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The American Veterinary Medical Association kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Week today. With an estimated 70 million dogs in the United States, a reported 4 million people are bitten or scratched by dogs each year, meaning about 5 percent of dogs are involved in injuries to humans. In fact, “Dogs Bite: But Balloons and Slippers are More Dangerous,” by Janis Bradley, covers important aspects of dog bites through reporting the relevant research.

When the Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center is asked to find a home for a dog that has seriously injured a person, we have to refuse. It’s so important for owners to understand the basics of dog behavior to prevent dog bites, we offer these pointers to all who care about the future of their dogs.

Train your dog. Many dog bites occur because dogs are in situations they don’t understand. Teach your dog “leave it” so that it can be expected not to grab, and consider tucking dogs away during busy activities that can expose dogs to strangers and open doors.

Supervise your dog. Even if your dog is responsive to your direction, you have to be there to ensure it knows what to do.

Set household guidelines. Expect everyone at home to respect the dog’s rules. Bites are often reported when visiting children carry a small dog, take food from a dog or try to ride or dress up a dog they have just met. Children who live with a dog may not understand their friends will be perceived differently.

Animal Control officers recorded more than 750 bites in Frederick County last year. This includes injuries to people including scratches from many pets (cats, dogs, rabbits and other small mammals) so for the most part, Frederick dog owners are doing a great job keeping dogs safe. You can find out more about preventing dog bites at avma.org/events.

Want to learn more about the Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center? Join us today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for our annual Open House. Activities include animals available for adoption, pet-friendly vendors and rescues, canine deportations, kids activities, a yard sale and refreshments.

We hope to see you there!

The post Pets and People appeared first on WTOP.

To the sponsors, volunteers and participants of the Operation Paws for Homes Fast & Furriest 5K on April 12, the results are in. There were over 500 participants in OPH’s first 5K. The event raised over $13,500 for the medical needs of our rescued dogs. One by one, we are turning tragedies into success stories. For that, we sincerely thank all of you, because you have made a difference! We invite you to join us at next year’s Fast and Furriest on April 10, 2016, which will no doubt be even bigger and better.

We would like to thank the following community donors and sponsors for their generosity which supported this successful event: Adventure Park USA, Animal Inn of Frederick, Baltimore Coffee & Tea Co., Beyond Bark, Bimbo Bakeries (Janice Parrish), Buckeystown Veterinary Hospital (Dr. Deluca), Buffalo Wild Wings (Kristen Specht), Common Market (Kendra Varnon), Complete Nutrition, Costco (Patricia Clements), Country Meadows Retirement Communities (Mandi Block) and Creekside Canine Training (Sarah Shulman).

Also, Famous Dave’s (Christine Border), Fast & Furriest participants, Flamingo Pool Supply, Food Rite, Frederick County Bank (Amanda Ebert), Frederick Cross Fit Gym, Frederick Department of Tourism, Frederick Foot and Ankle (Kevin Wu), Frederick Visitor Center, Hard Times Cafe (Joe Szekeres), Holistic Health Associates, Home Essentials, If the Shoe Fits (Leah Peery), Kingsbrook Animal Hospital (Julie Fulghum, Tiffanie Thayer), LaFazza Coffee, LaVida Massage, Make N Music, Maryland-Virginia Dog magazine (Pamela Wahl), Mom’s Organic Market (Laurel Hummell), My Red Bow (Frank Goldfield), Nature’s Select Dog Food (Randy Stone), Noodles and Company and Nova Timing Service (Ed Hartwell, Ryan Morris, Wes Jones).

And Odin CrossFit Gym, OPH volunteers, Pet Valu Pet Store (Kate Sill), Petco, Pets on Wheels (Robin Stewart), Pie Five, Plamondon Inc. (Betsy Collings), Rice Tire Co., Roy Rogers Restaurants, Sam’s Club, Scoop Squad, Sniffers Doggie Retreat, Sport & Health Fitness Center, The Art of Beauty Skin Care Associates, The Links at Challedon (Sam Grese), The Pet Gazette (Rob Parr), The X-Project and Holistic Spirit CrossFit, Uncle Ralph’s Cookies, Unleashed by Petco, Washington Capitals (Andi Cleary), Wegmans (Valerie Bodner), WLR Automotive Group (Michelle Rankin), Yellow Springs Veterinary Clinic (Jo Grigsby) and Zoom Room Dog Training.

CHERYL GRESE, volunteer OPH adoption coordinator, heartworm coordinator, Frederick events co-leader

The post Event raised over $13,500 for rescued dogs appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — A cat found near the intersection of Sudley Road and Shelter Lane in Haymarket, Virginia, has tested positive for rabies.

The young cat had gray fur with a tan or white spot located over its left eye and was found on Wednesday, May 13.  The Prince William Health District  asks anyone who may have come in contact with a cat acting abnormal in or around this area to call the health district at 703-792-5363 or the Prince William Animal Control Division at 703-792-6500.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Rabies can be prevented in cats, dogs, ferrets and some livestock with a rabies vaccination. Rabies kills almost any mammal or human that gets sick from it.

The rabies virus is mainly in the saliva and brain tissue of rabid animals. It can be transmitted
through a bite or by getting saliva or brain tissue in a wound or in the eye or mouth.

PWHD says to protect pets and their owners from rabies, Virginia law requires that all dogs and cats four months of age and older be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and that vaccinations be kept current. The public is also reminded  to avoid contact with bats, feral cats, stray dogs and wild animals, particularly in the area where the sick cat was found.

Additional steps from PWHD  to protect against rabies exposure:

• Do not feed stray animals. Avoid wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks. Feed your pets indoors and do not let them wander.
• Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and their shots are up-to-date. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.
• Teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and pets they are not familiar with.
• Do not handle sick, injured or dead animals.
• Keep wild animals out of homes by capping chimneys with screens and blocking openings in attics, cellars and porches.
• Ensure trash cans have tight fitting lids.
• If you observe any stray animals in the area, contact the Prince William County Animal Control Division for assistance at 703-792-6500.
• Do not try to trap or handle stray and wild animals.
• If a bat is found indoors and may have had contact with someone, do not release it. Call the Prince William County Animal Control Division  to determine if the animal should be picked up and tested for rabies.
• If bite by a wild or stray animal, wash the wound(s) thoroughly with warm soapy water. Contact animal control, your doctor or the Prince William Health District for further recommendations.

The post Cat with rabies found in Haymarket appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — A man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with sexually abusing a five-year old during the child’s nap time at a Silver Spring daycare.

Manuel Aguilar-Morales, 55 of no given address, helps at his daughter’s home-based daycare facility, called Ariana’s Learning and Play Family Child Care, in Silver Spring.

Aguilar-Morales is charged with the sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual offense and two counts of third-degree sexual offense.

The charging documents in the case say that Aguilar-Morales would lay down with the five-year-old girl during nap time and touch her. When the girl tried to remove his hand from her, he would laugh at her and would not remove his hand.

Aguilar-Morales has denied ever touching the child, the documents say, and during his interview with police he changed his story several times.

He’s out on bond and has a preliminary hearing June 5.

The post Man charged with abusing girl at Md. daycare appeared first on WTOP.

Today is the day we pause to reflect on everything our mothers have given us, from kisses on scraped knees and comfortable laps to sit on, to financial wisdom that has the power to stick with us through adulthood. We asked you to share the personal finance tips your mother imparted to you, because hey, sharing is caring and she’d probably approve.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there, and thank you for teaching us that the piggy bank will not replenish itself magically. Still disappointing, but good to hear it from you.

The roof over your head isn’t free forever

1. “When I turned 18, and still lived at home while working my way through school, I was charged rent. ‘That’s how the world works,’ my mom said.” — Jack

The future will arrive someday

2. “As soon as I landed my first full time job, my mom sent me to see the investment guy at the bank to set up an IRA and automatic contributions. She didn’t start saving until later in life and she wanted to make sure I got an early start.” — Anne

3. “Waste not, want not! Save before spending.” — @kshgoyal

4. “When I was six years old, I saw a doll advertised on the back of a cereal box that I really, really wanted. It probably cost about $3.00. My mother said that if I saved half the cost from my allowance, which was only about $.50 a week, she would match it. Ohhh that seemed like a long wait, but I probably appreciated the doll much more than if my mom had just bought it.

Likewise with my first bike, a used blue Schwinn. Mom matched half the price and I had to pay for the rest using my allowance and doing chores around the house. I loved that bike.

Saving and delayed gratification are valuable things to learn at an early age, and they stick.” — Pamela

5. “Never spend the principal; live off the interest.” — Jim

Know your limits

6. “My mother knew the value of a dollar, as she raised three kids using alimony and the pay from part-time jobs. ‘Never buy what you can’t afford.’ I’ve followed her lead on that, and pay my credit cards off every month.” — Jack

7. “Never spend more than what you have.” — @boringfileclerk

Money is a real thing

8. “I remember my mother always writing checks, and explaining to me when I asked that writing checks was the same as spending money, and you had to have the money in the bank if you were going to write a check.” — James

9. “When we were a bit older, mom introduced “funny money.” Doing chores would earn us pretend cash (she used Monopoly money) and when we got enough we could exchange it for some real money and earn a trip to the local dime store to buy ourselves a treat.” — C.E.

Although we acknowledge the fact that all of our readers are surely shining examples of fun in moderation, perhaps you may have known someone in your adult life who, after having had a few too many Brandy Alexanders, has attempted to rehydrate the next morning with the same drink your mom gave you when you stayed home with a stomach bug. Pedialyte feels your pain, and it’s definitely taking of its popularity among adults.

There’s nothing to be ashamed of, after all — it’s like Johnson’s Baby Shampoo: Just because it’s for babies doesn’t mean parents can’t use it too.

And mom, dad and friends are drinking it, Pedialyte says, with adult consumption growing by almost 60% since 2012, accounting for more tan a third of the company’s sales, Heather Mason, an executive vice president at Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer told the Wall Street Journal.

The company doesn’t disclose sales but said that retail sales tracked by Nielsen have gone up 22% to $102 million in 2014 from 2013, giving it a 58.2% share in the $167 million U.S. oral electrolyte market.

The historical average of adult drinkers was more in the 10% to 15% average range, she noted.

Of course, athletes are also in need of rehydration often, but with the advent of social media and sharing of life tips like surviving college, Pedialyte is often the beverage of choice to treat a hangover.

Abbott isn’t letting this opportunity pass, Tweeting things like “#CincoDeMayo #rehydrate” on May 5, an occasion often celebrated with copious amounts of margaritas.

The company is also heading to where the action is, with plans to hand out free samples at 144 music festivals and sporting events around the country this summer.

“There’s an underground movement in social media to drive word of mouth,” Mason told the WSJ. “We saw increased use by adults. We have high electrolyte and lower sugar content than common [hydration] beverages. That combination caused us to say, ‘We need to be part of this.’”

There are no plans to veer from the Pedia part of the name, she said, as it has “strong brand recognition,” adding that the company won’t change its product make-up to cater to adults more closely. But it will be launching larger packs of the powdered version it sells and add flavors like strawberry, lemonade and orange.

Me, I like my electrolytes frozen in popsicle form. You know, after I’ve run a marathon or whatever.

Pedialyte Sales Grow—Into an Adult Market [Wall Street Journal]

There’s a widely held misconception that customer service used to be perfect “back when,” and every retail transaction was straight out of a 1960s sitcom. The fact is that customers and store employees have been going at each other since the first paleolithic entrepreneur tried to upsell his neighbor on a thrashing stick to go with his bludgeoning stone. But now we all get to see and hear about these retail rows and foodservice fisticuffs — and companies are often compelled to apologize for them — thanks to social media.

The latest incident comes out of a New York Starbucks, where a customer shot two separate videos of an employee unleashing a torrent of anger at a customer — all over a cookie straw:

According to the customer’s Facebook post, she ordered a Frappuccino and a cookie straw. She then claims the employee tried to get her attention by saying “helloooo” with a “very bad attitude.”

The customer says she responded with “sorry I don’t hear you but you don’t have to yell.”

That’s when the employee allegedly refused to let the customer pay, told her to leave and never come back.

“I was trying to ask other employees who I can speak to,” writes the customer.

But the employee apparently thought the customer was trying to leave with the cookie straw she was still holding.

The customer says there was no one in the store for her to complain to because the woman yelling at her was apparently a manager. She said that other customers started telling the employee things like “you need to get fired.” Another customer shot the above videos and sent them to the woman being yelled at.

Starbucks replied to the Facebook post, saying that the incident “is not reflective of the service our partners provide to our customers every day. Someone from our leadership team will be reaching out to you shortly to apologize and make this right.”

“We take this issue seriously,” reads another comment from Starbucks HQ, “this experience does not represent the high service standards we set for ourselves. This partner no longer works for Starbucks.”

[via Eater]

Listen, it’s Friday. We’ve all had a long week. There are only a few hours separating us from the weekend, so to make this last sprint toward freedom more enjoyable, why not watch the younger generation fumble to understand outdated technology? It’s something we always enjoy.

It’s only fair, you see, as kids increasingly get the one-up on their elders by knowing everything there is about new products and technological innovations. Sure, you kids are seemingly schooled on cloud computing in the womb, but you don’t even know what a phone booth is!

Do children not watch movies any more? When the Consumerist team were wee consumerists, no one had to tell us what a telegram was because we learned it from the movies.

The best part might be how he holds it to his ear like someone might be talking already on the other end.

Because nothing gold can stay, AMC’s popular Mad Men has reached the final episode of its final, seventh season. Over the course of the show, we’ve seen pitches for a multitude of companies, brands, sports, groups and even cities. While some of those brands were created for the show, the large majority were very real — and some continue to exist today. In the spirit of nostalgia, we thought now might be the right time to check in on those products and companies pitched by Sterling Cooper (and its various rebirths), to see which have been lost to the mists of time, and which still remain.

Inspired by a very thorough list from FiveThirtyEight.com last year of all the clients Don Draper ever had, we decided to embark on a quest to see how many of those real companies we could track down, and compare the ads of yesteryear to those of today. And if they aren’t around anymore — what happened to them?

A few disclaimers before you fall down the rabbit hole:

• In the interest of the person’s sanity compiling this information (Oh, hey!), we mostly stuck to national brands, stayed away from local organizations like car dealership associations and avoided overly, intensely complicated mega situations (sorry, General Foods).

• Some entries don’t feature any advertising — that’s because we either couldn’t track it down or confirm those companies ever had advertising, but left on the list for the interest of learning things.

• Yes, there will be spoilers, but no, this isn’t an episode guide explaining what happened on the show, because there are plenty of those out there.

SEASON 1: March 1960 – November 1960

BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION
Then: The steel industry was prospering in the years after World War II, and enjoyed a high point in the late 1950s. At that time, it was manufacturing about 23 million tons of steel per year.

Now: Bethlehem Steel filed for bankruptcy in 2001, after years of the steel industry struggling to keep up with foreign competitors.

CLEARASIL
Then: Created in 1940 as the first brand designed specifically for younger skin to battle pimples, Clearasil was marketed to teens on shows like American Bandstand. In 1960, owner Ivan Combe sold his product to Vick Chemical, as seen on Mad Men.

In this 1960 ad, Clearasil’s tag line is that it “starves pimples.” Sounds rough for the pimples:

Now: Richardson-Vicks and Clearasil were acquired in 1985 by Procter & Gamble. In 2000 Clearasil went to Boots Group, which was purchased by Reckitt Benckiser in 2006.

Things have changed with technology — today Clearasil has its own YouTube page now, of course:

DR. SCHOLL’S
Then: In 1960 Dr. Scholl Inc. would’ve been 54 years old and still owned by its podiatrist creator, William Mathias Scholl. There was no exercise shoe line yet — that wouldn’t come along until 1968 — just products like corn pads, stockings, arch supports and cushions, etc.

Don’t call’em corn pads though, call ’em Zino-pads:

Now: Today there are two different sides of the business — Brown Shoe Company manufactures the Dr. Scholl’s shoe line under a distribution agreement with Merck. The foot care product line is owned by Bayer Group in the U.S., while Reckitt Benckiser owns the brand outside the States.

You might not want be reminded of the “Gellin'” line of commercials, but sorry, here you go anyway:

KODAK
Then: One of the first companies to successfully mass-produce dry plates and put them into the first simple cameras that consumers could use, in 1960 Kodak was on the verge of introducing Kodak Carousel Projectors, which featured a round tray holding 80 slides.

Here’s a version of the earliest ads introducing the idea, with a tag line that even Don would be proud of:

Now: After dominating the photographic film industry for much of 20th century, Kodak has struggled to refine itself in the new era of digital photography and smartphones. To wit: The company claims about $2 billion in annual sales today, compared to the $19 billion it commanded in 1990.

In March 2015, the company told the New York Times it was looking for new ways to use old patents on its technology — but had no big ideas about Kodak-branded products paving its way to a brighter future.

“We’ll never be able to prosecute the value of our intellectual property with Kodak-branded sales,” CEO Jeff Clarke told the NYT.

LUCKY STRIKE
Then: American Tobacco Company owned Lucky Strike in 1960. But that “It’s Toasted!” line that Don appears to come up with during a pitch to Lucky Strike is actually a real one the company used in advertising as far back as 1917. Genius slogan? Maybe, but Don Draper didn’t think of it.

Now: Sold to British American Tobacco in 1976; U.S. rights to Lucky Strike were bought by Brown & Williamson, a favorite of nostalgia driven people. Due to current restrictions on tobacco advertising, it’s doubtful you’ll come into contact with any Lucky Strikes ads, however.

RELAXACIZOR
Then: A product that touted electrostimulation during the 1950s as a way to stimulate the muscles of a relaxing person — “passive exercise,” these products claimed to reduce girth by shocking the muscles with electricity.

Don’t worry, fellas, there’s one for you, too:

Now: No more lying down with wet pads all over your body — the RelaxAcizor was banned in 1970.

“The involuntary muscle contractions caused by Relaxacizor are abnormal and cannot be equated with ordinary exercise,” found Judge William P. Gray, in United States v Relaxacizor Inc, calling the product “misbranded… in that that its its labeling is misleading because it represents that the device is safe for use by a layman but fails to reveal facts material in the light of such representation, namely, that the device is capable of aggravating many pre-existing conditions and otherwise injuring the user.”

RIGHT GUARD
Then: Right Guard started off as a unisex brand in 1960 from Gillette, as the first aerosol antiperspirant on the market.

Here’s an ad from that era, around 1968:

Now: Still around but with separate versions for both sexes, Right Guard is now made by the Dial Corporation unit of Henkel North America, with heavy focus on sports activity.

VICK CHEMICAL COMPANY
Then: Though Vick Chemical’s most popular product was Vicks VapoRub, in 1960 the company also marketed other cold products like nose drops, cough drops, toiletries and even prescription drugs.

Now: The company was renamed Richardson-Merrell in 1960 and then to Richardson-Vicks in 1981. Vicks sold the company to Procter & Gamble in 1985 to fend off Unilever, which was seeking to acquire the company.

Season 2: February 1962 – October 1962

HEINEKEN
Then: The first European beer to be imported to the United States after Prohibition ended in 1933, the grandson of Heineken’s founder Alfred Henry “Freddy” Heineken worked at the company during the time of Mad Men and was a powerful force behind Heineken’s global expansion. He might’ve been the one behind those meetings with ad companies. One slogan back then — “Good People Bring Home Heineken.”

Here’s another 1960s era ad:

Heineken’s first TV commercial wasn’t broadcast until 1968 — and it’s in Dutch with funny puppets.

Now: The company touts 250 brands brewed in more than 70 countries, and says on its company site that it’s available in “almost every country on the globe.”

Like many beer companies, many of its ads are aimed at sports fans.

MARTINSON COFFEE
Then: Founded in 1898, the company says rumor has it that the expression “Cup of Joe” came from founder Joe Martinson’s door-to-door deliveries with his cart, bringing people his particularly roasted coffee. In 1962, Andy Warhol featured Martinson Coffee in a silkscreen ink and pencil on canvas, aptly named, “Martinson Coffee.”

Now: Taglines include “It’s the real Joe” and “You can’t fake real.”

MAYTAG
Then: Founded in 1893 by Frederick Louis Maytag and others, his death in 1962 marked the first time someone outside the family led the company. In 1967, Maytag would introduce its first Maytag Repairman TV commercial:

Now:The Maytag brand has been owned by Whirlpool Corporation since a 2006 acquisition — but the repairman is still around:

MOHAWK AIRLINES
Then: In 1962, the airline was still struggling in the after-effects of a strike in 1960 that grounded its planes for two weeks. The financial effects were felt deeply, leading Mohawk to try borrowing money, to no avail. This is reflected in the show, when the company’s president is having a hard time finding an agency to take the company on. It was eventually acquired by Allegheny Airlines in 1972.

Now: Allegheny Airlines eventually evolved into USAir and finally, US Airways.

PLAYTEX
Then: Playtex was only 15 years old in 1962, but already had been the first brand to advertise undergarments on national TV in 1955 (though not on a woman’s bare skin, that wouldn’t happen until 1987). While Don and the gang were debating the Marilyn/Jackie question on the show, in real life the industrial division of Playtex was awarded a contract to develop space suits for the Apollo mission to the moon.

Now: Playtex was acquired by Esmark in 1975, then Beatrice foods in 1985 for a year before going to Revlon. It split into two companies in 1988 — Playtex Apparel Inc. and Playtex Products LLC. Playtex Apparel was sold to Sara Lee in 1991 and then to HanesBrands in 2007. In 2013, its former rival Maidenform joined HanesBrands as well.

And these days, women can actually wear bras on TV without national outrage. Joan and Peggy would be proud.

POPSICLE
Then: Popsicle Pete was a popular radio character that told listeners they could win presents by sending in wrappers from Popsicle products to the manufacturers at that time, Joe Lowe Company of New York.

Now: Good Humor, a subsidiary of Unilever, bought the rights to the name in 1989.

SAMSONITE
Then: Founded in 1910 in Colorado as The Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company, the company trademarked Samsonite — named after the biblical Samson it named one of its suitcases after — in 1941. It didn’t formally change its name until 1966. Samsonite was the first to use magnesium and injected-molded plastics to make its Ultra Lite Luggage line in 1956. Before that, suitcases were made using wooden frames.

Now: Samsonite International S.A. acquired competing brands like American Tourist and High Sierra to become the world’s biggest luggage maker.

Its ads are still playing up the lightness of the luggage, as seen in this 2015 ad:

SEA & SKI SUNTAN LOTION
Then: Time magazine said in 1961 that it was the “nation’s biggest maker of suntan lotion (its dollar-green Sea and Ski grosses some $12 million a year).”

Now: It’s somewhat of a mystery, as this 2009 BrandlandUsa.com post notes: After going through a string of owners from 1955 on — Botany Industries, Smith-Kline Pharmaceuticals, Faberge, Faulding Consumer (owner of Banana Boat) — the company most recently belonged to Pathfinder Management Inc., which attempted a revival in 2002. It now may just be lost to nostalgia.

UTZ POTATO CHIPS
Then: Founded in 1921 as “Hanover Home Brand Potato Chips”, Utz Quality Foods was 41 years old by the time Sterling Cooper shot ad spots with its fictional celebrity endorser, Jimmy Barrett smirking, “Utz are better than nuts” with his mouth full.

In reality, there was no such endorser or slogan. Instead, the company was known by its red-cheeked cartoon girl with a red bow in her hair reaching into a package of chips (we couldn’t find much else in terms of advertising).

Now: Still based in Hanover, PA, Utz is the largest independent privately held snack brand in the United States. Still no wise-cracking endorsers, and the cartoon girl has stayed around.

Season 3: March 1963 – December 1963

ADMIRAL TELEVISIONS
Then: Admiral started out as Continental Radio and Television Corp. in 1934, and was one of the major television manufacturers during TV’s early days. It did well selling TVs, allowing the company to branch out to refrigerators and other things by the 1950s.

Now: The company’s various divisions were sold off by the 1970s in the heyday of consumer electronics made in Japan. The company was bought by Rockwell International, selling the appliance operations to Magic Chef which was later sold to Maytag, which, was then acquired by Whirpool. Admiral is now an appliance brand, manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation and sold at Home Depot.

BACARDI RUM
Then: Bacardi was already 100 in the 1960s, when Peggy and the gang were sipping it all weekend in an attempt to find inspiration, before turning to marijuana. The men at least, might’ve liked a real Bacardi ad from those days.

Now: Still around today in various flavors that may or may not be advisable if you aren’t a 21-year-old with nothing to lose, Bacardi Limited is the largest privately held, family-owned spirits company in the world, according to the company’s site.

And now you don’t even have to mix your own mojitos:

BIRDS EYE
Then: The company that started as Birdseye Seafoods in 1922 was famous for founder Clarence Birdseye’s vision of flash-freezing vegetables, who came up with the idea after traveling through the Arctic and seeing Eskimos using ice, wind and temperature to freeze fresh fish almost instantly. Captain Birds Eye, a white-bearded seaman, debuted as the company’s mascot in its first TV commercial in 1967.

Now: Went through various owners including General Foods, Kraft Foods, Philip Morris USA, Dean Foods and then Birds Eye Foods again before Pinnacle Foods bought it in 2009.

Must admit, this recent ad is sorely lacking in Captain Birds Eye-ness.

CADBURY
Then: Included in a list of clients rattled off as belonging to Pete and Ken, as part of the merger with PPL.

Now: After merging with Schweppes in 1969, Cadbury was eventually bought by Kraft Food Groups in 2010 and now Mondelez International, is the second largest confectionary brand in the world after Wrigley’s.

CAMPBELL’S SOUP
Then: Campbell would’ve been pretty huge in 1962, almost 100 years after its founding in 1869, as it’s the year Andy Warhol first painted those famous cans. The company had been using “Mmm mmm good” since 1935.

Now: Called either Campbell Soup Company or Campbell’s today, its products are sold in 120 countries around the world and is divided into three divisions — soups, baked cakes (like Pepperidge Farm) and health beverages like V8 juices.

This handsome guy sure knows how to talk about soup.

CHEVRON OIL
Then: Chevron started with the Pacific Coast Oil Company back in 1867, and in 1961 merged with Standard Oil.

Now: Chevron merged with Texaco in 2000, acquiring it for $45 billion, Chevron ended retail operations in the Mid-Atlantic United States, taking off the Chevron and Texaco names from 1,100 stations.

And nowadays, cars talk.

DUNKIN’ DONUTS
Then: The doughnut company founded in 1950 would’ve been just a baby in 1962, competing with Mister Donut as its biggest rival back then. Fred the Baker, otherwise known as “Time To Make the Donuts” guy wouldn’t show up on the scene until 1982.

Now: As of 2014, Dunkin’ Donuts is owned by Dunkin’ Brands Inc., which also owns Baskin-Robbins, headquartered in Massachussetts. “America Runs on Dunkin’” is its slogan, with a redesigned logo appearing in 2006.

GILLETTE
Then: King C. Gillette patented the first safety razor in 1904 that meant men didn’t have to send straight edge razors to the barber for sharpening. A new president in 1938 increased the Gillette Company’s advertising budget by 50%, and started pouring money into sports broadcasts after the major success of sponsoring the 1939 World Series. It’s remained the event’s sole or main sponsor since 1964.

Here’s an ad from the Mad Men days, with the tagline “The closest thing to a perfect shave”:

Now: One of its most memorable recent slogans, “The Best a Man Can Get” was introduced was launched during Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989. As of 2005, Gillette became part of Procter & Gamble.

These days, Gillette knows it has to fight the beard.

GORTON’S
Then: Gorton’s of Gloucester was founded in 1849, and was the first to develop a frozen convenience food — Gorton’s Fried and Frozen Codfish Fillets. It came out with Gorton’s Fish Sticks in 1952, but we weren’t able to find good example of advertising back then.

Now: The Gorton’s Fisherman didn’t appear on the scene until 1975, along with the phrase “Trust the Gorton’s Fisherman.” Gorton’s of Gloucester changed its name to the Gorton Corporation, and merged with General Mills in 1968. It was bought by Unilever in 1995, which then sold it to Japanese seafood conglomerate Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.

HILTON NYC
Then: Hilton Hotels was boron in 1925 when Conrad N. Hilton opened the first hotel with the family’s name on it in 1925 in Texas. By 1964, Hilton International formed as a separate company. It was acquired by Trans World Airlines in 1967. Historian Mark Young from the University of Houston told the Houston Chronicle that in 1963, Conrad Hilton actually was shopping for a new advertising agency, just as he was on Mad Men.

Now: Celebutante sex tapes and misbehaving members of the family aside, the company is now known as Hilton Hotels & Resorts with more than 500 hotels worldwide. All Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide.

JAI ALAI
Then: Though the Jai Alai obsessed Horace J. Cook didn’t really exist, gambling on jai alai instead of dog racing or horses was popular in the 1960s. If there was an advertising agency for the sport, we weren’t able to find it.

Now: Though the sport still doesn’t enjoy much interest in the U.S. as it does elsewhere in the world, it’s still popular in Florida — the first public amateur jai alai facility was built in the United States in 2008, in St. Petersburg, FL.

JOHN DEERE
Then: John Deere marked its 125 anniversary in 1962, and in 1963 became the world’s largest producer and seller of farm and industrial tractors and equipment. The company decided to dip its toes into the consumer market as well, producing and selling lawn and garden tractors, as well as mower and snow blower attachments. It’s unclear if using a tractor in an office ever cut someone’s toes off.

Now: Deere & Company is still around to this day, selling equipment with the slogan, “Nothing Runs Like a Deere.” The company also wants to be able to file copyright claims against the way you use your tractor.

LEVER BROTHERS
Then: There really was no Lever Brothers by 1963 — A British manufacturing company founded in 1885 that made soap using a new process that used glycerin and vegetable oils instead of tallow, it merged with Dutch margarine company Margarine Unie to form Unilever in 1930. Lever Brothers changed its name to Unilever PLC at that point and formed the British half of the company.

Now: Unilever its still a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company with more than 400 brands under its umbrella, including Dove, Ben & Jerry’s, Popsicle, Lipton, Noxzema and others.

LONDON FOG
Then: Founded in 1923 as Londontown clothing company, the London Fog brand came to be in 1954. Real life adman Richard Gilbert, author of Marching Up Madison Avenue, took issue with Mad Men’s 1963ish portrayal of London Fog in 2009 when the brand was featured in season three. He wrote to AdAge at the time, saying in part that contrary to being the “tired, 40-year-old company whose advertising was in trouble,” with Don and the team swooping in with a company-saving ad idea, it was nothing of the sort.

“London Fog was not a tired, 40-year-old brand at the time, as it was launched in 1954 when it changed from Londontown Clothes, a Baltimore men’s clothing manufacturer, to its current brand title and rainwear emphasis. Gilbert Advertising handled the brand through the ’60s and built a body of work that was acclaimed for its creative brilliance and brand dominance. London Fog’s 65% Dacron/35% cotton fabric was the soul of the rainwear industry, and in 1960 the company was at the beginning of its advertising ascendency.”

Now: After going public in the 1960s, London Fog was bought by Iconix Brand Group in 2006, licensing the outwear business to Herman Kay Company.

Celebrities (Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka) have now replaced ducks:

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Then: There have been a few MSG’s in New York City. By the early 1960s, Manhattan was on its third venue on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 58th Streets. It wasn’t long for that location, as seen in Mad Men when plans were underway for its current spot above Penn Station on Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street. It was demolished in 1968 after the opening of the current MSG, above the bones of the old Penn Station.

Now: The current MSG has been standing since Feb. 11, 1968, and is home to the New York Knicks NBA team, New York Liberty WNBA team and the New York Rangers NHL team. The executive chairman of the Madison Square Garden Company is James Dolan, who also happens to be President and CEO of Cablevision. He gets to open for the Eagles at MSG whenever he wants.

NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION
Then: A major aerospace manufacturer, The Aerospace Legacy Foundation says that between 1935 and 1967, North American Aviation built more military aircraft than any other airplane maker in U.S. history. In the 1960s, CEO Lee Atwood moved the company’s voce on the space program, and NAA became the prime contractor for the Apollo Command/Service Module, a rocket to test Apollo’s launch escape system, and the second stage of the Saturn V. The Apollo 1 fire in January 1967 was partly blamed on the company.

Now: NAA no longer exists. After merging in March 1967 with Rockwell-Standard, the new company became known as Norht American Rockwell, and then later, Rockwell International. Through a series of mergers and sales, it was eventually absorbed into Boeing.

PAMPERS
Then: Pampers would’ve been a baby company during the first few seasons of Mad Men: Born in 1961 after a Procter & Gamble researcher who didn’t like changing cloth diapers assigned his fellow researchers to design a better disposable diaper, Pampers was a name coined by Alfred Goldman, Creative Director at Benton & Bowles, the first ad agency for the account.

Now: Still one of P&G’s brands, Pampers faced lawsuits in recent years over its DryMax diapers, settling claims that the diapers caused sores, rashes boils and other things babies do not want on their private bits.

PATIO SODA
Then: Patio Diet Cola was a brand of diet cola introduced by PepsiCo in 1963, created to rival Diet Rite. Though no-calorie colas were first marketed to diabetics, companies like Royal Crown (behind Diet Rite) and Pepsi realized they could target women trying to stay slim instead. Patio diet cola became Diet Pepsi in 1964, with Patio flavors like orange and root beer getting phased out by the mid 1970s.

Now: Diet Pepsi is now available on a global scale, though companies PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are finding it increasingly difficult to keep sales of soda up in the face of changing consumer trends.

PROCTER & GAMBLE
Then: P&G was founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, the company’s first product was Ivory Soap. By the 1960s P&G had a healthy roster of brands any ad agency would be dying to get a piece of, including Tide, Crest and Pampers.

Now: Though the company shed a bunch of mostly minor brands in 2014, the company held on to “70 to 80” of its core brands, including Bounty, Cover Girl, Prilosec, Pantene and Swiffer, among others.

RIO DE JANEIRO
Then: Cities like Rio De Janeiro often turn to advertising agencies to help boost tourism and attract business. In the 1960s, Rio De Janeiro was still enjoying its status as a good place for companies after hosting state-owned businesses while it was the capital of Brazil. After the capital moved to Brasilia in 1960, companies kept coming to the city, especially after the discovery of oil in the Campos Basin.

Now: Rio De Janeiro was one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and will host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

SNIDER’S CATSUP
Then: There isn’t much out there about Snider’s, but it appears to be from the T.A. Snider Preserve company, which was founded in Cincinnati in 1879 before moving to Chicago in the 1920s. It made various products including catsup, soups, and pork and beans, and had been bought and sold off by the Birds Eye division of General Foods by the time it appeared in Mad Men times, when it appears that it became Snider Foods Inc.

In any case, there was catsup on TV.

Now: Snider Foods. Inc. was dissolved in New York in 1985.

UNITED FRUIT
Then: An American corporation founded in 1899, United Fruit traded in tropical fruit, mostly bananas, and sold them in the U.S. and Europe. It was often widely criticized for maintained a virtual monopoly in certain regions, some of which became known as banana republics.

In 1963, the company’s Chiquita brand had been around since 1947. The company says that year it “began the largest branding program ever undertaken by a produce marketer, accompanied by a record-breaking ad campaign which included affixing the trademark blue sticker to bananas: ‘This seal outside means the best inside.’

Now: Exists as Chiquita Brands International, whose company site does mention the years of unrest in the past: “Although Chiquita’s history includes storied moments in its past, the company now proudly focuses on extending labor rights, protecting our environment and investing in the communities in which we live and work.”

WARNER BROTHERS
Then: The entertainment company had been around for about 40 years by the time of Mad Men, making movies as it still does today. Ads would’ve been movie-centric.

Now: The company says its library consists of “more than 61,000 hours of programming, including nearly 6,500 feature films and 3,000 television programs comprised of tens of thousands of individual episodes.” Again, most advertising done by the company today is trailers.

WESTERN UNION
Then: Founded as the New-York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in 1851, Western Union was already more than 100 years old in the time of Mad Men, when people still sent telegrams, ostensibly to share funny things their cats were doing.

Now: Telegrams are out, and sending money is in. We’d embed a recent commercial from the company about sending money so your loved ones can buy your cat new outfits, but it’s un-embeddable so here’s the link.

Season 4: November 1964 – October 1965

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Then: On January 11, 1964, U.S. Surgeon General L. Terry released the first U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health after working with the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and other health groups to take on “the smoking question.”

Terry chose to release it on a Saturday, to minimize the effect on the stock market and to maximize coverage in the Sunday papers. He remembered two decades later that the report “hit the country like a bombshell. It was front page news and a lead story on every radio and television station in the United States and many abroad.”

Naturally, this had cigarette makers scared, and they would’ve definitely turned to ad agencies to minimize the report’s effects.

Now: The American Cancer Society says today that 50 years of anti-smoking efforts have saved 8 million lives. In January 2015, the group hired DDB Chicago as its lead advertising agency, to continue that work.

DOW CHEMICAL
Then: Founded in 1897, Dow Chemical originally only sold bleach and potassium bromide, before branching into agricultural chemicals. Dow opened a consumer products division beginning with Saran wrap in 1953, and by 1964 had sales exceeding $1 billion based on its growing chemicals and plastics businesses. The company also happened to produce napalm, which made it a hot topic during the Vietnam War.

Now: Dow Chemical is still headquartered in Midland, Texas, and has a variety of subsidiary companies.

GLO-COAT FLOOR WAX
Then: Launched as an S.C. Johnson & Son brand in 1932, Glo-Coat floor wax ads weren’t as slick as the one Don won an award for on Mad Men.

Now: Glo-Coat no longer exists — S.C. Johnson discontinued it in 1998 “as floor care options grew and consumer choices changed.”

JANTZEN
Then: “The new Jantzen advertising campaign titled ‘Just Wear a Smile and a Jantzen’ took the country by storm,” the company says on its web site. But on the show, company executives were not okay with the racy ad Sterling Cooper presented, and Don and the gang didn’t land the account.

Now: Bought by Perry Ellis International in 2002, called Jantzen Apparel.

LIFE CEREAL
Then: A Quaker Oats cereal brand introduced in 1961, Life’s famous “Mikey Likes It” ads were still about eight years away in 1964. Instead, the brand focused on being a “healthy” breakfast, as other cereals were much more sugary. “The Most Useful Protein” was thankfully replaced as a slogan in 1972 with Mikey.

Now: The cereal’s current slogan is, according to Wikipedia (though we couldn’t find any current TV ads running recently on YouTube), “Life is full of surprises.” Don? Are you there? Peggy? Anyone? Quaker Oats is also owned by PepsiCo, as of 2001.

MOUNTAIN DEW
Then: The original formula for Mountain Dew was created by Barney and Ally Harmtan in the 1940s, medical scientists who were on the hunt for a cure for all the things that ailed people. The drink got a new formula in 1958 and was bought by PepsiCo in 1964. Mountain Dew’s first TV ad featuring a hillbilly saying, “Ya-Hoo, Mountain Dew! It’ll tickle your innards!” aired in 1965.

Now: Old is new again — “Do the Dew” is still Mountain Dew’s — excuse me, Mtn Dew’s mainstay slogan.

The company is also shilling Dew Shine these days, made with real sugar — and the hollerin’ hillbilly is back.

POND’S COLD CREAM
Then: Patented as a medicine by pharmacist Theron T. Pond in 1846, the company he started merged in 1955 with Chesebroigh Manufacturing Company. The company first used its iconic “tulip” logo in the 1960s.

Wait… busy AND beautiful? Amazing.

Now: Currently owned by Unilever, as of 1987, Pond’s is still on the market with various products, including Pond’s cold cream cleanser.

In 2008, a series of commercials for Pond’s White Beauty line in India were criticized by some as being racist, after showing a love story that only came to a happy ending once the woman used the skin lightening product.

TOPAZ PANTI-HOSE
Then: Although this one popped up on FiveThirtyEight.com’s list as “fake,” we were able to find ads from the 1960s for Topaz Panti-hose — but not much else information. One ad we found from the Oct. 11, 1963 edition of LIFE magazine lists an address for a Topaz Victoria Hosiery in Quebec, which led to finding trademarks for certain kinds of stockins owned by Topaz Hosiery Mills, Inc.

Now: Definitely not around today — though we can’t quite pinpoint the brands demise, the last name for the business we could find was Topaz Active Wear Corp. in New York, NY in 1975.

BUTLER FOOTWEAR
Then: The history of Butler Shoe Corporation (called Butler Footwear on Mad Men) is foggy, but this much is clear: It merged with Marilyn Shoes, an Augusta, GA chain in 1955. The new company had about 400 stores at that point, according to the obituary of the company’s former president, CEO and chairman. There’s not much else out there advertising wise — so clearly they could’ve used some Mad Men help.

Now: Butler Shoe Corporation’s chain of 500 shops was acquired by Sears in 1981, but was sold in 1988. After that, it’s anyone’s guess as the trail goes cold.

Season 5: May May 1966 – Spring 1967

CHEVALIER BLANC
This one also threw some in the media for a loop, which is why we chose to include it though it seems to be fake — though the list we originally consulted had Chevalier Blanc as an alcohol brand on Mad Men, the show actually had an ad pitch for a Chevalier Blanc cologne. Château Cheval Blanc, however, is a wine producer in the Bordeau region of France, and as far as we know, never made a cologne.

COOL WHIP
Then: Cool Whip was brand new from General Food’s Birds Eye division in 1966, so new that on Mad Men not many had heard of it. It was important to emphasis that it wasn’t “fake whipped cream,” but rather a non-dairy whipped topping. On Mad Men, Don and Megan Draper annoy Peggy with their “Just taste it” banter, focusing on the fact that they couldn’t call the product whipped cream, but didn’t want to draw attention to that fact.

In reality, Banker & Brisebois or B&B as it was known, worked on the Cool Whip campaign. One of the team, Hank Wasiak, wrote on Blog Critics that Mad Men did a good job, but after market testing, they went with another approach: “Yum Yum Cool Whip,” complete with a catchy jingle.

“It worked,” Wasiak says of their approach. “The commercial was supported by a powerful program of promotion and sampling including a promotional tie-in with the Gomer Pyle TV show. The early days of product placement. Cool Whip took off and within two years it was one of Birds Eye’s biggest selling brands.”

Now: Birds Eye later merged with Kraft and Philip Morris, which then turned into Altria Foods. When Kraft was spun off from Altria, Cool Whip went with it, and it’s still part of that company today, as the most consumed whipped topping in the U.S. — and the subject of a Family Guy bit focused solely on saying the words, “Cool Whip.”

The most recent TV spot Cool Whip has is for its frosting:

HEAD SKI COMPANY
Then: Founded in 1950 in Baltimore by Howard Head, the company pioneered a new alpine ski design involving a plywood core inside two aluminum sheets, covered in laminated plastic. This resulted in lighter, more durable skis, that made it easier for skiers to turn.

By the time of Mad Men, the Head Standard was used by more than 50% of skiers in the U.S. and UK . The company became HEAD Sportswear International in 1966 and went on to add tennis racquets and other sports equipment to its roster.

Here’s an ad from the late 1960s in LIFE magazine featuring Olympic skier Jean-Claude Killy from SKI magazine in 1970.

Now: Head Ski became part of HEAD NV, which today stills sells sports equipment and clothing.

HEINZ BAKED BEANS
Then: In 1967, Heinz’s slogan was “Heinz Meanz Beanz,” a term coined by advertising executive Maurice Drake. The Who also apparently really liked ’em, enough to put Roger Daltrey in a tub full of them for the cover of their 1967 album, The Who Sells Out, complete with the song “Heinz Baked Beans.”

Now: The official name of the canned product became Heinz Beanz in 2008, and is primarily sold in the UK, where the company says 1.5 million cans are sold each day.

Baked beans fell off the map in the U.S. sometime in the 1970s, and even the company didn’t seem to know why.

“I don’t know why it sort of went away,” Noel Geoffroy, vice president, Heinz Brands/U.S. Consumer Products told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2012, when Heinz’s baked beans returned to the shores from whence they came (albeit with different packaging and varieties of baked beans). Its parent companies are now Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, as of 2013.

Here’s a recent ad from the UK:

JAGUAR
Then: Begun as Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, in 1966 Jaguar merged with the British Motor Corporation, and in 1968 merged with Leyland Motor Company to create British Leyland. In the time of Mad Men, Jaguar was not at all afraid to get sexified, as seen in the below ad:

Now: Jaguar has company now, as it’s one of the Jaguar Land Rover brands manufactured in the UK and owned by Indian company Tata Motors.

In 2015, Jaguar went hi-tech with its advertising, with print ads in various publications that were linked to digital content through an app for Google Glass and mobile devices, as reported by AdAge.

MANISCHEWITZ
Then: Manischewitz, makers of Kosher foods like wine and matzo, had been around for about 80 years by the mid 1960s. On Mad Men, the company uses the slogan “Man-O-Manischewitz What a Wine!” which was in fact, a real ad campaign by Manischewitz used by the wine brand (licensed to Brooklyn’s Monarch wines).

But this 1960 ad is too good not to share, starring the one and only Sammy Davis Jr.:

Now: The Manischewitz Company revived the “Man-O-Manischewitz” ad line in 2009 for its line of kosher foods.

SNO BALL
Then: PepsiCo filed a trademark for Sno Ball in 1967 — not to be confused with the Hostess Sno Ball — this product was described as “Carbonated soft drinks and syrups and concentrates for their preparation.” It was advertised as a “sipping ice,” though there isn’t much still out there as an example.

The only real advertising image we could find was a tin sign:

Seems the creators of Mad Men couldn’t find much either, as noted by this Gothamist article that Ginsberg had a photocopy of what appears to be that same sign.

Now: No longer exists — the trademark is expired and most people just figure you’re talking about a Hostess dessert.

VIRGINIA SLIMS
Then: A Philip Morris brand of new, thinner cigarettes aimed at women that launched in 1968, the ad campaign that accompanied Virginia Slims’ debut is one of the most famous. “You’ve come a long way, baby” (sometimes without the “baby”) was developed by the Leo Burnett Agency, and ended up selling a lot of cigarettes for the company.

Now: Manufactured by Altria Group, a lot has changed in the cigarette advertising industry — namely that it’s illegal in the United States on TV and radio, and there are strict rules regarding ads that appear in print.

Season 6: December 1967 – November 1968

AVON COSMETICS
Then: Founded by a door-to-door book salesman David H. McConnell, who started selling perfumes in New York after realizing his female customers preferred the scent samples to the books that they came with, his company was first called the California Perfume Company Inc. before it became Avon Products Inc. in 1929.

“Ding Dong, Avon Calling!” ran from 1952-1967, promoting both its products and its direct-selling model.

Now: In recent years Avon has turned to celebrity faces like Salma Hayek in 2004 and Reese Witherspoon in 2008 to bring in a younger set of sellers and customers. Tennis player Maria Sharapova became the face of Avon fragrances in 2014.

CARNATION
Then: Carnation started as the Pacific Coast Condensend Milk Company in 1899. By the time Don and the gang were pitching to executives, the company had a slew of food products, including Carnation Instant Breakfast.

Now: Nestle acquired Carnation Company in 1985, and still has a line of instant breakfast drinks on the market called Nestle Breakfast Essentials. Nothing like a family getting together to gather round and drink breakfast as a family.

CHEVROLET
Then: The SCDP gang on Mad Men likely wouldn’t have celebrated landing the Chevy Vega — the “secret” car known only as Chevy 887 — campaign for too long: The car was one of General Motors biggest lemons ever, despite winning Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1971. A slew of problems including a rust-prone exterior, its aluminum engine warped and engine fires. This multitude of issues forced six separate recalls throughout the 1970s (though not so bad compared as our current recall bonanza, eh?). The Vega was pulled off the line for good in 1977.

Here’s an ad from 1971 that the SCDP group might’ve pitched, if they were real and not fictional characters:

Now: GM still owns Chevrolet, with the slogan “Find New Roads” replacing “Chevy Runs Deep” in 2013.

FLEISCHMANN’S MARGARINE
Then: Brothers Charles and Max Fleischmann are credited with introducing America’s first commercially produced yeast in the 19th century, going on to found Fleischmann’s Yeast. That company merged into Standard Brands in 1929, with the Fleischmann name spreading to other products like margarine.

The margarine market was crowded in the 1960s with competitors like Imperial and Blue Bonnet, as seen on Mad Men. Fleischmann’s marketed its margarine as a healthier alternative to butter, something that the Federal Trade Commission would have an issue with today, for sure.

Here’s a 1971 ad, pushing Fleischmann’s purported beneficial effects in preventing heart disease… a bit early in life.

Now: Still found in grocery aisles today, Fleischmann’s changed owners a few times, from Standard Brands to Nabisco, and now is a ConAgra Foods brand. It still uses the word “healthy” in marketing material, with the slogan, “Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well At Fleischmann’s” touting cholesterol free products.

KOSS HEADPHONES
Then: Koss Corporation founder John Koss invented the first stereo headphones in 1958. Though Mad Men had Koss running an ad during the 1968 Super Bowl, in reality, Koss says it has never run an ad during the big game.

It did have some pretty heavy hitters on its side, however, if you remember these guys:

Now: Koss is still around today, with the founder’s son Michael J. Koss taking over as president and executive officer in 1991.

OCEAN SPRAY
Then: Ocean Spray was formed in 1930 by three cranberry growers who started coming up with new cranberry products, including the company’s first Cranapple juice blend in 1963. In 1968, the company had just switched ad agencies, AdAge reported, moving the business from DDB to Ted Bates and Young & Rubicam. Cranprune, anyone?

Now: The Ocean Spray Cooperative of more than 700 grower families is still marketing juice these days, with the cranberry bog guys bringing comedic relief in recent years.

SHERATON
Then:Founded in 1937, Sheraton Corporation of America was the first hotel chain listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1947. By the 1960s, the company touted things like “Reservatron,” what it says was the industry’s first electronic reservation system, and in 1965, became the first hotel chain with a toll-free 800-number for direct guest access. It still uses the same number today.

Now:Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. acquired Sheraton in 1998. The brand knows what the kids are into these das, using hashtags for its latest promo, encouraging guests to use #BetterWhenShared to share photos of their stays.

ST. JOSEPH ASPIRIN
Then: The St. Joseph company was founded in 1887 by Leopold Gerstle, with the company touting its product then as the first low dosage aspirin. In 1920, Schering Plough Healthcare Products bought the St. Joseph company. Its aspirin was mainly was marketed for children until using aspirin for the younger set fell out of favor.

Now: Schering held onto the brand until 2000, then selling the rights to company in 2011 to Ilex Consumer Products Group Inc. bought the U.S. rights to the brand.

St. Joseph no longer makes children’s aspirin, and instead returned to the market in 1993 with a new adult formulation.

SUNKIST
Then: Sunkist Growers, Incorporated was known as the Southern California Fruit Exchange in 1893 before changing its name in 1905.

Now: Sunkist is still a citrus cooperative of California and Arizona citrus growers. But beyond just selling fruit, the company licenses its trademark to more than 40 food and beverage companies worldwide.

What did you eat at soccer games when you were young? Oranges, right? Sunkist wants to be that orange for today’s kids.

Season 7: January 1969 – April 1970

ACCUTRON WATCHES
Then:The name of the company behind Accutron is Bulova, which was founded in 1875, and developed the watch using a resonating tuning fork as a way to regulate the time-keeping function.

Now: Bulova was sold to Citizen Watch in 2007. In 2014, the company came out with this ad for the Accutron II:

H. SALT FISH & CHIPS
Then: Haddon Salt’s fish and chips shop in Skegness, UK impressed Americans passing through with its “non-greasy” fare, the company says, inspiring him and his wife to move to the United States and open their first restaurant in Sausalito in 1965. The shop grew to a franchise, but Haddon decided to change the name from Salt’s Fish & Chips to “H. Salt, Esq. Authentic English Fish and Chips,” as “esquire” made the whole thing sound even more British, he thought.

Here’s an ad for a local franchise back in the day:

Now: There are 26 independently owned franchise locations throughout Southern California today.

BURGER CHEF
Then: At one time the #2 fast-food burger chain in the U.S., Burger Chef’s parent company was founded in 1954, with its name reportedly chosen to portray a more highbrow version of Burger King. General Foods bought the chain in 1968, leading to rapid expansion.

Now: Burger Chef is no more: In 1982, General Foods sold Burger Chef toa company from Canada called Imasco, which owned Hardee’s at the time. It converted many Burger Chef locations into Hardee’s, and let franchisees of other locations decide if they want to convert or simply close. The last surviving Burger Chef location shut down in 1999.

PETER PAN
Then: Though as far as we can tell there were no Peter Pan Tinkerbell cookies in 1970 as seen on Mad Men, Peter Pan peanut butter had been around since 1920 through Swift & Company’s Derby Foods subsidiary. Originally called E.K. Pond, it was renamed Peter Pan after the J.M. Barrie character in 1928.

In the 1970s, one Peter Pan ad had a kid writing to the never-aging hero sort of like Santa Claus, but instead of asking for presents, he’s just sharing a compliment. How nice, kid.

You are here » AlexandriaNews » Courts & Crime » Manassas Man Sentenced ... Alexandrianews.org doj_usao_edv Brandon Scott Hoffman, 37, of Manassas, Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for stealing over $370,000 from his former employer. Hoffman was also ordered to pay ... and more »

Prince William County crime report Washington Post These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police. For information, call 703-792-7245. BRISTOW AREA. THEFT/BREAK-IN. Victory Lakes Loop, 12600 block, 2:59 p.m. May 4. An attempt was made to enter a residence through a ... and more »

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Officials to use dogs to run off geese at National Mall Washington Post WASHINGTON — National Park officials say dogs will be used to move Canada geese from parts of the National Mall because the bird droppings are damaging the pumps and filters of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. WUSA-TV ... Geese Police to Start Patrol on National MallNBC4 Washington Border collies used to rid parts of the National Mall of geeseMyFox Washington DC Dogs chase off geese at National MallW*USA 9 WTOP all 19 news articles »

Having a brand new puppy at home can be a ton of fun but it will also require a lot of work to keep happy and healthy. Puppies, just like human babies, need proper nutrition for normal healthy growth and development. Making educated choices about your new puppy's nutrition is important to getting that little pup off to the right start.

Steps

Introducing Your Puppy to Food

1. Let your puppy nurse for the first four weeks. The milk the puppy's mother produces contains the exact combination of nutrients it needs to grow healthy and strong. It should make up the entire diet for the first four weeks after birth. ^[1]
   
   
   
   • If you actually bred the litter and have the puppies and the mother dog, the introduction of “dog food” typically starts around one month of age.^[2]
   • If you try to wean the puppy too early, his health will be compromised.
2. Find a commercial puppy formula supplement if the mother isn’t producing enough milk. The puppy milk replacers typically come in powdered form to be reconstituted with water or an already mixed option.
   • Depending on the age and health status of the puppy, they may be able to suckle on a bottle, or you may have to talk with your veterinarian about tube feeding.
3. Introduce small quantities of puppy food at four weeks of age. Puppy kibble provided three to four times per day will allow the puppies to start investigating and ingesting the new food. Soak the kibble in water or puppy formula. The puppies will start licking and eating the new food as they become more familiar with the taste and new texture.
   
   
   
   • The puppies will also walk through the food and make a mess. You will need to keep on top of keeping things clean.
   • Make sure the new food is designed for puppies.
4. Do not change the food you are feeding your puppy abruptly. If you are bringing home a new puppy, stick with the same brand your puppy was fed by the previous owner for a few weeks before deciding to change to a different food. Food changes should be done gradually over a week or two to prevent stomach upset and possible diarrhea. Add in small amounts (about 10%) of new food to the old diet until you reach 100% new food. Unless your veterinarian recommends an abrupt change in diet, take your time.^[3]
   
   
   
5. Know how much food to give your puppy. Each puppy is different and so the amount of food you need to feed them is very different. The amount you give the puppy is dependent on how many calories it needs to stay at a healthy weight and size. Follow the directions on the package of puppy food but adjust it to the needs of your particular dog, specifically to their appetite and body weight.^[4]
   
   
   
   • If you're not sure exactly how much to feed your puppy, talk to your veterinarian.
   • The dog food bag may offer some guidelines, but realize that it is impossible for the dog food manufacturer to be able to tailor their recommendations for each individual dog.
   • Using a body condition scoring system (BCS) will help you determine whether your puppy or adult dog is at a healthy weight.^[5] A dog that is neither under nor overweight will have ribs that are not visible, but easily palpated with the flat of your hand. It will also have a nice waist just in front of the hips and a flank tuck when viewed from the side.
6. Watch for the signs of low blood sugar in small breeds. Toy and miniature breed puppies are predisposed to low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in many cases. The blood sugar can drop and the puppy will be lethargic, and, in severe cases, can start having seizures.^[6]
   • This is an emergency and you need to take your puppy to the veterinarian immediately. You can try rubbing Karo syrup on the gums to help, but still take your puppy to to your veterinarian.
   • Providing access to food all the time or every 3-4 hours for the first 6 months of life for toy breed puppies will help prevent dietary based hypoglycemia. For larger breed puppies, feeding three times per day is generally sufficient.
7. Adjust the puppy’s caloric intake as they mature. Puppies will have growth spurts, just like children, where they will get taller and leaner and then fill out. Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.
8. Don’t feed puppies table scraps. It might be tempting to give your puppy enticing foods like bacon or ham from the table, but avoid doing this. People food will often cause vomiting or diarrhea and could also lead to obesity and pancreatitis.
   
   
   
   • Bear in mind that the more people food you give your puppy, the more he'll want, so it can interfere with training and cause behavior problems.
   • Consult your veterinarian about dog safe supplemental feeding. Low fat options include vegetables (green beans, carrots, broccoli, etc.) or tofu or skinless chicken breast. Remember, everything in moderation and you have to be cautious of creating a picky eater.

Starting a Feeding Schedule

1. Feed your puppy at the same time every day. Puppies are like babies in that they like to stick to a schedule. Meal feeding also helps with house training, since the puppy will need to relieve itself on a schedule. ^[7]
   
   
   
2. Feed puppies under 6 months old three times a day. Try feeding your puppy early in the morning before work, again at lunchtime, and once more at dinnertime.
   
   
   
   • If you aren't home during the day, you'll need a way to feed your puppy while you are gone. Either come home at lunch or otherwise arrange for someone to feed your dog in the middle of the day.
   • You can also purchase feeders that operate on a timer that will make food available at certain times during the day. ^[8] This schedule will only be for a few months, then you can feed morning and night when your puppy is older.
3. Always provide fresh water with the food. Fresh water can be provided at all times; there's no need for a schedule. Change out the water dish every day and wash it out between uses.
   
   
   
   • Bring a bottle of water and a collapsible dish with you when you travel.
4. Provide a quiet area for feeding and prevent other animals from getting to the food bowl. If your puppy feels threatened while eating, the puppy may start guarding the food bowl. This resource guarding behavior can escalate and become dangerous to you and others.
   
   
   
5. Make it a routine to take the puppy outside to relieve itself after eating. Most puppies need to eliminate 15-20 minutes after eating a meal.

Choosing Food for Your Puppy

1. Do some research on types of dog food. Dog food is available in many forms: dry kibble, canned, semi-moist, refrigerated, dehydrated, and even raw. A balanced diet high in the proper nutrition is important for your puppy’s health. Talk to your veterinarian about options.
   
   
   
2. Choose a brand of dog food that uses high-quality ingredients. The first ingredients on the list should be a protein like “chicken” or “beef’ and not a grain like “corn” or “wheat.” The caloric content of the food is often found on the manufacturer’s website and not on the bag. There will be information on the protein, fat and fiber in the nutrient analysis section. Most puppies are fed a diet in the mid 20 to 30% protein range.^[9]
   • When it comes to choosing any food, make sure you look at the list of ingredients. If it contains chemicals and ingredients you can't pronounce, don't give it to your puppy.
3. Offer healthy treats. Treats should make up no more than 5 percent of the overall diet. Choose treats that are high in quality and flavor. They’re good training tools and a fun way to connect with your puppy.
   
   
   
4. Make your own puppy food. If you want to make sure your puppy is getting only the best ingredients, you can make his meals yourself. This can be time consuming and you will need to follow recipes closely. Do not leave out ingredients. The first year of a puppy’s life involved lots of growth and they need the proper nutrition to develop and mature normally.
   
   
   
   • One resource for making your own pet food is “The Whole Pet Diet” by Andi Brown.^[10]
   • Consult with your vet before deciding to cook all of your puppies meals. Outline your plan and make sure your puppy won't have a nutrient deficiency.
   • If your puppy vomits, has diarrhea or acts ill after eating food you cook, take him to the vet.
   • Educate yourself on what ingredients are dangerous for puppies. Chocolate, caffeine, garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, chewing gum, alcohol, apricots and salt are all poisonous to or unhealthy for puppies.

Related wikiHows

• How to Create a Feeding Routine for Your Dog
• How to Avoid Foods Dangerous for Your Dog
• How to Live in a Multi Dog Household
• How to Calm a Huge Puppy Down

Sources and Citations

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BALTIMORE (AP) — Two Baltimore correctional officers were charged Wednesday with looting a downtown convenience store during unrest last month over the death of Freddie Gray.

Multiple news sources, citing the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, report that Tamika Cobb and Kendra Richard were caught on video taking merchandise from a 7-Eleven on April 25.

The store was one of several damaged and looted when protests turned violent over Gray’s death after he suffered a severe spinal injury in police custody.

The department says Cobb and Richard were assigned to facilities downtown. The two were placed on unpaid leave.

It is unclear if either Cobb or Richard has a lawyer.

The post Correctional officers charged with looting convenience store appeared first on WTOP.

Washington Business Journal

TargetExpress is coming to Rosslyn in October Washington Post Target said Wednesday that it will open one of its small, convenience-focused TargetExpress stores in Rosslyn this year, a part of the retailer's push into dense, urban areas. The store is set to open in October and will be located at 1500 Wilson Blvd. It's official: Major national retailer inks deal for RosslynWashington Business Journal (blog) all 2 news articles »

It’s important to us to keep our readers updated about the latest and most important news in the world of novelty Oreos. We’ve learned that Lemon Twist Oreos have returned to shelves, which are not to be confused with lemon Oreos. Lemon Oreos, which are still available, are on a vanilla cookie, and Lemon Twist Oreos are on a chocolate cookie.

Note that the last time there was a Lemon Twist Oreo, back in 2012, that was also lemon creme on a vanilla-flavored cookie. This time around, the package has also been struck by the Grocery Shrink Ray, and this time around is 10.7 ounces instead of 15.5. Maybe we’re all better off in the long run with 1/3 fewer cookies in a package, but it is disappointing that Nabisco is now offering their novelty flavors only in the smaller packages.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Nabisco Limited Edition Lemon Twist Chocolate Oreo Cookies [The Impulsive Buy]

More than a quarter of all beef sold in the U.S. is mechanically tenderized, meaning that machines with tiny little blades have been used to make the raw product more tender. But this step can also have the effect of driving surface pathogens deeper into the meat where they might not be killed during the cooking process. Since 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of six outbreaks attributable to these products. Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it was going to require labels for mechanically tenderized beef. Those labeling rules have now been finalized and will go into effect a year from now.

The rules [PDF] will require labels stating “mechanically tenderized,” “blade tenderized,” or “needle tenderized” on packages of raw or partially cooked beef products that have been through any of these processes. This includes some beef products that have been injected with a marinade or solution.

Under normal circumstances, a labeling change like this wouldn’t kick in until the next Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations. In this case, it would be Jan. 1, 2018. However, the USDA believes this particular change merits an accelerated effective date, so the labels will be required a year from when the rule is published in the Federal Register (so, May or June 2016).

To the supermarket shopper, mechanically tenderized beef looks no different than the other meat products available. However, the USDA believes that because of the potential for pathogens inside these pre-tenderized products, the consumers need to be made aware so they know about the possible risk before showing down on a blood-red rare burger or steak.

And so the rule doesn’t just use labels to alert customers to the fact that a product has been mechanically tenderized. The labels must also include cooking instructions for safe preparation. These instructions must specify minimum internal temperatures and any hold times for the products to ensure that they are fully cooked.

“Labeling mechanically tenderized beef products and including cooking instructions on the package are important steps in helping consumers to safely prepare these products,” said Deputy Under Secretary Al Almanza. “This common sense change will lead to safer meals and fewer foodborne illnesses.”

[via Kansas City Star]

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Riley the Rogue, who has mastered the art of stealing food from his owner’s counters.

Here’s what his owner had to say about him:

Hey ARLnow, I’m Riley the Rogue! I was adopted one year ago this very month from Homeward Trails. My folks didn’t realize that the phrase “shepherd/collie” was not a Rin Tin Tin and Lassie combo. I’m half-Australian Shepherd and half-Border Collie. Hah! I’m a one-and-a-half-year-old teenager living with two older girl dogs, Dakota (12) and Katie (9). Thanks to my incredibly exuberant nature, I’ve put them both into their second puppyhoods now. No need to thank me.

While I showed how smart I am by taking first place in obedience training last August, my best talent is mastering the art of counter-surfing. I have long legs so I can reach all of that counter, babe! Yessirree … I share my prizes with my girls too. They adore me. My parents, however, seem a little put out about it.

My best theft yet was a full third of the uncooked stuffing in the pan this past Thanksgiving Day! I consider it my best as I had just figured out silence in thieving is golden. But they love me. How could they not? I’m a handsome cream puff of a dude! And when I roll over and give you those big baby brown eyes, you’ll melt. Trust me. Just trust me!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week?Emailoffice@arlnow.comwith a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Arlington and Northern Virginia.

The post Arlington Pet of the Week: Riley the Rogue appeared first on WTOP.

For more than two years, Comcast has been testing data caps — sorry, “data thresholds” — in various markets around the country. With the possibility of this usage-based pricing model being rolled out on a nationwide basis, a new report claims that the FCC could use its new authority to scrutinize the data limitations.

This is according to Stop The Cap, which cites anonymous D.C. sources as saying that the FCC is ready to put data caps under the regulatory microscope.

Comcast began the program slowly in 2012, eliminating its practice of throttling heavy data users after they surpassed 250GB of data in a month. Rather than slow down access for these customers, Comcast now offers them the chance to pay for additional bundles of gigabytes at the same speed.

The program expanded in 2013, but has yet to be rolled out to all 22 million of Comcast’s broadband customers. Of course, Comcast did spend more than a year trying to acquire Time Warner Cable. A mass expansion of the data cap program would have likely resulted in more negative press for Comcast during that time.

“Two-and-a-half years is exceptionally long for a ‘market trial,’” explains the source in the Stop The Cap report, “and we expected Comcast would avoid creating an issue for regulators by drawing attention to the data cap issue during its attempted merger with Time Warner Cable.”

But with that merger dead at the starting gate, the source says Comcast may finally be ready to flip the switch that would bring the data cap program to most of its customers.

Critics of data caps, including Consumerist, have pointed out the inherent dueling interests of having pay-TV providers also being the primary providers of Internet service for most consumers. As streaming video services grow in popularity, traditional pay-TV declines. And while a consumer might sign up for multiple streaming services, the cable company is still only being paid the same rate for Internet access.

Some providers have realized there is money to be made in joining the cord-cutting party. Cablevision, for example, now allows its broadband subscribers to order HBO Now and Hulu Plus through Cablevision. To the consumer, it consolidates their monthly payments while allowing Cablevision to get a piece of those streaming subscriptions.

The other approach is to make these services less attractive to broadband users by limiting the amount of data customers can access each month. And even if the data thresholds don’t do anything to curb usage, the overage fees guarantee that Comcast is going to get paid by its most voracious users.

Some proponents of data caps have claimed they are put in place to relieve network congestion, but former FCC Chair Michael Powell — who is now the head of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association — undermined his industry’s own arguments when he said in 2013 that data caps aren’t about congestion but about “how to fairly monetize a high fixed cost.”

And recent studies call this “high fixed cost” claim into question, pointing out that it’s getting increasingly cheaper to transmit and store data.

As Stop The Cap notes, customers of Comcast’s new super-fast fiber network will not face data caps. Meanwhile, because this new network would allow them to stream multiple high-quality video feeds simultaneously, these are the users who are most likely to devour hundreds of gigabytes of data.

To date, the Federal Communications Commission has left the issue of data caps and usage-based billing on the back burner, despite a Government Accounting Office report that found little justification for usage limits or compulsory usage allowances on broadband.

The FCC has been hands-off about data caps and tiered pricing. In 2012, then-chairman Julius Genachowski claimed that tiered pricing would result in savings for light broadband users. However, the few plans that have offered discounts to users with limited access have been remarkably anti-consumer.

For instance, there is Comcast’s “Flexible Data” option that gave users a whopping $5 off their bills if they were willing to limit themselves to using only 5% of what they would get at full price. Time Warner Cable offered a similar program called Essentials that targeted people who can’t do basic math.

“We don’t see much innovation coming from Comcast’s usage limit trials because Internet pricing continues to rise and the plans have the side effect of discouraging customers from using competing video providers, which can consume a lot of a customer’s usage allowance,” says Stop The Cap’s source, who claims that, because broadband has been redefined to give the FCC more regulatory authority, the Commission could start asking questions about Comcast’s data caps.

“An operator the size of Comcast absolutely will draw scrutiny,” says the source. “If Comcast decides to impose its currently tested market trial plans on Comcast customers nationwide, the FCC will take a closer look.”

The idea, says Stop The Cap, is that Comcast could possibly be using mandatory data caps to limit customers’ access to competing video services. That may be in violation of net neutrality guidelines about blocking legal access to websites and online services.

Just because the FCC may look into the issue doesn’t mean that a cable company or ISP is in violation of a rule. The Commission will likely find itself reviewing a number of matters in the near future in an effort to clarify the real-world applications of the new neutrality guidelines and the FCC’s increased authority over broadband services.

Cat cafes are all the rage these days, filled as they are with cats. But although the owner of a Denver cat cafe says customers should reasonably expect that a cat may bite or scratch, the daughter of a woman who was bitten during a visit has filed a lawsuit on her mother’s behalf, saying the owner knew the animal was known to be dangerous, and shouldn’t have let it come into contact with people.

The lawsuit is seeking $5,920 for $305 in medical bills plus missed work and emotional damages related to the ordeal, reports 9News, after the bite became infected.

The mother and daughter duo visited the cat cafe in February, and claim that a cat bit the older woman.

“[He] flipped onto his back when my mom still had her hand out,” her daughter 9NEWS. “When she was going down to continue petting him, he bit her on her hand rather aggressively and wouldn’t let go for at least 15-20 seconds.”

“When she finally got her hand away it was bleeding in about 7 or 8 different spots,” she said.

Though she says her mother was treated at the counter, she realized when she got home it was infected, and had it treated at an urgent care clinic at a cost of $305. She asked the cafe to pay the medical bill, but the owner declined.

“We wouldn’t be able to survive as a business model if we were opening ourselves up to taking responsibility for a cat’s behavior, because we can’t guarantee that a cat won’t bite or scratch,” the owner told 9News, saying she did offer to pay for part of the bill that people get adequate warning about how unpredictable cats are with signs warning people to “pet at their own risk.”

The daughter says on the day of the bite, the owner asked by name if it was that particular cat who’d done it. She claims that the owner knew he was dangerous and should’ve been removed from the cafe. But the owner says he was a popular feline.

“He was here for a long time and was very popular with our customers and managed to interact with a lot of people,” she said.

Various settlements and agreements on who should be responsible for the bill failed, leading to the daughter filing the lawsuit on her mother’s behalf in early April.

“I guess a lot of people think this is frivolous, and to us, to be honest, it is too,” the daughter admits. “She should have just paid the $300.”

But the owner says she didn’t want her insurance rates to go up, and that paying the bill would’ve created a precedent for others to sue over something she says she warns customers could happen.

Denver’s cat cafe faces lawsuit over cat bite [9News Now]

We’ve heard of people finding rare baseball cards hidden inside photo albums, a $3 piece of pottery at a tag sale that’s worth $.2. million, or otherwise happening upon other valuable artifacts when buying other items at rummage and garage sales. But the dream of finding hidden treasure came true in a very literal way for one surprised estate sale buyer.

A Texas antiques and collectibles buyer bought a dresser for less than $100 over the weekend at an estate sale in Missouri City, and noticed something odd and jangly, like a “metallic waterfall,” as he was loading it onto the truck to take it home.

“He asked for help loading it,” a member of the estate sale team told ABC News. “As soon as we laid it down, it started making all this racket on the inside.”

“And we opened it up and three of us looked in and it was like the Hardy Boys. Holy smokes, jackpot!” he told KHQ.com.

Holy smokes, jackpot indeed: A hidden drawer in the chest contained jewelry, diamonds, emeralds, gold and silver coins, paper money, stamps, Civil War medals, and lots of family valuables.

“When you look at the front of it, it looks like it has three obvious drawers with molding on the base, but the bottom has a secret drawer that opens up,” the buyer explained.

He won’t be able to hoard his treasure however — the estate sale company contacted the original owners, who were clueless as to the dresser’s contents. They were excited, to say the least.

In any case, the buyer says he’s just fine giving the treasure back.

“I bought the chest drawers. I didn’t buy those things,” he told ABC. “If I kept them, I would never feel right about it. There would be a cloud over the whole thing. It’s a feeling more than anything else.”

MAN FINDS TREASURE IN DRESSER BOUGHT AT TEXAS ESTATE SALE [ABC News]
Man finds hidden treasure in estate sale dresser [KHQ.com]

For half a century, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) has been the most commonly used ingredient in insect repellants. While DEET does work to keep the tiny critters off, it can also have some ugly side effects, including rashes, disorientation, and seizures. People looking for equally effective but safer insect repellants haven’t had much to choose from, but new tests show that some non-DEET products can offer the same level of protection.

Our colleagues at Consumer Reports recently risked their own flesh (seriously, watch the video above to see how they let ticks, mosquitoes and other nasties attack their exposed skin) to test a variety of insect repellants. For the first time in the magazine’s repellant ratings, the two highest-rated products used something other than DEET for their active ingredients.

The highest-scoring repellant was Sawyers Fisherman’s Formula, which uses a 20% concentration of picaridin. This chemical resembles the compound piperine, which occurs naturally in a group of plants used to produce black pepper. It may cause some irritation of the skin, eyes, and lungs, so — just like all repellants — proper application is important.

Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, with a 30% concentration of oil of lemon eucalyptus, was the runner-up in the CR ratings. It can cause temporary eye injury and the FDA says it should not be used on children under the age of 3.

Both of these products outperformed repellants that contained up to 25% DEET, and were able to keep mosquitoes and deer ticks away for at least seven hours.

“They are not side-effect-free, but those problems are less severe than DEET,” explains Ellen Kunes of Consumer Reports.

As we mentioned above, DEET works and one of the lower-concentration DEET-based repellants managed to receive a “Very Good” rating from Consumer Reports. The Repel Scented Family repellant, a 15% DEET repellant, outperformed Off! Deepwoods VIII, a 25% DEET product that also received a high rating.

Repellants like Coleman SkinSmart and BullFrog Mosquito Coast that use a different non-DEET main ingredient, IR3535, didn’t make it into CR’s list of top-rated repellants.

Likewise tests on repellants using natural plant oils like citronella, lemongrass, and rosemary didn’t live up to their marketing claims of providing long-lasting relief from insect attacks. Of the natural oil products tested by CR, none lasted more than one hour against mosquitoes, and some failed almost immediately.

Regardless of which repellant you use, there are keys to safe and effective application of the products:

• Apply repellents only to exposed skin or clothing (as directed on the product label). Never put it on under clothing. Use just enough to cover and only for as long as needed; heavy doses don’t work better.

• Don’t apply repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.

• When applying to your face, spray first on your hands, then rub in, avoiding your eyes and mouth, and using sparingly around ears.

• Don’t let young children apply. Instead, put it on your own hands, then rub it on. Limit use on children’s hands, because they often put their hands in their eyes and mouths.

• Don’t use near food, and wash hands after application and before eating or drinking.

• At the end of the day, wash treated skin with soap and water, and wash treated clothing in a separate wash before wearing again.

Over 1 million Americans get sick from salmonella every year. The bacteria, especially in more potent, drug-resistant forms, is responsible for the highest number of hospitalizations and deaths of all food borne illnesses; all in spite of increased anti-salmonella measures by the poultry industry. One giant chicken company was recently responsible for sickening more than 600 people in 29 states, while the federal government was virtually powerless in demanding a recall.

Tonight, PBS news show Frontline will debut its latest report, “The Trouble with Chicken,” which investigates why salmonella outbreaks continue to happen and whether the current safety standards are doing anything to actually keep us safe.

In advance of the premiere, we give you a look at some of the episode’s most vital takeaways.

Salmonella Isn’t Just A Stomach Bug

In Oct. 2013, several months into an outbreak tied to poultry producing giant Foster Farms, an 18-month-old boy in Arizona became infected after consuming a particularly potent strain of the bacteria. While the boy’s grandmother was correctly diagnosed with salmonellosis, the toddler’s doctors claimed his odd behavior was not due to salmonella because he did not have bloody diarrhea.

Weeks later, when his condition failed to improve, an MRI showed a large and growing abscess in his skull. Doctors had to perform a 4-hour craniotomy on the youngster.

“American housewives… normally are not ignorant or stupid”

Under current federal laws, the USDA is limited to compelling recalls of tainted food only when it “adulterants” are present. This generally refers to things like metals, pesticides or other chemicals that you wouldn’t normally find in a meat product.

Since salmonella is commonly found in poultry, and its mere presence it not considered unsafe, the USDA is hamstrung when it faces a situation like the recent, widespread Foster Farm outbreak.

But when the American Public Health Association sued to the Dept. of Agriculture in the 1970s to have salmonella declared an adulterant, the government put the onus of determining when something was safe.

“[T]he American consumer knows that raw meat and poultry are not sterile and, if handled improperly, perhaps could cause illness,” wrote the agency in 1971.

And in the ruling for APHA v Butz, a federal appeals court concurred, writing that “American housewives and cooks normally are not ignorant or stupid and their methods of preparing and cooking of food do not ordinarily result in salmonellosis.”

“The sniff, they smell and they look”

Critics, and even industry leaders, say this mindset of “you’ll know tainted meat when you see it” underscores an outdated way of thinking; the notion that a sniff test is sufficient for determining whether a piece of chicken is potentially problematic.

Back in 2011, Cargill recalled some 36 million pounds of ground turkey over salmonella concerns.

Mike Robach, Cargill’s VP in charge of food safety, admits to Frontline’s David Hoffman that the company had noticed increased levels of salmonella but initially chalked it up as a seasonal uptick.

“At the end of the day we weren’t taking appropriate action,” acknowledges Robach, who adds that USDA on-site testing of poultry has failed to keep pace with the times.

“I mean, you know, we have inspectors that are doing the same thing they’ve been doing for years and years and years,” Robach explains, “looking for abscesses or for… something that you can see. It’s kind of like they sniff, they smell and they look. That is not the modern way for us to be applying what we know from a scientific standpoint to providing good oversight.”

Robach says that the testing priorities for the USDA are still rooted in the early days of food saftey inspection, when the priority was keeping obviously diseased animals and carcasses out of of the marketplace.

But even though increased food safety has been successful in significantly reducing the percentage of birds testing positive for salmonella, outbreaks continue.

Critics point out that USDA only checks for the presence of salmonella, not the amount of salmonella found or whether it’s a relatively harmless strain or a potent one.

Additionally, they claim that the USDA focuses too much on checking whole carcass chickens, not chicken parts. This is in spite of the fact that 80% of chicken sold in the U.S. is sold cut into pieces. Cutting up chickens can have the effect of releasing salmonella that was buried in a bird’s skin.

During the Foster Farms outbreak, the whole birds at the company’s plants were meeting USDA standards. But when the agency then tested chicken parts at Foster facilities, it found that — at three plants — 25% of parts tested positive, predominantly for the potent Salmonella Heidelberg strain.

“Salmonella levels are going down. Human illness is not,” says William James, a former official with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). “It doesn’t take a genius to understand that if this is going down and this is not, this must be the wrong standard.”

“The consequences were probably more letters”

Frontline’s Hoffman points out to Dr. David Goldman of FSIS that, following a 2004 salmonella outbreak tied to Foster Farms chicken, the agency sent Foster a letter for failing to effectively control the bacteria, and for not even listing salmonella as potential hazard.

Dr. Goldman explains that this letter was a way for FSIS to tell Foster, “we expect you make some changes” but when another salmonella outbreak occurs less than a decade later, “we all have to ask ourselves, did we, did they do enough?”

The doctor acknowledges that, because of the more recent outbreak of the same strain of salmonella at Foster plants, “then I don’t think they did enough.”

“And what are the consequences of that?” asks Hoffman.

Replies Goldman, “The consequences were probably more letters like that and more expectations on the part of the agency that they make some changes.”

Hoffman asks the doctor is USDA can mete out some sort of punishment for Foster twice failing to prevent salmonella outbreaks.

“There is no specific action that I am aware of,” says Goldman.

There’s much more to the Frontline report than we can get into here. It airs tonight on PBS stations nationwide and will soon be available — along with supplemental content — on PBS.org.

WASHINGTON — Meet Jackie Boy, this week’s Pet of the Week.

This Blue Heeler mix is ready to find his forever home. Jackie Boy is a smart, active and playful guy who loves to run and play.  An active adopter would be ideal for this guy, since he loves to run and go for long walks.

Heelers are herding dogs by nature, so Jackie Boy would be very receptive to training and daily tasks.  He’s very smart and curious and he loves people and seems to get along well with other dogs.

Jackie Boy is a handsome pup and has a perfect mask across his face (chocolate/black fur with a “blue” strip between the eyes and over the nose).

At 18 months old, Jackie Boy is mostly through the “puppy” stage but still loves a toy or two!

Come out to meet Jackie Boy at the Washington Animal Rescue League this week. He can’t wait to meet you.

—

About WARL: Founded in 1914, the Washington Animal Rescue League is the oldest animal shelter in Washington D.C. Its mission includes rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for animals who have no where else to go. The League also supports animals through affordable veterinary care, community outreach and education. Learn more about the Washington Animal Rescue League at www.warl.org.

If you are thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, check out these other great shelters in the area:

Maryland

Humane Society of Charles County
(301) 645-8181
71 Industrial Park Dr. PO Box 1015 Waldorf, Md. 20604

Humane Society of Charles County offers a low cost spay/neuter program to the public. Please call or visit our website for more information. The shelter is also looking for more foster parents to help its animals.

Prince George’s County Humane Society
(301) 262-5625
P.O. Box 925 Bowie, Md. 20718
Prince George’s County Humane Society is also looking for foster parents. For more information, contact the organization.

PAW – Partnership for Animal Welfare
(301) 572-4729
P.O. Box 1074 Greenbelt, Md. 20768

Paws Animal Kingdom
(301) 920-2318
P.O. Box 11531 Takoma Park, Md. 20912

Montgomery County Humane Society
(240) 773-5960
14645 Rothgeb Dr. Rockville, Md. 20850

The Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County
(301) 740-2511
12 Park Ave. Gaithersburg, Md. 20877

D.C.

Washington Humane Society
(202) 576-6664
1201 New York Ave. NE 20002

ASAP – Alliance for Stray Animals and People
(202) 331-1330
P.O. Box 65438 Washington, D.C. 20035-5438

Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue
(202) 575-2210
Approved applicants may attend monthly adoption meets that are usually held at the house of a volunteer in either Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
(202) 741-5428
Lucky Dog is a foster home organization and does not run a dedicated housing facility.

Northern Virginia

A Forever Home
(703) 961-8690
A Forever-Home is a non-profit dog rescue group that operates in the Northern Virginia/Washington Metropolitan area.

Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P.
(301) 299-6756
Lab Rescue of the LRCP is a volunteer driven, non-profit organization that rescues, fosters and places homeless, abused, and/or abandoned Labrador Retrievers.

FOHA – Friends of Homeless Animals
(703) 385-0224
All visitors must speak to a Friends representative prior to receiving directions to their shelter location.

SPCA of Northern Virginia
P.O. Box 100220 Arlington, Va. 22210-3220
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
(703) 746-4774
4101 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, Va. 22304

Animal Welfare League of Arlington
(703) 931-9241
2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr. Arlington, Va.

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
(703) 295-3647
P.O. Box 223953 Chantilly, Va. 20153

HART – Homeless Animal Rescue Team
(703) 691-HART
P.O. Box 7261 Fairfax Station, Va. 22039-7261

King Street Cats Rescue and Adoption
(703) 231-7199
25 Dove St. Alexandria, Va. 22314

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WASHINGTON — Want to stop mosquitoes from ruining your summer?

For years, campers, hikers and many others who loved spending long hours in the hot outdoors thought garlic pills and vitamin B were the answers to warding off the pesky visitors — but one local expert disagrees.

“There’s no scientific basis that either garlic or consumption of vitamin B make you less attractive to mosquitoes,” says University of Maryland Entomologist Mike Raupp.

While dozens of mosquito repellents exist, Raupp narrowed the options down to his three most effective recommendations. Picaridin and lemon of eucalyptus oil both last between two to four hours, but the most effective repellent is DEET, which can protect against mosquitoes for up to eight hours.

Still, when it comes to keeping mosquitoes away, not all humans are equal. Some people attract more mosquitoes than others due to a stronger body odor.

“They’re queuing in on odors that animals and humans give off — things like carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and a whole host of other volatile organic compounds,” Raupp says.

Also, Raupp recommends a little housekeeping to help keep mosquitoes away.

“Tip over that bird bath twice a week. Dump that wheel barrow. Get up on the roof and clean out those clogged gutters and drains,” Raupp says.

 

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this story

The post How to ward off mosquitoes this summer appeared first on WTOP.

Prince William County community calendar Washington Post Dale City farmers market 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Dale City Commuter Lot, (behind Center Plaza Shopping Center), Dale Boulevard, Dale City. 703-670-7112, Ext. 227. www.pwcparks.org. Free. Bristow farmers market 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bristow Montessori School, parking ... and more »