Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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JUNE 8-14, 2016 UCW 27 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM ADVICE GODDESS Canine And A Half Weeks My girlfriend sleeps with her two medium-sized dogs. They are, to quote her, her "babies." I see them more as her bodyguards. We don't live together, but even when I sleep over, which is a few times a week, she refuses to kick them out of the bed. She has a nice bed they could sleep on downstairs in a spare room, but she says she doesn't trust them down there. — Second Fiddle The truth is, a dog (or dogs) left alone in a room may, in short order, chew a $900 leather chair into a $900 pile of stuffing. People tend to see this as the dog's scheming attempt to show its owner who's boss. However, anthrozoologist and doggy behavior researcher John W.S. Bradshaw says the notion that dogs are engaged in this fight for dominance with humans just isn't supported by modern science. Unfortunately, widespread belief in this myth has led many to see (highly effective) reward-based dog training as coddling and instead opt for Stalinistic confrontation- and punishment-based training, which Bradshaw writes "may initially suppress (some unwanted) behavior but can then cause the dog to become depressed and withdrawn." Chewing, Bradshaw explains, is actually a form of tension relief for a dog. Tension? Because the dog has a big project due at the office? Well, actually, we bred dogs to bond with us, so they evolved to find human contact very rewarding. And according to Bradshaw's research, many dogs experience serious "separation distress" when isolated from their owner – which they often express in all sorts of decor- destroying ways. Now, maybe you're thinking, "The girlfriend's two dogs have each other!" If only that counted in dog terms. Bradshaw references a study in which mutts in a kennel, separated from their usual canine kennel mates, didn't act out; however, those separated from their usual human caretakers freaked. As Bradshaw puts it, for a dog, the key pack member is "almost always a human." As for the human conflict here, relationships researcher John Gottman explains that the answer to gridlock on an issue isn't solving the problem (which may be impossible) but being able to talk about it with humor, empathy and affection. What's essential is that your feelings seem to be important to your girlfriend and that she at least considers possible compromises, like having the doggies in her bedroom but on beds on the floor. (It may take some training to get a bed dog to be a floor dog.) Ultimately, in the bedroom, the Reign of Terrier may not end, but on the upside, paw print place mats have yet to appear on the dining table, and your customary glass of merlot isn't being set next to a bowl of pasta primavera on the floor. Copyright Amy Alkon WEEKLY HOROSCOPES NEWS OF THE WEIRD by CHUCK SHEPPARD Ms. Pi xee Fox repor ted in May t hat she was recover ing nicely f rom cosmet ic r ib-remova l surger y, per for med by one of t he few doc tors in t he world who of fers it ( Dr. Bar r y Eppley of Car mel, Indiana). T hough she has had more t han a dozen " beaut if y ing " procedures, she had t rouble f inding a surgeon who would ag ree to t a ke out si x " f ree- f loat ing " r ibs (ones not at t ached to t he ster num). Bor n in Sweden, she gave up a c areer as a t rained elec t r ician to come to t he United St ates to pursue her goa l of look ing " like a c ar toon charac ter " — which she has surely achieved w it h her now-16 - inch waist . [ W RT V ( Indianapolis), 5-19- 2016] Leading Economic Indic ators Tr iple Crow n w inner A mer ic an Pharoa h ear ned an est imated $8.6 million racing but , now ret ired, could ear n as much as $35 million just by hav ing sex . St a llions repor tedly c an breed into t heir 20s, and t he horse, now barely age four, w ill have 175 conquest s by t he end of t his summer, according to a May repor t by CNBC . One indust r y worker said Pharoa h has put on weight , spends his spare t ime peaceably eat ing g rass, and " look s more like a rela xed horse." A spokesman for t he Kent uck y far m now housing Pharoa h said he " has proven to be ver y professiona l in t he breeding shed." [CNBC , 5-2-2016] L atest Relig ious Messages T he Keystone Fellowship Church in Nor t h Wa les, Penns ylvania, has a t radit ion of cong regant s reser v ing pew seat s by leav ing Bibles in place, but worshipper Rober t Bra x ton, 27, was hav ing none of t hat on Apr il 24 and took a saved seat any way. Wit nesses told Philadelphia's WC AU-T V t hat when one church member gent ly t apped Bra x ton on t he shoulder to infor m him of t he t radit ion, Bra x ton snapped at him and bec ame disr upt ive. Cong regant Mark Stor ms, 46, f lashed a g un and conf ronted Bra x ton, who punched Stor ms, adding , " T hat 's not a rea l g un" and " W hat are you going to do, shoot me? " Stor ms, contending t hat he felt t hreatened, f ired t wo shot s, k illing Bra x ton, and was charged w it h volunt ar y manslaughter. [ Philly.com, 4 -30-2016] COPY R IGHT CHUCK SHEPPA R D ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, communication between you and another is a bit stilted this week. You need to find a new strategy to introduce the topics you want to discuss. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, you have been juggling a lot lately, and now may be a great time to take a step back and exhale. Reevaluate your priorities during this respite. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 You feel physically strong and healthy this week, Gemini. In fact, you may have more energy than you've had in a while. Allow this energy to take you far. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, a fun and productive week is ahead. Make every moment count by sharing experiences with friends or loved ones. Also, focus on some future adventures. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Happiness for you comes from home and family members this week, Leo. Host a party or another social event to bring those closest to you together in your own home. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, group activities and other social interactions fill your schedule this week, and that's right up your alley. Friends may offer their suggestions for more fun. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 You may experience a complete change in attitude regarding someone in your life, Libra. The tables will be turned completely, and it may catch you off guard. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Spiritual and psychic matters come to the forefront this week, Scorpio. You may be inspired to express yourself in meaningful ways. Or you may provide sage advice to others. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, a move or another significant life event is looming on the horizon. Make a list of changes you may need to make and ask an unbiased friend for some advice. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, communication is both congenial and supportive this week. Be there for a loved one without questioning their decisions. They will appreciate the unconditional support. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Your career is going great right now, Aquarius. Take this opportunity to ask for additional responsibilities or to ask for that well- deserved raise. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, plan a trip to someplace distant or exotic. Find a location on the map that appeals to you and make your adventure come to life. Amy Alkon Your opinion is something we always want to hear. Call or email us your feedback. WE'RE ALL EARS Questions? Comments? Story Ideas? Let us know how we're doing. 208 Rowan St. Fayetteville, NC 28301 910.484.6200 www.upandcomingweekly.com Chuck Sheppard WEEKLY HOROSCOPE