Archive for December, 2009

When our pet dogs become sick, there is often a natural tendency to give them special treatment. We may pat them a lot, make reassuring cooing noises, keep them on our laps more often than usual, or feed them special treats by hand. But the problem is, that doing this, we may turn create emotional problems for them later. Pets, when they are sick, need to be provided with a comparable environment that they would have had in the wild. According to some schools of thought, failing to do this may turn them into hypochondriacs later. This article will discuss what you should not do when caring for a sick pet, and provides some insight into how pets behave when they are sick.

There is often a fine line between lovingly caring for our sick canine friends, and doting on them. We can relate to how awful it is to be sick, and try to be reassuring, particularly when serious illnesses are involved. Perhaps in a sense we are overcome with how much we love our pets, and desire them to be healthy. The problem is, dogs don’t know this. Being very sociable animals, they simply love the attention, and don’t really understand why all that extra attention stops when they get better. We can create needy, and insecure dogs when we make a big fuss over their illness.

Understanding how dogs react in the wild can provide some clues as to how we should treat them. It also shows how strong they are, and capable of dealing with illnesses in their own way.

Dogs need a safe place they can recuperate and rest by themselves. In the wild, dogs would often take themselves off somewhere where it is quiet and warm, with access to fresh air and sunlight. They also fast instinctively, so a loss of appetite is not necessarily something that needs to be feared or fixed with force feeding, unless your vet suggests otherwise, based on their examination. Yes, a loss of appetite is a sign of illness. And if your dog doesn’t eat for a few days, he should be taken to the vets, but once a vet has made appropriate recommendations, it’s good to understand that this will heal itself as your dog does.

Dogs don’t need extra petting when they are sick. That is something that tends to reassure their human owners more. Just by providing a safe environment, that is free of drafts, and that is clean and protected from noise and interruptions, we are providing what our pets need in times of illness. If they want to go outside to get some sun and fresh air, and provided the vet feels that is okay (taking into account the possibility of infection if they have an open wound), then let them. But don’t try and force them to go outside.

Whether or not we can actually turn our pets into hypochondriacs, I don’t know. Some people do believe this, and perhaps it is true in severe cases. But it is important to be aware of signs of illness, and not simply assume that your dog is play-acting.

One suggestion to determine whether your dog is actually ill, is to leave your house, and sneak back and check on your dog through a window. If he’s running around, and back to his usual self, chances are that he’s not sick. A vet check up will pick up any signs of illness also, so if you’re in doubt, or still concerned, then take him for a check up. But don’t over pet him!

Aside from giving your dog the same attention when he is sick that you would when he is well, you can avoid creating a dog that plays on illness by being generous to your pets when they are healthy. Give them lots of attention them, and feed them well, without sacrificing the training and boundaries that dogs also need. Then you’ll have a happy and well-adjusted pet in sickness and in health.

Rebecca Prescott
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/can-you-make-your-dog-sick-with-the-wrong-kind-of-attention-104497.html

Whether you are a professional or a business owner, full color printing opens lots of options for you to be able to advertise your products and services. If you have already availed such medium, you might be already aware of the two leading processes that are being utilized by printing companies for such task.

The Conventional Method

The offset method of printing has been around for a long time in the printing industry. This has lasted up to this day despite the technological revolution and everything going computerized because of the supreme quality that it can create. Although the process has also gone through some modifications throughout the years of its existence, it has retained the kind of output that it has been known for.

What draws people to this method is the consistency that it can create to the colors. This is especially helpful when the project is in bulk. This way, the quality can be seen in all the pieces that make up the bulk of the order. This is also the reason why this method offers a more affordable price that the other available ones. The order must be in bulk. This can be used in materials like business cards, postcards, flyers, brochures, catalogs and even large format types like poster.

This is ideal for startup businesses that want to reach out to as many people as possible. They can use the products that the method can create to be able to spread to the public their offers and promotions. Some tools can be sent out through direct mail. There are printing companies that can arrange such for you for an additional cost. This is very ideal in a way because you will have lots of time handling other aspects of your business because the tools that you will use to advertise have been taken cared of by your chosen printing company.

Materials in a Flash

For people who want some quick fix on an advertising venture, the digital method of printing can be your valuable ally. This method which heavily relies on the computer technology can process your orders within the day. Some printing companies, aside from the next day turnaround feature also offers free shipping for the materials done through this method.

Aside from the fact that this can be done fast, the digital method of printing can create more colors than the offset method. This can reproduce a variety of choices that you don’t have to limit your creativity when planning for the materials that you will use for marketing purposes. The sizes that this can create are bigger. And that is another limitation of the offset method that digital found an answer to. This way, you can come up with bigger posters, banners and add some Window Signs or canvas printing if you want to.

The digital process can help business people with their advertising bouts. It can also be used by artists and other professionals for their portfolios.

As days go by, people find more and more reasons why they must avail full color printing services. You don’t have anything to worry about. As long as the offset and digital method of printing exists, you may feel as if you have the best of both worlds.

Maureen Pelayo
http://www.articlesbase.com/printing-articles/the-2-main-superstars-in-full-color-printing-688754.html

Looking for a new car involves considering different areas, factors, and features of an automobile. Safety, fuel efficiency, and performance are just some of the things car buyers need to consider to ensure that they will be driving a vehicle that suits them perfectly.

Auto experts though has reported that prospective car buyers should also check for water damage on the car they are planning to buy and they do mean flood water to be exact. After the damaging effects of Hurricane Katrina, car experts fear that the auto market in the United States is proliferated by flood-damaged vehicles. With regards to this, they warn car buyers to avoid buying a car which has suffered the wrath of Hurricane Katrina and other smaller floods across the country.

Bryan Gregory, the Director of Consumer Education for Advanced Auto Parts, has this to say about the influx of flood-damaged vehicles in the United States auto market: “Auto industry experts estimate that as many as 400,000 vehicles may have been damaged by Hurricane Katrina alone. Add to that total the number of vehicles caught in countless smaller floods that occur across the country each year and you have a significant flood-damaged vehicle population that consumers need to be on the lookout for.”

Staying way from flood-damaged vehicles needs a thorough inspection of the vehicle on the part of the buyer. Although the tell tale signs of flood damaged is relatively hard to spot, auto experts want to arm car buyers with the proper information to spot these damages. “Flood damage can be hard to spot, unless you know what you’re looking for. The time to spot a car that’s been in a flood is before you purchase it, because once it’s in your driveway and the flood-related mechanical problems start to show up, it’s too late for most consumers,” says Gregory.

These damages may not show themselves yet right after you buy a car but in the long run, these damages will play a major role in the shortening of a vehicle’s lifespan. Since all new vehicles released in the U.S. market are equipped with electronic components, these features should be checked properly before buying a car. The vehicle’s onboard computer can be permanently damaged by flood water as well as airbag sensors. That alone poses a very high potential risk to consumers.

If an airbag sensor is damaged, when needed, the airbag can no longer protect the occupants of a vehicle, endangering them of severe injuries or even death. Some other electrical components like Volvo window motors can also be damaged by flood water, but these damages can readily be checked unlike the status of an airbag sensor.

One of the most telling signs that a car is flood-damaged is molds in the vehicle or a musty smell. This, of course, is the effect of the prolonged exposure to dirty flood water. New upholstery and carpets can also mean that these are replaced due to the damage of flood water on the original upholstery or carpets. Rust on the interior of a vehicle is also a sign that the vehicle is flood-damaged.

Auto experts also advise car buyers to inspect the air box for mud or water residue. Consumers can do this by simply removing the air filter of a vehicle. Waterlines on the bulb or lenses of headlamps and taillights are also telltale sign that the car was submerged at one time or another under a flood.

Aside from keeping away from flood-damaged vehicles, Gregory also advises car owners to prevent their cars from being victims of a flood. According to Gregory, “In addition to knowing how to avoid buying a flood-damaged vehicle, drivers should also take steps to prevent their own vehicle from becoming a flood victim. The number one action drivers can take to avoid water damage to their vehicle, and possible personal injury or death, is to never, ever attempt to drive through water that is covering a road, no matter how shallow or slow-moving it appears. Also avoid parking in areas prone to flash flooding and close your vehicle’s windows when rain threatens.”

Glady Reign
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/auto-experts-beware-of-flooddamaged-autos-128982.html

Leaks do silent damage to a home. Something as small as a loose trap or clogged drain can go undetected for months; leaking water into your cabinets, between your walls, or under your floors and causing extensive, costly damage. An external leak in an irrigation system can quietly waste more than 100 gallons of water each day.

Leaky pipes or openings usually leave warning signs of their presence so you can identify the type of damage and repair it early.

Water Stains: This type of radiant stain is a sure fire way to identify a current or old water leak. Where you find the stain indicates where the leak may have originated.

A water stain around windows or at the bottom of exterior doors show that water is getting in from the outside.

A stain in the seam between the ceiling and an exterior wall may indicate a roof leak or possible build up of ice. If you have plumbing lines in the attic, the problem may be there as well.

A water stain on the bottom of a cabinet could have originated from a leaky sink trap or pipe.

Buckling or stained floors may indicate a wood floor that has absorbed water from a leak. High risk areas include the kitchen floor around the dishwasher or the refrigerator (if it has an ice maker or filtered water), or in front of a poorly sealed window. The bathroom is another problem area. Watch for water rings around the toilet or in front of the tub or shower.

Structural Problems: Spongy beams or rafters may be a warning of structural problems as a result of water damage. Spotting these in time may save you thousands of dollars in repairs.

Take a Water Flow Test: If you’ve checked for signs of water damage, but still suspect you have a leak, take a water flow test. Shut off all sources of water to your house, inside and out, and locate your water meter. The red triangle or flow indicator at the top will tell you when water is passing through it. If the flow indicator or the sweep hand is moving, you may have a leak.

Use the process of elimination to determine where the leak is coming from. Shut of one toilet, go to the meter and see if the red triangle is moving. If it stopped moving, that toilet is the culprit. If not, turn the toilet back on and shut off another. Continue in this manner checking all high risk water sources including toilets, sprinkler system water softener, air conditioner, ice machine, etc. If you shut off the main water valve to your home and the meter is still moving, the leak may be between the shutoff valve and the water meter.

Toilet Test: Use food coloring to determine whether your toilet has a leak. Remove the tank lid and flush. After it refills, add several drops of dark food coloring. Wait at least 20 minutes and if any trace of color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

Water damage in drywall makes it soft or crumbling, discolored or swollen, and can appear on the wall or ceiling.

Many of these signs and symptoms of water damage are apparent after a good length of time, and in many cases extensive damage has already been done. A handy device to alert you of a leak in the early stages is a water-leak alarm. It has a plug-in main unit (with battery backup) and a sensor pad. Place the pad where a leak is most likely to happen (under the washer, in the crawl space, under a water heater, etc.). It will sound an alarm if it senses as little as a few drops of water.

Gloria Singer
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/dont-be-a-drip-identify-water-leaks-early-756403.html

The tomato originated in the Andes, South America where tomatoes grow wild. It is believed that they were first cultivated by the Aztecs and Incas, possibly as early as 700 AD. The tomato plant arrived in Europe in the 16th century, supposedly brought back from Central America by the Spanish Conquistadors, although another legend suggests that two Jesuit priests took them to Italy from Mexico.

At that time tomatoes were also known as wolf’s peach and Peruvian apple. In the UK, the Elizabethans thought the bright red colour of tomatoes was a danger signal and regarded them as dangerous fruits. In fact, it is true that tomatoes are related to the nightshade family.

Tomatoes are sub-tropical plants and therefore require a full sun position when grown in temperate zones. A position against a wall or fence will give an even better chance of success as long as they can receive sufficient water.

Tomato plants grow very well in raised beds, they appreciate the soil conditions which provide moisture without water-logging.

Two or three weeks before planting, dig the soil over and incorporate as much organic matter, such as compost or well rotted manure, as possible. The aim is to make the soil able to retain the moisture needed so much by tomatoes.

Tomatoes are unable to tolerate any degree of frost, the timing for planting or sowing outside is therefore key to successfully growing tomatoes. If the tomato seeds are to be sown directly outside (not really suitable in cooler climates), they must be sown when the soil temperature is (and will remain) above 10C (50F) – any lower and the seeds will not germinate. In practical terms this normally means 3 weeks after the last frost date in your area.

Where the seeds are sown under cover (poly tunnels or cloches) or indoors, aim to sow the seeds so that they reach the stage where they can be transplanted outside, three weeks after the last frost date.

Tomato plants plants take roughly 7 weeks from sowing to reach the transplanting stage and they should be transplanted outside one or two weeks after your last frost date. Therefore you should sow them 7 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside.

Bush varieties do well for cultivation outdoors because they require no pruning for most of the season. Remove any yellow or decaying foliage as soon as possible to avoid the spread of disease.

If your bush tomatoes become too large to support themselves, either trim out a few major branches or add more support canes – the side branches can then be tied into the additional support canes. Limit the number of trusses of tomatoes to seven or eight by pinching out any surplus ones.

Upright varieties are commonly cultivated in pots, grow-bags, the greenhouse and sometimes outdoors in open soil. When the first fruits begin to form, the plant will produce side-shoots in between the main stem and the leaf stems.

These side shoots should be removed by pinching them out with the fingers. If allowed to grow they will produce a mass of foliage but few tomatoes. Any shoots which have been overlooked and allowed to grow should also be removed.

Lower leaves which show any signs of yellowing should also be removed to avoid the risk of infection.

When the plant has developed six or seven trusses of tomatoes (normally around July time), ’stop’ the plant by breaking off the growing tip. If any more than seven trusses of tomatoes begins to develop, pinch them out to encourage the plant to produce good quality tomatoes rather than an abundance of low quality late-maturing fruit.

Pick as soon as the fruits are ripe (colour and size will identify this) for the best flavour – eat as soon as possible. This also encourages the production of more fruit. As soon as a frost threatens, harvest all the fruit immediately and ripen them on a window sill. With upright varieties, it is possible to gently flatten the plants onto the soil and cover with horticultural fleece to protect them from the frost.

gardeningm
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/growing-tomatoes-in-the-home-garden-682688.html