By Melissa Breyer, Mother Nature Network
1. Le Marathon du Medoc: Pauillac, France
At Le Marathon du Medoc runners don't choose between water or Gatorade at hydration stations; instead they're asked, "red or white?" That's because this race dedicated to all things grape has runners (and staggerers) racing through 59 vineyards in the fairytale villages of the Medoc region. The course reads more like a wine list at Le Bernardin than a race
By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network
Live bait vending machine.
Remember when your typical vending machine sold Doritos, Diet Pepsi, Dorals and Doublemint Gum? And when they (gasp!) accepted only nickels, dimes and quarters? As eating and other habits have evolved - and junk food has become less of a 24/7 self-serve munchie-machine staple - so too has the vending machine industry. Things that you thought you'd never be able to purchase out of a giant rectangular box plugged into the wall are now available - whenever you need them. (Case in point: the morning-after pill uproar in Pennsylvania.)
This trend goes way beyond apples, baby carrots and whole grain crackers. We're talking about live crabs, gold, acne medication and swim apparel. These odd vending machine items aren't just in Japan, a vending-crazed nation that boasts one machine for every 23 people, selling such useful items as electronics, umbrellas, rice, eggs, instant noodles and "used" women's panties. Vending machines with decidedly
By Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network
The Pet CollectiveThe Pet Collective, a new YouTube channel dedicated to furry, feathered and scaly pets of all types, has officially launched. The channel, which was started by FremantleMedia, offers an array of original content that ranges from informative Q&As with veterinarians to comedic scripted shows about pet owners and their animals' exploits.
"People in the U.S. really elevate pets to members of the family," says Michelle Davis, supervising producer at The Pet Collective. "This is a collective place for all pet lovers, and the channel offers something for everyone."
But above all, Davis says the channel aims to benefit animals, which is especially evident in the series "The Unadoptables." These videos highlight pets that are difficult for shelters to adopt out, including animals with special needs, bonded pairs, black cats and pets that are older or considered unattractive.
Related: 10 cats made famous by YouTube
Overpopulation in animal
Read More »from YouTube Launches Channel for Pet LoversBy John Platt, Mother Nature Network
Nature as muse?The more you get away from the stresses of daily life and the more time you spend outdoors, the greater your level of creativity. That's the conclusion from a new study that found a team of backpackers were 50 percent more creative after they had spent four days on the trail.
The study - which has not yet been published in a scientific journal - was conducted by Ruth Ann Atchley, department chair and associate professor of cognitive/clinical psychology at the University of Kansas. It was discussed in the Wall Street Journal this weekend.
Related: 5 tips for reaching your creative potential
"There's a growing advantage over time to being in nature," Atchley said in a press release about the research last month. "We think that it peaks after about three days of really getting away, turning off the cellphone, not hauling the iPad and not looking for Internet coverage. It's when you have an extended period of time surrounded by that
By Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network 
A family friend agreed to watch my dog Shiloh while I was on vacation. When I returned, he informed me that the name Lulu seemed like a better fit, so that's what he called her until the name stuck. I made a mental note to find reputable boarding facilities in my neighborhood, packed up Lulu's things and left.
Even though I was upset at the time, changing my dog's name back to Shiloh never occurred to me. Perhaps that's why I was slightly amused - and perhaps a little baffled - when NFL quarterback Tim Tebow celebrated his move to the New York Jets football team by changing his dog's name from Bronco to Bronx.
Sports writers flooded Twitter with jokes about the move (check out the hashtag #rejectedTebowDogNames), while some pet owners complained about the name change. But do dogs really know the difference? Each year, millions of cats and dogs are adopted from animal shelters or rescue groups. More often than not, those pets get new names to
By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network
Mothers-in-law can go either way. She could be a sweet-natured, laid-back matriarch who considers herself more of a compassionate friend than an authority figure. Or she could be a sharp-tongued harpy who seems to enjoy nothing more than undermining your decisions, invading your personal space and watching you squirm. It could go either way.
Given the often tense state of mother-in-law relationships, we've singled out a few specific things that both sons-in-law and, most importantly, daughters-in-law should avoid saying to their spouse's mother to keep things friendly, functional and melodrama-free. Or, you could insult your mother-in-law's prize-winning chicken cacciatore before going on to tell her how highly her son scores in the sack. Oh, and don't forget to tell her that her parenting advice stinks. Just be prepared to feel her wrath.
1. 'Delicious! This rib eye tastes just like the kind they serve at Applebee's'
Unless you've
By Benyamin Cohen, Mother Nature Network
Dr. Robert Schwartz carefully contemplates the croissant on his plate. He cradles it in his hands, exploring its consistency and contours. He turns it upside down, holding it up to the morning light, and takes a bite. With all the seriousness of a jeweler examining a precious gem, he lifts his head and declares simply, "I expected more."
Nonplussed and mildly disappointed, he looks around the bistro to the other diners gathered here on this breezy Sunday morning. Is their food any better? Or are their cupcakes and muffins just as empty, loveless in the trappings of a decadent treat that doesn't live up to its reputation?
It's these types of existential questions that Schwartz, 63, finds most pressing these days. His new book, "Holy Eating: The Spiritual Secret to Eternal Weight Loss," is a paean to the Old Testament as foodie's bible.
The book may seem like a departure for the psychologist. After all, he's a student of the
Read More »from A Sex Therapist Turns Focus to Food and FaithBy John Platt, Mother Nature Network
Have bag, will travel.Flying with carry-on luggage is hard enough these days, but what if you need to pack a panda or a thoroughbred horse?
No worries. More and more airlines are seeing profits in shipping animals in their cargo holds. Airlines say this is a small but lucrative portion of their cargo business, despite the risks.
Deutsche Lufthansa's Animal Lounge in Frankfurt is one of the top players in their field, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. The airline shipped 110 million creatures - including 80 million tropical fish and hundreds of tons of worms - in 2011. The airline also shipped 14,000 cats and dogs, 8,000 pigs and 150 zoo animals last year. When Businessweek visited the facility last month, animals awaiting shipment included a white rhinoceros, a Madagascar chameleon and an Andean alpaca.
Animal Lounge Director Axel Heitmann told the magazine the facility has 24 veterinarians on staff to mitigate the risks of shipping non-humans: "If a
Read More »from Airlines See Profits in Shipping Animals
By Melissa Breyer, Mother Nature Network
Obviously, fractures, growth-plate injuries, head bangs and other serious wounds require medical attention, but minor injuries can benefit from simple treatments administered by Dr. Mom. "Home remedies may not be appropriate for treating every situation all the time; when in doubt, it is always best to consult a medical professional," says Dr. Philip Hagen, a preventive medicine expert at Mayo Clinic and editor-in-chief of the new Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies. "But it may be possible to care for minor health issues at home, or to use home remedies to enhance the care
Read More »from Home Remedies for Kids' Sports Injuries
By Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network
On busy days, cars slow their pace and kids peer through the chain link fence to watch these muscular dogs work for treats alongside cocker spaniels, Jack Russell terriers, and even an occasional poodle. The six-week training program ends with dogs taking the Canine Good Citizen test, followed by a graduation party where neighbors gather to watch students demonstrate new tricks. In less than a year, HSUS has begun to chip away at the city's perception of pit bulls as dog-fighting monsters. But the D.C.-based organization faces a bigger battle in its own backyard.
Maryland's Court of Appeals recently ruled that pit bulls and pit bull mixes are "inherently dangerous." The decision stems from a case involving a pit bull named Clifford that escaped from its pen twice, severely injuring two children on the same day. Plaintiffs sued the dog's owner and the landlord. Maryland's Court of Appeals ruling means that dog owners - and their
Read More »from A Pit Bull Perception Problem?