Why of the Wag

How to interpret some common dog tail wags.

Perhaps the most common misinterpretation of dog behavior is the myth that a dog wagging its tail is happy and friendly. While some wags are associated with happiness, others can mean fear, insecurity or even a warning that if you approach, you're apt to be bitten. Here's how to interpret some common tail wags:

A slight wag, usually seen during greetings, is a tentative "hello there" or a hopeful "I'm here."

A broad wag is friendly: "I am not challenging or threatening you." It can also mean, "I'm pleased" - the closest to the popular notion of the happy wag, especially if the tail seems to drag the hips with it.

A slow wag with tail at "half-mast" is less social than most other tail signals. Generally speaking slow wags with the tail in neither a particularly dominant (high) nor a submissive (low) position are signs of insecurity.

Tiny, high-speed wags that give the impression of the tail vibrating are signs the dog is about to do something -- usually run or fight. If the tail is held high while vibrating, it's most likely an active threat.

Stanley Coren, PETS Magazine » Continue reading

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Catch an Online Fibber

We connect with others online more than ever, making it tougher to tell when someone is lying, says communications professor Jeff Hancock of Cornell Univesity. The main tipoffs:

Wordiness: Liars use more words and details to try to sound believable. If a colleague emails from home how bad her cough sounds and how clogged her head feels, chances are she's not that sick.

Avoidding I's: Liars use more he, she, they and we pronouns than I. "We're late because the cabdriver didn't know where he was going" is more likely to be a lie than "I couldn't get a cab." » Continue reading

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Money savers for your trip

It's hip to clip. Before you leave, surf for printable coupons for attractions, hotels and restaurants.

Take a pass. Destinations such as London, Venice and Paris offer fixed-price passes for museums and attractions, allowing you access to as many as you'd like over a set period of time.

Be a guinea pig. Stay at a new resort and you may reap the benefits of special introductory rates. Check hotel's website for such offers and keep an eye on hotelchatter.com

Greet the street. How about a gratis tour guide? Cities such as Chicago have greeter programs (www.chicagogreeter.com), where a streetwise local volunteer shows you round town. Your new best friend can even show how not to get lost riding the subway.

Shop stateside. When in the US compare airfares for flights departing from your nearest airport. The price difference may make border-hopping worth it. » Continue reading

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How to Complain

You call customer service to complain about a product, and you hang up angrier than when you started. That's customer rage, a feeling experienced by millions of people with a major complaint, says Scott Broetzmann, president of an American firm that tells companies how to offer the best customer service. His secrets to getting good service:

1. Have a goal: If you want your product repaired, say so. Want an apology? Speak up.
2. Keep it short: Focus on one problem, and be succinct.
3. Stick with it: You have to invest the time it takes. Don't get what you want? Ask for a supervisor.
4. Skip ultimatums: Don't threaten not to do business with them again. Why should they help you if you won't buy from them in the future?
5. Plead you case: Many companies have information such as how much money you've spent with them and how often you complain. If you're a good customer they may be more willing to help.
6. Be nice: You're unlikely to get what you want if you're rude.

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Good ways to give bad news

Saying something someone doesn't want to hear is never easy, but these tips from The Mind Gym (Time Warner Books) will help.

• Set aside enough time and make sure you won't be interrupted--turn off your mobile at the least.
• Rehearse your opening line, but get to the point.
• Consider how you frame the news: "For a man of your age, apart from high blood pressure, you're in good shape," sounds better than, "you have hypertension, which can lead to hear disease."
• Know your facts and be prepared for questions.
• Show you care but don't mind-read or say how uncomfortable you feel. Focus on them.

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Flying long distance with kids

If you're flying with the whole family including young children, here are some tips:

Choose your in-flight entertainment. Check websites and consult a travel agent for airlines with diversionary activites such as video games. Even better, seek out those with individual in-seat audio and videeo systems with dedicated children's channels. Try Emirates and Singapore Airlines. Or take your own portable DVD or CD player and headphones with a slection of your kids' favourite shows, movies and music.

Chosse flight times carefully. If you're spending most of the time airborne at night, there's more chance your kids will sleep and less need to entertain them. If bedtime is usually 9pm, choose a flight that leaves in the late afternoon.

Don't rely on airline food, particularly for fussy eaters. Pack sandwiches, bottled water and snacks. Be careful of quarantine regulations.

Jet lag affects everyone, including toddlers, Encourage your kids to drink more water than usual. Take a stopover if you can to slowly adjust to changing time zones. » Continue reading

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Hands-free, not risk-free

It's hazardous to use a hand-held cell phone while driving, so many people turn to hands-free models. But they're also dangerous say researchers at Israel's Assaf Harofe Medical Centre. They had 41 people sit in front of a bowl, stare at the center and hit a button when they saw a light twinkle. First they took the test without distractions. Then they did it while using a speaker phone--and, on average, missed twice as many lights, "Missing one point may be important while driving," says the study's author. "That could be a car braking." To be safe, park, then chat. » Continue reading

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