Fun [ NEWS OF THE WEIRD ] BY CHUCK SHEPHERD
Down on the Deer Farm
The billion-dollar deer-farming industry in America produces generations of bucks growing progressively larger racks of antlers mainly for eventual bragging rights by the so-called “hunters” who will pay large fees to kill them in fenced-in fields just so they can hang the grotesque antlers in their dens. Even before the farm-raised deer are stalked (reported The Indianapolis Star in March in its multipart investigation), bucks’ necks habitually slump from the weight of the freakish antlers. Most states allow such “hunting,” and in some, the activity is lightly regulated, lacking the safety rules and more-humane conditions required by open-forest hunting laws and agriculture protocols. The Indianapolis Star also highlighted several captive-deer diseases that doctors still worry might jump species to humans (as “mad cow” disease did).
Recurring Themes
— News of the Weird has several times chronicled the sad saga of India’s holy but severely polluted Ganges River, on which millions of Hindus are dependent -- through hands-on worship -- for worldly success and for salvation. Now, recent reports reveal that the second-holiest river, the Yamuna, is suffering the same fate even though the government has invested nearly $1 billion in programs to clean it up. Currently, for example, more than 400 million gallons of untreated sewage, plus various industrial chemicals, enter the river from Delhi, but still, motivated worshippers come to “bathe” for glory. — Stories That Never Get Old: Dayton, Ohio, bus driver Rickey Wagoner, 49, survived a three-bullet shooting in February that, police said, was probably a gang initiation that randomly targeted him as he worked on his bus’s engine. A police
sergeant told the Dayton Daily News that Wagoner “should probably not be here” and survived the attack only because two of the bullets were blocked by a copy of “The Message” (a contemporary version of the Bible) in Wagoner’s shirt pocket. — The most recent “monument” offered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would be its proposed 10-foot tombstone along U.S. 129 in Gainesville, Ga., to honor the “several” chickens that were killed when a truck overturned in January. No humans were hurt in the collision, and had the chickens survived, they would have shortly been slaughtered. (The Georgia Department of Transportation rejected the proposal.) — Allowing dogs as “witnesses” in court cases in France has become “something of a recent trend,” reported the Paris edition of the European news site The Local in April. A 9-year-old Labrador retriever (Tango) took the witness stand in the city of Tours so the judge could observe how he reacted to the defendant, on trial for killing the dog’s owner. (For due process of law, a second dog, Norman, took the stand later, as a “control group.”) Ultimately, the judge said he learned nothing from the dogs and dismissed them. — “Zero Tolerance”: Yet another questionable school suspension was handed down in March, in Virginia Beach, Va., when the sixth-grader who had prevented a classmate from intentionally harming himself was punished for her altruism. Adrionna Harris had convinced a boy to hand over the razor blade he was threatening himself with, and she immediately discarded it. According to the principal, that transaction meant Harris “possessed” a “dangerous weapon,” albeit for a brief time, and she was suspended for 10 days, according to school policy. (After WAVY-TV’s “On Your Side” reporters got involved, the school relented, and Harris returned to class.)
[ LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION ON PAGE 35 ]
[ LOVESCOPE ] BY EUGENIA LAST ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t keep love a secret. If you have feelings for someone, share your thoughts and make your intentions clear. Kind and considerate gestures will win the attention of someone you are pursuing, but aggressive behavior will put a wedge between you and the one you love. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get involved in a cause or pastime that is unique and draws your attention. The people you meet who share your sentiments will offer an emotional connection with the potential to grow into a loving, long-lasting, committed relationship. Turn on the charm and pursue your personal dreams.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful what you wish for when it comes to love. Your heart will be blind to the defects someone possesses. Proceed with caution, and refrain from doing things you wouldn’t do under normal circumstances. Protect your honor, reputation and physical well-being. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll shine in social settings, so get out, have fun and interact with people from different backgrounds. You will be drawn to creative, imaginative and passionate people. Share your plans, and you will be surprised by the suggestions and offers you receive to join you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Your outgoing nature may work against you when it comes to love. Settle down and listen to what others have to say and offer. You may be surprised to discover that someone knows you and your likes almost as well as you do. Let relationships unfold naturally. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Get involved in courses, fundraisers, events and activities that interest you. Your ability to rise to the top no matter what you attempt to do will attract someone intrigued by your ability and attracted to your strength, courage and desire to conquer whatever comes your way.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll have difficulty making up your mind when it comes to love. Before you make a promise to someone, question your true feelings. You are better to remain friends and refrain from leading someone on that you may not want to be intimate with in the future. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ll be difficult to resist, and you’ll attract unusual and intriguing partners who will vie for your attention. Discuss your likes, dislikes and plans, and you will instinctively know who is a good fit for you and who is not. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21): Don’t play with fire when it comes to love and romance. Deception, disillusionment and dishonesty will all play a major role in the way any romantic connection plays out. Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep. Your word will be what counts and what saves your reputation. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t overpower or outdo in order to make an impression. You will look bad if you don’t give others a chance to meet you halfway. Look for someone to share with, not someone to own. The perfect partner will be the one offering the most, not a minion.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aggressively seek someone who thrives on experimentation as much as you. The rush of love will hold your interest for a short time, but the person who can match you every step of the way mentally, physically, emotionally and financially will be the one to keep. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Share your secret desires, and you will attract someone with similar needs. A strong, passionate encounter will lead to a long-lasting connection that will bring you the security and stability you need to feel safe. Reveal your intentions, and suggest a plan for the future.
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