Dog Food Secrets: A Book Review of the new Expose

January 31, 2009 · Filed Under Pets · Comment 
by Miranda Concagh

As his dog, Noble, died in his arms from a lethal injection, Andrew Lewis cried.

We empathize with what Andrew felt that cloudy Wednesday afternoon. Many of us have had to say our goodbyes to a dog we dearly loved as we sat in a vet’s office under very similar circumstances.

Noble’s death came as a shock. He had been vital and full of life up until about a month before his death. You see, Noble was only four years old.

How did this happen to a dog so young?

Noble ate tainted food. Food filled with toxins. Noble was poisoned.

Tragically, Mr. Lewis had been an unknowing conspirator in his own dogs death.

The vet explained that the dog died of kidney failure. The cause? Preservatives used in the commercial dog food that Noble at.

The story begins with Andrew coming to grips with the untimely death of his much loved pet.

Of course as the shock subsided, it turned into a great rage. In time the rage wore itself down and morphed into a sense of determination.

In his new book, “Dog Food Secrets,” Andrew explains how he spent three years of his life, and over $12,000 of his own money, investigating commercial dog food manufacturing. He also learned along the way a great deal about canine health and nutrition.

The book is about his journey of discovery. He shares with us some horrific truths about the ingredients found in many commercial dog foods:

***Toxic preservatives capable of producing organ cancers of every major organ in the body

***Putrid road kill

***Euthanized dogs and cats

***Dangerous chemicals used to put down animals

***Plastic bags, flea and tick collars, and pet collars with I.D. Tags

The book continues to follow Mr. Lewis pass through various stages of grief. Eventually he focuses on the need to educate people on the subject of animal health and safety.

Here are just a few of the things he found that will help protect the health of our pets:

***Interpreting the double talk on dog and cat food labels.

***Identifying the few healthy brands of commercial dog food (there isn’t even enough of them to comprise a top ten list).

***The reasons natural home made dog food is your best alternative

***Homemade dog food recipes (over 30 of them!)

***How to keep your dog healthy and vital for years beyond his normal life expectancy

The book is dedicated to Noble and all the other dogs that have suffered food poisoning at the hands of their masters. The author is determined to make certain that what Noble suffered will not be suffered by other pets. And what Andrew Lewis suffered will not be suffered other dog owners.

The book is a fascinating read.

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Top Parenting Tips on How To Find A Sitter

January 31, 2009 · Filed Under Kids and Teens · Comment 
by Rashel Dan

It’s not unusual to find both parents working. There may also be times when you have to attend functions as a couple. In both cases, you may need to leave the kids with someone trustworthy.

The best way to go about the situation is to find the right sitter. The process of getting a sitter however probably is not that simple. What do parents have take note of when picking a sitter?

Start as Soon as Possible

If you have plans of going out, find a sitter as early as possible. This means planning all your night outs, breaks, work commitments ahead of time. This is to ensure that when you decide to study your sitter options, you have more time to study qualifications and be discriminating.

Study All Your Options

Needless to say, you would want a sitter that can be entrusted with your kids’ safety. A relevant tip therefore is to look at all your options. You can look for sitting services in the paper. Just make sure that the services you choose are ones which conduct some form of background check on their sitters. Another good parenting tip on this aspect is to advertise with your local community organizations or groups. One of the best thing to do however is to ask close relatives and friends to recommend some good sitters.

Ask For a Lot of Things

Don’t be afraid to inquire and ask questions. Many highly recommend asking for references and actually checking and calling on those references. You should also consider a lot of questions during your interview with potential sitters.

Ask about length of experience as a sitter, ages of kids looked after, training in CPR or other relevant training. Make sure the applicant sitters know what they should do during emergency situations like the child choking or falling down the stairs.

Take the Time to Observe

If you have your pick already, take the time to observe how the sitter interacts with the kids. One parenting tip is to see if the sitter seems naturally comfortable with the kids and vice versa. Another thing to do for additional safety is to install nanny cameras.

Ask the Kids

Always talk to your kids about their experience with their baby sitter. You can ask them to describe what they did that day, if they enjoyed being with their sitter, what new things their sitter taught them and what other things their sitter has been doing. Be sensitive to such warning signs as discomfort among your kids when you ask them sitter related questions and bumps and bruises in inconspicuous parts of your child’s body.

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Pressurized Walls Are a Must When Living With Roommates

January 31, 2009 · Filed Under Home and Family · Comment 
by Marcelo Oleas

If you enjoy living in the Big Apple, you most likely enjoy living with roommates. Sometimes this is the only way for people to afford an apartment with the sky-high rent in New York City. But what if you are someone who is use to living by yourself and never had to deal with some of the burdens that can come when sharing your living space with a roommate? If you are this type of person and sharing an apartment is your only solution to affording rent, then pressurized walls might be the answering you are looking for.

When you are living in NYC, it can be difficult to find space that is affordable, large enough and convenient. When you have a large space, you need people to share it with you, but what do you do when even living with your friends can get grating after a while?

Temporary walls are the perfect way of dividing large living spaces into smaller and private areas. This allows for some roommates to live in peace without getting in anybody’s way and therefore living stress free.

One of the best things about these temporary walls is that many buildings allow them and are completely landlord friendly. They are easily removable and you will find that when they go, they don’t leave a mark behind. There is no need for costly repairs and patch jobs at the end of your lease.

The convenience that pressurized walls provide is awesome. Normally to do something similar you would have to get all sort of permits, get your landlord’s approval, hire contractors, and deal with a messy living situation till the job is complete… not to mention, spend a lot of money. Now the solution is simple, affordable, and only takes a couple of hours.

Dealing with roommates can have its ups and downs. Sometimes things work out perfectly, but other times you might fight that there is a lot to be desired. Maybe you decide to share an apartment with a best friend, but living with a best friend is definitely different than just hanging out on the the weekends. We all have our pet peeves which might seem harmless, but could turn into nightmares when dealing with them on a daily basis.

Dealing with roommates bringing people over can sometimes get overwhelming, especially when you don’t get along well with their friends or significant others. This is a situation that is not fair for both parties… why should anyone have to sacrifice their personal relationships over a living arrangement. Luckily pressurized walls solve this dilemma and keeps everyone happy.

Start living and enjoying your life by using pressurized walls to create your ideal living space. Don’t live in stress, insanity, or lose your privacy when living with a roommate is your only solution to affording rent in New York City.

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Winning Stinks!

January 31, 2009 · Filed Under Recreation and Sports · Comment 
by Jennifer Dumas

It is a growing trend to start our children in organized sports at a very young age. Mom, dad, I am sure you proudly recall watching your first born playing soccer at the age of 5. The rules are simple. Everyone plays and nobody loses. Funny how the game always seems to end in a tie. Your little guy chases the ball mixed into a cluster with the other children. It’s wild kicking in that cloud of kids. Thank goodness for shin guards! Amazingly, by the end of the season, they have learned some basic positions and are no longer on top of eachother. It is in that moment that you realized that your little one has some real athletic talent.

He or she continues to work hard to develop those athletic skills. You pay for the private instuction and make the commitment to practice and play 5 days a week or more. That hard work pay off as he and his teammates win league games, tournments and move on to thier sports version of the “World Series”.

Your child’s team works hard to achieve championship status. As a family, you commit to raise the money to make your child’s “World Series” deam a reality. You sell hotdogs, wash cars, and seek sponsors. Your friends , family and community rally around you, contributing to the cause. You have raised the funds…the team will have their opportunity to play.

As you arrive to your “World Series” you are immediately struck by the athletic ability of the opposing teams. It is then that you find out that this tournment allows teams to pick up “stud” players. To stay competitive with the other teams your coach feels he must do the same. The result… Your child and many of his teammates sit on the bench.

What message do we send to our children? “Thanks for all your hardwork this season, but have a seat. You’re not good enough to play these kids”. Isn’t it your child and his teammates played hard to make it to this level? I say come as a team, play as a team, leave as a team!

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Learn to Speak French Online - The Best Alternative

January 31, 2009 · Filed Under Reference and Education · Comment 
by Alice Sy

The French language is considered as one of the most used language in the whole world. There are many people who are longing to learn how to speak the language, who finally enrolled themselves in universities or took evening classes for this reason. Some even hired private tutors to teach them on a daily basis; however, there is an easier way nowadays to learn French and that is through the internet. You can actually learn to speak French online.

There are various websites that specialize in this subject. If ever you are interested to give this online course a try, you should be aware that there are two kinds of sites: the free and the paid.

With a free site, learning can take so long. Most of them only give very basic learning which is quite limited. There is no assurance that you will be a confident French speaker sooner or later. A paid site however, will closely watch your progress and make sure that you are really learning.

A paid site will help you to achieve your goal within a few weeks. It also has enjoyable exercises that you will find fun to accomplish. You have the power to choose what type of program you will get depending on your French background. If you are a total beginner, you can get the basic courses and if you are already familiar with the language, you can get the advanced courses to polish your French.

If you only want to learn the basic French, you will only need to spend a few days to complete the course. If you want the advanced training, within a span of two months, there is guarantee that you will already become a fluent French speaker.

Learning how to speak in French via the internet can be done either with a live tutor or with a software. This software has a complete and pre-organized program which will make you learn fast. There are also pre-recorded activities that will test how well you have learned each lesson. They will also help you retain every lesson in your mind.

If you want to invest your time in something worthwhile, why not study French? It will make you advance in your career. You can even work in a well-heeled country. If you can speak good French, you’ll be able to mingle with French speaking people anytime and anywhere.

Learn to speak French online and start talking French effortlessly after a few weeks.

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Benefits of Web Hosting Services

January 31, 2009 · Filed Under Internet and Businesses Online · Comment 
by Anand

It is really important for the web hosting business owners as well as for the end users to know what the web hosting service should offer and which facilities should be included in a good plan. This will help the business men to provide their customers with right quality of amenities and also the customers to select the best service provider.

With the help of web hosting you can run a site, which will feature the information, images, audio files, videos and many more thoroughly describing the site’s purpose. Entire world will be able to know about your products, services and ideas through the web network. The main intention of web hosting is providing the customer with a server space on which he can store these files.

The disk space allows you to upload or save the codes and files which collectively make the website. The bandwidth is essential as it helps the site to handle a large number of visitors i.e. web traffic. You can also get the information from your web host that which type of customers are mainly accessing your website and how long they are staying on the web pages. This information is extremely helpful for those who wish to improve their business from all aspects. Another crucial benefit of web hosting is that you can create several e-mail accounts on your website which depicts sheer professionalism and also enhances customer reliability. You can very well understand that while communicating with the customers through email, if you send it from your website’s address, the customer will depend on you and will not question the credibility of the company.

Web hosting also allows you to create the databases which is simply indispensable for the online business owners. The other exciting features that you can add to your website with the help of a web host include shopping carts for e-commerce sites, forums, communities and chat panels. These features help in communicating with the customers and know their views on the site.

A well functioning server is the key to success for the web sites and the web hosting service plays an important role in this field. If the server crashes down every now and then, your visitors might have a problem viewing the site which is not desired at all. Even with shared web hosting or managed hosting you can get great server quality provided the host has a back up server. Advertisement is one of the open business secrets that can be easily accomplished by the good web hosting services. It allows you to promote your products and services to the worldwide customer base which brings in thousands of potential customers increasing the sales several folds. Low cost web hosting service is another aspect of web hosting which is cost effective and affordable to everyone.

These are few of the important and remarkable benefits of web hosting and there are many others which you can understand only after availing this service from an authentic and renowned provider.

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LJ James On “Sons Of Anarchy”

January 30, 2009 · Filed Under Book Reviews · Comment 
by LJ James

I have just finished reviewing the 2nd episode of the brand new FX show “Son’s of Anarchy”. I have been a a big fan of another FX Show “The Shield” for years and I have to say, I have enjoyed “Sons of Anarchy” so far. The show has awesome bikes and ton’s of action!

As a Member of an Outlaw Motorcycle Club, I can see many mistakes already in the show. One thing that really surprised me is how people have reacted to the show and me personally. People who know I’m a member of a Motorcycle Club are asking me, “You guys aren’t really like that, are you?” Most of these people have known me for years! Now after a couple of episodes of “Sons of Anarchy” their wondering if I’m leading some kind of double life.

Can you imagine if a show about criminal killer Florists came out? How many people would ask the local florist if they where really like that? One fact of life about being a Biker I have come to except is, it’s real easy for people to think of Bikers as the bad guys. It has always been and probably always will be that way. I wonder how many Cops had people ask them the same question when the Shield came out? I also wonder how many Police Officers who watch the Shield and know that show is fiction will watch “Sons of Anarchy” and think that’s how Motorcycle Clubs really are! The FX show “Sons of Anarchy” is fiction and it is way over the top.

Son’s of Anarchy is going to shine a bright light into the Motorcycle Club world. Where as the last ten years have been all about Motorcycle Builders and has led to a lot of people getting into Motorcycle Riding, I believe the next ten years will be all about Motorcycle Clubs. Now this show could be a good thing for Motorcycle Clubs if, in-between all the fictional action, it also focuses on the bond of Brotherhood Motorcycle Clubs are really based on.

Although there is opportunity for “Sons of Anarchy” to make a positive statement about Motorcycle Clubs, I have a feeling the show will have a negative impact on Clubs, Independent Bikers, and the Motorcycle Community in general. All they would have to do is highlight the good stuff Motorcycle Clubs do and the positive impact that they have on their communities, I don’t think that is the way the program will go.

All the Motorcycle Clubs out there are going to need to keep their eyes wide open and watch any new prospects. MCs need to make sure that new prospects are there for the Brotherhood and betterment of the Club and the community. You don’t want prospects to live out some misguided fantasy they may have seen on TV or in some Movie. Another big concern of mine is people who will just go out and throw on a set of patches and think they are the “Sons of Anarchy”. The Motorcycle Club world is all about Respect and there is a serious protocol that is followed by all Clubs. I would not recommend violating that protocol in any way.

Motorcycle Clubs have spent the better part of the past 20 years working hard to shake the old biker gang stereotype of the 60’s and 70’s. Now that we have come so close to accomplishing our goals, a show like “Sons of Anarchy” or the upcoming HBO show 1% are here to try and drag our image back into the gang image. How far will these shows set us back? 20-30 Years? I am asking the producers of these shows, there sponsors, and everyone else out there to please remember that Brotherhood is what the Motorcycle Club world is truly about.

Your Bro, L.J. James AmericanBikerX. com

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How Much Do Massages Cost In Toronto?

January 30, 2009 · Filed Under Health and Fitness · Comment 
by Amy Nutt

Getting a massage is quite the invigorating experience. Its benefits have been known for thousands of years by various cultures. For example, the Chinese had found that massage could cure many ailments. It was as if it were a wonder drug without actually administering a drug. Much of it is because there are automatically healing qualities in physical touch, but massage involves placing pressure on the muscles and working out the impurities. It also improves blood circulation and circulation can improve a lot of different ailments that can occur.

Benefits of massage

In addition to improving blood flow to heal any physical ailments such as muscle pain, ligament and tendon issues, and so much more, there is also a mental advantage. For example, the way you feel after having a massage makes you feel fantastic mentally. You feel as if you could face the worst situation occurring in the world head on.

But lets say you live in the Toronto area and you want to have a massage. How much would this cost you?

Cost of massage

A massage in Toronto usually goes for around $75 per hour. However, there are several factors that influence the cost. For example, the length of the massage is going to influence the price because youre looking at $75 per hour. If you go for an hour and a half, then youre looking at $112.50 for the entire session. So make sure you are specific about how long you want your session to last, which means you need to be aware of your budget.

The cost also varies from therapist to therapist, spa to spa, and clinic to clinic. Where one may charge $75 per hour, another may charge $50 or $100 per hour. It is entirely up to the therapist you choose and where it is they work. So this means you need to do your research before you commit to a Toronto massage therapist. You must find what works for your particular budget.

You can, however, look into discounts if they are available, but you may not be able to get any discounts if the prices are set. Many massage therapists will say, This is our price, there are no exceptions. In other words, they do not offer coupons or they may not offer senior citizen discounts or discounts if youre a college student. They may offer such items as gift certificates if you want to give a massage as a gift to someone you love.

Another factor that may influence the cost of a massage is if you go to a spa instead of a regular massage therapist. The spa may provide you with many services. You may choose the massage and a facial. Of course, that is going to increase your price. Then again, the spa may be right out more expensive no matter what other services you may choose. You could look at up to $120 per hour at such a facility.

Is it for you?

Everyone should try a massage at least once because of the healing qualities that it possesses. Yes, it may seem a little high in cost, but it is very beneficial. In a lot of cases, it does not cost any more than a doctors appointment when you dont have insurance. If you look at it that way; as a way that benefits your health, then it seems like nothing. Actually, it can seem rather affordable when you think of it that way. And even if you dont think it is affordable, look at it as a well deserved gift to yourself for all of the hard work that you do.

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How To Set Up A Tickler File

January 30, 2009 · Filed Under Business · Comment 
by Dojo Kuhn

As part of my ongoing GTD Thirty Day Challenge, I wanted to talk about how you should set up a tickler file.

David Allen seems to be big on using 43 folders for his tickler file. These folders would be made up of 12 monthly folders and 31 daily folders. Let’s say it is now January and I’d have all my daily folders behind the January folder. When a day ends, that day’s folder goes behind the next month or February’s folder. Looking at the 19th, I’d have the folders 1-18 behind the February folder at this point.

What happens when I use my tickler file? If I get a bill that is due on February 3rd, and I want to remember to pay it on that day, I would stick the bill in my February 3rd folder. On February 3rd when I look at my tickler, I’d see the bill and remember to pay it.

If you asked me, I think using 43 folders for my tickler file is not the best way to set up a tickler file. First, it’s hard to remember to check the tickler each day. You’ll be asking yourself, “how do I remind myself to check the tickler file?” Secondly, it’s very bulky and not very portable. Third, when you move the folders for each day to the next month you have to take items in that months folder and put them in the right day.

The tickler file is essential to your GTD set up, however, because you have to remember future items. If you have a lot of physical items then the tickler file is the way to go. In my case, I don’t have tons of physical items and so here is my solution to the above problems with a tickler file.

How To Set Up A Tickler File

The first thing to do is to create a plastic folder for your briefcase called “Waiting For” and put all the things you need to remember in the future in it.

Next, I created a folder in my email account called “Yahoo Reminders”. You’ll see this folder if you look at the image of my email folder structure in How To Set Up Your GTD Email. I then set up a filter for all Yahoo Reminders to go into this specific folder and not in my inbox for processing.

The last component is Yahoo calendar. I put any item I need to remember and enter it as an all day event. I attach and email reminder to it that sends me a reminder 2 days ahead of the day I need to remember it. As a second reminder, a text is sent too.

So, let’s take the above scenario again. I got a bill today that I need to remember on the 3rd of February. I go to my Yahoo! calendar and enter an all day event “Pay important bill” with a reminder scheduled for two days prior. I then take the bill and put it in my “Waiting For” folder in my briefcase.

On February 1st, an email is sent ot me that reminds me I have to pay a bill on the third. The email bypasses my inbox and is filtered into my Yahoo reminder folder. As a backup, I get a text message too. Using text and email both gives me a backup in case I can’t check my Yahoo reminders folder I then have a reminder sitting on my blackberry too. I review my reminders each day on my Blackberry and if I am at my computer, I review them too.

This system is an extremely portable and streamlined tickler file. Everything reminds me on it’s own and I don’t have to move items around in my tickler file. Email reminders are awesome to remind you of things you have to do and you have no idea how much this helps your productivity until after you use them. If you use 43 folders, I’d still suggest using email reminders 100% to improve your GTD setup.

Once you learn how to set up a tickler file in this fashion, you’ll find it ideal for maximum effectiveness.

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Quality Sofa Slip Covers With Your Office Furniture

January 30, 2009 · Filed Under Business · Comment 
by Adam Peters

This article is about using wood furniture or alternatives to help save the environment.

Solid Wood Office Furniture Offers Elegance and Sophistication

In keeping up with the green house effect, the environmentalists have warned against the use of wood office furniture to allow the earth to recover and grow more wood. Many businesses have complied with this request by purchasing alternatives to wood office furniture such as wrought iron or steel office furniture. While this may be sufficient for many offices, the nicest and most elegant furniture is still solid wood office furniture. Many believe that the richer your office looks to the public, the more successful you look and, thus, will have more business.

What’s So Special About Solid Wood Office Furniture

Solid Wood Office Furniture has a special effect which it brings to an office or building that no other material can compare with. If you’ve ever gone into a furniture store that sells wood furniture, you know what I’m talking about. The minute you walk into the building, you can smell the wood and the room just has an elegant feel to it. The same is true with an office that is furnished with wood office furniture. Solid wood furniture has an elegance, beauty and functionality that you just don’t get with other types of office furniture.

One of the most important features of solid wood furniture is that it allows for exquisite detail and craftsmanship that you just can’t get from other types of furniture. A mahogany executive desk or hand-detailed teak wood chair just can’t compare to a steel office desk, regardless of how fancy the steel desk may be. Wood paneling is also very popular in the decor of an office. While there are many substitutes for this, none can compare in appearance.

Many types of furnishings go into the furnishing of an office. Some popular items are desks, chairs, bookshelves, multi-functional cabinets and couches. These furniture items are available in laminates, fiber, plywood, etc., but nothing can compare with solid wood furniture. Many offices that have couches for the relaxation of their clients use quality sofa slip covers as a way to protect the furniture from damage.

Some items in the office that look very attractive in wood are wood chairs and multi-functional desks. Wood chairs are comfortable and very easy to maintain, needing nothing more than washing and an occasional polishing to keep their “new” appearance. Some of the more popular woods for chairs are teak, mahogany, mango, etch. Multi-function desks are also very functional and attractive. They also coordinate with any other type of furnishings you may have, including quality sofa slip covers on your office couch.

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