When an accidentally DNA-altered puppy is born with a thumb, his lovelorn, grad-student caretaker devises a strategy to achieve their Kardashian-like fame and fortune. But what goes up . . . must inevitably fall back down in this tale of unrequited love and 21st century celebrity. Howlingly good fun! 20% of proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Pasadena Humane Society & the SPCA.
Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn’t check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it “two thumbs up.” On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they’d ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune. Roger Ebert had recently won the Pulitzer Prize—the first ever awarded to a film critic—for his work at the Chicago Sun-Times. To say they despised each other was an understatement. When they reluctantly agreed to collaborate on a new movie review show with PBS, there was at least as much sparring off-camera as on. No decision—from which films to cover to who would read the lead review to how to pronounce foreign titles—was made without conflict, but their often-antagonistic partnership (which later transformed into genuine friendship) made for great television. In the years that followed, their signature “Two thumbs up!” would become the most trusted critical brand in Hollywood. In Opposable Thumbs, award-winning editor and film critic Matt Singer eavesdrops on their iconic balcony set, detailing their rise from making a few hundred dollars a week on local Chicago PBS to securing multimillion-dollar contracts for a syndicated series (a move that convinced a young local host named Oprah Winfrey to do the same). Their partnership was cut short when Gene Siskel passed away in February of 1999 after a battle with brain cancer that he’d kept secret from everyone outside his immediate family—including Roger Ebert, who never got to say goodbye to his longtime partner. But their influence on in the way we talk about (and think about) movies continues to this day.
Get the Summary of Matt Singer's Opposable Thumbs in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. "Opposable Thumbs" by Matt Singer chronicles the careers of film critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Ebert, who began as a reporter, unexpectedly became a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times at 24, winning a Pulitzer Prize and developing a conversational critique style. Siskel, who lost his parents early, found solace in movies and became a critic for the Chicago Tribune, known for his rigorous standards...
What do science and art have to do with dog training? The science teaches you the nuances of how dogs learn. The art helps you to be more clear and inventive if your dog doesn’t quite understand what you want. You will learn about breaking down behaviors using a positive, proactive approach which is a big part of the modern process of dog training.
Step by step instructions will help make what may seem insurmountable into something much simpler. This book will take you through it all:
• A look at the science behind modern training techniques and why they really work. • Expert advice on basic training – sit, down, stay, come, door etiquette and loose leash walking. • Addressing jumping, biting, stealing and other misbehaviors. • Helping your dog become a Canine Good Citizen.
Life mirrors dog training. The effort you put in now will yield you many rewards, both immediately and for years to come.
What experts are saying about You Can Train Your Dog!: Pam Dennison has done it again! She has written a fabulous book about training dogs that will benefit both the pet owner and novice or professional instructor. This in-depth volume bears Pam’s signature stamp of breaking tasks into small steps that make learning effective and fun for dog and human alike. When I think of Pam, I think of someone who really “gets” dogs and who stands out in her ability to teach using practical, simple, realistic, and effective dog-friendly methods. This wonderful book is chock full of easy to follow approaches that work with family dogs, working dogs, high-performance dogs, and dogs with problems. It is precisely because of its practicality and comprehensiveness that I plan to use this book in my Animal-Assisted Play Therapy training program. This is an absolute must-read for everyone who trains their own or others’ dogs! Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC Founder, The Playful Pooch Program, Author of the award-winning Play Therapy with Kids & Dogs and The Human Half of Dog Training: Collaborating with Clients to Get Results
Wow! This book has it all. From basics and animal husbandry through to Premack and control games. If we had more well planned books like this in our stores there would be less problem dogs on our streets! Pamela does a great job of deciphering the science behind dog training in this user friendly guide to having a great dog! Nando Brown, IMDT, CAP2, FSG1, FFITT
I love how Pam makes the science and art of training a dog understandable for all caregivers. By using this book you will not only understand how your dog learns, but teach him step by step many important behaviours; from preparing him for vet visits to teaching him to walking on a loose lead. You can enhance the relationship you have with your dog and the relationship he has with you by reading this excellent book. Chirag Patel, PG Cert (CAB), BSc(Hons), CPBC, DipCABT Animal Behaviour & Training Consultant
Handle grooming yourself to save money and bond with your dog Brush, bathe, and clip your dog like a pro! Whether your dog is destined for a career in the show ring or a spot on the living room couch, good grooming is important. This friendly guide shows you how to develop a grooming routine that will keep your dog clean - and strengthen the bond between you. It includes detailed, step-by-step grooming instructions for all types of coats. Discover how to Train your dog for grooming Care for nails, teeth, and ears Use clippers and scissors Groom specific types of coats Prepare a dog for the show ring
Be (more) aware! Here is your road map to evaluating, managing and modifying aggressive behavior in pet dogs. Beware of the Dog offers a wide-ranging look at all types of aggression and the way these troublesome behaviors develop. It explains the latest protocols for evaluating and dealing with the problems of aggressive dogs from classical conditioning to operant conditioning, and prescribes management strategies that really work. Written in an easy-to-understand style that meets the needs of trainers as well as the motivated dog owner.
These ten original stories explore one of the most heatedly debated topics today. From a tale that examines whether life on Earth is an out-of-control science project, to one which reveals which species will inherit the planet, to a portrait of a scientist determined to discover the truth about God, the stories in this anthology tackle the big questions in ways that range from startling to satirical?and are always entertaining.
Head held high, I walked out of the shelter with the dog others had deemed hopeless. Minutes later, I was banished from my own car by bared teeth and bristled fur, caught in the rain and dripping wet, foiled by the very creature whose cause I had just championed. Never in my life had I asked so many times, “What was I thinking?” When I rescued Buji, little did I know he would teach me some of life’s most valuable lessons—and all he had to do to get my attention was save my life. In Buji and Me, psychological therapist and animal behaviorist Wendy Kelly shares the principles of a dynamic, life-changing force that occurs when we allow our pets to become our teachers. If we are open and aware, they will guide us to being, well, better beings—present, honest, aware, focused, joyful, kind, and loving. Unleash the seven secrets of living the “pawsitive” life . . . starting today.
