Tesh Tuesday - Pet Myths Busted

The Truth Behind These Pet Myths

Whether you’re a cat lady or a dog guy you’ve probably heard that dogs have clean mouths and that cats have nine lives. Well, guess what? Those aren’t exactly true. Let’s sort fact from fiction and bust a few myths about pets, courtesy of MSNBC:

• Myth #1: One dog year equals seven human years. This myth probably came from someone dividing the average dog life span by the average human lifespan and coming up with 7. The truth is there’s no accurate formula for figuring out how dogs develop. Big dogs and little dogs have totally different lifespans and hit developmental milestones at different times. Basically, your dog is as young, or old as it feels.

• Myth #2: Cats always land on their feet. This is not only not true, it’s also dangerous because people are always testing out the theory. The truth is cats instinctively try to twist their bodies to land feet first, but they’re not always successful, and they commonly break bones or suffer other injuries if they fall.

• Myth #3: Dogs are colorblind. This is about as true as the one about cats being able to see in the dark. Dogs CAN see color but they’re less able to distinguish between colors. They’re eyesight is similar to people who have red-green color blindness. Cats do see BETTER than us in the dark because their pupils open much wider than ours, but they’re as blind as we are in complete darkness.

• Myth #4: A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s. No one knows where this myth came from but - surprise, surprise – it’s not true. Dog saliva doesn’t have the same bacteria as a human mouth - but it’s chock full of different germs and bacteria that are just as nasty. In fact vets recommend that young children and people with weakened immune systems avoid direct contact with slobbery dog kisses.

Tesh Tuesday- Thanksgiving Dinner Myths

Thanksgiving Dinner Myths

The countdown to Thanksgiving is on. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of cooking advice over the years. Well, here are some tips from Bon Appetit Writer of the Year Harold McGee. He breaks down the most common Thanksgiving dinner myths.  

• Myth #1: For the moistest turkey, soak it in brine before you cook it. That’s false. Brining the bird can make it too salty. The fix: Take the bird out of the refrigerator to warm up a couple hours before roast time. Then, put ice packs on the breast to keep it cold so it’ll heat up more slowly than the tougher dark-meat legs. Then, while it’s roasting, check the doneness early and often to avoid overcooking.
• Myth #2: You can cook a turkey slowly overnight. Don’t do it. Food expert McGee says that low temperatures and long cooking times are the perfect recipe for out-of-control bacteria growth. To avoid serving a toxic turkey, cook your stuffing separately and roast the bird at a temperature above 300 degrees.
• Myth #3: The bird will come out perfectly if you follow a cooking chart. False. The chart is a guide, not a science book. That’s because all ovens and birds are different. Instead, check the bird’s doneness with a meat thermometer.
• Myth #4: It's safe to put leftovers away before you go to bed. Nope. Harmful bacteria can survive cooking and at room temperatures can double their numbers several times an hour. The fix: Refrigerate leftovers before you slice the pumpkin pie.

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Tesh Tuesday- Halloween Treat Survival Tips

Halloween Survival Tips

You wouldn’t eat a cocker spaniel for Halloween! Yet each year, statistics show that the average North American eats 24 pounds of candy – or the weight of an average dog – mostly around Halloween. So, here’s a list of survival tips to help keep all that candy from settling around your waist! These come from Dave Zinczenko, co-writer of the popular Eat This, Not That books:

• Halloween survival tip #1: Toss the candy dish. Research has shown that people who keep snacks easily within reach while watching TV consume more calories per day overall! So, limit your temptation to grab handfuls of sweets during commercials by keeping candy in its original bag, stored on a high shelf in the kitchen.
• Halloween survival tip #2: Consume drinks before treats. A study found that drinking a glass of water before meals can help you lose weight, because the water fills your stomach, and limits hunger. So, use that same strategy to curb your candy cravings. Just make sure you drink water, and not soda, because a can of soda contains more sugar than two Hershey’s chocolate bars!
• Another survival tip: Don’t skip dinner. Eating a healthy dinner will take the edge off your candy cravings – especially if you choose a meal rich in fiber and lean protein. Think chicken breast.
• Also: Plan a workout on Halloween morning, because exercise will reduce your blood sugar levels by15%. So, by the time you eat candy, the sugar will be more likely to stay in your bloodstream – to provide energy to your cells - instead of settling around your waist.

In case you’re thinking “a few small bites” of candy won’t hurt you on Halloween, consider this:

• Just three miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have more sugar than a glazed doughnut.
• Half a pack of Skittles has more sugar than a scoop of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream.
• Nine Twizzlers carry as many calories as a Wendy’s Double Stack Burger!

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What Your Facebook Profile Photo Says About You

From Gwaker.com

Choosing a Facebook profile photo is very serious business. It's the visual that will greet high school acquaintances, jealous exes, and your parents' friends when they search you out. The image you project is entirely determined by your photo choice.

While people think that the photo they choose is some sort of individual statement, they're usually wrong. Here are the 10 most misguided approaches that people take when picking out a profile photo. Each sends out all sorts of information that the person may not have intended. And while there are some sub-genres and lesser known variations, most of the pictures on the social networking behemoth fall into one of these categories.

The Portrait

How to Spot It: A clear photo of the subject from the waist (or higher) up and includes the entire face.
What It Says About You: That you are a normal, well-adjusted adult who is confident in your appearance. Basically, you're pretty boring. However, if it is a headshot, author photo, or other promotional material, it means you are a narcissistic careerist. If it is a self portrait, you are slightly annoying. If the photo is of you in your bathing suit, you are probably hot and insecure.

The Far and Away

How to Spot It: The subject is so far from the camera that you can discern there is a person in the frame, but can't pick out any details of his face or appearance.
What It Says About You: You are a private person who doesn't want any old gawker knowing what the hell you look like. You are probably slightly shy and reserved until people get to know you. Either that or you got fat or had a botched Lasik surgery and you don't want the mean girls from college knowing about your gut/lazy eye.

The Up Close and Impersonal

How to Spot It: The subject is so close to the camera that you can only see part of her face or appearance.
What It Says About You: You want people to think that you don't want to be recognized on Facebook, but you really do and you mask that in pseudo artiness. You had an imperfection when you were younger (lazy eye, acne, stutter, irredeemably bad haircut) and still haven't gotten over being teased. Now you're the kind of person who is alone at parties not because you're shy, but because once people talk to you, they get annoyed.

The Scrapbook Photo

How to Spot It: A picture of the subject when he was in his childhood, whether a candid shot or a school picture he made his mother dig out of a box in her attic.
What It Says About You: You are the type of person who thinks that everything in the past is better than it is now. You still listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, and love the same things you did back in high school/college, and you'll probably never change. You haven't amounted to much, and you looked much better as a child.

The Pet Show

How to Spot It: A photo of the subject's pet, usually without the subject.
What It Says About You: It depends on what kind of animal it is. Cat: You are a woman without a boyfriend. Dog: You are  without a boyfriend or Michael Vick. Snake: You are a teenage boy or death metal devotee. Fish: You watch too much The Real World. Dolphin: You have a tramp stamp. Gerbil or Hamster: You are Richard Gere. Unicorn: You are awesome. Rabbit: Who has rabbits as pets? 

Family Photo

How to Spot It: A photo of the subject's children and/or baby usually without the subject.
What It Says About You: The only thing you have accomplished in your adult life is having children. You used to be fun and fabulous and have lots of friends, but now all you can talk about is play dates, potty training, and Dora the Explorer. But don't worry, being a mother/father is the most important job there is. No really. We mean that. Yup, totally.

The Wedding Photo

How to Spot It: Man, woman, dress, tux—you know, the usual. Even if it's a gay wedding, you know a wedding picture when you see it.
What It Says About You: You want everyone to think that you are a grown-up. You have settled down to a life of calm normalcy and Family Guy reruns. You're not playing the field  anymore. No, you are married! Also, you are entirely defined by your relationship and don't have any friends of your own anymore. You probably spent too much on the ceremony and your mother-in-law hates you.

The Pop Culture Reference

How to Spot It: This comes in many forms: a picture of a fictional character, concert, a movie poster, a book cover, reality star, musical act, or a celebrity. Basically it is anyone who is not the subject. Even if done ironically, it's all the same.
What It Says About You: You have no personality of your own. You define yourself (and others) completely by their entertainment choices, whether they be television, music, sci-fi, literary, or otherwise. Talking to you like reading a list of movie quotes from an IMDb page and you are full of useless knowledge on your favorite subjects. You own at least two T-shirts with stupid slogans on them.

The Art Portfolio

How to Spot It: A photo that somehow tries to be artistic and usually fails. This can contain the subject or not. It is often in black and white.
What It Says About You: You tell people that you are an actor, writer, photographer, or artist, but you are really a waiter, blogger, bartender, Whole Foods checkout person, or trust fund baby. Unless you have a trust fund, you will probably never make more per year than the cost of the liberal arts college you attended. 

The Party Picture

How to Spot It: The subject, often with someone else, clearly at a party. She may be holding a drink, drinking a drink,   playing beer pong, dancing on a banquette, or giving duck lips and gang signs.
What It Says About You: You are young and stupid and will be fired from at least one job for something you posted on Facebook. You are susceptible to peer pressure and you will one day regret this picture and replace it with a wedding picture, and then pictures of your children.

[Photo, top, via AP. All other photos via Facebook]

Just an FYI my Facebook pic is this...

I know... I'm completely boring : ) But at least I'm happy!