Giant Steps

Working Dogs - PAT Dogs

cyberbird — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:13:55 +0000

PAT (PRO-Dogs Active Therapy) Dogs make regular visits with their owners to old peoples’ and children�s homes, hospitals and hospices, giving pleasure to old, deprived, lonely or sick people of all ages. The scheme was the brain-child of the founder of the charity PRO-Dogs, Lesley Scott-Ordish, inspired, perhaps, by Psalm, a Longcoat Chihuahua who always accompanied his owner Nena Musker, when she gave classes in movement and community singing at several old people’s homes in the London area. When the nursing staff saw how eagerly their residents looked forward to his visits;
how they practically queued to pat and stroke him and give him little presents, they realised what a beneficial effect he was having. About the same time, there was news of the studies being carried out by Dr Aaron Kaatcher in the USA to prove that patting an animal has positive physical as well as psychological benefits.

The first PAT Dog, Sabre, a Rough Collie, was registered in 1983 and a pilot project got under way in Derbyshire. The scheme caught on at once, and now, in little more than half a decade there are at least as many PAT Dogs as Guide Dogs, if not more. These dogs really do enjoy their work, and their owners love to know that their dogs are appreciated and admired.

Many moving stories have emerged; the young man seriously disabled in a road accident who had no interest in living until a PAT dog appeared on the scene; the lonely old man who hadn’t a single friend in the world until a particular dog began visiting; the physically handicapped young woman who would not attempt to move from her chair until she had a dog to take for a walk; and the very old lady whose last wish before her death was to see and stroke her beloved PAT dog just once more.

Working Dogs - Dogs as Shepherds

cyberbird — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:20:17 +0000

Nearly every country in Europe has developed its own pastoral breeds for guarding or driving the flocks and herds. Some have been adopted (and occasionally adapted) as show dogs and for obedience or agility competitions, but many are still rare even in their countries of origin and totally unknown outside of them.

Some of the larger breeds are undoubtedly descended from the Epirotic, Laconian and the Molossian dogs mentioned by Aristotle, later used by the Romans as war dogs. They in turn probably evolved from the great Mastiffs of Tibet - the Anatolian Sheepdog from Turkey is typical of these. The roll-call of working breeds is formidable. Egypt has the Armant; Israel the Canaan Dog; Russia four types of Owtcharki (called in Poland Owczarek), or Sheepdogs. Rumania and Yugoslavia each have their own sheepdog, plus the Croatian. Hungary has five distinct breeds; two of them the Komondor and the Puli (of the unique corded coat) are said to have been introduced by the Magyars when they emigrated from the steppes of Central Asia. From Italy come the Bergamaschi Herder, the Maremma and the Italian Spitz. The German Shepherd dog (Alsatian) is the great all-purpose breed. France has four sheepdogs: the Beauceron, the Briard, the Picardy and the Pyrenean. Holland has two: the Dutch Sheepdog and the Schapendoes. Belguim has four:
the Groenendael, the Lakenois, the Malinois and the Tervueren plus two Bouviers, de Flandres and des Ardennes. Switzerland is the home of four Sennenhunde or Mountain Dogs: the Appenzell, the Bemese, the Entlebuch and the Great Swiss. From Spain comes the popular Pyrenean Mountain Dog and the Catalonian Sheepdog; from Portugal, the Alentejo Herder, the Serra des Aires and the Castro Laboreiro sheepdogs, plus the Estrela Mountain Dog.

The Samoyed people living near the Arctic Circle developed the lovely breed which bears their name to tend their herds of reindeer. In Lapland, the Lapphund serves the same purpose. Norway has her Buhund, Sweden the Vastgotaspets or Vallhund and there is even an Icelandic Sheepdog. All five dogs belong to the Spitz group.

In Australia, where dogs were indispensible to work the huge flocks on vast ranges, over rough ground and often in extreme heat, breeds emerged that were as tough as the terrain, including the Kelpie to work with the sheep and the Australian Cattle Dog, a mixture of many breeds including the native wild dingo. The Australian Shepherd has nothing to do with the Antipodes but was bred in the USA from nearly all the old droving breeds. There are almost 50,000 hard at work in America though none of them are recognised by the AKC.

In Britain there is a long tradition of sheep and cattle dogs. The Bearded Collie’s ancestor was the Polish Lowland Sheepdog or Owcarek Nizinny, much prized by Scottish farmers in the sixteenth century, but only recently reintroduced to Britain. The Old English Sheepdog is possibly also descended from Polish (or maybe Russian) sheepdogs, as are three Scottish breeds - the Rough and Smooth Collies and the smaller Sheepdog from the Shetland Isles.

Cattle were kept under control by the Welsh Cardigan and Pembroke Corgis (though the latter are now more at home in royal palaces), and by the Lancashire Heeler. These three breeds are obviously related to the Swedish Vallhund. Unequalled for working with sheep, the Border Collie is in a class of his own. Still universally used as a farm dog, since gaining Kennel Club recognition he is now popular for showing and obedience and work ability. Sheepdog Trials have become a popular sport as well as a way of life. The majority of guide dogs are Labradors or Labrador/Golden Retriever crosses.

The ‘hearing ears’ for the deaf scheme originated in the USA and came to Britain in 1982. These dogs can give to the profoundly deaf the same sort of independence that a Guide Dog gives to the blind. Dogs are trained to alert their deaf owners to any sound; a knock at the door, whistling kettle, alarm clock, fire alarm or crying baby.

Dogs are also being trained to help physically handicapped people by, for instance, switching lights on and off, bringing cordless telephones, opening and closing doors, picking things up from the floor and helping their owners to rise from chairs/wheelchairs or climb stairs.

Working Dogs - Law and Order

cyberbird — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:20:17 +0000

The intelligence, courage, toughness, tenacity, agility and obedience of the German Shepherd have made it the ideal police dog, though some forces have employed other breeds with success. Shepherds have been stabbed, shot, run over and sometimes killed in action; their record for devotion to duty is second to none. They are used wherever there are crowds to be controlled, football hooligans to be kept in order, criminals to be tracked down and arrested, frontiers to be patrolled or property and people to be guarded.

Around the world, armed forces rely heavily on dogs to guard installations, arms and munition depots, aircraft hangars and technical laboratories. Then there are the sniffer dogs who can find drugs and explosives, however cunningly they are concealed.

Designers of Fine Jewelry

cyberbird — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:23:56 +0000

Designers of Fine Jewelry
John Wind founded Maximal Art in 1985, immediately upon graduating from Slade School of Art in London and returning to his hometown of Philadelphia. He recently started to design the John Wind Signature Collection from Maximal Art, which unveils a spirited new approach aimed at stylish, fashion-conscious, and yet individualistic women who adore unique and sophisticated accessories. For the Signature Collection, John continues his collage work using new and vintage design elements, but takes his vision in a whole new direction. For inspiration and materials, Wind draws from his own archives of vintage treasures and still heads to flea markets and other antiquing venues. He works with old and new Austrian, Venetian and Czech glass beads, semi-precious stones, charms, metal chains, dupioni silks and other sumptuous ribbons to deliver the collection’s wearable works of art. The Signature Collection’s handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and belts are dramatic, quirky and avant garde.

Born in Spain, Miguel Ases’ love for design brought him to Madrid’s School of Arts to study fashion and design after his retirement from the National Ballet of Spain. Upon completion of his studies, Miguel worked in Barcelona. His success there led him to New York, where he began to design his own label that has developed a large following. Miguel is forging ahead with his powerful impressions of elegance in his intricate designs. Miguel has been featured in countless magazines and fashion shows.

Ben-Amun Necklace: Issac Manevitz is the design genius behind Ben Amun. His work exudes classic style with a richness behind it that is not beyond one’s pockets. He makes jewelry that is exquisite and wearable, without feeling that as though you can only wear it to a grand ball. This particular necklace is made of marbled amber, multifaceted metallic brown beads, and turquoise beads all on a silver metal link chain. It measures at 50″ long. A great piece that can be worn throught the seasons. Price: $170

Antiqued Rose Cabochon Necklace: I found more gold jewelry! It is understated yet still an amazingly beautiful pendant that reminds me of the Victorian age, where women were delicate and feminine, but incredibly strong. The rose pendant measures 40 mm by 30 mm and hangs from an 18″ gold plated chain. It appears subtle in its beauty, and in a jewelry case one could overlook it, but paired with the right outfit, it could very well be the bold piece. It would be nicely accented with stacked gold bracelets and small earrings. Price: $25.

Working Dogs - Performing Dogs

cyberbird — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:31:34 +0000

Most bands of strolling players had little dogs who walked on their hind legs, jumped through hoops, turned somersaults or pretended to be dead, as did most circuses until very recently. A troupe of poodles called ‘The Ball of Little Dogs’ delighted Queen Anne when they appeared before her in 1700.
One of the best music-hall dogs was ‘Nino the Wonder Dog’ who appeared in all the top theatres in support of great stars like Judy Garland. A black-and-white Fox Terrier type and a very skilled ‘performer indeed, his special talent was to appear on stage by himself; no handler was ever seen. He loved his work and never missed a performance, to the great disappointment of his understudy, who was also his uncle.

Shakespeare wrote a part for a dog, Crab in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Others have achieved international stardom in films. A German Shepherd puppy was rescued from the World War I trenches by a US serviceman - and went on to become the legendary Rin- TinTin, star of many silent films. Then there was Lassie (though there were many Lassies in every film, a different one for almost every scene.)

Stupendous Designer Accessories

cyberbird — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:10:42 +0000

Be&D Ruffled Handbag: I really like this particular shade of grey used here - it is almost translucent and gives off a light and airy feel, and the ruffles are very feminine. It is a great contrast against the stronger and more masculine feel of the metal chain that is wrapped around the bag. To a certain extent I like hardware being used as decorative accents, but it is refreshing to see designers using other types of detailing for this season. The calfskin leather bag features an 11″ drop shoulder drop, magnetic closure, and interior suede lining. It is also available in black and espresso. Bag dimensions: 10�”H X 18″L X 6″W.
Price: $1,280

Mark Walsh & Leslie Chin Flower Cuff: Even though this a cuff, my mind will not allow to me comprehend the idea of wearing a flower on your wrist. And I know back in the day we all had one for the prom, but even then I couldn’t comprehend it and wouldn’t wear one. In my opinion, this would have a stronger presence if it were a ring or a pendant. Walsh & Chin’s Flower Cuff is actually quite beautiful - it’s fun with a bit of sophistication due to the color palette used. I find black, white and red together will always look sharp and elegant (if done right). Made of glass enamel and 14kt gilt metal, the flower cuff is accented with Swarovski crystals and features mother-of-pearl lacquer detail. The flower measures at 2�” X 2�” . Price: $460.

Athropologie Tote: I’m struck by the geometric pattern and emerald green leather in Anthropologie’s Fairways Tote. The green strip breaks up the pattern a bit and incorporates itself even more so by showing how complimentary of color it is to the overall feel of the bag. The tote is classic in its design, yet fun and edgy with the use of colors. It features a a zip pocket, interior pouch and has a 5.5″ shoulder drop. Bag dimensions: 13.5″l, 13″w, 6″d. Price: $418.

Jill Jacobson Carnelian Cuff: Knowing me, I have probably already reviewed this Cuff by Jill Jacobson, But, I love it and it’s worth highlighting one more time in case you missed it. Made of plated gold, the beautiful center stone is carnelian. A bold and vibrant colored accent piece. The cuff measures at 2″ wide. It is also available with a green aventurine stone with scroll detailing. Price: $88.

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Working Dogs - Dogs in Harness

cyberbird — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:31:34 +0000

Dogs have traditionally pulled carts in several northern European countries. Bernese Mountain Dogs hauled loads of dairy produce or baskets to market; similar dogs delivered milk in Belgium and flowers in Holland. Not in France, however, for the idea caused such outrage among the dog-loving French that it was forbidden by law by 1824.

As a nation of gourmets though, the French have always been happy to profit from the skills of the dogs who sniff for truffles, ‘the diamonds of cooking�. Even Louis XV amused himself by searching for these delicacies with a team of specially, trained dogs. Truffle dogs are still used, but other specialised working breeds became extinct when there was no longer any demand for their services, e.g. medieval dogs that drew water from wells and turned spits for roasting meat. The work of the turnspit dog was hard and very hot; it took a long time for a large joint to cook so the bandy-legged little creatures had to run round their treadmill for many hours at a time. Most large houses or castles had two dogs working on alternate days. Each dog had his day (probably the origin of this famous old saying) and he always knew which it was. Slightly less arduous must have been the lot of the Tibetan breeds who were said to have turned prayer wheels in many monasteries in their native land.

Inspirational Designer Accessories

cyberbird — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:05:51 +0000

Pedre Watch: Made of brushed stainless steel with a rectangular face, the Pedre watch has a woven strap to make for a post modern yet retro appeal. A stylish everyday watch that will add a splash of color to your day. Seen here in orange, it is also available in green, pink, and white. Price: $68

Isabella Fiore Tote: Whenever I think of Isabella Fiore’s designs my mind immediately turns to highly decorated studded bags. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Sydney Tote. In comparison to the typical and more well known handbags, this one is much more low key and subdued in style. It’s made of Italian leather and accented with antiqued brass hardware. I love the geometric patterns and lines thoughout. The top flap and tabbed ring helps to break up the pattern a bit. A great bag to wear during all seasons. Bag dimensions: 7 1/2″H x 18″W x 6 1/2″D. Price: $750.

Tod’s Calfskin Bag: Oh, how I love, love, love this bag. I am drawn to the structure and almost utility like feel it has with all of its little zippered pockets. The color is sharp, bold and rich. The muted brass hardware is the perfect color tone to compliment the bag. You could wear this for work, travel, and play. I am normally not a big fan of Tod’s - I think the simplicity is at times too simple - but this particular bag really grabbed my attention. Today, I start saving in my piggy bank for this one. Price: $1,245.

Victoria Secret Convertible Bag: I never usually buy much from Victoria Secret, except of course the unmentionables - I love them! But, it was their clothing line that I was a bit skeptical about. It always seemed a bit racey, and not that I have an ultra conservative style - but it just didn’t seem like it suited me. So, I took a gander at their accessories instead and was pleasantly surprised by this little number. The VS Convertible Bag is made of canvas/polyurethane and has brass hardware. I love anything that could be used in various ways - more bang for your buck! The silver has a little bit of a sheen and sparkle to it, but not so much that it loses its ability to blend in well with outfits and not take center stage. Bag dimensions: messenger style (15″ x 11″) or tote style (15″ x 16″). Price: $79.

Working Dogs - Eskimo Dogs

cyberbird — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:14:25 +0000

Since time immemorial, dogs have worked in the snow in the most hostile climates in the world. Eskimo dogs are capable of pulling sledges over enormous distances in temperatures well below zero and in winds of up to lOO miles per hour on a diet of dried meat and fish. Without them the Eskimo peoples could not have survived and Arctic and Antarctic expeditions would have been impossible. Malamutes (who hauled the heaviest freight), Eskimo Dogs and Siberian Huskies worked all over the vast frozen tundras of northern Asia, Canada, Greenland and Alaska when dogs were the only possible means of transportation.

Today, they are still highly prized for racing. In Alaska, dog-sled racing is the official state sport and the 1,000 mile Iditarod from Anchorage to Nome is known as ‘The Last Great Race on Earth’. A similar event has recently been established in the Alps: the A1pirod covers 600 miles of mountain trails in Italy, France, Switzerland and West Germany. Our strict quarantine laws prevent British teams competing, but they have their own championships in Aviemore in Scotland.

Plan ahead for a quality retirement

cyberbird — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:25:16 +0000

Plan ahead for a quality retirement

Are you ready for the day when you hang up the “Gone Fishing” sign and begin to enjoy your golden years? Well, maybe the joy of fishing isn’t your retirement dream, but have you thought about what your dream is and how it might be realized? Retirement planning isn’t about reaching a certain age any more but about building quality into the rest of your life.

The rest of your life turns out to be quite a bit of time. The Social Security Administration set the retirement age at 65 in 1936. If the decision was made today and you adjusted for our greater life expectancy, retirement age would be 79.

The average age of retirement today is an amazing 57. That leaves 30 years of life expectancy to go. Planning for that full third of your life takes on a whole new significance.

More and more people are viewing retirement as an opportunity to explore interests they didn’t previously have the time or resources to pursue. Rather than slowing down, today’s retirees are sometimes speeding up and beginning new careers or starting new businesses.

The important thing is deciding what kind of retirement will suit you best.

When to retire and what to do in retirement become very individual questions.

What happens to a couple with differing retirement feelings and goals?

My friend Hank was ready to close his accounting practice after a steady 35 years. His wife, Sharon, had just returned to the work place and wanted a few years to enjoy her late-start career. Hank was hankering to charter a boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Sharon was decorating her new office in a San Diego high rise. Obviously, they have some future plans to negotiate.

Asking yourself and your significant other some questions about retirement will bring the future into focus. Before taking on the all-important question of financing your golden years, give some thought to the psychology of this major life transition

First, ask yourself how you feel about work. If you have a job you really enjoy, how will you replace that enjoyment after you retire?

Next, think about your support system. Do you have or can you build a circle of friends and associates outside the world of work?

Finally, what do you do in your leisure time? Do you have plans and goals for future activities?

Everyone’s “Gone Fishing” sign will read a little differently. Make sure you know what spells quality of life for you as you start your retirement planning.