Jad Research Blog

It’s important to understand your dog’s sleeping habits and how they influence its behavior, particularly when your dog gets disturbed.

You see, Dogs will usually sleep for around 13 hours every day. Although this can vary between different breeds, this still means your dog is going to be asleep for almost half it’s life!

Dream time.

Your dog will tend to circle before lying down to sleep
As he would do in the wild, where he would trample down vegetation to create a bed, typically in longer grass where his presence will be concealed.

Temperature also influences the way in which a dog sleeps.
If it’s cold, your dog will curl up in a ball to conserve body heat. (just as puppies do by sleeping together instead of stretching out).

It’s not unusual for an adult dog to lie on his side while he’s sleeping, and start moving his legs as if he were running.
The eyelids and whiskers may twitch too at this stage, which is usually a sign of what we humans call ‘deep sleep’.
Dogs generally spend most of their time sleeping lightly.

Sleeping habits.

Seeing as dogs are descended from opportunistic hunters, dogs instinctively wake when there is an increased amount of activity around them.

However, if a dog is deliberately woken, particularly if it is disturbed by a child, he may react aggressively and bite without warning.

The phrase ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ should give you a clue!
Also, your dog may be a little unwilling to settle down again if woken at an unusual hour.

This means it’s important to establish a set routine for a new dog from the outset. This includes things like exercising, feeding and sleeping times.

A new puppy is likely to be distressed on its first few nights in a new home, as this will be the first time that he will have been separated from its littermates.

Within a pack, there is no visible hierarchy in the order in which the dogs sleep, although they will instinctively sleep close to their fellow members. (Although the alpha dog will usually sleep apart).

If your new pup has been allowed to spend the night in the bedroom, it can become problematic to expect it to sleep elsewhere.

Its instincts suggest that it has been driven away from the pack.

By being firm right from the start and establishing that your dog sleeps on his own, you can ensure that he doesn’t experience this ‘rejection’ once he gets a little older.
Dogs can get restless during the night if they’re not exercised regularly. Although he may also nap continually if there isn’t much happening.

While you are out, your dog may find its way to your bed, just to be near your smell. An old item of clothing, which will carry your scent, will comfort your dog when you are not there.
Sleeping postures.

Puppies often appreciate contact with littermates when sleeping, just in the same way that many dogs prefer to lie against a wall or next to their owner’s feet. This probably gives them a sense of security.

Amy Howells is the owner of a website dedicated to teaching you the
short-cuts to dog training.

You can also sign up to a free e-course and discover the astonishing
short-cut secrets to dog obedience training

If it’s so easy to coach youth baseball and do it well, why do you see so many poor coaches? In my years as a player and as a coach, I can tell you that my opinion of poor coaching can be simply boiled down to: A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LACK OF PREPARATION! Simply stated… NO Game Plan! The great news is…both can be taught and both can be learned! And please don’t say that you don’t have the time. You do!

Here’s the math over a typical 15 week season:
10 practices of 90 minutes = 15 hours
20 games (includes exhibitions, etc.) = 40 hours
Misc. phone calls of 2 hours a week = 30 hours
Plus meetings, evaluation & draft, rainouts, team pictures, personal
instruction, travel time, etc. Lets say that = 65 hours

Plus, who knows what I haven’t added in, and the money you spend just doing these activities! You’ve just spent 150 hours… 10 hours per week (plus cash) on a hobby, community service, enjoying baseball, mentoring kids, or whatever your motive is for being a coach.

Get a plan…save your sanity… NOW! It will flat out save you time, not cost you time. It will reflect positively on your kids and your team’s play, and as a byproduct, coaches, parents and players will see a better coach who is having a better time!

So… What does it take?

1. Interest in becoming a better coach.

2. A PLAYBOOK. A simple 3-ring binder where you can write out your practice plans on lined paper. If you write in it the night before each practice or game, you will be dedicating about 25 minutes each week (based on 2 practices/games). You will begin remembering to do it as soon as practice sessions start because you will be bringing it with you and referring to it at each practice.

Hints for your Playbook

Include all the correspondence, notes, and forms from your league or school that you find yourself collecting and passing out to your players. Keep that stuff in your new “playbook.” It will easily become a habit and a central spot to refer to regularly.

Use a pencil and simply make it legible. Don’t make a big deal out of this, just get it done!

Beginning in practice #2, you should always spend 10-15 minutes reviewing any new concept you might have introduced in practice #1 or the previous practice. It is a common fault (not to mention a complete waste of time) to teach your team a concept and assume that players will perform when the time comes in a game situation just because you taught it once. And it just kills player confidence after the play because he knew he’d been taught. But obviously, not well enough. Your error, coach!
So … What’s in the binder?

The practice session number

The date, time and field of the practice.

Goal of the particular practice (keep it simple).

Each activity or drill. Note whether a review or new concept.

Time allowed for the activity or drill. NEVER OVER 20 MINUTES! If you’ll simply wear a watch, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish and how much fun your kids have, not to mention how much more baseball your team will learn. Keep ‘em moving: No drills over 20 minutes!!

Anything else that will help you, such as: which coach runs which drill, which pitchers and catchers throw together, reminders of when the next game or practice is. Just make it legible and don’t allow this to take up too much time. This isn’t supposed to be work, it’s an activity to keep coaching from becoming work! ENJOY YOURSELF!

Coach JP’s Note

Want to know the easiest way to teach and learn winning, fundamental baseball? Check out our newest videos aimed at younger ballplayers. Why do we suggest videos? Quality repetitions!! Learn at your own pace and on your own time. A remote control lets you slow it, repeat it, absorb it and understand it…year after year. Trust yourself to learn. If you are a dad or are coaching a team, you are your kid’s best chance of learning about the game. Camps, clinics and lessons can be great, but you are there to teach and reinforce through quality repetitions. Every day…every week…all season long! You can help! It is your responsibility to get better and learn more! You want it for your kids so you should ask it of yourself! Videos will give you a chance to help your kids quickly…and for a reasonable cost. Start a library now and watch your knowledge grow and your teams improve while everyone has a lot more FUN along the way!

http://www.baseballtips.com/

Baseball tips & youth baseball equipment, training aids & instruction!
It’s all here for baseball coaching of pitchers & hitters, little league to high school.

Israel likes to pride itself on being a Western nation, and in
too many ways (idolatry and immorality) it is.

However, in too many other ways their bought and paid for
leaders act like they’re old-style Russian Communists who hate
religion and the religious and will exert a brazen
double-standard in enabling the left to get away with
murder (remember Yitzhak Rabin?) and persecute the right for
any trumped up charge or wild accusation.

Those precious Israelis of American descent are particularly
“troublesome” to the hardcore leftists who aren’t used to
such independent thought (1 Kings 18:17), who abhor any who dare
question the State, and who cherish their God-given rights of
freedom of speech and religion. Israel is blessed to be like a
Western nation in this regard, to the extent that those of
American and other Western Israelite democracies are free to
live and prosper in the Jewish homeland, free to set a noble
example for the nation to follow, and free from
politico-religious persecution.

Nadia Matar is one of the precious Israelis of freedom-loving
American origin who is now under fire for expressing her
heartfelt Jewish opinion in the letter that appears below,
something that would be considered harmless in the United
States. Yet, in today’s quickly disintegrating Israel, Nadia
Matar (Co-chair of Women For Israel’s Tomorrow/Women In Green)
has been indicted for it!

The outrageous charge in the insulting indictment is “Insulting
a Public Servant.” More than a year ago, Nadia wrote her open
letter, a public plea, to Yonatan Bassi (head of the
Disengagement Authority — the man responsible for forcibly
evicting Jews from their homes in Gush Katif/Gaza/Samaria). Is
this further proof that Freedom of Speech, and legitimate
discussion is verboten (forbidden) in Israeli-style
democracy? Judge for yourself:

Fast of Gedaliah 5765 (2004),

Re: Help in writing your letter to the Jews of Gush Katif

I read on the Internet that in the coming days you will send a
personal letter to each of the inhabitants of Gush Katif who are
designated for deportation. Your letter contains a “personal
appeal and initial explanation of the evacuation process.”
According to the report in YNet, the final version of the letter
has not yet been formulated, and therefore I am volunteering to
“help” you formulate the letter. I am attaching a document that
is chillingly similar to what you are about to send - and,
actually, all you need to do is to change the date (from 1942 to
2004) and the place of the deportation (from Berlin to Gush
Katif) and, here, your letter is ready.

The document is a letter from 1942 to the Jews about the
upcoming deportation from Berlin. The letter was sent to the
candidates for deportation by the Jews of the Judenrat (the
Disengagement Authority), in cooperation with the Nazi
authorities. The document goes into great detail as to where the
people will be transferred, what they are to take with them, and
what they are to leave behind. The letter can be found at Yad VaShem.

The document ends with an emotional appeal by the heads of the
Jewish community in Berlin to act calmly, and thereby facilitate
the work of the deportation. “We fervently request that you obey
the orders and perform all the preparations for the transport in
a calm manner. The members of our community who are designated
for immigration should be aware that they con decisively
contribute to the smooth implementation of the transport by
their personal conduct and orderly compliance with all the
orders. Needless to say, we will do all that is in our power, to
the extent that this is permitted us, to stand by the members of
our community and offer them all possible aid” [Council of the
Jewish Community in Berlin, 1942].

How similar is this to your words, when you say in various
interviews how much you “identify with the pain of the settlers
of Gush Katif,” and how important it is that you, specifically,
are involved in their deportation, in order to ease the process.
But all of your declarations will be of no avail, Yonatan. The
truth is that you are a modern version of the Judenrat -
actually, a much worse version, because then, during the
Holocaust, this was forced upon those Jewish leaders by the
Nazis, and it is extremely difficult for us, today, to judge
them. Today, no one stands with a gun to your head and forces
you to collaborate in the crime, without any conscience pangs.
Yes, I know. There is a difference between then and now. The
goal of the Nazi monster - that also annihilated most of my
family - was the physical annihilation of the Jewish people, a
physical Holocaust. But let’s not pretend to be innocent: the
goal of the deportation from Gush Katif and northern Samaria is
the annihilation of the entire Jewish settlement in Judea,
Samaria, and Gaza, as an interim stage of a spiritual Holocaust:
the elimination of the state as a Jewish state, and its
transformation into a secular state, a state of all its
citizens, without any Jewishness. Not to mention, of course, the
bloody price that we will have to pay for our retreat. If the
criminal Oslo accords cost us more than 1000 victims, Sharon’s
deportation plan will give such a push to the Nazi Arab terror
(for the Arabs will see that Israel’s folding is proof that
terror pays) that I fear to think how many Jews will pay with
their lives for Sharon’s “disengagement.”

In conclusion - I wish to correct the empty words by Minister
Poraz, who said today that “a Jew, too, may be an anti-Semite.”
This sentence should be: “History has proven that Jews are the
biggest anti-Semites.” And, Yonatan, you should know that there
is no escape from the simple truth: whoever participates in the
deportation of the Jews of Gush Katif and northern Samaria -
participates in an anti-Semitic act, and will be remembered as
such, for everlasting shame. It is still possible for you to
resign from your abhorrent post and arrive at Yom Kippur, the
Day of Judgment, clean and at peace with your conscience,
without being part of the modern Judenrat - the Deportation
Authority.

Nadia Matar, Co-Chairperson of (Women in Green)

Unsure which Dog Breed to choose? Well I don’t blame you - there
are literally hundreds to choose from! Do you fancy some dogs,
only to find out that they just won’t suit your lifestyle! Are
you STILL looking?

Here is a Tip……

There is one dog breed that you really need to consider. In fact
it hasn’t been in the states for very long and already is
becoming one of the most sought after little dogs going around.
So much so that the demand for puppies is so great the breeders
are having a hard time keeping up - talk about a stampede of
interest in this popular little dog….

Curious about what all the fuss is about?

Well I am talking about the highly sought after Havanese!

Are you looking for a sweet, cute, yet sturdy small lap dog? How
about a dog that has a non-shedding fluffy white or black coat?
If you are looking for a petite companion dog that is
intelligent and great with children then the Havanese breed is
for you.

Here is a little about the Havanese.

Did you know that the Havanese originated in Cuba? The Havanese
is in the Bichon variety of dogs and has relations to the
Maltese, Poodle, and Bichon Frise. The Havanese is the national
dog of Cuba. Wow - what an exciting honor to bestow upon a dog!
This recognition demonstrates the universal admiration and
appreciation for the Havanese breed.

Did you know that the Havanese is a small dog, but is an
accomplished performer? The Havanese dog is clever, obedient,
and skilled at performing tricks. The Cuban social elite have
regarded the Havanese breed as a top dog for hundreds of years.

Did you know that the Havanese breed is relatively new in the
United States? The Havanese breed hit America in the 1970’s. The
1990’s brought a surge in popularity and the Havanese is quickly
becoming the “It” dog of the 21st century.

Its temperament, personality and non-shedding coat have made
this little dog “The Dog To Have”.

As you continue your search for the RIGHT puppy to get, you
really need to consider the Havanese Puppy. If you want more
information about this dog, then visit
http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com

Fiona

Wedding receptions don’t have to cost a fortune. Many families are on tight budgets these days, limiting the parents’ ability to contribute financially and placing much of the burden of wedding expenses on young couples who are just starting out in life and on limited budgets themselves.

When planning a wedding reception, location is key. Depending on how many people are invited, you may need a sizable place to have the reception. Weather permitting, your wedding reception could be held in someone’s back yard or at a local park. My own wedding ceremony and reception were held at a local park in a specially reserved area (including gazebo) that cost only about $60 for the entire day. My mother and I recently hosted a wedding reception for my sister in our mobile home park’s club house. A $150 deposit was required, but the deposit was returned after we cleaned up and left the club house the way we found it. We had full access to a fully equipped kitchen, sitting area, tables, chairs, and restrooms for an entire day. Everything we needed was right there and didn’t cost us a dime.

Decorations that can be used after the reception is over more than pay for themselves. For my sister’s reception we created beautiful centerpieces for the tables by buying some glass Pyrex cereal bowls ($1 each at a local outlet mall) and placing green glass marbles from the craft store in the bottom of each. We then filled the bowls half way with water and placed a white rose- shaped floating candle in each. These attractive centerpieces were very easy to assemble in just a minute or two and in addition to lending their candlelight to the room made a wonderful inexpensive gift for the bride and groom–a complete set of matching cereal bowls!

Food also doesn’t have to require too much effort or added expense. My own wedding reception was a pot luck luncheon. My mother provided the sandwich rolls, sliced meat and cheeses, and condiments, and close friends and family members were asked to bring side dishes and salads. My husband’s aunt made the most beautiful multi-tiered wedding cake for us, and our expense was minimal! No one went away hungry.

My sister’s reception was more of a sit-down affair, but still did not cost us a fortune. Knowing the reception would take place in October, we thought that it was taking place close enough to the holidays to have a Thanksgiving-style dinner. Most of our relatives don’t have the opportunity to see one another during the holidays anyway, and we knew this would be a great opportunity to get everyone together and spend some time visiting and eating a wonderful meal.

My husband barbecued a turkey, my mom baked a ham, and we again asked close friends and family members to bring their favorite holiday salads and side dishes. The dinner was a huge success. A family friend made the wedding cake and let us borrow her punch bowl. The wedding cake included the cake top that had adorned our own parents’ wedding cake more than 30 years ago. This was a surprise for my sister, as was the crystal cake plate that had been a wedding gift to our parents from a great grandmother.

All of our family’s wedding receptions have been huge successes, and while requiring a lot of effort on the part of many friends and family members, have never cost any one of us more than $100 or so. When planning your next wedding reception, don’t focus on the lavishness of the event, focus on creating a memorable day that will live on in your family’s memories for years to come.

Originally published at Suite 101. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

We all know how great it is to have a credit card, we can purchase all kinds of luxury items for ourselves and then pay them off a little bit at a time every month as long as we do not mind paying the interest rates that are tacked on. With low rate credit cards, you will not be paying so much in interest payments, however, if you choose a credit card with 17 % APR then you will find yourself paying huge amounts of money in interest payments if you have any type of balance of your credit card.

The large credit card companies know this and are all fighting to give you a low APR credit card that will give you even more freedom, the problem is that you may have trouble choosing which one is best for you and your lifestyle.

American Express understands these above and beyond other credit card companies that offer low APR credit cards because they also offer a 0% introductory offer for your first 15 months, which rises to a 3.99% fixed rate after that initial period. Many companies increase the APR to 17% and beyond after the introductory period expires. Citibank is offering individuals the chance to transfer their balances to a 0% APR for 12 months and a 5% cash back with some purchases such as grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies and even a 1% cash back at all other stores. JP Morgan offers a cash back program with 0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers. These low APR credit cards can be great as long as you read the fine print and learn how long the low APR will last and what it will be once the special interest rate expires.

Remember, just because a credit card company is offering a low APR credit card, this does not mean it will always be low. There are many factors that can change the APR, such as the introductory special expiring and economic indicators, which cause the interest rate to fluctuate.

Many credit card companies that offer a low APR credit card may only have the low APR for 3 months and if you are lucky, can be as long as 15 months. Before you apply for a low APR credit card be sure to read all the terms and conditions, look for such things as the end of the introductory special, balance transfer procedures, and if there are any other membership fees, or annual fees that will be applied to your low APR credit card.

For more on a variety of low APR credit card offers, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com.

Have a little “green” fun with the following activities.

Make Irish Toast - Simply get a piece of sliced bread and paint
shamrocks on it using a new, clean small tipped paintbrush and water mixed with green food coloring. Then pop it in the toaster and serve when lightly browned.

Make Shamrock Pancakes - Use a heart cookie cutter and cut 3 hearts out of the cooked pancake and form in a shamrock shape.

Make construction paper shamrocks - Cut 3 heart shapes out and arrange them in the shamrock shape and glue on construction paper. It is said that St Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is said to be one reason for the strong association with St. Patrick’s day and name.

Make Leprechaun Traps -give the children boxes, string, ribbons, tape, glue, sticks, wood and other craft materials to help them make a leprechaun trap have children set the traps before going to bed, then while they are sleeping you can leave gold wrapped chocolate coins or something else special in each childs trap.

Angela Billings is a stay at home wife and mother who
publishes an online newsletter Home and Family Ezine.
Subscribe and receive 10 more St. Patrick’s Day ideas
in a free downloadable report.
www.homeandfamilyezine.com

The main purpose of glucose is to be used as fuel for the cells
in the body to produce energy. Unprocessed glucose translates
into fat. If the body keeps making it and it’s not being
processed, where does it go? Hips, thighs, stomach, and
buttocks, that’s where!

“I’ve put on 40 pounds in one year!” “It doesn’t matter how much
I workout, I can’t lose weight.” “My doctor must think I’m
eating pizzas in the closet.”

Syndrome X is also referred to as Metabolic Syndrome, Metabolic
Syndrome X and Insulin Resistance. It is a very common disease;
however it is widely overlooked by many medical professionals.
One statistic reveals 1 in 3 people suffer from it.

This syndrome is a precursor to developing Diabetes Type 2.
Sufferers have a high level of insulin. Their bodies are unable
to process all the insulin that is being made from their diet.
As a result, they become insulin resistant.

With nearly 4 million Americans weighing in at over 300 pounds,
is it any wonder the above cries are heard each and every day by
countless frustrated people who can’t lose weight? One such
cause for the ever increasing need to buy larger pants is a
disease known as Syndrome X.

In addition to hypertension and heart disease, elevated insulin
may be associated with weight gain and difficulty with weight
loss, other blood sugar problems such as hypoglycemia, and some
menstrual related imbalances.

Genetics is partially responsible for causing this disease. More
likely though is lifestyle. In many cases years of high starch,
processed foods, simple sugars, lack of exercise, smoking, and
increased stress may be the culprit for Metabolic Syndrome X.

Now what? For starters, start exercising today. Increase water
intake and totally omit starches, sugars, processed foods from
your diet. Limit or omit caffeine. Try to maintain at least one
third of your daily food intake to vegetables. Ask your doctor
to test your sugar levels. Change what you’re eating and get
walking and you’ll be amazed at the pounds start to fall off.
The fatigue and fuzziness will start to disappear and in turn
you’ll feel much better.