Dog Fashion

Dog Fashion

Dog is the first animal domesticated by human. It's our best friend for almost 15 000 years. All this time the role of the dog was changing but there always were dogs who were working and so-called dog toys. Nowadays there are much fewer of hard working dogs because they were replaced by machines and now dog's main occupation is to spend time with his owner. People are spending more and more money for their pets and the dog's fashion market is becoming incredibly big. I'd like to show some trends that changes dog's life, I don't know if for the better...





Clothes for dogs

The market of dog's clothes is very similar to the humans' one. There are thousands of shops with accessories and clothes both in the internet and in the traditional way.
There are some links to the on-line shops:
http://www.epup.co.kr/newpuppia/english/home.htm
http://www.petlondon.net/shop/acatalog/There are even special clothes for Christmas!!!
and some more:
http://www.fundogfashion.com/
http://www.lovelonglong.com/
http://www.petshopping.net/

You want to be unique? There are also clothes from famous designers.
http://www.puppyangel.com/html/en/main.asp
and maybe jewellery?
http://www.glitzypetjewelry.com/





A short video about Chinese designer:




There is also an offer for active dogs and the special boots not only for huskies:











A really surprising for me was that there are even special wedding clothes!


Dog's Hairstyle

Some breeds really need regular hair-cutting and most dogs need to be washed and brushed.
There are special hairdressers for dogs when you can pay for your dog's hair cut even more that for yours... There are books with dog's hairstyles and you must now what's in fashion. Most dogs really don't like being washed so I don't want to know how they act during all the procedures.
There are many styles of hair-cut, you can find them there:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5373789_dog-hair-cut-styles.html
the lion style looks interesting..





Unfortunately there's a new way of being stylish - to dye your dog. The producers claim that dye is safe but truly are these animals still happy dogs?





Dogs as fashion accessories

Some celebrities have made dogs as fashion accessories popular. Many young, glamorous stars can be seen in the media parading their pet poochs along with their designer sunglasses and bling.

It is possible that people who use their dogs in this way don't mean to be unkind or unethical. Often, they do care a great deal about their dog, but seem to be uneducated generally in the pet keeping department. They are rewarded by public attention for behaving this way and see no need to change.

It's high time that people begin to see dogs for what they are. Dogs do not think like humans or have human values. They want to be free from the uncomfortable restriction of being carried about in designer bags and being made to dress in clothes. People have so many other ways to express their creativity and play with fashion, without having to drag their dogs in on the action.

Sadly, some dogs who are treated as fashion items become snappy and aggressive. This is because they are confused and frustrated. They have all of the instincts of a dog, but are used like an object or treated like a human baby. They don't understand how they are supposed to behave, or what they are expected to do.

http://www.helium.com/items/398028-dogs-as-fashion-accessories

I must say that I totally agree with this text.

Dogs aren't toys and we must remember about it when we decide to buy one. Dogs can be our best and most faithful friends and they really need our love and respect.

Unusual hobbies

A lot of people have hobby - something what they like to do in free time. Somebody likes riding bike, somebody cooks etc. Your hobby should be ideal for you – then you can forget about your work and school and you can evolve. Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things. There are some hobbies which we can called unusual hobbies. They really can make us surprised, shocked or scared.

Taphophilia
Taphophilia should not be confused with necrophilia, which is a sexual attraction to corpses.
Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile. It involves epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of (famous) deaths. An example of an individual’s expression of taphophilia is the character Harold in the movie Harold and Maude (1971).

Pooktre Art
Pooktre tree shaping is a unique eco-art form created, developed and perfected by Peter Cook and Becky Northey in South East Queensland, Australia. Pooktre is a dream made into a reality through inspiration, love of nature, tree finesse (see the photos), persistence and understanding trees and how they grow.

Cryptozoology

Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals which are considered to be legendary or otherwise nonexistent by mainstream biology. This includes looking for living examples of animals which are extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical support but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and el Chupacabra. According to Ben Roesch and John Percy Moore: "Cryptozoology ranges from pseudoscientific to useful and interesting, depending on how it is practiced." They further note that it is "not strictly a science", that "many scientists and skeptics classify cryptozoology as a pseudoscience" and that "papers on the topic are rarely published in scientific journals, no formal education on the subject is available, and no scientists are employed to study cryptozoology."

The Chupacabra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmHmnfgON4A

Noddling

For those of you not familiar, noodling is basically fishing with your hands. A noodler feels around the snake infested water with his hands and feet for a large hole. Then usually goes underwater to ram their fist down a catfish’s throat. The catfish (the largest of which can be 50-70 lbs.), will latch on to the fisherman’s hand, trying to protect it’s comfy home. The noodler then has the task of dragging their catch (still latched onto their arm) out of the water and either onto shore, or into a boat. On the plus side, if they manage do all of this before they run out of air, and then retrieve their arm from the grip of the catfish’s many teeth… well, they’ve got dinner for a week.

Ghost hunting

Ghost hunters are typical people with typical jobs hunting for ghosts in their spare time. Ghost hunting shows have become quite popular in the last few years and have brought this hobby to the publics attention the most recent being TAPS Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State. There are many types of hauntings that ghost hunters investigate. Hunting for ghosts is not that difficult. If your hunting real life ghosts many cities have groups of people who do just that and go out weekly or monthly with their tools and electronic gear to hunt or detect ghosts, orbs or paranormal activity. Equipment usually consists of EMF meters, film or digital cameras, cassette or digital voice recorders, video cameras and sometimes more exotic equipment such as a thermal imaging camera or Faraday box. Usually just doing a search for a local ghost hunting group for your area will bring one up. Ghosts are more likely found in older buildings and cemeteries but this is not always the case. The reason is that the older the location the more likely it is to have "history" a place where more people have passed through.

Carving Egg Shells

Egg art is one of the earliest forms of art. There is something fascinating about the shape of the egg, and the idea of making this into art. Many early civilizations regarded the egg as a fertility symbol and decorated it as part of their fertility rites. But modern man still values egg art, possibly because it has become ingrained in our nature, or because we are amazed that art can be made from something as fragile as an empty eggshell. Whatever the reason, there are many artists throughout the world that paint, decorate, and even carve shapes into eggshells.

Eating glass

"I used to work as a driver for a school. I've bitten and chewed on glass bottles for 15 years. I started doing this because it was interesting and now it's become a habit," says glass eater Kishan Das Suryavanshi. He wants to make a living out of his unusual diet. The resident of Chhatisgarh in central India crunches a glass bottle every alternate day. He has even tasted light bulbs and spectacles, and says he enjoys the awestruck audience that gathers to watch him. Suryavanshi is ambitious; he has set his sights on eating the windscreen of a supersonic aircraft. Unique, quirky or strange - for these Indians, the pursuit may not be practical but nothing will deter them from spending time, money and sweat on it.

Enyoy your meal!

http://www.diagonal-view.com/v/315/glass-eating-man.html

Fashion & Style.

Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.

Oscar Wilde

What’s the fashion? It refers to the styles of dress, cuisine, art, haircut and so on, that are popular during some period. People’s preferences change quickly, and so does the style, things used to be modern some time ago can be just ‘unfashionable’ now.

Creating a fashion.

Which factors make a fashion? Who is responsible for what’s trendy?

Firstly, the fashion magazines – such as ‘Vogue’ or ‘InStyle’: they show what’s going on in the sophisticated fashion loop. Usually they describe all aspects of life: from the most obvious, like clothes, haircut or make-up, to those more surprising: what colors are most modern to paint a garage or what to exactly say if somebody coughs. Fashion magazines capture readers thanks to beautiful photos and assurances, that usage of all the pieces of advice can make life happier and more successful.

The fashion magazines environment is quite specific. Most of the people ‘on the top’ are fashion and style-freaks, for whom being trendy is an only important issue. Sometimes this obsession of being trendy becomes almost pathological. Here is a trailer of a movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’:

Except the fashion magazines and designers, the fashion is modificated and promoted by celebrities. A lot of styles of clothing became popular after one of the stars appeared in this kind of dressing.

As an example I will mention the Beatles' famous haircut. When the beatlemania shook the world, all stuff connected with the 'fab-four' started to be trendy. This sloppy and ruffled hairstyle had became so popular, that even in Poland the great amount of boys started to stylize their hair 'a'la Beatle'.

I want to be original!

Nowadays more and more people search for their own style. They want to show themselves through their clothing, appearance and disposition. And that’s how the most of the youth subcultures were created.

Punks – it is a subculture based on punk rock music, which is a loud, fast and aggressive variation of rock music. It emerged in the United States, UK and Australia in the ‘70s. Punks prefer dark clothes, t-shirts with slogans, often with political references. They like heavy and metal additives like bracelets made of safety pins or studded collars. Their skin is often covered with tattoos, and they have a lot of earrings, not only in ears :). What’s more, they have always bizarre haircut, usually formed in a colorful Mohawk hairstyle.

Grunge - a style very similar to the previous one, based on the subgenre of punk and alternative rock – grunge, sometimes referred as the ‘Seattle sound’. This style became commercially successful in the ‘90s. The most important trait of this style are long hair, stained jeans and flannel shirt.

Hippie - the hippie-movement started in the early ’60s in the USA and quickly spread all over the world. Both man and woman wore loose jeans, t-shirts painted in bright colors and a lot of jewellery made of wood or yarn. Girls often wore long full skirts or dresses and big bizarre hats. Much of hippie clothing were hand-made. Hippie symbols were often inspired by Asian culture.

And, what’s the most important in the hippie culture, both man and woman wore very long hair. They worshiped their hair as much as they worshiped nature, happiness, peace, love and freedom. Just watch this part of famous musical ‘Hair’.

Goth - the goth subculture began in the early 80s, in the UK, shortly after the gothic rock appeared in the music-world. Goth style revolves around Gothic literature, architecture and fashion. There are also many influences from The Bible.
Goth fashion can be recognized by its stark black clothing (or hair or makeup). Both male and female goths sometimes wear black eyeliner and fingernails in the same colour. They often wear a lot of jewellery: mostly they appreciate ankhs, crucifixes and other religious symbols.

Chav - a subculture which firstly appeared in English dictionaries in 2004. A ‘chav’ is an aggressive Caucasian teenager or young adult, who engages anti-social behavior, such as drinking alcohol on a street or getting into a fight on a matches. Chavs usually wear tracksuits and hoodies made by sporting marks like Adidas or Nike. Girls like short skirts and tight tops, they almost always have platinum-blonde hair and artificial fingernails. Chavs especially love going to the matches and listening to the hip-hop or R&B music.

Emo - today’s emo is commonly tied to two genres of music: emo and screamo. Those styles of rock music firstly appeared in the mid ‘80s. It’s characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics.
The typical emo wear skinny jeans, tight shirts with depressive quotations or with bands’ names, studded belts and Converse sneakers. They like distinctive make-up and long fringes. Emo is associated with a stereotype that includes being emotional, sensitive and shy. It is also associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide.

To sum up

• Trends and styles change quickly.
• For some people being trendy is the matter of life and death.
• A lot of people want to be like their idols: they start to manifold celebrities’ style. Sometimes it becomes an obsession.
• Being fashionable reduces the possibility of being rejected by the society. Having individual style gives an opportunity to become known.
• Style makes our life more interesting.
  

What do you think? Is fashion an important part of our society?
With which subculture group do you identify mostly? Which group is in your opinion boring or maybe dangerous and culture-destroing?

Big Father is watching!
Spying on the kids - responsible parenting or paranoid distrust?

Obviously, from the children's point of view it's an unforgivable offence. But let's try to walk in parents' shoes. They have to choose very often between confidence and inclination to protect their children. Here we have some their opinions and stories.

M.M. Denny (mother of 3 boys):
"I trust my children. But, they are just children, and as such, they can only make decisions from an inexperienced point of view. Sometimes they may need unsolicited advice, and the only way you can support your child is if you know when the help is needed. (...)
By spying on your Children in their life without you, it is possible to get a glimpse of their "friend" personality. Do they seem happy? How do they act in a group? Do you know all the kids your child is hanging out with? Do you know their parents?
Overall, while spying on your children may sound a little paranoid, it is nothing new. Our parents checked our pockets for paper notes, listened in on phone calls, and read our diaries. Spying isn't a violation of privacy; privacy is something that is garnered with maturation. Be honest, you're not really spying on your child, you're protecting them they need it most. When they think they don't need it."

Kenneth Ratajczak (father of 3 children):.
"I think a parent should not spy on their children. Nothing good can come of it. All that the child will get from this is that you do not trust them and that they have no rights to freedom or free choice. All you do is show that you do not and will not trust them. You show no respect for them as a person and what they do in their own time. I think you should "supervise" your children. It's OK to know where they are going, who their friends are and that they are not in harms way. That is your job as a parent. It is showing that you trust them, but will check in from time to time. I believe that trust and respect factor goes a lot further in their development than micro-managing."

Kimberly Ware:

"Please don't be so naive to think your child is goody goody and tells you everything they don't. I thought my daughter was doing good telling me where she was going who she was with. Until one time I let her sleep over her friends house and go roller-skating. The next day she let it slip

that she was using some hair products that were new I know the friend that she was sleeping over is a tom boy and wouldn't t have these products so I ask her where she had slept come to find out she had told her friends parents that I had said it was okay if they slept over someone else's house. She never called me or anything she just went and did this. Anything could have happened anything."

Phil Illson:

"I was working for a small software company, and just by chance one day a colleague happened to speak to me about keystroke monitoring software. I resolved to install some of this software. I downloaded something called family key logger and while my children were away at school I installed it on

both of their computers.

For a few days I sat back and let my little program do its work. Then one day after they had left, I went into their rooms to see what the keystroke logger had found. I went into my daughters room first. I turned on her computer, found the program, and opened the text file. There were a lot of online conversations. I thought I knew my daughter well, but suffice to say that I didn't even know her. I found out that she had been pregnant and had an abortion all without my knowledge. My confidence as a parent vanished as I read her words. Her friends heard all her real troubles while she smiled at me innocently and told me nothing. I wan

dered into my sons room in a daze and started his computer. Turns out he sells weed and takes prescription pain killers. I thought we were still best buddies and told each other everything. I had been feeling a little guilty before I installed the software, guilty for invading the innocent world of my little children with my suspicions and curiosity, but now I just felt numb. Turns out my kids trusted me even less than I trusted them.

This is a hard story to share, but I think that it is important. If I had never thought to s

py on my children, at least I would have the illusion of a happy family life. Some people insist that they want to know the truth about things, but as someone who has found out more than he ever wanted to know, I can assure you that spying on your teenagers is not worth the heartache. I cannot even confront my kids with what I know because I found out through trickery. The wall of silence in my home is growing higher and thicker. My days of happy ignorance are at an end thanks to the evils of modern surveillance technology."

How to spy on your kid? (some parents' advices)

You can for example:

• check his/her cellphone (messages, numbers)
• install computer program which will show you all that your child has been typing.
• listen at the door
• be friend with all his/her friends on Facebook, MySpace etc.
• rifle his/her room
• read diaries
  
• put a little camera

  

  What do you think about spying on the kids? Is it permissive? Could you give some examples of situations which justify it?
  

Healthy lifestyle

There is more then one aspect of what is called a ‘healthy lifestyle’. A healthy lifestyle is often associated solely with a low-fat diet. It is also quite common to see people jog in the morning, and then eat junk food in the afternoon. Sleeping long hours will not have a positive effect on anyone if it is combined with bad eating habits and a sedentary way of life.Therefore, it is essential to realize that living one’s life in a healthy way cannot be limited to just one of the aspects mentioned above. It should contain all of them. Accordingly, a healthy lifestyle involves eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep at night.

Eat a variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups.

You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. To get the nutrients you need, choose foods like vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and fat-free or low-fat dairy products most often

• Vegetables and fruits are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber — and they’re low in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help you control your weight and your blood pressure.
• Unrefined whole-grain foods contain fiber that can help lower your blood cholesterol and help you feel full, which may help you manage your weight.
• Eat fish at least twice a week. Recent research shows that eating oily fish containing omega-3 fatty acids (for example, salmon, trout, and herring) may help lower your risk of death from coronary artery disease.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200009

Basic Running Tips : Jogging Tips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T-CoHXOvNA&translated=1

Basic Running Tips : How to Breathe While Running:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N-z0whXDAo&NR=1

Physical Activity in Your Daily Life:

Play and recreation are important for good health. Look for opportunities such as these to be active and have fun at the same time:

• Plan family outings and vacations that include physical activity (hiking, backpacking, swimming, etc.)
• See the sights in new cities by walking, jogging or bicycling.
• Make a date with a friend to enjoy your favourite physical activities. Do them regularly.
• Play your favourite music while exercising, something that motivates you.
• Dance with someone or by yourself. Take dancing lessons. Hit the dance floor on fast numbers instead of slow ones.
• Join a recreational club t hat emphasizes physical activity.
• At the beach, sit and watch the waves instead of lying flat. Better yet, get up and walk, run or fly a kite.
• When golfing, walk instead of using a cart.
• Play singles tennis or racquet ball instead of doubles.
• At a picnic, join in on badminton instead of croquet.
• At the lake, rent a row boat instead of a canoe.

(http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2155)

Nordic walking
Nordic walking is defined as fitness walking with specially designed poles. It evolved from an off-season ski-training activity known as sk

i walking, hill bounding or ski striding to become a way of exercising year-round. Ski walking and hill bounding with poles has been practiced for decades as dry land training for competitive cross-country skiing. Ski coaches saw the success of world-class cross-country skiers who used ski poles in the summer for ski walking and hill bounding, and it became a staple of off-season Nordic ski training. Hikers with knee pain discovered they could walk more powerfully with a pair of trekking poles, often eliminate or reduce hip, knee, and foot pain, and backpackers found relief from painful backs when using poles.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_walking)

What is your way to life healthy??