Monthly Archives: April 2013

Paws For Thought

Posted on by
Reply

Paws for thought

Paws For Thought

Your pet is a beloved member of the family so it can be a tough call when it comes to food. Your four-legged friend gazes longingly at what you’re eating and, no doubt, you’re tempted to share with them. But the chances are that, if you do, you won’t be doing your pet any favours. In fact, food that may be find for humans can unfortunately be hazardous for our furry friends.

Foods that can harm dogs, cats and other pets:

  • Avocado contains persin, which causes respiratory distress and fluid build-up around the heart in birds. It also causes mastitis and heart problems in rabbits and other rodents. In dogs it can cause an upset stomach.
  • Caffeine found in tea, coffee, soft drinks and chocolate stimulate an animal’s nervous system and can damage the heart, lungs and kidneys.
  • Chocolate abounds around the Easter season. It contains both caffeine and theobromine, a chemical compound that makes humans feel good but which causes sickness in dogs and cats. Even small amounts cause dogs to vomit and have diarrhoea, in larger doses it can be fatal
  • .Cooked Bones splinter and are very sharp. They can puncture the digestive tract anywhere from the mouth onward, or get stuck and cause an intestinal blockage.
  • Grapes, Raisins and Sultanas can cause vomiting, lethargy and depression in dogs.
  • Macadamia Nuts contain a chemical that in some dogs causes muscle weakness, joint swelling and paralysis.
  • Onions and garlic damage red blood cells in dogs, producing a sort of anaemia that can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy.
  • Stonefruit, especially apricots have seeds that are just the right size to get stuck in a dog’s gut. Corn cobs are also notorious for getting stuck.
  • Sugar free products may contain xylitol which is an artificial sweetener that stimulates a dog’s pancreas to produce extra insulin. This can lead to seriously low blood sugar and liver damage in dogs within just 30 minutes. Ferrets are also susceptible to adverse reactions from xylitol.
  • Easter Lilies are deadly for cats. The leaves, flowers, stems and even the pollen of plants in the Liliaceae family lilies cause life-threatening kidney failure in cats. If you have a cat, the best idea is to ban lilies from your home and garden. If you think your cat has mouthed or eaten a lily, go straight to the vet as your cat will need intravenous fluids and other support.

So when you get the puppy dog eyes, offer your pet a toy or a liver treat while you indulge in “human” food.  Keep the whole family happy and healthy, fur-babies and human babies!

Source:   http://blog.coles.com.au/2013/04/01/paws-for-thought/

Want More Articles? http://www.pasgroup.com/articles.html

 

Wogs visit Aussies on Australia Day

Posted on by
Reply

Wogs visit Aussies on Australia Day

THE Sydney creator of a YouTube comic phenomenon known as Superwog is fighting to stop his alter ego being stripped from him by the entertainment giant DC Comics, the owner of Superman.

Theodore Saidden, 22, applied for a trademark registration for Superwog and a stylised shield logo for his character, which has gained popularity among university and school students online.

DC Comics, a division of Time Warner, the largest entertainment company in the world, and owner of comic characters including Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern and The Flash, is far from amused. It has engaged the legal firm Baker & McKenzie and has filed its opposition to the registration application with IP Australia.

Mr Saidden, a final-year business law student at the University of Technology, Sydney, said he had received a letter two months ago ordering him to close his website and stop producing T-shirts and stickers with the Superwog logo.

”I have been accused of stealing the identity of Superman and misleading people with my character,” said Mr Saidden, who is of Egyptian and Greek background. ”They told me the public would think that Superman is endorsing Superwog.”

Inspired by the comedians Chris Lilley and Sacha Baron Cohen, Mr Saidden and his friends created the character two years ago. Since then, satirical instructional videos have appeared on YouTube, which led to demand for merchandise and paid appearances.

”This is quite crushing,” Mr Saidden said. ”I am just trying to make people laugh.

”Their lawyers have come back to us saying I can keep using the name Superwog but not register it as a trademark. But this is just ridiculous; they are not the same.

”I was just trying to do things properly and you get punished.”

An intellectual property lawyer, Trevor Choy, said DC Comics was staging a pre-emptive strike.

”DC Comics don’t know where Superwog will end up – it could stay as a small website selling novelty tees, or it could one day end up as a TV series or film.

”Or worse, what if slackness in this case encourages others to come up with Superaussie, Superkid and Superwidget? DC Comics could lose millions because their licensees will be reluctant to pay the current high licensing fees. They can’t afford to take the risk.”

Mr Choy believed DC Comics was acting correctly and the Super- wog logo was an obvious and deliberate parody of the Superman logo.

Baker & McKenzie did not respond to inquiries from The Sun-Herald.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/dc-comics-battles-a-comic-character-20100911-155xy.html#ixzz2OyDwAWjQ

For Heaps More Funnies visit our Website:    http://www.pasgroup.com/coffeebreak.html

Big Mountain – Baby I Love Your Way

Posted on by
Reply

Big Mountain – Baby I Love Your Way

Big Mountain - Baby I Love Your Way

Big Mountain evolved from a San Diego, Californian reggae band, the Rainbow Warriors, in the mid-80s. They toured the USA playing gigs to the uninitiated, introducing a diluted form of reggae to American ears. The multicultural line-up, featuring Quino (vocals), Gregory Blakney (drums), Jerome Cruz (guitar), Lance Rhodes (drums, percussion), Manfred Reinke (keyboards) and Lynn Copeland (bass), released 1992’s Wake Up on the Quality label.

A revamped line-up, featuring Quino, Copeland, Santa Davis (drums), James McWhinney (percussion), Billy Stoll (keyboards), Michael Hyde (keyboards), and leading Jamaican session player Tony Chin (lead guitar), convened to record their second album. In 1994, they released a version of Peter Frampton’s ‘Baby, I Love Your Way’, which when featured in the movie Reality Bites became an international bestseller, peaking at UK number 2 and US number 6. The single also featured a Spanish version, enabling the band to enjoy successful sales in the South American market. The hit was followed by ‘Sweet Sensual Love’, performed in both English and Spanish, although it only reached number 51 in the UK pop chart. Unity followed, selling over a million copies worldwide.

The band’s accomplishment led to successful appearances at Jamaica’s 1994 and 1995 Reggae Sunsplash festivals. They have since been unable to match the success of their first hit, but have continued to record with a number of Jamaica’s top session men, including Sly And Robbie and Handel Tucker. In 1995, the single ‘Caribbean Blue’ failed to make an impression in either the reggae or pop charts. Free Up featured singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow on co-writing credits.

Source:  http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Big-Mountain.html

 

Fatten Up Retirement Savings in 3 Steps

Posted on by
Reply

 

Fatten Up Retirement Savings in 3 Steps

 

Fatten Up Retirement Savings in 3 Steps
Fatten Up Retirement Savings in 3 Steps

For some aging adults, the retirement piggy bank is looking too slim, especially for those unable to max out 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (IRA) every year.Remember when hard-working seniors were able to look forward to retirement as the chance to travel and savor relaxed family visits?

The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) discovered that expectations for the so-called “good life” deflated back in 2011. NIRS research found only 11 percent of consumers assume retirement will include activities like travel, dining out at restaurants, hobbies and overall leisure-time. Most just hope they’ll be able to sustain their lifestyle without having to work or rely on others.

It’s not surprising that research indicates pensioners are better financially prepared for retired life. But the traditional pension has declined over the past 30 years, making it even tougher for middle-income adults to save enough for a stable nest egg.

Consider the following advice when saving for retirement to make the most of your golden years.

1. When it comes to investing, keep it simple.

Unless you’ve got a step up on the market flux, be smart and cautious. For soon-to-be retirees, CNN Money suggests avoiding individual stocks, niche funds and most ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Try to boost returns without assuming added risk by aiming for lower costs and low-expense funds. Straightforward, diversified portfolios will get you farther in the long run.

2. Utilize investment help.

If you’re managing your own portfolio and retirement accounts, investment guide tools can be incredibly useful. Services such as USelfDirect.com offer retirement education and investment help for any self-directed investor trying to maximize IRA or 401(k) growth. “My motto is ‘athletes do not rest, they build.’ But when it comes to preparing for retirement, sometimes you need help to know what to build,” explains Marshall Faulk, USelfDirect.com board member and former NFL star, who also created the Marshall Faulk Foundation to help San Diego youth. “Do you know which tax advantaged accounts provide the easiest way to score the most benefits?” Find answers at www.uselfdirect.comor call 800-242-1380.

3. Save more as income grows.

This seems obvious, but when adults receive a salary bump they should factor that into their allotted retirement savings. Resist the temptation to buy that new TV or king-sized bed — even though you deserve it — and put more toward the retirement plan or IRA. If you indulge in more luxurious living with every bit of income growth, it’ll be harder to maintain that lifestyle during retirement.

NewsUSA

Want More Articles? http://www.pasgroup.com/articles.html