The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship is encouraging college graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (“STEM”) to get a Master’s in the field to become a teacher. To qualify, you must have carried a GPA of 3.0 or better in an undergraduate degree and your graduation date can be no later than June 2011. Selected candidates will receive a $30,000 stipend to start and complete the Master’s degree which will include field experience. While no one can predict what the demand might be in the future, the candidate must commit to teaching in a high school classroom setting for at least three years. Therefore, applicants must be U.S Citizens or legal permanent residents.

Right now, the Fellowship partners with colleges and Universities in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. You may receive your undergraduate degree from any accredited university or college, but the Masters must be completed at select institutions within these three states.  To apply or for more information, visit http://www.wwteachingfellowship.org.

At right: Former college professor, and of course, President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson

Saving Shelter Pets, Inc. is a registered 501(3)c charitable organization. Proceeds will go towards their very important Spay and Neuter Program. For more about SSP, visit past articles at HoundsGood.com HERE or visit the official website, Savingshelterpets.com.

Don’t forget to SHOP from August 16 through the 26th. You might be introduced to some great items from sellers that you haven’t discovered yet. Stay tuned on HoundsGood for seller profiles as the event draws near!

Mission Foods is a proud supporter of Share Our Strength, a movement committed to stamp out childhood hunger.  Share Our Strength reaches out to communities by educating families on how to cook healthy, budget friendly meals, and assists local organizations that assist children and families concerning poverty related hunger issues.

What is the Mission Menus Challenge?  Aspiring chefs submit creative recipes incorporating Mission products. The stipulation? The recipe must include Mission Flour Tortillas, and in the spirit of Share Our Strength, the recipe must feed a family of 4 for $10 or less. With so many cooking challenges revolving around foods that require a large investment or that are not available everywhere geographically, it is refreshing to see. Perhaps the menus will also help families when the winning recipes are released to make a budget friendly nutritious meal for their families, and will choose homemade instead of fast food.

Winners will have a chance to compete in a Los Angeles cooking challenge hosted by Chef Sarah Moulton, whom you may know from the Food Network. Other prizes include a kitchen makeover. Submit your recipes starting TOMORROW, July 28, 2010. Entries must be received by August 9th.  To be eligible, entrants must be 18 years of age or older and be permanent legal residents of the United States, excluding territories.

The next time you need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off, or that someone is better than you at something, have Faith – even someone who seems like a natural wasn’t so natural at first.

Off and on I have been continuing to explore the idea of online degrees, only the costs are much high, it seems, than a community college or regular university. Apparently, the cost of materials is figured into the price rather than figuring it separately, so that may be partially why. The bonus is that you pay as you go and don’t accumulate student loans. Credits for online schools can culminate into a degree or can be transferred. Ashworth College, out of Georgia, is one such school where the fees seem to be competitive. Other online schools typically accepts these credits, as do some community colleges and universities.

There are many stay-at-home moms and even folks who run online businesses that are going for degrees because the schedule is flexible, as long as you have the self discipline to set aside time to study. It doesn’t matter what hour of the day or week it is, but it still has to be figured in. An hour or two after bedtimes or before taking photos for your online store is enough time.  I was pretty much trapped in the house a few years back and struggled to keep myself motivated. Tele-learning can help someone who feels a bit isolated feel in control and work towards the next step.

However, before you enroll, think about what you are doing down the road. If you are trying to knock off some classes to get into a degree program elsewhere, make sure that the receiving college does not only accept credits from regionally accredited programs. Schools offering an Online degree are often nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and their degrees stand on their own. However, some courses of study, institutions and employers requiring continuing education in some states demand coursework from REGIONALLY accredited schools if you intend to transfer into their program.

The following are the legs of the journey needed.  Check back for updates:

The journey will occur on Saturday, July 24, 2010 from Franklin, GA to Hattiesburg, MS.  A volunteer form the Maine Coon Rescue will meet the last person on the transport. Are you on this route? Can you help drive just an hour or two? Contact details are below. Contact my friend Emily to help out.

THIS POST WAS UPDATED 7/21 at 4:58 PM

View Larger Map

SATURDAY July 24, 2010

15 minutes has been added to each leg for handoffs
All legs are flexible!

Leg 1 Filled – Thanks Heather!
Depart: Franklin GA 8:30 am EDT, 7:30 am CDT
Arrive: Oxford AL 9:45 am EDT, 8:45 am CDT
1 hour 15 min

Leg 2 Filled- Thanks Kris!
Depart: Oxford AL 9:00 am
Arrive: Birmingham AL 10:00 am
1 hour

Leg 3 Filled — Thanks Debbie!
Depart: Birmingham AL 10:15 am
Arrive: Tuscaloosa AL 11:15 am
1 hour

Leg 4 NEEDED
Depart: Tuscaloosa AL 11:30 am
Arrive: Meridian MS 12:30 pm
1 hour 30 min

Leg 5 NEEDED
Depart: Meridian MS 12:45 pm
Arrive: Hattiesburg MS 2:15 pm
1 hour 30 min

End of Transport – Foster will drive to rescue

TRANSPORT COORDINATOR:
Emily Cherry Goff (cherryharley)
cherryharleysavinganimals @ yahoo.com
(334) 744-5590

PLEASE PROVIDE:

Day and Leg(s) you are offering to take
Name
Address
City/State
Home #
Cell #
Can you receive text messages?
Email
Do you have email access after 5 pm and on weekends?
Emergency Contact phone #
Vehicle Desc
License Plate #

THIS POST WAS UPDATED 7/21 at 4:58 PM

I am always looking to stretch a few dollars and shave my grocery bill or pet care bills when I can. I want to be a better steward of my money in general, but a few extra dollars means that I can donate to a cause that I care about versus refraining or that can collect interest in the bank for a rainy day. There are some areas where corners just cannot be cut for quality or health reasons.Walletpop offers a list of 10 Products to Always Buy Generic. The list includes:

• Over the counter medications, such as aspirin and cough medicine.
• Cereal
• Pantry items, such as flour and baking needs.
• Soda
• Gas
• Beauty Products
• Batteries
• Cables (computer cables, electronic cables)
• Produce
• Baby formula. Not some mystery label, but store brand formula.

The biggest surprises for me?  Gas and baby formula. I didn’t know that there really was such a thing as generic gasoline. However, its not really generic in the manner that I thought. There is no small family business refining their own oil on a small scale. It just means to simply hit up the Costco or Meijer gas station or try the local single-location place in town. Check prices vigilantly, however.

Baby formula is not something you want to mess around with. I was surprised that store brands have comparable ingredients.  I know, some of my readers will ask me to take the opportunity to promote feeding babies the way nature intended, but some moms don’t have that ability or have medical complications that create separation from baby and preclude them.  Store brands and generics must meet the same FDA health standards and nutrition guidelines as the pricier brands. Also, families using WIC can stretch their dollar farther that way, as it is a WIC item.

For produce, make sure you check the country of origin on conventional produce, and also remember that locally grown items from farm stands support local families.  I have noticed that if you buy the 365 brand, which is the Whole Foods Store brand, you can score some good deals on items that are just as well monitored as juices and crackers made by the big names. I know I have.  In fact, the 365 brand nutrient water is sometimes less expensive than conventional Vitamin Water.

Which one of these items do you always buy generic or store brand? Are there any local small-name companies you buy from that have value instead of boutique pricing. Also, were there things on the list that surprised you that you now are going to check generic’s on?

Good share. I search internet whole day for it. This day is Wednesday.

Then, it was the march of the really, really generic comments.

This is the best article ever. I was saying to may friend the other day that this is the best website ever on such an important subject like the one you write about.

In the past week or two, many comments have actually related somewhat to the article in a very general way.

I really like cats! They are my favorite.

While a legitimate reader may make a general declarative statement, watch the “name” and the homepage of the poster. Some editors and bloggers do not accept comments from folks with keywords for names.  I don’t always abide by this because there are many people that use “handles” or the name of their blog or website as their name.  I do watch when their name is long or quite sploggy, such as ‘buy pharmaceuticals direct on the internet” or their homepage url is long and suspicious.  One other observation is that spam comments often include an asterisk “*” or a dash at the end.  Of course, real people can do this too, but more often than not it denotes spam.  In the past week or so, the symbols has been disappearing. Maybe whatever software spammers use is getting “wise.”

Either way, be careful out there.

I am an incessant sun screen user in the summer. In the past year, I have become very conscious of the chemicals in sun screen and have ditched a few that contain titanium dioxide and now use one with zinc oxide exclusively. Not only am I not burning, but I noticed any redness from dermatitis on my face is no longer red. Sure, it could be the Vitamin D of the sun, but I attribute it to the zinc. Because of the thick consistency, I am hesitant to use it elsewhere on my body.

There is another product that uses zinc oxide, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, which is a diaper rash cream. It is also good for razor bumps, and I have heard some folks using it for prickly heat and psoriasis. I am not surprised, also, to hear folks using it for their scalp. The first time I heard about it was actually when I ran into someone who used it for their dog. The dog has alopecia and was always suffering from a raw tail. His tail would wag so much and beat against chair legs that the skin would be very dry and it would crack and bleed.

The ingredients are natural and contain zinc oxide and balsam oil. Just make sure you don’t have a balsam allergy before you try it.

Right now, you can receive a free sample if you send a 6×9 self addressed envelope stamped with $1.39 in postage to:

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
1600 Brian Drive
Columbus, IN 47201

Let me know what you think of it.

P.S. Balsam Pear plants are poisonous to dogs and cats.  The Balsam pine will upset stomachs if large quantities are consumed, but is not fatal, especially in the sparing amount in a tiny dot of paste.   Of course, keep all topical applications out of the reach of children and pets, even if non-toxic in normal use.

On YouTube, there are video commentators that say that this particular shelter, Heard County Animal Control in Franklin, GA, is not such a bad place. It is true that the tiny two person staff, Kaylene and Angela, DOES care, but the situation is always very dire for cats. Just like any other county pound, when the shelter is bursting at the seems with cats with no takers and the cats have passed the time of their stray hold, euthanization occurs. Please don’t take any shelter that you “think” doesn’t have the same problem for granted. Spay your pets to avoid unwanted litters. Adopt dogs, pups, cats and kittens from a shelter or rescue group instead of purchasing one. Some of the best and some with the most personality are waiting for a chance. Of course, do not do so if you don’t have time for or the means to take care of a pet.

Another £18,000 was generated in a Charity Duck Race.  How does one race ducks? Over 8,000 yellow rubber duckies sailed down the River Trent in Nottingham during the Riverside Festival.  Entrants paid £2 to enter a duck, and the individual who picked the lucky duck who crossed the finish line first won a cruise.  Certainly, much of the raise is sheer chance, but it sounds like a lot more fun than purchasing a ticket and comparing your numbers against those that the announcer called.

Next time you are shopping for window coverings and are interested in patronizing a company that gives back, waddle on over to Hillarys.

While perusing some of the supplemental health plans, individuals can opt for private coverage for as little as six weeks for transitions or when they know they may be taking on additional health or injury risks. There are also plans which include travel coverage to receive treatment from specialists, psychiatric treatment or cancer care coverage.  The coverage could be invaluable if there is an unforeseen medical condition.

I wish that more people would take a look at what is going on in the UK and Canada before they jumped up and down over health care reform without reading it. Taxes will go up to cover the cost of the plan, but in addition, everyone’s pocket will STILL be hit when they purchase extra insurance. The issue is not really health insurance, but access. Some physician practices only take you if you have certain insurance because they are not set up administratively to take cash or checks or debit cards. If there were more safeguards at state level to make it illegal to turn away a paying customer who has the funds but not the correct insurance, there would be a great savings. Low income children, who have been at the forefront of the media attention, already have coverage through medicaid.  In other words, health care reform is needed, but a single payer health system may be something that one needs to take care what one asks for.

From time to time, different chains and organizations give away a night at a hotel as a prize. While its nice, it usually involves a hefty investment as it does not include transportation costs. Winners almost do not want to win, unless they have a trip coming up outside of the blackout dates, or can find someone to watch the kids as the room is only suited for double occupancy.

The Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes goes against the grain by giving away a weekend hotel stay for you and 3 lucky friends every day. Of course, they don’t have to be friends. They can be your kids. The grand prize winner wins 100 hotel rooms for a weekend to reconnect with every single person the know (all most). That sounds like a spontaneous family reunion to me. Or what about a convention?

Several grass roots organizations I am familiar with have volunteers scattered throughout the country. Some have only “met” on the internet or have spoken on the phone and have never met in person, despite having worked together for years. The prize would certainly help everyone come together and meet face to face. The trip could certainly act as a major think tank.

Many Hampton Inns accept pets, but check call the indvidual property first. Each hotel has its own weight requirements and fees.

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It was one of those days that just doesn’t start out quite right. I didn’t feel like making breakfast, but I felt like eating a multi-food item meal. Cereal just wouldn’t do. By the time I got rolling, breakfast was no longer served in this one horse town (okay, I’ll be honest, its a no horse town). So, I decided to go all the way into the next county where there was a gleaming, brand new IHOP. I never made it to IHOP as you can read BY CLICKING HERE.

When I finally got back home, with our new charge, I decided to walk Good Girl II (aka GiGi – not to be confused with GoodGirl I, Gillian, the Mastiff) and take Ollie, one of our two, for a walk around the perimeter of the house. All of the sudden, something fell from the sky. They stopped in their tracks and their noses were touching the same thing. G.G. and Ollie both had their ears perked up and heads cocked in youthful curiosity.

This is what I found at the end of their noses…

They did not try to bite or hurt the little one. Apparently, he/she had fallen from the tree. The little squirrel tried to run away, but only got a few feet dragging a leg. Perhaps the dogs sensed another animal in trouble or pain. I have heard of elephants trying to save baby rhions or hippos that are not their friends in the wild from tar pits or swamps before, so its not too strange I suppose for hounds to pause at a squirrel.

I called a neighbor to come out, as my hands were full with two tangled leashes and the squirrel was put in a dog carrier with a towel. We both looked at eachother and shook our heads.

Maybe it was like the scene in 101 Dalmatians where dogs passed a message along from neighborhood to neighborhood until it got to the right place…a little bird let everyone know that day that we were already off of our schedule by taking a stray in, so what’s a few more.

I remembered there was a lady I met while seeking help for a raccoon. She couldn’t help us then, but did rehabilitate squirrels, so I called her up and she came to get the little one. He/she was not full grown yet and we were hoping that it was a broken leg, which just needed time versus deeper injuries.

So, as promised, that is the story of the squirrel who fell from the sky in front of some dogs and lived to tell the tale.