People Eat Dogs, Cats Even Here In The U.S.

As early as 2002, 44 states did not have statutes outlawing the treatment of these two domesticated species as livestock. It appears that the biggest prohibition on eating dogs and cats is social.

The Wall Street Journal looks at the Taboo of eating dogs:

Dogs are wonderful, and in many ways unique. But they are remarkably unremarkable in their intellectual and experiential capacities. Pigs are every bit as intelligent and feeling, by any sensible definition of the words. They can’t hop into the back of a Volvo, but they can fetch, run and play, be mischievous and reciprocate affection. So why don’t they get to curl up by the fire? Why can’t they at least be spared being tossed on the fire? Our taboo against dog eating says something about dogs and a great deal about us.

Eating Dog meat has a long and rich history:

Dog meat has been described as “gamey” “complex,” “buttery” and “floral.” And there is a proud pedigree of eating it. Fourth-century tombs contain depictions of dogs being slaughtered along with other food animals. It was a fundamental enough habit to have informed language itself: the Sino-Korean character for “fair and proper” (yeon) literally translates into “as cooked dog meat is delicious.” Hippocrates praised dog meat as a source of strength. Dakota Indians enjoyed dog liver, and not so long ago Hawaiians ate dog brains and blood. Captain Cook ate dog. Roald Amundsen famously ate his sled dogs. (Granted, he was really hungry.) And dogs are still eaten to overcome bad luck in the Philippines; as medicine in China and Korea; to enhance libido in Nigeria and in numerous places, on every continent, because they taste good. For centuries, the Chinese have raised special breeds of dogs, like the black-tongued chow, for chow, and many European countries still have laws on the books regarding postmortem examination of dogs intended for human consumption.

The United States does not have a history of eating these animals and most citizens view the practice as repugnant. Oddly enough, most states have animal cruelty laws (albeit some states have very weak laws). Could it be considered a shade of grey to eat cat meat? You have to kill the cat to eat it and killing it would certainly not be an act of kindness. New York has explicit laws against killing dogs and cats for the sale of their flesh.

However, it is murky in terms of whether it’s legal to eat the flesh once it’s been butchered. California has much broader laws.

The golden state makes it illegal to not only butcher the animals, but to be found in possession of their flesh. Thus far, it appears that only California outright bars eating dogs and cats. As for the other states, it will all boil down to how their animal cruelty laws are interpreted.

Here’s some food for thought:

The French, who love their dogs, sometimes eat their horses.

The Spanish, who love their horses, sometimes eat their cows.

The Indians, who love their cows, sometimes eat their dogs.

Source material:

The California law protects “any animal traditionally or commonly kept as a pet or companion,”: Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2010/08/here_kitty_kitty_kitty.html

Let Them Eat Dog

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703574604574499880131341174.html

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Nicole Richie Breast Implants Rumors Persist

Inside sources say that Richie admitted to friends that she opted for a voluptuous new figure thanks to a breast implant procedure that now has her breasts falling outside of her bikini tank top cups.

Friends also report that Richie felt that after breast-feeding two children, she had to do something to help get her breasts back into shape. She confided to friends that although she considered her breasts rather small prior to motherhood, breast feeding “killed” their shape. Another consideration was that she wanted to look much more sexy for spouse Joel Madden.

“Nicole has definitely had a breast augmentation,” Dr. Chiu tells Celebuzz. “In her angled before photos, she is nearly flat-chested in the upper half of her breasts. In the after photos, not only does she have volume in the upper half, but she has a more pleasing rounded shape that is not caused by any support of her bikini top. In the head-on photos, Nicole definitely has a cleavage that is not present in her before photo. The curved shape of her cleavage and her lateral breasts are very natural for a teenage girl with perky breasts, but not for someone who has had a child and didn’t have full breasts to begin with.”

Although she originally talked about getting her breasts lifted, she decided instead on getting implants so that they look much fuller. Fan immediately noticed the difference in Richie’s chest size when before and after pictures started circulating online, showing what she looked like in a bikini a year earlier and then the much larger breasts she was sporting during a Mexican vacation.

Source:

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/nicole-richie-got-a-boob-job-2011289

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In fact, Keynes has been viewed very highly much as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt has been. Perhaps that is why Niall Ferguson, a prominent historian from Harvard, ought to have taken a more delicate approach when presenting his critical views of Keynesian economics. Ferguson was a guest speaker at the 2013 Altegris Investment Conference and was set to discuss why Keynesian economics is in wrong.

Ferguson made the initially quoted Keynes who criticized long-term economic projects as being of lesser importance than immediate short-term stimulus saying “in the long run we’re all dead”.

“I should not have suggested – in an off-the-cuff response that was not part of my presentation – that Keynes was indifferent to the long run because he had no children, nor that he had no children because he was gay,” Ferguson wrote on his blog. “This was doubly stupid.”

“First, it is obvious that people who do not have children also care about future generations. Second, I had forgotten that Keynes’s wife Lydia miscarried,” he wrote in the blog, titled “An Unqualified Apology.”

Ferguson claimed that Keynes could adopt such a stance because he was fatherless and that lack of fatherhood was a result of his homosexuality.

Needless to say, the comment has touched off a firestorm. It is without a doubt that critics of Ferguson will seek to discredit his economic views on the basis of his homophobic comment. Ferguson has apologized for his “doubly” stupid remarks in an attempt to refocus his message on economics. Niall Ferguson has written books on historical economics such as “The Ascent of Money”.

The Scottish-born Ferguson, who has written critically acclaimed books on the history of finance and also writes for the Daily Beast website, added that his disagreements with Keynes’ economic philosophy “have never had anything to do with his sexual orientation.”

Source material:
niall ferguson apologizes for “off-the-cuff” keynes remarks

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100708565

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Britney Spears 2007 Meltdown Didn’t Keep Star Down

Her behavior became so erratic by the following year and she was hospitalized so many times that her parents took legal action to obtain conservatorship over her financial affairs.

Sam Lufti, who claimed to be her manager during those troubled days and fiercely guarded Spears against anyone else’s intervention, ultimately sued Spears as well as her parents, claiming he was still owed a large chunk of her income at the time.

But Spears has not only managed to survive those dark drug-addicted days to make a comeback out the other side, she has also written about her trials and turmoil in a book called “Through the Storm”.

It recounts how her father fought to get both the singer’s health and finances back under control after she lost custody of her children and was even placed on psychiatric hold while hospitalized when officials feared she might commit suicide.

But by 2012, Britney Spears was reported to be the highest grossing female musician, with earnings topping $58 million.

“I think it’s a kind of Judy Garland syndrome,” says Brian May, the former Queen guitarist who worked with and befriended Britney during the making of a Pepsi commercial in 2003.

“They don’t get the chance to grow up, these kids. She’s fabulous. It’s very sad.”

“We are living in a new, very different age of celebrity,” says Professor Cary Cooper, the president of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

“Young celebrities are particularly vulnerable because they often miss out on the critical development phases of their teenage years, and the camaraderie of their peer group – phases of natural development they need to go through,” believes Prof Cooper.

“We take these young kids and turn them into celebrities, and they in turn play to the media because they think it will be good for their careers, while growing up without the coping mechanisms to deal with all the attention.”

On The Web:

Britney’s dad feared singer would die during 2007 meltdown

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/20/entertainment-us-britneyspears-lutfi-idUSBRE89J01P20121020

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1574735/Indecent-exposure-of-Britney-Spears-meltdown.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britney_Spears

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Although Hansen, who is a Republican representing Amhurst in the state senate, said initially he didn’t regret qualifying women by their body parts, reversed course a day later and admitted he was embarrassed by his actions. The e-mail in which he used the allegedly derisive comment was circulated among his colleagues during discussions about whether or not to repeal a current law that allowed the use of deadly force to defend themselves.

State Republican chair Jennifer Horn denounced Hansen’s comments as “disrespectful and shameful.”

“Representative Hansen’s comments are crude, offensive and have no place in public discourse,” Horn said in a statement Tuesday. “There is no excuse for anybody to use such disrespectful language — especially an elected official. I strongly condemn his disrespectful and shameful remarks.”

The 70-year old Hansen, who has personal experience facing a home intruder,initially said he consciously used the term “vaginas” in order to shock people and make them wake up and pay attention to what he was trying to express in his e-mail message and complained that his use of the term had been blown out of proportion.

Harrell Kirstein, a spokesman for the New Hampshire Democrats, called Hansen’s comment “shockingly inappropriate” and “disgusting behavior” and said it reflects Republicans’ stances on birth control, abortion and equal pay.

“New Hampshire Republicans continue to make clear that they do not value women as equals,” Kirstein told HuffPost in a statement. “They refuse to support equal pay for equal work legislation, have routinely attacked access to critical health services for women, and now State House emails reveal how their legislators in Concord really view half of New Hampshire’s population.”

But after critics went so far as to demand his resignation, Hansen was quick to stop explaining and offered a sincere apology for using what he termed “stupid language” that came across as offensive and insensitive to more than half of the population.

Hansen said that he didn’t regret the remark and that critics don’t understand the context.

“My point in the choice of words was two-fold: One was shock content and the other was to try to get into the mind of the perpetrator,” Hansen told The Telegraph of Nashua. “This is something that has been totally blown out of proportion.”

Source:
Peter Hansen senator calls women “vaginasNot Really Sorry Either
http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/04/new_hampshire_state_sen_peter.html

Peter Hansen, New Hampshire Lawmaker, Calls Women ‘Vaginas’ In Email To Colleagues
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/peter-hansen-new-hampshire-vaginas_n_3095135.html

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Brits to spend £240m on Royal baby arrival

Prince William and his bride, Kate Middleton, are expecting their first child, which will be third in the royal succession line. In much the same manner society rushed to mimic the actions of Princess Diana when she became “with child,” British citizens are flocking to copy Kate’s style of maternity dress and are outfitting their own children with similar items and fashions to that of the royal couple.

Nothing, it seems, is off the table, as it relates to commemorative items marking the royal day of birth. Everything from china to clothing is currently being peddled, in response to the merchandise outcry.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cambridge’s parents are all making waves with the sale of royal, baby-related items. Some of which are available at royal estates, such as Highgrove.

The influx of sales may do more than bolster the British economy. It is also being hailed as a means to unite the people.

SOURCES – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10125704/Brits-to-spend-243m-celebrating-birth-of-Royal-baby.html

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Kim Kardashian, “Can’t believe it. It’s so crazy!”

She gave birth this Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Reportedly, Kardashian, 32, had given birth five weeks before her infant’s due dates, and sources informed E! News that the baby girl weighs just below 5 pounds. The baby was delivered naturally, and there were no complications.

“Can’t believe it. It’s so crazy!” Krdashian expressed to Ryan Seacrest, just after he’d emailed her congratulating her on her daughter’s birth. Seacrest released her comments on his Tuesday radio show, and spoke with Ken Baker from E! News. Ken Baker responded by informing Seacrest that both Kim and the baby are healthy.

“This was not planned,” he said. “It came on very quickly and when it was time for the baby to come, it was time for the baby to come.” Ken Baker had additional comments on the event, and excitedly added that, “the whole family was dispersed all over the place.”

However, Baker confirmed that, “[The infant] is healthy and Kim is doing well.” When asked about the family’s morale, he added, “There’s a great sense of relief. Everyone is very happy for her and Kim is relieved [because] this was a very stressful time.”

While the world awaits the first photos of Kardashian and Kanye West’s baby girl, family and close friends have been visiting and one tells PEOPLE that she takes after her mama in the looks department.

“The baby is beyond beautiful. Everything we expected,” socialite, model and Tres Glam jewelry designer Brittny Gastineau, who visited Kardashian at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles over the weekend and Monday night, says.

Since welcoming her daughter into the world on Saturday, the congratulatory wishes have been pouring in for Kardashian. Over the weekend, her BFF reality star Jonathan Cheban told PEOPLE, “Kim is doing amazing and couldn’t be happier.”

Source:

Kim Kardashian on baby’s arrival: “Can’t believe it! It’s so crazy!”
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57589868/kim-kardashian-on-babys-arrival-cant-believe-it-its-so-crazy/

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Shark Attacks At Surfside

According to sources, the shark bit his left leg.

“I hope this teenager grows up to be a cop and gets my back,” EMT Zuandra Monnat said. “He fought off this shark. It bit his leg and he literally tore this shark off of him and that’s how he got the lacerations to his hands.”

The boy then bravely fought off the shark by hitting it and pulling it off of himself, which in turn caused lacerations to his hand.

The other kids from his church group helped him back to shore after the attack, where he was treated by police officer who had been patrolling the beach. He was then taken to Memorial Hermann-Texas Hospital in Houston.

Thankfully the boy’s injuries were not life threatening, and he is in stable condition. He will need some surgeries, however, according to his mother.

The shark took a large portion of his calf and the bite to his hand caused nerve damage.

Monnat happned to be on the beach at the time was one of the first resonders.

“Initially, I saw a boy who was brought onto the beach,” she said. “As far as his injury goes, he was bitten on the leg. He had multiple lacerations on his hand. We bandaged that up using a multi-trauma, which is basically a very big, large band-aid and we got him over to Life Flight as quick as we could.”

“Any time that you have that you actually use on a day-to-day basis, being your hands or your head or anything like that, it’s more of a quality-of-life situation,” Monnat said. “We want him to be able to have all the mobility of his hands and not lose with his hands. Everything was connected, it was just more of wanting to make sure everything continued to work properly.”

This is the first shark attack at Surfside Beach in over 25 years. In fact, in Brazoria County there have only been a total of two attacks in that time. It was unknown what type of shark it was that attacked the boy.

“They’ve had shark attacks on the county beach and in Freeport, but here in Surfside, this is the first one in 25, 30 years,” Surfside Assistant Police Chief Gregg Bisso said.

Police do not plan to issue a warning to residents until they determine the cause.

Source:

Texas teen faces several surgeries after shark attack
http://www.kvue.com/news/state/Shark-attack-off-Surfside-Beach-211922411.html

Boy, 15, bitten by shark at Surfside Beach
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9142399

Shark Attacks Teen At Surfside Beach In Texas
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/shark-attacks-at-surfside_n_3459362.html

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Nathan Teklemariam and Carson Rinehart Butt Dial 911 During Heist

The operator responded as per standard operating procedures asking if any assistance was needed. However, the operator quickly realized the call was made by accident and listened in on the conversation.

In a span of 30 minutes, a conversation was recorded where one of the young men expresses a powerful urge to smoke marijuana followed by his direction to be handed the “bolt and … the hammer just in case”. The operator overhead the smashing of a window and their flight.

The police were phoned and the young men were tracked down. The officer, knowing full well that he had the suspects pulled over, asked them a loaded question basically inquiring if the car the men were driving contained any contents that ought not to be there. The two men now each face three charges of conspiracy, possession of stolen property, and breaking and entering.

Hopefully, the men can take this as a wake-up call.

Source material:

Nathan Teklemariam, Carson Rinehart Butt-Dial 911 While Breaking Into Car: Cops
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/20/nathan-teklemariam-carson-rinehart-butt-dial-911-burglars_n_3307086.html

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Jackie Stallone Aware Of Not So Normal Looks

Sylvester Stallone’s mother Jackie was recently interviewed by Reveal Magazine and admits the obvious: she’s had too much cosmetic surgery.

The astrologer and reality TV star confesses that her physical face has an abnormal appearance. Stallone even likens the shape of her cheeks to that of one of the television chipmunks.

The 91-year-old woman says that Hollywood is only now coming to terms with the inevitable process of aging and fading physical beauty. As for herself, Stallone admits that the reality of aging likely came too late for her.

In an interview with Reveal magazine, even likening herself to a “chipmunk.

“I do, and actually I’ve got too much,” she replied when asked if she’s still going under the knife.

“I look like I’ve got a mouthful on nuts… I feel I look like a chipmunk.”

“I know it isn’t normal. The papers in London are the worst. The say, ‘She’s the world’s worst’, that I look like a pet bulldog. I really do. I’ve seen too much bad work,” she added.

She now deals with it by self-deprecation even referring to herself as having a “bulldog” face. Stallone spent much of the past 3.5 decades keeping a low profile behind her son’s explosive success starting with the classic film Rocky in 1976.

It wasn’t until the 1990s that she gained her own star power as an astrologer. She even made famous the art of discerning people’s fortunes from photographs of their derrieres in what she coined as “rumpology”.

Seven years ago, she made a guest appearance on the UK version of “Celebrity Big Brother”, but failed to gain much support. She was the first player eliminated from the competition after just four days.

Source:

Jackie Stallone: ‘I know I don’t look normal with all this surgery’
http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/408461/Jackie-Stallone-I-know-I-don-t-look-normal-with-all-this-surgery

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