My Least Favorite "Holiday"

Am I the only one who hates April Fools Day? I don't mind the annoying jokes or the playful pranks, but what I hate the most are the fake articles and posts around the internet. One in particular started a heated exchange at work, until we realized it was most likely a joke.

The article talked about genetically altering a kitten, so that it remains a kitten forever. And since so many people love kittens, why not keep them that way forever? Although it appears to be a fake article, it does make you wonder...does science have the tools to create something like that?

I remember when the "glow" fish was being genetically altered, and what a huge debate it became. And although I still don't agree with it, the debates have been downplayed as of late, with more and more stores offering these genetically altered danio tetra fish for sale.

So, do we somehow start to become immune after a while? And does that make these controversial altering ok?

Obama Presents Global Economic Recovery Plan to a Resistant G-20 While Holding Adorable Puppy

In the face of international resistance to the U.S. role in resolving the global economic crisis, President Barack Obama raised his arts of persuasive communication to new heights, delivering his latest comments to the G-20 while cradling the puppy he plans to give to his daughters Sasha and Malia.

“This will be a difficult time for all citizens of our global community,” the president acknowledged. “But if you will look with me into the eyes of this achingly cute Portuguese water dog, I think you’ll find all the hope and reassurance you’ll need.”

At a press conference following Mr. Obama’s speech, a nonplussed international press corps responded with a flurry of forceful questions such as: “Can I hold him, Mr. Obama? Please, please, can I?”

One Russian journalist was particularly aggressive in her questioning: “Pretty pretty please? Can I? Can I? With … how do you say, sugar on top?”

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(via God's Politics)

Relax, it's just foie gras

Whatever else you want to say about it, at least acknowledge this: Foie gras, the fattened liver of a duck or goose, is truly, indisputably, delicious. Roasted whole, pan-seared, combined with brandy and turned into a pâté, the stuff just tastes good.

If you oppose foie gras, even if the only thing you've ever done about it is to make a dinner companion feel guilty, and you still eat conventionally raised meat, you're a raging hypocrite and a silly one at that.

The eggs you ate for breakfast, the cheese that came on top, and the bacon on the side, all of it is produced using methods more torturous than the ones employed on a good foie gras farm.

Animals on a typical farm these days are confined in spaces so small they can't turn around, much less do any of the things they'd normally do in nature. And in order to keep them at least somewhat healthy and functional despite those conditions, which tend to make them stressed and unhappy, their bodies are altered to keep them from harming themselves and their fellow animals -- chickens have their beaks trimmed, pigs and cows get their tails docked.

In his book, Foie Gras Wars: How a 5,000-Year-Old Delicacy Inspired the World's Fiercest Food Fight, Mark Caro states that foi gras opposition is not, ultimately, about foie gras at all. They're being waged by vegans who believe that all meat eating inevitably involves torture but who are smart enough -- and disingenuous enough -- to focus on a product the average person might never eat, one that can easily be portrayed as a decadent luxury enjoyed only by fat cats who could not care less about animals.

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Photo credit: AnaKreenSkyRider

Rubber duckie, you're the one

from Hamor Hollow

Today's awwww

Here's another April 1 story

A farmer has bred the first ever tartan sheep – creating a minor tourist attraction at his farm in Scotland.

Grant Bell has taken to parading the colourful flock across his East Lothian property to the sound of bagpipes.

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A story fit for April Fool's Day

THE UK’s first ever pet only gym - Animal Active - is set to be launched soon.

Trials have already taken place at Sir Richard Branson’s health club Virgin Active, in Acton, with gym members encouraged to bring their pets for a work out.

Trained exercise co-ordinators will run a series of group exercise classes which will include Pooch Paunch Buster, Puuuroebics, Wag Attack, Canine Crunch and Pawlates.

Source

Photo: Copyright 2008 News Group Newspapers Ltd and/or its licensors.