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Top 10 Exercises Without Weights

If you hate to go to the gym, you are not alone. The good news is - you can get results in the comfort of your own home with some simple home exercises.

Bodyweight training CAN be effective. It CAN be a substitute for weights, if necessary. Training using your own body weight as a source of resistance is a time tested technique to get results fast.

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Here are the ten best bodyweight training exercises that give you great workouts and great results - without the gym.

Top 10 Exercises Without Weights

1. Supine Pull-Ups (works major muscles in back, shoulders, and biceps) Use two chairs and a pole - a heavy broom handle works well. WARNING: make sure the chairs are stable and that the broom handle is strong enough to take your weight. You could be SEVERELY injured if the pole were to break or the chairs to slip. Lie on your back underneath a low bar. Grab the bar with a wide overhand grip. Pull up. Lower and repeat for 6-8 reps.

2. Supine Biceps Pull-Ups (biceps, some back) Use the same chairs-and-pole arrangement from #1. Sit underneath a low bar. Grab the bar with a reverse grip (palms facing you), hands about shoulder-width apart. Keeping your body upright, pull up until your chin just clears the bar. Focus on the tension in your biceps, trying to relax the rest of your body. 6-8 reps.

3. Push-Ups (chest, triceps, shoulders) The key when targeting the chest with Push-Ups is the direction in which your elbows travel. As with bench presses, the elbows must move AWAY FROM THE BODY to target your chest, and be kept CLOSE TO THE BODY to target the triceps. Place each hand just outside your shoulders, slightly behind the line of your shoulders. Hands pointing straight ahead, upper body rigid as a board. 6-15 reps.

4. Tent Push-Ups (primarily upper chest) Assume the position in #3, but walk your feet forward so your body is bent at the waist, and your hips are up high in the air. Bending at the elbows, lower yourself until your nose touches the floor. Push up. Repeat. 6-8 reps.

5. Push-Ups, Triceps Position (you guessed it - triceps, and some chest) Begin with fingers facing forward in position from #3, hands slightly LESS than shoulder width apart. Lower your body to the floor keeping arms in against your body. Push up. 6-8 reps.

6. Triceps Dips With Chairs With your hands behind your back, support yourself on your palms at the edge of a chair. Your hands should be touching; your elbows should angle outward. Dipping in this position relieves a lot of stress on the elbow and shoulder joints. Lower yourself, keeping your back close to the chair. Bend your elbows back and slightly to the sides. Keep your body angled slightly forward throughout the motion. Press yourself up until your arms are straight. 6-15 reps.

7. One-Legged Squats (front thighs, glutes, hamstrings) Stand perpendicular to a wall, about arm's length away from it. Extend your arm out to the side and place your palm against the wall at just under shoulder-height. Angle the foot farthest from the wall at 45 degrees. Bend the other leg back. Keeping your body upright, lower yourself until the non-weight-bearing knee is close to (but not touching) the ground. Support yourself by leaning against the wall. Press yourself back up to starting position. Repeat 6-8 reps.

8. One-Legged Hamstring Bridges Lie on your back with one leg extended, heel on the ground. Hold the other leg up off the floor. Pushing through your heel, flex your hamstrings to lift your body. Lower and repeat for 8-10 reps. Repeat with other leg. You can control the resistance and the degree to which the glutes contribute by changing the distance you place your heel relative to your butt.

9. Lunges Begin the lunge by taking a large step forward, keeping your head up and torso erect. Lower your hips and allow your trailing knee to drop to a point just before it touches the floor - never let the knee touch the floor. To return to the start, push off with your forward leg and then step back when the knee is completely straight. Repeat with other leg, 10-15 reps each leg.

10. Stair Running Stair running isn't usually considered a resistance exercise, and in fact, it makes hefty demands on your cardiovascular system. However, it also does an incredible job of conditioning the lower body. If your knees are in good shape, try doing 10-20 one-story sprints, preferably two stairs at a time. As you get stronger, work up the number slowly, keep one hand on the stair rail to catch yourself if you lose your balance. Give yourself a bigger challenge by wearing a backpack filled with nice and heavy books.

Top 10 Exercises Without Weights

To read reviews on home exercise equipment and learn how to choose the best exercise gadgets for your needs, visit Nitin Chhoda's new site guide to exercise equipment

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Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress

Workplace stress is on the rise and it's costing corporate America a fortune. Some estimate that 80% of health care costs are stress related, and these expenses go right to the bottom line.

According to CNN-Money.com, Americans spent more than billion for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs in 2002, up 10% from the year before and nearly 30% over a two year period.

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The Institute for Management Excellence reports that American industry spends more than billion each year for medical bills and disability payments with another billion for executive's lost workdays, hospitalization, and early death.

Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress

In addition to these staggering figures, stress takes its toll through the added costs of quality control, legal challenges, lost opportunities, poor performance, bad attitudes, and training.

We cannot do much about the skyrocketing costs of medical care and prescription drugs, but we can take immediate action to control the top ten causes of stress as identified by The Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health.

The countdown is:

10. "Workload" - Employees report that they are often stressed when they have too little or too much to do. Managers need to divide responsibilities and help employees prioritize work that must be done. Make sure you understand the impact before shifting responsibilities. Take into account the cost of stress before you increase anyone's workload or hire more people.

9. "Random interruptions" - Telephones, pagers, walk-in visits, and spontaneous demands from supervisors all contribute to increased stress. Time management, delegation of responsibilities, and clarification of expectations can reduce these stressors. 8. "Pervasive uncertainty" - Stress levels increase rapidly when people are confronted by new requirements and procedures. Keeping people informed controls stress and increases productivity. Put details in a memo so they can review the facts following your explanations.

8. "Pervasive uncertainty" - Stress levels increase rapidly when we are confronted by new requirements and procedures. Finding out what's going on and keeping staff informed helps control stress and increases productivity. Write out the information in a memo so you can review the facts. Staff members will appreciate the written analysis.

7. "Mistrust and unfairness" - These situations keep everyone on edge, create bad attitudes, and lower productivity. It is important to keep an open line of communication to avoid misunderstanding and know what people are thinking about your decisions. Managers must consistently build trust and give equal treatment - just do the right thing.

6. "Unclear policies and no sense of direction" -Lack of focus causes uncertainty and undermines confidence in management. You need more than a well-written policy manual. Enforcement of policies and clear communications are essential.

To make sure everyone gets the message, you can repeat your explanation in a variety of ways -repetition and feedback are important. Reinforce policies through memos, articles, bulletin board postings, personal meetings, and small group discussions.

5. "Career and job ambiguity" - If people are uncertain about their jobs and careers, there is a feeling of helplessness and of being out of control. In addition to the trusted job descriptions and annual personnel reviews, people need to understand a broad range of issues that affect the company.

News of mergers, consolidations, plant closings, and restructuring contribute to a feeling of helplessness. Management must keep people informed about situations that will affect their jobs, or the rumor mill will add to an already stressful situation.

4. "No feedback - good or bad" - People want to know whether they are meeting expectations. Consistent, written and verbal, personalized feedback is required. Some people need more attention than others, but everyone's performance is enhanced if leaders frequently affirm individual efforts.

3. "No appreciation" - Failure to show appreciation generates stress that endangers productivity throughout the company. There are many ways to demonstrate appreciation, but the most effective is a sincere comment about how much the person means to you and the company.

2. "Lack of communications" - Poor communication leads to decreased performance and increased stress. Management memos and announcements work well for distributing information, but two-way conversation improves communication and solicits ideas and suggestions while reducing stress and complaints.

1. "Lack of control" - Workplace stress is at its greatest when employees have no say regarding things that affect them. You can decrease sensitivity to all the other stressors and give a sense of being in control by involving employees in operating and administrative decisions and acting on their input. Frontline employees know what they are talking about. Listening to what they have to say reduces stress and increases productivity.

Effective managers understand that stress control is a leadership responsibility and give it just as much attention as any other management function.

Grasping the concepts and reducing stress one step at a time can have an amazing impact on your bottom line --and on the lives of those who do the heavy work.

Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress

Dale Collie - professional speaker, former US Army Ranger, CEO, and a Fast Company top 50 innovative leader. Author of "Winning Under Fire." (McGraw-Hill) collie@couragebuilders.com

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Can Kids Get Worms From Dogs?

Do you have a dog for a pet? You have to make sure that they are free from all kinds of parasites if you want to give them a happy and healthy life. Here is something that you should know all about parasites or worms and dogs & the side-effects that can be harmful to them. A puppy can get extremely thin if it has worms and he will lose appetite and eventually lose a lot of weight and his immune system will deteriorate then he dies and that's a sad fact. But do you know there is another side-effect that you need to give special attention? A side effect which is not a direct concern for your dog but for your children? That means, worms can be devastating for kids but can kids get worms from dog? You need to find the answer & this is what you can discover.

Yes, kids can get worms from dogs. Maybe you are already familiar with the "Mommy-mommy-I-want to-have-a-puppy!" kind of phrase, right? If your children will nag you for a pet dog, be aware of worms. Be very, very aware of worms especially heartworms, tapeworms, roundworms and ringworms.

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You may not know it but kids can be a good host for these parasites. For example, the dog tapeworm.

Can Kids Get Worms From Dogs?

Children can get infected when your pet dog licks their faces and transfers the larvae through the mouth or even in the pores of their skin. You know how it is with kids and dogs, right? Sometimes, these 2 entities are more of best friends than between you and your kid or you and your dog. They are inseparable and they do love each other and sometimes, when they love each other, it means they do lick each other, figuratively and literally. Ugh....

Yes, that's right and there's more. Fleas can also get into their fingernails and travel all the way around and all throughout their bodies. The worse thing is, sometimes, you can't find no symptoms that are identifiable through the naked eye and when you do discover that your kid has parasites very similar to dogs, everything would be too late.

Then, there's another type of worm- the Hydatid Tapeworm and they originate from animal's feces. That's why you need to train yourself and everybody else in the house how to get rid of these nasty "things", make every corner of your house, inside and out clean and free from these.

When ingested, they cyst will grown in the liver, lungs and brain and when they become large, they will replace the tissue inside your body and the only way to get them out is through surgery and that's not nice.

So, to answer the question, "can kids get worms from dog?", the best answer or recommendation is: it's best to keep the surrounding clean, your dog clean and your kids clean so nothing can happen to everyone and to every living creature around your humble abode and for added first-hand information, try to visit your vet or the most convenient way is to gather enough information online.

Can Kids Get Worms From Dogs?

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The World's Most Dangerous Dogs

I imagine that there should be a piece on Animal Planet, the History Channel, et al, that needs a new angle: perhaps to uncover the world's most astounding, vicious, and dangerous dogs. After all they've covered everything else and they're probably running out of material. So it could be as I would depict it...The most dangerous dogs in the world. The show begins...

...Our attention must focus on the world's most dangerous dogs. We will rank the danger dogs starting with the number 10 on the Dog Danger Scale.

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10. The Sub Toy Chihuahua. Our experts consider it to be one of the most dangerous dogs in the world partially because of its extremely minute size. A Sub Toy Chihuahua attains an average height of 102 millimeters. When they bark as all Chihuahuas do, the pitch of their tiny barks is high enough to crack car windshields making the hapless driver unable to see oncoming traffic... often resulting in fatal accidents. For the reason that the deaths are almost always unintentional, we rate the Toy Chihuahua at number 10, yet still one of the World's Most Dangerous Dogs.

The World's Most Dangerous Dogs

9. The number 9 position is held by the Pug. Often referred to as the Chinese Pug because of its prominence in Chinese History. In the past, many of the Chinese emperors had them as lap dogs; however, there is a darker side to the Pug. They were utilized initially as attack dogs to keep out the barbarians from entering to the Chinese side of the Great Wall. However, when placed in roles of high stress, i.e., attack, guarding, etc., the Pug ran and hid in nearby streams. Regardless, they were utilized by the Chinese primarily as attack dogs because that's all that they had at the time. In fact, the only way a pug would ever attack an armed barbarian was only in the unlikely event he had a piece of beef attached to his sleeve or shield. However, because the Pug was used historically as an attack dog despite, their battlefield incompetence, we have to rate them Number 9 in the Danger Dog Scale.

8. In the 8th Position is the Romanian Hockey Hound. So named because during the communist era in Romania, under a plan masterminded by Nicolae Ceausescu, the former megalomaniac leader, Romanian hockey coaches would train these usually docile dogs to attack any member of an opposing team that was hitting the puck. It was believed that the Hungarians had brain washed their dogs using a form of Veterinary Transference Psychology (VTP) into believing that a hockey puck was their master. As soon as the opposing team hit a puck, the dog was placed on the ice with specially fitted skates and would immediately attack the opposing team. This so spooked their competition that Hungary's team typically placed at least in the top 5 in the Olympics. Because this type of dog is not normally a menace to Hungarian society, but only aggressive when placed on the ice, we have to give the Number 8 ranking to the Romanian Hockey Hound.

7. Number 7 on the Danger Dog Scale is the Ukrainian Saint Bernard dog. Traditionally, Saint Bernards are known for saving downed skiers with a little bit of brandy and the ability to drag almost anything, including a NY City Bus down a mountain side. However, the Ukrainian breed has a very checkered past. They invariably find skiers and always attempt to rescue them, but because of their incredible clumsiness, the Ukrainian breed usually winds up causing an avalanche resulting in the death or maiming of the stricken skier. Because Ukraine has so few sizable mountains, and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant meltdown has kept the mountain passes at a pleasant 73 Fahrenheit year round, the death toll is only a fraction of what it would be if these same dogs worked the Alps. When asked why they keep on using the Ukrainian Breed instead of the more sure footed Western European varieties, the Ukrainian Ski Patrol always answers this way, "Well...they're cheap!" accompanied with a shrug of their shoulders. For this reason and for the many deaths caused unwittingly by this dog, we place the Ukrainian Saint Bernard at the Number 7 ranking.

6. Number 6 on the Dog Danger Scale is held by the Mini-Schnauzer. While the miniature variety is completely non aggressive, they do have a dangerous side to them. When they meet a new person, they become so excited and joyful that they dance around crazily and almost always urinate on the ground. This is normally not a problem, but when indoors, they will typically only mess on tile floors or any other slippery surface. When the dog jumps around spreading its little puddle, it renders the floor dangerously slippery. There have been almost 1,100 fatalities attributed to the mini-schnauzer. Despite its sunny disposition, for this reason, the friendly little mini-schnauzer takes the number 6 Spot on the Dog Danger Scale.

5. The number 5 spot is occupied by the "Trick" Rapscallion Hound. It gets its name not by performing cute little tricks like rolling over or shaking your hand or other friendly antics. Rather, the Rapscallion Hound hails from the Island of Crete where the original inhabitants, who were mostly gypsies, cross bred a Turkish Elkhound with a Pomeranian and developed this strange breed of dog. While very intelligent, Rapscallions are furtive little dogs that tend toward being...just plain sneaky. The Gypsies used them as decoys in large cities and often would pose with a dagger in their hand in a threatening posture as if to kill the dog. Passersbys might see this 'cute' dog about to be killed and immediately come to its aid. The gypsy would then turn the knife on the hapless savior and rob him or her on the spot, with the dog being totally complicit in the crime. This behavior has, of course reached the 21st century with the dog owner now using a.357 magnum or other powerful handgun. (See illustration) While there have been no known fatalities resulting from this type of crime, the fact that the dog works closely and knowingly with his criminal master is enough to place the Rapscallion at the Number 5 place on the Dog Danger Scale.

4. The Four Spot belongs to the Plains Beagle. The Plains Beagle is very similar in appearance to the standard Beagle a' la the comic strip, "Peanuts", however, that is the only similarity. The Plains Beagle was originally the lap dog of the Norse Invaders, then called the Norse Imperial Beagle. During the 11the century, The Norse Men, under the leadership of Leif Erikson, purportedly made their way to North America and got as far west as what we now know as the Loop area in Chicago. When food supplies went low, The Norse exploration party attempted, out of desperation, to eat their prize beagles. Sensing danger, the beagles bolted and were lost in the green expanse of the mid west. Over hundreds of years, they formed small wolf-like pods and hunted down the wild mustang horses. When the Indians first saw the Plains Beagle, they mistook them for a friendly variety and attempted to house break (or more correctly, tent break them). It was Chief Left Handed Warrior of the LaPrinze Indians that first cursed them after being viciously bitten on his right hand. It is said today that the Plains Beagle is to the plains what the Piranha is to the Amazon. Legend has it that the Laprinz were almost completely decimated by the Plains Beagle, however this has not been completely substantiated by the western media outlets of the time. For their fierce reputation, they will take the Number Four Spot on the Dog Danger Scale.

3. The Number Three spot is held by the Micronesian Sea Lion Dog, a close relative, in appearance (only) to the Toy Manchurian Retriever. The Sea Lion Dog is a fierce predator not of ugly sea lions, but rather, seals. Micronesian Islanders wanted to maintain a vigorous tourism base on the idyllic island of Pohnpei and having wild dogs attack cute seals would definitely put a crimp on this area as a tourism destination. Therefore, they were able to convince the world that this predatory dog only hunted ugly Sea Lions. However, it is obvious that Sea Lion Dogs attack seals as their major source of food. When seals are not available, one would think that the dogs would go after Sea Lions. Wrong! Their second favorite dish is SCUBA divers. Maybe it's the taste of the neoprene rubber of their wetsuits or the suntan oil they rub on their skin while waiting to go to a dive site. Whatever it is, when you're diving in the South Seas, beware. In 1947 Jacques Cousteau refused to dive in the water referring to the menace of those "...devil dogs!" as the reason he wouldn't dive when the dogs were within 30 miles. We don't know how many deaths can be attributed to the predations of the Micronesian Sea Lion Dog, but whatever the number, it is will make this vicious predator Number Three on the scale of the world's Danger Dogs.

2. The Hot Dog. While actually not a real dog, but sort of a near food, the Hot Dog probably has taken more lives than all of the wars put together over the history of the world. I was starting to run out of dogs and I thought that the hot dog concept would fit. Do you have any idea what goes into the making of a hot dog? The ingredients of the average hot dog is more toxic than model airplane glue or cobra venom. However, when fiendishly blended together, stuffed into a brown red colored tube, the hot dog, while it tastes pretty good, is a lethal weapon. It was said that Mao Tse Dung, the former dictator of red China, suggested that China should ship over 11 billion tons of hot dogs to the U.S., Britain and Canada as a way of destroying the western powers, "...from the inside." Fortunately, the plan was never implemented. And so, we have to grant the lowly Hot Dog as the Number Two member on the Dog Danger scale.

1. We have to go back in time to on or about 730 A.D. to find the Number One Danger Dog of all Times. This brings us to that most infamous of all dogs on the Dog Danger scale. This would be the creature that Beowolf was really afraid of...Grindel. This monster may or may not be related to the dog or canine family at all, but it's pretty sinister that BeoWulf was really afraid of Grindel. Besides Beowulf seems to have some tie in with dogs himself. Anyway, Grindel was a ferocious monster of some kind. The heroic Beowulf was able to use a concoction similar to silly putty and wine to lure Grindel to a grassy knoll (historically a very dangerous place) and kill Grindel. However, let the reader by aware that prior to his death, Grindel killed nearly the entire populations of Iceland, Greenland and what we now know as Finland. He also ate most of the codfish, swordfish and sturgeon populations off the North Atlantic Irish coast.

If beef jerky were a fish swimming in those waters at that time, he would have eaten all of it. And if Beowulf hadn't stopped this creature, he probably would have killed all of the sailors in Western Europe, Asia and the Americas. The 8th Century world of Beowulf would be a much different place if this had occurred. And so we owe a debt of gratitude to Beowulf and hand over the Number One Spot on the Dog Danger Scale to Grindel, the most dangerous (possibly a) dog.

This wraps it up for the most dangerous, deadly dogs of the world. Often when we see the friendly little puppy, we can easily forget that behind that affable dog charm and friendly demeanor could possibly lurk a dangerous and bloodthirsty killer, the Danger Dog." Author's note: You dog may not be a dangerous dog, but he may smell and have fleas,,,ugh!! The way around that is to go to the orange-dogs web site that will help you to take care of these problems..

The World's Most Dangerous Dogs

Nick Schklair is one of the partners of GNE Enterprises, Inc. A Florida based pet care products company, located in St. Johns, Florida specializing in green, organic approaches to pet care utilizing essential oils and organic based orange byproducts. He overseas the manufacture, formulation and quality control of the products that are marketed. The key to the company's approach is to utilize only natural compounds, including the product's containers, which are recyclable. Nick has a B.S. from St. Johns University and a Masters Degree from Dartmouth College.

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What You Can Do About Your Dog's Constant Scratching

Is your dog's constant scratching driving him--and you--crazy? If your dog is continually licking, scratching, and gnawing at himself, dry skin may be the reason. But what causes dry, flaky skin in dogs? There can be a number of factors, including inadequate diet, allergies, and more. It may take a little detective work to figure out the root cause of your dog's itchy skin, but once you find it, you'll find the solution as well.

Start by Looking at Your Dog's Diet

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If you are feeding your dog a generic dog food or supermarket brand, he may not be getting enough nutrients and essential fatty acids to help keep his coat shiny and healthy. Many store brands don't contain the optimum balance of protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which help keep your dog's skin soft, moist, and healthy and his coat shiny.

What You Can Do About Your Dog's Constant Scratching

Experiment with one of the many premium brand or ultra premium dog food brands available at pet supply stores. Premium dog foods usually contain supplements such as flax seed, salmon oil, or other fish oils, which contain essential fatty acids. These extra nutrients will benefit your dog's skin and coat and relieve dry, itchy skin. Better dog foods are also made from whole product, such as chicken, turkey, and lamb, and do not contain by-products or fillers like the cheaper foods do. Some dogs are allergic to corn, soy, wheat and eggs. If you suspect food allergies look for a dog food without these ingredients.

Essential Fatty Acid Supplements

To give your dog an essential fatty acid boost, try giving him a vitamin- and fatty acid-rich supplement such as Linatone or Lipaderm. You can even put a regular flax seed oil, salmon oil or other fish oil capsule or liquid in his food. Many people find that this simple addition to their dog's diet helps reduce shedding, improve a dull coat, and relieve scratchy, flaky dry skin. It has certainly helped my dog's itchy skin.

Common Canine Allergies

In addition to food allergies, dust mites, fleas, and flea bites are common reasons for constant scratching. Typical signs of allergies include scratching, licking his paws, rubbing his face, or watery eyes. If your dog is allergic to dust mites, vets suggest putting a plastic cover over your dog's bed, which will keep mites from getting in the bed. Wash your dog's bed cover frequently in very hot water. Don't let your dog on upholstered furniture and avoid letting him play with stuffed animals. Vacuum very frequently to keep the dust bunnies away.

If your dog is scratching miserably, check him for fleas. Some dogs are allergic to fleas and flea bites, leading, to extremely itchy, inflamed skin. Use a flea control product on him. There are several once-a-month topical flea control medications that work very well. Avoid flea shampoos, which can be very drying and can exacerbate dry skin and make the itching worse.

Avoiding the allergens is the first line of defense. But if your dog needs relief from scratching now, try giving him a bath with a gentle, soothing shampoo liked oatmeal shampoo. Hydrocortisone spray or shampoo may also help to relieve itching. If your pet doesn't improve soon, check with your vet to see if your dog may have another underlying condition.

What You Can Do About Your Dog's Constant Scratching

Valerie Goettsch is webmaster of My Favorite Dog featuring articles and information on canine health, dog allergies, pet supplies, puppy training, and more.

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Which Pet Fish Are Best For Beginners?

Are you new to the world of pet fish keeping? With so many different varieties to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few types of freshwater fish that make excellent pets for the beginner as well as the advanced aquarist (fish keeper).

Betas

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Betas are the beautiful fish you see displayed in small bowls at your local pet store. They have long flowing fins of red, purple or blue and are extremely easy to care for. The only drawback of Betta fish is that they must be kept alone -- the males will fight each other to the death, and females are rarely available in pet shops. They don't do very well with other pet fish species either, because other fish like to nibble on their long fins.

Which Pet Fish Are Best For Beginners?

Goldfish

Goldfish are a relatively easy pet fish to care for if you provide them with the right size tank. They won't survive long in a goldfish bowl or small aquarium of less than 10 gallons because they produce a lot of waste. And waste cuts down on the available oxygen in the water. A good rule of thumb is to keep no more than 1 or 2 goldfish for each 10 gallons of well--filtered aquarium water.

Zebra Danios

Zebra Danios are extremely hardy pet fish that will do well in any size aquarium. They're tropical fish -- so you'll need to place a heater in their tank to maintain a water temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Don't just buy one Zebra Danio -- they're more fun to watch in schools of 5 or more. You'll find them in most pet stores and they're compatible with just about any variety of peaceful, tropical fish.

Platys and Swordtails

Platys and Swordtails are lumped into the same category because they're similar in appearance and pretty much identical in their requirements.

These tropical pet fish can be found in most pet stores in striking shades of orange and red. They are easy to care for when placed in a 72 degree Fahrenheit aquarium of at least 10 gallons. And they get along just fine with any other variety of peaceful tropical fish.

Platys and Swordtails mate and reproduce quite often in the home aquarium. They are livebearers -- which means their babies (fry) start swimming as soon as they're born.

Corydoras

Corydoras are another easy to care for and hardy variety of pet fish. They're a very active type of catfish and spend most of their time swimming along the bottom of the tank eating up any leftover food.

They are tropical fish, so they'll do best in a heated aquarium of at least 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You can put them in aquariums with just about any other variety of tropical fish and they seem to enjoy being kept in schools of 3 or more.

Which Pet Fish Are Best For Beginners?

Learn even more about Pet Fish Care at http://www.petcarejournal.com - a website designed to provide you with pet care articles and resources that will help you get the most out of your pet keeping experience, no matter what type of pet you own.

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Top 10 Meeting Ice Breakers

Getting people comfortable in a group setting before a team meeting can be the best investment of ten to 15 minutes of time that you can make. Ice breakers get creative juices flowing, can increase the exchange of ideas, establish team identity, and create a sense of community. All of these items are important in forging top productive teams. But how do you get people to participate and not feel uncomfortable with an ice breaker?

For meetings in a business setting in which participants are professionals, ice breakers that require actions not normally associated with day-to-day behaviors in the office generally make people uncomfortable. Successful ice breakers for these type of groups generally consist of having attendees share memorable information with each other, create innovative ways to get people to introduce themselves to each other, or have group members collectively work on a problem where everyone has to contribute.

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We've selected our top ten team meeting ice breakers that are sure to get your meeting participants relaxed and ready to focus on your agenda as well as to connect with others in the group.

Top 10 Meeting Ice Breakers

1. Brainstorm!:Break the meeting into teams of four or five. Give each team a topic. Pick topics that are fun and simple like, "What would you take on a trip to the desert?" or "List things that are purple". Give your teams two minutes, no more, and tell them "This is a contest and the team with the most items on their list wins." Encourage the teams to write down as many things as they can and not to discuss anything, just list things as quickly as possible. At the end of two minutes, the team with the most items on their list wins! This helps people to share ideas without fearing what other people will think.

2. Same or Different:

Divide the meeting into teams of three or four and give each team a large sheet of paper and then give each person a different colored marker. Have each person draw a large oval such that each oval overlaps with the other ovals in the center of the piece of paper. Give the group or groups, a theme that pertains to your meeting objectives. Ask the participants to write down at least five or more entries in the non-overlapping and mutually overlapping areas of their ovals. Give them five minutes, no more than that, to talk about their similarities and differences and write them in their own ovals on the paper. If there is more than one group, compare results and identify common themes in both parts of the diagrams and what light these similarities and differences shed on the purpose of the meeting. This helps team members develop an understanding of shared objectives and in a non-confrontational way learn how their views differ from others in the group.

3. Fact or Fiction:

Have everyone write down three surprising things about themselves, two of which are true, and one of which is made up. Each person, in turn, reads their list and then the rest of the group votes on which "fact" they feel is the "false" one. If the group does not correctly pick a person's made up "fact", then that person wins. A group can have more than one winner. At the end, the whole group votes on which of the "winners" of the final round, had the most deceiving "fact". This helps people get to know and remember their colleagues.

4. Free Association:

The object of this ice breaker is to have small groups generate as many words or phrases as they can that are related to a particular topic that focuses on the objective of your meeting. Give the group or groups a key word you want them to associate with and then give them two minutes to list, as quickly as possible, as many words or thoughts that pop into their heads. For example, if your company is trying to decide on whether to reduce travel and increase the use of teleconferencing, you might use the word "teleconferencing" and have people list as many words or phrases they can that they associate with the key word. For example they might say: "saves money", "saves time", "impersonal", "need to see other people", "get distracted", "sound quality".... This reveals what people are thinking, similarities in viewpoints, and possibly even problem areas or topics that need addressing or further discussion.

5. Nametags:

Prepare nametags for each person and put them in a box. As people walk into the room, each person picks a nametag (not their own). When everyone is present, participants are told to find the person whose nametag they drew and introduce and say a few interesting things about themselves. When everyone has their own nametag, each person in the group will introduce the person whose nametag they were initially given and mention something of interest about that person. This helps participants get to know and remember each other.

6. Desert Island:

Group people in teams of five or six and tell them they will be marooned on a desert island. Give them 30 seconds to list all the things they think they should take and each person has to contribute at least three items. At the end of 30 seconds, tell the teams they can only take three things. Have the person who suggested each item on the list tell why they suggested it and defend why their item should be one of the chosen three. This helps the team learn about how each of them thinks, get to know each other's values, and how they solve problems.

7. Commonality Plus:

Group your meeting participants at tables. At each table ask the group to list ten ways that everyone in that group is similar. Let them know that they cannot list body parts or clothing and that what they select cannot have anything to do with work. One person at the table should be tasked to make their list. At the end of your time limit have the group share their list with all meeting members. This is a great opportunity for your meeting attendees to learn about each other's hobbies, families, and common interests.

8. Line Up:

As people enter your meeting hand each one a piece of paper with a different number written on it. Ask the group to arrange themselves in numeric order without using their voices, hands, or showing their number. This helps the team to think of other ways to communicate with each other and to work together to achieve a common goal.

9. Meet and Greet Shoe Pile:

This works great in large groups and is a variation of the name tag ice breaker. Have everyone take off one of their shoes and throw it into a pile. Have each group member pick up a shoe and walk around the meeting room greeting other people as they try to match their selected shoe to the one another team member is wearing. This is a great way for new people to meet several members in a group.

10. First or Worst:

Have each member tell the group their first or worst job in turn. This easy to use ice breaker works great with teleconferences too and allows team members to spark conversation with each other and to have some fun commenting on the jobs that they have each done. Many of our top ten ice breakers can be used for on-site meetings and teleconferences alike. The nature of ice breakers is to get the group to talk, to share, and to get to know each other in a casual exchange. The best and most successful teams start with a little bit of fun; learning how to value what each member brings into the group. Ice breakers can help facilitate this exchange of information and comfort in doing so at the very start of the team forging process.

Top 10 Meeting Ice Breakers

Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding communication and meetings at AccuConference.

Find out more about our conference call, web conferencing and video conferencing services from AccuConference.

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Overcoming Motion Sickness in Dogs

Like people, dogs can be troubled with motion sickness, especially when sitting or standing in a moving vehicle, boat or airplane.

Symptoms

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Dogs that suffer with travel sickness may experience nausea, dizziness or vomiting. In many cases, motion sickness can be defeated as the dog becomes more comfortable with traveling. But in other cases, the animal will continue to experience symptoms, making travel a traumatic experience for both the pet and the owner.

Overcoming Motion Sickness in Dogs

Things You Can Do

There are several things you can do to help alleviate dog motion sickness. For instance, avoid feeding your pet for at least an hour or two before traveling.

Take your pet on short trips whenever possible to get him or her used to traveling, and be sure your car is comfortable and well ventilated. You may open a window for air to reduce the chances that your dog will suffer from travel sickness, but avoid letting the dog ride with his or her head out the window. While it is common to see dogs riding this way, it can irritate their eyes and exacerbate symptoms of motion sickness.

It also helps if the dog associates the car ride with something good like a trip to a park. Make it a fun time!

If you are worried about your pet soiling your vehicle, bring a good supply of newspapers, paper towels, trash bags, bath towels and clean up materials along.

In addition to the measures mentioned above, you may want to consider giving your dog something natural to prevent travel sickness or alleviate symptoms. There are a few herbal remedies used to treat motion sickness in dogs and the good news is that dogs respond quite well to them.

Herbs and Homeopathic Remedies for Motion Sickness in Dogs

Safe natural remedies you can use include:

Ginger (zingiber officinalis), a well-known remedy for nausea that can help animals that suffer from motion sickness... Some people have had great results with ginger snaps.

Mint, particularly the herb mentha piperita is also useful for travel sickness.

Kalium phosphate, a natural tranquilizer also can benefit both animals and humans who suffer from anxiety-like symptoms associated with motion sickness.

To learn about homeopathic remedies that can help your dog overcome motion sickness visit: dog travel sickness

Overcoming Motion Sickness in Dogs

Ann Jones is the publisher of beatmotionsickness.com. Learn about other natural remedies for motion sickness in dogs by visiting: dog travel sickness
For information on motion sickness, causes, symptoms, and natural ways to overcome it visit: motion sickness aids.

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How to Read Body Language - Top 10 Tips

Interested in learning how to read body language? Would you like to be able to tell when people are lying and understand people's intentions? This article will provide you with the top 10 tips for reading body language.

I feel Body Language is the most important language you can learn. It bypasses the verbal communication barriers and gives you an insight into what others might be thinking, or what actions they are likely to take.

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Remember that the art of being able to read body language is to be able to look at some one, pick up the signals, and at the same time not let on to that person you are doing this. If you do the person will become uncomfortable.

How to Read Body Language - Top 10 Tips

Tip 1. - Eyes

Dilated pupils - the person is interested in the topic.

People say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. They can tell so much information about the person if you know what you are looking for. As in most situations, the same signal can be interpreted in a different way. It depends entirely on the circumstances at hand. The example above could also mean that the person is on drugs, or it could mean that they are focused.

Tip 2. - Hands

Open palm.- the person is relaxed and comfortable.

The hands have many expressions and are a good place to start when learning how to read body language. Generally when some ones hands are open it means that their defenses are relaxed.

Tip 3 - Mimicking

When you are talking to someone, if they are mimicking your body position and action it means that they are comfortable in the situation and most likely interested by you and what you are saying.

Tip 4 - Eyes

If someone's eyes are gazing to the side it is a trait that they are feeling guilty. Likewise if they are gazing down this express's shame. Remember the eyes have so many meanings and it's easy to make the wrong evaluation. Practice makes perfect.

Tip 5 - Arms

The main two expressions with arms is that they are either closed (folded) or open. When folded the person is possibly angry or disapproving. When their arms are open the person is in an honest position and is accepting of the situation.

Tip 6 - Rubbing of the Chin

If someone is rubbing their chin it generally means that they are thinking.

Tip 7 - Feet

When you are in conversation with someone you can tell if they are comfortable and interested by what you are saying by their feet position. When standing opposite one another the other persons feet are facing in your direction. This means that they are comfortable and their head and eyes will also be focused on you.

When standing opposite someone their feet are pointing away and their head and eyes are not focused on you. They will most likely be nodding and agreeing with a fake smile. This means that the person n question is not interested and might even feel uncomfortable in the situation.

Tip 8 - Legs

When stood up Legs are a good indicator of how confident someone is. If someone is standing with their legs shoulder width apart they are relaxed. If they are standing with a stance wider than that they are a confident and are in a grounded position to show they are in control.

When stood up with legs crossed the person is probably shy.

When sitting down if the legs are crossed it shows the person is in protective mode. This is very much used alongside crossed arm action.

If the legs are open when the person is seated then they are in a relaxed position. The same as when standing.

Tip 9 - Fingers

Fingers can create many gestures and are great for reading body language. A pointing finger can either be someone pointing to a item or place, it can also indicate anger. If someone is curling their fingers tightly they are usually pleading for some thing.

Drumming or tapping with the fingers indicates frustration. The faster the beating, the greater the frustration and tension inside the person.

Tip 10 - Eyebrows

The eyebrows have many uses. Listed below are some examples. When the eye brows are raised, normally the person is shocked or surprised. The greater the surprise the more raised they will be. When someone flicks their eye brow up and down quickly they are greeting someone else or are showing they have acknowledged them.

I hope you have enjoyed learning how to read body language tips. Remember reading body language is not a skill that can be learned over night. The more you practice the easier it will become and the more subtle you will be able to do it.

How to Read Body Language - Top 10 Tips

Neal Hendes has a passion for body language. He loves to encourage people to become more developed in reading body language and has an online blog How To Read Body Language which you can visit to find out more information on the subject.

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Top 10 Celebrities Who Had HIV

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) strikes anyone - young and old, the rich or poor, the famous and unknowns. The nameless victims who get infected go unnoticed, but celebrities who do, always get the world's attention. This is a list of the top 10 celebrities who are known to have or to have had the virus known as HIV, including those who have died (whether from AIDS or another cause).

1) Rock Hudson - Iconic Hollywood leading man, the first major American celebrity whose AIDS diagnosis was made public. Unquestionably, he was one of the most popular and well-known movie stars of his time. The public got a double shock when it was revealed he had AIDS and was gay. In 1985, Hudson died at the age of 59.

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2)Freddie Mercury - Queen's lead singer noted for his vocal abilities and his charisma. His death led to The Mercury Phoenix Trust anti-AIDS charity and the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness. Died in 1991 at the age of 45 and was inducted into Rock and Roll's Hall of Fame in 2001.

Top 10 Celebrities Who Had HIV

3)Liberace - Flamboyant Las Vegas singer and piano player known for candelabras, lavish costumes, exotic cars and kitchy homes. In the '70s and 80s, Liberace was a major box office attraction in Las Vegas. In 1987, he died due to complications from AIDS.

4)Arthur Ashe - one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Was the first African-American to win a Grand Slam and he went on to collect three. Ashe transcended tennis to become a social activist who led public protests against apartheid in South Africa; became infected with HIV via transfusion during heart surgery. This Tennis Hall of Famer died in 1993 at the age of 49.

5) Isaac Asimov - famous science fiction writer and biochemist. Two of his works were turned into highly successful films - I, Robot and Bicentennial Man. Asimov, who was also popular for his science books, became infected by transfused blood during heart surgery.

6) Earvin "Magic" Johnson - One of the greatest NBA players of all time, Johnson is widely considered as the best point guard ever to play the game. Since publicly announcing he had been infected with the virus HIV, Johnson continues to be an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and safe sex.

7)Greg Louganis - Olympic gold medalist in diving. Was the most outstanding amateur athlete in 1984 and went on to win back-to-back Olympic golds in both the 3m and 10m diving events. Following the announcement of his HIV status in 1995, Louganis was dropped by majority of his corporate sponsors. Since retiring from diving, Louganis has ventured into acting mostly in off-Broadway plays.

8)Tommy Morrison - world champion boxer better known for his role as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. In 1996 it was revealed he was HIV-positive which automatically retired him from boxing as a competitor. Currently, he is pursuing a career in Mixed Martial Arts and is trying to mount a comeback in boxing.

9)Ryan White - expelled from high school because of his infection which he got from contaminated blood during treatment. White, who was a hemophiliac, became a poster child for HIV/AIDS at a time when the public knew very little about the disease. White made many celebrity friends including Michael Jackson whose song "Gone Too Soon" was a tribute to the teenage AIDS victim. White died in 1990 at a young age of 18.

10) Esteban De Jesus - a world lightweight champion boxer from Puerto Rico. Famous for his trilogy with Roberto Duran, "Vita" had a life full of controversy, problems and scandals. Sentenced to life in jail for murder, he became a preacher and started to turn his life around. De Jesus acquired HIV and succumbed to full-blown AIDS in 1989.

Top 10 Celebrities Who Had HIV

When you think about the celebrities on this list, appreciate the importance of practicing Safe Sex. It is an effective way to prevent yourself or your partner from getting the HIV virus or other STDs. Want to know more about Safe Sex? Click here. Want to know more about HIV/AIDS and STDS? Click here

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How Often Should You Bathe A Pet?

Bathing your dog or cat is an important part of pet ownership. Regardless of your pets' breed and coat type, shampooing promotes cleanliness and a healthy skin and coat. Frequency of bathing varies greatly between breeds and individual pets, and how often your pet should get a bath depends on the needs of your own dog or cat.

Cats and dogs may share many things, when it comes to baths and bathing techniques, cats and dogs couldn't be more different. Cats are fastidious self-groomers, and many cats can go a lifetime without requiring a true bath. This is generally a good thing, because most cats aren't big fans of the bathing process, and bathing a cat is generally not for the inexperienced cat owner, or the faint of heart.

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Some cats do require bathing, usually for medical reasons. Cats being treated for skin infections or fungal infections, such as ringworm, may need regular baths to treat and prevent re occurrence of skin problems. Older and overweight cats may not be able to groom themselves as thoroughly, and may require routine bathing in order to keep up their personal hygiene. An occasional bath may be necessary if your cat gets sprayed by a skunk, gets unusually dirty, or gets a foreign substance on his or her coat. But for the average, healthy cat, a good brushing program may be able to replace the bath for routine coat care.

How Often Should You Bathe A Pet?

On the flip side, while dogs do require routine baths to stay clean and healthy, they fortunately are a little more accepting of the process. Regular bathing of all dogs, despite coat length or type, helps to keep the coat and skin healthy. Most dogs do not require frequent bathing (once a month or less!), but brushing in between bath times helps to keep them clean, removing dead hair, dirt and other debris from the coat.

How often you should bathe your dog depends greatly on your dog, his activity level and breed. The best way to tell if your dog needs a bath is through your nose- if your dog has that "doggy odor" than it's probably time for a bath.

Some dogs require more frequent bathing as a matter of cleanliness, but as a generally rule, most dogs should not have a bath more than once a month. Some breeds prone to oily skin, such as Cocker Spaniels and Shih Tzu's, may require baths every 2-4 weeks, while thick coated dogs, like Chows and Huskies may only need a bath a few times a year.

Unlike human hair, dog fur is not suitable for constant bathing, and repeated washing will strip the skin of its natural, protective oils. The loss of these oils can cause your dog to scratch, irritating the skin, and, yep- making the dog stink, causing him to be bathed even more frequently. While over-bathing can be a vicious cycle, there are some things you can do to make sure that bathing doesn't create a problem for your pet.

For the average dog, bathed once a month or so, human shampoo can usually be used without ill effect. Dog skin is more sensitive than human skin, and using shampoo designed for people can cause a pH imbalance in the skin, leading to excessive dryness. Any dog being bathed more frequently than once a month should always be washed in a dog-specific shampoo.

A quick trip to your local pet store, and you will find a variety of shampoos for every possible need your dog may have- formulated to help combat itchy skin, fleas and ticks, doggy odor, excessive shedding, coat color enhancers, and everything in between. Not all soaps are created equal- if you have questions, consult your veterinarian or groomer for their recommendations on a good shampoo for routine use.

There are some cases where your dog may need baths every few days for a time, such as for treatment of skin infections, fungal infections and other skin and coat problems. Your veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo, designed to help combat the underlying skin problem. It is important to follow your veterinarians' instructions carefully in these cases, because often the medicated shampoos must be lathered onto the dog, and left in place for several minutes for optimal effect.

If your dog is prone to skin problems, talk to your veterinarian about your current grooming regimen, and see if adjustments should be made. Often dogs that suffer from recurrent hot spots and skin infections can be helped with a more steady bathing ritual, to remove dirt and build up from the coat and allow the skin to breathe. Dogs that swim in pools and the ocean should be bathed thoroughly after every swim- the chlorine and salt water are both highly irritating if left on the coat, and can cause skin irritations and infections.

If your dog is long-haired, or prone to tangles, a coat conditioner may be useful as a second step to the bathing process. Conditioners can help to manage the hair and make it softer, allowing for mats and tangles to be more easily removed, along with re-moisturizing the coat.

It is important to note that in dogs prone to ear infections, bathing (and swimming) can be a constant cause of ear irritation. In order to help avoid ear problems, place a cotton ball into the outer part of your dogs' ear canal while bathing, to prevent excessive water from seeping in. After bathing, clean your dogs ears with a dog-specific ear cleaner- this will help to remove excess water from inside the ear canal, a prime candidate for causing ear infections.

How often you should shampoo your pet depends greatly on your dog or cats living circumstances, age, condition and breed. Bathing is a valuable tool to keeping your pet healthy and happy, and when done correctly, can help your pet to lead a long and happy life.

How Often Should You Bathe A Pet?

David Beart is the owner of the Professor's House http://www.professorshouse.com. Our site covers such topics as Family Holidays http://www.professorshouse.com/family/, relationships, home care and other household issues.

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Causes of Dog Health Problems Bloody Stool Issues

Melena is the number one cause of dog health problems bloody stool issues. Melena and hematochezia cause the dog to have bloody stool. Melena is blood that the dog digested, and looks dark in color. Hematochezia is considered fresh blood in the stool and is considered minor compared to melena. Many health reasons result in a bloody stool and most tests by a veterinarian will confirm the problem.

This health problem causes a lack of energy and sometimes incontinence, as accidents happen due to the inability to move outdoors quickly. By restricting food, the dog will eventually stop the diarrhea and give the intestines time to heal. If the diarrhea results from infection or parasite, the problem will persist until proper medical is received. This condition affects all sizes and breeds of dogs no matter what you do to prevent it.

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Causes of Dog Health Problems Bloody Stool Issues

Causes of Dog Health Problems Bloody Stool Issues

Medications, infections, cancer and foreign objects digested by the dog. A metabolic disorder or hemorrhagic gastro enteritis may cause a dog to have a bloody stool. Some heavy metal or blood ingestion and gastrointetestinal ischemia are all causes of melena in dogs. Metabolic diseases cause ulcers of the stomach or intestines and can result from many different causes. If your dog health problems bloody stool issues arise with such signs as pale gums, frequent urination and thirst, lack of appetite and weight loss are all signs of problems along with dark black stools.

If the dog continues to have diarrhea for more than twenty-four hours, medical treatment is required. The first thing you can try is a bland diet of rice and potato instead of their regular food. This may help, but in case it does not, you may need to have a veterinarian determine the cause.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dog Melena

When you notice black or dark colored stools, you need to contact the vet for further tests. These tests will include urinalysis, a biochemical work up, stool sample diagnosis, blood work up, ultrasound and chest/abdominal x-rays. After these tests are concluded, the vet will determine the exact cause of the dog health problems bloody stool issues and discuss treatment with you.

If the dog does not have a severe health condition, they may be treated at home instead of an overnight stay at an animal clinic. A special diet of a bland diet that is specified by the vet and any medications prescribed by the veterinarian need to be dealt with at home in order to treat the dog health problem bloody stool issues. In most cases, medications are needed to block stomach acids and coat the intestines. If you do not see any improvement, you need to contact the vet for further treatments. .

Get treatment for your dog if this problem persists and stick to a strict diet and medication schedule for proper treatment of a sick dog. The dog will need plenty of rest and a calm environment in order to heal and come back to health.

Causes of Dog Health Problems Bloody Stool Issues

You can also find more information at Boxer dog health and large dog health issues. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog's illness symptoms and treatment options.

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Measuring Employee Performance by Using Productivity Metrics

Have you ever wondered how much an average employee contributes towards the success of your organization? Well, tremendous. Each employee or worker makes an incredible difference to the revenue that your organization generates. For this very reason it is also important to monitor and analyze employee performance periodically. Doing this is not easy. Organizations the world over have been struggling to invent methods that work best for measuring employee performance or what we call employee productivity. From conducting objective and subjective manual research and calculations to conducting complex performance appraisals systems, numerous ways have been devised to identify the importance of each employee. Such ways or methods to measure employee productivity are called Productivity Metrics.

The overall concept of these metrics

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To be able to measure productivity, you first need to know the purpose, method and the desired outcome of any process that you will be implementing. You need to answer why you want to measure, how you plan to measure and after measuring what are is your desired course of action. Why you want to measure answers what goals and objectives have been set by your organization. How you plan to measure is your productivity metrics. And, course of action suggests the actions you will have to take to realize your goals and objectives. We assume that the goals and objectives are clearly outlined before productivity metrics are applied. We apply productivity metrics to identify the measure we need to take to achieve those goals and objectives which we call the Critical Success Factors or (CSFs).

Measuring Employee Performance by Using Productivity Metrics

How to implement it? For any productivity metric to be implemented, it is important to first identify its contributing elements completely. The elements of productivity metrics are Name of the metric, Metric description, Measurement procedure, and Measurement frequency, Thresholds Estimation, Current Thresholds, Target Value and Units. Where metric and metric description identifies what needs to be measured, measurement procedure and frequency talk about how the metric is measured and how often the metric is measured respectively. Thresholds estimation talks of how the thresholds are calculated. Current thresholds talks of the current value range that is considered normal for the metric. Target value is the best possible value of the metric and Units are the units in which the metric will be measured. After the technical dump of information let us understand this better with the help of an example.

Consider a scenario where you want to analyze the performance of your frontline sales staff. You need to do this to understand how much each employee or worker has contributed towards the growth of your retail store over a period of time. In this case, Name of metric will be Sales Performance. Metric description will state the purpose subjectively. In this case, metric description will be "To calculate the contribution of the worker towards the store's growth". Measurement procedure will identify method that you choose to measure the work done by each worker. In this case let's assume it to be a formula that returns the number of sales made per person per day for a month. Measurement frequency is the duration for measuring; in our case it should be daily. Threshold estimation in our case would mean the maximum expected number of sales that must be made by an employee per day. Current threshold would depict the number of sales made by the employee at present. Target value would show the difference between the expected and actual sales stating the number of extra sales the employee will have to perform to meet the target goals. Data is made available by tracking the daily sales information with the help of a scorecard or a dashboard that helps you collect and organize data over a period of time. In our case these factors that we considered will be the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will help you collect, analyze, and respond appropriately.

After identifying the key elements of any metric, challenge of selecting the best possible metric arises. Selecting any metric is often not easy owing to the fact that each metric has its own set of pros and cons. Every metric that is used to track the productivity will always follow a procedure that starts with collecting data, followed by analyzing that data and finally responding to the resultant information. As we progress into the Information age, data collection is no longer a challenge. Standards, automation and technologies contribute immensely towards speeding up the procedure of productivity measurement. To be able to select the right productivity metric it is vital for an organization to completely identify its goals and objectives. This helps determine the key factors that contribute towards achieving those goals and objectives. These key factors are what we call Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These KPIs are then used to correctly assess the present state of success and to prescribe a course of action leading towards achieving the set goals and objectives. Every industry and every organization would have its own set of KPIs to measure productivity. All depends on what you want to track and what goals and objectives is an organization trying to achieve. Some common examples of metrics that are used to measure software productivity are Order of growth, Source lines of code, Cyclomatic complexity, Function point analysis and Bugs per line of code. Other metrics that are being applied to measure any productivity in general are the Balanced Scorecard, Performance Prism [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_Prism], and the Cambridge Performance Measurement Process (Neely, 1996). These are designed for business-wide implementation. Other approaches such as the TPM Process, 7-step TPM Process, and Total Measurement Development Method (TMDM) are specific for team-based productivity measurement.

Measuring Employee Performance by Using Productivity Metrics

If you are interested in productivity metrics, check this web-site to learn more about productivity metrics.

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How to Provide Excellent Customer Service - 4 Tips For Employers to Improve Customer Service

Whether your business is an online store or a storefront downtown, providing excellent customer service will determine if you succeed in the long run. In today's economy, the businesses that will survive and thrive will be those that give each and every customer a better shopping experience than the competition. Win that battle. Grow your sales and your business by fine-tuning your store's customer service and by following these four key points.

Commit to High Standards and Communicate Them to Employees
Commit to and communicate company standards to improve employee performance.

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Adam Williams*, a longtime human resources consultant, specializes in retraining business staff who have low levels of customer service. "Customer service starts at the very top," Williams says. "Set your standards high, and let your employees know they are non-negotiable." Williams adds that customer service requires a commitment from the employer as well as the employees, and notes it is the employer's responsibility to make everyone aware of these policies.

How to Provide Excellent Customer Service - 4 Tips For Employers to Improve Customer Service

Cathy Ward, an online retailer, agrees. "Communicating standards is critical," Ward says. "I inform employees upon hiring the conduct that is expected. I monitor employee phone calls and watch them work. If they aren't meeting our standards I explain to them why and correct the issue."

Show your company's commitment to customer service with the following tips:
Post a written copy of your customer service policy where every employee can see it. Routinely review your customer service standards. Hold monthly quality meetings and training seminars. Create an incentive program that rewards great performance. Tape notes by the phone with appropriate phrases and service messages.

Making these a part of your operations will help keep everyone on the same page and ensure consistency.

Maintain Proper Employee Attitude
Train employees to keep their personal and professional lives separate to improve their attitudes and win customers.

Maintaining the right employee attitude is key. Your employees are your frontline to winning customers and their attitude is conveyed in everything they do. It's in their body language when face-to-face with a customer, in their tone of voice when answering the phone, and in their word choices when responding to an email.

This is why Williams describes all workers as actors on a stage, "Your customers are your audience. They're looking to you to provide a great performance." That means personal problems, gossip, and private matters must be left at home. Williams adds, "If you are miserable for whatever reason, it can't show at work."

Attitude is especially critical when you or an employee have to tell a customer what they don't want to hear. "The ability to be brutally honest and direct without being perceived as cold or uncaring is important," says Bob Bryant, a merchant services provider. "Service reps that can patiently resolve issues with a disgruntled customer, while winning that customer as an ally, are few and far between."

Here's an activity that will get employees thinking about the right attitude:
Ask them to describe a specific time when they received great customer service and to explain what made the experience special. Ask them to describe a time when they received poor customer service and identify what they disliked about the experience. Have your employees share their experiences as a group and list key points from each experience.

This exercise is a great reminder that while many of us are not experienced at providing good customer service, we are all experienced customers. Training your employees to see the mindset of their customers will help them improve their level of service.

Keep Your Level of Customer Service Consistent
Maintain consistent levels of customer service to gain customer trust and repeat business.

A positive attitude will gain your business little if your customer service is inconsistent. "The reason people go back to just about any business is because of the way they were treated when they were there the last time," Williams says. One bad experience is often all it takes to turn a customer away from a business forever.

"You have to make an effort with every customer," Ward says. "You may get three difficult customer calls in a row, but you can never take that out on the fourth person who calls."

A frustrated employee who is curt with a customer may lose that customer in addition to others who will hear about the experience. Being consistent with every customer lets them know what to expect when they interact with your company, gives them reasons to come back, and can bring in new business.

Use Teamwork to Implement Your Customer Service Policy
Use teamwork to keep customer service levels consistent and to motivate employees.

Teamwork is essential to bring everything together. Cutthroat work environments will hamper productivity, increase turnover, and will sabotage your customer service efforts. Employees need to feel that by working together everyone benefits and that promoting their company is a shared responsibility.

When employers and employees work together, the result is a seamless experience for the customer. There is no conflict between what one employee says and another, policies are upheld, and customers gain trust in your business.

Excellent Customer Service Can Grow Your Business

If you and your employees can commit to work together to consistently create a positive performance that meets and exceeds the expectations of your customers, you will win the battle to grow your business. "Everyone wins," Williams says. "Your employees are happy, your customers are happy, and they will reward you with repeat business and new word-of-mouth customers."

*Name changed due to confidential requirements of employment.

How to Provide Excellent Customer Service - 4 Tips For Employers to Improve Customer Service

Brian Cross has been an active freelance writer and content researcher for small and independent businesses since 2007. While preparing this article he consulted with Cathy Ward, a wedding accessories retailer and owner of BridesVillage.

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How Do You Tell Fake Ivory From Real

Ivory comes from animal teeth and tusk and has been used traditionally by many different cultures. It can be very difficult to tell real ivory from synthetic or fake ivory. The problem is that real ivory varies so much in color and grain. There are ways of telling fake ivory from real ivory just by performing a few tests. Of course to be 100% sure a chemical test has to be done. Ivory was used for centuries in Chinese dragon artwork and Eskimo Carving.

Most fake ivory is made up of either plastic or a resin of old ivory that is ground down and mixed with another synthetic. Bone carvings are also easily confused with ivory carvings. Bone carvings are generally have far less value than those of ivory. Plastic and resins are usually smoother than real ivory. Looking at bone under magnification you will see a lot of pitting something that real ivory will not have.

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The hot pin test can help you determine the difference between plastic, synthetic, bone and ivory. Its best to perform this test on the bottom of the object that is not visible as it may cause damage to plastic objects. Heat a needle until it is extremely hot than touch the needle against the object you are testing. A hot needle can not penetrate real ivory like it will a plastic or resin. When you touch bone with a hot needle smell the area that you touched. It should have a very unique smell like burning hair. When you touch ivory with a hot needle you will smell something more like a burning teeth dentist office type smell. Passing this test is a pretty good indication that you have real ivory.

How Do You Tell Fake Ivory From Real

If your collecting ivory a magnifying glass of 15x is a must and a UV light is recommended.

How Do You Tell Fake Ivory From Real

To see two more tests you can perform to tell fake ivory [http://dragonartwork.net/2008/02/23/can-you-tell-fake-ivory-from-real] be sure to visit Dragon Artwork

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Pet Meds No Prescription Required Online - Is It Possible?

The fact is, that the Internet has changed many things about the way that people shop for the things that they need from day to day. Also, so much more information is readily available via the Internet. This means that more and more people are able to not only determine the cause of their pets maladies by using the Internet but they can also purchase the pet meds that they need for them online as well.

Buying Pet Meds Online is Easy

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This has led more and more people to head out to find and purchase the medications that they require for their pets treatment online with no prescription in hand. Is this a problem? Can they get what they need or will they be turned away empty handed? The fact of the matter is that a large percentage of pet medications that are commonly used require no prescription at all.

Pet Meds No Prescription Required Online - Is It Possible?

What is a Prescription?

Prescriptions for pets are written for a variety of reasons. Many people assume that a prescription is only written if a controlled drug is need to treat the problem that the pet is suffering from. The truth of the matter, is a prescription can just as often be written that prescribes a course of treatment the doesn't include any controlled substances. This is because a prescription is just a written course of treatment that a vet will provide for you to use.

Common Antibiotics Without a Prescription

This means that a wide variety of drugs and medications can be purchased for your pet from an online pet pharmacy with no prescription required at all. This even includes many commonly prescribed antibiotics such a penicillin. However; there are other pet medications such as powerful sedatives that will require a prescription to be purchased and besides you really should consult a veterinarian before you use them on your pet anyway.

Pet Meds No Prescription Required Online - Is It Possible?

Written by Karlise Renaldson. Find the latest information on Frontline Plus Best Price

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Managing Garment Merchandising

Introduction

The textile and garment industry is booming in India, especially after elimination of the global quota system. Presently India is exporting garments to more than 100 countries including US, EU, Latin America, and Middle East. Last year, garment export was nearly 00 million and about 1200 million pieces. The main competitors of India are countries like China, Korea, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Sri-Lanka.

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The Indian garment industry is gaining ground in the world market at breakneck speed, but still not flourished at its fullest extent. Although the resources are available plentiful with a powerful foundation of fabric and spinning sector to support. The key factors behind this are low technological development, lower output, cut throat competition, high raw material cost, inadequate infrastructure, traditional productivity, unfavorable regulatory policies, and globalization impact. However, there is a fair list of the producers, suppliers, and exporters that are fully acknowledged with regulatory policies and formalities, international marketing policies and procedures. The only concern is in executing their productivity initiatives, and meeting with order deadlines.

Managing Garment Merchandising

Now days, major companies are adopting merchandising concepts, which comply with all procedures to execute and dispatch the shipment on time, considering quality, cost and time. Merchandisers are serious in the success of any garment retail business. They provide the right products at the right time, enabling a company to match with latest market trends and meet the market demand. In the merchandising concept, time management is a gig to manage one's time properly, so he can focus on value adding actions.

Today's garment merchandisers have to move with frequent changes in demand and the developing technologies utilized in manufacturing and production. To find out customer requirements, they regularly visit retail outlets, and come up with latest updates from frontline staff. In order to keep an eye on developments in sourcing, site visits are made every week to mainland factories to meet suppliers and study production.

In garment merchandising, there is no specific rule, so it's important to be able to think on one's feet.

The main procedures of merchandisers are as followed:
Understanding Sample Order

Merchandiser has to understand the buyer's requirements after receiving specification in the sample order. In many cases, there are modifications pertaining to the specifications in the order to dispatch on time and the right quality.

He has to talk with the in-house veterans on the execution problems of sample orders, as the right information is required in decision making.

Managing order route card and production timetable

Merchandiser has to manage every single production schedule and order route card that helps to follow-up the execution in the planned way. It is expected to be acknowledged of the various descriptions like: design, no. of modules, no. of operators, how many processes, date of dispatch, quantity, output capacity, and deadlines in the schedules.

The sub-ordinates are normally assigned to follow-up with execution of the plan. Merchandiser plans the activities depending on the essentials or non-essentials, and top priority are given to the most essential tasks. This is customary that the essential activities are handled personally or with the support of junior merchandisers/sub-ordinates.

In a "daily schedule", merchandiser has to carry-out and categorize which is the most significant and urgent task. The activity that has to be focused with full attention to sweep-off non-essential activities and have to be to be corrected by prioritizing to meet the deadlines.

Using route card to reschedule activities

To get updated on the current status on the order, the route cards should be utilized. The latest status can be fed into the computers. In case, the buyer ask for the goods prior to the deadline, then merchandiser has to reorganize the schedules to accomplish tasks, output capacity, no. of pieces to be produced daily, substitute arrangements, time availability, supply time, scheduling critical ratio, etc.

Submitting pre-production samples

The pre-production samples should be provided on time to the concerned buyers. Quality of the sample must be verified. If required, revised samples should be made available to the buyers. Merchandiser should adjust to the required changes demanded by the buyer. The execution of bulk orders should be made only after samples are approved by the buyer.

In-process inspection denote between any tasks in order-execution. In case of non- conformation, it is better to focus on the concerns of quality. Merchandisers that works on complete orders have to check deviation to the production teams so that any amendments can be done to avoid the non-conformities.

Solving shortage problem

The merchandiser should know about the dearth of any commodity such as fabric, yarn, etc... from the beginning. Actions should be taken immediately to arrange required materials, after discovering the shortage. It is expected that the merchandisers should verify quality of the goods prior to execution of the order. If the material is found unavailable, the superior should be informed about the concern.

Communicating with associated people and buyer

It is essential to communicate with the buyers regarding the order. It is expected to give some time to the buyer to read the sent messages. Merchandiser should to go through the messages received from the buyer and reply on time. In many cases, merchandisers have to provide order status to the buyers. Also, merchandiser has to communicate with the people that are in-house, venders, contractors and job-workers. Only through the right communication can one meet deadline for the concerned orders.

Conclusion

Apart from the above mention procedures, merchandiser has to assign subordinates to help him in the order execution, and direct the procedures. He has to revise his knowledge from time-to-time to know current market trends. To record preferences for all the planned activities, use daily or time log systems.

The Merchandiser should find out exact reasons for time consumption. It is necessary to keep record of time value and keeping it safe, as it is going to be shared with concerned parties/buyers. It is certain that merchandising jobs need huge time planning.

Last but not least, KEEP YOUR EYES & EARS OPEN.

Managing Garment Merchandising

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