Ohio Alpaca Owner Hopes Animal’s Killing Leads to Tougher Laws
The owner of a baby alpaca that was tortured and beaten to death last month hopes some good will come from the senseless killing, as a state lawmaker continues to push for tougher animal cruelty laws in Ohio.
Jeff Pergram said he has buried his “loving and caring” 3-month-old alpaca, Masterpiece, who was found in an abandoned barn in southwest Ohio on Feb. 19. Shocked and “disheartened” by the killing, Pergram says he plans to install security cameras along the perimeter of his Middletown farm to ward off any future attacks on his beloved animals.
“It’s hard to look out there and see he’s not there now,” Pergram told FoxNews.com. “He was a real inquisitive guy. He was like a dog, he wanted to be right next to you, to nuzzle you.”
Pergram said Masterpiece’s friendliness probably led to his demise.
“He was way different,” Pergram continued. “And it’s a different generation of people we’re raising right now.”
EPA Cautions Pet Owners Using Spot-on Products to Kill Fleas and Ticks
According to the EPA press release, reactions in cats and dogs can include “skin effects, such as irritation, redness, or gastrointestinal problems that include vomiting or diarrhea, or effects to the nervous system, such as trembling, appearing depressed or seizures.”
If you have a large dog, chances are your pet won’t have a problem with flea and tick products. It seems small dogs have more adverse reactions, and cats exposed to come dog products is “a concern.”
Obama to Iranians: We Want Brighter Future for You
WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentBarack Obamatold Iranians in an online video message that the U.S. wants more educational and cultural exchanges, and lamented that Tehran’s leaders have ”turned their backs” on good faith overtures in the past to expand opportunities for their people.
In the second such video of his presidency directed at Iran, Obama said the U.S. offer of diplomatic dialogue still stands, but that the Iranian government has chosen isolation. He said the U.S. believes in the dignity of every human being.
The White House released the video late Friday, timing it, as it did last year, to coincide with Nowruz, a 12-day holiday celebrating the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year on the Persian calendar. The video comes as the United States has hit a rough patch in its relationships in the region, particularly with Israel.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/20/us/politics/AP-US-Obama-Iran.html?_r=1
Cheltenham Festival blog: The stuff dreams are made of
However carefully you write the script, it’s worth remembering horses can’t read.
No one told Imperial Commander today wasn’t supposed to be about him.
No one thought Kauto Star would hit the deck — I know he’s made the odd jumping mistake in the past, but he hasn’t fallen for exactly four years, when he crashed out in the Champion Chase as a novice.
No one thought Nigel Twiston-Davies’ day could actually get better, but there’s no doubt it will beat his two National wins now, as his son Sam won the Foxhunter on a horse he trained in the very next race after the Gold Cup. And then to win the last, with a horse who was a maiden over fences… Weird. What a night they are going to have in the Hollow Bottom pub, Twiston-Davies’ local.
No one thought Katie Walsh would ride a second winner of the meeting; it’s all very well beating a bunch of amateurs in the National Hunt Chase, but defeating the pros in the County Hurdle is quite another thing.
No one thought Paul Nicholls would finish the week with all three of his best chasers — Master Minded, Kauto Star and Denman — beaten.
I wonder what they will do with Kauto Star now. At 10, he’s not an old horse, but he’s had plenty of racing, nearly all of it at the most demanding level. He can’t improve, he can only go backwards as his younger, more lightly raced rivals (Imperial Commander has run 17 races, Kauto Star 34) accelerate.
Paul Nicholls and Clive Smith won’t make a snap decision — and maybe I’m being melodramatic, as I adore the horse and hated seeing him fall — but I think, if he were mine, I’d put him away, and try to win a fifth King George with him next Christmas before retiring him.
But I’m beginning to let my heart rule my head here. Ruby Walsh said after the race: “He’s alright, I’m alright, there will be another day. It’s disappointing, but it is not the end of the world.”
‘South Park’ a Tiger for Comedy Central
The upstart is now in its 14th season, but “South Park” rode a Tiger Woods-infused storyline Wednesday to its highest-rated season premiere since 1999 for Comedy Central — which itself had its best night of 2010.
On a nice evening for more than one cabler, the series premiere of Comedy Central’s “Ugly Americans” also performed capably, as did “Kendra: The E! True Hollywood Story” on E! and “Destination Truth” on SyFy.
“South Park” drew 3.7 million viewers overall, while “Ugly Americans” gave Comedy Central its highest-rated series premiere since “Important Things With Demetri Martin,” 13 months ago. That lifted Comedy Central to its best night of the year in the adults 18-49 and men 18-34 demos.
Comedy Central also led all networks, including broadcast, among men 18-34.
Airing at 10 p.m., “South Park” had a 2.4 rating in 18-49. At 10:30 p.m., “Ugly Americans” did shed a chunk of that, settling for a 1.3 in the demo.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016651.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
