Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Creative Experience Blog



The Creative Experience Blog

Great Mystery Publishing now has a creative dedicated blog - The Creative Experience Blog!!

If you are creative, or simply would like to become more creative, this blog is for you!

Whether you are into writing, painting, gardening, cooking, jewellery-making, scrapbooking or even furniture design, add your comments and hints, post your photographs and videos, or links to your websites and social networking pages!

Great Song to finish 2011 & start 2012 -Flo Rida "Good Feeling"



Perfect time for a bit of feel good dance music! "Good Feeling" by Flo Rider! Bye to 2011 and hello to 2012!! Wishing everyone a very happy, safe and purposeful 2012!! best wishes from SD, Online Publisher - Great Mystery Publishing

Friday, December 30, 2011

Moulin Rouge "Your Song" sang fabulously by Ewan McGregor



One the highlights of the fabulous Moulin Rouge! Ewan McGregor is a talented singer as well phenomenal actor!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

A message from a Animal Shelter Manager


ASPCA PETA HSUS RSPCA OSPCA dog cat This is an animal rescue story unlike any most you have heard before. This statement was written in response to the New York Times article titled "Percentage of Animals Put To Death in Shelters Reaches Low". The real truth is, this article was nothing less than misleading. The kill stats are fabricated and "padded". The letter below was written by a NYC shelter manager/employee. Read it. The truth is ugly. To me the response to the story was the real story here. It will break your heart. Sometimes we need to hear the truth to bring about awareness.

I think our society needs a huge “Wake-up” call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all…a view from the inside if you will. First off, all of you people who have ever surrendered a pet to a shelter or humane society should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would stop flagging the ads on craigslist and help these animals find homes. That puppy you just bought will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. Just so you know there’s a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it’s dumped at? Purebred or not! About 25% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays”, that come into a shelter are purebred dogs.
The most common excuses: “We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat).” Really? Where are you moving too that doesn’t allow pets? Or they say “The dog got bigger than we thought it would”. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? “We don’t have time for her”. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! “She’s tearing up our yard”. How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she’ll get adopted, she’s a good dog”.

Odds are your pet won’t get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the “Bully” breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don’t get adopted. It doesn’t matter how ’sweet’ or ‘well behaved’ they are.
If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because the shelter gets paid a fee to euthanize each animal and making money is better than spending money to take this animal to the vet.

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”. First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to “The Room”, every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it’s strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 shelter workers depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a shelter worker who we call a euthanasia tech (not a vet) find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”. Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don’t just “go to sleep”, sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. You see shelters are trying to make money to pay employee pay checks and don’t forget the board of directors needs to be paid too, so we don’t spend our funds to tranquilize the animal before injecting them with the lethal drug, we just put the burning lethal drug in the vein and let them suffer until dead. If it were not a “making money issue” and we had to have a licensed vet do this procedure, the animal would be sedated or tranquilized and then euthanized, but to do this procedure correctly would cost more money so we do not follow what is right for the animal, we just follow what is the fastest way we can make a dollar. Shelters do not have to have a vet perform their euthanasia’s so even if it takes our employee 50 pokes with a needle and 3 hours to get the vein that is what we do. Making money is the issue here not loosing money.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? Or used for the schools to dissect and experiment on? You’ll never know and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right!

I hope that those of you who still have a beating heart and have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head, I deal with this everyday. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and start educating the public. Do research, do your homework, and know exactly what you are getting into before getting a pet. These shelters and humane societies exist because people just do not care about animals anymore. Animals were not intended to be disposable but somehow that is what they are these days. Animal shelters are an easy way out when you get tired of your dog (or cat), and breeders are the ones blamed for this. Animal shelters and rescue organizations are making a hefty profit by keeping this misconception going.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about taking their dog to a shelter, a humane society, or buying a dog. For those of you that care— please repost this to at least one other craiglist in another city/state. Let’s see if we can get this all around the US and have an impact.
— Manager


ASPCA PETA HSUS #nokill cat dog equine farm animals rescue EUTHANAZIA. Did you know that there are a LOW esimate of 4-6 MILLION dogs and cats that are euthanized each year in shelters in the United States? Some university research estimates that number to be as high as 12 MILLION. Do you know that most of these animals are dying right near your home and in your own communities.. Did you know that most of these animals that are dying are homeable?.. Most of these animals die merely from lack of support for our community shelters. Many communities have no shelters and those who do in most instances have little to no community or support from their city, state or local governments.. Many times these animals die just because there is no-one who cares. For years people have watched the HSUS, ASPCA, PETA and national rescue groups who are taking in tens to hundreds of millions of dollars a year to save "puppy mill dogs".. The HSUS and ASPCA EACH take in an average of 100 MILLION dollars a year for animal rescue.. The reality of that is, nearly none of that money goes to help your LOCAL Humane Society, your local ASPCA or your community shelter. Infact many people have been led to believe over the years that when they are donating to the HSUS (HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES). they are infact helping their local HUMANE SOCIETY. Many people also believe that "THE" ASPCA is somehow connected to their local SPCA.. That misguided mis-information alone has over the decades been responsible for countless millions of dollars in donations being given to the HSUS and ASPCA while people were led to believe that they were somehow helping their community shelter when they donated to these groups.. There is nothing further from the truth. In all reality, the HSUS donates less that 1/2 OF 1 PERCENT OF THE $100,000,000.00 MILLION dollars a year that they receive to help local shelters. On Average the ASPCA infact donates only about 2 percent of their over $100,000,000.00 a year intake to help our direly underfunded community shelters.. THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE THESE 4-12 MILLION DOGS AND CATS that are being euthanized EVERY YEAR in our community shelters is for you and me, the donors to start donating to our LOCAL/COMMUNITY SHELTERS.. I know a lot of people give every reason in the world why they WON'T donate or voluntter to their local shelter.. In mamy cases those people who you condemn for not living up to your standards are running these "unsupported shelters" and are doing all they can.. Many times they are volunteers who are spending their own money just trying to get by and do what they can with little to no support at all from the community or goverment. In most cases, they have NO CHOICE but to euthanize these animals.. They have no choice because they have little to no physical or finanical support. In most instances these same people are the ones who work day in and day out 365 days a year trying to care for the overwhelming number of dogs dumped off on them day in and day out.. Sometimes the number is staggering.. In most cases they have no choice BUT to euthanize many of these animals and in many cases just because there is no-one to help feed, bathe and care for them long enough to find them homes.. Many times these animals "have to die" just because these people do not have the resources to buy basic necessities such as food and vaccinations. Most of the time these animals die because there are no resources or man power to care for them "just long enough" to find them homes.. That is the ugly truth about that we live with day in and day out while trying to do keep our shelters alive.. So the next time you decide to donate or volunteer.. Consider the dire need and circumstances that your OWN LOCAL COMMUNITY SHELTER is living in... I bet they need your and your few dollars or bag of dog food WAY more direly than these national sized investment groups who run rescues like the ASPCA and HSUS... IF you REALLY want to stop the mass killing of 4-2 MILLION dogs and cats EVERY YEAR in this country.. The only REAL way to do that is to start at home..Start volunteering and donating locally...Take one day out of your busy schedule, go down and visit your local shelter.. Look into the eyes of the needy animals there.. You may THINK that the people working there don't care... You've heard these ugly stories about "they are just going to kill them anyway".. But I guarantee you that you will never meet one person in these shelters that ENJOYS or WANTS to see these animals die.. You may see a dog that you think appears neglected but in most instances, I would almost guarantee you that its not because those people don't care.. Its because they are tired, worn out and doing all they can with the limited manpower and resources that they have.. How much difference do you think that YOU could make with JUST ONE EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS. How much difference do you think that YOU PERSONALLY could make in saving lives.. One pair of hands in an overcrowded shelter can mean the difference in "life and death" for dozens of dogs on a yearly basis.. YOU can make that difference.. Sometimes these people that you see in these shelters may appear to be uncaring but I guarantee you they are not.. They are tired.. They are worn.. If you take the time to talk to most of them, many of them have been at it for decades.. Who do you think goes to the shelter 7 days a week to feed and cares for these animals.? Do you really think that these people are getting paid for the countless hours they spend there? Someone has to do it.. Maybe you can help.. Your small donations and bag of dog food could be the difference that determines and saves some of these animals.. Please don't criticize these people until you have walked just ONE MILE in their shoes.. Go in, spend the day.. See what they have to go through on a daily basis.. I bet by the end of one day you will have a new appreciation for what these people do. Its easy to say "they should do this and they should do that".. Until you have PERSONALLY cared for dozens of animals on a daily basis, new ones coming in daily, in some instances having to see animals that you know could be homed die, then don't be judgemental. It takes a special kind of person to do what these people do in these small underfunded, understaffed shelters do day in and day out.. THey don't make hundreds of thousands of dollar a year like some of these people do in these national sized groups do.. In many instances they don't make a penny.. In many instances they are spending thousands upon thousands of dollars of their own money just to save the few that they can... GOD BLESS #nokill rescues.. God bless ANY rescue that is saving lives.. PLEASE have your pet spayed and neutered.. One trip to your local shelter will tell you just how important that can be.. Maybe it will also help you realize just how important that ONE set of helping hands can be in determining the number of animals that live or die in YOUR OWN COMMUNITY SHELTER...

Edward de Bono on creative thinking



One of the great minds of our time discusses creative thinking. A fascinating clip!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Fascinating clip taken by tourist in Jerusalem Dome of the Rock Temple Mount that appears to be a UFO!..



What is your opinion? Do you believe this is real or not? Personally, I think the comments and visuals are extremely convincing!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Finally Moving by Pretty Lights



Love this song! "Finally Moving" by Pretty Lights! Very layback.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Jingle Barks: Dogs Barking Jingle Bells - Holiday Video



Very cute! Dogs singing(barking) Jingle Bells!

The Amazing Successes of Defenders of Wildlife and their Supporters achieved in 2011!!



Watching this clip from the Defenders of Wildlife, it is not difficult to see the fantastic results of positive people power. Anyone who has supported Defenders of Wildlife through signing petitions, passing on vital information about various issues, being an active member, or contributing donations, you have helped to make a real difference during 2011! Watch this clip to see what has been achieved.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Sweet clip of orphaned, but cared for, polar cub looking very contented!





Baby bear hugs from orphaned polar cub: An orphaned polar bear cub, has been taken into care in Denmark after his mother did not produce enough milk

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

John Lennon "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" clip



Why are humans still waging war upon each other? Money, land, religion, revenge?? Whatever our reasons, when we listen to this beautiful song by John Lennon, and view the tragic, haunting images in this clip of those maimed and killed by our (continuing) wars, especially the images of children, it makes me question the idea that we, humans, can truly call ourselves civilized or humane? Let's make 2012 the beginning of significant change. Where compassion, charity, negotiation and diplomacy bring improvement and peace to our world. Life is far too precious for us to continue living, and killing, as we have.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Gift of Compassion 2011



A wonderful clip that shows the invaluable work of ARC, and how some caring people made a real difference! Thank you to those of ARC AND all those who donated money and resources to keep your vital organization going!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Offspring "Gone Away" Clip



I always loved this song, but never knew what the name was until now. Finally I can post this so you can enjoy it too! Offspring definitely has some great songs!

BEWARE: This clip features graphic imagery of war. If violent images disturb you, just listen to the music without viewing the clip.

BANNED INTERVIEW with George Bush Jr. US President



A ten minute interview that was banned. This Irish interviewer was trying hard to get some sense out of George W. Bush Jr., but as they say, you can't get blood out of a stone!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Petition to stop "artist" publicly killing animals as "art"!



In the petition photo, we see the "artist" holding a poor dog she has killed cruelly and publicly at the Torch Gallery! This woman and gallery deserve imprisonment and hefty fines for their psychopathic treatment of defenceless animals!

Torch Gallery supports Katinka Simonse, a would-be artist who horribly murders animals and calls it art. It is immoral and illegal to torture or kill animals in most of the EU to my knowledge, why should this be condoned in the name of so called Art? And is it legal to show these gruesome testaments to murder in a gallery? To condone this is inhumane and moreover, if you need another reason to bring these people to justice, consider the fact that this woman and those that support her are showing dangerous tendencies that could put children and other animals in danger. Help to stop this, and punish this cruel, intolerable behaviour.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

These are genuine human-looking androids created in Japan! Walking, talking, smiling realistic robots!


Female Android Geminoid FId

These are real androids!! The concept of walking, talking, human-like androids is a rather frightening idea. It makes me think of "I-Robot" and the Terminator films! Although it may have a plus side. Considering the disgusting, rude comments some depraved people were writing beneath this clip on youtube, maybe it will mean these individuals will be "mating" with androids, so no progeny of theirs integrating into the gene pool, and the other plus, it may mean that our human population reduces to a reasonable level that our world can regenerate?

The Great Pacific Garbage Dump and what it is doing to oceanic life



Scientists and environmentalists are deeply concerned by the vast areas of ocean in the Pacific littered with high density waste, killing, polluting and maiming any oceanic animals that happen to find themselves in the area. Turtles, sick and deformed from plastic rings, wrapped around them, their shells dangerously strangled through their middle. Check out this clip for more information on this topic.
PS We, humans, have caused the problem, now we had better darn well fix it! Please reuse, recycle or dispose of all your rubbish thoughtfully (in rubbish bins, not throw in the gutter, or along beaches!!!). How about some "clean up the oceans" campaigns?!

Gorgeous clip of Casper the bath loving dog



Casper the dog loves his bath-time! He looks like a small polar bear. I've never see a dog so happy in the bath! Very cute indeed!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Cute Owl Hunts Invisible Prey


We seldom hear of birds playing, but here we have a very cute owl pretending to catch its' invisible prey. Certainly this little owl is playing. Wonderful!

The sweetest Owl!


This clip features a variety of beautiful owls, but there is one particular that just exudes sweetness and love. Lovely video!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mother Faces 93 Days In Jail For Vegetable Garden!


A woman faces jail in the US for growing vegetables in her front yard!! Apparently the local council considers it "unsuitable"! Unless the law states specifically that people cannot grow vegetables and fruit in their front yard (and shouldn't there be a suitable reason for not allowing people to grow food in their front yard?) why waste the time and money of the tax payers?! There is something seriously wrong with any government who believe it should be against the law to grow food anywhere on your property (unless it poses a health threat or danger to anyone, or they are growing illegal substances?). With all the real problems happening in our society that need to be attended to, such at cruelty and abuse towards children and animals, why is this absolutely ridiculous thing being enforced? I thought America was the land of the free? Free to carry guns (which lead to frequent episodes of mass shootings) but not free to grow fruit and vegetables!! This has to be ironic, or maybe an oxymoron, or maybe simply moronic!!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Pitbull Loves Her Kittens!



Kind, loving owners raise kind loving dogs, no matter what the breed. This is a gorgeous clip of a sweet pitbull showing how much she adores her kitten. How gentle she is with her little charge.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Classic Eighties Australian/New Zealand rock ballad - Mi-Sex " Blue Day"



A classic Australian/New Zealand (soft) rock song. The subject of depression is a relevant one for the holiday season. Many people on their own, feel a little left out or down, when they see others meeting up with family and friends during this time of year. Although I think many people who have dysfunctional families would happily trade their family get-togethers for a little alone time! :) However, jokes aside, sadness and loneliness is a societal problem which all of us can do something to help to ease. Now just because someone lives alone, or has been single for many years, does not mean they are sad and lonely. In fact, many are quite contented with this lifestyle, especially if they have made a conscious choice to live this way, however, for those who are obviously unhappy, we can do many things to help. Possibly give them a call and see how they are doing, ask to pop around for a visit, maybe send them a thoughtful card or present telling them how special they are to you? There are many different ways we can show people they are valuable and precious to us and the world, and this is the time to make that little effort to spread the love around.

If you or anyone else is down, now or at any time, the following website is an excellent aid to helping alleviate these feelings www.headspace.org.au.
It is natural to get sad or down, so don't think there is anything wrong with you when you do, but if you have persistent feelings of negativity, it may be time to learn new ways of seeing the world and yourself, develop new coping skills and perhaps get out and help those less fortunate than yourself (people, animals or environment) so you can see how fortunate and blessed you really are! :)

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Official Music Video)



"A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri is truly beautiful! This clip also features snippets of the new film in the Twilight Saga "Breaking Dawn - Part 1". I know many critics panned the new Twilight film, but myself and a friend, found the film absolutely wonderful! Only one part that didn't work for me, when the wolves (who are meant to talk to each other telepathically) looked like they were actually having a spoken conversation - made it look for a moment like a talking animal Disney film! Other than that, the film was visually stunning, and the script and acting fabulous! This Twilight instalment reminded me of the first Twilight film for it wasn't typically "Hollywood" in nature. Can't wait for the second instalment of "Breaking Dawn".

Friday, December 9, 2011

Denver Official Guilty! Dog Video



This gorgeous clip will make you smile, especially if you love animals, dogs in particular!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Stevie Wonder - Superstition live on Sesame Street



Fabulous music by Stevie Wonder combined with the joy of Sesame Street is enough to put a smile on anyone's face, as well as put a little boogie in your day! Enjoy!

Compassion needs to be shared with all living, feeling creatures.


Be a voice for animals at AnimalsAustralia.org

Our treatment of animals raised in cruel conditions and then slaughtered without respect for the lives being taken, needs changing. This clip shows the final moments in the life of a gentle (six month old baby) pig. These creatures have the same feelings and emotions as our pet cats, horses, and dogs; it is just that we have categorized them as food rather than companion. Should we not afford them greater compassion, give them better treatment during their short lives and at their transition to death; in appreciation and respect for their lives they have given up so that we may eat their body?

"A man is truly ethical only when he obeys the compulsion to help all life which he is able to assist, and shrinks from injuring anything that lives." - Albert Schweitzer

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Pets are not gifts, or disposable or returnable items! Pets are new lifelong members of your household.



"Every year in Australia over 250,000 healthy cats & dogs are euthanized,the majority are killed as a result of impulse buying (which supports irresponsible breeding).

Adoption (of shelter animals) should be the first option.

PLEASE SUPPORT OSCARS LAW, to stop puppy farms, backyard breeders and people who profit from animal cruelty. If a pet shop won't let you see the puppies mum, then you have to wonder is the cute puppy in the window hiding the cruelty that his mum is enduring - often in a cage where they cant even stand up! Trapped for all their breeding years without sunlight, grass, or kind human touch. And when their breeding years are finished, or they become too ill and need treatment, the way they are disposed of, is often as inhumane as the treatment they have suffered during their lifetime.

Be a voice for our furry friends, they need us!" (message from Paws on the Coast).
(Oscars Law is named after a kitten that was beaten to death with a baseball bat by a woman and her children in a park in the US.)

Pets are not gifts. They are special lives that deserve our love and respect. Our disposable society that views all things can be returned or got rid of if we do not feel that our choice suits us anymore, but this should NEVER apply to animals! If you return an animal, the reality is, they are likely to end up dead because of your decision. Only adopt from animal shelters or ethical pet stores such as Pet Headquarters at Blackwood Street, Mitchelton Brisbane, which are a rehoming centres for shelter animals. If you buy from breeders or let your animals breed (even if you find homes for your litters) you are unintentionally contributing to the death of other animals. Unless you can make a lifelong commitment ( for the pet's natural life, sometimes up to ten, twenty, or more years) to provide a safe, loving environment for a pet, despite your changing circumstances, then do not buy a pet.

Never buy online pets as they are usually sourced from puppy/kitten mills, where breeding animals spend their entire lives in tiny cages like battery hens, used to bred puppies and kittens for money, and the kittens and puppies not seen as "the right quality to be sold" are often killed brutally. The adults used for breeding are often maltreated and neglected, without proper medical treatment, and when they are no longer producing litters, killed or dumped. Be an advocate for animal welfare and be part of the solution.

Fun Ways to Manage Stress


By Laurel House, Planet Green

Being “stressed” seems to be as trendy as being “on a diet.” Everyone’s doing it, throwing the terms around as if it’s an excuse for a bad mood or short fuse. Problem is: stress has some serious side-effects that can be detrimental to your health and happiness if it isn’t addressed. Of course there are lots of pills to help you ease off angst, but we prefer to do it green – naturally. No drugs, no chemicals, just good natural cures. Our favorite and the most fun by far: Kissing!

1. Reduce Stress with Touching, Kissing, Hugging

Touching, kissing, and hugging (or any other affectionate activities) are activities that stimulate the brain’s release of the hormone oxytocin. If you want to take it up a notch, get a room! Recent studies reveal that the surge of oxytocin released during orgasm can lower blood pressure, calm nerves and tame tension. In fact, according to the British Medical Journal, sex is so good for your heart that it cuts your risk of heart attack and stroke in half when performed three times a week.

2. Reduce Stress by Eating Garlic

The main ingredient in garlic when digested is organosulfur allicin, which triggers your body to produce hydrogen sulfide. The combo creates an internal reaction that relaxes blood vessels and encourages blood flow. Translation: garlic is good for your heart and your head and helps manage stress.

3. Reduce Stress by Eating Chocolate

Balance isn’t just for yoga. In fact, a little bit of chocolate can go a long way when it comes to your diet. Dark chocolate has been shown to be filled with antioxidant flavonoids (which can minimize your risk of heart disease and reduce blood pressure). Some scientists have gone so far as to claim that the sweet stuff has more flavonoids than any other food (including blueberries). According to research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, those said flavonoids help blood vessels relax, helping calm overall stress. Word to the wise, choose the lower fat dark chocolate to milk chocolate. It has a higher count of the good stuff. And of course opt for organic chocolate.

A Few Organic Chocolate Options to Salivate Over:

Dagoba Eclipse 87 percent Organic Extra Dark Chocolate. We are getting crazy here now with this souped up super dark chocolate bar that offers flavor elements of tart and only slightly sweet citrus. Your taste buds start playing tricks on you once you reach this intensity! We also love their annual Seed the Day campaign that supports urban greening activities and encouraging volunteerism.
Shaman Chocolates Organic Dark Chocolate with Acai, Lemon & Orange is Certified Organic, Fair Trade and souped up with superfoods like Acai berries (containing more antioxidants than blueberries or pomegranates).
Amano Artisan Handcrafted Single Origin 70 percent Dark Chocolate—Montanya is, like a fine wine, all about the terroir. Each variety comes from a specific place or origin, which imbues the bar with subtle hints of flavor reflective of the area. Montanya is made from cocoa beans exclusively from the mountains of Venezuela. It has natural flavor notes of apricot, nuts, marshmallow, and spice. This is the art of chocolate.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-fun-ways-to-manage-stress.html#ixzz1fYNrogkN

4. Reduce Stress by Rubbing your Hoku

Your “hoku” is that flap of skin on your palm that connects your pointer finger to your thumb. It’s also an acupressure spot related to upper body tension that, when squeezed, can minimize stress by up to 39 percent—that’s according to scientists at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

5. Reduce Stress by Watching/Reading Something Funny

Laughter is a proven way to ease stress. Even the mere anticipation of something funny has the ability to calm us down thanks to the release of stress hormones like dopac, cortisol and epinephrine. More than easing angst, short funny film clips have been proven to increase blood flow to the heart according to scientists at the University of Maryland.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-fun-ways-to-manage-stress.html#ixzz1fYO343wm

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Dermot O'Leary - The truth about buying a puppy online



Please view this clip. Puppy (and kitty) mills (where most online pets are bred) are terribly cruel places which result in sick, distressed animals. If you love dogs (or cats) avoid buying from breeders and especially DO NOT buy online! If you love dogs (or cats), it means you do not like the idea of cruelty to these animals, so don't become part of the reason for their suffering by supporting online breeders.