Summer Pet Emergencies and Risks - PawNation

By Paul Ciampanelli Jul 18, 2013

• Summer is the season for parties, vacations and relaxation. It?s the time of year for fun and good vibes. But because you want to share the summer with your pets, it can?t exactly be carefree. There are dangers and health hazards that summer has in store for your animal companions if you?re not careful. They?re on the road, in the grass and at the beach. We?ll help you navigate the risks so you and your pet can enjoy a safe and healthy summer.

• OVERHEATING

  Heat stroke should be every pet owner?s first concern during the summer. Dog owners ought to be particularly vigilant about heat stress when they walk their dogs or let them outside, but all pet owners should ensure their pets remain cool and hydrated.

  ?Keep your pet indoors as much as possible, and turn on your air conditioning.
  ?Be sure shade is available to your pet if you let it outside. A kiddie pool is even better.
  ?Try to walk your dog in the early morning and evening, when temperatures outside are coolest.
  ?Cool water is better for your pet to drink than cold water. Cold water constricts blood vessels and can impede body cooling.
  ?Don?t shave your pets. It may seem counterintuitive, but shaving your pet?s fur may make it more difficult to cool off.
  ?Never leave a pet alone in a car.

• WATER HAZARDS

  Summer means swimming pools and beaches, and it?s natural that you?d want to take man?s best friend along for the fun. But remember that water safety should be your priority if Fido is with you, because beaches and pools present hazards. Drowning is the first. Not all dogs can swim, so don?t have so much fun that you lose track of your dog. Make sure that if he?s swimming, he?s swimming safely, and you?re by his side. In the ocean, currents can drag your dog into danger just like they can do to humans, so don?t let your pooch swim out too far (and don?t show off your cannon of an arm when you throw that tennis ball for him to chase). Also keep him from drinking saltwater from the ocean or chlorinated water from a pool. And if you?re taking your dog on a boat, you should both wear life jackets. Read more tips in our ?Swimming Dogs? edition of ?Dogs Decoded.?

• FLEAS, TICKS AND OTHER PESTS

  Fleas and ticks are a nuisance all year long, but they are especially abundant during summer. Not only that, but many pet owners spend this season taking hikes and other nature trips with their dogs by their sides, increasing their animals? exposure to these pests. If you?re one of these owners, be extra cautious about checking for fleas, ticks, mosquito bites, etc. Hookworms and heartworms are also more prevalent in summer, so talk to your vet about worm medicine. Finally, know that summertime sees the peak of veterinarian-reported snakes bites. Depending on where you live and what activities you do with your dog, look out for venomous snakes. Learn to recognize common venomous and non-venomous snakes.

• TRAVEL RISKS

  If you?re going on vacation this summer, but you don?t want to board your pet, we don?t blame you. Not because boarding facilities can?t be trusted, but because it?s no fun to spend so much time away from our pets. If you?re bringing a pet on a road trip or putting one on a plane, you should know the risks. Rule No. 1, of course, is to never leave a pet alone in a car. But even when you?re behind the wheel, your pet?s safety is a concern. Ideally, it should be secured in a crate in the back seat or rear space, depending on the style of your vehicle. Never allow a pet to roam your car freely, no matter how calm they are. Read more of our travel safety tips, and consult Kelly E. Carter?s informative pet-travel Q&As for more information.

• CAR ACCIDENTS

  Car safety isn?t important only when your pet is inside a vehicle. Having a pet injured or killed after being hit by a car is a tragedy no pet owner wants to endure. We don?t recommend letting any pet roam your neighborhood off-leash and unattended, but the summer vacation season is particularly dangerous for pet-related car accidents, simply because there are more cars on the road. Even if you don?t allow your dog or cat to take off on their own, escapes are possible. Make sure fences and other perimeters around your home are secure, and be sure to train your pets to know it?s not OK for them to run off on their own, and to come when called in case they get excited or scared and try to give you the slip. (Dogster)

• FIREWORKS, THUNDERSTORMS AND OTHER SCARY NOISES

  Many a pet owner has seen an otherwise fearless dog run and hide under a bed every Fourth of July night. The explosions of nearby fireworks and thunderclaps can be terrifying for pets, and summer is the peak season for both. You can?t control these noises, but you can help your pets get through them?or any other anxious situations. Have distractions like toys and treats ready to distract your pet in case of a scary event, and use the normal and calm voice and body language he?s used to when you talk to him. Fawning baby talk may just reinforce your pet?s belief that something frightening or abnormal is happening. Read our interview with pet behavior expert Amy Shojai for more information about dealing with pet anxieties and phobias.

• UNSAFE PICNIC AND BARBECUE FOOD

  One of the best parts of summer is having family and friends over for backyard cookouts. We're talking lots of grilled meats, various mayonnaise-based salads?and plenty of beer (if that?s your thing). Having a dog around can make a barbecue more fun for everybody, but you?ll also need to know which picnic foods are or aren?t safe to share. Fruits like berries, apples and melons are OK, and so are carrots, green beans and sweet potatoes. But chocolate, grapes, macadamia nuts and onions are big no-nos. These foods can kill your dog. Bones are a bad idea, too, because they can splinter and harm your dog?s teeth, gums or guts. Be careful about unattended food and alcohol, because you don?t want your hungry pooch stealing any scraps you don?t notice. And make sure your guests know they can share, but not without checking with you first. Read our guide to barbecue and picnic hazards for more tips.

• HOT PAVEMENT

  We?ve already seen punishing heat waves throughout the country this year ? so hot in certain regions that you can literally fry an egg outside. With temperatures like that, would you want to walk outside on the pavement barefoot? Probably not. Your dog probably isn?t too psyched about it either. His paw pads are sensitive, and can burn or blister. Be careful about when and where you walk your dog, and apply a balm to his pads before you go outside. If your dog?s paw pads already appear burned, apply antibacterial wash and cover the paw or paws with loose bandages. If the burn is severe, it?s time to call the vet. (ASPCA)

• Next: Test Your Cat & Dog I.Q.!

  FERTILIZER, PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES

  Summer is the time of year for your lawn to look its most beautiful, and make your neighbors feel badly because their dead, dry lawns look like garbage next to yours. Let?s assume you took care to use only pet-friendly lawn treatments to make your grass look healthy. There?s still no telling what your neighbors ? the ones whose lawns might not look like garbage ? used to treat theirs. So if your cat is roaming the neighborhood or you?re taking your dog for a walk, every house in your 'burb is a potential hazard. Certain plants and flowers can poison cats and dogs, too. We don?t want you to live in paranoid fear, but you should be aware of the risks. Check out our guide to lawn hazards to learn more.

Source: http://www.pawnation.com/2013/07/18/summer-pet-emergencies-and-risks/

Accidental Racist Fallon Fox Chris Webber linda perry WrestleMania 29 Lilly Pulitzer Ben And Jerrys

Mattel profit slumps as Barbie's appeal fades

(Reuters) - Mattel Inc , the world's largest toymaker, reported a weaker-than-expected 23 percent drop in profit as Barbie sales fell for the fourth straight quarter, highlighting the iconic brand's struggle to stay relevant.

Toy sales in mature markets such as the United States and Europe have been weak so far this year, but Mattel had previously fared better than its competitors helped by the growing popularity of its American Girl and Monster High dolls.

The company, which also makes Hot Wheels cars and Fisher-Price baby toys, said second-quarter net income fell to $73.3 million, or 21 cents per share, from $96.2 million, or 28 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 32 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Worldwide Barbie sales fell 12 percent. The company does not break out Barbie sales numbers as it is part of the Mattel Girls & Boys Brands unit. Sales at the unit rose 1 percent to $792.4 million during the quarter.

In contrast, sales of American Girl dolls, which the company sells through its own stores, catalog and websites, rose 14 percent to $78.2 million.

Sales of the company's Other Girls brands were up 23 percent, mainly driven by Monster High's dolls. These dolls depict "descendants" of horror story characters such as Dracula and Frankenstein.

Most of Mattel's brands sell through retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc , Target Corp and Toys R Us Inc , as well as through its own catalog and website.

The toy cars business, which includes the Hot Wheels and Matchbox brands, also struggled with sales falling 6 percent.

Sales of Fisher-Price toys fell 3 percent to $396.7 million.

Total sales rose 1 percent to $1.17 billion, missing analysts' average estimate of $1.22 billion.

Mattel said selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of net sales rose by 320 basis points, including the impact of an asset impairment charge of 120 basis points.

The company also said it increased its share repurchase program by $500 million.

Smaller toy company Hasbro Inc is due to report its results on July 22.

Mattel shares were unchanged in pre-market trading after closing at $46.33 on Tuesday on the Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan in New York & Chris Peters in Bangalore; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mattel-second-quarter-profit-falls-barbie-struggles-101126176.html

Jim Kelly gabrielle union Andrea Bargnani Bart Strike 2013 ciara jessica simpson Ray Donovan

Catholic Church lobbies against Calif. abuse bill

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Tony Quarry suppressed his memories of being abused by a Roman Catholic priest for nearly 30 years and decided to sue only after finding out that his five brothers were molested by the same man ? just to discover that it was too late.

The state's high court ultimately tossed out the brothers' lawsuit because they missed a special legal window that allowed victims to sue over abuse claims decades after the fact. Their plight, however, has inspired new sex abuse legislation in California a decade after a similar bill cost the church hundreds of millions in civil settlements.

"I still believed in the tooth fairy when these things happened to me," Quarry, 51, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday. "It's a good thing for these other people to have the opportunity to step forward."

Like the previous law, Senate Bill 131 would permit many victims who would otherwise be unable to file a civil suit due to time and age restrictions ? like the Quarry brothers ? to sue their abuser's employer in civil court.

The proposed law would lift the statute of limitations for one year for the group of alleged victims who were 26 and older and missed the previous deadline.

The Catholic Church did not fight the 2002 bill that opened the flood gates for hundreds of victims and led to $1.2 billion in settlements from dioceses statewide, including $660 million in Los Angeles alone. This time, however, the church is fighting hard against the proposed legislation ? from the pews to lobbyists.

The 2002 law led to settlements that also forced the Los Angeles archdiocese to make public earlier this year thousands of pages of confidential files kept on priests accused or suspected of abuse.

The California Council of Nonprofit Organization, a group affiliated with the California Catholic Conference, has spent more than $70,000 to fight the bill, according to documents from the California Secretary of State's office. The Catholic Church and private organizations have called the bill a step backward, and charge they have been unfairly targeted because the proposed legislation does not apply to public schools.

The bill, as authored by Sen. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, specifically targets only private institutions.

In Los Angeles, Archbishop Jose Gomez urged local Catholics to contact their legislators, arguing in the church newsletter that the proposed change "puts the social services and educational work of the Church at risk."

The LA archdiocese and other private institutions fear the reform would make them vulnerable to cases like those brought against the church following allegations of clergy sex abuse more than a decade ago.

"Our hearts can bleed and feel sad for those who didn't come forward, but the purpose is good and fair public policy," said Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, which represents the California Catholic Conference of Bishops.

The bill, Dolejsi argued, could have a devastating effect on nonprofits, such as Catholic schools, as well as state dioceses that have already paid more than $1 billion in settlements, while exempting public employers.

The LA archdiocese declined to comment on the bill and referred calls to Dolejsi. Archdiocese attorney J. Michael Hennigan did not respond to a request for comment.

The California Association of Private School Organizations, which includes pre-collegiate, independent and religious schools, has also said that the bill is unfair.

California's current law states a victim can sue a third party up until the age of 26, or within three years of the time a victim realizes he or she was abused ? whichever period expires later.

Under the proposed bill, the statute of limitations would be lifted for one year for the group of people who were 26 or older and missed the previous window because they discovered abuse trauma more recently.

Tom Lyon, a law expert at the University of Southern California, said the bill's key provision addresses issues of fairness. One group of abuse victims has no means to come forward and file a civil suit, he said, and the proposed law aims to fix that.

"It's hard to defend a case when it happened decades ago," he said.

"But why not give them their day in court?"

The Quarry brothers' case dates back to 2007, when they filed a civil lawsuit against the bishop of Oakland.

The brothers, now in their 40s and 50s, alleged they were molested by an Oakland priest in the 1970s but didn't connect it to their distress until 2006. The priest admitted in a sworn deposition in 2005 that he had had sexual relationships with four sets of underage brothers during the 1970s, including at least two of the brothers in the Quarry case. The priest was forced to retire following abuse allegations in 1993 and died in 2010.

In 2011, the California Supreme Court ruled it was too late for the brothers to sue because the one-year window extended by the legislature had passed.

The proposed reform has already gone through the state Senate and passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee. It's expected to go to the House Appropriations Committee in August.

Quarry and his brothers can't refile their lawsuit even if the new legislation passes because the high court's ruling in their individual case was final, but he hopes it passes so other victims are able to come forward.

"They call us all enemies of the church, but we're not," he said. "We're victims of the church."

_____

Follow Sarah Parvini on Twitter at http://twitter.com/parviniparlance

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-church-lobbies-against-calif-abuse-bill-073019454.html

kansas vs kentucky oakland college basketball joe posnanski michael kidd gilchrist national championship calipari

Apple patent hints at possibility of Liquidmetal iPhone and iPad

For all its tough chemical properties and unusual capacity for intricate molding, Liquidmetal apparently still can't be turned into anything much bigger than Apple's SIM ejector tool or, perhaps, the chess pieces rendered above (for illustrative purposes only!). Attempts to use so-called "metallic glass" to manufacture larger objects, like the bodies of phones or tablets, have been hampered by difficulties in creating large sheets of controllable thickness, because stretching and other traditional techniques just cause the stuff to break. However, a patent recently awarded to Crucible Intellectual Property (the shell company representing the exclusive licensing tie-up between Apple and Liquidmetal Technologies) suggests some progress has been made towards removing this barrier.

Now, we can't claim dwarven levels of expertise on the subject, but we're inclined to agree with the interpretation of the folks at Electronista, who spotted that the patent describes a range of factory methods (generally involving lots of melting and conveyor belts) for creating sheets of metallic glass of controllable thickness between 0.1mm and 25mm and in widths of up to three meters. The paperwork explicitof these sheets in making iPhones, iPads, watches or indeed "any electronic device known the art." In the shorter term, if you happen to really, really want a Liquidmetal chess set, you can register your enthusiasm at the More Coverage below.

[Rendered image by Cassidy Stevick, Liquidmetal Technologies]

Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Tablets, Wearables, Mobile, Apple

Comments

Via: Electronista

Source: USPTO

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/17/apple-liquidmetal-patent/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Oscar Winners 2013 quentin tarantino jessica chastain jessica chastain oscars jane fonda abc

China's economic growth slows more as trade slumps

BEIJING (AP) ? China's leaders face new pressure to stimulate a slowing economy after growth fell to its lowest since 1991, hurt by weak trade and efforts to cool a credit boom.

The world's second-largest economy expanded 7.5 percent over a year earlier in the three months ending in June, down from the previous quarter's 7.7 percent, data showed Monday. Growth in factory production, investment and other indicators weakened.

The fifth straight quarter of growth below 8 percent is "a clear sign of distress," said IHS Global Insight analyst Xianfang Ren in a report. With investment weak, she said the economy might be "at risk of stalling."

Analysts said growth could fall further, adding to pressure on communist leaders who took power last year. They are trying to shift China from reliance on exports and investment to slower, more sustainable growth based on domestic consumption.

Chinese leaders are likely to launch new stimulus to hit their 7.5 percent growth target for the year, said Credit Agricole CIB economist Dariusz Kowalczyk. He said that might include weakening the Chinese currency to spur exports or pumping money into the economy through higher public works spending.

"We will see some targeted measures to stimulate growth," said Kowalczyk. "They have to do something. Otherwise they will miss their target. And they cannot afford that, because this is their first year in power."

A decline in Chinese economic activity could have global repercussions, denting revenues for suppliers of commodities and industrial components such as Australia, Brazil and Southeast Asia. Lower Chinese demand already has depressed prices for iron ore and other raw materials.

A stimulus would temporarily set back Beijing's reform plans by reinforcing reliance on investment to generate jobs.

Despite the slowdown, communist leaders have expressed determination to stick to their plans, which would impose short-term pain in exchange for sustained, stable growth later.

"Major indicators are within our targeted range but we face a complex situation," said a spokesman for the statistics bureau, Sheng Laiyuan, at a news conference.

Sheng said the government's goal is to "promote restructuring" and make more of the "driving force" of the market.

Growth in factory output slowed to 9.3 percent for the first half of the year, down 0.2 percentage points from the first quarter's rate, the statistics bureau reported. Growth in investment in factories and other fixed assets in the first half declined by 0.8 percentage points to 20.1 percent.

"Further deceleration is possible if reforms and stimulus measures are delayed," said Alaistair Chan of Moody's Analytics in a report.

The International Monetary Fund last week cut its 2013 growth forecast for China to 7.8 percent from its 8.1 percent outlook in April. The IMF's forecast for 2014 was cut to 7.7 percent from 8.3 percent. The Fund's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, said China was the country at the greatest risk of a "large decrease in growth."

On Monday, Nomura economist Zhiwei Zhang cut his growth forecast for 2014 to 6.9 percent from 7.5 percent and said growth was likely to bottom out at 6.5 percent in the second quarter of next year. He said he expects Chinese leaders to cut their growth target for next year to 7 percent from 7.5 percent.

"The new leaders made it pretty clear that they care more about the quality and sustainability of GDP growth rather than the speed of it," Zhang told reporters in a conference call.

Retail sales are growing but more slowly than Chinese leaders want. Growth decelerated to 12.7 percent for the first quarter, declining by 1.7 percentage points from a year earlier.

"I think it is unrealistic to expect consumption to go up and fill the gap left by less investment," said Nomura's Zhang.

Chinese leaders have promised to launch reforms aimed at making the economy more productive and helping entrepreneurs. But no major changes are expected until after a Communist Party meeting in the autumn.

Growth also has been dented by a crackdown on overly fast expansion in bank lending. Government efforts to tighten lending controls caused a temporary shortage of credit in Chinese financial markets last month.

Further efforts to rein in lending, especially unregulated private lending, could hurt entrepreneurs who generate most of the country's new jobs and wealth.

The ruling party's 7.5 percent growth target for the year is stronger than forecasts for the United States, Europe and Japan, but China's weakest performance since 1991. Finance Minister Lou Jiwei appeared to try to lower expectations last week when he told reporters in Washington that growth as low as 6.5 percent would be tolerable.

Earlier this month, Beijing promised changes in its government-run banking industry, including possible creation of privately owned lenders, to increase the supply of credit to entrepreneurs and more productive companies. It gave no timetable.

"The payoff from such financial consolidation efforts will most likely show up in the medium and long-term, even if implemented successfully," said Ren of IHS Global Insight. "In the near term, the downside risk for growth has become much more elevated now than a few months ago."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinas-economic-growth-slows-more-trade-slumps-021449215.html

my bloody valentine Super Bowl Winners what time does the superbowl start Kaepernick Tattoos superbowl time what time is the super bowl groundhog day

Nigerian activists: Arrest Sudan leader for crimes

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) ? Angry that Nigeria is hosting a fugitive accused of genocide and war crimes, human rights lawyers Monday asked the Federal High Court to issue an arrest warrant for Sudan's leader Omar al-Bashir.

Nigerian civil rights activists sent an urgent request to the International Criminal Court to refer the Nigerian government to the U.N. Security Council for failing to detain al-Bashir and surrender him to the court in The Hague for trial, said the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

The project urged Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan "to support the demand by the international community for justice for the victims of genocide and war crimes."

Britain, Nigeria's former colonizer, issued a mild reprimand. Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds expressed "disappointment" and said Nigeria's action "undermines the work of the ICC and sends the victims a dismaying message that the accountability they are waiting for will be delayed further."

The court in The Hague indicted the Sudanese leader in 2009 and 2010 for crimes including extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape. He was the first sitting African head of state to be indicted by the court.

On Sunday, Nigeria rolled out a red carpet and gave al-Bashir full military honors when he arrived in Abuja, the federal capital, to attend an African Union health summit that started Monday.

Leaders from eight other African countries attended the summit, including Kenya, which has shunned al-Bashir.

Human Rights Watch was contacting diplomats to add to the pressure, urging them "to signal that Nigeria should show leadership and not host ICC fugitive Bashir," said Elise Keppler of the New York-based organization's International Justice Program.

South Africa, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Central Africa Republic "have specifically made clear Bashir will be arrested on their territory, seen to it that other Sudanese officials visit instead of Bashir, relocated conferences or otherwise avoided his visits," said human rights lawyer Chino Obiagwu, who also heads the Nigerian Coalition on the ICC.

He said the lawsuit filed Monday stresses the responsibility of Nigeria's judiciary "to implement legal obligations created by treaties undertaken by Nigeria."

Adetokunbo Mumuni, executive director of the civil rights and accountability project, said a failure to arrest al-Bashir could have "huge legal ramifications" and lead to sanctions by the Security Council. But Chad and Djibouti have welcomed al-Bashir in the past year without suffering any consequences.

Nigeria is a member of the International Criminal Court and "has international legal obligations to ensure that this country does not become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of crimes under international law like al-Bashir," he said.

He added that Nigeria should not use the excuse that the African Union has told its 53 member states not to cooperate with the ICC.

But that was exactly the reason given for receiving al-Bashir by Nigeria's presidential spokesman. Reuben Abati told The Associated Press that al-Bashir was not in Nigeria on a state visit. "I think the AU has a position on this: It is that the president of Sudan can attend events organized by the African Union anywhere in the continent," he said.

Some Africans argue that the European-based court is racist and targets Africans. All eight cases currently being investigated by the court are in Africa, but seven of them respond to requests from the governments where the crimes were committed or from the Security Council. The Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the court because of the severity of the crimes being committed in that western Sudanese province.

The sole case in which the court has taken the initiative is in Kenya, responding to widespread frustration that the government did nothing to prosecute politicians accused of instigating tribal killings and other violence following 2007 elections.

Nigerian officials have not responded to requests for comment. Some remember with distaste the last time Nigeria was forced to hand over an internationally wanted criminal, former Liberian President Charles Taylor, the warlord who began that country's devastating civil war in 1989.

In 2003, Taylor resigned under pressure and a promise from Nigeria's government to give him a safe haven. When democratically elected leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf demanded his extradition in 2006, Nigeria came under huge international pressure and was forced to go back on its word and hand him over.

Taylor was in May sentenced to 50 years in prison by the international court, not for crimes committed in his own country but for his responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in neighboring Sierra Leone.

___

Faul reported from Lagos, Nigeria.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nigerian-activists-arrest-sudan-leader-crimes-095922428.html

the ten commandments charlton heston moses tulsa shooting doug fister the perfect storm mickelson

Photos: Shweta Tiwari Wedding

Shweta Tiwari And Abhinav Kohli

Shweta and Abhinav posed for the media post their wedding in Mumbai. They made a splendid couple.

Shweta And Abhinav Post Wedding

The actor couple spent some time with the media after tying the knot.

Shweta Tiwari Daughter Palak

She has a daughter named Palak from her marriage with Raja, and the girl is supposed to stay in her mother's custody as per the court's orders.

Click here for more Wedding Photos | Mehandi Video

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/oneindia-entertainment-all/~3/IvIpIw_7C94/shweta-tiwari-wedding-photos-114500.html

one direction tulsa news scalloped potatoes the ten commandments charlton heston moses tulsa shooting