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Thanksgiving is a time to show thanks to the people and things that bring joy into your life. As a crazy cat lady, I'm the most thankful for my feline furballs. While they may shed on my black pants and leave hair balls all over my floor, I'm very happy to share my house with them.

Here are some reasons I'm thankful for my cats:They don't hog the remote.

Unlike my husband, my cats don't care what I'm watching on the television (unless it's the Animal Planet). My kitties won't change the channel to watch a boring sci-fi marathon. They don't try to turn up the volume to uncomfortable levels when a basketball game is on. They even don't mind if I rewind a scene on my DVR to listen to a joke again. In fact, they will will watch hours of the Home Shopping Channel without a single meow. Now actually finding a seat on the couch to watch the television is another matter..

My cats keep my dining room table clear.

As a child, it was my job to clear off the dining room table after dinner. I had to bring in all of the dirty dishes and wipe down the surface with a damp cloth. Once I got my own place, I hated cleaning the table. As a result my dining room table became a catch-all for dirty napkins, used spoons, and even unopened mail. Thankfully, my kitties will jump up on the table and knock all this stuff to the ground. They are even polite enough to dust off any crumbs with their tails. If it weren't for them, my dining room table would always be covered with junk.

They help me sleep at night.

I've always struggled to stay asleep at night. I like to toss and turn until I find the most comfortable spot. Now that I share my bed with several furry companions, I no longer move around during the evening. You try to change positions in bed when there is a cat on every side of you. Without fail, there is a kitty on top of my head, one by my feet, and two on either side. They keep me from being restless all night long.

There are a thousand other reasons I'm thankful for my cats. Tell my why you're thankful for your kitties this Thanksgiving.

It is a symbol of everything that has gone wrong in North Korea - the Ryugyong Hotel, also known as the “Hotel of Doom.”  This 105-storey marvel of architecture was first begun in 1987, but due to economic issues, by 1992 construction on it was halted indefinitely.  It still remains in the heart of North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, a towering monument to economic failure in the proud country.

Under the watchful eyes of Kim Jong-un, the DPRK hopes to turn the meaning of this symbol around, to one that shows the country’s progress and embrace of tourism.  With the help of a few foreign investors, the building is predicted to be open for business sometime in July or August of next year. 

This is just a partial opening, however, with the top floors featuring 150 hotel rooms.  The majority of the rest of the building will instead take on the role of offices.  The bottom three floors will be reserved for restaurants and a shopping center.

Just the very fact that this is getting done with outside help shows a marked turn in the way North Korea is approaching their economic situation.  Foreign companies are being allowed to invest in the hotel and a German company will be in charge of managing it.  This could be just one more step in a drastic change in DPRK policies.

In the past, however, whenever the country tried to promote tourism something would end up happening to make them turtle up again, closing their borders and killing all the investment that others had placed in North Korean businesses.  Hopefully, this time will be different and North Korea will be able to profit from tourism.  In that, they may realize that connections to the outside world are indeed valuable and that it’s time for them to embrace the international community.

One of my best friends watches National Geographic's "Dog Whisperer" religiously. She is fascinated by the transformations that host Cesar Millan makes with out-of-control dogs. Every week, she shares with me how an unsocial husky was turned into the perfect family dog.

When I took in my first dog, this friend was the first person to give me advice on how to raise and train my pooch. What's the problem you ask?

She has never owned a dog.Reality television shows are very popular, and they don't seem to be going away. Sure, it's fun to peek into the lives of other people, but that doesn't mean you are an expert on the subject.

If you have never owned a canine companion, then please don't tell me how to become the pack leader. Of course I know that my dog needs to see me as the alpha. Sure, it's best that I'm the leader in my household. However, if you have never tried to train a dog of your own, then you really have no clue how to do it yourself.

When my dog is acting rowdy when I get home from work, I know that I should take her out for a walk. I really don't want a lecture about how her wild behavior is a sign of pent up energy. I know it is, but did you forget that I spent the last eight hours at work? Trust me, she gets plenty of attention once I'm home again.

If my dog begins to chew up all the socks in my laundry room, don't tell me it's because she is bored. My dog has more toys than most toddlers. She just likes the way my socks feel and taste. I make sure to discipline her when I catch her in the act, but that doesn't mean she will instantly stop this behavior.

Yes, I am aware of all the various pet food recalls in the last couple of months. I do appreciate you forwarding them to me, but don't act more educated than me at the pet store. I'm perfectly capable of selecting a healthy and safe food for my pooch.

When and if you finally decide to add a four-legged friend to your house, I may start taking your advice more seriously. You are not the "Dog Whisperer" until you actually work with canines on a daily basis.

My rant is over. I'm going to relax with my dog now.

Switzerland is known for having more than one strange indigenous sport and Hornussen is no exception.  Its origins lie somewhere in the 17^th century, with written reference to it being made as far back as 1625.  It spread out over the centuries and became a little more popular, an official association finally being founded in 1902.  By the late 80s, more than 200 Hornussen organizations had been formed with nearly 7000 members.  Today, it has begun to spread to other countries and attracts as much media coverage (at least in Switzerland) as more traditional sports.

Hornussen, for the people who don’t know, is a strange sort of mix between baseball and golf.  There are 18 people on each team and the players are armed with giant square paddles on the ends of sticks.  To begin a game, a small rubber ball is hit at very high speeds by one team in the direction of their opponents.  It is then up to the opposing team to use their paddles to snatch the ball out of the air or, at the very least, knock it down before it gets too far.  Points are scored based on how far the ball manages to travel before it is stopped.

Danger comes to players in that the puck moves very quickly.  Injuries are not uncommon and players can suffer anything from having their teeth knocked out to black eyes and even fractures or concussions.  And apparently, it used to be even more dangerous back in the day.

If you have the bravery and endurance, it’s likely possible to find a local group of Hornussen players considering the sport’s growing popularity.  But games can be very long, so you’d better make sure you’re in decent shape.  You’ll also need the willingness to jump in the way of a speeding rubber ball knowing that you may have to visit the hospital sometime during the game.  Definitely not for the faint of heart.