Sport Savings

By Carol Grisanti, NBC News
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Its the game-playing that draws the attention: A group of young boys are acting out the last moments of a suicide bomber, for fun.

In a disturbing 84-second video, posted on YouTube, one boy, perhaps 12 years old, is dressed in black, his face covered by a black scarf. He is the one who gets to blow himself up. Beforehand, he hugs the other kids in what appears to be his final farewell. Some of the younger children find the whole charade rather funny and giggle in the film.

All the children, some looking as young as 5 or 6, are dressed in baggy pants and long tunics, the traditional dress of Pakistanis and Afghans. Some are wearing brown,others white, possibly to represent the different roles they have to play.

The bomber walks over to the boy in white who could be acting in the role of a government official. That boy holds his hand in the air in a gesture that is meant to try and foil the alleged bombers movements. The bomber then lifts his shirt as if to show a vest laden with explosives. He kicks up a cloud of dust to depict the bomb that he has set off. The three boys dressed in brown and the one wearing white — all appearing to be security or government officials — fall dead.

The portrayal of a suicide bombing has sparked concern and outrage. While the video has been posted on YouTube since early January, theres no information on who posted it, where the event took place, and what was the motivation behind the piece. Its been viewed more than 500,000 times.

article source

Tags: Fun by Admin
Comments Off

Buzz has been building that Reese Witherspoon will tie the knot with her agent Jim Toth on Saturday.

RadarOnline reports that family and friends will gather at the stars Ojai, Calif. estate for the big – or maybe small and intimate – event.

And that might not be the only big event happening this weekend. Us Weeklys European bureau chief is reporting that Prince Williams bachelor party will take place. Its all top, top secret but the dates have been marked off in the diary and security knows every detail, writes Omid Scobie.

A royal aide tells Scobie that there will be plenty of booze and some legendary activities.

Its a convenient time for the party – which is said to include boating and water sports on the English Channel – because this is the last weekend before Harry goes on his North Pole trek, (although there are still a few weekends open in April before the April 29 wedding.)

A St. Jamess Palace spokesman would not, of course, confirm the news, telling Us: Anything to do with stag arrangements is completely private.

See photos of: Reese Witherspoon, Prince William

article source

Tags: Fun by Admin
Comments Off

Ive been living in North Bay for a few years now and each year especially around the spring time I am finding more and more parks and side walks full of dog leavings. I own 2 dogs myself but their leash has a little bone that carries bags in it for me to pick up after them, and I do.

article source

Tags: Your Pets by Admin
Comments Off

Katy Perry may have kissed a girl and liked it, but her mother isnt so hot on her daughters risque act.

Page Six reports that Perrys mom, Mary Perry Hudson, is shopping around a book about her Christian ministry as well as the life choices her daughter is making and the effect theyve had on her family.

Perry, who began her career as a Christian singer under her real name, Katy Hudson, has given differing accounts of her upbringing, although most have described her parents as strict disciplinarians.

We were never allowed to swear, Perry has said. Id get into trouble just for saying Hell no. If you dropped a hammer on your toe in our house you had to say something like Jiminy Christmas.

The only music we were allowed to listen to was gospel. No wonder I rebelled!

article source

Tags: Shops by Admin
Comments Off

The North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association is submitting regular pet health and wellness features for the Cape Fear Critters blog.

The second installment of the series is titled Dangers in Our Own Backyards: How To Keep Your Pet Safe.

Wildlife fascinates us.  Whether it is the sight of a fox on the roadside or a raccoon ambling across a yard, people often stop in amazement, enthralled by encounters with nature.  However, as we build more homes in formerly rural areas, contact with wild animals increases, especially among our pets, often with unfortunate consequences.  This is evident by the number of dead raccoons, deer and possums along the roadside.

Specific Dangers
We humans and our pets are also in danger in these wild interactions.  Skunks and raccoons are two major carriers of rabies in North America.  A human-managed relocation of raccoons from Florida to West Virginia in the late 1970s unleashed a new epidemic of rabies in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Raccoons can also harbor a significant parasite known as the “raccoon roundworm.”  This worm is associated with severe and even fatal central nervous system disease in many mammals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the white-tailed deer population in North America is now approaching levels not seen in more than 200 years.  Although beautiful to view, many wild deer carry some unwanted passengers, like ticks.  Ticks are the primary vector for several serious bacterial diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and tularemia.  These diseases have shown significant increases, both in humans and our dogs.

In addition, a single-celled organism known as Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite of people in North America.  People comprise the main carriers of this disease, but wild animals like beavers, muskrats and small rodents also make up an important additional source of infection.  This parasite can cause severe diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss in both people and pets.

Prevention
Decreasing contact with wildlife is the number one rule in avoiding complications with these organisms.  Not only will it help prevent disease transmission, but it will also stop traumatic injuries from fights or chases through the woods.

Avoid the temptation to feed the local wildlife. Like our dogs and cats, wild animals become accustomed to regular feeding stations.  Although well-intentioned, this act will cause wild animals to linger in your yard and puts them in danger.  Similarly, do not adopt orphaned or injured animals unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Finally, thanks to modern veterinary medicine and good common sense, it is possible to enjoy our wild neighbors and keep everyone safe.  Vaccinations and preventive flea and tick medications are vital in keeping our pets safe from these dangers.  Your veterinarian can help you determine your pets’ risk factors and then guide you to choosing appropriate vaccines and flea/tick preventatives.

For more information about the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, go to NCVMA.org or call (800) 446-2862 or (919) 851-5850. Follow the organization on Twitter at @NCVMA.

article source

Tags: Your Pets by Admin
Comments Off

Ralph Nader wants to do away with college athletic scholarships. This is not the first time that Nader has weighed in on a social issue that is part of the fabric of American life. Cynics will suggest that this is an impossible suggestion, given Americas obsession with sports. However, it would have some intriguing outcomes if colleges would ever let go of their beloved sports programs and focus again on academics. Parents that put their children through years of youth sports in pursuit of the statistically unlikely college scholarship might have to save their money instead. Nader is categorized as a consumer advocate but he is also a political figure. Here are a few other times that the political process has become involved in the world of sports.

Congress, baseball, and steroids

article source

Tags: Sports by Admin
Comments Off

While its important to educate your veterinary clients about pet poison prevention year round, emphasize the topic March 20-26 during National Poison Prevention Week. Click on the links below for client handouts that will help get your message across.

What to do if your pet is poisoned

How to poison-proof your home

Make sure your clients know the most common household items that are toxic to pets. Here are the top six, according to the Pet Poison Helpline.

1.
Xylitol: Many sugarless gums contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. Candies, mints, flavored multi-vitamins, desserts, and baked goods may also be made with xylitol. When pets ingest large amounts, liver failure can occur. Even small amounts when ingested can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar. Signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, tremors, and seizures.

The amount of xylitol typically found in most pet oral-care products is very small and, when used properly, these products arent expected to cause poisoning unless a dog ingests a very large amount.

2. Human medications: Common drugs such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and antidepressants can cause serious harm to your pets. NSAIDs can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure. Acetaminophen can damage red blood cells in cats, limiting their ability to carry oxygen, and in dogs it can lead to severe liver failure. Ingestion of antidepressants can lead to neurological problems like sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors, and seizures.

3. Flowers: As beautiful as spring flowers are, some can cause severe toxicity or even fatalities in pets. Certain types of lilies such as tiger, day, Asiatic, Easter, and Japanese lilies are poisonous to cats. Just ingesting a few petals or pollen can result in severe feline kidney failure. In addition, spring bulbs like daffodils or tulips can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

4. Chocolate
: While the occasional chocolate chip in one cookie may not be an issue, certain types of chocolate can be very toxic. Bakers chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. The chemical toxicity results in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and possibly death.

5. Fertilizers: Many fertilizers are gastrointestinal irritants. However, some are often combined with dangerous chemicals and compounds called organophosphates or carbamates, which can be harmful or deadly to pets. Ingestion can result in drooling, watery eyes, urination, defecation, seizures, difficulty breathing, fever, and death.

6. Pest control products: Rodent, snail, and slug baits are often used to keep pests at baythey are toxic to pets, and without immediate veterinary attention they can be fatal. Rodent baits can result in blood clotting disorders, brain swelling, or kidney failure, while snail and slug baits can result in severe tremors or seizures.

article source

Tags: Your Pets by Admin
Comments Off

A proposed expansion of the Bal Harbour Shops would help the high-end luxury project stay competitive and meet demand from retailers. But neighbors are wary.

article source

Tags: Shops by Admin
Comments Off

On Saturday, Julie and I will take the first of several classes aimed at teaching us how to be good parents. First up: Introducing your baby to family pets.

What in the world? you are saying to yourself. How could they possibly bypass the essentials–labor, delivery, feeding, transporting, nurturing?

Dont worry. Were just that good. We have it all worked out. Trust me.

Only joking. In reality, this was an optional class that we deemed important owing to the fact that we have three four-footed companions–two dogs and a cat.

Introductions are in order. Tigger is the most senior of our pets. She is a feist–a type of squirrel dog–and upward of 10 years old. Most of the time, she has a delightful personality. Age has no bearing on her energy. She can wrestle with the best of them. But along with her age has come a certain degree of pride, and thats what we have to monitor.

She can get a bit bossy with those around her.

Dont worry. Were hoping the class will help us mitigate that. Were pretty sure babies dont need too much aggressive military rule.

Tobi the Boston terrier is our youngest animal. Hes a rescue pup, and hes come a long way from his scare-me-and-Ill-leave-you-a-present-on-your-absorbent-carpet days. Weve begun working with him on boundaries. For example, hes no longer allowed to sit with us if were eating on the couch. And its become extremely difficult for him to lie on Julies lap, owing to the growing baby.

Dont worry. He still gets to burrow into bed with us at night.

Cinderella Sweet Cheeks rounds out the lot. We call her Cinders or Cindy for short. Shes a cat in the truest sense of the word: Independent, cheeky, noisy, mischievous. She loves prowling on windowsills, cackling at birds and leaping onto high places. Such as the babys new changing table.

Dont worry. There are loud noises, frantic stompings and irate humans for that.

Ahead of our class, I thought Id share some tips for acclimating pets that I found from two sources–the Humane Society of Missouri and a cheat sheet from Petco. Here goes:

#13;

#13;
• Keep their schedule as routine as possible after the babys arrival.

#13;

#13;

#13;
• Make sure to continue giving them attention (a few treats wont hurt).

#13;

#13;

#13;
• Take them to get a vet checkup before introducing baby.

#13;

#13;

#13;
• Expose them to new smells theyll be experiencing. (Ill let your imagination run wild.)

#13;

#13;

#13;
• Supervise pet-and-baby time.

#13;

#13;

#13;
• Dont let the (older) child badger your pets. Know their limits and keep them out of harms way. And vice versa.

#13;

#13;

I thought we already had the beginnings of a circus at our house. Cant hurt to add one more ring.

article source

Tags: Your Pets by Admin
Comments Off

Your beloved pet is probably worth more than $50, right? Tell that to Delta Airlines who’s only paying that amount for unintentionally killing someone’s hairless kitten.

The cause of death was a door latch malfunction in 10-degree weather, preventing workers from reaching the kitten before it froze to death. The kitten’s owner, Heather Lombardi, was also refunded her flight…but only after she had already been promised $2900 for the cat, reimbursement of vet bills and even the expense of storing the body in a freezer until the ground thaws out enough for burial. A Delta representative said talks about cargo reimbursement are still ongoing.

Alright, so it’s not a human being, but it seems a little cold (no pun intended) to hand over $50 to a woman to take care of her dead cat. Nice flying with you too, Delta.

This sounds an awfully lot like the mysterious deaths of seven out of 14 puppies traveling on an American Airlines flight in August 2010. While it’s been determined that the most likely cause of death was long flight delays and the puppies being overheated, there’s little or no information about how American Airlines handled the ordeal. They did, however, release a long list of suggestions for putting your pets on flights, like “book animals during moderate weather” and “avoid holidays and weekends.” Yes, because that’s convenient.

According to a report by the US Department of Transportation, about 133 animals have died via air over the last 5 years, the highest numbers going to Continental Airlines, American Airlines and Delta.

Image: flickr/Tomi Tapio

The best solution? Fork over the extra cash to let your pet fly with you in the cabin. It’s safer in the long run, and your pet will probably be less stressed from being alone in a cargo hold of a noisy aircraft. Unfortunately, this is only available for small to medium-sized pets. Your hefty 200-lb Dane will have to travel some other way.

A positive spin on the whole ordeal is that some airlines are looking for alternative ways to prevent this from ever happening again. In fact, Companion Air is set to start operating soon, and no dog will be turned away. They’ll travel in cabin, with you, but inside a kennel at the back of the plane. Great compromise, right? Down with animal discrimination!

article source

Tags: Your Pets by Admin
Comments Off