Good Christmas Gift Idea

Yeah, I know, everyone is pitching Christmas present ideas at you... YAWN...

Nonetheless, here I go.

Candy and chocolate, if properly presented, can be a great present.

Usually, you run into a problem, though. Either the chocolate or candies aren't really anything special... Or the place offering it is a little "sketchy"... Or, the price tag is absolutely insane.

None of those problems here.

Cajun Country Candies Kick Butt!

Check them out.

Seriously. You can have your shopping done within five minutes!

Gold!

The Monex Deposit Company has been helping investors with precious metals for over thirty years. You can work with MDC to purchase and safely store gold and other investment-grade precious metals. They have a great track record.

Why would you want gold? As an investment, gold is uniquely attractive. It holds it value exceedingly well and tends to outperform many other investments during times of political or economic certainty. That’s why so many smart inventors make gold a part of their overall portfolio. If you aren’t adequately diversified and don’t have a stake in gold, contact MDC. They’ll be glad to help.

Dog Discussion Forum

You can find out alot about puggles and other dogs just by surfing the net and using your favorite search engine. After all, here you are.

That being said, there are a few extra-special dog resources that deserve additional attention. The Dog Forums are one of those resources.

Dog Forums is a discussion site where dog lovers and owners can get together and share information, opinion, stories and news with other canine fans. The discussion boards cover everything from common questions from new dog owners to detailed discussions about dog grooming strategies.

There's even a place to share pictures of your puggle!

If you love dogs--and you obviously do, because you are here right now--you simply must take a look at Dog Forums. It's a great example of the net at its best--people with a common interest sharing their joy and knowledge. Check it out!

Letting the net name your puggle...

Most of like to name our own dogs. One person, however, decided to let complete strangers help in coming up for a name for a new puggle puppy.

Yahoo's 7Answers site features a person asking for input on naming a new puggle. But there is a catch. As strange as it might sound, they want to name the cute pup after the popular country music act, The Dixie Chicks.

Ever wonder what a stranger from cyberspace would name your puppy if you put that guideline down and left the door open for suggestions? Probably not, but it makes good reading.

Excerpt:

"I'm getting a male puppy tomorrow and want to name him after the Dixie Chicks. Random, yes. However, I'm having trouble coming up with what to call him. So far, I've come up with: Banjo, Dixie, Maines, Earl, Martie, and Cowboy. What are your thoughts or ideas? I'm also considering Atticus, but that's kind of a hard name for a little guy. THANKS!"

NOTE: It looks like some of the responses have been removed due to some criticism of purchasing a puggle in the first place. Odd things happen during odd discussions, I suppose.

Nice puggle overview...

Animaroo has a nice overview of the puggle dog breed that's worth a read from anyone who wants to learn some of the basics about these amazing animals.

In addition to providing a solid encapsulation of the breed, its appearance and tendencies, the article also notes that puggles became the most popular "designer dog" breed after the 2005 media attention that was paid to them.

Excerpt:

"Puggle owners praise the personality of the breed as its most valuable pet trait. They are playful animals and clown-like in disposition. They tend to have short bursts of energy, then quickly tire, take a short nap, then want to play again. These playful tendencies can make them slow to train, and may also manifest in hyperactivity (a trait common to both Beagles and Pugs)."

Check out the whole story here.

Building Link Popularity

Search engines are the #1 way people find your website. If you rank high for keywords related to your products or services, you can get a ton of potential customers. The trick, obviously, is figuring out how to get to the top of the search results.

The search engines utilize algorithms that consider numerous factors when ranking sites. One of the most important factors is the number of inbound links. Inbound links are perceived as votes of confidence from others for your site and the search engines reward those with a great deal of apparent authority in a subject, as evidenced by links, with better placement.

Many experts maintain that the sheer quantity of inbound links to your site is incredibly important in getting toward the top. Link popularity is a key to better search engine result placement.

There are many ways to increase the number of inbound links to your site. You can try to organize trades, come up with some sort of great link bait to encourage organic linkings, or you can take an easier, more efficient route. Blogitive will take the information you supply about your site and hand it over to as many bloggers as you can imagine. Those bloggers, in turn, will write about you and will link back to your site. Tons of inbound links in a hurry. Sounds good, huh?

Jake G. and his puggle, Boo Radley, act charitably...

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is one of many celebrities who have fallen under the spell of puggles, the world's cutest dogs. His puggle is named Boo Radley and, by all accounts, the two are nearly inseparable.

They don't just spend time playing fetch and getting belly rubs, though. Jake and Boo are also philanthropic.

A recent fundraiser for the Mississippi Animal Rescue League featured an auction for celebrity-autographed wooden dog bones. The cut-outs, which also featured a paw print from the celebrity pup. The AP said:

"...some celebrities included personal messages or photos with the bones.

Gyllenhaal has often been photographed walking his dogs, Atticus, a German Shepherd, and Boo Radley, a puggle. The actor's autograph was accompanied by his dogs' paw prints, Nutt said."

Sounds like a great cause and a great collectible. Jake and Boo weren't the only big names involved. Dog owners ranging from John Travolta to James Caan participated with their pooches.

I read the AP report at The Cincinatti Enquirer. Feel free check it out here.

Lengthy puggle potty training discussion contains great insight...

If you have a puggle and are struggling to train him or her with respect to elimination, take heart. You are not alone.

Although puggles are CLEARLY the cutest and most spectacular pets of all time, they can be tricky to potty train. I stumbled upon this Yahoo! Answers page about puggle potty-training and thought I would pass it along to Puggle Palace readers.

The OP mentions the problems they've been having with training their puggle to go outside. They know what they are doing, as they have successfully trained other dogs in the past. They want to know if there is hope for successful training and are open to suggestions.

You might want to read the conversation just to learn more about puggles and their habits. Or, you might have a great hint to add to the discussion. Either way, you can check it out here.

Puggle owner's bane...The dirty carpet...

Having a pet puggle usually means needing an eventual carpet cleaning. Those cuties do have occasional accidents and even the most stain-resistant floor coverings eventually succumb to the stresses and messes of puggle ownership.

Although you could rent a do-it-yourself carpet cleaner, you will probably get better results by hiring a professional carpet service. Bringing in the big guns insures a cleaner carpet. The pros have better equipment, a greater selection of stain removal products and carpet treatments, and years of experience.

Compare and contrast these two options. You can spend a few bucks at your local grocery store to rent a carpet cleaner and to buy some cleaning products for it. You can then schlep that equipment home, spend the day scrubbing at your rugs and experience potentially mediocre results.

Alternatively, you can call someone like A-1 Carpet Services, Inc. This Arizona operation will come out with their commercial-grade gear, clean your carpet until it looks like new, and will even guarantee their work. A-1's been around for over fifty years and offers an amazing policy where they state that you will get the best carpet cleaning you've experienced or you won't have to pay a dime.

Better cleaning. Fewer hassles. A quality guarantee.

Obvious choice, puggle owners. If you need to clean the carpets, call a pro!

Philly Puggles fetching $425 per pup...

A recent listing at Philly.com features puggles for sale. The little cuties are available for $425.00 each. I am not vouching for the listing or the supplier, and the primary reason I am pointing out the ad is because it includes a super-adorable puggle picture I haven't seen before.

However, $425 does sound like a pretty good idea for those in the Philly area who want to add a puggle to their lives. That is certainly a lot less expensive than the going rate for puggles in the recent past and elsewhere. So, it could warrant some additional investigation. The ad, in part, proclaims:

"Puggle Pups, Cute as a button. We have fawn males & females and black females available. They are always up to date on shots & wormed. They always come with a health guarantee."

You can see the aforementioned picture of a cute little puggle pup and read the whole "puggles for sale" advertisement here, at Philly.com.

Virtual Puggles! Puggles hit the video game scene...

According to the folks at WorthPlaying, new add-on features for the popular "The Sims 2" video game include a pet package that allows "sims" to own, train and interact with pets that can be custom designed.

The article referencing this nifty video game intervention even mentions puggles by name. You can design and play with a virtual puggle now!

If you are a Sims fan or are just crazily intrigued by the idea of owning and raising your own digitized puggle instead of the real thing, you simply must check out this article about the game and the pet add-on.

I'll be honest, I have never played The Sims, although the idea has always been interesting. It's neat to see that the game becomes increasingly well-rounded and realistic with additions like this one.

It's even better that Sims will finally have a chance to stare at their own ultra-cute puggles!

Here is the original article, if you are interested.

Educating yourself via the 'net...

So, you think you know something about US-based colleges, huh? Here's one for you... Name the school headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota that has total student enrollment of around 16,000 and offers over 75 degree programs (both bachelors and graduate options)...

Give up? It's Capella University. Capella has been operating since 1993 and continues to offer its students from all around the US and the world an opportunity for a great online education. If you are considering a graduate degree in information technology, want to get your business degree online, or are looking for a good way to secure a four-year degree without the hassles of the traditional college experience, you might want to give Capella a ring (toll free) at 888-CAPELLA.

Capella University isn't just some shady online "school" that doesn't hold up under scrutiny. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and boasts membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Distance learning is growing in popularity and Capella University has been, and remains, on the cutting edge of this exciting development.

Number Six? Puggle in the Six Slot? Unbelievable.

I stumbled upon this random blog by some person who is totally kicking it blogger old school. You know, back in the day, blogs were just crazy personal journals where people would share Whatever with Whoever without a real consistent theme or anything, etc. That is so totally the case with this one.

Anyway, it featured a list of the top ten types of dogs. Puggles came in at #6. SIXTH, you gotta be kidding. Maybe like #1? That might be a little more reasonable, don't you think?

Hey, how could rank a puggle, the cutest of all of God's creations, behind the brandy-toting, slobbering St. Bernard? Be real.

To the listmaker's credit, he/she does note that the blog's about opinion, not fact. The opinion re: the Awesomeness of Puggles, however is wrong.

#1, people. Puggles are CLEARLY #1!

Oscar the Puggle

Wanna see a picture of a puggle? How about a picture of Oscar the Puggle?

This blogger's friends ordered the seventeen-inch super-pup and fell in love with him.

You will undoubtedly see why immediately after clicking the link provided above and visiting the photo of this mega-cute puggle pup.

The entry mentioned that they expected Oscar to be a little shorter. Personally, I think seventeen inches is probably around the puggle size average, but it might be leaning a little bit to the big side of the spectrum for a pup of this one's age. In any case, he is fabulously cute!

Considering funeral flowers...

We usually think of flowers as pleasant, beautiful diversions from the daily grind. There is, however, a degree of stress involved in nature's beauties, too. Selecting the right flowers for a special occasion can be really trying. It's never more difficult than when you need to choose funeral flowers.

You only have a single chance to say goodbye and to express your condolences, and that makes picking the right arrangement very important and, sometimes, stressful. Dot Flowers can make it easier. They make an extra effort, providing great arrangements and making sure everything gets where it needs to go on schedule. Dot Flowers takes some of the difficulty out of a tough decision.

Some thoughts about everybody's favorite precious metal, gold...

Gold has been a valuable commodity for as long as anyone can remember. It's been used as a currency, to back state-issued currencies and as a standalone investment. Gold remains a favored investment among those looking to diversify their portfolios with a solid performer that retains value regardless of surrounding political and economic circumstances.

The Monex Deposit Company, MDC, has over 30 years of experience in helping gold investors. They can provide an opportunity for investors to purchase gold. MDC can arrange for personal delivery of the precious metal or storage in an appropriately secure repository. Those considering gold as part of their investment strategy should consider what MDC has to offer.

Angel Ashes -- Lasting Tributes to Loved Pets

None of us like to think about the passing of our pets, but if such a thing should occur, we should be prepared. I think most of us would like to have a genuine, lasting tribute to our beloved pets. Places like Angel's Ashes, which specializes in pet urns, can help create that special memorial. Angel's Ashes offers an amazing array of pet memorials. After looking at their product selection, I was immediately convinced that Angel's Ashes is a quality operation, not an exploiter of grief. If you need a pet urn or some other memorial, I would recommend beginning the search at Angel's Ashes.

The idea of researching pet urns and memorials may not seem very uplifting, but a bit of consideration and preparedness will make things easier if the time for such action should come.

If you have any doubts as to the sincerity and quality of the products and information offered, check out this article on pet cremation. It's a fact-rich article that will help you to decide if pet cremation is the right route for you to follow.

An online bathroom shop with an amazing tap selection...

It's definitely the age of specialization. There are online stores focusing on all sorts of specific needs. Taps4Less.com is a perfect example. As the name suggests, Taps4Less is all about providing taps for bathroom tubs, showers and sinks (they also do kitchens). It's the perfect example of how to "do specialization right."

Taps4Less features a clean design and an absolutely amazing array of products. From designer taps to minimalist and traditional looks, they seem to have any plumbing tap a person could possibly want.

Taps4Less does handle other related products, but their focus is clearly on taps. By wrangling a great assortment of taps and making them easy to review and compare, they represent a perfect example of how to handle a specialized business online. Kudos to the tap people!

Victims Compensation Fund Case

As if it wouldn't be bad enough to lose a loved one in the 9/11 tragedy, imagine suffering that loss and then having an attorney demand $2 million from you for representation before the federally-established Victims Compensation Fund--a no-fault fund designed to make assisting those with claims receive adequate compensation. That's what happened to one 9/11 widow and she fought back. She hired Simmons, Jannace & Stagg to argue against the attorney's action. In waht is apparently the first federal court decision involving the fund and the issue of attorney fees, Simmons, Jannace and Stagg have successfully stayed the lawyer's efforts to collect the $2 million.

So, you want to make more moolah at work, right?

So, you want to make more moolah at work, right? Understandable. One of the best ways to qualify yourself for the big pay raise is to increase your value to the company by increasing the size and scope of your knowledge base. Adding a few extra initials via acquisition of an advanced degree is a great way to move up the corporate food chain. You can secure your ms, ma or mba online affordably and conveniently from one of many accredited distance learning schools.

Capella University, for instance, is approaching its 15th year in the internet learning biz. Headquartered out of Minnesota, Capella serves over fifteen thousand students from all over the world. They offer a massive selection of degrees and specialized certifications. I suppose you could go crazy, re-enroll at a traditional school, pay insance tuition prices, buy overpriced texts, go to class on some arbitrary schedule and get your mba that way. Personally, doing if from the comfort of my keyboard sounds better to me.

Spears--sharp dressed boy

Personalized baby gifts make most parent go "Awwwww...." They love 'em. Britney Spears, however, is not most parents. Her tastes tend to run in a different direction. For instance, baby t-shirts at a trendy LA clothing store. She spent a good portion of time during a recent half-hour shopping spree checking out the baby t-shirts, according to at least one newspaper.

Her taste for the more expensive variations on the Garanimals theme is having an impact. Her boy, Sean Preston, recently cracked Esquire's best-dressed list. No word on whether he'll be posing with or without this season's hottest accessories for the younger set--sane parents and a seat belt.

Stock options trading note...

Your portfolio would seem a little better if more of those stocks were paying dividends, huh? Hey, it's understandable. Although you love the long term growth of your investment, you certainly wish you could generate some dividend-like cash flow at the same time. Well, unless you worm your way into the boardroom you cannot make anyone hand out the dividend checks. You can, however, sell stock options and get cash instantly. Basically, you sell an option to buy your stock to a 3rd party when it reaches a certain level. You get paid for the option right away. It's a great means of getting that immediate income, but it does require some know-how. PowerOptions is a great source of tools and information for the person who wants to investigate stock options trading.

Car insurance notes

Here's a safety idea for women travelling alone. You can buy a blow up doll of a full-sized male companion. They call it "buddy on demand," and a car insurance company called Sheila's Wheels is offering it. Interesting notion! That site is also a great place to find the right car insurance quote for every state in the U.S. Shopping for quotes can save you money and give you a good look at all the choices you have from different providers. The site provides a ton of information and a great way to save a great deal of money on your insurance.

CREDIT CARDS

Driving along on vacation, far from home, and you get a flat. Slip on the donut, hit the next service station and wait for repairs. Have enough cash on you? Maybe not. Think they are gonna take your check? Think again. This is the world of plastic, folks, and we all live there. If you don't have a credit card, even a simple repair job gets tough. A credit card is necessary for buying things online or over the phone. It's also a handy way of making catalog orders, hotel reservations, etc. It's critical to a flexible lifestyle. However, tons of people go through an endless amount of hassle every day because they don't have a credit card.

Luckily, there are site that let you know about the various credit card options out there and even give you a way to check out the applications online. The best of these credit card sites dont force anything on you--there's no obligation, just information. Take a look and improve the quality of your life ASAP by considering getting one of the best credit cards.

Andrea Says "PUGGLE" Eleven Times

And for good reason! This wonderful picture of a puggle puppy at Andrea's blog is insanely cute! It's no wonder her title features the P-word repeated eleven times!

This is an irresitible puggle, for sure. Eventually, I will nominate members for the Cute Puggle Picture Hall of Fame, and this litle wonder-fuzz has to be a front-runner for a spot!

As one of her commenters noted, "That is quite possibly the cutest dog I've ever seen. :)"

Fantastically Cute Puggle Pictures

Check out these snapshots of a Grade-A honey of a puggle. This little beauty is SOOOOOooo photogenic it is downright unbelievable!

The original source doesn't have much to say...Just provides a couple of cute puggle photos.

Hey, that's enough to justify a thumbs-up from the Puggle Palace!

Jane D'Oh on Puggles

It's an interesting post... Here's an excerpt:

"What is our dilemma, you ask? We found out this weekend that there was a puppy in need of a home. A couple of empty nesters with too much disposable income and too little intelligence bought themselves a Puggle when they moved into a flashy new condo this year. For those of you not in the know, the Puggle is the newest trendy designer hybrid dog (read: mutt). It is a cross between a Pug and a Beagle, and thanks to a few empty headed Hollywood B-listers and some unscrupulous puppy mills who have the audacity to call themselves breeders, it is the new must-have “It” dog. This means that, while thousands of sweet, wonderfuls dogs are euthanized in shelters each day in this country (both mutts and purebreds), vapid assholes like Jake Gyllenhaal are parading their $1000 living accessories around on the talk show circuit ensuring that more irresponsible fools will purchase these dogs."

You should read it, it makes some strong arguments against the current state of the Puggle world and how the unscrupulous and foolish have done some very wrong things.

However, I think that Jane misplaces a bit of the blame. You can't say that Jake Gyllenhaal can't enjoy his puggle or that James Gandolfini should have chosen a different breed because OTHER people are idiots. The responsibility isn't with the celebrity owners so much as it is with people who have no business having a puggle--or any other dog for that matter.

Puggle-ising the issue is a little unfair. As Jane notes, the shelters are already full of dogs because of owner irresponsibility. This is not a problem unique to puggles. It's a problem inherent in our culture that allows dogs to be treated as if meaningless and those who take them on without understanding responsibility.

Overall, though, it's a great read and you can find it here.

FURNITURE

Right now, there is a very strong likelihood you are sitting in a chair. When is the last time you really thought about that chair? If you are like many people, you take furniture for granted, in a way. The story of furniture runs parallel to the story of humanity. From ancient Egypt to modern studios, master artisans have been creating functional works of art in the form of furniture. Today's furniture has roots in ancient traditions but also reflects our evolving sensibilities, tastes, and knowledge of optimal ergonomics. We don't think about furniture alot, but there is a lot to think about! That is why furniture buyers should look at entities like BFO--Best Furniture Online. The experts at BFO are committed to providing quality furnishings at the lowest possible prices while maintaining great customer service. Whether you need a new living room set or a few folding chairs, you should take a look at BFO.

Blue Eyed Puggle?

The picture is a little out of focus, but it appears to be a very cute blue-eyed puggle. Hmmm...

Anyway, it is a puggle picture, and that is what everyone wants. Who can blame them?

This may sound crazy, but I will risk it. Occasionally, if I feel a little glum or down, I just look at pictures of puggles and the next thing I know, I feel a little better. I remember hearing this deal on the radio once about a guy who wanted to have a cable channel that just featured footage of puppies playing and frolicking with a little classical background music because watching puppies just makes people feel good. Nice idea.

Anyway, here is the puggle picture. Enjoy!

Puggle Picture So Cute You Might Faint

This is an awesome picture of a puggle puppy sitting on some pink satin. It is so amazingly cute that you may not be able to handle it. You may need protective eyewear. You might want to put pillows on the ground for when you fall out of your chair, overtaken by the sweetness and cuteness of this amazing puggle picture.

Pictures of puggles are always nice, but occasionally one just really tugs at the heartstrings. This is such a photo.

See it here, if you can handle its magnificence!

Puggle Kidnapped! HORRIBLE!

Kidnapped, dognapped, pugglenapped? I don't know. But no matter how you say it, it is a raw deal.

Charlie the puggle has apparently been kidnapped according to "Elephant in Exile."

Excerpt:

"Sad news from DC. My neighbor's dog Charley the Puggle has been kidnapped. Charley is a laugh riot, he's always out and about when I'm working the back yard and follows me along the fence line. From time to time he'll even bring his toys over so we can play. He's too cute."

Even more disturbing is the idea that the puggle might have been taken for use in some sort of twisted dog fight.

Read and lament here.

Sweet Puggle Picture -- Wearing a Hat

Not just any hat, either. This puggle picture features a puny cutie puggle wearing a black graduation hate. Apparently, the puggle baby made it throught obedience school. Check out the puggle and its owner in this photo here.

By the way, that cute puggle photo came from the owner's blog, which you can read here.

Leave messages with her. Encourage her to provide more photos of her puggle! :-)

Puggle by Air

"Finally, I spotted a big crate on the floor, plastered with stickers stating "Live Animals" and "This Way Up." We opened the crate to see if Lucy wanted to come out to say hi, but she just looked grumpy and didn't want to move. The agent at the counter was nice enough to give her some water, which she didn't touch. We decided not to add more stress to an already stressful day for her, so we sealed up the crate and carried her to the car. Stef headed off with the dog."

So goes the neato keeno story about this family and their acquisition of an awesome puggle puppy. The story is a great read for any puggle fan and it features some tremor-inducing cute puggle pictures that you have to look at!

That excerpt is from The Fun Zone and you can read it here.

Puggle celebrates birthday...

I can only assume the "Puggle" in question is an amazingly cute puggle dog...

"Although I sometimes find his boundless energy exhausting, Puggle brings me so much joy, both from what he does, and from how he makes me see the world anew."

Read more about the pooch and his 2nd birthday here!

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Today, it is tough to imagine a Christmas without old St. Nick. That wasn’t always the case. In fact, the giving symbol of today’s holidays was once in decline. During the 16th century Protestant Reformation, Christianity started to look away from the Saints and gift-giving traditions involving St. Nicholas were under scrutiny and attack. Of course, as we all now, he weathered the storm and has since descended down millions of chimneys with loads of goodies. His holiday status was cemented by the 19th century poem “The Night Before Christmas” and his popularity has been on the rise ever since. St. Nick isn’t the only one handing out Christmas gifts, though. We all do a little giving. One of the best gifts is a gift basket. They make them to meet anyone’s needs and they can even be custom designed. Ho, ho, ho… Take a lesson from the long-lasting Saint and hand out some Christmas cheer in the form of a gift basket.

SILVER

Check this out. Gas used to be four gallons for a buck. Back in those days, our U.S. currency was backed by real silver. Not any more. However, the same amount of silver still buys the same amount of gas! See where this is going? Even though the buying power of our paper money has declined, the value of silver has managed to avoid that fate. This is one reason why people like to diversify their investment portfolios with precious metals--especially in uneasy economic and political times. There are companies out there like Monex, who has been giving advice to those with an interest in precious metals for nearly forty years, who can help you find the best way to make silver part of your financial planning and investment strategy.

WEDDING EXPENSES

So, you are ready to get hitched? The engagement might just be the most critical time in terms of having a great wedding! That’s because the time between agreeing to be husband and wife and sealing the deal represents your window of opportunity to save for the big day.

It used to be that you could count on the bride’s family picking up the wedding tab, but that tradition is rapidly disappearing. The groom’s family is often in on the act these days, as is the couple themselves.

The trick is to find out how much money you can expect from the two families, how much your wedding is going to cost and then how you can come up with the difference. In order to avoid weddings that lack the essentials because of poor planning, it is important to approach this matter carefully.

Did you know that the average 150-guest wedding is currently pricing out at almost $25K? That represents a great deal of savings ground to cover during an engagement, depending upon parental support levels. You will have to find a way to pay for everything from wedding cameras to the officiant to the cake to the bride’s gown!

If you aren’t good with budgeting, now is the time to learn some skills.

It can be a daunting task, but it can be done! Millions of people are married each and every year, after all. You will simply need to approach the matter seriously and carefully while never losing track of what is truly important.

GPS HANDHELD

Hey, here's a chance to take advantage of the information gathered by the federal government. Anyone who likes to hit the water can get free downloads of the NOAA's RNCs. That's a lot of acronym, huh? The raster navigational charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide all of the navigational data one needs to be a safe mariner. The NOAA is always updating the charts, too. You can check out their site for the newest RNCs. Northeast Marine Electronics can help you put those charts to use, by the way. They specialize in all of the boating, fishing, camping and hiking gear anyone could ever need, inclusing some great GPS Handheld devices and Furuno Fish Finders.

AN ADVERTISING NOTE

Hi. This blog will occasionally feature entries that are written for advertising purposes. These posts will be clearly indicated by the use of the graphic found on this post. Many don't care for advertising, and that is completely understandable. Hopefully, by clearly marking the commercial posts the reading experience of those who prefer an ad-free environment will be disrupted less. Thank you.

Puggle Owner Investment Idea...

Puggles are expensive. They are so incredibly popular that many puggle owners have dropped well into four figure country to secure one of the ultra cute puppies! All you have to do is look at a picture of puggle to know why! They are spectacular little suckers.

My point, though, is that if you own a puggle you probably have a little disposable income. After all, the dog didn't come cheap. And I have just learned about something everyone who has a little money to invest should be aware of... It's why so many investors buy silver bullion.

Apparently, silver holds it value very well and actually increases in value during turbulent or uncertain economic and political times (like now, maybe?). Anyway, this has led a lot of investment advisors to recommend holding precious metals like silver bullion as part of an overall wealth building strategy.

Not a bad plan! And one of the outfits that can you effectuate the scheme is Monex. They have been helping investors with precious metals for neary forty years and have dealth with over 100,000 people who understood the value of holding precious metals.

So, if you have puggle money, you probably have investments. And a good one, based on what I have seen is silver and other precious metals.

Buy a Puggle with Car Insurance Savings? Why Not?

Puggle's ain't cheap, but car insruance can be. Cheap car insurance doesn't even require making a dozen phone calls to different outfits in order to find a deal. All it takes is hooking up with a site like carinsurance.com who can compare all of the different options out there for you, allowing you to save a load of money.

Speaking of car insurance, GEICO (one of the big boys in the industry) put out this handy report about ways to avoid getting your car stolen that everyone should find and read. It has a lot of good information about simple things you can do to decrease the risk of theft and even some advanced strategies I had never even thought of (like having your VIN etched in the glass of your windows). California is the car theft capital of the USA (if not the world), but everyone is at some level of risk and should take a look at some pointers to protect themselves.

Oh, and you might be able to save enough money on car insurance by comparison shopping to afford a new puggle if you don't have one already!

When Leaving Your Puggle Behind Can Get VERY tempting...

I am considering taking a vacation, and would love to go to Hawaii. I don't know if Hawaiians are all into puggles yet, like the rest of it, but I have always wanted to go there. I found this new website from this established group called Gebhart Properties that rents out top-drawer condos and vacation properties and my mouth is watering. I am seriously thinking about a Maui Condo and break!

They have a three-bedroom place that is over 2500 square feet at the Mahana at Kaanapali Resort that is completely tricked out to produce a great vacation. Everything from an ocean view to a complete gourmet kitchen is right there. The places features some great Hawaiian art, too. Three bathrooms and room for six. Wow.

They also have a 2 bedroom place in Old Lahaina that is within thirty feet of the beach. This second floor condo looks incredible. I doubt Gebhart would be too keen on anyone taking puggles into these vacation dream homes, but it might be worth leaving the little fella behind (at a great kennel or with a loving person) for a few weeks and taking a Hawaiian vacation.

On second thought...

My conscious just got the best of me on that last post...A puggle in a basket is probably not the best idea for a gift for an assortment of reasons. There, I admitted it. But you do have to admit that a puggle in a basket would be just about the 3rd cutest thing ever, right?

Well, don't give your mom a puggle puppy. Instead, get her some beautiful and more logical Mothers Day flowers!

Great idea...

You know those gift baskets people give to their mom's on Mothers Day? Yeah, of course you do. Well, here's my great idea... Instead of like a regular one, you make up a gift basket with a puggle in it. I mean, really, a puggle pup is just the right size for a gift basket and what mom wouldn't want one?

Yeah, I know... Some wouldn't. But, it that was my mom's opinion I wouldn't be getting her anything in the first place. Gotta be pro-puggle to roll with me!

PUGGLE VIDEO online!!!!

Hey, I have given you the links for many puggle pictures, but now I bring you....puggle video!

It's from a Boston CBS affiliate who was running a standard-issue "puggles are the hottest dogs in the world" type story. No award winning investigative journalism. Things like:

"So, how much will you pay for a Puggle? A year ago, $500 to $700. Today, it will cost $1,200 because they are hard to find.

There are also Schnoodles for sale, which are a cross between a Schnauser and a Poodle. But they are not on the A list. Right now, that's just for Puggles."

But, the site features actual video of their pro-puggle piece. And that video features some great looking puggle video! puggles? videos? what are you waiting for. GO HERE and see for yourself!

Disturbing Puggle News

According to a New York Post article:

"A severely disabled boy and his sister were traumatized after a Brooklyn pet store sold their family a pair of sick puggle puppies, which had to be euthanized just weeks after becoming part of their Chelsea home, the family of the children claim."

They are suing the allegedly evil guy who sold them the sick dogs for the cost of unsuccessful medical treatment and the grief, etc. caused by the loss.

If their story is true, I congratulate them!

Sometimes nasty hucksters need to be reminded that their callous attempts at turning a buck really have meaningful and painful impacts for victims.

I love puggles like you wouldn't believe, and it sorrows me that anyone is breeding and peddling sick puggles who become part of a loving home and then pass away.

What a shame!

You can read the whole story here.

Great Jewelry Site

Take a look at this diamond jewelry website. Their prices and selection are among the best I've seen on the web. They have a money-back guarantee and offer free shipping. They also have some very nice and unique key rings.

Blog post sponsored by Blogging Ads

Puggle Picture: Happy Puggle Pup Playing

Someone got a cute snapshot of their puggle hopping around having a lot of fun.

Just goes to show you that puggles can have pretty big tongues!

Anyway, I know my day would not be complete without a puggle picture. A day without pictures of puggles is like a day without sunshine, I say.

Check out this puggle photo here.

Puggle Mentioned

Found a little article that mentioned puggles. And, as I am dedicated to providing puggle news all the time, I thought I would pass it on.

Here is a snippet:

"The upsides of getting such a dog are that cross-breeds tend to be healthier because they come from a more varied genetic background. But on the other hand you can’t always expect that you’re going to get the best genetic traits from both breeds in any individual pup."

As you can tell, the piece is pro-puggle. The author also cautions against buying a puggle just because they are so popular right now.

Read more about puggles. Here is the source material.

Celebrity Puggle Sitings-- Puggle Pictures

Found a site with several pictures of Jake Gyllenhaal with his puggle, Boo Radley. Does that name sound familiar? It should if you are a reader. As the site explains,

"Jake Gyllenhaal has a German shepherd named Atticus and a new trendy dog-hybrid puggle (pug + beagle) named Boo Radley. Jake Gyllenhaal named German Shepherd Atticus and puggle Boo Radley after characters from his favorite novel, To Kill a Mockingbird."

If you want to take a look at Jake's puggle pup, just go here.

Puggle from Portland: Depressed Despite Sausages

Apparently, the people at the Portland Mercury added a puggle to their staff. Unfortunately, this puggle puppy named Marshall seems to be a little depressed.

"Marshall is a 15-month-old puggle (pug/beagle breed) who has suffered from acute mental depression since the age of eight weeks. His current symptoms are as follows: listlessness, low energy, general malaise, excessive sleeping, indifference to dogs of the opposite sex, and unexplained pooping in the Mercury's lobby."

The folks at the paper decided to treat the puggles depression by offering him a can of Vienna sausages.

The results were unsuccessful.

If you want to read about puggle psychology, done in a very amusing tongue in cheek manner, you should check out the tale (or is it tail) of Marshall the Depressed Puggle here.

Puggle Popularity Detailed

A Central New Jersey news source ran a great article about the increasing popularity of puggle dogs. Now that the holidays have passed, puggles are still the "in" dog. Puggle popularity remains high!

Here is an excerpt:

"People laughed at Lisa Russo last year when she decided to breed her female beagle with her male pug.

"Everyone made fun of me," the Toms River resident recalls. "And then, in November, when Snoopy (her beagle) had her puppies, all the news stories on the puggles came out."

Now it's Russo who's having the last laugh — when she isn't busy answering her phone. Several advertisements for her litter of seven puggle puppies — three black like their dad and four fawn like their mom, all with wrinkled pug faces and floppy beagle ears and tails — have yielded her countless requests for the newest designer dog, each at $800 a pop."

Puggle Popularity Piece