Thinking Activity for the Dog

A tired dog is far less inclined to cause problems around the house. Most people will think that their ‘dog chores’ are finished with a couple of walks a day with their dog. However, what about taxing the thinking component of their canine pal? The daily walks take care of meeting some of the needed physical activity for the dog but it is necessary to keep the dog mentally stimulated. And, undoubtedly, some people will think that is total nonsense.

Although the dog may sleep a good portion of the day, it does need to have things to do - and things that make it think. Without that, the dog will create its own entertainment and that usually leads to breaking some of the house rules.

The extreme of the lack of mental activity is that the dog becomes depressed. - Yes, dogs do become depressed. - Although the physical needs of the dog may not be in question, if there isn’t the intellectual stimulation, the dog falls into a form of melancholia. A human parallel may be the phenomenon that some retired people experience. Although their physical needs may be fine, there is not the intellectual stimulation / challenge that required them to function at their best. It is unfortunate that, for many dogs, after learning the house rules as a puppy, there is very little teaching directed their way.

It doesn’t have to be that way. There are all sorts of ‘dog activities’ in your community that are just fun for you and your dog. Not only will your dog have some challenges, but you have the opportunity to meet other ‘dog people’ and their dogs. If you prefer to do less structured activity, teach your dog some obedience and/or some dog tricks. It only takes a few minutes every day - and you will be surprised at what this does for your dog’s well being… and perhaps yours too.

Catherine

Thinking Activity for the Dog

A tired dog is far less inclined to cause problems around the house. Most people will think that their ‘dog chores’ are finished with a couple of walks a day with their dog. However, what about taxing the thinking component of their canine pal? The daily walks take care of meeting some of the needed physical activity for the dog but it is necessary to keep the dog mentally stimulated. And, undoubtedly, some people will think that is total nonsense.

Although the dog may sleep a good portion of the day, it does need to have things to do - and things that make it think. Without that, the dog will create its own entertainment and that usually leads to breaking some of the house rules.

The extreme of the lack of mental activity is that the dog becomes depressed. - Yes, dogs do become depressed. - Although the physical needs of the dog may not be in question, if there isn’t the intellectual stimulation, the dog falls into a form of melancholia. A human parallel may be the phenomenon that some retired people experience. Although their physical needs may be fine, there is not the intellectual stimulation / challenge that required them to function at their best. It is unfortunate that, for many dogs, after learning the house rules as a puppy, there is very little teaching directed their way.

It doesn’t have to be that way. There are all sorts of ‘dog activities’ in your community that are just fun for you and your dog. Not only will your dog have some challenges, but you have the opportunity to meet other ‘dog people’ and their dogs. If you prefer to do less structured activity, teach your dog some obedience and/or some dog tricks. It only takes a few minutes every day - and you will be surprised at what this does for your dog’s well being… and perhaps yours too.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster

Apple’s Time Machine

According to Apple’s findings, approximately ninety per cent of computer users like to flirt with disaster. They do not do backups and their data are at risk. Apple sees this risk taking behaviour as a marketing opportunity. Hence, Apple is launching Time Machine and Time Capsule:

“…Time Machine is part of the latest operating system release that automatically backs up all files and keeps track of changes hourly, daily and monthly.”

link: Save Parents’ Digital Heirlooms With a Time Capsule

It is a bit pricey. The 500 GB version is three hundred dollars (really, $299.00), which includes the Apple ‘cool factor’. For that price, it is possible to buy more storage space on other external hard drives. Those do not have the automatic backups, so this price factors in the ‘it-won’t-happen-to-me variable’.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]apple, security, backups, time machine, time capsule, marketing, external hard drives[/tag]

LeBron James: A Very Tough Day at the Office

Reputations are made in the playoffs (for example, see Chris Paul). And sometimes reputation are dented in the playoffs. Last night, LeBron James had a nightmare game against the Boston Celtics. His Cleveland Cavaliers lost 76 - 72 in Game One of the second playoff round.

The game was remarkable for the shots that LeBron James did not make. He took eighteen shots - and made two of them. That is a shooting per centage of eleven per cent. Add to this ten turnovers and it is thirty nine very unusual minutes for LeBron James.

link: Cavaliers / Celtics

The game was unusual for the Celtics too. Ray Allen did not score a point. Paul Pierce scored four points. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce matched LeBron James. These two Celtic All-Stars took a combined eighteen shots and made two of them. It is safe to say that shooting per centages will increase in Game Two. This opening game was an oddity.

Catherine

LeBron James: A Very Tough Day at the Office

Reputations are made in the playoffs (for example, see Chris Paul). And sometimes reputation are dented in the playoffs. Last night, LeBron James had a nightmare game against the Boston Celtics. His Cleveland Cavaliers lost 76 - 72 in Game One of the second playoff round.

The game was remarkable for the shots that LeBron James did not make. He took eighteen shots - and made two of them. That is a shooting per centage of eleven per cent. Add to this ten turnovers and it is thirty nine very unusual minutes for LeBron James.

link: Cavaliers / Celtics

The game was unusual for the Celtics too. Ray Allen did not score a point. Paul Pierce scored four points. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce matched LeBron James. These two Celtic All-Stars took a combined eighteen shots and made two of them. It is safe to say that shooting per centages will increase in Game Two. This opening game was an oddity.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]nba, lebron james, cleveland cavaliers, boston celtics, paul pierce, ray allen, scoring[/tag]

Broadband In The Sewer

The broadband will be delivered through the sewer. In Bournemouth, this is the wave of the future. And the speed is impressive:

“…It will bring broadband of up to 100Mbps (megabits per second) to 88,000 homes in the Dorset town and is the largest scheme of its kind in the UK.”

link: Bournemouth homes get fast fibre

In some parts of Europe, broadband via the sewer has been found to be cost efficient and to be the least environmentally intrusive method of delivering service. In addition, it must provide a wealth of comic material for the local jokesters.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]broadband, sewer, bournemouth, the next wave[/tag]