I don't smoke so I haven't followed the e-cigarette development closely.  I ran across these articles, and realized that people might not know the dangers of this "better than cigarettes" alternative.  If you are around pets, you need to exercise care to keep them away from animals (and children).  They contain very toxic substances and can have fatal consequences in the wrong paws (or hands).

The primary danger to pets is the nicotine they can be exposed to.  There is a cartridge in the e-cigarette that contains nicotine at levels toxic to animals.  Pets may be exposed when they chew up the e-cigs or the bottles containing e-juice, or even when they walk through puddles of spilled e-juice and get it on their paws.  The signs of nicotine poisoning may begin within 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to the e-liquid; in contrast, signs of nicotine poisoning following eating tobacco products may take a few hours  as the nicotine must be released from the tobacco.  (source: veterinarypartner.com)

The links below will provide more information about the dangers posed to your pets.  Please read them so you will know what symptoms to look for, be ready if an accident should happen, and above all, know how to keep your pets safe in the first place.

http://www.petplace.com/cats/e-cigarette-toxicity-in-cats/page1.aspx?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_content=CL-20140925%20%281%29%20remainder

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/e-cigarette-toxicity-in-dogs/page1.aspx?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_content=DL-20140925%20%281%29%20remainder

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=3557

I'm all about saving money and not spending more than I have to.  Once I've decided that I really need to buy something, I look for sales, I compare prices, use coupons, shop on line, look up discount promo codes on the internet, buy gently used items and even try to repurpose when possible.  There is no reason to pay full price for almost anything these days if you plan ahead, and invest a little time to do some research.

Retailer price coding has been a topic on the news lately, so I decided to research it further to share what I found with readers here.  There is some great advice on how to save money if you know how retailers price their merchandise!  The link below also has a printable chart with coding information that can come in handy when you are out shopping.  Or you can save the link on your smart phone!

http://www.rather-be-shopping.com/blog/2013/09/24/retailers-big-secret-crack-the-price-tag-code/

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/04/25/cracking-the-price-tag-code-to-retail-store-savings/

http://business.time.com/2013/08/21/decoding-the-secret-language-of-price-tags/

Typically, when someone says "It's all the rage.", they are referring to an increasing popularity of a product, certain look, or activity.  Often this is demonstrated as passing "fads", where things become popular, then fade away.  This Musing is about a different reference to rage.  I'm referring to "rage" and anger being demonstrated by people in different travel situations

Road Rage

For a long time, we have heard the term "road rage".  Chances are you have been on the receiving end of "road rage", or maybe you are someone that has expressed some type of  "road rage" or aggressive driving.  AAA reports that aggressive driving and road rage are increasing and is one of the top concerns of drivers today.

Aggressive driving is a term for dangerous on-the-road behaviors that emerged around the 1990's.  It refers to behaviors such as:

• Following too closely
• Driving at excessive speeds
• Weaving through traffic
• Running stop lights and signs

Aggressive driving can also escalate into behaviors such as:

• gesturing in anger
  
• yelling at another motorist
  
• confrontation
  
• physical assault and even murder.

"Road Rage" is the label that refers to the angry and violent behaviors at the extreme end of the aggressive driving continuum. An important distinction is that aggressive driving is considered to be a traffic violation, while road rage, not including yelling and gesticulating, is considered  a criminal offense. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

What Do The Experts Think?

What are the underlying reasons of this rise in aggressive and dysfunctional behavior on the road?  Experts have various opinions. (source: The Growing Problem of Road Rage By Charles Montaldo)

Sociologists: suggest it is due to the breakdown in our society's sense of community and a disintegration of shared values.

Psychologists: blame the intoxicating combination of power and anonymity provided by motor vehicles.

Traffic engineers: believe the problem is due to inconsistent driving speeds among travelers.

Suggested Causes:

Traffic Congestion:  This is sited as a frequent cause.  Drivers who have a low tolerances for traffic delays might react by following too closely, changing lanes frequently, or becoming angry at anyone who impedes their progress.

Running Late:  People are stressed because they have too much to do and are running late for work, school, their next meeting, lesson, soccer game, or other appointment.  Drivers often "justify" their speeding because they are running late.

Anonymity:   Drivers can feel detached when insulated within the privacy of a vehicle. Tinted windows facilitate the misconception of being an observer of the surroundings, rather than a participant.  Being anonymous can "release" individuals to behave in antisocial ways, because they don't feel accountable for their actions.  This combined with power of a vehicle can result in extreme rudeness.  It can turn a "nice" person into a dangerous "rager".

Disregard for Others and for the Law:  The erosion of societal values and respect for authority has been the subject of studies and news stories.  Suggested causes for this problem are: the fragmentation of the extended family, increased individual mobility, media influence, and other characteristics of modern society.  This trend is reflected in the expression of narcissistic traits and the common phrase, "I'm just looking out for number one."

Habitual Or Clinical Behavior:  By far, most motorists rarely or never drive aggressively.  For a minority, there are frequent episodes of aggressive driving, and for a small group, aggressive driving style is the norm. Occasional episodes of aggressive driving might occur in response to specific situations, such as speeding and changing lanes abruptly when late for an important appointment, when it is not the driver's normal behavior.  And for some, it can even be an expression of illness or pathology.

Something to remember is that it is not the anger that is experienced by drivers that is of concern, but what they do with that anger. 

Air Rage

Recently, the newscasts have aired stories about a different kind of "rage".  This situation involves "Air Rage" which is a term that refers to airline passengers exhibiting aggressive and disruptive behaviors.  Some say that "Air Rage" is the new Road Rage.  In the last two weeks, three flights have had to be diverted due to fights about reclining seats.  Other recent expressions of "Air Rage"  include a passenger who were arrested for punching a sleeping passenger and another who beat up an airline employee.

Suggested Causes:

What are the reasons behind the increased incidents of air travel belligerence and even violence?  Psychologists have suggestions on causes: (source: Air Rage: Why Does Flying Make People So Crazy? Leah Ginsberg)

1.  Air travel security restricts personal freedoms making people feel vulnerable, so they act out.  People can be very
    sensitive to being controlled and might become afraid or angry. 

2.  People have "personal space" and airlines offer very little of it, so people are willing to fight for it.  American culture has a
     norm expectation of about 3 ft of personal space (or an arm's length).  Maintaining this boundary on a plane is virtually
     impossible.  Coach seats are often less than 1.5 feet wide causing passengers to invade each others space.  Pushing
     boundaries is a good way to upset people and airline practices of putting more seats on planes and flying planes at full
     capacity make air travel more uncomfortable and stressful.  Recent arguments on planes have involve "the reclining
     seat" where the person in front reclines their seat, causing "problems" for the passenger directly behind.  A new device,
     called Knee Defender will prevent the seat in front of a passenger from engaging in recline.  This device was a trigger for
     an inflight argument.  The passenger in front wants to exercise their "right" to recline the seat they paid for, and the
     passenger in back is trying to prevent the reclining seat from invading his "space" that he has paid for. 

3.  Being overloaded and overwhelmed.  Too much to think about stresses us out, which leads to a short fuse.  Having too
     many responsibilities to deal with at once is one of the top causes of stress.  Multitasking is not really that efficient and
     creates an overload on individuals.  Traveling is a stressful experience with worries about getting there on time, coping
     with airport security and invasion of personal space, dealing with luggage, schedule delays, catching connector flights,
     managing carry on luggage etc.

4.  Some people drink or take medication when flying.  Doing so can help people relax and may help manage anxieties, but
     it can also result in more impulsive behavior. 

5.  Many travelers experience anxiety while flying, putting them on edge and less able to cope with stress.  Adding
     medication or alcohol can make matters worse.

6.  Some travelers are belligerent and in a bad mood.  This attitude can be contagious and create conflict in a social
     situation.  An "emotional contagion" can can have a cascading effect, and cause everyone to pile on when someone
     starts something.  One or two incidents and become many.

What To Do About Road Rage?

Edmunds.com has 10 tips to prevent road rage:

1.   Be rested- inadequate sleep can cause irritability
2.   Plan ahead - being disorganized and running late can cause speeding and impatience.
3.   Don't use your car to blow off steam -Your car is not an extension of yourself.
4.   Don't listen to aggressive music - Aggressive music can prompt aggressive behavior.  Listen to music that is calming.
5.   Keep relaxed behind the wheel - Take rest brakes, if you find yourself tense, relax your muscles and breathe.
6.   It's not about you - Do not take behaviors of other drivers personally.
7.   Hostility is not healthy - Falling into habits of anger and stress has negative health consequences as well as exposing
      you to conflict and retaliation with other drivers. Is it really worth it?
8.   Practice good etiquette - Don't let detachment and anonymity of being in a car cause you to act out.
9.   Self Assess - take a look at your driving habits and practices.  Are you behaving aggressively?  Self awareness can
      help you curb negative behaviors. 
10. Develop the habit of practicing kindness. - Don't be an emotional contagion.  Modeling kindness can reap kindness in
      return.

What To Do About Air Rage?

Below is a brief summary of flying etiquette suggestions from Wikihow.com.  Their article has excellent advice for airplane etiquette with great advice to consider.  Please consider going to their link (below) to see more to help you have a better air travel experience.

1.  Carry your bag in front of you and low to the ground as you walk down the aisle in search of your seat. - you don't want
     to be whacking other seated passengers.
2.  Utilize the overhead space above your own seat row. - Don't even think about putting your bags in the overhead storage
     near the front of the plane. 
3.  Keep your chair upright at least until you are told it can be reclined. - When you do recline, do it slowly so you don't
     bump the passenger behind you or knock something over on their tray.  Be courteous and keep your seat upright during
     meals and drink servings and until things are cleaned up.  Remember that reclining hyour seat for your comfort can be at
     the expense of the person behind you.
4.  Avoid grabbing the back of the seat in front of you.
5.  Respect personal space.
6.  Avoid hogging the aisle.
7.  Be considerate of other passengers when you exit the plane.

Happy traveling, and remember to breathe!

http://crime.about.com/od/victims/p/roadrage.htm

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/air-rage-96496033942.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-03/reclining-seat-spats-put-focus-on-air-rage-in-packed-jets.html

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-tips-to-prevent-road-rage.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Practice-Airplane-Etiquette

I don't have grandchildren yet, but maybe you do. Parenting is a hard job.  Some say that the reward of parenting is becoming a grandparent where you can "enjoy" children without all the hard work.  You can spoil your grand kids and then give them back to their parents and let them to do the hard job of day to day child rearing.  I know my two children loved spending time with grandparents.  I am sure they were doted on and spoiled while in their care!

I recently saw this item on the news and it caught my eye.  We have a history of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease in our families.  I've been doing a great deal of reading about what you can do now to help prevent dementia.  It is reported that adopting certain behaviors and activities in your life can help delay and even deter development of Alzheimer's Disease.  Common thinking is that if you are destined to get Alzheimer's Disease, there is nothing you can do to stop it.  While that might be true for a percentage of Alzheimer's cases, there is evidence that supports the fact that you can adopt lifestyles and behaviors that will help keep you from developing Alzheimer's or at the very least, delay it.  That will be a topic of a future Musing that everyone should read if you want to be proactive about this disease.

Today's Musing presents a recent study about how caring for grandchildren can lower the likelihood of developing disorders affecting memory or cognitive ability.  Being socially engaged is one preventative strategy that is suggested for avoiding dementia and Alzheimer's. A 2011 study completed by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that seniors who stay most socially engaged show less cognitive decline on testing.

The Women's Healthy Aging Project in Australia published results online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). This study looked at 186 women ages 57 to 68. 120 were grandmothers.  The participants completed 3 mental assessment tests that measured cognitive abilities.  Findings suggested that taking care of grand kids one day a week helped keep grandmothers mentally sharp.  Ironically, the study also found that caring for grandchildren five days a week or more could actually have some negative effects.  Those grandmothers demonstrated poorer performances on mental sharpness tests.  The grandmothers caring for their grandchildren one day a week performed best on two of three tests.  Those spending five days a week or more did noticeably worse on the test that measures working memory and mental processing speed.

This was an unexpected finding.  Researchers also found that with increasing time spent caring for grandchildren, grandmothers reported that they felt their own children were more demanding of them.  It's possible that these feelings of being stressed out from the responsibilities of child rearing as well as being stretched too thin to make time for themselves could lead to some decline in the brain's performance.  Other studies already exist showing that women who experience even mild forms of emotional or situational stress take longer to remember recently acquired information. Naturally, follow up research is being conducted.

What if your grandchildren live very far away?  Technology can help bridge that gap.  A 2014 Pew Research Internet Project reported that 46% of seniors who use the Internet visit social media sites.  Doing this promotes stronger and more consistent connections with their loved ones.  The added benefits of options like Skype and FaceTime, where you are able to see people you are talking to, strengthens the quality of technological social engagement.

Those with no grandchildren to care for have options too!  There is no reason your social involvement has to be centered around relatives or children.  Volunteering, becoming involved in church activities, taking classes, frequenting a local senior center or regularly socializing with friends can have the same beneficial impact on your brain function, and enhance feelings of happiness.

What do I take away from this?  One key to promoting cognitive health seems to be maintaining an active social connection with family, friends and community that is not stressful or demanding.

http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/2014/04/a-grandchild-for-one-day-keeps-dementia.html

http://jonbarron.org/alzheimers-and-dementia/grandkids-boost-brain#.VAKsVmOx3tQ

It's August 26th and it's National Dog  Day!  This day was created to help educate the public about the number of dogs currently in rescue and to thank everyone who works to save and rescue dogs every day.

I love animals and have had many kinds of pets.  Right now I have two dogs, both rescues of different types.  Chloe was rehomed with us because of conflicts with another dog in the house.  Minnie is a rescued stray, with evidence of a life of neglect and possibly abuse.  We seem to be partial to pets with special needs...as all of our pets across time have been found strays, difficult to place animals or animals needing a new home because of a home situation that was not working.

If you are thinking about getting a pet, please consider adoption from a shelter.  Rescue pets can make great companions. Many times dogs with "issues" in one household will be fine in a different setting.  Often,  it's the fault of the environment or the owner that has contributed to a dog's "problems".  A rescue can have a new lease on life with the right home.  Don't pass up older pets!  They have lots of love to give!  Our most recent adoption is about 8 years old.  She's been here about 9 months and has become the most lovable companion.

Please take your time and do your homework when preparing to adopt.  You may not find your forever friend immediately.  It's important to invest some time and preparation when adopting so you will have a pet that is a good match for your home, lifestyle and personality.  Think with your head and not your heart.  Not every dog will be right for you.

Here are some links to help you prepare for a successful adoption. 

http://www.nationaldogday.com/#!main/c1o50

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/tips-to-find-your-prefect-match-the-best-rescue-dog/page1.aspx?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Wellness&utm_content=DL-20140826%20%281%29

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/adopting-a-dog-the-ultimate-guide-to-dog-adoption/page1.aspx

There has been quite a bit of press about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).  GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). (source: NonGMO  Project) 

"Europe largely bans genetically engineered foods and has strict requirements on labeling them. They do allow the import of a number of GM crops such as soy, mostly for animal feed, and individual European countries have opted to plant these types of crops. Genetically engineered corn is grown in Spain, though it amounts to only a fraction of European farmland." (source: Huffington Post)

In the United States, consumers are pushing to have mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, but it is an uphill battle.  Many of the big corporations producing GMO products are vigorously fighting  this requirement. 

"The U.S. does not require labels on the view that genetically modified food is not materially different than non-modified food. Opponents of labeling say it would scare consumers away from safe foods, giving the appearance that there is something wrong with them.....U.S. activists insist consumers should have the right to choose whether to eat genetically modified foods and that labeling would offer them that choice, whether the foods are safe or not. They are pushing for labeling at the state and federal level. California voters last year rejected a ballot initiative that would have required GM food labeling. The legislatures of Connecticut and Maine have passed laws to label genetically modified foods, and more than 20 other states are contemplating labeling."  (source: Huffington Post)

Like it or not, we have been consuming genetically engineered foods for years.  "GM foods have been a mainstay in the U.S. for more than a decade. Most of the crops are used for animal feed or in common processed foods such as cookies, cereal, potato chips and salad dressing." (source: Huffington Post)  Some estimates are that 60%-70% of all processed foods in the US are genetically modified.  Most likely we have all consumed foods with at least one genetically modified ingredient. 

"GMOs may be hidden in common processed food ingredients such as: Amino Acids, Aspartame, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Flavorings (“natural” and “artificial”), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrins, Molasses, Monosodium Glutamate, Sucrose, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Xanthan Gum, Vitamins, Yeast Products." (source: NonGMO Project)

According to NonGMO project, these are GMO crops currently being grown:

• Alfalfa (first planting 2011)
• Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)
• Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)
• Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)
• Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)
• Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)
• Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)
• Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres)

Why the issues with GMOs?  According to Web MD, some of the risks of GMOs include:

• Introducing allergens and toxins to food
• Accidental contamination between genetically modified and non-genetically modified foods
• Antibiotic resistance
• Adversely changing the nutrient content of a crop
• Creation of “super” weeds and other environmental risks

Recently, GMO movement has entered new territory with the FDA evaluating approval of a genetically modified salmon.  If approved, this would become the first genetically modified animal to be approved for human consumption. 

How can we avoid eating GMOs?  Avoid consuming processed food and buy organic products.  Certified organic products cannot intentionally include any GMO ingredients. Buy products labeled “100% organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic ingredients.” You can be doubly sure if the product also has a Non-GMO Project Verified Seal.  

Below are links to help you learn more about GMOs.  The NonGMO Project has a shopping guide to help you if you want to avoid purchasing products with GMO ingredients.  They also have an app you can put on your phone.

http://www.nongmoproject.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/gmo-foods_n_3693246.html

http://gmomythsandtruths.earthopensource.org/

http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/tips-for-avoiding-gmos.html