GOOGLE CAN NOW USE YOUR FACE AND NAME IN GOOGLE ADS

BREIBART - Google has officially updated their terms of service to allow the company to use your name and image on their ads that populate the internet. 

YOU CAN OPT OUT OF THIS HERE.   The new terms of service read:

If you have a Google Account, we may display your Profile name, Profile photo, and actions you take on Google or on third-party applications connected to your Google Account (such as +1’s, reviews you write and comments you post) in our Services, including displaying in ads and other commercial contexts. We will respect the choices you make to limit sharing or visibility settings in your Google Account. For example, you can choose your settings so your name and photo do not appear in an ad.

The new "shared endorsements" are ruffling some privacy feathers. "We think it's a problem," says Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "It's a commercial endorsement without consent and that is not permissible in most states in the U.S."

Facebook tried something similar and was forced to pay a $20M settlement, when they were sued in a class action suit. Facebook had used "endorsements" in the ads run on the social network, but they did not provide a way for users to opt out.  

Read more - http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2014/01/09/Today-Google-Starts-Using-Your-Name-and-Face-in-GoogleAds

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LARGEST OUTBREAK OF "NIGHTMARE BACTERIA" IN ILLINOIS - INFECTIONS BECOMING UNTREATABLE

The largest outbreak to date of one strain of what authorities have called "nightmare bacteria" is adding to concerns about the spread of such drug-resistant bugs.

The outbreak, centered on a hospital in a Chicago suburb, has infected 44 people in Illinois over the past year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The bug, known as carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, bears a rare enzyme that breaks down antibiotics.

"This is a huge cluster," said Alex Kallen, a medical officer with the CDC and supervisor for the Illinois outbreak investigation, noting that only 97 cases of the infection have been reported to the agency since 2009. 

The superbug, which typically lives in the intestines and is part of a large family of bacteria, can be spread via fecal matter. It isn't typically transmitted by casual contact outside hospitals.

Source - http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/08/outbreak-nightmare-bacteria-in-illinois-stirs-worry/


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INFECTIONS BECOMING UNTREATABLE, SAYS UK EXPERT

Growing resistance to antibiotics could lead to a tipping point where new infections are able to take hold in the UK, warns the director of the Wellcome Trust.

Professor Jeremy Farrar said everyday medical practice would be affected because the ‘golden age of antibiotics’ was set to end.  But the change would be gradual rather than the sudden emergence of new deadly bugs, he said.

He said complacency had set in during the 1970s and 1980s where there should have been more investment and antibiotics could have been used more wisely, for example in combination to deter resistance.

Read more - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2536186/Golden-age-antibiotics-ending-say-professor-Research-chief-says-infections-untreatable.html


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What is not always being said is that there is an overuse of antibiotics, both on human patients, and on farm animals.  This has led to the development of superbugs.

NEEDLESS USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN AGRICULTURE

 PROMOTE RISE IN SUPERBUGS, SAY EXPERTS.

Medical Daily, December 2013: According to a new study from the University of Calgary, antibiotics fed to livestock accelerate the emergence of new, resistant strains of bacteria. Now experts are calling on officials to curb the practice by imposing fees and other disincentives.


Read more - http://www.medicaldaily.com/needless-use-antibiotics-agriculture-promotes-resistant-superbugs-experts-265793


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HILARIOUS SELFIES TAKEN BY ANIMALS

It was one of the biggest trends of 2013 - the selfie.

 

But just a few days into the new year and a new craze has already taken over - the animal selfie.

 

Twitter has been inundated with posts of animals pulling their best poses for the camera next to the hashtag #animalselfies.

 

And it's not just cats and dogs getting in on the action, with monkeys, horses and even bearded dragons getting involved.

 

These are great pictures!

See pictures here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2535743/PAW-sing-camera-animal-selfies-taking-Twitter-storm.html

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Also, see funny and cute cat selfies here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429172/Social-pet-working-The-feline-divas-resist-selfie.html

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FUKUSHIMA ECOCIDE - THE COLLAPSE OF THE PACIFIC ECOSYSTEM

Radiation Expert: It’s terrifying how Pacific ecosystem has collapsed since Fukushima — Plutonium and uranium suspected of spreading through food chain.

Read more - http://enenews.com/radiation-expert-terrifying-pacific-ecosystem-collapsed-fukushima-plutonium-uranium-hot-particles-suspected-spreading-throuhout-food-chain-video

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Study:  Dead sea creatures cover 98% of the ocean floor for 150 miles off the coast of California

Read more:

http://enenews.com/study-dead-sea-creatures-covered-98-of-seafloor-last-year-150-miles-off-california-coast-had-been-less-than-1-previously

http://www.naturalnews.com/043380_fukushima_radiation_ocean_life.html

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FUKUSHIMA COVERUP - NPR WORKING WITH NUCLEAR ENTITIES TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT JAPAN'S NUCLEAR DISASTER'S EFFECT ON AMERICA

 

National Public Radio (NPR) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) appear on document with nuclear-related U.S. entities ‘working together’ with Japan's TEPCO to ‘disseminate’ Fukushima-related information —

CDHP Yesterday's message: West Coast will get NO radioactive contamination from Fukushima.

 

Perhaps the CDPH will provide information about the models they based their statement on. In the mean time, here’s what the scientists and experts say:

• Study: High concentrations of Fukushima radioactive material will reach west coast of North America -- "Entire coast" to be affected from Alaska to Mexico -- "Can negatively affect human life for decades... should raise concern" (MODEL)
• UPI: Fukushima plume to reach U.S. West Coast in months; Measurable increase in radioactive material -- Study: Prolonged exposure for California lasting 10 years; Hits Hawaii early 2014... may already be surrounded (PHOTO)

So why would CDPH  officials make such a claim? This document may help to explain: 

TEPCO (pdf), Dec. 3, 2013.

Source:  http://enenews.com/npr-and-california-department-of-public-health-appear-on-document-with-nuclear-related-u-s-entities-that-are-working-together-with-tepco-to-disseminate-fukushima-r


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RELATED

Gov’t Report: CNN, Huffington Post listed as ‘external stakeholders’ in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), alongside nuclear industry and pro-nuclear blogs — Both outlets help NRC to increase online influence, as CNN produces pro-nuclear infomercial.

Read more - http://enenews.com/govt-report-cnn-huffington-post-listed-external-stakeholders-nrc-alongside-nuclear-industry-pro-nuclear-blogs-both-news-outlets-give-tips-nrc-increase-online-influence

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FOR THE RECORD: 

NPR calms the public.  Fear will be worse than any radioactive effect from this event.  This is what NPR reported in 2011, in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima:

"Catastrophe! Disaster! Fear of a meltdown! All true. So is the fact that no matter how much radiation eventually comes out of the nuclear plants in Japan, the actual damage to human health won't be as bad as many people fear. In fact, the fear itself may be much worse."

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/16/134567692/nuke-o-noia-the-worst-threat-to-japan


AND THEY STUCK TO THE SCRIPT AS LATE AS MARCH 11, 2013 - TWO YEARS INTO THIS ECOCIDE

"Depression And Anxiety Could Be Fukushima's Lasting Legacy "- A look at the Fukushima refugees.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/11/173828458/depression-and-anxiety-could-be-fukushimas-lasting-legacy

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NPR has continued to report about Fukushima but in a very restrained manner, sticking to Japan's procedures to deal with the ever worsening situation there  - in a very detached manner, and without raising alarm at the significance of this global disaster for human and animal health.

NPR ARCHIVE FOR FUKUSHIMA -
Notice the absence of reporting about the effects on the ocean environment and on our west coast.
http://www.npr.org/search/index.php?searchinput=fukushima


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From ZERO HEDGE website:

December 2013 - Fukushima youth affected by high rate of thyroid cancer
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-23/thyroid-cancers-surge-among-young-fukushima

December 2013 - U.S. sailors who assisted with Fukushima crippled by cancer and other radiation-related ailments - (they have relaunched legal suit)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-21/us-sailors-assisting-fukushima-clean-crippled-cancer
 

 

More on Fukushima on this blog - http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/search/label/Fukushima

 

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READING GOOD FICTION MAKES YOUR BRAIN SMARTER

Reading Fiction Improves

Brain Connectivity and Function

Published on January 4, 2014 by Christopher Bergland in The Athlete's Way 

Neuroscientists have discovered that reading a novel can improve brain function on a variety of levels. The recent study on the brain benefits of reading fiction was conducted at Emory University.

The study titled, “Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain," was recently published in the journal Brain Connectivity

The researchers found that becoming engrossed in a novel enhances connectivity in the brain and improves brain function. Interestingly, reading fiction was found to improve the reader's ability to put themselves in another person’s shoes and flex the imagination in a way that is similar to the visualization of a muscle memory in sports.

Reading Improves Brain Connectivity

The changes caused by reading a novel were registered in the left temporal cortex, an area of the brain associated with receptivity for language, as well as the primary sensorimotor region of the brain. Neurons of this region have been associated with tricking the mind into thinking it is doing something it is not, a phenomenon known as grounded, or embodied cognition.

An example of embodied cognition is similar to visualization in sports—just thinking about playing basketball, can activate the neurons associated with the physical act of playing basketball.

“The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist,” said neuroscientist Professor Gregory S. Berns, lead author of the study. The ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes improves theory of mind.

“Stories shape our lives and in some cases help define a person,” said Dr. Berns, director of Emory University's Center for Neuropolicy in Atlanta. He added, “We want to understand how stories get into your brain, and what they do to it.”

The storytelling aspect of a novel is a multi-faceted form of communication that engages a broad range of brain regions. Although several linguistic and literary theories describe what constitutes a story, neurobiological research has just begun to identify the brain networks that are active when processing stories.

Goodreads did a year end ‘Best Fiction of 2013’ reader’s choice awards which has some terrific suggestions for novels that you might enjoy.

Read more - http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201401/reading-fiction-improves-brain-connectivity-and-function

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CHICAGO FROZEN SOLID

The effects of -62 Fahrenheit (or -52 Celsius) on the Windy City.


See pictures of a frozen Chicago here, including one dramatic aerial photograph reminiscent of the movie The Day After Tomorrow -


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2535029/Coldest-morning-decades-Millions-wake-record-low-temperatures-final-blast-POLAR-VORTEX-barreling-U-S-creating-coldest-temperatures-recorded-20-years.html


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POLAR VORTEX BARRELS ACROSS AMERICA

Arctic Monday for 140 million as 'POLAR VORTEX' barrels across the US: 4,400 flights canceled, schools closed as far south as ATLANTA and the coldest temperatures recorded in 20 years

• Nearly 187 million people, more than half of the nation's population, were under a wind chill warning or advisory on Monday
• The coldest temperature reported in a 24-hour period through Monday was -36 degrees at Crane Lake, Minnesota, while the warmest was 84 at Hollywood and Punta Gorda, Florida
• Minnesota officials took the rare step on Monday of closing all public schools; schools in St. Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee were also shut and schools in Washington D.C. and Atlanta will also be closed on Tuesday
• Thousands of flights have been canceled and JetBlue shut down its operations in Boston and New York-area airports in an attempt to correct the backlog of canceled flights; it will resume as normal tomorrow
• Experts have called the temperatures and freezing winds 'dangerous and life threatening' - warning that skin can freeze in just ten minutes in wind chills of minus 50; parts of Minnesota could be hit with wind chills of minus 60
• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency covering 13 counties in the western part of the state on Monday afternoon and more than 300 Army and Air National Guard have been mobilized.

Read more and see pictures of Americans coping with Arctic weather
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534477/Arctic-Monday-commute-140-million-Americans-polar-vortex-barrels-half-country-causing-coldest-temperatures-20-years-wind-chill-warnings-Montana-Alabama.html


Fahrenheit - Celsius converter -
http://www.metric-conversions.org/temperature/fahrenheit-to-celsius.htm


More links to Extreme Weather Events, including those in Europe this winter
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/search/label/Weather%20-%20Extreme%20Weather%20Events


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TAKING CARE OF YOUR PET IN COLD WEATHER

The Weather Network advises:

It's been a bitterly cold winter for much of the country and it's not over yet.

That's why it's important for pet owners to take the proper precautions to keep their animals snug and safe throughout chilly periods. When it comes to managing your pet's health, a good place to start is looking at your dog or cat as an individual.

"You have to know your pet and the environment that you live in. For instance, if you lived in Florida your pet probably couldn't handle weather below -5°C for more than a few minutes. You really have to look at the breed and observe," Dr. Gary Landsberg, a veterinarian behaviourist who has been practicing for more than 30 years, told The Weather Network in 2011.

According to Dr. Landsberg, the dangerous weather threshold for outdoor play is around -10°C to -15°C no matter what kind of breed you have.

Although certain sled dogs can remain outside for hours, not all dogs fare as well in the snow.

"Breeds with short hair, smaller breeds and breeds that aren't used to spending time outside are usually more susceptible to the cold conditions." It's important as a pet owner to recognize the telltale signs that your dog or cat needs to come inside.

"Look at their feet, see if they're starting to walk on three paws. It's important to be with your pet outdoors so you can observe shaking or stopping of movement.

Extreme signs can include frostbite on the tips of the ears or discoloured paws."

Another way to protect your pet against the frigid air is to bundle them up in warm clothing. 

"Depending on the breed (particularly short hairs), it's not a bad idea to consider a sweater, vest or booties." However, Dr. Landsberg warns that not all pets will take kindly to clothing. He says you may have to spend several days or weeks training your animal to accept this practice.

Not only do booties keep your dog insulated, they can also guard against rough road salt. These pellets can stick in between your pet's paws, making it uncomfortable to walk or irritating for the animal in general. Dr. Landsberg says it can be difficult to remove these chunks of ice or salt but a basin of water will likely do the trick. “Get a bucket of lukewarm water (size of the bowl depends on the dog) and soak your pet's feet until all the salt comes off or the ice melts.”

If you discover that your pet has become chilled, Dr. Landsberg recommends treating your pet like you would a young child or baby. “If your dog is small enough, wrap it in a big towel or blanket and cuddle it and dry it off as thoroughly as possible. When the animal wants to play and move around again, that's when you'll know everything is back to normal.”

Dr. Landsberg offers these other tips for keeping your pet safe in cold weather.

• Do not leave your animal alone, unsupervised in cold weather.
• Make sure to check the weather and find out if there's a cold weather alert in your area.
• Don't leave your pet in a cold vehicle.
• Observe your pet for any cold-related symptoms.
• Keep your pet active when they're outside. They're likely to maintain normal body temperature this way.

Source - http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/keeping-pets-warm-in-cold-weather/19091/


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NATURE CREATES ICE SCULPTURES AROUND MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSES

 

Frozen in time: Michigan lighthouses transformed into stunning giant icicles after being frozen solid by storm.

See beautiful pictures here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534548/Michigan-lighthouse-transformed-giant-icicle-freezing-storm.html

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PALESTINIAN OFFICIAL ON TV: THEIR GOAL IS TO DESTROY ISRAEL IN STAGES

 

As US-brokered talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) continue, amid pressure for further territorial concessions by Israel, a senior Palestinian Authority official has told Syrian TV that any agreement will simply be the "first stage" in eradicating Israel altogether.

 

Abbas Zaki posted a clip of the interview - which was promptly translated and circulated by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) - onto his Facebook page.

 

In response to concern expressed by the interviewer that any US-imposed deal would be "deficient", insofar as it would "only" require Israel to cede Judea and Samaria (West Bank), a smiling Zaki urges calm.

 

"You can relax. We find ourselves united for the first time. Even the most extreme among us, Hamas, or the fighting forces, want a state within the '67 borders [sic]. Afterward, we [will] have something to say, because the inspiring idea cannot be achieved all at once. [Rather] in stages," he responded.

 

Zaki is a senior member of the central committee of Fatah - the Arab nationalist party which dominates the PA, and is headed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

 

The strategy to eradicate the Jewish state "in stages" via a combination of terrorism and diplomacy, as opposed to in a single military conquest, has been voiced by many PA officials in the past, who note that Israel cannot be destroyed in one fell swoop. 

 

Palestinian Media Watch has exposed a string of such statements by senior officials in the past, casting serious doubt over the viability of the Obama administration's recent attempt to impose a solution to the conflict.

 

Earlier this year, in a speech attended by Mahmoud Abbas, the PA's Religious Affairs Minister explained that any treaties with Israel should be viewed as another "Treaty of Hudaybiyyah" - a reference to a "temporary" deal signed by Islam's founder Muhammed, which was promptly broken as soon as the Muslim armies were strong enough to achieve victory.

 

In another interview in 2011, Zaki was even more explicit:

 

"While the agreement is on the borders of June 4, the President [Mahmoud Abbas] understands, we understand, and everyone knows that it is impossible to realize the inspiring idea, or the great goal in one stroke," he explained to Al Jazeera.

 

However, he continued, an agreement which would see the destruction and ethnic-cleansing of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria would itself prove strategically fatal for the Jewish state in the long-run

 

"If Israel withdraws from Jerusalem, if Israel uproots the settlements, 650,000 settlers, if Israel removes the (security) fence - what will be with Israel? Israel will come to an end.

 

"If I say that I want to remove it from existence, this will be great, great, [but] it is hard. This is not a [stated] policy. You can't say it to the world. You can say it to yourself."

Text and video interview here - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175990#.Usrh5mEWLMw


RELATED

THE NAZI ORIGIN OF THE PALESTINIAN MOVEMENT

• - Palestinian official admits they supported Hitler during World War II
• - Photos & Documents - Minutes of meeting of Palestinian leader with Hitler, and photos of Muslim Nazi troops with their Palestinian leader, the Mufti of Jerusalem
• - Research Study - The Nazis and the Palestinian Movement
• - Video - 15 min - The Nazis and the Palestinian Movement 

Further reading:

Palestinian-Nazi collaboration - a taboo subject everywhere
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/search/label/Middle%20East%20-%20Israel

While the American public supports Israel, successive US governments have only appeared to do so, while they actually favored the Arabs.  Even US aid to Israel returns to the US as forced purchases of military equipment, a roundabout way of subsidizing the U.S. military industry.  Aid to Arab countries are not contingent on those countries purchasing American goods.

HAS THE U.S. REALLY BEEN AN ALLY OF ISRAEL?

By Prof. Francisco Gil-White (Prof. Gil-White is not Jewish)

 

Part 1 - http://www.hirhome.com/israel/hirally.htm

Part 2 - http://www.hirhome.com/israel/hirally2.htm 

 

 

DEBUNKING MYTHS REGARDING U.S. SUPORT FOR ISRAEL
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths3/MFUSpolicy.html

 

 

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JAPAN ACCUSED OF CONTINUING TO KILL WHALES, INCLUDING THOSE IN SANCTUARY

 

Japanese whaling fleet kills minke whales in Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, Sea Shepherd says

 

ABC Australia - The Australian government is facing fresh calls to monitor whaling in the Southern Ocean after footage released by activists shows Japanese whalers have made a successful start to this season's hunt.

 

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says its three boats found all five ships from the Japanese whaling fleet, one with four dead minke whales onboard.Sea Shepherd says the Japanese fleet was in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary and that the activist group was working to drive the fleet from the area.

 

It is the first time the environmentalists and the whaling fleet have crossed paths this season.Environment Minister Greg Hunt last month said the Government would send a plane to monitor the fleet, despite promises before the election to send a ship.

Read more - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-06/sea-shephard-says-japan-whaling-fleet-inside-sanctuary/5185942


PICTURES

Article and pictures of the Japanese ship where they process whales that are massacred inside a whale sanctuary

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534478/Graphic-images-Japans-whaling-released-campaigners-Sea-Shepherd.html

RELATED

Japan continues to poison the oceans by with their Fukushima nuclear power plant highly radioactive discharge. 

Something is killing  all life in the Pacific Ocean - http://www.activistpost.com/2013/10/something-is-killing-life-all-over.html

Park in Japan where they can swim with dolphins and then eat dolphin meat for lunch
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2455754/Japan-open-water-park-watch-EAT-dolphins.html

The yearly bloody massacre of dolphins in Japan at the cove.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23380-new-japanese-method-for-killing-dolphins-is-inhumane.html#.UsrBeWEWLMw

Movie The Cove exposing the massacre of dolphins by Japan, related by Matt Damon - 4 minute video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzuSULcqgxQ



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AMAZING PICTURES OF CAVES IN SOUTH WALES

Photographer captures incredible images of cave system ... including one that looks just like the James Bond opening sequence.

Photographer Joshua Bratchley, 22, took this stunning collection of images of the Dan yr Ogof cave system

One cave looks just like the opening sequence to James Bond films while another boasts giant stalagmites

See pictures here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534158/Photographer-captures-incredible-images-cave--including-one-looks-just-like-James-Bond-opening-sequence.html

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KEEPING INDOOR CATS SAFE FROM HARM

 

From A House Full of Cats website:

 

Think your indoor cats are safe from harm? Think again! While indoor cats will not get hit by a car or eaten by a hungry coyote, they can still find plenty of ways to get themselves into trouble. 

 

Living with lots of indoor cats, there are some everyday activities that require more caution and attention. One of these activities is standing with the door open waving hello or good-bye to your company. Indoor cats tend to view open doors as an invitation to go through and explore what's on the other side!

 

PLANTS

Many cats seem to enjoy chewing on houseplants. And many houseplants can be dangerous to your indoor cats causing everything from mild irritation to severe illness or death. If you have live houseplants, check the list of toxic plants to be sure none of them will harm your cats. If you have plant-chewing cats, try spraying the plants with Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray

 

POISONS

Unlike dogs, who tend to eat anything that doesn't eat them first, indoor cats are usually poisoned by walking through or brushing up against a toxic substance, then ingesting it when they groom themselves.

 

Other common products that can be harmful to cats include bath oils, cosmetics, perfumes, moth balls, hair dye, laundry detergents, and even suntan lotion. Medication, both prescription and non-prescription, can be deadly. One Tylenol alone is enough to kill a cat! Keep these things away from your cat.

 

PEOPLE FOOD

While none of our cats have been harmed by their food thieving, there are some foods that can be particularly harmful to cats. These include onion, onion powder, garlic, garlic powder, chives, leeks, cocoa, chocolate, macadamia nuts, coffee, coffee beans, tea and alcohol. Keep these food items and food containing these away from your indoor cats - no matter how much they beg!

 

ELECTRICAL CORDS

While more common with dogs than cats, indoor cats, especially kittens, have been electrocuted from chewing on electrical cords. To cats, the cords are like a snake and considered fair game!

 

STRINGY THINGS

String, yarn, ribbon, thread, tinsel, rubber bands and other string-like things can cause grave injury to an indoor cat. Cats have backwards facing barbs on their tongues which can make it impossible for them to get the stringy thing out of their mouth. (This is also what gives that sand-papery feel when they lick you!)

 

Cats can usually swallow the stringy thing with without difficulty. The problem arises when it tries to pass into the intestine. There, it can become tangled, causing obstruction or cutting off the blood supply and part of the intestine dies. This can be fatal to your cat!

 

SMALL THINGS

It can seem impossible to get a cat to swallow a pill but drop an earring, tack, staple, paper clip, pin, needle, coin, toothpick, button, or any other small thing and the cat seems to quickly and easily swallow it as soon as they realize you are trying to take it from them! Keep small, tiny things in containers or a latched cabinet and pick up dropped items right away. If you see your indoor cat happily playing with something you didn't give him, investigate immediately and take it away if it is not safe for him to play with!

 

THE SPONGE

If you use a sponge for cleaning, we recommend getting rid of it or at least, keeping it lock away. Don't leave it on the sink where your inquisitive indoor cat can get to it! Sponges often retain food smells which can be enticing to a cat. Cats can chew sponges into pieces and swallow them causing an obstruction. Also, if the sponge is used for cleaning, some of the cleaner remains in the sponge and can poison the sponge chewing cat!

 

LAUNDRRY

Cats love lounging in the laundry, clean or dirty! The laundry basket is big fun for indoor cats! Check to be sure that no little kitty is hiding in the basket of dirty clothes before dumping them in the washer. Use a hamper with a lid for the dirty clothes before wash day but still check. Some indoor cats can figure out how to get in the hamper and close the lid without you even knowing.

 

STORAGE AREAS

Drawers, cupboards, cabinets and closets are all very exciting places for indoor cats to hide for a nap. They love small, dark places and these definitely fit the bill. However, a cat can be injured or become trapped very easily.

 

BOX SPRING MATTRESS

Indoor cats are notorious for clawing holes in the bottom and crawling up inside box spring mattresses. We have platform beds to avoid this issue but if you have one, try putting a fitted sheet on the underside of the mattress to keep the cats out. Cats sleeping inside box spring mattresses have been severely injured by getting pinched by the springs when someone has sat on the bed.

Read full article here - http://www.a-house-full-of-cats.com/indoorcats.html

RELATED

Cat food recalls alerts - https://www.avma.org/news/issues/recalls-alerts/pages/pet-food-safety-recalls-alerts.aspx?fvalue=Cat


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THE WORLD'S FIRST WHITE LIGER CUBS - (LION AND TIGER HYBRID CROSS)

 

These adorable cubs may look cute and unassuming but they are in fact the rarest of their species – and could grow to be the biggest cats in the world.

 

The four handsome male ‘liger’ cubs are the first ever to be born from a white male lion and white female tiger, making them the world’s most unique big cats.

 

There are only around 300 white lions and 1,200 white tigers left in the world, so the cubs’ father, Ivory and mother, Saraswati, are extremely rare in their own right.

Read more and see pictures of adorable cubs here
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534297/A-roaring-success-worlds-white-ligers-Four-brothers-rarest-big-cats-planet.html

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FLOODED BRITAIN - STILL UNDER A SPELL OF STORMY WEATHER

Nice weather... for swans: Streets are turned to lakes and commuters face miserable return to work after the Christmas holidays as the stormy weather wreaks havoc on road and rail

Almost 300 flood alerts and warnings in England and Wales, with torrential rain expected to batter South first

Met Office warns rain could give way to ice and snow as bitterly cold Arctic air brings freezing temperatures

See pictures of what at times looks like a war zone, others a post-apocalyptic Britain where water has retaken its place - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534228/Nice-weather-swans-Streets-turned-lakes-commuters-face-miserable-return-work-Christmas-holidays-stormy-weather-wreaks-havoc-road-rail.html

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LOUD BOOMS CAUSED BY FROST QUAKES IN FROZEN CANADA CITIES

 

Canada is so cold residents are experiencing loud booms caused by 'frost quakes' 

 

While America collectively freaks out over their impending 'polar vortex', Canada is changing the game when it comes to cold weather phenomenon as reports of 'frost quakes' emerge from around Toronto and across Ontario.  Indeed, as temperatures drop overnight to around -4f around the city hundreds of people are being startled by hearing large booms - causing them to think their homes are being broken into or gunshots are being fired.

 

In fact, they are merely hearing the after-effects of the frost quakes - or cryoseism - which are more commonly found on a glacier in the polar regions.

 

The phenomenon is caused when rain and ice seep down into the soil and then freeze when the temperature drops.  ''Water expands when it freezes and when it expands in frozen soil it literally puts a lot of stress on that dirt and will release that energy all of a sudden, very much like an earthquake releases that energy and shifts the ground,' said meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai to City News.

 

Most frost quakes occur after a heavy rainfall or snow fall when there is a large amount of moisture on the ground.'  We had the ice storm or freezing rain event, then we had warm temperatures, or just about freezing at the surface. Then the temperatures plummeted after that,' said Dayna Vettese, a meteorologist with the Weather Network.  'That's why we've seen a couple of these events between the ice storm and the beginning of 2014.'

 

Around Toronto just after Christmas there was a thaw after some heavy snow fall that allowed ice to accumulate under the soil.  The subsequent deep freeze has turned that water to ice and caused the booms as giant chunks of the ground tear apart. 

 

'It's almost like an earthquake because it's very close to the surface. You will feel a little bit of shaking, maybe if you're sitting in a chair and it happened, or you're lying in bed, or some of your dishes might rattle,' said Vettese.

 

Social media lit up over the weekend as hundreds of people experienced the rattles, bangs and grumbles caused by the frost quakes.  However, while unusual for southern Canada, frost quakes are definitely the norm in the north of the notoriously cold nation.

Source - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534166/Canada-cold-experiencing-frost-quakes.html

Fahrenheit - Celsius converter - 
http://www.metric-conversions.org/temperature/fahrenheit-to-celsius.htm

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BLIND MAN'S DOG STANDS UP ON HIND LEGS TO PUSH BUTTON TO CROSS THE STREET

 

This clever guide dog can literally stop traffic - by jumping up to press the pelican crossing button.

 

Black labrador Miller hops up onto his back legs and carefully presses the button to make sure owner Chris Michaels, 68, crosses the road safely in Saxmundham, Suffolk, UK.

 

Mr Michaels, who has been blind due to a deteriorating eye condition since his early 20's, taught his four-year-old companion how to press the button.

Read more and see pictures of Miller and his owner - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534134/Now-s-service-guide-dog-Black-labrador-Miller-gets-hind-legs-crossings-press-button-owner.html

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MALWARE IN YAHOO ADS MAY HAVE INFECTED MILLIONS OF VISITORS

 

According to online security firm Fox IT based in the Netherlands, users who clicked on ads from the site were redirected to sites that exploited vulnerabilities in Java and installed a host of different malware.  The malware may have begun spreading from December 30.

 

Yahoo says it is monitoring the problem.  'We recently identified an ad designed to spread malware to some of our users. We immediately removed it and will continue to monitor and block any ads being used for this activity', they said.

 

Read more - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534153/Millions-visitors-Yahoo-com-hit-huge-malware-attack.html

 



DOLPHINS GET HIGH BY EATING TOXINS RELEASED BY PUFFER FISH

It makes dolphins lapse into a trance state.

 

In an extraordinary scene filmed for a new TV series, the dolphins are shown gently passing the fish between them.

 

Experts believe the creatures are using the toxins, which emerge from the puffer fish as part of its defence mechanism, for their own enjoyment.

 

They nudge the fish with their snouts and as the toxin is released into the water, they seem to lapse into a trance-like state.  At one point the dolphins are seen floating just underneath the water's surface, apparently mesmerised by their own reflections.

 

The dolphins were filmed gently playing with the puffer, passing it between each other for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, unlike the fish they had caught as prey which were swiftly torn apart.

 

Zoologist and series producer Rob Pilley said that it was the first time dolphins had been filmed behaving this way.  He added: 'We saw the dolphins handle the puffers with kid gloves, very gently and delicately like they were almost milking them to not upset the fish too much or kill it.'  As a result the fish released various toxins as a defence.

 

'The dolphins then seemed to  be mesmerised.'  He insisted that the scene couldn't have been a one-off encounter, saying: 'The dolphins were specifically going for the puffers and deliberately handling them with care.'

Read more and see pictures and video - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2530664/High-not-dry-Dolphins-filmed-chewing-toxic-puffer-fish-enjoy-narcotic-like-effects.html

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PALESTINIANS MAY HAVE USED THEIR EMBASSY IN PRAGUE FOR ARMS SMUGGLING - PRAGUE MAYOR SAYS PALESTINIANS NO LONGER WELCOME IN THE CITY

 

Some 70 firearms alleged to have been found in the new embassy building.

 

Palestinians may have used the Czech Republic for weapons transit, said former Czech Chief of Staff.  reacting to the unregistered weapons the police uncovered in the aftermath of an accidental explosion that killed the Palestinian ambassador in his embassy.  Those weapons could have been used for acts of terrorism. 

 

I'm horrified, said the former official.  This is a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and habits and also of security rules, he added. 

 

He also said he did not believe the story about an exploding safe.  He said the ambassador clearly died manipulating explosives. 

Read more - http://praguepost.com/eu-news/34252-czech-expert-palestinians-may-have-used-czech-republic-for-arms-transit

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PRAGUE MAYOR PETR HEJL WANTS PALESTINIANS TO MOVE THEIR EMBASSY AWAY FROM PRAGUE

Czechs very disturbed by the Palestinian Embassy being used as a weapons and explosives storage site.

Read more - http://www.praguepost.com/prague-news/34228-suchdol-mayor-palestinians-not-welcome

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BRITAIN UNDER WEATHER ONSLAUGHT - A FLOODED COAST AND DESTROYED ROADS - AND IT WILL GET WORSE

Hundreds of homes flooded and roads are SMASHED as Britain's coast is battered by 30ft waves in fiercest storm for 20 years... and it will get worse this weekend when the North is hit by snow.

 

Flooding is a 'national emergency' says Anne McIntosh, chair of the Commons Environment Select Committee

Environment Agency has urged people to stay away from the sea and rivers because they risk being killed 

Teenager Harry Martin still missing after taking photographs of storm from cliffs close to Plymouth in Devon

103 flood warnings and a further 261 alerts are in place across the UK

Torrential rain will batter southern parts of England, before sweeping eastwards

Met Office warns that rain could give way to ice snow as bitterly cold Arctic air brings freezing temperatures

Winds of 70mph-plus and torrential rain to batter UK into next week, peaking on Monday

Two FA Cup ties and horse racing at Sandown Park and Wincanton Racecourse have been called off

See dramatic photos here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2533672/Hundreds-homes-flooded-country-Britains-coast-battered-30ft-waves-fiercest-storm-20-years-WORSE-weekend.html
 

MORE PHOTOS (Links already posted on previous articles on this blog):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532566/Storm-Hercules-grip-Northeast-Canada-records-temperatures-cold-MARS.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532595/Swathes-Britain-remain-flooded-waterlogged-storms-Governments-Cobra-emergency-committee-meets.html

 

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RADIATION SPIKE 500% HIGHER THAN ELSEWHERE IN THE U.S.A. FOUND AT CALIFORNIA BEACH

 

(NaturalNews) High levels of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster reached Pacific shores just days after the catastrophe occurred, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.  But the worst contamination of all, at least as far as iodine-131 is concerned, was found at Southern California's Corona Del Mar Beach.
 

Tests conducted on samples of Macrocystis pyrifera, also known as Giant kelp, revealed the presence of radioactive iodine-131 at levels 500 percent higher in Southern California than in any other area of the country tested.

 

According to the figures, samples of Giant kelp pulled from the Santa Cruz area revealed 2.0 becquerels per gram dry weight (Bq/gdwt) of radioactive iodine-131, which can also be written as 2,000 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg) of radiation. At Corona Del Mar, however, levels of radioactive iodine-131 were discovered at 2.5 Bq/gdwt, or 2,500 Bq/kg.

 

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s established maximum contaminant level (MCL) for radioactive iodine-131 in milk is a mere 170 Bq/kg. This is the same maximum level established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for radioactive iodine-131 in food. (http://fukushimafaq.wikispaces.com/Radiation+Allowable+Levels)

Read more - http://www.naturalnews.com/036449_seaweed_California_radiation.html

 

 

 

Local authorities response

to a video showing the radioactive spike

 

An amateur video of a Geiger counter showing what appear to be high radiation levels at a Coastside beach has drawn the attention of local, state and federal public health officials. Since being posted last week, the short video has galvanized public concerns that radioactive material could be landing on the local coastline after traveling from Japan as a result of the 2011 meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors.

 

Government officials say they are looking into the video shot on Dec. 23 and performing their own sampling of the beaches, but they have found no indication so far that radiation levels were hazardous.

 

“It’s not something that we feel is an immediate public health concern,” said Dean Peterson, county environmental health director. “We’re not even close to the point of saying that any of this is from Fukushima.”

 

Although the radiation levels were clearly higher than is typical, Peterson emphasized that it was still not unsafe for humans. A person would need to be exposed to 100 microREMs of radiation for 50,000 hours before it surpassed safety guidelines by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he explained.

 

Peterson admitted he was “befuddled” as to why radiation levels were higher than normal, but he was skeptical that the Fukushima meltdown could be the cause. He noted that many innocuous items could spike the radiation levels in an area, including red-painted disposable eating utensils.

 

Source:  Half Moon Bay (California) Review

http://www.hmbreview.com/news/health-officials-respond-to-beach-radiation-scare/article_8c7e7fb0-74de-11e3-9c9d-001a4bcf887a.html

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MARTIAN SOIL CLOSE UP - THE MYSTERIOUS ASPECT OF A STRANGE WORLD

 
You've never seen detail such as the one on these close up pictures of the Martian landscape.

See pictures here -
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/martian-landscape

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WHY IT'S HARDER TO LOSE WEIGHT IN MIDDLE AGE - THE GOOD FAT AND THE BAD FAT

 

Why we get fatter with age: Losing weight becomes harder because our 'good' fat becomes less efficient

There are two types of body fat - 'good' brown fat and 'bad' white fat 

Brown fat helps the body generate heat by boosting metabolism

But as people age, their 'good' brown fat becomes less active

There is also a 'switch' which can be used to reactivate the brown fat - this finding could pave the way for new treatments for obesity-related illnesses

 

Fat around the organs is linked to diabetes and heart disease while carrying a 'pot belly' increases the risk of heart problems.  Just three or four inches around the abdomen can be an external sign of a build-up of fat in the arteries.

 

It is thought that to maintain a steady weight, people over the age of 45 need to eat 200 fewer calories a day than those who are younger.

Read more - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2533135/Why-fatter-age-Losing-weight-harder-good-fat-efficient.html

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A VIEW OF THE SPECTACULAR STOCKHOLM METRO ART

For the admission price of one metro ticket, tens of thousands of Stockholm’s commuters can gain access to what is likely the world’s biggest (and longest) art exhibition. Within the capital city’s cavernous 68-mile underground train hub, 90 of the 100 stations are fantastically adorned with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, engravings, and various other works by over 150 artists.
Read more at http://all-that-is-interesting.com/stockholm-metro-art#8RCxG9dVAeV2Ulpx.99

For the admission price of one metro ticket, tens of thousands of Stockholm’s commuters can gain access to what is likely the world’s biggest (and longest) art exhibition. Within the capital city’s cavernous 68-mile underground train hub, 90 of the 100 stations are fantastically adorned with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, engravings, and various other works by over 150 artists.
Read more at http://all-that-is-interesting.com/stockholm-metro-art#8RCxG9dVAeV2Ulpx.99

 

It's the world's longest and biggest art exhibition.  For 68 miles, 90 of the 100 stations are adorned with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, and engravings by over 150 artists.

See pictures of this amazing collection here -
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/stockholm-metro-art

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For the admission price of one metro ticket, tens of thousands of Stockholm’s commuters can gain access to what is likely the world’s biggest (and longest) art exhibition. Within the capital city’s cavernous 68-mile underground train hub, 90 of the 100 stations are fantastically adorned with sculptures, mosaics, paintings, engravings, and various other works by over 150 artists.
Read more at http://all-that-is-interesting.com/stockholm-metro-art#8RCxG9dVAeV2Ulpx.99