Does Your Cat Go on Walks With You?

Submitted by Michael Jon Lazar on 12/22/08 9:01pm
I have written a few entries in the past few weeks regarding my odd and auspicious, yet oh so cute and lovable kitten named Migs. We found our cat outside of our home one night, roughly a year ago, he was homeless and hungry, and very thin. The neighborhood kids next door had named him Migs because he would streak across the front yards at lightning speed, like a Russian Mig fighter jet, and the name just sort of stuck. Migs has been the most interesting animal that I have ever had the pleasure of keeping company with. He has the most unique personality that I have ever seen in a cat, and I am just thankful that he found our front door that night and that we opened it and welcomed him into our life. And here is yet another interested tale of our experiences with our lovable and boisterous kitten named Migs. It Took us a While to Realize he Was Following Us We have two large dogs, a wolf hybrid named Wolfgang Amadeus (after Mozart of course) and a Lab/Rotty mix, named Sampson. We take the boys on a few mile walk every evening before they get their dinner; wet food and a treat. And yes, my dogs are spoiled rotten, but what is the point of having dogs if you don’t give them the world right? Our newer house in Chandler, AZ, has a kitty door for our cat; he was always an outside cat, so we wanted him to have options when we moved. But we didn’t think that he would start following us on walks. But naturally, Migs wanted to feel like an active member of our pride, and before we knew it he began following us on our evening walks with our dogs. Now our Cat Walks with us Regularly First it started with us noticing him streaking by and hiding under cars, or in bushes. Then our dogs began to whine and look for him. Finally, we caught him following us on several occasions, always staying in the shadows and ducking out of sight, like a little kitten spy. Then it would become routine. Every time that we took the boys on their walk, the shadow of Migs and the jingle of his collar and name tag could be heard in the distance. It was not long before he was accompanying us on each and every walk—feeling like a true member of the family. It has Become a Game of Sorts It has become a game for him now. He hides and ducks and darts. And then he tries to make it home before we do. He creeps in through his door and then waits by the front door with questioning eyes that scream: “I was here the whole time, nice to see you again mom and dad!” What Outlandish Things Does your Cat Do? I am curious to learn what weird things that your cat may do? I have never heard of kittens following people on walks. Please comment back with your weird cat stories, I am anxious to read them all, and to learn more about your experiences.

Polar Bears Finding Ways to Survive Amid Facing Extinction

Submitted by Michael Jon Lazar on 12/22/08 8:22pm
Many polar bears are facing extinction and in efforts to survive they have been reduced to eating bird eggs from nests that they find during their daily foraging to combat starvation. Most notably this activity is occurring in Hudson Bay, Canada – which hosts a thriving population of geese. The polar bears are frequently seen by scientists digging into the lush eggs that populate the many goose nests in this area. And some experts say that it is a creative approach to their own survival. But how much longer can the polar bears survive on just bird eggs? As More Melting Occurs, Scientists Say to Expect the Worst The saddest part about this story is that the problem is ongoing. Most experts and scientist agree that the longer the problem continues the more melting that will occur. The more that the ice melts, the less the habitat that the polar bears will have to hunt their primary fare: seals. As they become more and more desperate, many polar bears will have to forage further inland, and in turn, many will fight each other. The only true way at this point to really save the polar bear species is for us to join together, the world united and work proactively and diligently to stave off the harmful effects of the earth warming. Global warming is a very real problem, and if we don’t act soon, some marvelous species could be wiped off the face of our beautiful earth forever. Global Warming is the Culprit It is sad to say, and hard to accept that our modern day technology, and the over industrialization at a rapid pace of many previously under developed countries, like China and India, have greatly increased the threat of global warming. At the same time other nations, like the European Union, have signed emission reduction pacts, but will it be in time for us to save these precious and ice laden reserves, and all of the species they harbor? Can humanity fight global warming and win the battle with enough time left to say at least we saved some species, like the polar bears? Or will the elements win in the end and force us to accept the extinction of whole species of animals and entire ecosystems? What is the Fate of Polar Bears? The fate of the polar bears sadly rests in our hands, not their white, furry paws. Our decisions to act now and try and do something to solve the problem is the only true way that we can prevent this entire species from becoming scarce and nearly extinct. The key lies in a uniform and global approach that addresses the inherent issues that lay before us with regards to rapid warming trend of the earth. Countries can band together and reduce emissions to levels that are acceptable, and that will not cause further devastation of our planet. But humanity needs to act together, as one. And don the armor of environmental candor and do battle with our surest enemy: global warming. If you are interested in helping to save the polar bears, then check out the following website: http://savethepolarbear.com – which is bent on helping us work together to diligently address this crisis.

Three Different Bracelet Jewelry Gifts That Will Wow Her This X-Mas!

Submitted by Anonymous on 12/22/08 8:03pm

If you are looking for some amazing bracelet jewelry for your loved one, to surprise her this holiday season, then you may want to consider looking online as opposed to the local place. This is because you will not find better deals on bracelet jewelry anywhere else than when you harness the power and the deals, and savings of the internet to your advantage. Take a look at these three bracelet jewelry pieces that I found for nearly half off online! 10K Yellow Gold and Blue Topaz & Diamond Bracelet with 3.00 Carats Blue Topaz: This gorgeous yellow and blue topaz diamond bracelet jewelry will make her eyes widen in surprise when she finds it tucked coyly underneath the tree. Beautiful gold circlets create the foundation of the bracelet, which is also adorned with generous set blue topaz to the tune of a handsome three carats, and of course, what bracelet jewelry for the holidays, and for the special someone that you love, would be complete without diamonds—which are placed next to each blue topaz cut, ornamentally on this lavish jewelry bracelet. Well priced online from about: $282 – as compared to retail on this same bracelet jewelry of about $647.00! 10K Yellow Gold and Emerald-Cut Black Onyx Bracelet: This amazingly beautiful and timeless ten carat yellow gold and emerald black onyx bracelet jewelry will most certainly make her cheeks blush when she finds it wrapped underneath the tree. Generous and large onyx cuts adorn this jewelry bracelet which is also crusted with diamonds in between each onyx setting. This bracelet jewelry will work with nearly any outfit in her wardrobe and will remind her of how much you care every time that she puts it on before going out. Found online for an amazingly low price of about: $430 – when compared to the local retail price of more than $900! 10K Yellow Gold and Diamond & Lab-Created Sapphire Bracelet: Don’t think that just because sapphires are created in a lab that they do not shine brilliantly, as you will easily see with this intense ten carat yellow gold and diamond, with lab created sapphires, bracelet jewelry. The sapphires weigh in at over two carats and the diamonds weigh in at .02 carats. Gorgeous gold circlets create this bracelet jewelry which sports lofty sapphires connected with diamonds throughout. Well priced online from around: $280 – when compared to an expensive retail price tag of about $650! I was able to find these decadent bracelet jewelry gifts online at http://www.jewelryandscents.com/ for about a 20-30% discount off traditional retail pricing. Great for last minute shopping gifts for that special person who you love, and typically you will save a large amount of money off what you could expect to pay for the same things at the local jewelry store. Another added perk is that when you order online you generally do not have to tender sales tax, as most websites will not be located in your home state. This usually will save you even more money. And many of the websites I have found are offering free shipping as another perk to lure customers like you and me to the checkout page.

Protect the Electronic Gifts you Give your Kids With these Three Stocking Stuffers

Submitted by Anonymous on 12/22/08 7:59pm

All parents know that around the holidays some pretty pricey electronic gifts will be given to their children. While seeing their eyes widen when they receive such lofty gifts is priceless, the last thing any parent wants to see is their child dropping their new electronic gifts on the floor, and watching them shatter in dismay. So, if you plan on doling out some amazing electronic gifts for your kids this holiday season, protect your investment by stuffing their stockings with these well priced protective cases. Camo Gaming Backpack: This awesome and well constructed gaming backpack is essential for any mobile gamer. It is designed to carry all the popular gaming systems, PS2 and PS3, Wii and Xbox/Xbox 360; it is compatible with all major gaming consoles. The interior has wired straps that open so you don’t have to worry about removing your console from this backpack – it opens up on all sides for ventilation and allows you to simply plug and play. The backpack also holds game controllers, guides and games. Well priced online from about: $37.99 – you will not find a better way to transport and protect your video gaming console and accessories; an essential of gadget gifts for the gaming protagonist. Case Logic Sony PSP Game Case: For those who have child that is obsessed with nifty electronics gizmos like the popular PSP handheld video gaming system – you should look to protect your pricey electronic gifts with this sturdy, vinyl PSP by Case Logic. The console simply slides into the protective interior, which then zips up for maximum protection. Should your child drop their three hundred dollar PSP, this case will protect it from damage. Well priced online from about: $15.99 Shell Case With Belt Clip For iPhone: So they finally got the electronic gadget gifts of their dreams: the new Apple iPhone – but now you are worried about this three hundred dollar puppy breaking if they do not take care of it properly. No worries. This shell case with belt clip will easily protect your investment and leave you worry free. This combination of black leather and see through vinyl – which covers and protects the screen – will assure that their new handy phone is protected from falls and the elements. It also comes with a handy belt clip that they can use to carry their phone with if they so choose. Priced online from about: $31.49 I found all of these great electronic gifts cases online at http://www.clemcalma.com – where they offer all sorts of cool gadget gifts and electronic gizmos. They also have all sorts of other weird or hard to find gifts, and holiday gifts that are common. If you have a 21st century digital child, who loves their PSP, their iPod, or their cellular phone, what better way to protect your investment than stuffing their stocking with one of these nifty cases? This way you can be assured that the few hundred dollars that you spent on the electronic gadget for them is well spent, and that they can enjoy their gift for years to come.

Medicare Offers Incentives for E-Prescriptions

Submitted by hellenwyeth on 12/22/08 6:41pm
Those of you out there that are on Medicare may be getting your prescriptions for medications in a different manner. Starting next month, Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, will offer financial bonuses to doctors who prescribe drugs electronically rather than on paper. Doctors who opt out of the e-prescribing will face penalties from Medicare starting in 2012. Putting the electronic prescribing in place next month, Medicare hopes to get doctors in the swing of things early on before they will suffer penalties. Medicare is putting e-prescriptions in place to both improve efficiency and lower medical errors.
 
Incentives for doctors to switch over to the e-prescriptions will begin January 1st of the upcoming year. Though Medicare does not expect all doctors to jump on board right away but they do expect it to be more and more of a common practice about 6 months or so down the road. Only weeks before Barack Obama takes office with plans to overhaul the U.S. health care system, bonuses will start to accumulate for the Medicare doctors.
 
Though the incentive bonus for doctors can sound very appealing, some are still skeptical of Medicare's promises. A while back, Medicare promised bonuses to doctors to take part in a Medicare physician quality reporting system. Thousands of doctors who reported the requested data are now reporting that they have never received the promised payments from Medicare.
 
How It Works:
 
When a physician sends a prescription electronically to the pharmacist in place of writing it out on paper, it factors out the possibility of a patient getting the wrong drug due to the doctor's scribbled handwriting or the patient getting a different medication with a similar name. Research has shown that doctors using the e-prescribing system are also prompted about price variations of name brand and generic drugs. Doctors can then choose to prescribe the lower costing drug for their patient. 
 
The new electronic prescribing measure was passed by Congress last July over a veto by President Bush. This measure raises Medicare payments to doctors who use the e-prescribing system with a 2 percent bonus in 2009 and 2010. Then it drops down to only a 1 percent bonus in 2011 and 2012. After that, bonuses drop to only a 0.5 percent bonus. Doctors who do not comply with the new measure by 2012 will be awarded a 1 percent Medicare payment penalty and then 1.5 percent penalty in 2013. Any doctors still not in compliance after 2013 will face penalties from Medicare of 2 percent.
 
Already nearly 80 percent of 57,000 pharmacies in the United States currently take e-prescriptions. Bigger chains of pharmacies like your local CVS and Walgreen's are set up and ready to go with the new measure. The chances of your doctor finding a pharmacy to have your prescription filled via electronic means should not be a problem when this measure is fully operational. Those of you that are worried that you may not be able to get your prescriptions from the pharmacy that you have been using for years it soon will not be an issue. By time the measure becomes mandatory for doctors to use, nearly all pharmacies will be up to date and waiting for you.
 

The Bloop

Submitted by nerdyspice on 12/22/08 6:40pm
The phenomenon known as 'The Bloop' is quite possibly one of my favorite of the great, unsolved mysteries of the world. It is such a simple thing, a mere sound, but so large it was that several different sensors thousands of miles apart were able to record it. So essentially, in the summer of 1997, a sound was registered, a loud sound and it was traced to the location of 50 degrees S 100 Degrees W, roughly off of the west coast of South America. Each time it occurred, it rose in frequency for about roughly 60 seconds on an ultra low frequency. Heard at normal speed, it sounds like nothing. At least nothing that human ears can discern. However, when sped up by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration to 16 times its normal speed, it sounds like a bubble rising in the water. Supposedly, the profile of said sound matches that of a living creature. The only problem being that according to scientists who have studied said noise have concluded that any creature able to make such a noise would have to be larger than any creature as of yet known to man or science. Creepy. Giant Squids have for the most part been discounted as traditionally there sounds are produced through gas-filled sacs and no known species posses a sac large enough to transmit sounds through water that can be heard upwards of three thousand miles away. Again though, no known species. Would it be foolish to assume that humans have successfully and completely cataloged our massive oceans. Indeed. And I don't think that anyone could make an argument otherwise. And therefore, is it not possible that such a creature capable of such massive noise could have escaped our technological nets? Not quite as certain, but still, it is a possibility. Fiction has grabbed a hold of 'The Bloop' in its own special way. My favorite of such things was it's utilization in the viral campaign for the monster film Cloverfield. But the ones who have truly latched onto it in the most glorious and fanatical of ways are the fans of H.P Lovecraft and his demonic creation, Cthulu. Fans have noted that the coordinates of mystery's approximate location match that of R'lyeh, the sunken city where Cthulu triumphantly makes his appearance in the short story "The Call Of Cthulu." It is more than enough proof for them that, Cthulu is indeed alive and well and it was he who made the sound. But to the great dismay of all who are attracted to such phenomena, 'The Bloop' has not been heard since it's initial but multiple occurrences in 1997. As such, there has been no truly concrete study of the mystery despite enrapturing even those in the legitimate scientific community. And unless 'The Bloop' arises again, it is likely to stay a mystery. For those wishing to make their own opinions on the matter, this website has audio files of varying quality and speed for listeners to enjoy.

Still Brushing Your Teeth the Old Fashioned Way? Go Supersonic!

Submitted by Michael Jon Lazar on 12/22/08 6:31pm
Are you still brushing your teeth using an old fashioned and obsolete toothbrush? If so, let me enlighten you to the next great thing in oral hygiene: the supersonic toothbrush. In a nutshell, this is an electronic toothbrush that has a powerful motor contained within. It is able to rotate the brush bristles and near supersonic speeds, which makes for a super clean mouth every time. The best part, perhaps, is that these newer sonic toothbrushes have been proven to be way more effective than the older, hand operated toothbrushes. And, they are going down in price—making them an affordable necessity for all of those out there who want to stave off costly and time consuming, and quite often painful, trips to the dentist. Why Brushing Your Teeth the Old Way is Ineffective For years, a few centuries at least, man has used hand operated toothbrushes to clean their teeth. But these are only so effective at removing plaque and preventing decay. And with newer technologies being unveiled with each passing day, seemingly, the newer toothbrushes on the market are easier to use, are electronic, and the bristles move at near supersonic speeds, which will clean your teeth like you have never before seen or experienced. The best part is that these newer, sonic toothbrushes, is that they cost about the same as a one year supply of hand operated toothbrushes, but have been clinically proven to be up to eighty times more effective than the latter. How to Maximize Your Oral Hygiene and Preserve your Pearly Whites The best way that you can maximize your oral hygiene and keep those teeth looking white and healthy, not to mention having healthy gums and so on, is by using technology to your advantage. Get a water flossing machine and make sure that you use it once per night before you go to bed. Brush your teeth two to three times per day using a powerful and electronic toothbrush that can get rid of plaque and help to prevent tooth decay. And always make sure that you get a tooth cleaning at least every six months so that you can nab cavities when they form during the early stages, and not later on when they have had a chance to devastate and decay your precious teeth. Where can you Find this Sonicare Toothbrush for a Good Price? There are ample amounts of online stores that sell this Sonicare toothbrush, but generally speaking, the best deals are found online when you cut out the middle man and go directly to the source. Thankfully, the source, Phillips, offers this product for sale on their online store, and for a better price than you find at your dental office or nearly anywhere else online. You can learn more about this brush by checking them out online here: http://www.sonicare.com – Or you can buy it directly from the maker, Phillips, by clicking HERE – it costs between $100 and $300, depending upon which model that you choose to purchase, and they all come with a two year warranty and a few extra brush heads.

Cranberry Sauce

Submitted by lisala on 12/22/08 6:14pm

I grew up with cranberry sauce out of a can, and there's not a thing wrong with it. I actually like it quite a lot, especially on turkey sandwiches, the day after a holiday feast. But there are other ways to use cranberries, as well. And we should use cranberrries, really, because they grow here, they're extremely good for you, and it's fun.

One of the lovely features of the Northwest are local fresh cranberries. You can visit some of the region's farms, and the Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation offers a self-guided walking tour you can take, if you're interested in actually seeing how cranberries are grown, irrigated, harvested (in October), and so eventually end up on your plate.

So bring some of those fresh cranberries home. We're going to do something yummy with them.

You can certainly make your own cranberry sauce, simply and quickly, just by using a cup of water, a cup of sugar, and four cups of cranberries. I'd encourage you to experiment, by the way, with a little orange or lemon zest, allspice, grated ginger root, and/or chopped and toasted nuts.

In a saucepan big enough, bring the water and sugar to a boil, then add in the cranberries (washed and picked over, of course) and simmer gently for about ten minutes, until the cranberries look sort of exploded. Stir frequently enough to keep it from sticking to the bottom. Voila, you've got old-fashioned, homemade cranberry sauce. Now you can (and should) experiment with other textures and flavors, added in.

If you're a fan of raw cranberries, you've likely had one of the many fresh cranberry relishes. This, too, is dead easy—and again, there's plenty of room to experiment with added ingredients.

If you've a food-processor to chop ingredients, that will work just fine. When I was a kid, we used a little grinder with a crank handle that clamped to the edge of the table, and my dad would spend an hour or so hunting for the blades, because he couldn't remember where he'd stashed them last year. (The grinder somehow counted as a "tool" not a kitchen implement, so it was Dad's job to oversee the assembly and disassembly, every year. Or maybe it was just that he'd had it last, making deer sausage. It's one of those childhood mysteries best not examined too deeply.)

Basically, I like to take a couple of cups of raw cranberries, a big juicy orange—peel and all, and a couple of apples left over from making pie (core these, but you don't have to peel them) and grind it all up together. Sweeten to taste with sugar or brown sugar (I prefer to leave it fairly tart, so it's important to taste it often while you sweeten the mixture.) If you're feeling daring, experiment with adding a splash of Grand Marnier, or other sweet liqueur, as part of the sweetening process. Again, now is a perfect opportunity to chop and roast walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts to mix into your relish, or to use as garnish. If you like a little extra crunch, you can finely chop some celery to add in.

Cranberries freeze beautifully, so you can stock up when they're in season, and toss a couple of bags in the freezer to use later on.

Those Who Snore Burn More Calories

Submitted by hellenwyeth on 12/22/08 5:40pm
Does your partner snore and keep you up through the night? With all the numerous ways to make attempts to put a stop to snoring, researchers have done a study on snorers and your partner may have another benefit from it aside from getting sleep. People who snore have been found to burn more calories when they are resting during the day than those who sleep quietly through the night.
 
Though the new studies have shown the extra calorie burning in our beloved snorers, the calories that are burned during the daily rest periods doesn't amount to be enough to balance the extra weight that usually goes along with the condition sleep apnea. The study published in the December issue of the Archives of Otorlaryngology may give insight into the basic biological underpinnings of such disorders.
 
"There are a lot of other factors that are going on that lead to a net increase in body weight," said Dr. Michael Thorpy, director of the Sleep Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "It's not enough to counteract the weight gain from other sources."   They want to figure out how to treat people with sleep apnea. Sufferers of sleep apnea generally do have extra weight and losing weight can dramatically decrease obstructive sleep apnea in those who are overweight. Those that have had behavioral interventions and bariatric surgery, when grouped, success has been found to be inconsistent. However, obesity and sleep apnea are closely intertwined with each other.   "This study examined one of the important ways that obstructive sleep apnea can affect body weight. There are many things we do not understand about the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and body weight, and this is one," said study author Dr. Eric J. Kezirian, director of the division of sleep surgery at the University of California, San Francisco.    This cross-sectional study, conducted by Kezirian and senior study investigator Dr. Nelson B. Powell, of Stanford University, measured daytime resting energy expenditure of 212 adults both with and without sleep-disordered breathing. The mean body-mass index was 28.3 (at the high end of overweight). Researchers measured the severity of the sleeping disorder with the apnea-hypopnea index. It records how many times per hour a person does not breathe for a minimum of 10 seconds, falling into the apnea category, or has enough of a reduction in air flow to result in a dip in oxygen levels or to wake up from sleep (hypopnea). Every 10-point increase in the apnea-hypopnea index corresponded with a 27-calorie increase in daily resting energy expenditure.   "It's not a lot, but it can add up," Kezirian said.   Results of the study were unexpected. What the studies are saying is that the people in the study have a higher metabolic rate. The higher metabolic rate is not accounted for by these people being overweight. It is thought that those that are overweight are burning more calories due to sleeping less or struggling to breathe. Waking up during the night is comparable to a small adrenaline rush that will increase the metabolic rates of even normal patients.
 
"We have to do more studies to confirm this and to find out exactly what's going on," said Josephson. "[But] this study is important. It shows that people are starting to take this more seriously, and there is good reason to do so. Sleep apnea is the number one cause of heart attack and stroke in patients that have either while sleeping. We also know that snoring is the number one medical cause for divorce."
 
For more information about sleep apnea visit the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Even Foreign Car Makers Feeling the Pinch: Toyota Losing Money For First Time Since 1941

Submitted by Michael Jon Lazar on 12/22/08 5:39pm
One of the largest auto makers in the world, Toyota, has posted their fist losses in seventy years, since the middle of World War Two, in late 1941. Spurred mostly by the global recession that has nearly bankrupted the big three auto makers in the United States, Toyota is acting quickly to assure that they do not meet the same certain fate that the American big three auto makers have succumbed to. And while Toyota operates in union-free plants in the US, with far lower operating costs than other rival auto makers, they have already lost a few billion dollars this year alone, and expect the trend to continue well into 2009. The Economic Crisis Affects Everybody The big three auto makers are not the only auto makers that are feeling their belts tighten. Toyota is also feeling the squeeze as auto makers rush to figure out ways to stave off plunging sales and rising inventories of previous year’s models and manage to find ways to lure consumers back to empty dealerships, where banks are hesitant to even lend money to any of them to purchase new cars. And even though Toyota sold nearly nine million new cars last year, they are expecting to sell far less this coming year as many consumers recoup from a costly holiday season, amid rising bills and costs of living and tantamount to a declining economy where a job is not nearly as secure as it used to be. Why Toyota is Losing Money In an Associated Press interview, which took place on Monday, December 22nd, 2008, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation, Katsuaki Watanabe said, “The tough times are hitting us far faster, wider and deeper than expected. This is an unprecedented crisis requiring urgent action.” Toyota is expected to try and minimize layoffs, as they have a hardened mission statement that is adamantly opposed to laying off full time employees, which is one way that they have managed to circumvent traditional car building union contracts with their domestic plants located in the United States. However, it should also be noted that Toyota is expected to become the number one auto maker in the world during the fiscal year of 2009, as rival auto maker, GM, is expected to cut production drastically as they restructure their company. What They Plan on Doing About It After feeling the pinch to the tune of about a 150 billion yen ($1.66 billion) during the first quarter of the fiscal year of 2008, Toyota is starting to realize that they are not immune to this global financial crisis. The company plans on cutting productions to meet lowering demands, and trying to lower the overall costs of their cars to all consumers while at the same time still offering the traditionally great value and warranty that their customers have grown to expect from them. You can read the full news article that I found HERE – which will give you more information as to why Toyota is losing their butts this year, and what changes they will be making in the future to decrease their losses and realize a true profit margin once more.

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