Affirmations and meditation | prozacinmycornflakes

So I?m on a quest to come to peace with my mind and body. The body?s the easy part; my mind is actively out to get me at the best of times. As my friends repeatedly remind me: Depression is an asshole. Depression is a lying liar who lies. Depression is a filthy liar and makes everything so much harder. Lather, rinse, repeat. Easy to read and write, but not so easy to internalize, especially in those dark hours of night where all I can do is cry and wonder why I am the worst person on this planet. (Which is a stretch, as I?ve never killed or maimed anyone, never committed any genocide, or been responsible for any other atrocities. I just occasionally goof up and say mean things or hurt people?s feelings on accident. I definitely am not the *worst* person ever, but the illness tries its damnedest to convince me I am.)

A few months back, a friend recommended I start meditating, and using positive affirmations while doing so, to help with some of the self-hate that abounds when I?m depressed. Meditation before sleep seems to be helping me relax to the point of being able to fall asleep more readily, so I?ve definitely latched on to that one. Since getting my yoga mat, I?ve started meditating on it, because it?s a lot more comfortable than the floor and meditating on my bed does horrible things to my posture and I end up focusing on that, versus, y?know, cultivating inner peace.

I?ve been trying to find positive affirmations that don?t feel silly or stupid to use. I was googling around looking for stuff on improving self-care, and tripped over an affirmations page that I sort of like.

Self Care

If we are to be effective in the things we set out to do in life and in particular if you are embarking on a process of change, you need to be performing at your very best. To achieve this we must care for ourselves at all levels, ensuring that we receive the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual sutainance that we need and that as we expend our energies we allow ourselves time for renewal. Acts of self-care are acts of self-love and are essential to your wellbeing.

Do not skimp on this process; not only is it essential, it is one of the most enjoyable, worthwhile and fun aspects of life that we need to undertake, so don?t miss out on it!

From Vital Affirmation?s page on Self-care.

The page is Vital Affirmations and advertises itself as ?The Positive Mindset Website,? which is something I definitely need to work on. I?m slowly wandering through the site, picking up the things I like and laughing at the bits that feel silly, but trying to keep an open mind. My goal is to develop a positive mindset when I?m feeling well, and building it into a personal mantra that I can draw from when the illness is beating me upside the head and shoulders with self-hatred. Granted, there are some affirmations for things I don?t agree with on their site, like weight loss, but thankfully it is labeled, and I am a thinking adult who can avoid the stuff that?s just going to trigger me. ?Most of the time. Sometimes I?m too curious for my own good.

If anybody has any suggestions of other positive affirmations they?re fond of, please feel free to share. I?m undertaking this quest with all of you in mind, and want to be able to share all the positive I can.

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Source: http://prozacinmycornflakes.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/affirmations-and-meditation/

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Ravens lead 49ers 14-3 in Super Bowl 2nd quarter

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) catches a 13-yard pass for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) trails the play during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, left, stands with his brother Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh before the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) catches a 13-yard touchdown pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick signals a plays against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Playing nearly perfectly in his Super Bowl debut, Joe Flacco threw two early touchdown passes to help the Baltimore Ravens take a 14-3 lead over the mistake-prone San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter Sunday.

The 49ers turned over the ball twice in about a 5-minute span of the second quarter: Rookie running back LaMichael James fumbled ? leading to a Ravens TD ? and safety Ed Reed tied an NFL record with his ninth career postseason interception by picking off Colin Kaepernick.

After Reed stole the ball, a group of players from both teams engaged in a scrum and penalties were called.

Instead of adding more points after Reed's pick, Baltimore eventually gave the ball back after failing to convert a first down on a fake field goal.

Flacco connected with Anquan Boldin from 13 yards out less than 4? minutes into the game on Baltimore's first possession, then found tight end Dennis Pitta for a 1-yard score midway through the second quarter after James' error.

He fumbled at Baltimore's 25-yard line while straining to gain extra yards. Linebacker Courtney Upshaw punched the ball loose, and defensive lineman Arthur Jones recovered it, and the Ravens headed the other way.

The 49ers also began the game with an illegal formation penalty on the very first play, then needed to punt.

A good return by Jacoby Jones set up the Ravens near midfield, and they promptly drove 51 yards in six plays. Another 49ers penalty on third down at the 18 came right before Flacco's nice scoring pass over the middle to Boldin with less than 4? minutes gone in the game.

His scoring pass later to Pitta gave Flacco 10 touchdown passes and zero interceptions this postseason. He's only the third QB with that many TDs in a single postseason.

Flacco, who led the Ravens past Denver's Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady for two of his league-record six career postseason road victories by a quarterback, was making the most of a chance to impress before heading into an offseason that could land him a $20 million-per-year contract in free agency.

Kaepernick was making only his 10th start the NFL, having taken over the job after Alex Smith got a concussion during a game.

It was the first Super Bowl coaching matchup between brothers: Baltimore's John Harbaugh is 15 months older than San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh.

San Francisco scored in the first quarter on a 36-yard field goal by David Akers, who tied an NFL record with a 63-yarder this season but also had a league-high 13 misses. The big gain was a 24-yard pass from Kaepernick to Vernon Davis. Reed, in coverage on that play, left to have his knee examined, but then returned.

The NFC champion 49ers (13-4-1) were seeking their record-tying sixth Super Bowl title ? but first since 1995 ? and brought in a 5-0 record from their previous appearances. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls.

The AFC champion Ravens (13-6), a franchise that moved from Cleveland to Baltimore 17 years ago, also came in unbeaten in Super Bowls, albeit only 1-0, thanks to their championship in 2001, when linebacker Ray Lewis was voted the game's MVP.

All eyes were going to be on Lewis this time again, as he played his final game before retirement after a 17-year career that is expected to land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Lewis missed 10 games this season with a torn right triceps muscle ? and spent two days in the past week dismissing a report that he had used, of all things, deer-antler spray to enhance his performance.

About 45 minutes before the opening kickoff, Lewis gathered his teammates in the end zone painted the Ravens' purple team color. As they encircled him, Lewis ? large triangles of eye black covering his entire cheeks ? delivered his usual rousing pregame speech, and other players whooped it up, too.

Not long after, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis ? who, like Lewis, wears No. 52 ? delivered his own fiery words, surrounded by the rest of his team near the red, white and blue NFL shield logo at midfield.

Before the game began, with 100 million or so Americans expected to tune in on TV, a chorus of 26 children from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. ? where 20 students and six adults were killed in a shooting rampage in December ? sang "America the Beautiful," accompanied by "American Idol" alum Jennifer Hudson. Grammy winner Alicia Keys performed the national anthem.

This was the 10th time New Orleans hosted the big game ? tying Miami for most in a city ? and first since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Big Easy in August 2005.

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-03-Super%20Bowl/id-90ab25aeca9a4635919197e7f450bbf1

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Live-blogging Super Bowl ads: Good, bad and viral

Ben Popken, NBC News contributor ? ? ? 5 hrs.

Welcome to the NBC News 2013 Super Bowl ad coverage. We'll be keeping you updated with our takes and quips on all the big Super Bowl ads this year.

This is a "live blog," so refresh the page to get our latest thoughts about the latest ads. New items will post with the most recent at the the top. Our aim is to be select, smart, conversational and fun, so not every single ad will appear, just the ones we feel are noteworthy. We'll also be uploading clips of the ads we pick throughout the game.

Hang out with us, leave your thoughts in the discussion area, and let's get some Super Bowl ad action on!

10:50 p.m. ET: And the Coke goeeeees tooooooo.... the showgirls! Fizzz... that's not the sound of a soda opening, that's the sound of anticlimax. Oh well, but we appreciated the "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" reference.

10:45 p.m. ET: And that's the game! Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31. Congrats to the players, coaches, and the advertisers who pulled up some big surprise plays. Stay tuned for our top 10 Super Bowl ad picks and vote for your favorite.

10:29 p.m. ET: Here we go, Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan arguing over which of them is going to be "the next big thing" for Samsung, a Super Bowl ad that functions as a meta-critique of Superbowl Ads. Cue laughs!

10:22 p.m. ET: The big Benz ad features Kate Upton not in long-lingering soap suds, but just briefly glanced at in a cocktail dress.

10:20 p.m. ET: The audio from the Dodge ad was from Paul Harvey's 1978 speech at the national FFA (Future Farmers of America) convention.

10:15 p.m. ET: Here's the big Sodastream ad featuring exploding branded soda bottles. Pretty cool, but once again the impact for us is diminished since seeing it online a bunch so many times.

10:13 p.m. ET: Guy spills sauce on his shirt and it looks like Joe Montana's face. It becomes a shrine for fans... until his wife cleans it with Tide. Whoops! This ties into an online campaign Tide has been running, cheekily encouraging people to buy "Stain Saver" patches that you put over stains on your shirt you don't want the detergent to get out.

10:06 p.m. ET: Kia's "Space Babies" ad is one of three different ads that have child astronauts.

9:58 p.m. ET: A very long pro-farmer paean voiced by radio broadcaster Paul Harvey from Chrysler for its Dodge Ram trucks. It was in same spirit as the Eastwood "Halftime in America" ad from last year, but this one is unlikely to resonate as much or generate the same kind of chatter. However, it will likely strike a chord for folks in the heartland.

9:54 p.m. ET: Wonder how those Coke Badlanders and Showgirls are doing? Wish there was a way to track it live. Meanwhile, looks like the 49er's have done a little "sabotage" of their own on the Ravens' momentum.

9:36 p.m. ET: Before the game, Budweiser asked fans to name the newest Cyldesdale foal. A little surprised they didn't include the name in the ad but that's okay, it was still a heart-warming story of a man who loves a horse that grows up! This ties with the Jeep ad for tear-jerker ad of the game.

9:30 p.m. ET: Lincoln runs an ad for its Twitter-sourced ad and tells you to go online to watch the whole thing. Guess they only wanted to pay for :30 instead of the 1:30.

9:26 p.m.ET: Psy cracks pistachio nuts Gangnam style, cementing his legacy as the "micro-Macarena" of the moment.

9:25 p.m. ET: Kia's ad, with a femme-bot kicking a guy in the groin and giving him an atomic wedgie, is probably the most classically "Super Bowl ad" in its comedic approach. With all these story lines and clever narratives, we're almost nostalgic for a few good groin shot ads.

9:22 p.m. ET: The Tracy Morgan MiO ad was supposed to be "buzzy" but the best thing about it is that he fires off the screen in jet boots.

9:14 p.m. ET: This is how quick-twitch Twitter frenetic this year's Super Bowl ad game is: Oreo uploaded a power-outage-related ad to Twitter already. It just shows an Oreo on gray background with the caption, "You can still dunk in the dark."

9:12 p.m. ET: And the game is back on! Phew.

9:04 p.m. ET: Power is still out in the stadium and they've stopped showing ads. We will be very impressed if it's all an elaborate tie-in to the new "Into Darkness" Star Trek movie.

8:42 p.m. ET: This continuing Bud Light New Orleans voodoo storyline doesn't quite make sense. Maybe they put a hex on the lights in the stadium.

8:41 p.m. ET: The E*Trade baby is back! This time he shows you all the things you could be blowing your stack of cash on instead of hidden 401k fees. A series of pictures of him playing polo, living it up at the club with "bottle-service" served milk, and, our favorite, doing the running of the bulls while in a Baby Bjorn-esque sling.

8:37 p.m. ET: Baltimore 28, San Francisco 6. The second-half advertisers are going to be ticked if this doesn't get close.

8:28 p.m. ET: We liked Jeep's "Whole Again" ad supporting the USO. It had epic national sweep to it and felt of the moment.

8:17 p.m. ET: Fun fact: that was not a planned pyrotechnic. Beyonce's moves are so hot it made the stage spontaneously combust.

8:14 p.m. ET: WHAT! Where did all those Beyonce's go? And come from? Nifty on-stage video screen sleight of hand theatrics.

8:10 p.m. ET: Beyonce is already kicking Madonna's butt in this halftime show that is shot like a music video. As long as no weird German guy shows up banging his crotch on a piece of dental floss like last year, Knowles has this one in the bag.

8:08 p.m. ET: The Pepsi "fan-made halftime countdown" was actually pretty cool. Fans submitted pictures and Pepsi strung them together to look like an animation.

7:56 p.m. ET: HALFTIME SHOW-Here comes Beyonce, shooting forth on a sea of Pepsi in a Pepsi space ship (we imagine).

7:46 p.m. ET: Skechers big shoe ad ends with the human outracing the cheetah and the antelope and tying the cheeta's legs around itself.

7:43 p.m. ET: Subway congratulates 15-year spokesman Jared for keeping his weight off by eating Subway sandwiches. A series of big stars treat it like a movie script, with a twist ending where he "loses," as in, the weight. Big guy Kevin Malone from "The Office" ends with the line, "Maybe they should do a remake," a subtle joke that they should do it with him.

7:40 p.m. ET: Coke's big "Mirage" ad. Mad Max! Cowboys! Showgirls! Glitter bomb! Hashtags! Vote now to decide who wins, if you're not already delirious on wings and chips, at cokechase.com.

7:36 p.m. ET: There's the VW's Get Happy ad that had so many tongues wagging because it has a Caucasian guy with an authentic Jamaican accent. Was it racist? Before you answer, consider that a spokesman for the country embraced the commercial.

7:27 p.m. ET: Hyundai "Stuck" is clever, shows all the dangerous things things on the road you wish you had turbo to blast around, like coin slotted motorcycle riders, to radioactive tankers, to nuclear missiles. Not that you'll ever encounter those on the road, but just in case...

7:26 p.m. ET: The "Got Milk?" ad stars The Rock chugging lactate and solving all sorts of problems with his muscle. He's Popeye and milk is his spinach.

7:25 p.m. ET: Star Trek's "Into Darkness" promo promises another installment in the reboot of the classic inter-stellar adventure series. Sweet.

7:23 p.m. ET: GoDaddy tries to get people to register for its invented ".co" domain name. Punchline: "More everything, sky waitress!" Gets laughs in room where we're watching. Consensus about the Bar Refaeli smooching the tech geek one (below): "Horrible."

7:14 p.m. ET: Calvin Klein "Concept." He's flexible, so is his underwear, featuring "360 seamless technology."

7:13 p.m. ET: There's the fan-submitted Doritos pretty princess ad. Seven years in and Doritos "Crash the Super Bowl" campaign isn't just fresh, it looks incredibly prescient. The goat ad that aired earlier is below as well.

6:58 p.m. ET: A promo for Coke's "Mirage" ad. Will viewers play along with all the hashtag games? Many will be watching to see if Coke pulls off the "second screen" social-engagement factor. User votes will determine which group is shown as reaching the carbonated oasis in an ad to air directly after the game.

6:56p.m. ET: Looks like Budweiser is doing several iterations of the Black Crown "hip black-shirted bacchanal" ad. We're just waiting for the next one to turn into an "Eyes Wide Shut" homage.

6:46 p.m. ET: Taco Bell does an interesting turn in its "Live Mas" campaign. with a Spanish-language version of Notorous B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" playing as a father with a front-facing baby carrier struts down the street chomping a Cantina Steak burrito.

6:45 p.m. ET: Toyota's RAV4 wish fulfillment ad starring Kaley Cuoco from BigBangTheory as a purple-suit wearing genie. Despite what the experts said, it did lose some of its luster having been seen around online for a week already.

6:43 p.m. ET: Cars.com brings on a baby wolf ad. Meh. Liam Neeson could totally take that wolf momma.

6:42 p.m ET: Blackberry, having recently shed its "RIM" parent company name, pimps its one-handed auto-complete feature.

6:41 p.m. ET: Making its debut here at the Superbowl is the new golden amber Budweiser Black Crown, , which is special because it has a higher alcohol content. That's why everyone wears black when they drink it, in case a funeral breaks out.

6:40p.m. ET: Baltimore scores first touchdown. Time for an ad.

6:25 p.m. ET: There's the Speed Stick's "Unattended Laundry" Super Bowl ad. Looks like they're airing it before the game as well to get the most bang for the buck. They want people to Tweet their #handleit moments where you keep cool under pressure. ... Will be interesting to see if the hashtag actually gets picked up by the Twitterati.

6:23 p.m. ET: If you can't get to a TV, CBS is live-streaming the Super Bowl online, including the commercials. The player even has a special tab for reviewing the most important plays of the game: the death-defying advertising!

6:03p.m.ET: The kickoff show has started, but until 6:30 the ads won't technically count as "Super Bowl" ads, no matter how nice they look. Sorry, Samsung, American Airlines, and random mint shampoo.

5:50 p.m.ET: The clock is ticking down to the Super Bowl XLVII?s kickoff show at 6 p.m. ET, with the kickoff scheduled for 6:30. As the players slap on the face paint, are you are ready for the onslaught of advertising? Brush up on your Super Bowl advertising X's and 0's with a little quick reading:

? Couch potato's guide to Super Bowl commercials

? Super Bowl's 8 bawdiest commercials ever

? Is this Super Bowl ad kiss too steamy for TV?

? Chrysler aims to dominate Super Bowl ad blitz

? Arab-American groups say Coke ad is racist

? Five buzziest Super Bowl ads you?ll see Sunday

? No worries, mon! Jamaica has no beef with VW's Super Bowl ad

5:01 p.m.ET: The PepsiNEXT Super Bowl ad released this morning spoofs Coca Cola's "Mirage" ad, and has actors very similar to the #CokeCowboys #CokeBadlanders and #CokeShowgirls spurning Coke for Pepsi on-set. Amusing jab, but Coke's still wins for class, reach, and massive ad spend.

Shooting in the African desert, instead of in front of green screens, isn't cheap. This, however, is a bit of a cheap shot. But it's all very much in the soda wars tradition we've seen play out repeatedly during the Super Bowl so no one is going to get too upset. At least they shouldn't. After all, we're just talking about soda pop.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/live-blogging-super-bowl-ads-good-bad-viral-1B8219525

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Business Coaching - How Can You Create Win-Win Negotiations ...

Many people think that negotiation is a skill that only sales people need, but the reality is that everyone negotiates every day, both in business and in our daily lives. We negotiate everything from who will walk the dog this evening to what time your boss can expect that critical report to land on his desk.

Some people seem to negotiate with ease, while others feel incredible stress. Here are a few tips to eliminating the stress of negotiations and creating a win-win agreement every time

Negotiate from a position of abundance

Whether you?re negotiating a big deal or just where to go for lunch, always remember that there will be other days and other deals and you will win your fair share. Never go in to a negotiation thinking this is the only deal or the only lunch. In fact, it may help if you consider every negotiation like lunch?there?s always another one tomorrow.

Know what you can live with and what you can?t live without

If you know your bottom line, you know when to walk away from a negotiation and you know what you won?t give up. Knowing this information up front helps you focus and keeps the stress level down.

State clearly what you need or want

Negotiations are much easier if you can be upfront about what you want. Tell the other party what your budget is, or what your constraints are. Let them know what features are important to you. Now you can work together to get as close to what you want as possible.

Ask the other party what they need or want

The ideal win-win negotiation is one where both parties are open and up front about their wants and constraints. Eliminating the gamesmanship that mars so many negotiations eliminates stress and removes the need to ?win.? Oddly enough, when you remove the need for one party to win, it becomes much easier for both parties to win.

Ask yourself what?s fair and then give a little more

Most of us have a bias on our own behalf, so giving up that little extra may actually balance the scale. Even if you give more than you need to, it may pay off over time in repeat business and improved relationships.

Source: http://www.businesscoaching.com/how-can-you-create-win-win-negotiations/

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Authorities mum about talks with alleged abductor

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) ? As a police standoff with an Alabama man accused of holding a 5-year-old boy hostage in an underground bunker entered its fifth day, authorities were saying little except that their talks with the 65-year-old loner were continuing through a ventilation pipe.

Negotiators were still trying late Friday to persuade Jimmy Lee Dykes to surrender. Police have said they believe the Vietnam-era veteran fatally shot a school bus driver on Tuesday, and then abducted the boy from the bus and disappeared into the home-made bunker.

While police were mostly staying mum about the delicate negotiations, it fell to neighbors to fill in the blanks about Dykes, described by some as a menacing figure who held anti-government views.

One of Dykes' next-door neighbors said the suspect spent two or three months constructing the bunker, digging several feet into the ground and then building a structure of lumber and plywood, which he covered with sand and dirt.

Neighbor Michael Creel said Dykes put the plastic pipe underground from the bunker to the end of his driveway so he could hear if anyone drove up to his gate. When Dykes finished the shelter a year or so ago, he invited Creel to see it ? and he did.

"He was bragging about it. He said, 'Come check it out," Creel said.

He said he believes Dykes' goal with the standoff is to publicize his political beliefs.

"I believe he wants to rant and rave about politics and government," Creel said. "He's very concerned about his property. He doesn't want his stuff messed with."

Police have used a ventilation pipe to the bunker to talk to the man and deliver the boy medication for his emotional disorders, but they have not revealed how often they are in touch or what the conversations have been about. Authorities waited until Friday to confirm the suspect's identity.

While much of what is going on inside the bunker remains a mystery, local officials who have spoken to police or the boy's family have described a small room with food, electricity and a TV. And while the boy has his medication, an official also said he has been crying for his parents.

Meanwhile, Midland City residents held out hope that the standoff would end safely and mourned for the slain bus driver and his family. Candlelight vigils have been held nightly at a gazebo in front of City Hall. Residents prayed, sang songs such as "Amazing Grace" and nailed homemade wooden crosses on the gazebo's railings alongside signs that read: "We are praying for you."

"We're doing any little thing that helps show support for him," said 15-year-old Taylor Edwards said.

Former hostage negotiators said authorities must be cautious and patient as long as they are confident that the boy is unharmed. Ex-FBI hostage negotiator Clint Van Zandt advised against any drastic measures such as cutting the electricity or putting sleeping gas inside the bunker because it could agitate Dykes.

The negotiator should try to ease Dykes' anxieties over what will happen when the standoff ends, and refer to both the boy and Dykes by their first names, he said.

"I want to give him a reason to come out," Van Zandt said,

Police seemed to be following that pattern. At a brief news conference to release a photo of Dykes, they brushed off any questions about possible charges.

"It's way too early for that," said Kevin Cook, a spokesman for the Alabama state troopers.

Police have described the bunker as about 4 feet underground, with about 6-by-8 feet of floor space and the PVC pipe that negotiators were speaking through.

State Rep. Steve Clouse, who represents the Midland City area, said he visited the boy's mother and she is "hanging on by a thread." Clouse said the mother told him that the boy has Asperger's syndrome as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

Dr. Nadine Kaslow, a family therapist and psychiatry professor at Emory University in Atlanta, said the boy's emotional troubles might make things even more difficult for him.

"They have less way to make sense of things," she said of children with Asperger's and ADHD.

The normally quiet red-clay road leading to the bunker was busy Friday with more than a dozen police cars and trucks, a fire truck, a helicopter, officers from multiple agencies and news media near Midland City. The town, population 2,300, is about 100 miles southeast of Montgomery.

Police vehicles have come and gone for hours from the command post, a small church nearby.

Neighbors said Dykes was easily angered and once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.

He was in the Navy from 1964 to 1969, serving some time in Japan, according to military records.

Authorities said Dykes boarded a stopped school bus filled with 21 children on Tuesday afternoon and demanded two boys between 6 and 8 years old. When the driver tried to block his way, the gunman shot him several times and took the 5-year-old boy.

The bus driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., 66, was hailed by local residents as a hero who gave his life to protect the pupils on his bus.

Dykes had been scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to answer charges he shot at his neighbors in a dispute last month over a speed bump. Neighbor Claudia Davis said he yelled and fired shots at her and her family over damage Dykes claimed their pickup truck did to a makeshift speed bump in the dirt road. No one was hurt.

Creel said his father and Dykes are friends. Creel said that after Dykes' arrest, Dykes wrote a 2- to 3-page letter that at least in part addressed the menacing case.

Michael Creel said he hasn't seen the letter but that his father, Greg Creel, has. Dykes reportedly told the elder Creel he had sent the letter to the local media, politicians and Alabama's governor.

Police on Friday took a copy of the letter from the Creels' home, according to Michael Creel. Reached for comment, Greg Creel confirmed the existence of the letter but declined further comment and said he was cooperating with police.

A neighbor directly across the street, Brock Parrish, said Dykes usually wore overalls and glasses and his posture was hunched-over. He said Dykes usually drove a run-down "creeper" van with some of the windows covered in aluminum foil.

Parrish often saw him digging in his yard, as if he were preparing to lay down a driveway or building foundation. He lived in a small camping trailer and patrolled his lawn at night, walking from corner to corner with a flashlight and a long gun. Authorities have not disclosed what firearms Dykes might have in his possession.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington; Phillip Rawls in Midland City; Bob Johnson in Montgomery, Ala., and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-mum-talks-alleged-abductor-081655942.html

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Home Improvement In Today's World. The Best Tips Available! | OK ...

TIP! Where will you find your inspiration when looking to make home improvements? It?s important for you to be inspired before starting. A quick look through magazines devoted to interior design and decor (you can find them at book stores or your local library) can give you great ideas.

People often believe that improving their home is too difficult for them to do. You do need to do your research, but you can accomplish what you set your mind to. Details that can assist with your home improvement endeavors are provided in this article.

Don?t try and fix that leak underneath the sink yourself. Make sure you provide a catch for the leaking water, and then call a professional plumber.

TIP! Before you begin any upgrade or renovation, make sure you have a method for getting rid of the trash that the project will create. A project that involves demolition will certainly generate trash and debris that needs to be handled properly.

Cover your electrical outlet covers with aluminum foil before painting your walls. It?s easier to use aluminum foil, and it protects the outlets. It is quick and easy to remove, too. Prior to removing and recycling the foil, make sure that the paint is totally dry.

TIP! Are you planning on painting your home? Try no-VOC paints. No-VOC paints are better for the environment as they don?t contain many of the harmful chemicals found in traditional paints.

Use newer lighting fixtures to make your home look more vibrant without shelling out lots of cash. New lighting fixtures can be replaced by a certified electrician for less than a thousand dollars. Pendant lighting is a great option, and can help modernize your kitchen.

TIP! Learn your personal style before beginning any home customization. Narrowing down what style you will decorate in is a big step.

Safety gear is essential when working on potentially dangerous or heavy projects. This includes wearing a hard hat when working around possible falling objects and using a back harness for lifting.

TIP! To increase your knowledge of home improvement projects, consider taking a class at a home improvement store. Giant home improvement retailers often have classes on home improvement projects.

Prior to installing paneling, paint stripes on the existing walls. Often even the most carefully installed paneling allows a bit of the old wall to peek through. To start, simply measure where the panels meet. Try to select a color of paint that matches as closely as possible.

TIP! Composting can really help minimize the amount of garbage your home produces. A compost pile can be created by choosing an outside area for remains like fruit peels, coffee grounds and eggshells.

As you can see, there are many steps you can take to prevent yourself from being overwhelmed by your home improvement efforts. When making such repairs, remember to always keep an open mind. The above article is designed to give you vital tips when it comes to making home improvements. If you implement these tips, you can update your house before you know it!

Source: http://okheyday.com/home-improvement-in-todays-world-the-best-tips-available/

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PFT: Giants' WR Cruz won't rule out holdout

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Former Jets QB Vinny Testaverde isn?t a fan of the team?s ongoing circus atmosphere.

Here?s a position-by-position breakdown of the Dolphins? defense.

Bills special-teams coordinator Danny Crossman talks about his plan for improving Buffalo?s coverage and return units.

Here?s a look at the AP awards, if the only team in the NFL was the Patriots.

Baltimore native Michael Phelps thinks the Ravens will win the Super Bowl by seven points.? (The bigger question is whether he?ll celebrate with a bowl, a bong, or a blunt.)

Former (eventually) Steelers RB Chris Rainey has pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct to resolve his domestic violence case.

Former Bengals LB Ahmad Brooks, who now plays for the 49ers, says that youth and politics kept him from playing more when he was in Cincinnati.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says that QB Brandon Weeden will have competition for his job.

So would Gregg Williams and Jerry Gray be able to coexist in Tennessee?

Colts coach Chuck Pagano and new Cardinals coach Bruce Arians could be sharing the coach of the year award come Saturday night.

Jaguars owner Shahid Khan says hosting a second Super Bowl isn?t among his goals for Jacksonville.

Texans owner Bob McNair says inside linebacker and receiver are among the team?s offseason priorities.

QB Geno Smith wants to be a Chief, presumably via the first overall pick in the draft and not, say, round four.

The Broncos are increasing ticket prices for the second straight year.

Former Chargers coach Bobby Ross says the inclusion of some late coverages that weren?t executed well doomed his team the last time the 49ers won a Super Bowl.

If more owners behaved like the late Al Davis, the NFL wouldn?t even need a Rooney Rule.

The Dallas Morning News wants to know if Cowboys fans would accept an openly gay player on the team.

Giants P Steve Weatherford strongly denies that he has ever met ?Magic? Mitch Ross, the deer-antler velvet extract guy.

Eagles WR DeSean Jackson says it?s a ?no-brainer? for the Eagles to bring back QB Mike Vick.

Commissioner Roger Goodell on the Redskins? controversial nickname:? ?I don?t think anybody wants to offend anybody.?

Lions Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders thinks a gay player should expect to be teased in the locker room, where football players get ?teased for anything.?

Plenty of people will be attending the retirement celebration for WR Donald Driver.

Vikings P Chris Kluwe wants 49ers CB Chris Culliver to get an education on why his comments about gay players were ?not cool.?

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka taught current 49ers coach and former Bears QB Jim Harbaugh a lot about the game.

Saints QB Drew Brees has embraced his temporary role as ambassador for New Orleans.

Buccaneers G Davin Joseph says he?s fully recovered from knee surgery and that the Bucs are on the verge of becoming a ?great team.?

Panthers QB Cam Newton has cut back on his Little Debbie habit.

A group known as Common Cause Georgia plans to block the use of public funds for a new Falcons stadium.

The Cardinals are sticking with a 3-4 defense, despite hiring a coordinator who most recently ran a 4-3.

Rams fans are divided on the future of the team in St. Louis.

Charges have yet to be filed against Seahawks LB Leroy Hill, who was arrested Tuesday on charges of domestic violence.

Folks in San Francisco are buying up big-screen TVs for watching the 49ers on Sunday.? (And for throwing things through it if the Niners lose.)

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/01/victor-cruz-wont-rule-out-a-holdout/related/

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