BuzzSugar

Movie Night: Presidential Movies

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 05:00:47 PST

In my opinion, there are two reasons to celebrate this Monday's President's Day holiday. One, of course, is that it's a three-day weekend, and the other is that there are so many great movies whose stories revolve around U.S. presidents. Hence, I'm devoting this week's themed Movie Night to some of my favorite presidential movies.

The American President
Michael Douglas makes for a solid, dependable, and intelligent U.S. President in this film about romance, Oval Office-style. Douglas plays President Andrew Shepherd, the most powerful man in the world. When he asks the smart, lovely lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) out on a date, tongues start wagging, and the President's approval ratings plummet. It's situations like these that test a President, and the choices made can turn a good President into... a great one. (Cheesiness fully intended).

Two more, so

Wag The Dog
The extremely awesome combination of Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro in this film is enough to make it a favorite. But tack on a crazy plot that highlights the sordid relationship between politics and the media, and my mind is officially blown. DeNiro plays Conrad Brean, White House spin-doctor who joins forces with Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Hoffman) in creating a fake war to cover up a Presidential sex scandal. There is something deeply unsettling about the film - despite it's dark humor - which is, I think, the point.

All The President's Men
The President is merely a takedown target in this high-minded and high-tension political thriller, which traces the breaking of the Watergate scandal. Once again, Dustin Hoffman plays one-half of a dynamic duo - this time as Carl Bernstein to Robert Redford's Bob Woodward. Though the movie is pretty much required viewing for every journalism-school grad, it's also an intensely riveting and even instructive movie than any film buff will find irresistible.

Source, Source, and Source

Walk, Don't Talk: Follow My Lead to Keep Other Dogs at Bay

PetSugar — Tue, 31 May 2011 05:40:42 PDT

If you've ever dealt with a pup with leash aggression, I know this issue tugs at you. Even the most wiggly, happily wagging tail dog can turn into a whole different animal when approached by another pet on leash. While it's easy to say - directed at the dog, but loud enough for the other person to hear - "No, we can't say 'hi' right now" - there are a few nonverbal signals you can give, or read, when it comes to an on the street meet 'n greet:

Shorten a leash. The quickest way to let a stranger know to keep her dog away is if you quickly shorten the leash, either a retractable, or grabbing the standard lead in a spot closer to the dog's collar with the opposite hand (as seen here). Likewise, you can simply scoop up a small pooch. Both signals let others know that you would prefer to keep your pet closer to you.

Change hands. If you're walking with a dog closest to other pedestrians, simply position the dog on the opposite side of the approaching dog so it's harder for the pup to see and attempt to tug towards the other dog, putting more distance between them.
Cross the street. Another option is to cross the street entirely, or walk and stop in between parked cars until the person passes by, eliminating any contact whatsoever.

Geeky Costumes For Your Dog

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:18:16 PDT

Halloween may be the time to get all dolled up and head out with your pals for a night of debauchery, but what about your four-legged BFF? No need to leave your dog at home - there are a number of costumes for pets that will show off your geeky side and send tails wagging as you trick-or-treat. No elaborate AT-AT crafting required.

7 Reasons to Choose a Running Partner With Four Legs

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:56:53 PDT

Every time I run, I run with my dog. I started taking him on the trails as a pup because if I didn't, he'd eat my flip-flops. Then I came to realize that he's the best running partner I've ever had. Here are seven reasons you should bring your dog (or borrow a friend's) when you head out for a run.

Since our K9 pals are always in the mood to run, no matter what, you have a guaranteed running buddy every time you want to work out. Plus they won't make excuses about PMS cramps or feeling too tired to run. They also never complain about bugs, the heat, or their sore feet.
A doggie running partner will encourage you to run outside in the fresh air, which beats fighting the crowds at the gym for a treadmill.
Your pooch will encourage you to exercise regularly. There's no denying those sad puppy-dog eyes when you contemplate skipping a run.
Running with Sparky will also allow you to run in places or during times of the day that you wouldn't feel safe running alone. Even if your dog wouldn't hurt a fly, suspecting predators don't know that. A person or animal will think twice about approaching a woman running with a dog.
You'll meet fellow runners and dog lovers. It's inevitable that you'll come across other people running with their dogs, and when you stop to let your pooches sniff hello, you might get to talking and find a new running buddy.
Your dog needs exercise too. Not only does a regular running routine benefit you, but your four-legged buddy will also reap the rewards including healthy body weight, strong, limber muscles, and better sleep.
Dogs love running, and they wag their tails and bound over rocks in excitement. Their playful attitude and calm stride will rub off on you, especially on days when your feet feel like lead. Fido will remind you to find the joy in running, and when you're having fun, you're more likely to run longer.