Most pet owners want their pets to be happy and healthy. While accidents and illness can happen even with the best care, there are some things you can do to give your pet the best chance at a happy, healthy life. Here are some tips. 1. Finances When you fall in love with the sweet animal, whether it's a dog, cat, rabbit, iguana, or whatever, your heart can get the better of your head. So before you pull out the credit card, think for a moment about the long-term costs of owning an animal. Here are some expenses involved in keeping an animal for its entire life: * Flea and tick control * Heartworm medication * Spaying and neutering * Vaccinations * Veterinary check-ups * Bedding * Food * Grooming * Boarding (for when you are out of town) * Housing (such as rabbit hutches or dog crates) * Accoutrements (such as scratching posts, leashes, collars, toys, etc.) You can't raise a healthy animal without investing in some or all of these expenses. So keep that in mind before you buy. 2. Time You need to invest time in your pet for it to be happy and content. Dogs are perhaps the neediest in this regard, and you need to be prepared to meet your dog's ...

Sometimes called the "dirty dozen," there are twelve fruits and vegetables that are the most contaminated by pesticides and/or fungicides. Here is a list of the most contaminated produce in loosely descending order and the pesticides used on them. 1. Bell Peppers - Of vegetables contaminated with neurotoxic pesticides, bell peppers came out the winner (or loser, depending on how you look at it). They have a higher level of such neurological toxins than any other crop that has been tested. 2. Apples - Apples have substantially higher pesticide residues than other fruits and vegetables. They also have one of the greatest numbers of chemicals on their skins - at least thirty-six in one large test. 3. Strawberries - Fungicides like captan and iprodione are a problem on these vitamin C-rich fruits. These chemicals are probable human carcinogens according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Endosulfan is a pesticide that is related to DDT, and is commonly used on strawberries. Endosulfan, as the name implies, affects the human endocrine system, specifically the production of estrogen. 4. Spinach - The pesticides found on the leaves of spinach - permethrin and chlorothalonil to name two - are probable carcinogens. And they are found in high levels ...

Electronic devices are tricky to recycle (although there are programs), and they are not cheap. So extending their life makes sense from a waste standpoint as well as an economic one. Here are some tips and ideas on how you can get the most out of your electronic products. 1. Keep Them Clean The manual says to do this, but how many of us ignore the manufacturer's recommendations in this regard? Normally, cleaning electronics is simple as long as it is done regularly. Dust remover, or canned air, can be a big help in keeping dirt out of the computer keyboards and the keypads of cell phones, calculators, remote controls, and so forth. Use a soft, damp cloth on the surface of electronics. Dust off the back of your computer tower periodically. Its fan draws dust, which then sticks to the back of the tower and accumulates, affecting the performance and life of your machine. Don't use a vacuum - that can create static electricity. Wipe off your computer screen and monitor periodically, too. 2. Keep Them Cool Electronics do not like temperature extremes. Keep them out of direct sunlight and excessive heat and cold. Make sure the device has a lot of space around ...

ECycling refers to the recycling of electronic products, which are getting more and more common in American homes. The EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency, has instigated a program to help and encourage the recycling of electronics. To get the program to the regional and community levels, the EPA headed up "Plug-In to eCycling Partners." These partners support electronics recycling programs in individual communities. They offer local governments, retailers, and manufacturers opportunities to reuse and recycle their products. Those who make and sell electronics then sponsor or instigate programs and opportunities for consumers to recycle their used electronic products. One of the EPA's goals is to educate consumers as to why the recycling of electronics is so important. They also want to make eCycling opportunities accessible to individual consumers and their household electronics. According to the EPA, the eCycling Program has been quite successful. In 2008, the EPA collected 66.5 million pounds of electronic devices through their Plug-In Partners. Local governments have also gotten on board and passed legislation intended to manage used electronic devices. Large corporations have adopted eCycling programs at their local retail stores. One retailer offers consumers small, medium and large boxes for sale, which the consumers then fill with used ...

When you go to the grocery store with eggs on your list, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the choices. It can be confusing when the humble egg comes in varieties like organic, free-range, cage-free, brown, white, Omega-3, and any combination of these. Is there really a difference? Which eggs are healthiest? * Brown versus White Eggs - Perhaps it's the earthy color, but for some reason many people consider brown eggs more "natural" than white ones. Others claim there is a difference in taste or nutritional value. While taste can differ between various types of eggs, what makes an egg brown is the breed of hen that laid it, not the conditions under which the hen is kept. Brown eggs are not necessarily more nutritious than white ones. * Organic Eggs - Chickens that are fed organic feed produce eggs that can be labeled "organic." Organic feed contains only those ingredients that are grown and produced without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides. Organic eggs therefore would have no traces of these chemicals. Also, for eggs to be labeled organic, the hens must not receive antibiotics or hormones. * Vegetarian-Fed - Some egg cartons will note that the chickens are fed only vegetarian ...