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Always eager for new markets, capitalism has turned to pre-teens: shops are full of videos, clothes
Always eager for new markets, capitalism has turned to pre-teens: shops are full of videos, clothes
by Cristina Odone Published
The pink cotton T-shirt hangs from the "Sale" rack at the front of the shop. Its logo, in red lettering, stretches from left to right: "So many boys, so little time." It's an old line, which usually raises a smile. But not this time: this T-shirt is a "5-6 years" size. Inappropriate? Well, yes. But everything is relative. What about the thong for seven-year-olds, with a little heart on the crotch? Or the padded bra for a nine-year-old? As for America - you can buy your prepubescent daughter a thong with a cherry and the words "Eat Me" embroidered across it.
What have we done to childhood? Browse on the high street and you'll find make-up for children, perfume for toddlers and magazines such as the BBC's Girl Talk, with 11-year-old cover girls and features, aimed at the nine-plus age group, that give tips on how to get the beach babe look. Pre-teen has become an erotic term in itself; Lolita, a concept as familiar as Barbie.
For many children's organisations, the greatest culprits in this sexualisation of the under-age are the manufacturers: "Theirs is purely a marketing exploitation," says Michelle Elliott, director of the charity Kidscape. "They claim that they're responding to demand. But it's not true. They've run out of teenagers and they're asking - what next?" Last year, Kidscape launched a campaign to pull Tammy brand thongs and padded bras from Argos: "We pointed out that, as a responsible family store, Argos should not carry such items. We succeeded in getting them to withdraw the merchandise - and they've told me that in future they will consult with Kidscape before purchasing children's clothes."
The clothing industry is not alone in milking young tastes for profit: the pop music, film and pharmaceutical industries are equally eager to boost sales by treating children as mini-adults who deserve no special protection. They target kids (and their pocket money) with the same message: you are a sexy little beast - and will be even sexier, once you've tried this shampoo, learnt from this film, listened to this song.
As a sales pitch, it is hard to beat. And even if you should feel confused about your sexual being, or want to cling to your dolls rather than shop for your thongs, there are plenty of examples out there to confirm how sexually attractive you are. There's the video of Britney Spears gyrating suggestively in a school uniform and pigtails: all the boys - and the men - keep saying she's sexy. There are those clubs that specialise in "school discos" - attended by ravers dressed up in gymslips and short little school uniforms. And, should you browse the net, you will find S Club Juniors, the pop group aged 11-14, striking suggestive poses in their crop tops. So intense and widespread is the message that little kids are sexy that even the slowest of slow developers cannot fail to get it.
The market - and Fleet Street, or at least the tabloid end of it, with its titillating stories that fume, in extraordinary detail, about dirty paedophiles, under-age sex and teenage pregnancies - has understood that it can tap into powerful yearnings: of children, to have their way, and be adult; of adults, to have their way with children. The former urge has long been recognised; the latter, long suppressed, and never more so than now. Yet many refuse to acknowledge the link between these urges: if you promote raunchy lyrics about the under-age or allow a child to listen to them; if you sell boob tubes to a nine-year-old, or allow your daughter to wear them, you may be making her wish come true - but what are you doing to the paedophile, or even, closer to home, to the lecherous, perhaps drunk, family friend who happens to drop round when neither parent is about? Many would agree with Michelle Elliott of Kidscape that "parents have to beware. If you dress up your child in a sexual way, it will justify the paedophile. We're making children vulnerable."
Ironically, the same parents who see nothing wrong in allowing little Jane to dress as Britney-in-the-making will forbid their children (boys and girls) from taking the bus to school unaccompanied, ban them from playing out of doors and generally circumscribe their movements as insurance against the bad adult world out there. Some responsibilities, it would seem, are recognised, some risks taken on board.
In the marketplace, however, even these responsibilities are shed: the "kidult", after all, is a money-spinner - all those must-haves that children beg their parents for, all those paedophile porn gadgets adults get off on. As a result, the come-ons from manufacturers have grown ubiquitous, luring children on a fast track to adulthood in much the same way that wages used to lure children down mines or up chimneys in the Victorian era.
In those days, their premature entry into adulthood condemned children to TB, black lung and no school. Today it comes at a different, if equally worrying, price: one in four of all rape victims is a child; sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase among the under-18s; one in three British girls under the age of 16 is sexually active; and Britain has Europe's highest teenage pregnancy rate.
What's a parent to do? Parents complain that they feel powerless as the forces ranged against them increase. How persuasive can you be, with your objections to crop tops and explicit pop lyrics, when yours is the lone voice of dissent? Gone are the days when Mum and Dad could find some support from school, media and the church. Today, those institutions are either discredited or they have joined the conspiracy to rob children of their childhood. The government proposes to hand out free condoms and the morning-after pill in secondary schools and to fund birth control clinics, responsible to the health authority rather than the school, for 11-year-olds. Add to this the decision to allow teenagers easy access to the abortion pill RU486, and you can understand that many parents think the government contributes to a climate that condones under-age sex. Robert Whelan, of Family and Youth Concern, argues: "These proposals persuade children that sex is all-important and that they must hurry to step into an ersatz adulthood, a simulacrum of real maturity."
The disturbing precociousness is accompanied by an acceleration of children's physical maturity. At the University of Bristol, researchers who studied 1,150 eight-year-old children in Avon, as part of their "Children of the Nineties" project, concluded that one-sixth of all eight-year-old girls showed signs of puberty, compared to one in 100 in the not-very-distant past. Also, one in 14 eight-year-old boys had pubic hair - something once more or less confined to boys of 13 and over.
Yet did our children ever inhabit a Walt Disney wonderland of innocence from which Mother Nature and market forces now conspire to exile them? Emma Duncan, mother of five-year-old twin girls, thinks not. "We've created this notion of childhood, rather than robbed our children of it," she maintains. Paintings from the Renaissance onward show that children were viewed as "mini-adults, dressed in grown-up clothes, wearing grown-up expressions. It is a myth that there was a time when they were more protected, or more cherished, or more innocent."
Her own daughters force her to reconsider time and again how best to protect children: "Girls don't get pregnant because they wear sexy clothes. They get pregnant because of abuse, ignorance and lack of contraception." She has already taught the girls about sex: "I want them to have a knowing - informed - childhood."
At primary schools in the UK, sex education covers areas such as "stranger danger" - raising children's consciousness about potential abusers; how to say "no"; and how to blow the whistle on someone who has behaved "inappropriately" with you.
Further protection is offered in some schools by uniforms: not the short and sassy Britney Spears number, but prim and sober garb that restrains children from dressing as their pop idols do.
Yet even the uniform can be tarted up: as one primary school teacher points out: "My eight-year-olds come to class wobbling on high heels. The most I can do is warn their parents of how dangerous the heels are - the little ones could fall off and hurt themselves." What she feels she cannot do in the present climate, where so many parents express hostility towards teachers who "meddle", is warn parents that their little girl risks attracting the wrong sort of attention. She feels even less entitled to comment on the girls' dancing at school parties, "when some of them gyrate and sway like provocative, grown-up women".
Asian parents, she points out, are far more careful about their children's clothing and behaviour. "Some will not allow their daughters to attend school discos, or to wear revealing clothes or make-up. It's a cultural difference that shields the Asian girls from the fashion excesses others fall into."
Excess seems an apt term: our idealisation of childhood as a Teletubby Garden of Eden seems excessively sentimental; at the same time, the products and popular narratives - from MTV entertainments to Hollywood films - that we buy, and buy into, excessively sexualise the very young.
Is it any wonder that children who experience this contradictory view of themselves feel confused about their role - am I a nine-year-old or am I a nymphet?
And is it any wonder that paedophiles (who are rare) or men with Humbert Humbert tendencies (who are more common) feel equally confused when they receive contradictory messages about the innocent-sexual child?
Neither child nor predator exists in a vacuum: if we surround them with erotically charged images and props, both risk slipping into a sleazy landscape where sexy children are commonplace, and sex with children no longer taboo.


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Gulf Air - main sponsor of Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championship
Gulf Air, a main sponsor and official airline of the Abu Dhabi World Sand Golf Championship on March 7th 2005, is giving regional golfers the chance to play alongside some of the biggest names in the game of golf.
After a successful inaugural event in 2004 an all-star cast of 28 European Tour pro's, are returning to Al Ghazal Golf Course to compete in the second championship and Gulf Air is organizing qualifier packages for golfers in the region to play the course and win the opportunity to play in one of two Gulf Air Pro-Am teams. Winners could be playing alongside the likes of Ryder Cup winners, Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and Miguel Angel Jiminez to name but a few.
Mark Senior, Manager Destination and Leisure Marketing at Gulf Air says there are three qualifier rounds, on 27th January, 3rd February and 10th February.

subset: commoncrawl


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Janet Jackson Wears Her 'Poetic Justice' Braids During Milan Fashion Week
Will Janet Jackson make another album? It looks like she's taking a good long break from music and is enjoying the good life with her billionaire boo Wissam al Mana.
The two were spotted hitting up Milan Fashion Week during the past few days while catching the Roberto Cavalli, Giuseppe Zanotti and Versace Fall 2013 runway shows. Meanwhile, although Janet is back to her signature braids she wore in the 1993 film, "Poetic Justice," she was missing in action this week when Drake and Kendrick Lamar debuted their new video to the track, "Poetic Justice." Kendrick Lamar begged and pleaded through public videos for JJ to make an appearance since he sampled her 90's hit single, "Anytime, Anyplace" but his pleas fell on deaf ears:
Janet, c'mon, Janet! No paperwork with the managers, contact the managers. This is artist to artist. This is a young boy that looked up to you for years. Please, yeah, video, Janet Jackson 'Poetic Justice.' It'll only be right.
Maybe next time, Kendrick!
Catch more pics below:
If you missed, Drake and Kendrick Lamar's Poetic Justice video, click here


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Books » Adult Fiction
The Kid on the Karaoke Stage & Other Stories
by Georgia Richter
Price $27.95
- Editor
- Georgia Richter
- About the Book
There are twenty-eight distinctive narrative voices in this anthology of new writing from Australia's west. Combining short pieces of fiction with creative non-fiction, The Kid on the Karaoke Stage & Other Stories is a quirky and memorable collection that will resonate long after you close its covers.
Contributors include: Amanda Curtin (Winner, University of Canberra National Short Story Competition), Jon Doust (Longlist, 2010 Miles Franklin Literary Award), Goldie Goldbloom (Winner, 2008 AWP Novel Award, Jerusalem Post short fiction prize), Pat Jacobs (Winner, WA Premier's Book Awards), Alice Nelson (Winner, 2009 Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist) and many more.
'This whole collection is brimming with original and vibrant writing.' Brenda Walker
'Pick up this book if you appreciate home-grown literature, and marvel at the talent that resides in the West.' Books+Publishing
'The authors all have links to Western Australia, but their "moments of realisation" are refreshingly global.' Australian Book Review
'This is one of the best books I've read of any genre and that's coming from someone who normally avoids short story collections.' Pelican
'What is most striking about The Kid on the Karaoke Stage is its stories' range of style and genre.' Text Journal
- Category
- Adult Fiction
- Publication Year
- 2011
- Edition
- 1st
- Publisher
- Fremantle Press
- 9781921696831
- Paperback
- Format
- B+ Format (205 x 138mm)
- Pages
- 272
- Other Editions
- Sample Chapter
- The Kid on the Karaoke Stage extract.pdf
- Teaching Notes
- THE KID ON THE KARAOKE STAGE TEACHING NOTES WEB.pdf
- Media
- View Media Resources
- Book Club Notes
- View Book Club Notes
- Share This Book


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In its 92nd year, the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) Annual Conference is focused on the policy and practice of globalization. Set for June 16 – 18, 2013 in Washington, DC, the Conference is full of important topics including compliance issues on an international stage, structuring compliance in a global company, regionally focused sessions, and more. Registration is now open and early bird pricing is valid until May 8th.
AAEI is encouraging everyone to book their travel and hotel plans at the same time and has secured discounts for attendees to use.
- Lodging: Omni Shoreham Hotel has a limited number of discounted rooms for AAEI Attendee. Reserve online or call 1-800-THE-OMNI (1-800-843-6664)
- Flights: AAEI has partnered with American Airlines to provide attendees a 5% discount off ANY published airfare. Attendees can call 1-800-433-1790 or place the promotion code (1163D8) in the promotion code box online and your discount will be automatically calculated
For more information, such as the full agenda, prices and workshops, visit the AAEI website.


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Firefox 184.108.40.206 Corrects Latest Release
The Mozilla Foundation has departed from its normal release cycle to fix several bugs and the remaining security holes in version 184.108.40.206 of the Firefox web browser.
Based on a test performed by Linux Magazine, the vulnerabilities that version 188.8.131.52 failed to fix (see the separate news item here) still seem to exist in 188.8.131.52. As previously, it is possible to hide part of the source code, preventing users from viewing the code in "View Page Source". This means that attackers still have the ability to hide malicious code in their websites. The vulnerability also affects older Firefox versions and can be used to crash these versions.
According to the release notes version 126.96.36.199 removes all the bugs that were discovered in the previous version. The developers write that Firefox is now more stable and reliable than ever.
The Mozilla web browser is available for downloading for all supported platforms. And Netscape Navigator, which is now based on Firefox, has been updated too. Users can download version 220.127.116.11. Just like its open source siblings, Navigator is also affected by the above mentioned bugs.
Issue 178/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
Qemu Flaw Lets the Guest Escape
Xen project announces a privilege escalation problem for Qemu host systems
Android Bug Threatens Millions of Users
Attackers can compromise an Android phone just by sending a text message
Lenovo and Canonical Announce Laptop Deal
PC vendor will pre-install Ubuntu on portables in India.
Mozilla Firefox Blocks Flash
More embarrassment for Adobe's embattled multimedia tool
Security Problem in Firefox's NoScript Add-On
Mozilla's script blocker add-on could be putting malware sites on the whitelist.
RIP SSLv3
The Internet community officially banishes the notoriously unsafe Secure Sockets Layer protocol.
Mate 1.1 Arrives
Popular desktop environment continues the Gnome 2 legacy – with new support for the Gnome 3 toolkit.
US Government Requires HTTPS
The Obama White House has issued a memorandum telling all US government agencies they must use HTTPS for all websites and web communication.
Mozilla Signs Firefox Add-Ons
New program will dial up security for the Firefox browser.
Fedora 22 Arrives
Red Hat's community distro embraces the cloud.


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Paris St Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is hoping the Ligue 1 big-spenders will bring Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi to the club, but concedes it will be a difficult deal to pull off.
De Rossi has been linked with a move to the French capital and Verratti, speaking ahead of Italy's World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Friday, is keen to link up with his international team-mate at club level.
"Daniele is having a great time in Rome, but it would be a pleasure to play with him," the former Pescara player said. "I hope so, but I know it will be difficult."
Veratti, who made his debut for Italy in August's friendly loss to England, admitted he was sceptical about leaving his homeland to move to Paris over the summer, but was convinced by the plans of coach Carlo Ancelotti and director of football Leonardo.
"I played three years as a starter in Pescara in the first team, it was not my choice to go abroad," he added.
"But when I saw the project that Ancelotti and Leonardo showed me I immediately said yes.
"In Italy they always talked about me and saw me as a prospect but in Paris I have a key role now."
Click here for a completely free £10 football bet with Sky Bet


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Firebird's Unique Dance Program
At Firebird Dance Studio, our dedicated and talented instructors offer dance classes for ages 18 months to young adult. We teach fusion contemporary-folk dancing, lyrical, modern, ballroom, and latin styles. All classes teach technique, choreography, and rhythm, in an environment where each student is treated as an individual, and not just a another face in the crowd. Students also have the opportunity to perform several times each season. In the past, Firebird dancers have performed at such bay area venues as the Herbst Theater, Palace of Fine Arts, Zellerbach Hall, San Francisco City Hall, Union Square, and many more.
We invite you to come and learn technique and choreography in dynamic classes that teach the student to be not just a dancer, but a performer. Students gain confidence, character, individuality, and a creative means of expression.
In addition to our dance program, we also offer private lessons and exciting workshops.
Have more questions?
Ready to Dance?
Free Trial Classes for New Students
We would like to welcome you or your child to come and take a free trial class with us this season! If you are new to Firebird Dance Studio, and would like to come and give it a try, your first lesson is on us. Browse our class pages for more info, schedules, instructors, and photos, and you can also find a full schedule of classes on our calendar.
Toddler & Parent Classes
All Performing Group Lessons, Ages 3 & Up
All above prices are per month, and apply to all group dance classes. A single lesson counts as a 45-minute-long class. 90-minute classes count as 2 classes. All new students and parents are welcome to sit in on a lesson prior to signing up, or to go to one free trial class! For all new students who enroll, there is a one-time non-refundable registration fee of $50 per student
Family Discount
Late Payments
Private Lessons
Private Class Discount Packages:
Find out more about private lessons and packages.
Since the dancers of Firebird Dance School perform in our shows and concerts, we charge a $65 costume rental fee per student at the beginning of each season or at the time of enrollment. This is for use of all our existing studio costumes for all performances throughout the season. Please take good care of costumes, so we can perserve them for years to come. Costumes lost or damaged while in the student's possession must be paid for.


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Panasonic Lumix GF2 hands-on
Joining the ranks of Panasonic's already successful G series is the Lumix GF2, giving you a 19 per cent reduction in size over the GF1 launched last year, without losing any functionality - except perhaps the loss of the jack for a cable release.
Whilst slimming down the 12-megapixel hybrid model, Panasonic has also packed in its Venus Engine FHD, which boasts three CPUs giving you more processing power to crunch though the advanced features the GF2 offers, like compatibility with its 3D lens, Full HD (AVCHD) video with Dolby Stereo capture and burst RAW shooting.
But the biggest change that you'll notice from a usability point of view is the removal of the control dial on the top and the inclusion of a touchscreen display. But this isn't just a case of whipping off the knob and making you deal with a fiddly menu system.
Instead, Panasonic has introduced a range of features that play to touch support, such as touch focusing, touch shutter release and being able to customise the Quick Menu by dragging and dropping icons. Buttons remain however, so you always have instant access to Panasonic's excellent iA (intelligent auto) shooting and instant video capture.
We got some hands-on time with the new camera, and a walk through the new features with John Mitchell, product manager at Panasonic. "Quality and innovation" Mitchell stressed, were at the core of the GF2. That's not just marketing speak, as the touch interface seems a whole lot more usable than Sony's NEX approach.
Of course, the GF2 is compatible with Panasonic's current range of 11 MFT lenses, with four more lenses on the roadmap for 2011. It is pictured here with the 14mm pancake lens.
We're penning our thoughts on the new Micro Four Thirds hybrid for a First Look review, and whilst we do so, feel free to peruse our glittering gallery of shots.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 is expected to hit stores in January 2011, and the guide price we were given today was £629.
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- UK band, Foals, goes 360 with new Virtual Reality music video
- Fujifilm X-T10 review: Retro done right
- 4GEE Action Cam review: Live-stream your hardcore action
- Best GoPro: Which GoPro should you choose?
- GoPro now lets amateur filmmakers make money off their GoPro videos
- Panasonic Lumix FZ330: Superzoom gets even more serious (hands-on)
- Panasonic Lumix GX8 review: Viewfinder victory for 20MP compact system camera
- Nikon Photo Contest 2014 - 2015: These amazing photos/video were the pick of the bunch
- Upgrade your smartphone photos with the TRNDlabs on-the-go photo kit
- Canon EOS 750D review: Revered mid-ranger
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge Plus leak in impressive photo and specs
- Sony Xperia M5 vs Motorola Moto G (third-gen): What's the difference?
- Windows 10 review: The OS upgrade we've all been waiting for
- Microsoft Lumia 950 XL flagship leak: 2K, USB Type-C, 20MP PureView camera and more
- Microsoft made a full QWERTY chatpad for Xbox One, can pre-order it now
- Sony Xperia M5 vs Sony Xperia M4 Aqua: What's the difference?
- BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition is official: £429, out today in the US
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- Lexus Slide hoverboard: New videos show how it was made and really works
- Sony Xperia C5 Ultra vs Sony Xperia Z3+: What's the difference?


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Transient garbage on dual link DVI display
1 Attachment(s)
My system shows varying amount of strange artifacts on the display. These artifacts are composed of single horizontal line of invalid primary color component (increased intensity of red, green or blue) and can be typically 1 to 200 pixels long. It might be that every other pixel is affected (in DVI dual link fashion), but as effects are displayed only for one frame, it's impossible to say. Usually artifacts don't begin and end suddenly, but have characteristic property of fading in and out, measured by density of affected pixels.
When using X, these effects occur most typically when there's considerable graphics activity (full screen video playback with mplayer is a good candidate) and obviously are more visible when there are large dark areas. Usually the artifacts are dominated by one of the primary color components, so that, for instance, seeing both red and green artifacts is a rarity. Sometimes after system boot lots of these artifacts appear in text mode before system has loaded the OS.
My guess would be that DVI link TMDS clock and (individual) color component data signal have some sort of jitter problems. I've tried several cables, couple of the latest driver versions, and varying plenty of X server and nvidia settings options without success. One unfortunate option is that my display has a sub-standard TMDS receiver, but the fact that these issues occur more frequently when there's graphics activity on the host, I'd say that can't be the only reason.
Any suggestions?
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Covers the basics of AutoCAD WS, focusing on workflows and collaboration that will help you and your team work more efficiently with this cloud-based CAD application.
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Dec 29 2011
Community Question: PSAT Prep for Homeschoolers?
Community Question is a category inspired by you. Here and there readers write in with questions that are better served by the varied, experiential knowledge of those who read and contribute in the comments.
After reading a recent post here on Pioneer Woman's homeschooling blog about college preparation a reader wrote in to ask whether or not I have selected a PSAT computer program to help prep Emelie.
Since I have yet to even research prepping for the PSAT I do not have any solid recommendations. However, I thought it would make an excellent community question, as well as allow me to check off one more thing off my college prep list!
If you would, please share your collective wisdom and help those of us just starting on our way. Do you have experience with any PSAT computer (or otherwise) programs you would recommend?
33 Comments and 16 Replies
Liz in OK On Thursday, December 29 at 7:00 am
I've been helping students prepare (primarily for the ACT) & have found they need to focus in 3 different directions: strategy, time use & knowledge. The first two can yield improvements fairly quickly & easily. Knowledge is harder to impact in a short time but reviewing grammar rules, practicing math concepts & learning to use a good calculator are worth the time & effort.
LOTS of websites are available with questions, some are more helpful than others, some require payment. Be aware that no one (other than ACT, Inc & CollegeBoard) can provide ACTUAL questions of the types used on the ACT & SAT (because those are copyrighted). So it's important to get real, live, relatively current questions from the question makers – I've noticed that some other test prep services/books have questions that sometimes are not very helpful.
There are several apps that offer vocabulary help – I've found that many of these are questionable in that they've tried so hard to be "hip & with it" that they're actually quite often crude & offensive.
What seems to work with most students is an intense month-long prep just before the test. That's what I've been providing & we finish just a day or two before the test. Students who you think are going to score relatively high or relatively low may merit a much longer preparation (3-6 months, possibly longer).
The PSAT can be taken by students prior to their junior year as a practice test – that's a very good idea. The ACT can be taken in the PLAN & EXPLORE formats for younger students (8th-10th grades). That helps by giving the student a less-stressful opportunity to see what it's like to take a long test, get experience with the questions & question types, and see how big an issue time will be for them specifically.
I've put some information together on a website: http://www.act.walkworthy.us which pertains to testing in general & my class specifically.
Stacy and the rugrats On Thursday, December 29 at 8:11 am
Thank you for this info! Do you find that it also applies to even younger students? My ds will be taking the ACT next year in the 7th grade as part of the Duke TIP program. (Right now that is the plan anyways – ACT over SAT)
Thanks again!
CaptiousNut On Thursday, December 29 at 7:19 pm
Cramming won't get it done. Of course it's a big business! The verbal is still a vocab test. And math is still all about *recognition* – how many times you've seen the problems before. The kids need to start EARLY – e.g. geometry starts at age 5-7 instead of 15! If they do, these tests are jokes. A homeschooler in our group recently scored 800 on her verbal PSATs. Her mom said that reading on a Kindle/iPad was the key because of the built-in dictionary. My son (7 yrs old) has been ordered to look-up EVERY word he comes across in his reading that he can't define – which is what i do too! His bookmark is a blank piece of paper folded in half on which he has to write the new words down – just like mine! I have to laugh…a friend of mine went into the Kaplan tutor training program. He said they told him that his job was not to teach the students any new knowledge – that *whatever they know at that point…is it*. His job was to teach them *tricks* and *time management*.
Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) On Thursday, December 29 at 7:57 am
Now that's this Ozark Farm Chicks kinda teachin' mama….just go to the sources!!! As a former educator, I now our world of technology has brought the world right to our very fingertips and there are heaps of resources to be found. :o)
That said, your gonna get more advice here than you can probably wrap your brain 'round. Ya know…TMI, but remember…ya have to find the programs that work best for you and your youngens. 'Nuff said………
From the frosty hills and hollers of the beautiful Missouri Ponderosa, ya'll have yourselves a fantastically blessed happy New Year!!! :o)
Rachel On Thursday, December 29 at 8:11 am
I used to teach 10th grade, and they took the PLAN test as a marker for the ACT they had to take their junior year. In NC, where I tutor students in SAT and ACT prep, sophomores are required to take the PSAT. My thought is why do you need "prep" for the PSAT when it is actually a prep tool? I suggest look into taking it and prepare if you want, but think of it more as a pre-assessment, instead of a post. Then use the test (PSAT or PLAN) to guide you in finding SAT prep materials. For homeschool children who are not used to the gauntlet of standardized testing, it is probably worth the money to take the PSAT/PLAN just so you and your child can get a feel for the regulations, timing, etc.
Liz in OK highlighted three main areas that I think are good guiding categories: strategy, time management, and knowledge. Keep in mind that the SAT and ACT are two different tests and use slightly different test-taking strategies. For example, SAT penalizes for wrong answers, ACT does not. College Board used to offer a "question of the day" email (I think they still do, but don't hold me to it) and would send a practice question in a certain category each day. That is a great starting place to get comfortable with the material, just getting a little each day.
Shannon On Thursday, December 29 at 9:12 am
Yes, Rachel! I just looked it up. The Official SAT Question of the Day is available as in Iphone app at the Itunes store. Thanks so much for this infomation.
Chrystal On Thursday, December 29 at 9:21 am
They prep for the PSAT because that is the test where Merit Scholarships come from. They get one shot at it that counts. They can take it before the 11th grade, but the only score that will qualify for the scholarships and accolades comes in their junior year.
We used a written prep. I got a prep book from the bookstore and we worked through that. It did have some timed tests that my daughter took on the computer and it helped identify her areas of weakness. In the end she did not qualify for Merit Scholarships (only the top 1% do), but when she took her ACT she did qualify for alot of scholarship money at every college she applied for. She finished homeschool high school in the spring and started college in the fall and is doing very well.
Rachel On Thursday, December 29 at 9:40 am
Chrystal, you are right, I forgot about the PSAT merit scholarship. Another difference between PLAN & PSAT! I'm glad your daughter is doing well at college! Your example of your daughter also goes to show that one test is not the be-all-end-all. Even though your daughter didn't get the PSAT scholarship, her other scores were still quite good and earned her scholarships in other ways. I guess that's one reason why I don't put too much emphasis on the PSAT as a goal for financial aid — there are many other ways for students to earn financial support for school (I know I certainly did), and I'd rather the PSAT/PLAN provide them with a valuable pre-assessment, rather than another high-stakes outcome. Ah, well. But you're right in that I should have mentioned the merit scholarship as a possible goal for taking it.
Krista On Thursday, December 29 at 10:28 am
Thank you so much for this information. My son just got an iphone. I'm adding the app.
Sandra On Thursday, December 29 at 4:48 pm
The SAT question of the day is sent to computers as well.
Colleen On Saturday, December 31 at 4:34 pm
The SAT site is a great place for the daily question & for practice tests. Best book is the Princeton SAT prep, which, if you have a self-motivated student, works. If not, it's like pulling teeth & not worth the negative attitude the kid will get for the actual test.
The scholarship for the PSAT is all well & good but there is a small group of people (by state) who makes the final decisions (arbitrarily) as to who actually gets the money. Boys tend to get more money than girls. Kids of color tend to get more. One of my daughters placed in the highest percentile (99th) nationally, in the highest possible cutoff, and got nothing (but the lovely paper document).
for Colleen On Monday, January 2 at 6:50 pm
Maybe your kid wasn't just what they were looking for…that does happen. Also, were you aware that each state has its own cut-off score? Some (traditionally Southern states) have lower cut-off scores…..
also for Colleen On Monday, January 2 at 6:52 pm
Hundreds more young women each year are likley to receive prestigious National Merit Scholarships because of modest revisions in the test used to select competition semifinalists, according to data released by the exam's producer. The changes in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) were introduced last fall to settle a federal gender bias complaint brought by FairTest (see Examiner, Summer 1997).
pk On Thursday, December 29 at 9:11 am
The PSAT is, as Rachel pointed out, a prep tool when taken before the fall of the student's junior year, however it is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, but ONLY when taken in the fall of the student's junior year. Doing well on the test when taken as the NMSQT can result in scholarship money and recognition which can be an important asset on a college application. The test can be taken more than once, so I would recommend taking it first as a prep test and then again definitely in the fall of the junior year. More info about the test is available on the website for the test.
Also a Rachel pointed out, College Board does send out question of the day email. We still get them, even though we have no children preparing for the test. It's a good way to keep us on our toes and to increase our vocabulary.
As to the ACT vs SAT question touched on by Stacy – Colleges differ about how much emphasis the acceptance committees place on tests in general, and which tests to emphasize . Since the SAT and ACT are different tests it is good to know which tests are preferred by the colleges to which the student plans to apply and if possible take both.
Lastly, I have been through this procees 3 times and have found that while testing is important colleges also want to enroll students who are involved in their schools and communities and give back to them in some way. All my kids received scholarships and while testing is important but it's definitely not everything in the college prep process.
Good Luck!
Rachel On Thursday, December 29 at 9:46 am
pk, thanks for mentioning that testing is not the only factor in college prep! I want to second that statement. Parents and students alike sometimes get so hung up on test scores that they forget there are many ways to "beef up" a college application. Similarly, there are many ways to earn financial aid for schools other than the PSAT merit scholarship. Most of my scholarships as an undergraduate came from either my college's scholarship offerings, or those associated with family employers and local communities. So, prepare wisely by not putting all your eggs in one basket!
Sandra in NOLA On Thursday, December 29 at 10:02 am
One more anecdotal story about the necessity of extracurricular activities. A few years ago I was teaching English in an excellent school in Slidell, LA. One of our best students was not allowed to participate in activities at school because his parents wanted him to focus on his studies. He was Valedictorian the year he graduated, and was accepted at several prestigious universities, but he was awarded very little scholarship money. We teachers knew the only thing he lacked was nonacademic activities because we had written recommendations for him. Studies have shown that extracurricular activities are the number one indicator of success after high school. Encourage your children to be involved in something that allows them to develop and show leadership skills among their peers. It is more than just a social activity!
Lucy On Friday, December 30 at 8:53 am
Colleges look for well-rounded students with good scores and leadership abilities. Sadly,sports have become (in my opinion) an all too important business in high school and college. Sports take so much time and I don't know how many parents I have spoken to who have said that after middle school they never see their children because it's all school and sports. Not all parents, but many with whom I have spoken say that if they had to do it all over again, they would choose activities that did not take away all of their family time and things that they could do as a family.
Our oldest son will go to college next year. He has participated in cross country which did not take the time that basketball and football takes. He's home schooled and has given well over 100 hours of service time to our church and our community. He developed some computer software and participated in a golf club.
As far as ACT scores, his composite was 32 and he scored a 35 in math. We did not spend tons of time studying for the test. He took practice tests, read a lot, looked up words he did not know and that was it. I think he learned how to manage time. He took the ACT four times.
He did very well and never took Latin. Not needed.
kellymarie On Thursday, December 29 at 9:32 am
Found this and thought I would share it…
My son is still very young and doesn't need to worry about this,,
Marissa C On Thursday, December 29 at 9:36 am
Dont forget about National Merit…PSAT got. Me essentially a full ride to OU!
Khristin On Thursday, December 29 at 9:41 am
I took the PSAT when I was in highschool (probably 12- 13 years ago) and to be honest I didn't use anything to study for it. I thought of it as a practice test, the study test, for the SAT and I did very well on them both. The PSAT was no big deal to me so I wasn't stressed and I did well. Then because I had done well on it I had a lot of confidence going into the SAT.
meg On Thursday, December 29 at 9:42 am
I teach high school, and our sophomores take the PSAT free of charge from the state, so that they can prepare themselves for the "real" PSAT and SAT as juniors. The College Board has a website, called My College Quickstart, that students can access after they take the PSAT – it has a section that gives them a breakdown of their score, gives them all of their responses (along with the correct responses) to all of the questions, and has suggestions on how to better prepare that is tailored to how that particular student did. I would suggest having your student take the test as a sophomore to get used to the timing of the test and the format in which questions are asked, as well as what kind of questions are asked, and then also to have access to My College Quickstart.
Annette On Thursday, December 29 at 9:49 am
The PSAT is a prep tool, but I think it is one of the most important tests a high-school student can take. It is often overlooked in the midwest, ( especially in Iowa, where the ACT is the main focus). The most important score is when the student takes it as a Junior in high school, BUT do not wait until then to take it, or prepare for it. Our daughter took the PSAT as a sophmore. We then purchased the PSAT review book at Barnes and Noble for $13.00. When she took it as a Junior her score increased and allowed her to become a National Merit Finalist. If she had chosen to attend a local state school, she would have been considered a National Merit Scholar. Being a NMF offered her at least 8 full tution scholarships, ( all over the country…including OK). The PSAT is very, very important. It is different than the ACT and it's important to change one's strategy when approaching this exam. In hindsight, I think students should start looking at the material in Junior high. There is no pressure at that age to do well, and it helps them get comfortable with the test and material. I also think the ACT should be taken when there is no pressure. Once a student is a Junior or Senior, there are so many other 'things' to focus on… it is nice when one of these exams isn't AS stressful as it could be. If the student is taking it for the first time… it WILL be stressful.
Janet Yaceczko On Thursday, December 29 at 10:13 am
Latin, Latin, Latin, and more Latin. Oh, and did I say Latin?
That'll ace it for ya. Start now. Drop me an email. I'll help you.
Fogspinner On Thursday, December 29 at 10:15 am
We in CA have to take Exit Exams. We are using XLprep.com which has several different types of tests you can study for. I chose this one for it's format. You have pre-tests, then each subject (for exit it's english and math) is broken down into sections, with problems, and instant answers with directions for doing the problem correctly. Great for the Algebra stuff. There is a running score and timer for each section with a page listing all their scores in each section. This works great for us, we can print that and turn it into our charter school as "proof". It cost us approx 80 for a whole year.
My son has to take exit exams in Feb (his sophomore year) and can take again each year (at least once) until his senior year. If he passes now, he's done. If he doesn't we will be using this site again.
Marian On Thursday, December 29 at 10:54 am
I spent about 25 years doing SAT prep both one-on-one and in classes and even published an SAT prep book with my mom. The biggest advice I can give is to buy actual tests created by the real test publishers, and not to use tests/questions generated by companies selling their prep program. No one can write the questions quite the same way as the publishers and that can make a big difference!
There aren't as many PSAT prep materials, but the same basic rules apply to the SAT so just use those tests. The primary differences are number of questions, time and that the SAT is based on one more year of math and one more year of English.
The most important thing to do is take many practice tests, timed, and to take the time to analyze the results and look for patterns and trends in the results. Remember that you get a point for every question right, lose 1/4 a point when wrong and there are is no penalty for a wrong answer. So, since it is timed focus on what you can answer correctly, then the questions you think you can get and skip the ones that either take too long to answer or that you just can't figure out. Good luck!
Elizabeth B. On Thursday, December 29 at 10:55 am
The best PSAT prep program is College Prep Genius available at http://www.collegeprepgenius.com . It was developed by a homeschool mom and costs around $40. My twin daughters went through the workbook and DVD twice before their junior year PSAT exam and brought their score up over 40 points. It is not like anything else on the market. It is far better than any book you can buy at Barnes and Noble and much cheaper than a prep course.
abigail cook On Thursday, December 29 at 11:29 am
My husband did a wonderful college piece called 'Undertaking the College Search' when our daughter, Julia completed her quest in 2009. Yep, it was an exhaustive search but a great father daughter bonding time for five years. Hopefully it will be helpful to you all when beginning this search for the college that fits your child because it will be a multi year commitment on the search, discovery and merit money available nationwide.
See below the piece by Michael:
Undertaking a College Search
Step 1 (now): Think about the type of school that will best suit your child's needs and preferences.
Large or small? Private or public? Location?
The answer to these questions will depend, in part, on the kind of education you seek. If you're looking for a liberal arts curriculum, for example, then you will probably gravitate toward smaller, private colleges. If your child is interested in more of a vocational orientation, e.g. accounting, nursing, engineering, etc., then you will want to look at universities (especially those that are state-sponsored).
In Julia's case (by way of illustration), we knew she would pursue a traditional liberal arts curriculum. And, since she has always attended small schools, we focused on small colleges. We have always had a preference for private schools, so we eliminated from consideration public colleges and universities.
Another consideration is location. Your choice is made easier if you decide you want your child to be within, for example, a five hour drive from home. Or you might want to limit your search to a particular state or region.
In Julia's case, we initially targeted schools in the South, figuring that southern schools would have a more traditional (or less trendy) approach to the liberal arts. We also knew that southern private colleges tend to cost $8 to $15 thousand/year less than many academically comparable northern schools. Eventually, we broadened the search to include some Midwestern schools. We eliminated East Coast and West Coast schools from the outset. Too radical for our tastes.
To define a universe of schools, we initially used US News and World Report's ranked listing of liberal arts colleges (this publication also has a listing of research universities). We weren't so much interested in the rankings as in the names and locations. Then, to learn basic information about schools cited in the US News list, we consulted the Princeton Review's publication, The Best 366 Colleges, which contains useful 2-page profiles on the schools.
As our search progressed, we ended up focusing on schools ranked in the 50 – 100 range in the US News list. Many of the southern schools just happened to be there. The upper half of the list tends to be dominated by the elitist eastern schools – which we wanted to avoid, and which were probably out of Julia's reach anyway. She did apply to two elite schools in the South: Davidson and Washington & Lee. I didn't expect she would be admitted to them, and she wasn't. (Thus we avoided having to confront the question of whether one of them was worth $50k/year. I never believed so.)
Attached is a list of the schools Julia visited over the course of a four-year search.
Allegheny College PA
Augustana College IL
Birmingham-Southern College AL*#
Centre College KY
College of Wooster OH*#
Davidson College NC#
DePauw University IN
Eureka College IL
Furman University SC*
Gettysburg College PA
Grove City College PA*
Hanover College IN*#
Hendrix College AR*#
Hillsdale College MI*#
Hiram College OH*#
Kenyon College PA
Knox College IL
Lynchburg College VA*#
Millsaps College MS
Ohio Wesleyan University OH
Presbyterian College SC*#
Randolph-Macon College VA*#
Rhodes College TN*#
University of Richmond VA
Ripon College WI#
Samford University AL
Sewanee, The Univ of the South TN*
Transylvania University KY#
Wake Forest University NC
Washington & Lee University VA*#
Westminster College PA*#
Wofford College SC
Step 2 (Begin now, and continue through senior year): Visit schools.
This is time-consuming and entails expense. But it is the most important element of the college search. You can't get a true sense of a school until you visit it (and you'll probably need to visit it more than once, if you're seriously interested in the school).
Julia and I started doing this informally, during her spring breaks. We would simply give ourselves self-guided tours of campus. After a while you get to know what you need to see: the library, the gym, the cafeteria, the student union, the bookstore, the performance halls, the athletic fields, etc. You can get brochures and a campus map from the admissions office. We avoided signing up for tours or getting on mailing lists until Julia was a second semester sophomore.
We combined these informal visits with trips to historical sites, etc. In the early years, Julia's attention span was short. An hour or two on a given campus was her limit.
The chief benefit of these early informal visits is that it leads to a paring of the list of potential schools, and helps to identify schools worthy of further exploration.
Certainly by the beginning of junior year, you should have your child get on the mailing lists of schools she thinks she might like to apply to. In fall or spring of junior year, she should start making official visits to the schools under serious consideration. She will meet with an admissions counselor, take a guided tour, and sit in on a class or two. The best way to indicate your interest in a school is to visit its campus.
Thus the college recruitment season begins. Your mailbox will seem to be on steroids.
During the summer following junior year, your child should be able to assemble a list of schools to which she will apply. Have her devote the month of August to the drafting of an essay or essays (by this time she should be in possession of the applications). A single, well-crafted essay can be used for all or most of the schools to which she is applying.
Begin submitting applications in September. Many schools have rolling admissions, and will respond in October and November. (Only the most elite schools make you wait until April 1 for an answer). Apply early action (non-binding) wherever possible. Avoid applying early decision (binding) because, in my view at least, it telegraphs a willingness on the part of the parents to pay full sticker price if the child is admitted.
If she does all this, her options will be known before Christmas of her senior year. Then you will have until May 1 to make a decision on which school to attend. This time can be used to visit the leading choices again. Overnight visits are especially valuable in giving a child a true sense of a school and the type of students it attracts.
Julia had acceptances from 11 or 12 schools before Christmas of her senior year. She didn't commit to a school until April 29th.
Step 3 (Begin now; update continuously): Build a resume.
This is critical. Applying to college is like applying for a job. A resume tells a school who you are and what you're interested in. As soon as Julia began making official visits to schools, she was armed with a resume, which she was able to present at the beginning of her interviews, and which became part of the files maintained on her by the schools she visited.
The point of the resume is not to demonstrate how exceptional your child is, but rather to suggest that your child has certain interests and abilities – whatever they may be – that will make her – for one or more reasons — a welcome addition to an incoming freshman class.
In Julia's case, the resume conveyed her principal academic interest (history), her principal passion (theater), her involvement in varsity sports, and her study of music.
It also showed that she had some work experience.
A good way to build a resume is to send your child to camps in the summer. These experiences look impressive on paper, and they're not terribly expensive to acquire. Most college-based music or theater or sports camps cost on the order of $425 for a week. In addition to whatever these camps provide by way of skill-enhancement, they also afford a glimpse of college life: living in a dorm, eating in the cafeteria, hanging out on campus with friends. All in all, well worth the investment.
An additional benefit of having a resume is that it becomes a handy attachment to the college application. Indeed, in many cases your child will be able to avoid the laborious task of completing boxes and charts regarding extracurricular activities and work experience; instead, she can simply write "Please refer to my resume, which is attached."
Julia actually had two resumes, a general one, and a theater-specific resume (she used the latter when applying for theater scholarships).
Good luck and remember your child cannot make these decisions alone, they need support and guidence from their family. One parent must be the 'agent' because invariably the schools will be at times agressive with the student and not for the best reasons.
Tisha On Friday, December 30 at 8:34 am
Thanks for the great tips!
Trudy On Saturday, December 31 at 3:37 am
Abigail-what college did your daughter choose?
country@heart On Saturday, December 31 at 6:10 pm
Thanks for sharing these tips; although our son is hopefully looking at his last semester of college with this spring (yeah!), I have read each post with interest to see how close 'to the mark' we made it with others. This is an excellent discussion question and I hope you'll poise a similar question again this spring…more parents will be paying careful attention after completing the standardized tests!
Carolyn On Thursday, December 29 at 12:02 pm
I work in a high school college counseling office as an assistant to the college counselors and the building College Board testing coordinator. We receive PSAT prep books from College Board that we give to the students. The books are filled with information and practice questions. The CB website, as others have said, really has a wealth of information. We do not stress preparation for the PSAT as much as the SAT, which really counts more for college admissions. Even though you can win a Merit Scholarship from good PSAT scores your junior year, college admissions tend to care more about SAT scores. And SAT scores will index your son/daughter for other college/university scholarships, too. After just going through the early round of admissions decisions for this year, I cannot stress this more. We had students deferred or denied based on mediocre SAT scores (1300 range out of 1600) with a 3.6 or 3.8 (out of 4.0) GPA. Having the resume line of being a PSAT national merit winner is nice, but the whole package counts; you need to show interest in a school, interest in an academic area (or two), and show community involvement. So if you have the time to prepare for both PSAT and SAT, that's wonderful. Best of luck!
Mary Jane On Thursday, December 29 at 12:54 pm
We are blessed here in the state of Tennessee to have the Tennessee Electronic Library available for free to all residents of TN. You can access it through the schools and libraries websites or just go directly to TEL and enter the county and school or library name. It not only has SAT and ACT, it also has practice tests and guides for work related exams, ASVAB, etc. It also has scholarly journals, newpaper, magazine and other resource materials that students from elementary school through college can use for reports, term papers as works cited. It is a wonderful resource and one we are always recommending at our library.
JOY On Thursday, December 29 at 1:49 pm
Wow, great question. I knew in high school I had to take that test (PSAT and SAT). It was sort of a right of passage since I was going to college. When I applied for grad school, I had to take the GRE.
Do you test prep them with computer generated programs? I had teachers that prepped us in school (yep, back in the olden days of no computers or calculators). We took tests in the multiple queston format.
Fro grad school, I took computer driven tests, and based on those tests I studied the areas of concern. for tricky areas (MATH), I sought a tutor to help with math concepts. I was in my late forties when I went to grad school, so you understand why I sought help (plus prayed, chanted to the GRE gods, made offerings….)
Prepping for these tests can only help in their ability to take these type of tests. I say "get the program" take it yourself and let the kids use it.
Elise On Thursday, December 29 at 4:05 pm
My daughter just took the PSAT as a junior. I highly recommend studying for it. We used the McGraw Hill test prep book. It is very inexpensive and very effective. I felt it was very well organized.
My daughter did very well on the PSAT and did minimal studying for the SAT and did really really well on it. I think studying for the PSAT helped so much for the SAT.
AmyK On Thursday, December 29 at 5:46 pm
The young man who started this website offering free SAT test prep came and spoke at the California State PTA convention this year. Can you say standing ovation? We fell in love with this kid.
Tell him the PTA sent you.
Karon On Thursday, December 29 at 5:46 pm
Remember on multiple choice the # wrong count 1/4 point..questions that are not answered do not count against you so be sure to stress not to guess if you have no idea of the answer. If you can eliminate some of the answers it might be worth guessing as each correct answer is an entire point.
anna On Thursday, December 29 at 6:50 pm
Are you looking for PSAT prep resources? If you are, take a look at http://www.shmoop.com/. When I was an English teacher, I would sometimes utilize the resources in my own lessons. I think the website is VERY student-friendly without be inappropriate. Plus, it covers a wide range of subjects and levels. You have to pay to access the materials, but at $19 for 6 months (studying for longer than that is actually petty pointless, TBH), it's a pretty good deal.
Southern Mom On Thursday, December 29 at 7:30 pm
Based on our experience, the best PSAT prep is to take SAT practice tests, whether through a prep business, tutor or books. Since the real tests are taken with a pencil and paper, you should use that method for practicing. Take 30 – 45 minutes a day, and answer questions. Then, see what questions your student is missing and work from there. You may need extra tutoring help in only one area.
If you do well on the PSAT, it can really help with colleges and scholarships. It can also give you an idea about the ACT. If the PSAT score is low, even with preparation, consider prepping for/taking the ACT next and see if that is a better fit. If your student aces the PSAT, skip the ACT and focus only on the SAT.
Remember that professional basketball players still practice free throws–no matter how good they are!
Southern Mom (again) On Thursday, December 29 at 7:44 pm
Our son practiced 3-4 hours a week for about six weeks ahead of the test. Lots and lots of practice tests through a local tutoring company. We bought some books, but felt our son needed more help. He scored over 220, and about 20 points higher than his sophomore year score when he took it at his school. It was well worth it because he will be a National Merit semi finalist.
Yvonne On Thursday, December 29 at 8:17 pm
I admire you girls for home schooling. I had five children and there is no way I could have done it. God Bless You!!!!!!
Mary On Thursday, December 29 at 8:37 pm
I agree with the post that mentioned http://www.collegeprepgenius. Jean (the founder) stayed at our house while giving the two day seminar in our city and she was fantastic! Her program works and she has proof that it does. She mentions that the SATs (and PSATs) are all logic and patterns and then teaches students effective ways to improve their scores. It was money well spent. All participants also get a take-home DVD for review.
Jen On Thursday, December 29 at 9:44 pm
Here's another thumbs up for http://www.collegeprepgenius.com. The PSAT and SAT are basically logic tests – they don't test content as much as they do reasoning. If you know the structure behind them, you can get through the test with a higher score and a lot less stress.
I also agree with the person who suggested Latin – it's been shown, time and again, that kids who study Latin score an *average* of 20% higher in both math and verbal.
Liz in OK On Friday, December 30 at 7:19 am
@Stacy and the rugrats
>> Do you find that it also applies to even younger students? My ds will be taking the ACT next year in the 7th grade as part of the Duke TIP program. (Right now that is the plan anyways – ACT over SAT)<<
I think the PLAN & EXPLORE & Duke testing use regular ACT questions (though I know the PLAN & EXPLORE do not cover every content area that a regular ACT would). The prep would be much the same – find out where your student's strengths & weaknesses are & focus on those areas. For a 7th grader, I would not put serious pressure on the student to do well. Some are driven, some are not but it's generally not helpful to be coerced by a parent in an attempt excel (a little bribery can help, but try to avoid stress).
LEARN with your student how to use a calculator (I strongly recommend the TI84) & consider getting additional programs for the calculator (but only if they're actually going to be learned/used). The fancy, high-dollar calculator becomes a stress & not a help if you don't practice with it ahead of time.
Definitely plan to take BOTH the ACT & SAT tests if you think your student is going to score very well. Back a hundred years ago when I was in school the threshold for full scholarship was at 31 for ACT, 1300 for SAT. My ACT was just under that, my SAT was just over. Students will typically score just a little better on one or the other (often math & science will get you a better ACT whereas English skills will show up stronger on the SAT).
For a young student, looking at ACT or SAT questions perhaps one day a week for half an hour would be a suggestion (start by going to the local high school & asking for the ACT & SAT prep booklets – those have current practice questions for you for free). If the student LIKES that, find more. If the student HATES that, find a different way to practice (math/logic games, Rummy Roots…). And consistently encourage reading quality literature as well as media with current events coverage (I tell my students to push their younger siblings towards books & news magazines rather than texting & Facebook – the latter will TOTALLY be of no help in scoring decently on the college tests!)
kim sanders On Friday, December 30 at 8:28 pm
Just in case, here is a website with a list of colleges and universities that are "test optional"
If your child does want to take either test, the ACT or SAT, remember that most but certainly not all, will superscore the SAT. This means they will take the students best Critical reading (formerly called verbal) and the best math score from multiple tests. Many schools also use the writing score from the SAT. Most schools do not superscore the ACT, meaning they look at the best composite score of the ACT from one sitting. There are some exceptions to both rules.
If you want to prep, and want to do it free, then you may want to check out the following websites:
http://www.ineedapencil.com or http://www.number2.com or for math practice khanacademy is a great resource. In my own experience, both as a college specialist and a mom, practice does help. My son brought his own score up over 175 points just from spending time in the Collegeboard SAT Prep book and reviewing old math concepts and vocabulary.
I tried to read all the comments, but if I have repeated some of the information, please forgive my redundancy (a good SAT vocabulary word!)
Darlene On Saturday, December 31 at 10:26 pm
This worked out well for both of my sons:
Just buy the inexpensive "The Official SAT Study Guide" book written by the College Board and have your student take the practice tests. Each complete test is quite lengthy and is composed of many tests, so completing one complete test each week was ideal. Make sure and time the tests, just as if your child is taking the test at a school. Note what question they have reached when the time is up and calculate their scores up to that point. Our sons finished all the questions in the tests, although questions answered after the allotted time were not included in the score. All incorrect questions were reviewed weekly with a tutor, if needed. This was much better than an expensive Princeton or Kaplan review course, as my sons were not wasting time reviewing material with which they had no problem. Trends will be evident from the problems or questions that are answered incorrectly and you or a tutor can help by focusing on those specific areas.
Both of my sons have received 4 year scholarships, for $15,000/year and $20,000/year. I believe their participation in the same sports and clubs throughout high school helped, as well as volunteer work. I've been told a student's depth of participation is much more important than the number of clubs or teams a student joins.
The PSATs are a good indicator of how well a student will do on the SATs, but the SATs are much, much longer, therefore, be sure to have the children practice the tests in The Official SAT Study Guide to give them an idea of the duration of the tests.
My youngest son is an excellent writer, but the first time he took the SATs he only received an average grade on his essay. His tutor told him to make his essay longer next time. When he followed his tutor's advice, his score increased significantly. Sad but true, make the essay as long as possible.
Lahkidog On Sunday, January 1 at 8:57 am
When preparing for any of these college entry exams, I first of all let my kids know that these tests only test for what is on the test, they don't really test your "knowledge". That said, also check to see exactly what tests the colleges you have in mind require. More and more colleges don't require the ACT or SAT. I was given some insider information from a colleague who told us that a group of college professors took the ACT and didn't get passing scores! I've also found that there are other ways to enter college without having to be defined by test scores. Again check with the colleges or universities of your choice. If you do decide to take the tests, the most important thing is test strategy and both the ACT and PSAT put out updated books on how to take the test and thats the best thing you can do with your kids. The books also include lots of practice tests. So good luck to all of you! I homeschooled 3 kids all the way through and my oldest just graduated college with Cum Laude honors! So even though I panicked all along thinking I wasn't doing enough, well I guess we did!
Jessica On Sunday, January 1 at 3:58 pm
Great discussion! Our son is a junior and has yet to take any of the tests, although we have been preparing for quite some time. The Kindle is a fabulous tool for vocabulary building, and has been very helpful with our dyslexic children. I agree that you shouldn't put too much time and energy into the testing prep. I think kids get burned out and stressed out so they don't do well the day of the test. Even if they ace the tests, it doesn't count for much. Just because your kids get into a good college, or get financial aid, it doesn't mean they will be successful in life.
Kimberly Harrell On Friday, January 6 at 10:55 am
I found a really good program through HSLDA's website. It is a free (depending if you order the basic) ACT/SAT prep program called eKnowledge Powerprep.
It is computerized. Basically there have been NFL and military grants that are funding this program.
Here is the link:
Maura On Monday, January 9 at 11:39 am
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when preparing for the PSAT. It may be a precursor to the SAT, but it's also it's own test of overall knowledge. Students will need to boost their critical reading, vocabulary and math skills (they can bring a calculator, but that won't help with problem recognition). The College Board site offers a lot of practice questions and some great test-taking tips. I know our program at RSC was designed to start students at their level and then make the questions more difficult as they get better, which strengthens their skills leading up to the actual test. We also incorporate pre-test and same-day test-taking strategies to get students ready (like skipping a question if you absolutely don't know the answer since the PSAT deducts a 1/4 point for wrong answers; or, the questions get harder as you get further into the test, etc.). But besides using the college board or RSC's college prep program, the best thing a student can do is read broadly and study their class notes. Don't start a week in advance – start studying months ahead of schedule.


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ATHENS, Ga. -- Less than two weeks after Georgia finished 5 yards away from a berth in the national championship game, it's still tough for some players to shift their focus to their Capital One Bowl matchup with Nebraska.
The sting from the Bulldogs' 32-28 loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game lingered as bowl practice began Wednesday.
Senior receiver Tavarres King says it was "the toughest loss I've ever been a part of."
Quarterback Aaron Murray says he dreaded watching film of the loss but Georgia still has a lot to play for. He says a top-five finish would make this an "unbelievable" season, but with a loss it becomes "just another season."
Murray, a junior, says he won't study his NFL draft options until after the bowl game.
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Deals on TGV
Summer Sale: France & Beyond
Great discounts are now available for travel to Europe's vacation destinations such as Paris, Lyon, Frankfurt, Brussels, Luxembourg and more with our TGV & Intercités first class train tickets sale. Prices start from $42. Book by August 21, 2015.Read the Terms and Conditions
First class shows under "Comfort Class". First class train tickets to or from Germany shows under "Premier Class". Offer applies to bookings of TGV & Intercités first class train tickets made from June 30 through 5:00 PM ET on August 21, 2015. Offer is subject to availability. Offer is subject to change or extension without notice. Three days advance purchase is required for the promotional fare tickets. Fares shown are reflective of the discounted pricing. Valid for travel July 3 to August 31, 2015. Promotional fare tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. No adjustment can be made on prior purchases. Bookings of international TGV train tickets to Switzerland and Spain are excluded from this offer.
TGV. The fast track to explore France.
There is one word to describe TGV. Fast! The world speed record holder, it zips from city to city at up to 322 kph (201 mph). With Paris as its hub, this high-speed French network interconnects throughout Europe making it an attractive alternative to the plane.
If we had to find another word to describe the TGV, it would have to be "often". Because every day 450 trains crisscross the network, offering you a wide choice of journey times.
The TGV is France's technological gem, constantly improving comfort and performance while also keeping sight of the planet's well-being. In fact, eco-mobility is at the heart of the TGV experience. From the aerodynamic design of the lines to the manufacturing of the trains, each step is carefully researched to minimize the impact on the environment. Even our drivers are trained to 'drive economically' (power off when going downhill, adapting the speed to rail grip-reducing electricity consumption by a third). It continues throughout, with light fixtures that use low-energy light bulbs, air conditioning that adapts to the number of travelers, waste that is compacted and waste water that is recycled.


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Scarborough 'Redskins' nickname makes a comeback, this time on T-shirts
SCARBOROUGH — Two elections ago, some Scarborough High School alumni's nostalgia for the school's retired athletics nickname, the Redskins, led to a referendum question that failed at the polls.
Now, it's inspired a T-shirt.
An exact replica of an original shirt, the red tee is adorned with "Scarborough Redskins." A large image of the school's former mascot, an American Indian, is printed on the front of the shirt being sold by Jack Flaherty of Flaherty Family Farms & Greenhouse on Payne Road.
Flaherty, the only retailer selling the shirts, said he's on his third order – a double order this time – and estimated he's sold more than a couple hundred for about $10 to $12 each since he began offering them sometime after they were introduced last spring at his 50th class reunion.
"They're going out the door pretty fast," he said. "They're a hot item."
The Redskins nickname was changed at the request of an American Indian activist in 2000 – the same year the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights opposed the use of Native American images and nicknames as sports symbols. Red Storm was chosen as a replacement.
More than a year ago, a group of alumni began a petition to bring back the original name. Town councilors voted to include a referendum question on the November 2008 ballot, but the language was modified simply to ask voters whether they wanted to change the nickname from Red Storm to something else. The non-binding referendum failed by 302 votes, 5,398 to 5,096.
But preparations for last year's reunion rekindled the old memories. The first replica T-shirts were to be worn during the festivities. According to Bruce Bell, of Beech Ridge Road, Brown Fox Printing needed 25 alumni orders to print up the first batch.
"Once the T-shirts were delivered, it's like somebody lit the fuse of a rocket," he said. "It took off from there and now everybody wants one of those shirts because it's memorabilia."
Since the reunion order, Initially Yours on Payne Road has printed the shirts.
While delighted by the popularity of the shirts, Bell said he has no plans to push for another petition drive, though he said if others were interested he "sure would be willing to support them."
In the meantime, Flaherty said he's received no complaints and he plans "to carry (the shirts) as long as they're moving."
"There is still a lot of feeling around town that the name should not have been changed," he said.
Peggy Roberts can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Shack PubGrub: Review + Slideshow
The Shack PubGrub (3818 Laclede Avenue; 314-533-7000) brings food perfect for your hangover. Don't worry: It's good when you're stone-cold sober, too. My review of the Shack is now available online.
Jennifer Silverberg The heart-stopping "Triple Dog Dare You" Shack-Which at the Shack
Also now online is Jennifer Silverberg's slideshow of the Shack.
Jennifer Silverberg Inside the Shack PubGrub
Location Info
Sponsor Content


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COLUMBIA A plant to help clean up waste at a former nuclear facility in South Carolina is years past its completion deadline and millions of dollars over budget.
The State newspaper reported on Wednesday http://bit.ly/S4hfj6 that the salt waste processing plant at the Savannah River Site was supposed to be done in 2009, but design and materials problems mean that now its not set to be finished until 2018.
Early estimates from the U.S. Department of Energy placed the projects cost at $440 million. That cost later was revised to $900 million, but the Energy Department said in November that price tag is now at $1.3 billion.
The 310-square-mile site once produced plutonium and tritium for atomic bombs. Work there is now focused mostly on research and cleaning up contaminated areas.
Work there is now focused mostly on research and cleaning up contaminated areas.
The most dangerous waste at the site sits in 47 aging tanks that are prone to leaks. Workers are slowly cleaning out and neutralizing that material to reduce its threat to the environment, but that work cant be finished until the salt waste processing plant is up and running.
Until that facility opens, the Energy Department is using a temporary processing plant to separate some of the material. But it can handle no more than 1 million gallons a year. The salt-waste processing plant is designed to handle 6 million gallons.
The target date for having the high-level-waste cleaned up is 2027, according to the U.S. Energy Department.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has issued a permit for the salt plant. In a statement, director Catherine Templeton said the agency still expects the Energy Department to open the plant by 2015, as is stated in the permit.
Fines of up to $105,000 a day could be levied for each day the plant is not on schedule, according to DHEC spokesman Mark Plowden.
Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com
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Brave Intuitive Painting
Let Go Be Bold
written by Flora S Bowley
Quarry Books | ISBN 9781592537686
Paperback – 128 pages
Member's price: $27.00
Usually ships within 2–11 business days.
Adopt a spontaneous, bold and fearless approach to painting as a process of discovery - one that results in lush and colourful finished works that will beg to be displayed. This inspiring and encouraging book for both novice and experienced painters teaches how to create colourful, exciting, expressive paintings through a variety of techniques, combining basic, practical painting principles with innovative personal self-expression. Flora Bowley's fun and forgiving approach to painting is based on the notion that "You don't begin with a preconceived painting in mind; you allow the painting to unfold." Illustrating how to work in layers, Flora gives you the freedom to cover up, re-start, wipe away and change courses many times along the way. Unexpected and unique compositions, colour combinations and subject matter appear as you allow your paintings to emerge in an organic, unplanned way while working from a place of curiosity and letting go of fear.


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Lady Gaga to Britney Spears: 'let's collaborate!'
Britney Spears has been a fan of Lady Gaga for quite a long time now. So when during a Q&A a fan asked her if she would like to collaborate with any female popstar, we were really not surprised to know that Lady Gaga is at the top of the list and probably the only female popstar she would collaborate with at the moment. She said:
I would duet with Lady Gaga! I think she's very different, interesting and intricate. And I like her as an artist, so probably her.
Later, Lady Gaga sent a tweet to Britney regarding a possible collaboration. Here's what she said:
@britneyspears lets do this b*tch its time.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) December 8, 2013
What do you think? Would you fancy a Gaga-Britney collaboration? Leave a comment below!


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For anyone who has studied the events of the end times, it will be quite obvious that we are living in the very last days before the return of the Savior. Just as He lived, He will return to reign and rule. One of the signs of the times is that of false Christs walking among us. The scriptures tell us:
But how do we know that Maitreya or any of the other people running around the world today pretending to be the Messiah constitute the false christs or antichrist prophesied in the scriptures? How do we know that this is the time and these are the days where these events are supposed to be taking place? Let's consider these questions in light of the following statements:
In the past, as I contemplated these scriptures, I envisioned these false Christs to come upon the scene much like Maitreya. He even dresses like what you might expect a returning Christ to look like, complete with robes and sandals. Clearly, he is a false Christ, but very limited in the reach of his message and the sphere of his influence. There are others at the present time that are much more charismatic and hypnotic to their followers than I believe Maitreya to be. However, in saying that it is important to note that there are many globalist, both past and present who refer to the returning messiah as "Maitreya." However, the name may be more symbolic than literal.
There are many lesser false Christs who claim some form or fashion of deity. They can be seen in various aspects of our culture, particularly in the entertainment industry. A couple of the most recognizable false Christs are the singers Jay Z and Beyonce. Jay Z's stage name is "HOVA", short for "JEhova." Beyonce makes similar claims, but I won't spend a lot of time on them, because as I said, they are the "lesser of the evils."
Perhaps the biggest and most recognizable false Christ is Barack Obama. In the following video clip, Hollywood entertainer Jamie Foxx introduces Barack Obama as "our God, our Lord and Savior". Notice the reaction of the crowd when he blasphemes against the true Lord and Savior. True to ancient prophecy, the crowd not only doesn't object to such blasphemy, they clap, cheer, and dance as the false Christ is introduced.
In the following video clip, Oprah Winfrey introduces then Senator Obama to voters in Des Moines. This introduction is identical to introductions given at other political rallies by Winfrey. She begins by relating a story from "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," a 1974 film based on Ernest Gaines' 1971 novel. As she explains to the waiting crowd, an old woman who had survived slavery and the Civil war would ask every newborn child, "Are you the one? Are you the one?"
According to one academic discussion of the book by Christopher Mulvey, a professor at University of Winchester in the United Kingdom, the passage continues to ask whether the child is the one who will "carry part of our cross," a "messianic figure."
Winfrey goes on to tell the audience, "In '08 I have found the answer to Miss Pittman's question. I have found the answer... it is the same question that our nation is asking, "Are you the one? Are you the one?" I'm here to tell you Iowa, he's the one! He is the one!" Again, notice the reaction of the crowd to the blasphemy spewed out of Oprah Winfrey's mouth!
Watch in the following clip at about the 26 second mark and through 38 seconds. You will hear Obama reassure the audience that contrary to the rumors, he was not born in a manager. He goes on to say that he was sent to save the planet earth. These comments along with those of the next video clip will be useful later in this analysis.
Watch the following video clip at about the 10 second mark and through 15 seconds. You will see Obama state that he (and his team) are the one's we've been waiting for. These comments along with those of the previous clip will be useful later in this analysis.
In the following video clip, Louis Farrakhan, head of the "Nation of Islam," declares the he is God and Obama is the Messiah. Notice the reaction of the crowd and the various images of Obama portrayed as the Messiah.
In the following clip, Louis Farrakhan, head of the "Nation of Islam," declares that Obama is the Messiah.
It is also important to understand how the Arab and Muslim world sees Obama. As is evidenced by the videos above, Obama is seen and revered as a Messiah. After Obama's speech in 2009 in which he apologized for America's existence, the Arab world began to see him as the promised warrior, a "Mahdi" who will lead Islam to victory over the infidels (everyone who is not Muslim) in the last days (people all over the world recognize that these are the last days).
In a curious coincidence, Obama's first and second names - Barack Hussein - mean "the blessing of Hussein" in Arabic and Persian. His last name, Obama, written in the Persian alphabet, reads "O Ba Ma," which means "he is with us," the magic formula in Majlisi's tradition. Obama's rise is seen as another sign of the West's decline and the triumph of Islam.
If I connect those dots, I get "the blessing of Hussein - the Ultimate Savior - he is with us." Isaiah said that the Son of God, the true Savior of the world would be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), meaning "God is with us." If I connect those dots, I get "the Son of God - the True Savior - God is with us." It is hard to miss the unmistakable anti-christ innuendoes and outright blasphemous claims of Obama and his minions to his claim of deity.
On June 4, 2009 Obama gave an unprecedented speech to the Muslim world from Cairo, Egypt declaring that he is launching a new era between the United States and the Muslim world. For the first time, Obama was forthright about his Muslim heritage and stated that the United States- which he is on record as saying is "no longer a Christian nation" is now "one of the largest Muslim countries int he world." Newsweek editior Evan Thomas followed the president's speech with a declaration reflected in the opinion of many, that "Obama is standing above the country, above the world, he is a sort of God."
Interestingly enough, Obama was not born with the name he currently uses. His birth name (at least that's the name he used as a child, on school records, etc.) was Barry Soetoro. This is evident from the following video from Fox News. Notice the denial of being Muslim at the end of the video.
In the following video the grown up Barry (AKA Barack) refers to his "Muslim Faith" and the news interviewer has to prompt him that he's spinning himself to be of Christian faith. These are the kinds of truths that are revealed when he does not have his teleprompter. I add this video and the one above to add more dots that can be connected to show the deception and lies. Also, there will surely be people who come to this page and will have believed the propaganda that's been spun of him being a good Christian, so it's best to face the facts all at once.
Why would Barry Soetoro need to change his name? The name he changed it to, Barak Hussein Obama, is three distinctively Muslim names. As evidenced by the significance of his new name in relation to islamic prophecy, it seems to make perfect sense.
But why would he need to cover up his Muslim faith? Well duh! Most Christian Americans and good old boy redneck Americans don't want someone running our country who might be in any way related to the "middle east Arab terrorists!" You can't have a Muslim in the White House! Actually you can and we do! You just have to dupe the naive sheeple into believing otherwise. Actually, the Quran (Muslim Bible) teaches that it is desirable to lie as necessary to infiltrate the infidels in order to establish Islam... believe it or don't!
Sadly, most of what Obama and his handlers portray him to be is a complete fabrication. There has never been another person on the planet that has been surrounded by more allegations of lies and deceit about who they really are. The list includes; (1) his real birth place, (2) his real parents, (3) his real name, (4) his real nationality, (5) his real religious beliefs, (6) his real birth certificate, (7) his real social security number, (8) his real school records, just to name the most publicized items.
His handlers have packaged him for the public, groomed him, and prepared the world stage for his ascent to power. No other person in the history of the world has claimed or been proclaimed to be the Messiah, been so universally accepted by the people of the world, or ascended to such a position of world influence and power, not just politically, but religiously as well. The ultimate pinnacle of that influence and power has yet to be seen, but simply by being president of the United States, Obama assumes the position of the most powerful man on the planet!
Dozens of churches and faith groups including mainline Protestants organized activities to mark Obama's inauguration as a 'spiritual' event. Randall Balmer, professor of religion in American history at Columbia University admitted he had never seen anything like it before.
Consider the unprecedented messianic rhetoric that reporters, politicians, celebrities, and even preachers used in celebrating the 'spiritual nature' of Obama's meteoric rise from near obscurity to US President. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford characterized it as "a sort of powerful luminosity." In Morford's opinion, this was because Obama is a "a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to... help usher in a new way of being on the planet..."
The dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International chapel, Lawrence Carter, when further, comparing Obama to the coming of Jesus Christ: "It is powerful and significant on a spiritual level that there is the emergence of Barack Obama... No one saw him coming, and Christians believe God comes at us from strange angles and places we don't expect, like Jesus being born in a manger." Dinesh Sharma, a marketing science consultant with a PhD in Psychology from Harvard appraised Obama likewise: "Many... see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama."
Here are some other comments about the deity of Obama from various news sources:
Several ministries including the Christian Devense Coalition and Faith and Action came together to perform what was heralded as a first for US presidential inaugurations- applying anointing oil to the doorposts of the arched doorway that Obama passed through as he moved to the platform on the West Front of the Capital to be sworn in. Congressman Paul Broun (Georgia) was part of the ritual and joined Reverend Rob Schenck, who said, "Anointing with oil is a rich tradition in the Bible and... symbolizes consecration or setting something apart for God's use."
Not content with just using sacred anointing oil to consecrate Obama for God's use, approximately two thousand New Agers, Wiccans and Shamans gathered at Dupont Circle (chosen because it's considered the gay center of Washington DC) to participate in a cleansing ceremony to purge the White House of evil spirits. A shaman officiated the event, lighting bundles of sage, which smoldered and gave off thick blue aromatic smoke.
Let's take a look at some photographs- further evidence that depicts Obama as God, the Messiah, or similar form of deity:
It's important to note here that not only does Obama and his handlers want you to believe that he is a deity, but the masses around the world believe it also. Many of the pictures above are the result of people who are deceived into believing in his artificial godliness, wherein they actually worship him, as is evidence by the pictures and artwork above.
In the next video clip, you will see globalist Henry Kissinger telling news reporters that the most important thing for Obama is the great opportunity he has to heal the world and unite the country into creating a new world order.
Clearly, Obama is embraced as the God, Savior, and Messiah (literally and/or figuratively) for a large number of people, cultures, and religions around the world. His popularity reaches across social, geopolitical, and religious boundaries, well beyond just the Muslims and blacks. His disciples in the U.S. championed him into a second term as President. He is the globalist's pick for the man to lead the New World Order / one world government. He is clearly a false Christ, but, does all this make Obama the antichrist?
When we think of the antichrist, most people visualize the traditional Christian concept of a very evil man with supernatural powers who rules the earth during the years immediately preceding the second coming. He is seen as stern, but very charismatic and has great speaking abilities. Initially, he will be seen as wonderful and benevolent, solving many of the world's problems. Eventually he will become the embodiment of pure evil.
Obama fits this description quite well. But then again, so do many of the world political leaders and other prominent figures in the world today. How can we identify the antichrist? Is there only one antichrist from amongst all the evil people in the world?
According to "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R. McConkie:
Continuing on, we see that the prophesied "great antichrist" will actually be the church of the devil, rather than a single mortal man. However, McConkie points out that the church of the devil will be led by the man of sin.
McConkie also provides an explanation for who the Man of Sin is:


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Mahalo for supporting local agriculture and communities.
Nanea (nah-nay-ah) is the Hawaiian word for fascinating, beautiful, enjoyable, relaxing.
Our chocolate is grown on Kauai and Hawaii using organic and sustainable agricultural standards and practices. All processing of the chocolate from the bean to the finished bar is done on Kauai, insuring that the farmers are paid a premium for their beans. This bar is the result of many different farmers working together in a co-operative, nurturing mutually beneficial relationships. Nanea Chocolate is dedicated to propagating cacao trees, sharing permaculture techniques and processing expertise to any farmer who desires to grow Theobroma Cacao.
Our mission statement is to produce the best chocolate in the world. We believe we have accomplished this. Our primary endeavor is not only growing and producing superior quality chocolate, but in providing a secure food source to the people of Kauai, helping to create a strong independent self-sustainable island. In the next few years Nanea Chocolate will be planting enough cacao trees to supply the resident population with chocolate year round.
Chocolate is a true superfood, containing the three essential components of food: protein, carbohydrates, and fat. With the addition of macadamia nuts, coconut, and hemp seeds our chocolate provides a perfect source of nutrition to fuel our bodies and minds. Our chocolate is minimally processed and quality controlled in all aspects of the chocolate making art. Nanea Chocolate uses a stone melanger to grind the beans preserving the medicinal properties. Consequently Kauai chocolate retains extremely high levels of flavonols (antioxidants), theobromine, phenylethylamine, and anandamide.
The variety of cacao most commonly grown on Kauai is Criollo. Criollo tends to be more nutty and naturally sweeter. We mix in Forastero and Trinitario varieties to round out the chocolaty flavor and create a lasting sensation on the palate. The right combination of cacao varieties has a synergy, a total effect greater than the sum of the parts. To achieve the full potential of the chocolate flavor we ferment and roast each varietal separately. Kauai chocolate is distinguished by the local soil and pristine environment that brings out inherent genetic characteristics. We keep the percentages of cacao solids high to ensure the health benefits. The less sugar the better. Enjoy a bite and slowly savor the well-rounded, complex flavor and aroma… taste the Aloha.