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An e-Publication from JustEnuffNews.com January, 2008

Pet lovers know that there is nothing quite so uniquely comforting as having their favourite four-legged friend curl-up on their lap for warmth when winter's icy hand reaches out. But cold weather means different challenges for our pets. Take some time to learn how to keep them warm, comfortable and safe.

• When it comes to shelter, it's important to remember that pets that are used to being indoors most of the time are not suited to spend extended periods outside in cold weather any more that we are. Be careful not to leave them out too long. But if you must, make certain they have a warm, solid shelter from the wind and rain/snow, with an old blanket for warm bedding and lots of unfrozen water.
• Cars can be particularly hazardous for cats in winter, as warm engines are appealing to a cat in search of warmth. Get in the habit of giving the hood of your vehicle a good rap before starting the engine.
• Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. The problem is that it smells and tastes good to your dog. Watch your pet carefully when outside. Be sure to fix even the smallest leak in your own vehicle.
• Partially frozen ponds and streams or ice that is not solid enough yet to support the weight of your dog should be avoided. Animals can easily fall through the ice, and it can be very difficult for them to escape on their own. Plus rescuing them can be just as dangerous for you.
• Space heaters and open fires are also danger zones for pets in winter. Exercise caution when using these to reduce the risk of serious burns to your pet and to prevent a fire in your home.
• Pets that go outside can come in contact with rock salt, chemical ice melters, hidden objects beneath the snow and ice itself, all of which can take a toll on their feet pads. To keep your pet's pads from getting cracked and raw, wipe their paws with a washcloth as soon as they come inside. This will also keep them from licking the salt off themselves and ingesting harmful chemicals.

Did you make a resolution this year? Many people find the New Year to be a good time to make improvements in their lives. But as we all know, success is not guaranteed!

Maybe a ‘resolution buddy' would help.??

A resolution buddy is someone who is prepared to help you meet your goal. Often they are friends who have made the same resolution as you - so you serve as a resolution buddy to each other.

The system relies on the idea that there is strength in numbers. When temptation strikes or when the goal seems unattainable, your resolution buddy can help by offering words of encouragement and ideas to help you focus on achieving your goal.

Arrange your resolution buddy right away, while you are still positive about the success of your resolution. And remember to write your objectives down. People who put their goals on paper stand a better chance of success.

From nervous dolphins to big-mouth hippos, the animal kingdom yields some wacky and interesting facts.

Did j'a know;

• the sloth (a mammal) moves so slowly that green algae can grow on its fur!
• a hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a 4 foot (1.2 m) tall child inside!
• hummingbirds can weigh less than a penny!
• slugs have 4 noses!
• owls are one of the only birds who can see the colour blue!
• a giraffe can clean its own ears with its 21-inch (53 cm) tongue!
• bats always turn left when exiting a cave!
• dolphins sleep with one eye open!
• baby robins eat 14 feet (4.3 m) of earthworms every day!

"In serving the best interests of children,
we serve the best interests of all humanity."
~ Carol Bellamy

Velcro fastening is so prevalent in our lives today that we tend to take it for granted. How much more convenient the world is with this fascinating fastening option. More and more, Velcro has replaced laces on shoes, zippers on clothing, snaps on sports equipment - it's even used on space shuttle flights to secure things during flight and times of weightlessness.

We tend to think of Velcro as a new invention - one born from modern science and ingenuity. But the fact is that Velcro has been around for over 50 years!

Velcro was invented in the late forties by George de Mestral, a Swiss inventor, with the help of a weaver in a textile plant in France. The idea came to de Mestral while removing burrs from his dog after a walk. A close examination of the burrs revealed their natural hooks that latched on to clothing and fur so easily. Together, they designed what they called "locking tape" made from cotton. Later, when trying to mass produce the stuff, it was discovered that nylon worked better than cotton.

Originally referred to as 'hookless fastener' or 'locking tape', the search for a simpler, catchier name yielded Velcro - from the French words "velour" and "crochet." To be clear, the fasteners that we refer to as Velcro today should more accurately been referred to as ‘hook and loop' or ‘touch' fasteners. VELCRO® is actually the name of the company that produces it, but it has become synonymous with the product itself, much like Kleenex (tissues) and nylons (hosiery).

Good inventions don't always catch on fast, but by the end of the 1950's, textile looms were already churning out sixty million yards of Velcro a year. Just think how much they make today. 

Recipes for the Resolutions - Seems like all my friends and I made a lose weight related resolution of one kind or another - just like last year. But I know I got tired of the same old diet and had to have something more. So I did - and that was the end of my resolution. But this year my friends and I decided to share recipes and ideas designed to add a little variety to our menu, in the hope that the variety will help us stick to our goals. If you can benefit from this approach or know someone who can, check out this site - lots of great recipes to use and share with your health-conscious friends.

Home Business Tips - I've heard from a few friends that run businesses from their home that affordable advertising is tough to find. This site has lots of great ideas for free and low-cost marketing of your home biz. Check it out - and share it with your entrepreneurial friends.

Enjoy Cycling in Winter - I really miss biking in the winter. I just can't seem to find anything that good for my health that I enjoy doing during the winter. I usually put the ‘wheels' away around the end of November, but after speaking with other cycling fans - perhaps ones who are more eager than I - I realize that I can bike many days of the winter - I just have to be prepared. This site has some useful tips.

Read Any Good Books Lately? - I find my reading time tougher and tougher to come by these days, but there isn't any replacement for a good book to help me relax and unwind. This Quill and Quire site offers reviews of books you may be thinking of reading.

You may find this title ambiguous, but if you are one of the many people who have found Windows Help options and information were of little help, then you know what we mean. But that has changed in Windows Vista. For Vista, Microsoft essentially rewrote the help system from the ground up based on user's feedback. Now, rather than simply stating how Windows works, Windows Help actually answers the questions we have been asking all along. It's a big improvement!

First, to open Vista Help - click Start and then click Help and Support. You're in, and you've already gone further than most.

You will probably find a suitable answer to your answer after reading just one or two topics, without hunting around the entire Help system. That's because Help topics were created based on common questions and problems. This is why Help topic titles often reflect the question you are likely asking or the problem you're trying to solve.

You will also find over 750 illustrations and screen shots to show you the way AND a new voice. No, its not Clippy's younger sister Dippy. It's a whole new persona that uses the language you use. Plus with Vista's Help, different topics deliver different types of content. Quick answers, procedures, troubleshooters, and FAQ's give you answers quickly, while articles use a longer format to provide more information, best practices, and tips.

Sudoku
Monika, age 14, says, "I love doing the Sudoku puzzles. I didn't at first, but after I got the hang of it, it was pretty easy. I still can't do the hardest level of the puzzles on this site, but just about all of them. It even lets you make notes of what numbers could possibly go in that space. That helps a lot!"

The Plural Girls
Sarah, age 12, says, "I like word challenge games. This one asks you for the correct plural form for something. There are 4 different difficulty levels. I usually use the Tough Multiple Choice level. Some are really odd."

All Aboard
Malcolm, age 9, says, "My brother and I love to play with our train set. But this website lets you build a train and design the tracks and other stuff around them. It's really fun. We take turns choosing what stuff goes where."

Snowboarding
Mitch, age 10, says, "I like this game. It's really easy to play and lots of fun. I used to keep hitting the rocks and trees, but after I got used to the arrow keys, it got easier. You really go fast!"

Time for some tips so those new tools from Santa don't wear out or break before their time:

• Keep all tools clean and in working order.
• Hold work in a clamp or vise, not in your hand.
• Keep moving parts lightly lubed; avoid lubrication leakage.
• Pull, don't push, a wrench handle for more leverage.

Hope the New Year brings lots of opportunity to put those tools - and your handyman skills - to use.

"There's no such thing as fun for the whole family." ~ Jerry Seinfeld

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to weave." ~ Mignon McLaughlin

"When you're young and you get to choose between sleep and sex you take sex every time. You start getting older, you get to choose between sleep and sex, you choose sleep and just hope you have a dream about sex." ~ Jeff Foxworthy

"Happiness is having a scratch for every itch." ~ Ogden Nash

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