- How do conservationists go about saving rhinos in a country engaged in a
bitter fight against increasingly sophisticated poachers? In Kenya, the latest
tactic is to implant microchips in the horns of the country's rhinos. The Kenya
Wildlife Service (KWS) plans to use the chips - along with DNA records - to
track the country's dwindling rhino population, which is thought to be around
1,000. In addition to protecting rhinos while they were alive, the KWS hopes
the chips will provide evidence when it comes to bringing poachers to justice
in court. “This is the first time have used technology or done anything like
this to try to preserve the rhino population,” said Robert Magori, Kenya’s
spokesman for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which donated the microchips to
the KWS. “It is a unique way of tackling our increasing problem with poachers.”
In a very fancy ceremony, the WWF delivered more than 1,000 microchips and five
scanners, allowing the KWS to deploy tracking systems to monitor every rhino in
Kenya. The relatively modest cost of the equipment was $15,000, but tranquilizing
the rhinos and fitting the technology will cost considerably more. “This will
serve to strengthen rhino monitoring, protect the animals on site and also
support anti-trafficking mechanisms, nationally and regionally,” the KWS said
in a statement. How will the system function? By placing one microchip in the
rhino’s horn and one in its body and tracking the chips if the part of the body
they are attached to is removed. The trackers will function around the world,
which sounds good, except for the part where poachers now know about the
trackers and will be looking for ways to remove them. Poaching has skyrocketed
in Kenya in recent years and horns can sell for $65,000 per kilogram -- more expensive
than gold. Demands for horns has surged because of a ridiculous fable that a
Vietnamese politician cured his cancer by eating rhino horn, which has replaced
the role of key ingredient in Chinese fever medicine as the lamest reason to
kill a rhino solely for its horn……….
- Great news, fans of good music! Noted pop hack Lana Del Rey has
revealed major struggles in writing the sure-to-suck follow-up to her terrible
2012 debut album “Born to Die.” Because of those struggles, Del Rey said
recently that she may not be able to cobble together enough musical crap for a
second release. "When people ask me about it, I just have to be honest - I
really don't know... I don't want to say, 'Yeah, definitely - the next one's
better than this one,' because I don't really hear a next one,” Del Rey said
before channeling into full diva/temperamental artist mode. “My muse is very
fickle. She only comes to me sometimes, which is annoying." Further
confusing fans, Del Rey recently referred to her forthcoming short film “Tropico”
as her “farewell project.” She announced the project this summer with a tweet
that read: "TROPICO - a 30 minute film coming to a city near you." A
short time later, Del Rey unveiled a poster for the film crediting director Anthony
Mandler, who worked with her last her for the music video for her song “Ride.”
The poster also credited four well-known music producers, including industry
icon Rick Rubin. In August, Del Rey posted a new poster for “Tropico” and
tweeted: "I can't wait to see you at our premiers for Tropico at the
Hollywood Forever Cemetery and in NYC. Looking forward to seeing you for the
farewell project. I adore you and thank you for inspiring me. TROPICO.” The
latter tweet drew a slew of worried responses from fans who clearly forgot that
they could find dozens of other equally untalented, disposable pop hacks to
crank out the same drivel as Del Rey should she choose to walk away from music.
Perhaps sensing an opportunity for some drama and publicity without having to
show any actual talent, Del Rey has tried to heighten the tension by going into
Twitter silence ever since. "It's Elvis and Jesus and Marilyn and
extraterrestrials all in one,” she said during a subsequent interview about the
film. Beyond that, Del Rey has suggested that a series of song leaks over the
summer exposed songs she said were intended for the album could put a possible
second release in danger……..
- The words “death wish” come to mind in multiple senses
when Washington Redskins safety
Brandon Meriweather is discussed. Meriweather, who appealed his two-game
suspension for illegal hits against the Chicago Bears on Sunday and got the
penalty reduced to one game, is clearly the most out-of-control player in the
NFL right now and that’s a big problem for him, his team and especially his
opponents. He will still miss Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, but the
halving of the suspension will also halve the $141,176 Meriweather would have
lost had he missed both games. The suspension and lost salary aside, the real problem
is the seemingly homicidal tendencies Meriweather shows weekly on the field. He
was flagged twice for personal fouls in the Redskins' 45-41 win over the Bears,
once for a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit on receiver Alshon Jeffery at the end
of a 28-yard catch late in the third quarter and once for a deliberate and
dangerous blow to receiver Brandon Marshall after he dropped a pass in the end
zone. After the game, Marshall did what virtually no NFLer will do: He argued
that the league should consider kicking out Meriweather because of the way he
plays. Players generally aren’t looking to rip food off of other players’
tables, so suggesting a player should be banned from the league is a significant
thing to say. Bears tight end Martellus Bennett, normally a jovial soul who
makes up raps about Cap’N Crunch, was even angrier. "I still want to punch
him in the face," Bennett said. "We don't get any of his money."
Marshall actually reached out to Meriweather to discuss the situation, but the
two still didn’t see eye-to-eye after their chat. Meriweather’s history with
fines for dangerous hits is lengthy and because of that, Marshall’s theory
doesn’t sound absurd. Meriweather was fined $42,000 for two hits in a Week 2
loss at Green Bay, $50,000 for a hit in 2010 with New England and accrued
$45,000 in fines a year later with Chicago. Asked about the big hits in
Sunday’s game, he said bluntly that there was “nothing” he could change about
the way he plays. Hey B, don’t confuse can change with not willing to change……..
- Many people are deeply tied to their personal
appearance. Ashley
Davis is one such person and she has lovingly cultivated her dreadlocks for
more than 10 years. The hairstyle is so ingrained in her family that everyone
in it has the same dreadlocked appearance and Davis views the ‘do as part of
her culture and identity. Her employer feels otherwise and that’s why a manager
at Tower Loan in St. Peters, Mo. recently informed her that her hairstyle was
no longer acceptable. Davis was told to cut it and she refused, citing the fact
that she has worn her hair the same way ever since she was hired. She even
admits to having bad dreams about her dreads being cut off. “My worst nightmare
is I wake up and all of my hair is gone. As far as cutting it goes, no way it’s
like cutting me open I can’t do it. My supervisor saw me two weeks after she
hired me and said I was doing a great job,” Davis said. According to Davis, the
company’s lame-ass new policy bans virtually every cool hairstyle: dreadlocks,
braids, mohawks, mullets and other “non-traditional” ‘dos. It was conveniently implemented
on Sept. 21 just weeks after Davis started her job as a secretary. Since she is
the only person in the office with dreadlocks, she feels as if she’s being
singled out. “I’ve only been there for two months, and they came up with a
policy. I feel like it’s degrading,” she said. Tower Loan is hiding behind a
lame-o official statement saying it “does not comment on individual personnel
matters,” but has a clearly stated appearance policy that “is necessary for the
success of the company.” Davis continues to fight the establishment and hopes
the battle can be resolved amicably………
- Hooray for plans to phase out Cuba’s confounding dual
currency system as part of reforms aimed at fixing the island’s economy…right? Based
on the reaction from ordinary Cubans, not so much. The official Granma
newspaper printed a government advisory announcing the beginning of the end of
the twin system of domestic pesos (CUP) and "convertible” tourist pesos
(CUC) - which are 25 times more valuable and are tied to the U.S. dollar. Cubans
expressed skepticism over the announcement, but most have shown enthusiasm for
the plan if it actually proves to be true. The dual currency system has existed
since 1994, when the collapse of the Soviet Union ended lucrative trade deals
and compelled Cuba to reluctantly open its economy to tourism while trying to
preserve its centrally-planned ethos. Under this shady system, workers are paid
in the less valuable domestic pesos, which means that even professionals such
as doctors and teachers must often moonlight as cab drivers or private tutors
to supplement their state salaries. The more valuable tourist pesos are used
for foreign trade, including imported electrical goods and upscale restaurants.
The one characteristic both currencies have in common is that neither is legal
tender outside Cuba. Because many imported goods can only be bought in CUCs, a
large wealth gap and resulting social divide exist between ordinary Cubans and
those with access to the much more valuable currency. Presidente/dictator Raul Castro has denounced the current system as
a major hindrance to the country's development since he took over from his
brother in 2008. Making the change caries the risk of high inflation, but it
will also bring Cuba closer to the rest of the hemisphere in terms of being
able to operate as a market basis. According to the government, it will give
notice of any devaluation of the CUC, providing a short amount of time for
folks to convert their stockpiles. The first step is to retool the country's
computerized accounting system and records-keeping even though 4 million state
workers on the island – total population just over 11 million - will continue
to be paid in Cuban domestic pesos. The government has already begun pricing
more goods and services in pesos and collecting taxes in pesos, so the change
of course is already underway………
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