The Health Benefits of Pets in our Lives

Nov 16, 2009 -   Many of the benefits of pets — companionship, affection and so on — have been well known for centuries — even numerous ancient Egyptians cherished their companion animals. However, data gathered during only the last few years have shown just how significantly our health is improved if we share our lives with animals.   A study undertaken in 2002 by the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition and United States Food and Drug Administration revealed that the heart rates and blood pressures of pet owners increased less when the individuals were presented with math problems to solve if their companion animals were present. - 18 Comments

Cat catches swine flu

Nov 04, 2009 - Does the swine flu pandemic pose a threat to your pet? Yes, according to a report out today from the American Veterinary Medical Association. A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the H1N1 virus, state officials confirmed this morning, "marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza," the association said in a statement. - 5 Comments

Rasmussen: What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls

Oct 24, 2009 - These days, political turmoil isn’t a one-way street. President Obama’s mediocre approval ratings and the Democrats’ internal battling over the details of the health care reform plan are the obvious headline-grabbers, but the opposition party has troubles of its own. Just 15% of Republicans who plan to vote in 2012 state primaries say the party’s representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing GOP values. - 1 Comment

Key senators may rebuff Obama on health care

Oct 22, 2009 - WASHINGTON – The Democrats' control of a hefty majority in the Senate — plus the House — would suggest that President Barack Obama is within reach of overhauling the nation's health care system this fall. But the numbers mask a more complicated reality: Obama and Democratic leaders have modest leverage over several pivotal Senate Democrats who are more concerned about their next election or feel they have little to lose by opposing their party's hierarchy. One is still smarting from being forced to abandon next year's election. - 71 Comments

A National Disgrace- troop funds diverted to pet projects- $2.6 billion taken from guns and ammunition

Oct 15, 2009 - U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects Study finds $2.6 billion taken from guns and ammunition   By Shaun Waterman THE WASHINGTON TIMES Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis. - 16 Comments

Who Killed California?

Oct 15, 2009 - by Troy Senik http://nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/who-killed-california My apologies for having nothing originally in this post.  The text was here but didn't show up. Apparently this article is too long to be printed here, at about 11 pages.  It is nevertheless worth reading, unless, as someone has already done, you have made your  mind up what to believe before reading. - 29 Comments

"If she can't have me, then she can't have the fish."

Oct 14, 2009 - Portland man gets probation after stabbing ex-girlfriend's pet fish By Aimee Green, The Oregonian October 13, 2009, 1:18PM   A 27-year-old Southeast Portland man who beat his ex-girlfriend and then stabbed her pet fish and left it impaled in her apartment has been sentenced to two years of probation and a psychological evaluation. An attorney for Donald Earl Fite III said he didn’t want to talk about the details of the assault, but that stabbing the fish was “a very low point” in his client’s life."He is absolutely mortified and ashamed about what he did to the fish," said attorney Tom MacNair today in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Fite had no criminal history and declined to comment, saying only that his attorney had said it all. According to an affidavit filed with the court, Sarah Harris had broken up with Fite, but returned to her East Burnside Street apartment in Portland last July 25 to find Fite lying on her bed. Fite wanted to get back together, but Harris didn't. When she told him she had plans that evening, Harris refused to let her leave the room she was in, the bathroom, according to the affidavit. - 12 Comments

The phrases President Obama can't do without

Oct 13, 2009 - WASHINGTON - For all his flourish, President Barack Obama sure falls back on a few familiar phrases. Make no mistake. Change isn't easy. - 48 Comments

Micro - Pig

Oct 09, 2009 - I really want two of these wee piggies. I will name one bacon and the other sausage. ;) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6267381/Micro-pigs-with-a-hefty-price-tag.html The pets, which grow to be just 14in tall, have become so popular that they are now almost impossible to get hold of in Britain. - 19 Comments