Swedish – Jag älskar dig

Swiss German – Ch-ha di garn

Tagalong – Mahal Kita / Iniibig kita

Tamil – Naan Unnai Khadalikkeren

Telugu – Nenu Ninnu Premisthunnanu

Thai – Khao Raak Thoe / chun raak ter

Thai (affectionate, sweet, loving) – Khao raak thoe

Thailand – chun luk ter

Turkish – Seni Seviyorum

Ukrainian – Yalleh blutebeh / ya tebe kohayu

Michael Jackson was born in a small town, Gary Indiana. He had four brothers: Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine and three sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya Jackson. As most black American family, MJ was not born rich. He lived in a small house with his siblings, mother who was a devoted Jehovah's Witness and his father who was classed as an opportunist and a bastard.

The family was poor and so MJ's father (Joseph Walter Jackson) thought of a way to make extra money. He got the boys together and created a singing group called the Jackson 5. While the group got popular their father was making money and so he decided to share it with women outside the family.

The boys mother (Katherine Esther Jackson) was a God fearing and humble woman. She taught the boys well and so their parental guidance from her was solely based on bible principles. As most common in all families, when daddy begins to stray, someone normally the oldest or most emotional child always seeks to protect mommy. That child was Michael. Daddy started taking the boys to perform at all different types of places. They went to parties, bar and even night clubs. Young girls started to throw themselves at them. MJ, remembering his bible based principles (when you are a Jehovah's Witness, you cannot be serving Jehovah and be part of the world [fornicating and stuff like that]. Either you are in or you are out) instilled by his mother and wanted to keep away from bad as much as possible. Because of this, MJ was now branded as weird. Throughout all this MJ's brothers didn't care about principles. They enjoyed the freedom and exposure. MJ had to be strong for his mother and so he protected her by not mentioning any of what was happening, neither with his father or his brothers.

The boys were abused by their father. When they slipped up on stage, he would go crazy and didn't treat them the way loved kids were to be treated.

MJ loved his mother and this was obvious up until his death. He was living a double life, trapped between what was right and wrong.

When he branched off on his own, he didn't even have a normal relationship. He never had a normal love life nor did he have a normal marriage. He got his third child by artificial insemination to an unknown mother. He would spend on things that were not necessary and take expensive trips that he knew would only leave him in a deficit.

The question was why Michael Jackson was so weird? If you look closely at all the cover ups he did; the battle to protect his mother when he was a child, to keep a clean conscience throughout his life and the fight he put up against his own feelings. That explained why he was so wired. On top of that, he was abused physically as a kid by his father who was committing adultery on his mother whom he tried to protect from all the evil that was happening. Hard for one kid, don't you think?

This kid was nothing but confused and weird. The truth to this though, MJ was not weird like the meaning of the word weird; he was just an abused child who grew into a man that kept fighting against his own body and mind to get things straight between wrong and right. As we all know, he did not pass or fail but he was on the border line. His told it all in his songs; (Childhood, Man in the Mirror, Scared of the Moon, We Are the World, You Are Not Alone, Enjoy Yourself ) and many more.

The only lesson to learn from this is; do not be quick to judge a person. Everyone has a good and bad side, a normal and a weird side.

Valentine's Day is a special day for lovers all over the world, but at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Valentine's Day is more than special. Valentine's Day is an exclusive event – the perfect place to propose, or just to hold your loved one dancing and dining for a night to remember.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is holding a special Valentine's event – an exclusive evening for just 26 couples. This special Valentine's Day dinner attraction features a four course dinner, dancing and a souvenir photo of you and your loved one surrounded by the underwater ocean exhibits that only the NC Aquarium can provide.

Private, romantic tables for two will be strategically placed before enchanting exhibits like Cape Fear Shoals, Sharktooth Ledge, Hawaiian Fishes and Moon Jellies. For those who have ever attended the beautiful aquarium exhibit at Fort Fisher, this will be an offer too good to miss.

Tables of your choice (first come, first serve) can be obtained for the private, or engagement minded couple. One particular table has it's own dining room with a personal view of the Cape Fear Shoals in the “A Moray” Eel Cave. The décor setting for this exclusive dining area will be elegant and romantic.

Your evening meal will be prepared by Thyme Savor Catering. An appetizer of seasonal fruit and cheese will await you. Caesar salad will be served along with your choice of entrée. Entrees include Chicken Boursin with French Boursin cream, Beef Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce or Harvest Pasta with sliced vegetables. After your entrée, you will enjoy chocolate cake for two provided by Island Cakery. In addition to these fine dining meal items, an extended beverage list will be offered.

Dance holding your loved one to songs played by DJ Professionals and Video. With the beautiful, peaceful surroundings of the NC Aquarium underwater exhibits, this romantic getaway will be a night to remember.

The Courtyard Marriott – Carolina Beach is offering special rates for the evening and the Aquarium will shuttle guests to and from the Marriott. Courtyard reservations can be made by calling 910-458-2030. Please reference the “That's A Moray” event.

“That's A Moray” is being held on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 6:30 PM with dinner being served at 7:00 PM. The all inclusive price per couple is $200-$300 depending upon table location. The private “A Moray” dining room is $500.00. For reservations, call 910-458-8257 ext 218 or 202 or email: terry.bryant@ncaquariums.com or emily.bullock@ncaquariums.com.

source:
Cape Fear Convention and Visitors Bureau
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher