Polarised American society, gun access and aggressive rhetoric led to Trump shooting

Image: AP - Getty Images.

American society has become more polarised. Discourse is more black-and-white. I am not referring to black people and white people. I'm referring to strong views at either end of the political spectrum. People are less inclined to have thoughts in the middle ground. The grey area. The area of compromised solutions.

In general there are more extreme thoughts and that kind of issue is occurring across the Western world I would argue. It's why we have far right groups doing so well in France, Germany and the UK for example.

Photo-edited version by MikeB

And there are more stresses in society I feel. The world has become more stressed. People have become more anxious and fearful. That's partly because the background tension in the world has increased. This is due to various factors such as climate change and Putin's invasion of Ukraine. And we are still post-Covid which caused a lot of financial stresses, still felt today.

And then in America they have more guns than there are people (433 million guns and 341 million citizens). No country has so many guns available. And if you combine these polarised viewpoints as I've called them plus aggressive rhetoric with the easy access of guns which are not, some may argue, regulated as well as they should be in America, you end up with the Trump attempted assassination.

Of course, he is a divisive character. You either love them or loathe them. And I'm sure a lot of people are unsurprised that he was shot. He was shot in the right ear so the shooter was targeting his head apparently with a rifle from a roof from which he had visual access to the rally which apparently (ironically) was supported by a gun lobby.

But underpinning this attempted assassination of Donald Trump is the black-and-white nature of American politics and society being somewhat split down the middle between Republicans and Democrats. Some might argue that there will be a civil war as this split is so severe.

The argument now is that Trump's attempted assassination will boost his campaign to be the next president. A strong survivor compared to Biden, the weak and rapidly declining geriatric.

One remarkable aspect of this assassination attempt is that Trump immediately knew that he should use it to his advantage because we see some amazing photographs of him with his fist raised showing a very strong, dominant character and behind him is the American flag. 

Surrounding him are Secret Service personnel trying to recover him and take him to a safe place. It's an amazing photograph which he will no doubt use from now until he becomes the next president.

Update a few hours later:

There's a lot of talk about the aggressive rhetoric, which I mention. The general consensus now is that it should be dialled down in order to stop provoking these sorts of incidents. Freedom of speech is important but it can cross the line to inciting violence and there needs to be a fresh look at that. This would apply not only to the United States but the UK as well because there has been violence and intimidation in the UK during the latest general election.

And there are ructions in France with their recent elections and extremist views coming out.

The shooter is Thomas Crooks. He lived at Bethel Park and his home is being searched by the FBI as I dictate this.

He was seen on the roof opposite the stadium where former president Trump was speaking by a bystander and a Trump supporter. This man saw the shooter very clearly and he pointed it out to law enforcement but apparently they took no action. There was confusion before the actual shooting.

There are concerns about the lack of efficiency of law enforcement and Trump's security team in allowing this to happen. The man who saw the shooter before he was actually shot by security staff said he was up there for about three or four minutes and he shot five bullets one of which grazed Trump's head and took a nick out of his ear. That bullet went on and killed a man behind him it seems.

Two other people behind Trump were injured. They are hospitalised.

Trump immediately after being shot in the ear apparently shouted "Fight, fight, fight!". This further incited violence. It's understandable he said this but the argument is that the shooter was incited to violence and now we have former president Trump responding by also inciting violence. It is a very unhealthy situation. Trump's post on his Truth Social website is far more conciliatory however.

Trump says in Truth Social post that he was shot in the ear⁠

⁠Latest updates: https://t.co/2NwEPPigui pic.twitter.com/uH0Vk1l31f

— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) July 14, 2024

Some Democrats have stated that the shooter was working on behalf of the Democrat party. They blame the Democrats for organising this attempted assassination. This will further polarise the Democrats and Republicans.

Incidentally, Thomas Crooks was a registered Republican interestingly. We don't know his motivation for the shooting. But a large segment of Democrats appear to have assumed that his motivation was to shoot the leading Republican, the Republican candidate for the presidency to knock him out of the race. But that's an assumption which has not been verified as yet with evidence.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Listeria fears sparks nationwide recall for raw dog and cat food products (US)

Picture: Daily Mail.

This affects America and Viva Raw products. Here's some information.

Viva Raw, located in North Carolina, has recalled five turkey-based cat and dog food products over risk of bacteria contamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed, adding that the affected products were distributed to pet owners in all 50 states and in Washington DC. - Mail Online.

Viva Raw, a pet food company based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, has issued a voluntary recall for several of its dog and cat food products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The affected products include:

• Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground
• Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked
• Viva Turkey for Cats
• Viva Pure Turkey
• Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies

These products were manufactured under Lot 21244. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious infections in pets and poses a health risk to humans as well. If you’ve purchased any of these products, please check the lot number and take appropriate precautions. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection in humans may include nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. Pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. If you suspect exposure, consult a healthcare provider.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

More army horses running loose in London

The Times and other news outlets are reporting a new incident of army horses running loose through London. This event recalls the troubling incident approximately nine weeks ago when Household Cavalry horses, startled by loud construction work, galloped through central London, resulting in injuries to four people and significant harm to at least two horses, though they fully recovered. During that episode, the horses charged into a double-decker tour bus and a van.

In the latest occurrence, three army horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, supervised by five soldiers, bolted through central London. The incident began when one horse, which was being led, got spooked by a bus, causing two riders to be unseated and their horses to run loose.

The horses dashed from Seville Street to South Eaton Place, where one was captured. The remaining two continued to Vauxhall Bridge before being stopped. Soldiers were later seen soothing the horses amidst the traffic.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that all three horses were safely returned to Hyde Park Barracks, and none were involved in the previous incident nine weeks prior.

A spokesperson said:

Whilst exercising this morning, three horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment became loose from their riders. They were swiftly and safely recovered. One horse received minor injuries but no further treatment is required and there were no injuries to the soldiers.

Two of the horses were collected and placed into a horse box.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Jay Slater has been abducted and is not lost in Tenerife's badlands

They've been looking for Jay Slater for the past 13 days at the date of this post and no luck. A lot of people have been searching. I don't believe that he is there. I don't believe that he is lost in the badlands of Tenerife after an accident and is immobile down some rocky ravine because rationally I think there would have been some signs of him by now.

Update: the police have called off the search yesterday 30th June. They are following a different line of enquiry. I think they are thinking like me. But see below...

Further update:

"The force said the case remains open and that a “parallel” investigation is ongoing. But an investigating judge has been told that police have seen nothing yet that points to Mr Slater being the victim of a crime, it emerged on Monday." - The Telegraph.

Further update Monday, July 15 from The Times newspaper:

You may have heard that Jay Slater's mother has stated that the conspiracy theories have harmed the investigation. I hope my theory is not achieved that end. That would be upsetting to me. But I do not think it has. Slater has still not been found.

I stand by my theory that he was abducted and the latest news I think supports that. He went missing after he left the New Rave Generation music festival with two men on Sunday, June 16. Slater went from the festival to an Airbnb rented by two men in Masca, a mountain village 22 miles away.

He posted two pictures on social media from there the next morning. He is then believed to have set off on an 11-hour walk to his hotel.

So two men are involved in this investigation but the Spanish police have not said anything about them of note. I presume they've been interviewed. I would like to hear more on this. I think they abducted him but I could be wrong obviously. I am speculating. I am guessing. I admit that but there needs to be some thinking out of the box here because the search for him in Tenerife's Badlands was discontinued some time ago so what next?

Note that he went to this Airbnb where there were two men and he stayed there overnight it seems to me according to the reports. What went on during that night? That's the first question to answer.

Latest from TV: body found in remote place. Not sure how he died. Accident? I think there will be an autopsy to find cause of death but can we trust the Spanish police? Not sure at this stage that it is him. If it is RIP. 

Once again I can provide a further update on August 5, 2024 from The Times newspaper. My thanks to this newspaper. The authorities in Tenerife, particularly the physician who carried out the post-mortem examination, have said that Slater who went missing in Tenerife died from traumatic head injuries. They have suggested that he fell from a height onto his head and that death would have been instantaneous. Personal viewpoint: I am sceptical. The head injury might have been caused by a blow to the head inflicted by a person with a weapon. That's just a suggestion and it's my opinion but they will never find out and this matter will now fizzle out. Unless somebody comes up with something years later which unravels this conclusion. Of course, Tenerife want it to go away. There's motivation for the authorities to say that Mr Slater fell off a ledge onto his head. It suits them.

I still believe that he was killed. This may come out one day.

Jay Slater and the search to find him. Image: Sky News.

My preferred scenario is that Jay Slater was abducted by nasty, abusive men who wanted to defile the young man and kill him. 

Note this recent headline: "Jay Slater's last phone call 'cut off' by mystery caller as he arranged directions" - sounds strange. Who cut off the call? An abductor?

Note: if I am wrong - great. I'll be the first to admit my error and be delighted to do so.

I believe that he will not be found and that his body has been dumped or buried somewhere where he will never be found.

I am sorry if this short posts upsets his relatives and those that love him. I want those searching to start thinking out of the box. Look at alternative possibilities. That would seem sensible to me. 

Something odd has happened and the immediate history before he disappeared my provide some indications that an alternative scenario is possible.

Mine is one suggestion and once again I am sorry if it seems unduly pessimistic. I am trying to be realistic not pessimistic.

I don't want to see the search fizzle out with no result and the investigation stopped. That would be disrespectful of Jay Slater. 

Do some work on checking out the history of men on the island involved in abductions. Perhaps even paedophile rings. Look at police records. That sort of thing.

Perhaps the police don't want the truth to come out in order to protect the tourism industry upon which the Canary Islands rely. They'd rather that he was lost permanently. Dead end. No discussion. The fault of Jay Slater rather than the fault of a gang operating from the island. Just speculating.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Everyone screamed as police 4x4 hit the calf at 30 mph and 4 more times!

This is the viral news story of a police officer driving his police vehicle into a female calf on a suburban road because that police officer feared for the lives of pedestrians in the area and the police claim that the calf rammed cars and by implication therefore damage them.

Everyone screamed as police 4x4 hit the calf at 30 mph and 4 more times! Screenshot from resident's video

The truth of the story is different to the one presented by the police which isn't unusual in my experience. This, by the way, is an opinion article based upon the news. I will declare right away that I don't like the police. Some like the police and some don't. I am in the latter group. My dislike of the police come from personal experience and encounters with them.

Initially in a news report it was said that the police car rammed the calf twice and on the second occasion the calf ended up under the vehicle. The latter is true but an eyewitness said that the police officer rammed the calf five times. And to all intents and purposes it looks very much like this police officer wanted to kill the calf in a panicked judgement.

The officer who used his police car to ram the escaped cow has been removed from frontline duties while witnesses said they were disgusted by what they saw. They screamed and cried and howled in anguish at what they saw.

And it appears to me that it was bystanders who successfully intervened and helped the police to get the calf into a horsebox and back to the farm from where it had escaped. The owners of the farm are bemused as to how the cow escaped but they think it might've swam over a river. It would seem, too, that without wishing to be too critical, they are also negligent.

Everyone screamed as police 4x4 hit the calf at 30 mph and 4 more times! Screenshot from resident's video

And I'm making an allegation here that the police were negligent and I will also make an allegation that it is possible that the police committed a crime. A crime under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in the UK.

It's being investigated. Advocates for Animals a law firm, said that they had been instructed by the charity Humane Society International UK to look into prosecutions. It isn't me who believes that this might have been a crime which it looks like.

Under that act it is a crime to unnecessarily cause pain in an animal. The argument here is that it was unnecessary to ram the calf because there were many other more humane options. The police needed to seek help. They were involved with this calf for a few hours we are told. They had plenty of time to assess the situation and seek proper assistance from experts who could have dealt with the calf humanely.

The calf was knocked down near Bedfont Lakes Country Park and Saint Dunstan's Meadow in Feltham in west London. Hounslow Heath has been a home for a herd of cattle for a long time and is about 3 miles away.

What's amazing about the story is that the police officer decided to ram the calf knowing full well that it was likely that there'd be someone somewhere filming the incident and that is what happened. A resident's video footage shows the police car speeding into the back of the stray animal sending its sprawling down the road. And in another video seen by The Times newspaper a female police officer tells a witness that she understood their anger and said, "I feel awful."

That's an admission by a fellow police officer that what the behaviour of male police officer driving the vehicle was awful and wrong. Here, here!

The calf has a name: Beau Lucy, indicating that this was a pet of some sort or at least they have a close relationship with the owner.

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, called for a "full and urgent explanation" having seen the video I believe on social media where it has been shared extensively.

Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp, of Surrey police said: "I fully appreciate the distress our handling of this incident has caused and will ensure that it is thoroughly and diligently investigated. In addition to an internal referral to our professional standards department, we have also referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. At this time, the officer who was driving the police car has been removed from frontline duties pending the outcome of these investigations. I know there is much concern around the current welfare of the cow. She continues to be monitored by a vet and our rural officers are staying in contact with the owner for updates."

Kai Bennett, 22, a warehouse worker, was an eyewitness to the events. He said the animal was struck five times and not two as initially reported. He said he was returning home after visiting a friend when a group of people ran towards him. "They carried on past me and I asked them what they were running from and they just shouted 'cow'. I then saw a black baby calf running at me."

"I didn't want to get hurt so I decided to follow it and called the police. A big police 4x4 turned up and hit the cow at about 30 mph. I went ballistic. The car wasn't hurting anyone. They did it again and this time they pulled forward so the car was pinning it down by the neck. It was disgusting. It managed to get up and walked off very confused. The police officer got back in the car, did a U-turn and ran it over again. Everyone was screaming, thinking it was dead."

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Police try to stop an escaped cow by ramming it with their car in Feltham, West London.
byu/Xisrr1 inPETA

Eurovision Song Contest is very political which is why it has descended into semi-chaos

Eurovision 2024 has descended into a form of political chaos. There are protests outside the Malmo stadium where the contest is being held in support of Palestinians being slaughtered in the Gaza Strip. The climate activist Greta Thunberg participated and we see photographs of her being hauled away by Swedish police.

The Swedish police removed Greta Thunberg from an unauthorised pro-Palestine protest outside the Malmo Arena, the venue for the Eurovision Song Contest which includes an entry from Israel. The Israeli singer, Eden Golan, is under protection in her hotel suite, as reported by The Sunday Times today.

And I can remember a person saying that protests shouldn't take place outside the Eurovision Song contest because it's a non-political contest but he's wrong. It is highly political. It has been a highly political contest for years. In fact I think it was created for political purposes! And the Eastern European block always work together and vote against nations they dislike such as the UK. It is simply hopeless as a music competition. A total waste of time.

Back in the day the best songs won the contest (sometimes). Nowadays nearly all the voting is based on political affiliations. It is highly distorted by political bias. Arguably, the UK is the best country in the world for the creation of new pop songs but Britain nearly always comes last nowadays because of political bias against the UK.

I'm not just moaning about the UK being unfairly treated. I've just decided years ago that the Eurovision Song Contest is a complete joke as a song contest. It is nothing about song. It's about politics and making a statement.

And nowadays it isn't about songs anyway. It's about dance routines and lighting and extreme visual images. It isn't about pure song or music. And that's probably because the songs are rubbish. They've had to jazz up the music to make it interesting and they've done that with dance routines and groups and jazzy lighting.

The Netherlands entry, Joost Klein has been disqualified perhaps unfairly. The reasons for that are listed below. And now we have more uncertainty with speculation about island's entry performing this evening. The group Bambi Thug took to social media to reveal that they missed the flag parade and dress rehearsals because of an issue which remains unresolved.

The Irish delegation believed that comments made on Israel's Eurovision broadcast, Kan, contravened the Eurovision Song rules stated in the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) about discussions regarding other contestants and their disparaging nature.

Once again this is a political element to what should be an entirely non-political event. But this is what happens when over years and years you gradually politicise what was a pure song contest in the good old days; in the innocent days when it first started.

When you gradually politicise something you end up with this form of fiction because people start using the event as a political platform. And politics is bound to create friction whereas song and music achieve the opposite. It achieves harmony, pleasantness, enjoyment and contentment or at least that's the objective.

But the Eurovision Song contest has been hijacked by political activists because it is a political platform.

It would appear that the choice of Malmo as the town where the Eurovision Song Contest was to be held is shrouded in controversy thanks to the participation of Israel. The city itself has been beset by bubbling ethnic tensions according to The Sunday Times. And, the Israeli contestant, Eden Golan, was under heavy protection last night before the show and Israel advised its citizens not to attend because of a "well-founded concern that terrorist elements will exploit the protests and anti-Israel mood to carry out attacks against Israelis."

In other areas, there have been bubbling tensions and political protests away from the site of the show. For example, student watch parties at the University of Warwick and the London School of Economics were cancelled at the last minute. And the University of East Anglia said that it would not air Israel's entry during the Eurovision party.

The Eurovision Party London was cancelled at the Rio cinema in East London in protest at Israel's participation. A screening at the Duke of York cinema In Brighton was also called off because of safety concerns.

Ollie Alexander was in trouble after he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. He resisted pressure to boycott the contest but broke down in tears in a recent interview because of the stress he was under.

Alexandra Mele pulled out of her role communicating Norway's points citing the inflamed situation in Malmo. And Finland's jury spokesman, the runner-up in last year's contest, announced he would not be fulfilling his role.

The Netherlands disqualification explained by Bing's Co-pilot and AI bot. It is polite.

The Netherlands’ disqualification from the Eurovision Song Contest was due to an incident involving Dutch artist Joost Klein. Here’s what happened:

• Backstage Incident: During the Eurovision Song Contest, a female member of the production crew made an allegation of intimidation against Joost Klein. She reported this to the Swedish police.

• Filming Dispute: The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros stated that Joost Klein was filmed without his consent when he had just come off stage and was rushing to the greenroom. Despite repeatedly indicating that he did not want to be filmed, his wishes were not respected. Joost did not physically touch the camerawoman, but there was a threatening movement towards her.

• Disqualification Decision: The contest organizers decided to disqualify Joost Klein, stating that it would not be appropriate for him to participate while the legal process was ongoing. Dutch broadcaster Avrotros called the disqualification “disproportionate.”

• Favourite to Win: Joost Klein had been among the favourites to win the contest with his song “Europapa,” a pro-European techno anthem dedicated to his late father.

• Suspension: News of his suspension emerged during the first dress rehearsal for the televised grand final. His performance was skipped without explanation, and Israel’s entrant took his place.

• Zero Tolerance: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has a “zero tolerance” policy, leading to Joost Klein’s disqualification.

It’s unfortunate that Joost Klein’s Eurovision journey ended this way, especially considering his dedication to honouring his father’s memory through music. 

Sources: The Sunday Times, general internet searches and Bing's Copilot.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

True or false that British colonialism caused African poverty and chaos?

I am thankful to Rod Liddle of The Sunday Times for the idea of this article. It will be thankfully short as it's not an area of my expertise. However, slavery is being discussed a lot at the moment and whether Britain's colonial past contributed to the country's relative wealth. Although, today, in terms of the country's future, I don't see an awful lot of wealth and another article in today's papers say that Britain is going to be poorer than Poland within five years.

Ethiopia. Arguably as dysfunctional in terms of governance as the rest of most of Africa's countries but never colonised by GB. This is not to say that many other countries outside of Africa are not also dysfunctional in terms of governance. Think Russia for a start.

That is not to criticise Poland in anyway. However, the question being addressed in this article is whether British colonialism caused poverty in Africa and chaos on that continent. And the answer can be found, thanks to Rod Liddle in his research and I think I will quote him verbatim on this if he doesn't mind.

"As Adam Smith pointed out as early as 1776, [colonialism] was of no great benefit to the British Crown or its people: "Under the present system of management Great Britain derived nothing but loss from the Dominion which she assumes over her colonies."

And on the issue of Africa he says that this concept of Britain benefiting greatly from colonisation is wrong but it:

"gnaws away at the general believed assumption that the poverty and chaos of much of Africa is a direct consequence of our Imperial perfidy - an assumption easily refuted by examining the cases of Ethiopia and Liberia, two countries that were not formally colonised (Italy was driven out of Ethiopia after just five years) and that today face exactly the same problems as their neighbours, which were."

Britain's relative wealth is not built on slavery but on "good governance, entrepreneurship, a rapid improvement in general education and literacy, the Protestant work ethic and a primacy placed upon inventiveness". These were far more powerful and important to the success of Great Britain.

My thanks to The Sunday Times and Rod Liddle particularly.

Note: I have no personal views on this topic. If Mr Liddle had said that the evidence pointed to British colonialism causing poverty in Africa I would have accepted it. There were good and bad aspects to the colonial era. That's a fair assessment I'd say.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Avian flu puts cow cuddling under threat

In America, a lot of small farmers rely on selling their cow cuddling services to the public to pay for the running of their farms such as purchasing bales of hay. It seems to me that to these small farm holders cow cuddling is a nice source of added income which supplements their regular income. That's the benefit from the farmer's point of view. 

Of course, there is a benefit from the customer's point of view because cow cuddling is known to be very therapeutic. There are other long-term gains such as understanding that cows are sentient beings. I can remember very clearly a video of a farmer in Europe had a great relationship with his farm animals including his cows. 

These relationships are very similar to those that one finds between companion dogs or cats and their caregivers. Cows are great animals although we treat them as livestock be used for the benefit of humankind.

We don't know for sure how people can contract avian influenza from cows but a person exposed to infected cattle on a farm in Texas tested positive for H5N1. They were the second documented case of human infection of the virus in the United States.

Although we don't know specifically how people are infected it is due to close contact with infected animals. Perhaps, and I'm guessing here, saliva is passed from cow to person and the saliva contains the virus. Most people who have fallen ill with H5N1 have had close contact with infected animals typically poultry.

The best of my knowledge, a person who contracted H5N1 was not seriously ill. The individual referred to above was treated for a single symptom of eye redness and they received antiviral medication. There was a case in the UK. The man contracted the disease from ducks. He was successfully treated.

In America, the CDC considered the risk of H5N1 being transferred to people as low but precautions are necessary. Milk from infected cows needs to be discarded although pasteurisation of milk kills the virus. Barn cats caught the disease from drinking infected milk on a Texas farm. It killed 12 of 24 cats in days.

Avian flu killed 12 Texas farm cats in four days after getting the disease from cattle

Perhaps the big problem for the cow cuddling businesses is that customers will no longer want to cuddle cows knowing that there is a potential risk of contracting this disease. This is the problem rather than the farms having to stop selling the service. Although they will probably do it voluntarily as they'd be exposed not only to the virus but to a claim for compensation through the courts! 😒🤢

In summary, while the risk of transmission from cows to humans remains low, health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking precautions. Some people who want to cuddle cows will also be taking precautions if they are aware of this zoonosis and avoid cows.

Some more on avian flu infecting people

Avian flu, also known as bird flu, is an infectious type of influenza that primarily affects birds. However, in rare cases, it can also infect humans. Here are some key points about avian flu:

Strains of Bird Flu Virus:

• Most bird flu viruses do not infect humans. However, there are four strains that have caused concern:
• H5N1 (since 1997)
• H7N9 (since 2013)
• H5N6 (since 2014)
• H5N8 (since 2016)
• While these strains don’t easily infect people and are not usually spread from human to human, there have been cases of human infection worldwide, leading to fatalities.

How Bird Flu Spreads to Humans:

• Bird flu is primarily spread through close contact with infected birds (dead or alive).
• This includes touching infected birds, their droppings, or bedding.
• Markets where live birds are sold can also be a source of bird flu.
• Eating fully cooked poultry or eggs does not transmit bird flu, even in areas with outbreaks.

Symptoms in Humans:

• The main symptoms of bird flu can appear rapidly and include:
• Very high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
• Aching muscles
• Headache
• Cough or shortness of breath
• Other early symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, bleeding from the nose and gums, and conjunctivitis.
• Severe complications such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome can develop within days of symptoms appearing.

Treatment and Prevention:

• Antiviral medications can help prevent complications if administered promptly.
• Prevention measures include avoiding contact with infected birds, practicing good hygiene, and cooking meat thoroughly.
• There is no specific bird flu vaccine available.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

2 million bottles of Perrier destroyed. Well water contaminated.

A well that has been the source of Perrier water for a century has been suspended as spring water from it was found to contain E. coli and other bacteria which can cause severe intestine of infection and can lead to fatal kidney failure in rare cases.

Image from online store and in the public domain.

The well is situated in Vergèze near the southern city of Nimes. As a result, Perrier has been forced to destroy to million bottles of their water.

The well is one of seven used by Perrier to fill their bottles. Perrier is owned by Nestlé Waters France, a business which has been under pressure to improve production processes since it admitted in January that it had used illegal treatments on Perrier and Vittel to remove pollutants.

The bacterial contamination was detected before the bottles had been distributed and the bottles destroyed as a precaution. The company put the problem down to a "microbiological deviation". The problem appeared after heavy rains in southern France last month.

The company added that "All bottles on the market can be consumed in complete safety."

Nestlé admitted breaching French and EU regulations three months ago in using ultraviolet disinfection and activated carbon filtration to purify Perrier and Vittel mineral water.

The treatments are effective in reducing the risk of faecal contamination and are allowed for tap water but banned for "natural mineral waters".

Underground springs such as the ones mentioned providing water to Perrier are supposed to require no sanitising whatsoever.

The Times newspaper reports that "Nestlé has previously been accused of illicit treatment of other mineral water brands including Contrex and Hepar.

They said that they have stopped the practices and that their water is and has been always safe to drink.

An investigation has been launched to shed light on the state's failures in the supervision of the production of bottled water.

French news media have accused the French government of turning a blind eye to production problems despite an official report in 2022 which revealed that at least 33% of French mineral water brands had used banned treatments.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Are the cavalry horses that charged through London's streets, okay?

The story about seven cavalry horses escaping and charging through central London is reported across all the news media today. There are some unpleasant photographs of blood pouring down a gray horse. It looks quite shocking. The horses ran into traffic injuring themselves and damaging vehicles. It is fortunate that nobody was killed and the horses have survived.

Update 30th May 2024: "Two military horses seen galloping through the streets of London last month remain under full-time professional vet care and observation, the PA news agency understands." - PA.

This short report is about the health and welfare of the horses. An army spokesman said:

"The horses have been recovered and returned to camp. A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving medical attention."

The MoD said that one soldier had been responsible for two of the horses.

Update:

All I can say is that five horses have been recovered to the army - three of those are fine, but unfortunately two of those are in quite a serious condition and we'll be continuing to monitor them," James Cartlidge, the defence procurement minister, told LBC.

Further update:

The Times reports that 2 horses have undergone operations. A horse named Quaker has been transferred to an equine hospital. The army assured the public that their horse receive the highest standard of care. Note: I have just heard that they are kept in stables 24/7 except for one hour a day. If that is true it is not the highest standards of care.

The report is that the injury to the horses were caused by glass that had been broken from vehicles which the horses had run into. If that's the case then the injuries will not be severe it would seem to me.

One witness said: "One of the horses hit the Mercedes van and the rider was on, fell back on this little middle of the road, and the other woman lost control of her horse and she managed to grab the railings. The injured soldier was lying there on the ground. He looked like he hurt himself pretty bad. It was terrible."

The horses had been spooked "as they passed some building work and concrete fell from the roof". They were being ridden at the time by the soldiers. Four of the soldiers fell and three were injured. They were taken to hospital along with an injured civilian. It is believed that the injuries are not serious.

As I said, the horses are being assessed by a veterinarian and the indications are from the story although this needs to be confirmed that they have not been seriously harmed and will recover. I will try and update this page if and when it is possible.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Student expelled from Chinese university for badly abusing his pet cat

Guo Xiang kept a pet cat in the dormitory and allegedly abused the cat many times. The Facebook post says it all actually although the story is reported on the website of Global Times.

This image is from Facebook. I have cannot verify that this is the man involved.

The executive council of the university issued a document expelling Guo after following the relevant provisions of the Jiangxi Normal University Student Disciplinary Management Measures.

"According to the decision of the office meeting of the school, Guo, who kept a pet cat in the dormitory and engaged in multiple acts of animal abuse, which led to a major negative public opinion on the internet, causing a particularly bad impact on the school. At the same time, Guo also engaged in spreading obscene videos, skipping 12 classes, and other violations of school rules and regulations. According to the relevant provisions of the disciplinary measures, Guo has been expelled from the school."

From Jiangxi Normal University Academy of Fine Arts (Yaohu Campus):

"Completion opinion: Hello, citizen! Your message has been received. In view of the fact that student Guo Xiang kept a pet cat in the dormitory and abused the cat many times, and the cat abuse caused major negative public opinion on the Internet, which caused a particularly bad impact on the school, the school office decided to agree to expel student Guo Xiang according to the relevant provisions of the "Jiangxi Normal University Student Disciplinary Punishment Management Measures". If you have any objections, please call the Jiangxi Normal University Student Affairs Office: 0791-88120145 for consultation. Thank you for your support and understanding of Jiangxi's government service work."

Comment: I was surprised to read that Guo kept a pet cat in his dorm. He seems to have kept the cat as a recipient of abuse. Quite horrendous. The complaint from commenters is that he was not prosecuted for animal cruelty but that is completely unsurprising for me as there are no general animal welfare laws in China to protect pets under the circumstances described.

There was no chance of his being prosecuted for the crime of animal cruelty as the crime appears not to exist in China 🤢😢.

The Global Times reports:

On March 29, a netizen posted a video claiming that a male student at the campus had been abusing cats in the dormitory over an extended period. In the video, the male student punched and kicked the cat, and ruthlessly beat it with a hanger, causing the cat to cry out in pain when it was knocked against the door.

Guo was reported by a fellow student on March 29th, 2024. The university was very concerned (reported) and investigated. The concern was about the university's reputation which suffered harm. I hope they were also concerned about the cat.

There is no report on the state of health of the cat and/or what happened to him/her which is indicative of the anthropocentric nature of the reporting (human-centric nature of reporting meaning it all turns on human behaviour).

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

China will use their cheap EVs to spy on and control other countries. Discuss.

If Edward Lucas, a British writer, journalist, security specialist and politician, is correct in that China is going to flood the UK with cheap EVs with the intention of spying and controlling the country it will affect all of us and therefore indirectly our companion animals making the topic relevant for this website! I want to briefly discuss this topic.

Lucas says that Chinese-made EVs which will be a fraction of the cost of the expensive models now available will flood the UK and US markets and are a 'recipe for mayhem'.

The Chinese EV is cheap thanks largely to government support and access to cheaper batteries and labour.

The Daily Mail newspaper reports that Lucas has said that "Chinese EVs in the West would act as 'mobile surveillance devices' that could be unilaterally switched off by the CCP at its whim, sparking chaos, death and destruction."

How can this be? He is saying that the Chinese can pull the wool over the eyes of the world's computer science experts and covertly spy on us with these cars and shut them down at a whim.

Surely this is impossible? All it takes is for a bunch of British and American computer scientists to thoroughly examine one of the cars destined to be exported to the UK and check if it has the capability to be controlled by the manufacturer and ultimately by the Chinese state if there is a close connection between the two.

The United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, France and the United Kingdom are the top countries for computer science courses. They have the best brains in computer science they would be able to strip down a Chinese EV and find out whether it is capable of spying on people and whether it can in any way damage the lives of citizens of these countries.

Edward Lucas believes that the UK is asleep at the wheel on this matter. He added that "The result of China's ravenous appetite for our data will be that every commercial, political, military and intelligence secret in every Western country is potentially compromised. So too is every facet of our personal privacy, making us vulnerable to blackmail and bullying."

Is it possible for China to spy on the citizens of countries in which Chinese EVs have been imported through technology built into the EVs?

The answer: The Biden administration has raised concerns about the potential national security risks posed by Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and other internet-connected vehicles on American roads. These EVs are becoming increasingly computerized, akin to “smartphones on wheels.” They collect sensitive data on drivers, including personal information, biometric data, and travel patterns. The worry is that a foreign adversary like China, with access to such information at scale, could pose a serious risk to U.S. national security and citizens’ privacy.

While Chinese EVs have not flooded the U.S. market extensively yet, the situation is evolving. Chinese automaker BYD recently surpassed Tesla as the world’s largest EV company by sales. Some analysts predict that the United States and other Western nations could soon see an influx of Chinese electric cars. However, it’s essential to note that not all Chinese EVs are necessarily involved in espionage. Market competition and innovation drive the adoption of similar sensors and technology across various high-tech cars, regardless of their country of origin.

In summary, while the alarm over Chinese EVs is justified to some extent, it’s essential to balance security concerns with fair competition and technological progress. President Biden has emphasized the need to address any intelligence or economic risks proactively to safeguard national interests.

Sources: Various including The Week, pbs.org, frep.com.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Screams from mother and daughter as carpet python attacks their cat

It seems that the carpet python is a relatively small python, a snake which kills their prey by wrapping themselves around it and squeezing the life out of them. Nonetheless, this was a terrifying and shocking moment for mother and daughter living on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

I guess, in Australia, as is the case in America, but is not the case in the UK, you have to watch out for predators of domestic cats. It's another aspect of cat caregiving.

Screenshot from Facebook video.

The video on this page is on Facebook. It's from a snake catcher who was called in by the mother. However, by the time he arrived, it seems that she had removed the snake from her cat and the snake had retired to a quiet corner of her property under the barbecue. I don't think the snake presented a particularly difficult problem for Mr McKenzie, the snake catcher.

Although he remarked that it was a crazy situation and the video is one of the most insane that you will see which indicates that this was a rare event so cat owners living in Australia shouldn't be overly concerned but vigilant.

'This is one of the most spine-tingling crazy videos you will ever see.'

Below are some more facts about the carpet python which may interest you.

From Sunshine Snake Catchers 24/7:

"This afternoon Stu attended a job in Buderim where a large Carpet Python grabbed the pet cat out in the family courtyard! The mum and daughter were able to get the snake off the cat safely and call us to come and relocate it! Some of the footage (and screams) were caught on the security camera out the back! Unbelievable!

Some facts about the carpet python

Let’s explore some fascinating facts about the Carpet Python (Morelia spilota), a remarkable snake species:

1. Appearance:

   • Carpet pythons exhibit highly variable colouring, ranging from olive to black, adorned with white, cream, and gold markings.
   • Their patterns can be roughly diamond-shaped or intricate bands on a background of grey or brown.
   • The triangular head features a conspicuous row of thermo-receptive labial pits.
   • Males are typically smaller than females, with some regions having females up to four times heavier.
   • Adult Length: Carpet pythons can grow to be five to eight feet in length. However, some individuals may exceed this range, reaching up to 12 feet when fully grown.
     
     Distribution and Habitat:
2. • Found throughout mainland Australia (except the arid centre and western regions), Indonesia (southern Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea, and Yule Island.
   • Inhabit diverse environments, including rainforests, woodlands, arid islands, and temperate grasslands.
   • Often found near human habitation.

3. Lifestyle and Behaviour:

   • Semi-arboreal: They climb trees but can move on the ground.
   • Nocturnal: Active during the night, but they may bask in the sun during the day.
   • Shelter: Seek refuge in hollow tree limbs, rock crevices, and abandoned burrows.
   • Predator: Carpet pythons are skilled ambush predators.
   • Non-venomous: They kill prey through constriction, coiling around it until it suffocates.

4. Diet and Prey:

   • Carpet pythons feed on a variety of prey:
     • Small Mammals: Rats and other rodents.
     • Birds: They can capture birds in their habitat.
     • Lizards: A significant part of their diet.
     • Incidents: There have been reports of carpet pythons devouring domestic cats and small dogs.

5. Conservation and Threats:

   • Habitat Destruction: Loss of suitable hiding places affects their ability to hunt and shelter.
   • Road Kill: Collisions with vehicles.
   • Pet Trade: Some are kept as pets.
   • Predation: Feral cats and foxes pose a threat.

Remember, these snakes play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance, and their unique adaptations make them captivating creatures in the wild! 🐍🌿

Sources: Reptiles Cove, Animalia bio, Wikipedia and more.

How do they catch birds as prey?

Carpet pythons employ a combination of stealth, patience, and ambush tactics to catch birds as prey. Here’s how they do it:

1. Camouflage and Ambush:

   • Carpet pythons blend seamlessly into their surroundings due to their intricate patterns and colors.
   • They often lie in wait on tree branches, rocks, or other elevated positions, where they remain motionless for extended periods.
   • When a bird approaches, the python strikes with lightning speed, coiling around its prey.

2. Striking Technique:

   • The python’s strike is precise and well-timed.
   • It lunges forward, extending its body to grab the bird.
   • Its sharp teeth sink into the bird’s flesh, securing a firm grip.

3. Constriction:

   • Once caught, the python wraps its body around the bird.
   • It constricts, squeezing the life out of its prey.
   • The bird’s ability to breathe is compromised, leading to suffocation.

4. Swallowing Whole:

   • After successful capture, the python begins the process of swallowing the bird whole.
   • Their flexible jaws allow them to accommodate prey much larger than their head.
   • The bird is gradually ingested, headfirst.

5. Digestion:

   • Carpet pythons have a slow metabolism.
   • They can survive on infrequent meals.
   • The digestive process takes several days, during which the python remains relatively inactive.

In summary, carpet pythons are patient hunters, relying on their cryptic appearance and ambush skills to capture birds as part of their diet. 🐍🦜

Sources: 

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Mystery of the two dead Sphynx cats on the side of a road

NEWS AND COMMENT - UK: News media are reporting on a sad and mysterious discovery of two dead Sphynx cats, one male and one female, in a field not far from a road. On the other side of the road there was a red cat carrier in which there were cat faeces. The cats were micro-chipped but there were no details except that they were of Romanian origin. It appears to me that the details were erased.

The cats were found by a dog walker who reported the discovery to the RSPCA who are mystified as to what happened

There was no sign of trauma so the cats were not killed by being hit by something. We have to speculate and I sometimes like to speculate.

This is a fictional image of male and female SPHYNX cats. I can't publish the picture of the dead cats on this website as it might breach Google Adsense's policy rules.

Abandonment

To me, this would point to an informal Romanian cat breeder breeding hairless cats namely the Sphynx cat in their home in the UK because they are valuable and you can make quite a lot of money selling Sphynx cats.

I would further speculate that the breeding wasn't working out very well. Perhaps the cats became ill. The female cat had bad teeth but it wasn't possible to determine her age.

I would suggest that they were abandoned by this breeder and the microchip details erased as a consequence. They would appear to have been alive when they were abandoned but that might not be the case. They might have died at the breeder's home and put in a cat carrier that already had faeces in it.

Either that or they were alive in a cat carrier and trapped in it for a while and died when they escaped from the carrier. They were not attacked by a predator. They appear not to have been hit by a vehicle. They might have died of exposure as they are hairless after all with no protection from their coat and it's been pretty wintry, very wet and cold.

They were found on Saturday, March 16 in Cambridgeshire, UK. The bodies were near the road between Balsham to Hildersham High Street in the area of Samworth Close.

The bottom line is that they must've been abandoned

And they must have died within the ownership of an individual or perhaps sometime after they were abandoned. That I think is the logical assessment but I would welcome somebody else's views on this.

It is the first time I have read a cat new story of this nature. It is incredibly sad. It's in fact rather horrific to be honest.

Photo

I can't show the photograph of the bodies because I have a feeling that advertisers on this website won't like them and they would object to it. Google AdSense would also object to it possibly and notify me of a breach of their policy which I don't like to hear about.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Jilted senior councillor threatened to kill ex-lover's cats

NEWS AND VIEWS: Here is the summary of this news story in which unsurprisingly the woman's cats play a part. Cats are not infrequently used as tools by men to leverage desired human behaviour sometimes in an obnoxious way. The humble domestic cat is vulnerable to being used in this way as women (and men) normally have a close emotional bond with their cat. Threaten to harm the cat and you emotionally harm the owner and force them to behave in a way which is against their wishes.

Salisbury City Councillor Mark Mewse outside Salisbury Magistrates Court (Image: Ollie Thompson/Solent News)

In a rather bizarre and unsettling turn of events, Mark Mewse, a Tory councillor, embarked on a peculiar campaign to win back his ex-lover, Sarah Houchin. Let’s delve into the details:

1. Lovebombing with Presents:

   • Mark Mewse, besotted and determined, showered Sarah with gifts. Not just any gifts, mind you, but specifically for her feline companions. Yes, he bought presents for her cats in a desperate bid to rekindle their romance.
   • The court heard that he left flowers on her car bonnet, sent her cards, and even gifted her and her cats a bag of goodies for Christmas. It’s like a feline-themed love story gone awry.

2. Persistent Pursuit:

   • Undeterred by Sarah’s clear rejection, Mewse continued his relentless pursuit. He bombarded her with a constant barrage of messages, hoping to melt her heart.
   • CCTV footage revealed him waving and blowing kisses at her as she drove around Salisbury, Wiltshire. He even followed her into her workplace, leaving her feeling anxious and nervous.

3. Threats to the Furry Companions:

   • But here’s where it takes a dark turn. When Sarah firmly declined his advances, Mewse allegedly threatened to kill her cats. Yes, you read that right. The same cats he had gifted presents to earlier.
   • It’s a chilling twist that involves both love and feline lives hanging in the balance.

4. The Court Drama:

   • The case unfolded at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court, where Mewse faced charges of harassment.
   • Sarah, in her early 50s, stood her ground, making it unequivocally clear that she wanted no part in a relationship with the defendant.
   • Mewse, the Chair of the Personnel Committee at Salisbury City Council, denied the charges, but the evidence against him paints a vivid picture of obsession and misguided affection.

In summary, this tale combines romance, cat presents, and a dash of menace—a script that even Hollywood might find intriguing. 🐱❤️🌹

Source: Daily Mail Online

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Russian 'corpse' in body bag smoking. More Russian propaganda.

Putin lies so much I don't think he knows the difference between fact and fiction. Here's a video from Russia of a bunch or 'corpses' in black body bags with one of them dragging on a fag 😎🤢. We are not told what is happening but my imagination tells me Putin's cronies were setting up some sort of scammy propaganda news feed to further pull the wool over the eyes of naive Russian citizens (usually the died in the wool elderly who love the man). It is all Kremlin pantomime. The Kremlin is a theatre of lies.

Update! The Full Fact website claims that "The clip was filmed during the production of a music video for a Russian rapper, in at least 2020." Fine. This sounds reasonable but it does not change the fact that Putin is an inveterate liar on a gargantuan scale and is constantly involved in spreading propaganda to pull the wool over the eyes of Russian citizens.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Riverside County told a woman with a neonatal kitten to put him back on the street

This news comes from one of my favourite animal advocates, Nathan Winograd, in the United States who is the founder and campaigner of the No Kill shelter policy saving many thousands of lives.

He has reported on Riverside County Department of Animal Services. He has described their actions as "obscene". He is correct.

He said that last week Riverside County "told a woman who found a neonatal kitten - with his eyes not yet open - to put him back on the street. She left in tears. That kitten was entitled the foster care and then a loving home. And as obscene as Riverside County's policies, they are not alone."

Comment: I'm shocked. It's completely unthinkable but it happened.

Mr Winograd also reports on Orange County Animal Care. He says that they are doing the same thing. He cites another example. Here it is, in his words.

"For example, when a pregnant cat showed up in the yard of a Good Samaritan and then gave birth, the woman did what she thought was responsible: allowed the kittens to nurse and then wean before taking them all — mama and kittens — to the shelter.

Shelter staff told her to return the feline family to where she had found them."

Remarkable. Apparently the woman explained to them that the female cat might not have a home. She didn't have a collar or tag and was pregnant when she was found. The kittens had no home to go to because they weren't born. The staff at the Orange County shelter still turned her away telling her "to release them back on the street".

As I said, remarkable. Callous. Insensitive. This cannot be right.

These rescue cats deserved a lot better. Sometimes it is applicable to put cats back on the street where they came from if there are unsocialised and not lost and reasonably healthy and sometimes cared for by TNR volunteers. But when cats are socialised, lost and unclaimed then they deserve to be found a home via a rescue center. The two organisations referred to did not discharge their duties.

These are my views and the views of Nathan Winograd. Different people have different views including of course these shelters referred to. I respect those views but strongly disagree with them in this instance.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.