10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Halloween can be a festive and fun time for children and families. But for pets? Let's face it, it can be a downright nightmare. Forgo the stress and dangers this year by following these 10 easy tips.

1. Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets.

All forms of chocolate -- especially baking or dark chocolate -- can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. And while xylitol toxicity in cats has yet to be established, it's better to be safe than sorry.

2. Don't leave pets out in the yard on Halloween.

Surprisingly, vicious pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal, and even kill pets on Halloween night. Inexcusable? Yes! But preventable nonetheless.

3. Keep pets confined and away from the door.

Not only will your door be constantly opening and closing on Halloween, but strangers will be dressed in unusual costumes and yelling loudly for their candy. This, of course, is scary for our furry friends. Dogs are especially territorial and may become anxious and growl at innocent trick-or-treaters. Putting your dog or cat in a secure room away from the front door will also prevent them from darting outside into the night … a night when no one wants to be searching for a lost loved one.

4. Keep your outdoor cats inside several days before and several days after Halloween.

Black cats are especially at risk from pranks or other cruelty-related incidents. In fact, many shelters do not adopt out black cats during the month of October as a safety precaution.

5. Keep Halloween plants such as pumpkins and corn out of reach.

Although they are relatively nontoxic, such plants can induce gastrointestinal upset should your pets ingest them in large quantities. Intestinal blockage can even occur if large pieces are swallowed. And speaking of pumpkins …

6. Don't keep lit pumpkins around pets.

Should they get too close, they run the risk of burning themselves or knocking it over and causing a fire.

7. Keep wires and electric light cords out of reach.

If chewed, your pet could cut himself or herself on shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

8. Don't dress your pet in a costume unless you know they'll love it.

If you do decide that Fido or Kitty needs a costume, make sure it isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict movement, hearing, or the ability to breathe or bark and meow.

9. Try on pet costumes before the big night.

If they seem distressed, allergic, or show abnormal behavior, consider letting them go in their “birthday suit”. Festive bandanas usually work for party poopers, too.

10. IDs, please!

If your dog or cat should escape and become lost, having the proper identification will increase the chances that they will be returned. Just make sure the information is up-to-date, even if your pet does have one of those fancy-schmancy embedded microchips.

Source: PetMD

Internet Access Taxes

I just took action to support consumer-friendly tax policies that will impact hundreds of millions of wireless consumers just like you.

Please urge your Representative and Senators to support a permanent extension of the Internet tax moratorium. Your support is crucial to ensure this legislation is enacted that would protect you from having new taxes imposed on your Internet access and ensure Internet commerce will remain unhindered by discriminatory, duplicative taxes.

To take action, Click here  or copy and paste the link below: http://act.mywireless.org/page/speakout/internet-tax-freedom-act-itfa

Let's keep wireless affordable and accessible for ALL Americans.

Source: MyWireless.org  ~ America's Wireless Voice

Hoof In Mouth Disease Epidemic

The level of stupidity keeps growing.  And sadly, it's reaching an all time high as Hollywood performers attempt to share their not too well thought out unresearched opinions.  

Seriously people, just stick to the script and nobody will get hurt!

Stupid Is As Stupid Does.  

And nobody does stupid quite like a certain "actress" from my home town of Louisville, Kentucky.  In fact, she can't open her mouth without something totally ignorant falling out of it.  Honestly!  That girl has the worst case of hoof in mouth disease  I think I've ever seen!

Her latest utterly stupid proclamation:

 Gluten-Free Diets the 'New, Cool Eating Disorder'

 Really?  Wow!  This coming from a person who once considered becoming a doctor.   Aren't we all glad she chose to be just another no talent brainless Hollywood clone instead!  Seriously dodged a bullet there!

And don't even get me started on the painfully untalented hack who was made star of the Twilight movie series.  Yes, another mindless twit on the loose giving incredibly ridiculous and grossly uninformed opinions about subjects they know little to nothing about.

Terrorists are just misunderstood?    Ooooookay!  Well feel free to go help them become more understood.  And be sure to take little Miss Hoof In Mouth who thinks gluten free diets are the new cool eating disorder with you.

The only reason either of these two morons are back on the news feed is because they needed some face time with their adoring and equally mindless twit fans.  Who by the way, have all the attention span and loyalty of a gnat.

I will hand it to them though.  Their PR is relentless.  However!   I'm on to the horse shit marketing techniques used by these ass hats    

Neither one of these so called "actresses" have any real  acting talent to be remembered for their work.  So the PR folks have to flood the media with their clients' endless and remarkably stupid commentary and/or antics.  

Stupid pranks are a well known PR tactics.  It worked for Miley Cyrus.  But then again, Miley is actually talented.  Yea, she may not be too bright herself, but at least she is talented.  

Oy vey!  Wish I could say the same for those above mentioned dunderheads.

Hopefully, one day soon, the world will grow tired of the eternal stupidity and put an end to it once and for all.  

Yea...I know!  Hope springs eternal!  Unfortunately, stupidity reigns Supreme!!!!

Overcoming Failure

Failure. It can be quite an obstacle.

Do you ever wish you'd done things differently? Or worry about failing again?

I'd like to support you in reframing what failure means to you, with 3 suggestions:

1. Feel the feeling underneath the failure.

Beneath your anger, frustration, or embarrassment about failure is often a lot of sadness. If you believe you failed, you may feel that you didn't get to meet your potential. Sadness is connected to that belief.

You can't fully receive the gifts of the present moment with that sadness underneath it all.

Allow yourself to feel sadness for a path you didn't get to take! Experience it. 

2. Let go of the label.

When something happens contrary to what we expect or desire, we often call it failure and then judge the experience as bad or wrong.

But what would happen if you released that judgment?

See what it feels like to say, "That's what happened and I'm still okay."

3. Open yourself up to possibilities.

Instead of focusing on the path you didn't get to take, envision yourself on a new path—the path of your present life.

Where will it take you? 

Be excited to see where it's going to go now!

What we call failure is just an experience. Let yourself learn from it.

SOURCE:  Carol Tuttle at www.caroltuttle.com

Bullying Prevention and Intervention Tips for Families

Prevention

1. Increase Communication
Initiate discussion about your children’s social and online lives on a regular basis. Ask specific questions that generate meaningful dialogue (e.g., instead of “How was school?,” try “What is lunchtime like at your school—who do you sit with, what do you do and what do you talk about?”). Make sure that your demeanor communicates genuine interest and openness as opposed to the desire to control or invade privacy. 

2. Monitor Behavior
Observe your children in different settings by volunteering at school, participating in extracurricular activities and being watchful during social gatherings. If you notice that your children are overly aggressive, vulnerable to peer pressure or exhibit other behavior that troubles you, talk to them about your concerns and redirect the behavior. Be vigilant about the warning signs associated with bullying behavior (e.g., social withdrawal, fear of attending school, avoidance of or preoccupation with technology) and trust your instinct to intervene if your children don’t seem to be their usual selves. 

3. Facilitate Positive Social Experiences
Help your children to choose friends and hobbies that make them feel good about themselves. If you notice that certain relationships or activities cause unhealthy conflict or bad feelings, talk about ways to improve things move away from the negative situation. Guide your children in finding friends and interests in varied settings so that they do not rely on only one place as their social outlet. Help your children to stay bonded to at least one close friend—feeling socially connected can help to mitigate the effects of bullying.

4. Promote Responsible Online Behavior
Talk with your children about ethical online behavior, including respect for privacy and the impact of denigrating others. Make sure that they understand how to protect their own privacy online (e.g., keep personal information, passwords and PINs confidential) and how to respond when targeted by negative online behavior (see Prevention Tip #6). Help your children to set healthy limits on the amount of time spent online and actively supervise online activities. If you use filtering and monitoring software, be open about it and don’t rely on these tools as a substitute for direct participation in their online lives

5. Talk about Bullying
Make a point of explicitly bringing up bullying. Specifically define bullying, what it looks like and what to do when it occurs. Communicate your values and expectations regarding their social behavior on and offline, and help them to clarify their own values and ways to act on them in the face of peer pressure and aggression. Discuss and rehearse ways to respond to social cruelty, and make it is clear that your children can and should come to you for help when they witness or are involved in bullying situations.

6. Be a Role Model
Think about the messages your children receive when you make judgmental comments, gossip or behave aggressively toward friends, family members, drivers on the road or help staff in stores. Use technology responsibly and avoid forwarding mean or biased jokes and posts. Model what it means to be an ally and to stand up against prejudice and cruelty on and offline.

7. Be Involved at School
Advocate for policies, programs and practices that encourage positive social behavior and be vocal when adults/institutions fall short of their responsibility to protect children and maintain safe environments. Don’t wait until your child is the target to get involved and speak up.  [emphasis added]



Source:  Anti-Defamation League

James Leprino: Stop Sickening Animal Abuse at World’s Largest Pizza Cheese Supplier

Hi Everybody!

I just signed the petition "James Leprino: Stop Sickening Animal Abuse at World’s Largest Pizza Cheese Supplier" on Change.org.

It's a very important issue regarding the cruel treatment of their cows. Will you sign it too? 

You can click HERE or copy and paste the link below

http://www.change.org/p/james-leprino-stop-sickening-animal-abuse-at-world-s-largest-pizza-cheese-supplier?recruiter=46770324&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

Children of the Luminaries Book Two: Training Day is now officially written!

I am so pleased to announced that I have finished the first draft of the next installment of the Children of the Luminaries trilogy...Children of the Luminaries Book II: Training Day.

 (does the happy dance)

Now comes the hard part...Editing! 

The goal is to get Book Two out in physical publication Spring 2015!  

Wish me Luck!!!! 

oy! 

Haven't gotten your copy of the first book?  


Children of the Luminaries ~ Book One: The Coming Storm is available in paperback and on KINDLE on Amazon.com!

Just Click HERE