How to Choose the Perfect Pet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Anyone who has owned a great pet knows that they become part of the family. A new dog or cat will most likely be with you for over a decade. My cat recently turned ten and he's the best! Here are some things to consider

-What type of animal do you want? Cat, dog, bird, snake, etc. Make sure it suits your life style. If you live by yourself and have a full time job it might be best to go with a cat. They can take care of themselves and won't get too destructive. At the same time who says cats are independent? My cat and other cats I know are needy and love to be pet. On their own terms of course ;)
-What breed do you want(or not want?) This is applies mostly to dogs. If you have small children or other pets don't get a dog known to be aggressive. Dogs such as the golden retriever are known to be gentle and caring. Knowing what breed you are getting helps you predict the disposition of a puppy ahead of time. You also know the health problems common with that particular breed.
-Where will I get my new pet? If you go to a breeder make sure they know what they are doing. A quick back round check won't hurt. I am not really a fan of pet stores. They seem to take care of pets when the store is open and leave them all alone when its closing. I find there are many pets to choose from when I go to a store. As for places that kill the unwanted animals I don't know what to say. It gets me very upset thinking about it. Not buying a pet will leave some animals to die. Buying a pet will save one animal but fund the place so they can put more animals at risk. In the end I guess they should be avoided. Ads are an often overlooked option. There is no telling what you can find. Lastly, my personal favorite, shelters. Shelters are a great place to give an animal a home. There aren't many pure breeds. The animals are typically free but its good to make a donation.

Things to remember

-Pets can be very expensive. Don't take one on if you don't think your ready.
-Animals are time consuming. If you don't have enough time to devote to a new pet stick with fish.
-Get your new pet vet checked ASAP. If they have any medical problems they need to be dealt with right away.
-Owning a pet is a truly rewarding experience. All you have to do is find the right match.

That's your daily dose of reality, thanks for reading!

Dissuasion questions
Have you ever owned a pet? If so what kind :)

Who's looking for a new blog?

Hey everyone! I thought I'd make a post where people can share there blogs in the comment section. I'm always looking for new blogs to follow! Enjoy you guys.

Obama so far

How do you think Barack Obama is doing so far as President? The general American response to him has been positive. There has been a lot of talk about his health care plan. Numerous speculations have been made about whether it would work. So far I like him better than Bush. None of his actions have had me in front of my TV screaming or pulling my hair out. That's always nice. His transition into office was practically seamless and he took action right away. Today I have a few Discussion topics.

Overall, do you support Obama?

What do you think his main priorities should be?

What do you think of the health care plan?

Has he done something you can't stand?

Do you like Biden?

Most importantly.......

Who thinks the Sarah Palin SNL was the most humorous think ever?(See my What an Idiot! post because this moment certainly applies for Palin.)

Thanks for reading!

Favorite Online Stores

On the Internet there are so many places you can buy from. When in doubt we can always go on to the online department stores but there is nothing truly unique about them. I know of a website called 'thinkgeek.com'. Don't worry you don't have to be a geek to enjoy it. It has a myriad of cool items for your computer. It also has games, books, clothes and all sorts of odd gadgets. If you love to be unique this site is for you. The site focuses a lot on electronics so things can get pricey. There is a spectacular clearance section to make up for it. Check it out! That's your daily dose of reality. Thanks for reading!

Discussion Question:
Where do you like to shop online?

What an Idiot!

How many times has someone said something that makes you go ugh what an idiot!?!? For me it's when someone asks if Venezuela is a country(true story!) or Kevin James reacts to a question from Chris Mathews(click title,it never gets old)Maybe its when someone disagrees with your personal views or opinions. It can be a Sarah Palin interview! Whatever the reason let's try to be patient and open. You don't have to be a genius to be sweet, caring, or lovable. That's your daily dose of reality. Thanks for reading!

How to Survive Speaking in Public

Hey guys. Thanks for all of your help so far with this blog. One little comment goes a long way :) It has been a bit tough getting started but its worth the effort! This is my last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow I'm heading back to school. I'm bummed the summer is over but I'm anxious to start the school year. It has me thinking about school last year. The high points and the times that could have been better. Most of my friends lost a lot of sleep over public speaking. It never really bothered me. I thought it could even be fun if I liked what I was talking about. Every one will have to endure public speaking at some point in their lives so I'm making a list of pointers.


Tips~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Present your speech with confidence. Dogs can smell fear. An audience can too. Know the facts by heart ahead of time. People will think you know what your talking about.
-If you do make a mistake keep going. No one will notice a mistake unless you make a big deal out of it.
- If your using notes make sure to look up from the paper. Be sure to look up at your audience. Your voice can get muffled while looking down.
-Project your voice. Everyone needs to hear what your saying. Even the people in the back.
-Relax. It will all be over soon enough. In the grand scheme of things the one little speech doesn't matter.
-DO NOT picture the audience in their underwear. I've never tried this one but it doesn't seem like a smart idea.

These and a bit of practice should have you speaking like a pro in no time!

Still scared? Don't worry! A speech will not make you or break you. You might even find yourself enjoying it. That's your daily dose of reality. Thanks for reading!

Television Recycling

In today's blog I'd like to hear all of your opinions on television today in relation to show from decades ago. Most of my favorite television shows aren't the teen favorites of today. I have never seen Gossip Girl(although I have read one of the books) or One Tree Hill. My favorites are the oldies. Mary Tyler Moore Show, One Day at a Time, I Love Lucy, Bewitched etc. If your a teenager and you are reading this why not check some older shows out? They really are great. The more recent ones I like are ,Family Ties, Saved by the Bell and especially Gilmore Girls.

I was watching Mary Tyler Moore and in one episode Phyllis is hitting Mary's table with a chain. They needed it look like an antique. Mary couldn't do it she just kept laughing. OK nothing special there but it sure was funny. I went downstairs and saw my younger brother watching icarly. It was so weird! The main character Carly and her older brother Spencer were hitting something or another with a chain. I had seen the exact same thing 30 minutes ago. That got me thinking about the similarities between the two shows. Mary and her best friend Rhoda reminded me a lot of Carly and her tough friend Sam. Carly and Mary both have a huge conscience. They are sweet and even naive at times. In the end of the icarly theme song Carly does the classic blue hat toss we see in Mary Tyler Moore. It got me thinking that icarly is a modernized, kids version of Mary Tyler Moore.

The second similarity I noticed was that of Wizards of Waverly Place and Bewitched. A mortal married to a wizard/witch. Both families do their best to fit in with everyone else. They try to stay true to their roots while keeping up with school and such at the same time. There is a Larry Tate in Wizards of Waverly Place too ;)

It is common knowledge that television shows often use ideas from from other shows. Its expected. The Partridge Family and Ruby and the Rockets?(They even both have David Cassidy:) The Brady Bunch and Full House? All those medical shows? I just thought I'd get this idea out there. A lot of people don't see the similarities. After all how many people watch both icarly and Mary Tyler Moore. Perhaps a parent would. Or a teen who just really likes old television like me. That brand new show you starting watching may have gotten inspiration from someplace else. Not to say the new ones can't be great in their own right. That's your daily dose of reality. Thanks for reading!

Discussion Questions
What television shows seem similar to you? Share your opinions.