It’s true: For most dogs, their barks are worse than their bites. However, according to the CDC, 4.5 million Americans get bitten each year. And each year, the number of dog bites spikes during the summer months. Both people and dogs spend more time outdoors during this time of year, which is likely the cause of the increase in bites.

The good news is that, with a little common sense and some safety strategies, dog bites are preventable. As you’re outside enjoying the warm summer air, here are five dog-bite prevention tips to remember:

1. Never, ever leave a child unattended with a dog, especially an unfamiliar dog. It seems so basic, right? But unsupervised children receive the majority of dog bites every year.
2. Most dog bites occur when a dog is frightened. So don’t approach an unfamiliar dog. Don’t get down on a dog’s level; this can be seen as threatening. Don’t run and scream and don’t ever look a dog directly in the eyes.
3. Teach children not to interrupt a dog who is eating, sleeping, or chewing on a toy. While not all dogs guard their resources, it’s better to teach children the general rule for safety.
4. Report stray dogs to animal control. I extend this rule to include reporting dogs displaying unusual or aggressive behavior. For instance, if you see a neighbor’s chained-up dog snarling and lunging at everyone who passes that part of the sidewalk, it might be worth placing a call to an animal control officer. Chains snap, and if the dog is truly aggressive, that could spell disaster. Animal control officers can educate owners and help them plan for safety.
5. Check out this video from CBS News: Dog Bites 101, which demonstrates the proper way to greet an unfamiliar dog.

Image: david_shankbone

This week we saw the two extremes of Green TV. The CW’s girls from West Bev went green in little doses, while a three week race around the world left a big carbon footprint.

Even West Bev Girls Go Green

Sometimes the eco awareness tips come between the TV shows, not on the TV shows. Such is the case with the CW’s “Go Green” campaign.

The network is running an interstitial in prime time that serves up environmentally friendly tips from shows like 90210 and Life Unexpected. Who’d have thought the egocentric Naomi would help drive home the eco-centric tip about reducing your carbon footprint by “leaving your car home twice a week?” And it’s quite possible that the footage from Life Unexpected might make teens think twice about the fact that planting a garden offsets carbon emissions by removing carbon dioxide.

The spot is tied to a larger campaign on the CW website sponsored by SC Johnson. There, a second video tells how the girls from West Bev are helping the environment by wearing vintage clothes. An uplifting and important green message, but kind of depressing when you realize their retro is 1985.

There are featured interviews with Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl and Michael Rady from 90210, who talk about ways they’ve personally gone green, provide lots of helpful environmental tips, and even include a green matching game.

If only the new Melrose Place was as entertaining.

The Amazingly Un-Eco-Friendly Race

On Sunday night, The Amazing Race crossed another final finish line. Brothers Dan and Jordan took home the top prize, but in our estimation, the loser was Mother Earth. Contestants traveled 40,000 miles across five continents leaving a huge carbon footprint in their wake.

The six finalists alone, traveled 25,000 miles per person by plane. That’s a carbon footprint of 9.2 tons each in just 23 days (an average American uses 20 tons a year). Now add in the crew and other contestants who didn’t go the distance. Plus the cars, taxis, buses, and trains they travel on, and that’s a lot of environmental damage just for a few fleeting hours of TV pleasure.

Still, the reality show did manage to be more eco-friendly this season than in years past. They limited the number of plane trips to six, as compared to as many as fifteen on previous excursions. Racers used public transportation more and they occasionally hopped on bicycles and even ox driven carts to get to some destinations.

So we’re hoping Dan and Jordan might help to offset “The Race’s” footprint. By our very rough calculations, if they use $15,000 of their one million dollar winnings to plant a few trees or donate to a wind farm, they can make The Amazing Race carbon neutral.

And maybe next season, part of the game could be to buy carbon offsets every time a plane ticket is purchased? Just a thought.

Tune in next time to see what’s cropping up on green TV.

Image Courtesy of the CBS

Read all about it! Entertainment Weekly has published the first video advert with built-in speakers to get the attention of readers conditioned to respond to screens.

A report by the BBC explains the screen is built into a wafer-thin, cardboard insert and contains an ad for Pepsi Max, as well as trailers for CBS television.

“This is an extraordinary way to refresh how we interact with consumers,” said Pepsi-Cola’s chief marketing officer, Frank Cooper.

Desperate ploy, marketing breakthrough or annoyance? The chip technology, which holds up to 40 minutes of video, is likened to those singing greeting cards which have gained popularity. They are activated when you open the card.

The cardboard can add bulk to the magazines, and some male consumer have already complained it makes it hard to roll up a journal and stick it in your pocket.

BBC News‘ Los Angeles correspondent, Rajesh Mirchandani, says the magazine advert is mounted inside a cardboard insert and is instantly distinguishable from a normal flimsy page.

“You can’t really flick through the magazine, because the 4-page insert that includes the video screen is relatively bulky,” he reports.

“And when you do open up the relevant page, the actual advert takes several seconds to load and play and that’s a lifetime’s lag in the advertiser’s world,” he added.

Magazine containing the screens have been sent to several thousand subscribers in Los Angeles and New York. Will they catch on by other magazines to save the trade? We shall see.

Some other facts about the adverts: