Is there a ghost at YOUR party?

These spooky images are from a website that had a contest for people to send in "ghost" photographs. The top picture won first place. Read more at http://www.richardwiseman.com/hauntings2/experiments

So, is there a ghost at YOUR party?

Finding the right breed for you

Okay, so you know you want a dog. But which breed is right for you? Or, which mix of breeds? I found this amazing quiz online to help you find out. My results were usually poodles and bichon frises, but among them were labrador retrievers. Take the quiz at http://SelectSmart.com/DOG
Happy Woofin'!

Is it a ghost?

Could that person be a messanger from the dead? The mysterious woman was caught on Google Street View cameras. The fact that she has no legs and is wearing Victorian garb are major clues.
Then again, her legs may have been cut off(can't you see how the bottom portion of the picture is sort of blurred or whatever you wanna call it? Read more at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/google/5051309/Victorian-ghost-picked-up-by-Google-Street-View.html and decide for yourself.
And if you're interested, visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/google/5042502/ET-tracked-down-on-Google-Street-View.html to see the extraterrestrial that may have been caught by Google too.

Another end of the world!

The world will end in 2012! Yes, I've heard that one- but how about this one: back in 1555, a pessimistic ancient French dude with a name as weird as Nostradamus(hey, maybe his family were nose-pickers by trade!) predicted that in at least one third of the world's population would be killed in a 27-year world war. So on Sunday, July 4th, 1999 a bunch of weirdos totally freaked out. (Hey, I was alive then!) In Japan(home to one of the several Nostradamus cults) it was estimated that up to 20 percent of the people actually believed that a world war was going to start.

"Nostradamus fans in the UK can have a preview of Armageddon early this weekend with the opening of the Canadian film Last Night, which depicts how a small group of people choose to spend their final six hours before the world's end.
Elsewhere, it appears people intend to spend their last few days reading about the end of the world. His collected prophecies have sold more than six million copies around the world - a record beaten only by the bible. New editions have hastily been brought out just in time. "

However, since much of his writing has been written in an unintelligeble mush of medieval French, Provencale and Latin, this is only what translators have percieved and the guy may hve meant that chop suey will become my favorite food.

"Believers say he has predicted everything from the rise of Hitler to the death of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana.
"The problem with all of Nostradamus's prophecies is that they are all incredibly ambiguous," says Rev Fanthorpe, "and you need to be a 16th century historian and linguistics specialist to understand them."
Although the generally accepted day for the rise of the "King of Terror" is Sunday 4 July - it could also be the 24 July, or even 28 July - or not at all.
The Rev Fanthorpe believes that the whole prophecy has been mis-translated due to an early printing error and instead it predicts nothing more scary than the rise of "a good and kindly king". "

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/382787.stm

Hey, maybe he was just 100 years off. We can wait until 2999.

In Dog Years, I'm Dead

Most people think that one dog year equals 7 human years. If that were true, it would mean a 1 year-old dog(that is able to have puppies) is equal to a 7 year old kid. And if a dog was 15(not an unusual age for a dog) it would be 105 in human years(which is an unusual age for a human).

A more accurate comparison is that a 3 month old puppy is 5 in human years. A 1 year old dog is a teenager of 15. A 2 year old dog is 24. After that, aging slows and 4 human years are added for every dog year. So at 3 a dog is 28, at 5 he is 36, at 10 he is 56, at 15 he is 76. A dog that reaches 20 is considered to be 91 to 96 years old in human years.

So if the oldest dog was 29 years and 5 months in dog years, how old would he be in human years? Certainly over 110.

The Truth in Werewolves

As it turns out, there is some truth to the old werewolves. According to a 2001 Science World article, a British medical study claims that the lunar cycle affects dog behavior. Scientists analyzed medical records of 1,621 dog-bite victims during a three year span. They concluded that the chance of being bitten by a dog is twice as high during a full moon.
That sure sheds some light on the mystery of the werewolf!

Gum Secrets

Chewing gum isn't what it seems anymore. Check out these bubble-blowing facts.

• Chewing gum was banned in Singapore until 2004.



• The first bubble gum was made in 1906 and was called "Blibber-Blubber."



• A 5,000 year old piece of chewing gum was discovered in Finland.



• The color of the first successful bubble gum was pink because it was the only color the inventor had left. The color "stuck" and today bubble gum is still predominantly pink.



• North American kids spend approximately half a billion dollars on bubble gum every year.



• Nine out of ten city paving stones have had gum stuck to them.



• Three and a half billion pieces of gum are disposed of every year in the UK.



• Getting gum off the pavement takes expensive jet sprays or chemical treatments.



• The average American chews around 300 sticks of gum in a year.



• 100,000 tons of bubble gum are chewed every year.



• The invention of bubble gum was an accident. Walter E. Diemer was trying to accomplish something else but ended up with bubble gum.



• If you want to buy bubble gum in Malaysia, ask for Shee Yung Tung. In Austria, call it Kaugummi.



• When bubble gum first arrived in Africa some men traded their wives for it.



• Once in New Guinea a headhunter demanded bubble gum as part of the ransom for a western diplomat.

So next time you chew, think of the dark side of gum.

About Mike

Yep, this is Mike. Mike the headless chicken. Miracle Mike who lived 18 months without a head.
"A skillful blow was executed and the chicken staggered around like most freshly terminated poultry. Then the determined bird shook off the traumatic event and never looked back. Mike...returned to his job of being a chicken. He pecked for food and preened his feathers just like the rest of his barnyard buddies.The skeptical scientists [at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City] were eager to answer all the questions regarding Mike's amazing ability to survive with no head. It was determined that ax blade had missed the jugular vein and a clot had prevented Mike from bleeding to death. Although most of his head was in a jar, most of his brain stem and one ear was left on his body. Since most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem Mike was able to remain quite healthy."
The special chicken was fed grain and water with an eyedropper. He was valued for $10,000 and was insured for that. He was recognized in Life and Time magazines, and won a Guiness World Record. While returning from a road trip, the Olsens along with Mike, spent a night at a motel in Arizona. In the middle of the night, the chicken began to choke. His owners were unable to find the eyedropper used to clear Mike's esophagus. The poor Miracle Mike died that night.
Now Mike the chicken is celebrated in the third weekend in May.
Read more at
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.php .

Are YOU having ice cream tonight?

Bet you weren't expecting this. This, my friends, is akutaq. Or perhaps you'd like to call it aqutuk. Or ackutuk. In other words, Eskimo ice cream.
"The Inuit people of Alaska have a distinct version of ice cream. It's not creamy ice cream as we know it, but a concoction made from reindeer fat or tallow, seal oil, freshly fallen snow or water, fresh berries, and sometimes ground fish. Air is whipped in by hand so that it slowly cools into foam. They call this Arctic treat akutaq, aqutuk, ackutuk, or Eskimo ice cream."

I'm postively absolutely extracalifragiulaterously NOT having this tonight. Or ever. Read more at http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Akutaq_EskimoIceCream.htm

Whoever actually makes this and eats it has to be nuts. No offense meant to the Inuit people, but I much prefer modern day, supermarket ice cream. If any one has the guts to try this without puking, post a comment.

The Best Dog Books of all time!!

There are many + I've only read some, but so far....

• Amazing Gracie by Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff
• Marley and Me by John Grogan(and the kid's versions)
• Where The Red Fern Grows
• Letters From Wolfie
• The Dog Bible
• What's Your Dogs IQ?

The first 4 are stories, the rest are nonfiction. And I can't remember all the good books!! But be sure to read them.

PS you might cry when reading first few

Another boring picture...

Yes, I know you miss my dog info. But right now, I'm too lazy to write a lot. So I found another picture.....Actually two more pictures. They're cute! Maybe now you'll want to adopt a dog? Or a cat? Or maybe a catdog, if you can't decide?

This is cute!

I found this on the Internet. It's so cute, but looks a bit cruel and uncomfortable. Just don't do this to your dog!

Be Sure To Include 20% Puppy in Your Dinner...

I found this pic on the Internet.... thought I'd share it. Hope your dinner tastes good!!

Giving Fido a Make-Over Made Easy!

Making your dog look good without the groomer! Tips and tricks:

• The easiest way to keep your dog clean? Keep his environment clean. Vacuum, scoop the poop. Whatever it takes-keep it clean.
• Bathing dogs is not only unnesessary, it is harmful. Oils are removed from the skin and the dog may have dry or itchy skin. So only bathe if Fido meets stinky. If the need arises, use tepid water rather than hot as dogs do not tolerate it. Use commercial shampoo affective against fleas and ticks. But be careful! Don't get soap in his eyes or ears! You can put mineral oil in the two areas while bathing, but just be careful. And conditioner will put some moisture back in your pup's skin. After bathing, rinse thouroughly and keep indoors until dry-even in the warm months! The dog'll just go roll in something stinky, dirty, and eww!
• Essential grooming tools:

1. pin brush
2. slicker brush
3. flea comb
4. towel
5. mat rake
6. grooming glove
7. scissors
8. nail clippers
9. tooth-cleaning equipment
10. shampoo
11. conditioner
12. clippers

• Shedding blades remove dead hair during shedding.

Okay, I'll add more on a later post.

Don't Read Right After Eating....

Today's topic is internal parasites found in a dog. Yippee!

• Roundworms are present in all newborn puppies. They are about6 inches long and the thickness of a pencil. A puppy afflicted with roundworms will have a dull coat, foul "sweet-smelling" breath, and pot-bellied apearance. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and what is called "venomous pneunomia," which can open the wy for secondary bacterial infections. It is not preventable but easily treated if detected early.
• Hookworms are about one-half inch and attach themselves to the intestinal walls to suck blood. Not all puppies are born with it but some are. A puppy from a good breeder should not be infested with hookworms. A dog with hookworm disease will have a poor coat, and show signs of anemia (pale gums) and will have bloody or tarry poop. Both roundworms and hookworms can cause clinical disease in humans.
• Tapeworms are the largest but least harmful internal parasites. The flea is the most common carrier of the most common type of tapeworm. Another type can be ingested if a dog eats a dead rodent or rabbit. The most common symptom is the presence of segments in the poop. The segments are flat and up to one-half inch long. They may be moving. Some may also be seen near the(forgive me for saying this) anus of the animal. They will look rice-like when dried out. A dog with tapeworms may "scoot" or drag his hind end on the ground, but this is more commonly caused by impacted(sorry again) anal glands.
• Whipworms are small, threadlike worms. They are about 2 inches long and resemble miniature whips. They live in the cecum of the dog, or the "blind gut." Whipworms are harder to treat than worms in the rest of the digestive system, so prevention is important. Symptoms include weight loss, poor coat, and loose poop that may contain mucus. Some dogs can have a light infection and not show symptoms, but have a flare-up if subjected to stress. Whipworms lay eggs sporadically and are hard to diagnose.
• Heartworms affect the circulatory system rather than the digestive, as most other worms do. It is spread by mosquitoes and part of the routine at the vet is a test for the presence of these worms. They are silent killers, but new once-a-month medication for heartworms and other parasites makes this easily preventable. These worms can be up to 12 inches in length. They gather in the circulatory system, mostly in the heart. If the worms die too abruptly they can clog the system which will lead to the death of the dog. Plus, the agents used to kill heartworms are quite toxic. Symptoms vary according to primary site of infestation, but the most common are a lack of energy and a quiet, non-productive cough. The actual disease may take up to a year to develop after the dog has been infected.

So next time you lay eyes on Fido, look at him carefully- is he safe and healthy? A healthy dog has bright eyes, a shiny coat, a good appetite, and a good energy level. Is your dog healthy? He's given you so much- it's time to give a little more in return.

Did You Know?

Puppies should get vaccines every 3 or 4 weeks until he's 16 months old. Especially if the vaccines are five-in-one DHLPP.
Foods that are toxic to dogs:

• chocolate


• onions, garlic


• mushrooms


• grapes, raisins


• macademia nuts


• other nuts


• fat trimmings


• cat food


• baby food


• bones from fish, poultry, other meat sources


• milk and dairy products


• raw eggs


• raw fish

Many houseplants are also dangerous to dogs. More on a later post.