NEW YORK: Fireworks, music and the pursuit of hot dogs will mark the 242nd year of independence for the United States on what is expected to be a steamy Wednesday in much of the country.The Independence Day holiday, which brings out crowds from small towns to big cities, is also a time when law enforcement agencies are on the alert for suspicious activity.Officials said they are taking precautions, but have not detected any credible security threats following the arrest on Sunday of an American-born Ohio man on suspicion of planning to detonate a bomb at Cleveland's Fourth of July celebrations."As always, the Department of Homeland Security encourages vigilance by the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement,” said Lesley Fulop, a spokeswoman for the agency.The holiday marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by congressional delegates in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The actual signing of the document, however, did not occur until Aug. 2, … [Read more...] about For US birthday, life, liberty and the pursuit of hot dogs
Adopted dogs first night
Zsa Zsa, an English Bulldog, wins the world’s ugliest dog contest
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By Sarah Mervosh Sun., June 24, 2018 Her tongue hangs loose from her mouth, flopping so low it threatens to touch the ground. Her face is wrinkled and her teeth protrude in an underbite. Stout and barrel-chested, she has a figure that few would call girlish. In other words, Zsa Zsa, a 9-year-old English bulldog, had just what it took to impress the judges Saturday night at the World’s Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, California, where she bested 13 other dogs to seize the title. The event, like its unsightly contestants, might be misunderstood at first glance. The World’s Ugliest Dog contest is actually a celebration of the dogs, many of which were rescued from shelters or puppy mills, and is intended to promote pet adoption. Article Continued Below “It’s a full red carpet,” said Christy Gentry, a publicist for the Sonoma-Marin Fair, where the contest was held. This year’s competitors included a formerly obese dog with sagging … [Read more...] about Zsa Zsa, an English Bulldog, wins the world’s ugliest dog contest
Memoirs of a first-time pet parent
Follow our new CNA LIFESTYLE page on Facebook for more trending stories and videosSINGAPORE: It came to me during the wee hours of the morning last week. I had been rudely awakened by the unmistakable sound of something shattering into pieces – followed by suspicious scurrying.I got up, half-awake, and nearly tripped on a furry shadow outside our bedroom door.“Meow.”Two small eyes looked up at me. Our cat just knocked over a potted plant at 3am.As I was cleaning up the mess, a strong whiff of poop wafted in from the kitchen, as if the world was telling me: "Hey, you’re awake! Might as well…"At that moment, I thought to myself: How did I end up shovelling cat poop and sweeping pottery shards in the middle of the night?“Meow.” Aww. So cute, you…CHLOE THE CLUMSY CALICOIt has been a month since I officially joined the ranks of Singapore’s army of pet parents. Her name is Chloe and I am her hooman.Chloe is an … [Read more...] about Memoirs of a first-time pet parent
3 Koreans added to Oscars’ Academy: Check out complete list of new 744 members
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which organizes the Oscar awards, added 744 new members from 57 countries to its roster this year including three South Koreans.New members will be welcomed through an invitation-only reception in the fall.The three new Academy members from South Korea are filmmaker Kim Ki-duk, cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon and CJ Vice chairperson Lee Mie-kyung, according to Yonhap News.Lee oversees CJ's entertainment and media unit CJ E&M and has been living in the US since 2014, the report added.Kim Ki-duk won several international awards including best director at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2004 for "Samaritan Girl," best director at the Venice Film Festival in 2004 for "3-Iron" and Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2012 for "Pieta."Chung's works include "Old Boy," "The Handmaiden," "The Unjust" and "Thirst."They join the list of South Koreans who are members of AMPAS including Park Chan-wook, Lee Byung Hun and … [Read more...] about 3 Koreans added to Oscars’ Academy: Check out complete list of new 744 members
Trump calls for unity; warns about North Korea
WASHINGTON: - Addressing a deeply divided nation, President Donald Trump summoned the country to a "new American moment" of unity in his first State of the Union, challenging Congress to make good on long-standing promises to fix a fractured immigration system and warning darkly of evil forces seeking to undermine America's way of life. Trump's address Tuesday night (Wednesday, Thailand time) blended self-congratulation and calls for optimism amid a growing economy with ominous warnings about deadly gangs, the scourge of drugs and violent immigrants living in the United States illegally. He cast the debate over immigration - an issue that has long animated his most ardent supporters - as a battle between heroes and villains, leaning heavily on the personal stories of White House guests in the crowd. He praised a law enforcement agent who arrested more than 100 gang members, and he recognised the families of two alleged gang victims.He also spoke forebodingly of catastrophic dangers … [Read more...] about Trump calls for unity; warns about North Korea