(January 14, 2013 Bettendorf Iowa): Arm wrestling hit the ground running last Wednesday and Thursday where hundreds of spectators showed up to watch 50 of the areas strongmen in their bid to qualifiers in Quad City arm wrestling challenge, filmed for reality TV.

The cast and crew of American Arm Wrestling for the reality TV show were on hand to find the next great American Arm Wrestler; contestants were interviewed and then hit the arm wrestling table.

Qualifiers in the lightweight category are:

Jarod Rummells, Davenport, IA.  Age 28, weight 158 Lbs.

Brian Hart, East Moline IL. Age 26, weight 162 Lbs.

Art Depooter, East Moline, IL. Age 50, weight 169 Lbs.

Joshua Keegan, Davenport, IA. Age 33, weight 170 Lbs.

Qualifiers in the middleweight category are:

Dustin Anderson, Preemption, IL. Age 24, weight 193

Shaine Mier, Davenport, IA. Age 32, weight 198 Lbs.

Anthony Boling, Davenport, IA. Age 32, weight 198 Lbs.

Frank Eckhardt, Peotone, IL. Age 32, weight 197 Lbs.

Qualifiers in the heavyweight category are:

Chris Hintgen, Colona, IL. Age 31, weight 250 Lbs.

Brad Collins, Cordova, IL. Age 32, weight 238

Ryan Anderson, Long Grove, IA. Age 30, weight 228 Lbs.

Danny Hansen, East Moline, IL Age 38, weight 256 Lbs.

Mike Wyers, Bettendorf, IA Age 31, weight 212 Lbs.

More reality TV is to be filmed this Wednesday and Thursday at the Clubhouse in Bettendorf, Iowa. There's still time to qualify every Wednesday and Thursday through January. Ladies exhibitions for arm wrestling are available every night during the qualifying rounds and the ladies will have a chance to appear on the reality show January 24th for the women's open class. The championship will be held February 1, 2013 at 6 PM at the Clubhouse.

For those arm wrestling fans that can't make it, but want to continue to get updates arm sports TV is now publishing a live leaderboard on www.twitter.com/ArmSportsTV

Video is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfU7P0CRcA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement today regarding the announcement that he will continue his service in the Obama Administration.

"President Obama and I share a deep appreciation for rural America and its unlimited potential in the years ahead to feed a growing world population, revolutionize America's energy, further protect our natural resources and create more jobs here at home. We will continue to urge Congress to pass a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that will help us continue USDA's wide range of efforts to support this work. As we look ahead to a promising future in our small towns and rural communities, I am pleased to continue working alongside President Obama to grow more opportunity in rural America."

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SPRINGFIELD - Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) began his first term as the 71st District's State Representative on Wednesday.  Smiddy will serve as a full time legislator for the district that includes portions of Carroll, Henry, Rock Island and Whiteside counties.

Raised in a working class family in the 71st District, Smiddy knows the value of a dollar.  He places economic development and creating good-paying jobs at the top of his legislative agenda, knowing that bolstering economic opportunities for working families is the key to solving the state's dire financial crisis.

"People should not have to worry about whether or not their full time job will pay enough to raise their families," Smiddy said. "We have to work together to strengthen our education system, invest in effective job training programs, and build a solid infrastructure that will support an economy that fosters the kind of job creation that gives families a fair chance at financial security."

Smiddy has spent his time since the November election traveling the 71st District and meeting with residents, business owners, and community leaders.  He plans to continue his commitment to accessibility by hosting events, town hall meetings, and satellite office hours throughout the district.

"It is crucial that residents and business owners are able to access state government easily and hassle-free," Smiddy said.  "It is an honor to represent the 71st District, and it will remain my top priority to make state government accessible and keep residents engaged in the legislative process."

For more information, contact Smiddy's off at RepSmiddy@gmail.com

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Misinformation can be just as stubborn as frizz or those pesky flyaways - it's difficult to manage, impossible to reason with and it just keeps coming back, says longtime hair-care advocate and health scientist Audrey Davis-Sivasothy.

"Old wives' tales and ineffective products that claim to treat or rehabilitate hair often have a placebo effect because people want them to work," says Davis-Sivasothy, author of "Hair Care Rehab," (www.haircarerehab.com). "But many of these ideas and products actually do the opposite of what's intended, and they delay the user from seeking out real solutions."

Davis-Sivasothy debunks the following common hair-care myths:

• Myth: There's a magic pill (or oil, serum or balm) to grow our hair faster, stronger or thicker. Unfortunately, no. Hair growth is genetically predetermined and controlled by our hormones. Unless the magic pill affects our genes or hormones, there's no hope that it might make our hair grow. (This includes prenatal vitamins. Credit the upsurge in hormone levels during pregnancy for those vibrant tresses!) Basic vitamin supplements can offer slight improvements in hair quality, but only if our body truly lacks the particular vitamin or mineral being taken.

• Myth: Trimming will make your hair grow stronger, longer, faster or thicker. Since hair is dead, cutting the ends has no effect on what happens at the scalp. Strands will grow at the same predetermined rate each month, and individual strands will grow in at the same thickness as before. While trimming or cutting the hair does seem to give the appearance of thicker hair, this is only because all of the freshly trimmed hairs now have the same, clear endpoint.

• Myth: Expensive products do more! Not necessarily. Always look for ingredients over brand names. There are just as many poorly formulated high-end products as there are bargain ones - and just as many worthy expensive products as there are bargain ones, too!

• Myth: Products made for or marketed to (insert race/ethnicity) cannot be used by those of other backgrounds. False! The ingredients in a product matter much more than to whom the product is marketed. In fact, most products have the same set of three to five base ingredients. Products for "ethnic" hair types tend to be more moisturizing and have more oils and proteins than those for other hair types. Damaged hair needs a good dose of moisture, proteins and oil to regain its healthy appearance. The same holds true for products marketed to those with color-treated hair. Even if your hair is not dyed, using a product for color-treated hair can be beneficial because these shampoo formulas tend to be gentler (to preserve easily washed away hair color) and conditioners tend to be super-conditioning, but lightweight, to help reduce dryness from the coloring process.

• Myth: Washing your hair too often leads to dryness. This depends. Hair can be cleansed as often as you like without dryness, provided you use the proper products to retain moisture. Those who generally have naturally drier hair types (including those of us with curls and highly textured hair) often shy away from frequent cleansing - but water is not the enemy! It's the stripping shampoos and mediocre conditioners we use that are to blame. Using the proper moisturizing and conditioning products at wash time will actually increase your hair's hydration.

About Audrey Davis-Sivasothy

Audrey Davis-Sivasothy is a Houston-based freelance writer, publisher and longtime, healthy hair care advocate and enthusiast. Sivasothy holds a degree in health science and has written extensively on the science of caring for hair at home.