sled dogs Archives - Fuzzy Today

Born Mobile?

Qualcomm is doing a unique promotion to get people talking about their mobile devices by making a bus stop more interesting while advertising with the slogan “Are You Born Mobile?”

It might not seem like much, but they had some great ideas of ways to improve the wait for a bus. They put up different posters with a mobile website for people to visit on their phone, doing so resulted in some form of alternative transportation arriving. Things like a fast convertible or a bus full of performers. They also had a couple very cute ideas: For those that have seen everything – a team of sled dogs and a sled. For those who are in love – a carriage ride. For the stressed – a bus full of puppies to pet and play with!

Sled Dog Surprise:

Horse and Carriage Surprise:

Puppy Bus Surprise:

All of this publicity is meant to direct you to Qualcomm’s facebook page to take a quiz and see if you were “born mobile.” I believe the idea is that we are exposed to technology at younger ages, and might have grown up on it, and this is affecting the world. You can watch more of the videos from that bus stop and enter to win a Qualcomm device as well.

To read more about Qualcomm and about the concept of being born mobile, please visit qualcomm.com.

February 19, 2013

fun No comments Cola and Fizz

Iditarod

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 40th Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska. Sixty-six mushers and their teams of dogs will race for 8 days, beginning in the town of Willow, to reach the town of Nome. The race covers around 1000 miles, with the actual mileage different as start points are changed around. Mushers have teams of 12 – 16 dogs, and must have 6 on the tow line in front of the sled when they reach Nome. The first 30 to finish split $550,000 – with the first team to cross the line receiving $50,400 and a new truck.

The race is loosely based off the 1925 serum run in which a diphtheria epidemic threatened the town of Nome. The closest available serum to treat the disease was in Anchorage. No safe planes were available to transport it, so it made the trip first by train and then my a relay team of 20 mushers and over 100 dogs. No dog ran over 100 miles. The famous Balto was lead dog of the team which arrived in town with the serum – just five and a half days after it left Anchorage.

Teams of dogs starting the race:

(REUTERS/Wayde Carroll)

The dogs wear booties to protect their paws:

(AP Photo/Anchorage Daily News, Bob Hallinen)

I think sled dogs are amazing, a wonderful example of a dog doing what it was bred to do in some of the harshest conditions possible. These dogs spend much of their lives outdoors, having thick fur which allows them to withstand freezing temperatures.

National Geographic also has a great set of pictures featuring military sled dogs. This is currently the only military dog sled team in the world which operates in Greenland, paroling the frozen coastline. There are 12 men who make up the team, and they complete a full investigation of the coast at least once every 5 years.

Here is a close up of two of the dogs: