Is it Time to Put My Dog to Sleep?

I want to begin this article by disclosing that every sentence you will read here is my opinion. I have no solid research to back up anything I say. There was no peer review of the validity of this article before I published it. I wrote this article for you because a dog that has been in our care at Kelsey's Dog House for a long time concluded his stay with us this week. We will never again see him. He was laid to rest by his veterinarian. His owner's decision to put him down was an extremely hard one to make, as it is for most of us.

Dogs Live Fast

Dogs live very fast lives. They gestate quickly. They mature quickly. During mid-life, they perform to a very quick beat. Their hearts beat rapidly, even at rest. Food goes down in very few gulps and then comes out the other end in a very short time. They focus on one thing for only a few seconds, and then they are on to something else. Their sleep-wake cycles are generally much shorter than our own. Even their normal body temperature of 99 to 102 degrees indicates their physiology is running in overdrive. It's no wonder when dogs reach the late stages of their lives, their batteries run down very quickly.

The problems of old age for dogs generally mirror our own. Blindness; deafness; and lack of mobility due to arthritis; loss of muscle tone; and faltering balance are all part of the old age equation. Fittingly, a dog seems to retain his sense of smell right to the very end. What distinguishes old age in dogs from that of humans is the speed at which dogs deteriorate. While many humans take decades to show the wear and tear of a long life, dogs, which live life in the fast lane, seem to reach a point at which their health falls off a cliff.

An Old Dog

At this late stage, a dog is no longer himself. For example, although he may have been 100% reliable in doing his business outdoors, reduced mobility and incontinence may cause him to relieve himself indoors. He can no longer play, in the traditional sense, or even explore because getting around is a chore. He may be disoriented most of the time because his senses no longer give him the feedback he needs to navigate. Or, he may simply be too tired or ill to move around very much.

Many dogs develop serious disorders and illnesses in old age. A dog with serious health issues will need to make frequent, expensive, and stressful visits to the vet's office. Old dogs with various disorders may experience varying degrees of chronic and acute pain. Pain medication may alleviate the pain but further dull a dog's already reduced senses and alertness.

Before I go further, I want to re-emphasize that what I am writing here is only my opinion, especially with regard to suffering. I do not believe dogs suffer in the sense we humans would describe suffering. A dog in discomfort does not carry on a verbal dialogue with himself about his poor condition. He does not feel self-pity, nor does he agonize that his condition will worsen. I believe a dog does feel pain; and chronic pain does debilitate a dog. It makes him more inclined to hide, sleep, or act out of character. Having said that, I will also say a dog does not assign an emotional value to its pain as we humans often do. When we say, "That dog is suffering," we are falsely assigning a human attribution to the dog.

What it All Means

What does all this mean for a dog and our bond with that dog? As each of us has our own unique set of behavior we call personality, each dog has its particular identity. Additionally dogs, like humans have a role to play, a purpose, if you will. I believe each dog has a job in this world, whether it is guarding a herd, watching the backyard, or simply sitting in your lap to comfort you. Some of these jobs are formal and trained, and others are assumed by accident or good fortune. In any case, dogs are generally their happiest when they play a role that seems to fit their identity. When your dog has reached a point at which he can no longer do any of the things that make him a dog, when he cannot do his job, then he becomes a shell of what he once was. He may still be physically present, but his spirit is gone. To compound the problem, when his poor health causes him to do things he never did before, such as accidentally peeing in the house, this causes him some degree of stress. A dog knows what he knows. When what a dog knows no longer applies, or something happens that seems beyond his control, he cannot rationalize to make sense of it.

Let's throw you into the mix. You remember your dog as a happy, vital companion. Your positive energy and approval was food for his soul. When all you can do for your dog is fret over his deteriorated condition, you send wave after wave of distress and worry in his direction. If you become frustrated because your old dog is soiling the house or acting strange, that also sends a message. Your dog looks to you for safety and comfort. Although you will certainly do everything you physically can to make him comfortable when his health fails, you may also be inadvertently sending emotional signals that make your dog's situation worse.

When It's Time

There comes a point in a dog's life when it is time to say goodbye. We would love to hang on to our best friend forever, but we know that is not going to happen. Your dog, though he may be ravaged by blindness, deafness, illness and other disorders, still looks like your dog. He is still warm and furry and his tail still wags when you pet him. Your memory of what he once was may fill in the details of a dog that is no longer there. He may not be suffering, but he is no longer fulfilled. It does not matter that he still looks and feels like your dog, because the dog you knew has departed.

Many of us take a long time to reach this conclusion and it's understandable. Any decision to put a dog to sleep is difficult, feels premature, and is often tainted with guilt. Perhaps you feel your dog has brought you years and years of pleasure, and now you owe it to him to comfort and sustain him for as long as he is willing to carry on. Again, this is a perfectly understandable and completely rational thought from a human perspective. Consider everything I have written here about how it looks from the dog's perspective.

Once your dog's heath slips off the edge, nature has no intention of restoring him. His senses have dulled. His mobility, as he knew it, has gone. He struggles to orient himself. He may be in pain, or so diminished by pain medication that he cannot do any of the things he once loved to do. The feedback he receives from you is laced with pity. He cannot do his job. He cannot even do normal body functions correctly. Worst of all, none of this makes any sense to him. The kindest, most loving act you can do at this point is to gently help him find everlasting peace.

Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices

A man's home is his castle, as the saying goes. But homes today don't normally feature ramparts, drawbridges, moats and six-foot thick stone walls to keep out unwanted visitors. Today, a house alarm, and preferably a managed home security system, is needed to ensure your home's security. Not only does installing a home security system improve the safety of your family and possessions, but it can also decrease your home insurance costs. The Top Ten House Alarm and Home Security Devices list highlights ten devices and features of home security systems that can make your house a safer place.

The Top Ten

10. Talking Devices help you to understand the status of your home and monitoring as well as program the system. Some security systems feature talking master control panels, key pads or remotes. The talking feature may not result in great conversation, but it will help you understand your system a little better.

9. Some home alarm systems include extras like Key Fobs and Remotes to control the system at a distance. Somewhat similar to a car's key fob, home security key fobs include buttons to activate and deactivate the house alarm system. Some even include a "panic" button that activates the house alarm and alerts the proper authorities in the event of an emergency. Remote controls are similar and often larger. The features of remotes vary greatly and can include a full key pad, a talking feature and a panic button as well.

8. Yard Signs and House or Window Decals advertise your home's protection. The Greenwich Study of Residential Security found that homes without alarms were 2.7 to 3.5 times more likely to be burglarized, and that the most effective deterrent was the alarm monitoring company's yard sign (SIA Research Update, Security Industry Association, October 2001). Some choose to post the signs to deter possible break-ins without actually installing a home alarm system. While this effort will lower the odds of an attempted burglary, a yard sign alone cannot fully protect your home.

7. A Back-Up Power Supply is important in maintaining home security even during a power outage, when the risk of break-ins and looting is increased. Your home alarm should be effective even when your power is not. The easiest to maintain back-up power supplies use standard size batteries. Look for a model that uses rechargeable batteries to lower your maintenance costs.

6. Smoke Detectors add another layer of protection to your home, especially when they are integrated into the home alarm system. Not only do smoke detectors indicate a fire and give you time to escape safely, but when included in a home security package, they automatically notify the managing company and the fire department. Some systems even integrate the power supply to the smoke detectors. That means you don't have to change the batteries ever!

5. Wireless Systems protect your home without adding extra cords to trip over or extensive installation of in-wall cords. In wireless house alarm systems, each sensor or keypad communicates with the master control panel via radio frequencies or existing wiring in your home. A burglar will never be able to disarm the system by snipping the wires. This ensures the system is fully integrated and monitoring all parts of your home without using up your outlets or creating an obstacle course of wires for you.

4. Extra Key Pads are also important. Exterior mounted key pads can provide secure keyless entry to your family. Some systems also offer remote control key pads which are lightweight and portable. A home alarm system that features a security code with a key pad increases the security of your home. A monitored system can also lock down entry after several repeated, failed attempts at entry which indicate a possible break-in attempt.

3. Key pads may not always be enough to keep burglars out. Sensors on Windows and Doors reduce the risk of a burglar entering undetected and are a key part of a home alarm system. Motion Detectors within the home also increase the level of security. The most sophisticated motion detectors include a feature to ignore pets' movement to avoid constantly setting the alarm off inadvertently.

2. Installation, Monitoring, and Repair Services increase not only the level of safety but the convenience of keeping your home safe. A house alarm alone cannot notify the police or fire department in the event of an emergency. The most complete systems include buttons to notify police departments, fire departments and medical help instantly. Another advantage offered by the best monitoring companies is live customer support and full service installation and repair of the system by employees who have been background checked, licensed and drug tested to ensure your safety. Finally, some companies even offer relocation services to keep you secure even when you move.

1. The classic Master Control Panel is vital to any home alarm system. The central hub of the system, the control panel is usually wall-mounted in an easily accessible place. The panel receives information from all other sensors and key pads, computes it, and transmits relevant information to the monitoring company. If you choose to arm the system from the panel when you leave the house, the master control panel also receives the disarm code when you return home. Some can even be disarmed by telephone!

Of course, this list is not comprehensive, and the needs of every home and homeowner are different. For more tips on choosing the right home alarm system and features to protect your house, I recommend visiting alarmoneinc.com.

3 Important Reasons to Go Eco-Friendly

We hear it every where - reasons to go eco-friendly, green products, save the environment and recycle. But what does it all really mean and why do we need to become more eco friendly?

1. One obvious reason is so that we can save our planet. Just thinking about the stash of plastic bottles that are thrown away every year which cannot disintegrate into the land.

2. Saving animals from extinction is another reason. So many of the various breeds of animals and insects and all manner of living creatures are becoming threatened because of our habits.

3. Greener, environmentally friendly products are kinder to our health.

For example when using plastic bottles the likelihood is those dangerous chemicals will leech into the liquid inside. We don't know that it is happening because it neither discolours the liquid (even if it is transparent like water) nor has a nasty taste.

The manufacturers of these products do not put any warnings or labels on the bottle stating this fact and the poor unsuspecting customers (us!) are the innocent victims.

Chemicals such as phenynol A are toxic and can cause cancer. These bottles and food containers may be lighter in weight and cheaper to produce but is it worth the possibility of using something that could cause you to become ill?

I always buy stainless steel drinking and food containers even though they do weight slightly more and they do cost a bit more. I am more concerned with the health of my family.

But another reason to go eco-friendly is to be able to use organic fresh foods that will not be tampered with in any way. There is absolutely no point in having a environmentally friendly product and filling it with junk food or ready made meals that already contain certain chemicals and additives.

The same applies to drinks. I first filter my water from my own filtering system at home and I then fill up the children's school bottles. I know that I am doing all that I can to keep my family safe.

I know that you too, wouldn't want to see your family suffer with painful, life threatening diseases just because you didn't make some changes.

It is very important to keep your water pure as this is a liquid that we use on a constant basis and without filtering it you have no idea what chemical compounds are being put into your body.

Be safe, be healthy and filter your water today. For more information on how to filter your water and the very best filters for giving you healthy mineralized water visit my website http://www.clean-safe-filtered-water.com today. And find your reasons to go eco-friendly.

Best Laptop Computers for College Students

1. Overview

Before we look at the laptops most suitable for college students, we should understand what makes a good student laptop. Typically, a student would want a laptop that's lightweight and comfortable enough to lug to and from their various classes. In addition, the laptop has to have great battery life and performance. And price is sometimes a concern, so the above features need to be packed into an affordable package.

After considering the types of laptops suitable for college students, I've decided to split them into three categories: budget, thin and light and ultraportable. So let's take a look at them now ...

2. Budget Laptops

For a college student who is short on cash, a budget laptop is a good buy. Some of the best budget laptops include those from Dell, Toshiba and HP. I personally find the Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 to be a great budget laptop. You get an AMD based dual core CPU, which perfroms very well with most applications. You also get a huge 200GB hard drive and a large number of peripheral ports.

There's also a nice Sony VGN-NR160E/S model that is (surprisingly) within the budget category. Out of the box, this machine gives you the Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 processor, 1 GB of RAM and a large 160GB hard drive - that's a lot of computing power at budget price.

3. Thin and Light Laptops

If you prefer a more powerful laptop and don't mind a little bit of weight, then try going for a thin and light laptop. Some of the models I can think of include those from Lenovo, HP and Sony.

The Sony VAIO VGN-FZ280E is a pretty good choice for a thin and light notebook. This system comes with a Bluray compatible writer that can also burn CDs and DVDs. You also get an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz CPU, 2GB RAM and a very large 250GB hard drive.

Another model I'd consider is the HP Pavilion dv6675us. You will get an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz CPU, 4GB RAM and 250GB of hard drive space. The 4GB of RAM is a great feature which will come in handy if you're a student of finance or science and need to run intensive computational applications.

4. Ultraportable Laptops

If the size and weight of the laptop is of high importance to you, then go for an ultraportable laptop. These laptops give very good computing performance in a very small, compact package.

In this category, I think the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 is a great choice for students. It is slightly pricey (but not outrageously so) but it is one of the best performing laptops around. It weighs only about 3 pounds and is hence an extremely portable piece of hardware. You also get an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz CPU, 2GB RAM and an ample 100GB hard drive. You don't get a built-in DVD writer though - that unit is external to the laptop.

Another good choice is the Toshiba Portege R500-S5001X. It weights 2.4 pounds and is less than an inch thick. This is one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks you will find in the market. It's also very reasonably priced.

Conclusion

Well! I hope this article has shown you the various types of laptops which are suitable for college students. Regardless of your needs and budget, make sure that you do proper research before shelling out any cash. Until next time, best of luck and happy shopping!

HHO Gas Car Kit Conversion For Browns Gas - Do It Yourself And Convert Your Car To Burn On Water

HHO gas is the latest innovation to increase gas mileage, increase power and improve emissions. Your car will not be totally dependent on water but will be a hybrid of sorts by utilizing water as a catalyst once it is broken down to HHO also known as browns gas. By using HHO gas one can expect to see and increase in gas mileage of 20 - 50%. This is not new technology but is starting to get rediscovered as gas and diesel prices continue to increase.

You can find HHO gas car kits online for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Believe me they are worth every penny! The key here is that if you have a vehicle and you would like to make your own HHO or browns gas kit for your car or truck there is a lot of information online.

How is HHO gas utilized in your gas or diesel engine. When you convert your car to burn on water you are converting water to a gas that you engine can use. Some even refer to this as hydrogen on demand. Through a process of electrolysis water that is in a sealed container under your hood is converted to hydroxy also known as browns gas or HHO gas. This gas is then introduced to the airflow in the intake manifold using your engines vacuum. This gas is then mixed with the gasoline providing better gas mileage.

The process is so amazingly simple and the parts to build the system can be found around home or in your shop. This homemade hydrogen generator is easy to build. What you are looking at is a sealed quart size container, electrical wiring, baking soda, an automotive fuse and some vacuum hose. There is a handful of other parts but if you are wanting to make such a system it can be made for under $100 per vehicle! What is nice is it requires very little modification to your vehicle and can be removed within minutes and no one would even notice you had it installed.

There are forums online that focus HHO gas or browns gas technology as an alternative energy to reduce car emissions, increase gas mileage and improve power. HHO devices for cars are starting to get noticed. This technology has even been brought up in th news for improving gas mileage.

Preparing For a Pre-Sentence Investigation Interview

The Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) and the subsequent Pre-Sentence Investigation Report (PSR) is without a doubt the most dominant and definitive document used by the Court in determining a defendant's federal prison sentence. The PSI is the defendant's "Bible", his life history as seen through the eyes of the probation officer authoring the report in concert with the Assistant United States Attorney, AUSA, prosecuting the case. Besides being instrumental in determining his federal prison sentence, the PSI is vitally important with respect to BOP federal prison designation, security level, custody level, work assignments, bunk assignments, furlough eligibility, restitution issues, community custody placement, inmate quality of life enhancements, ability to self-surrender, and admission into the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program to name just a few.

These are the very issues that each federal defendant must be vitally concerned about. The importance of the PSI cannot be overstated. It follows the defendant throughout his whole period of federal prison incarceration. Anyone who thinks the PSI is impartial, fair, and provides an accurate unbiased accounting of the defendant is grossly mistaken.

The Pre-Sentence Investigation Report is written by a Probation Officer working for the Federal Government. How can a defendant expect to get a fair and unbiased report? The PSI is often slanted against the defendant in favor of the government and the prosecution. It is not only the obligation of the defendant and his attorney to make sure that any mistakes, inaccuracies, and untruths are corrected, it is their duty. All of these corrections must be completed prior to the PSI's final submission to the Court and the Bureau of Prisons. Unfortunately, many attorneys do not take the time and provide the scrutiny necessary to fully correct a defendant's PSI. This may have far-reaching undesirable effects on the defendant's length of sentence, program eligibility, facility designation, security level, eligibility to self-surrender, and so many other factors that an inmate faces every day in federal prison.

The solution to this dilemma is for the defendant to hire someone who is very knowledgeable in Federal Prison issues, programs, policies, procedures, and who has actually experienced life in a federal prison. The defendant should hire someone who has actually gone through the whole process. This is someone who knows the "ins" and "outs" of the federal prison system. The solution is to hire a competent, experienced, and knowledgeable Federal Prison Consultant. A competent Federal Prison Consultant will prepare the defendant for the all important Pre-Sentencing Investigation Interview and even accompany him if his attorney cannot. It is vitally important that the defendant does not go alone to this interview.

The defendant must be knowledgeable, honest, have a complete control of the facts, and not leave out any required information. The Probation Officer will ask for personal information including the defendant's full name, aliases, social security number, date of birth, current and previous addresses, family history, medical history, educational history, degrees earned, schools attended and educational associations. He will ask about his professional associations, civic life history, civic organizations, physical and mental well being and substance abuse history detailing drug and alcohol use. He will ask about his current offense and will verify everything that he is told. He will investigate any previous criminal history, DUI's, and even speeding tickets. He will investigate family relationships by talking to the defendant's sons, daughters, spouse, mother, and father. He will review relationships with therapists, clergy, professional and financial associates, and friends. He will want current financial information including all assets, bank and savings accounts, brokerage accounts, property owned, cars driven, IRA's, 401-K's, business ownership information, and business partners among other things.

A good Federal Prison Consultant knows the type and extent of information that the probation officer asks and requires in writing the PSR. It is always the same. Every PSI interview, regardless of the federal district in which it is conducted, follows a very similar pattern and direction. The information requested is always the same. A knowledgeable Federal Prison Consultant prepares the client for this all important interview. They know what will be asked and they prepare their clients for those questions. The information that is given to the U.S. Probation Officer must be complete, truthful, and factual. Knowing in advance the questions you will be asked allows you to prepare complete, truthful, and factual answers. There are no surprises.

Life in a federal prison is hard enough. There is no reason to make it harder by allowing an inaccurate, incomplete, biased, and slanted Pre-Sentence Investigation Report to be submitted to the Sentencing Judge and the Bureau of Prisons.

Electric Fireplace With Sound Effects - Snap Crackle Pop Isn't Just for Breakfast

What better way to complement the warmth and beauty of an electric fireplace than with the sound of live crackling flames? Especially when the flame displays of some recently introduced models approach the realism of actual flames.

The choices for an electric fireplace with sound effects aren't exactly abundant but they do exist. The first two models I found are from Classic Flame - as are the following product descriptions:

Classic Flame 18DM2105-M319 Martha's Vineyard Electric Fireplace with Slim Remote (The effect is complete with wood crackling and chimney sound effects.) $600

Classic Flame 28WM184-T408 Gossamer Electric Fireplace three crackle settings: (off/crackle/crackle with wind). $1120

Both of these units receive high praise from their owners but I discovered instances where these fireplaces, with identical model numbers, were being sold with and without the sound effect. Usually a model number is modified slightly to indicate the inclusion of a special feature such as sound, but that isn't the case here.

By way of explanation I can only assume the retailer has a choice of ordering a specific model fireplace with sound or without, or the manufacturer has discontinued the sound effect and you're purchasing an older model.

Either way, if the product description doesn't specifically mention the sound effect, it probably doesn't have it.

The third model I found is the Reflections Electric Fireplace model LSE-36R. This one comes with an "adjustable digital audio soundtrack of a real fire." For the princely sum of $3632 I would expect no less.

A fourth option is the FIRE/FX also from Classic Flame ($529). Not only does it have the sound of crackling flames - they're heard in unison with the flame display. The FIRE/FX also offers a very realistic flame display incorporating the latest LED lighting technology.

The FIRE/FX is a plug in fireplace, not a complete mantel package. It can be used as a portable stand alone fireplace, as an insert for a wood burning fireplace, or as the fire box for a custom made mantel piece.

Since it's difficult to find an electric fireplace with sound effects, much less one that also mirrors your taste and budget, you might want to consider an accessory such as the Fire Crackler Sound System; a 3" x 3" battery powered unit, or the Kracklebox Fireplace Sound System which runs on household power.