Talk of the Town - talkofthetown's Blog - Bakersfield.com http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown en-us Lasting benefits of 'magic mushrooms' http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29381 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29381 <p><span id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">Scientists reported Tuesday that when they surveyed volunteers 14 months after they took 'magic mushrooms,' most said they were still feeling and behaving better because of the experience.</span></p> <p><span name="intelliTxt">One volunteer felt like her heart was ripping open, but she still described the 'trip' as a joyful experience.</span></p> <p><span name="intelliTxt">Check out the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,374264,00.html">study and the story</a> here.</span></p>


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Credit: talkofthetown


Title: LARGE PHOTOS_magic mushrooms.jpg
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Credit: talkofthetown

 LARGE PHOTOS_magic mushrooms.jpg talkofthetown Are top swimmers doping? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29311 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29311 <p>Using banned substances to get ahead has permeated almost all of the sporting world, and now (just in time for the Beijing Olympics) a top American swimmer is saying his sport is rife with cheats.</p> <p><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373561,00.html">Read the story here.</a></p> U.S. tennis player's amazing rant against female tennis stars http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29167 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29167 <p>OK, so it's not Pete Sampras, but a U.S. tennis player who sits on the board of directors of the ATP, is at the center of a sexism row after his outrageous comments concerning top female tennis players.</p> <p>The comments&nbsp; &mdash; which included describing some stars as 'sexpots' (and worse) while threatening violence to another&nbsp; &mdash; were in an interview given by Justin Gimelstob.</p> <p><a href="http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1029847/Women-tennis-players-sexpots-bitches--U-S-tour-director-launches-amazing-sexist-rant-Kournikova-Co.html">Read his comments here.</a></p>


Title: Alize Cornet
Caption: "Sexpot"
Credit: talkofthetown


Title: Alize Cornet
Caption: "Sexpot"
Credit: talkofthetown

 Alize Cornet "Sexpot" talkofthetown DNA tests sniff out mutts' breeding http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29123 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29123 <p>I've always been curious of the exact mix of my two mutts, but now I can find out for sure whether Otis' pops really was a Doberman, or if Mia's German Shepherd mom fell for a Rottweiler like the people at the pound told me.</p> <p>According to a recent story in USA Today: <i>DNA testing can disclose what breeds dominate their family trees. And thousands of people are happy to pay, about $60 to $170 depending on the method and company chosen, to end the what-do-you-suppose-he-is speculation of mixed-breed dog owners everywhere.</i></p> <p>You can read the whole story and play a neat match-the-dog-picture-to-the-breed-mix game <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2008-06-24-dna-dog_N.htm">here</a>.</p> <p>It's fascinating, but even for a mere $60, I'm quite happy not knowing the exact ancestry of my two hounds. I think they feel special enough as it is.</p> <p style="text-align: right;">&mdash; Andrew Mockett</p>


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Caption: Mia and Otis: Two mutty-mutts.
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Caption: Mia and Otis: Two mutty-mutts.
Credit: mockett

 otisandmia.JPG Mia and Otis: Two mutty-mutts. mockett Court rules in favor of Second Amendment gun right http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29105 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/29105 <p>The <span id="lw_1214490664_0" class="yshortcuts">Supreme Court</span> has just ruled that Americans have a right to own guns for <span id="lw_1214490664_1" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">self-defense</span> and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.</p> <p>The Second Amendment reads: &quot;A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.&quot;</p> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080626/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_guns">Read the breaking news here.</a></p> <p>So that's why we own guns. Now I get it. In case we have to rise up as one. Are we living in Zimbabwe?</p> <p style="text-align: right;">&mdash; Andrew Mockett</p> What makes someone an adult? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28956 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28956 <p>Age seems to be in the news a lot right now.</p> <p>Teen and young adult women were &quot;rescued&quot; from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/14/polygamy.retreat/index.html">a polygamist group in Texas</a>, only to be returned because they were deemed old enough to be able to make their own choices.</p> <p>Now <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/20/pregnancy.pact.ap/index.html">teen girls in Massachussetts</a> &mdash; who may have participated in a pregnancy pact&nbsp; &mdash; may see their over-18 boyfriends charged with statutory rape.</p> <p>And here in Bakersfield, <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/475608.html">two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old</a> may be tried as adults for the beating death of an 81-year-old man. (Two 13-year-olds have also been accused.)</p> <p>After reading <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/140489">this Newsweek article </a>by Dahlia Lithwick recently about how law enforcement treats teens differently when it comes to &quot;victims&quot; vs. the &quot;accused,&quot; I am keenly aware of the differences being played out right now across the country. At what age do teenagers become able to make their own choices and be responsible to handle the consequences of those choices? A 17-year-old who has sex with an over-18-year-old becomes a victim while a 13-year-old who is influenced by peers becomes an accused murderer. It just doesn't make sense to me. What do you think?</p> <p>&mdash; Jennifer Baldwin, Contributions Editor</p> Get high before you fly http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28947 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28947 <p>A pro-marijuana group wants the government to allow passengers to smoke pot in airport smoking lounges before they board their plane.</p> <p><a href="http://www.myfoxcolorado.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=BCB9610B1C7FCF7645CC270AAC3EB7D1?contentId=6834981&amp;version=3&amp;locale=EN-US&amp;layoutCode=TSTY&amp;pageId=1.1.1&amp;sflg=1">Read the story here.</a></p> <p>The group says it will cut down on rowdy passengers who drink alcohol before flying.</p> <p>It will also make those nasty airline snacks and meals that much more palatable.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Man loses 75 pounds on McDonald's diet http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28776 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28776 <p>So much for &quot;Supersize It,&quot; a Virginia man has lost 75 pounds on a diet consisting of nothing but McDonald's food.</p> <p>To be fair though, it was mostly wraps and salads, but still, Mickey D's as a diet? Have to admire the man.</p> <p>You can read the whole story <a href="http://www.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/man_loses_75_pounds_on_diet_consisting_of_nothing_but_mcdonalds_food/23194/">here</a>.</p> High school girls make pact to get pregnant http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28757 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28757 <p>This story has been all over cable TV the last day or two. It hasn't approached Tim Russert fever, but it's everywhere.</p> <p>17 girls at Gloucester High School are pregnant and <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1815845,00.html">many of them made a pact to get knocked up</a> and raise their kids together.</p> <p>Why weren't pacts like this made when I was in high school? Bummer.</p> The smartest (and dumbest) dog breeds http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28686 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/talkofthetown/28686 <p>The CBS &quot;Early Show&quot; ran a story about dogs and their intelligence, or lack thereof. In the story, they shared their list of the top 10 smartest and top 10 dumbest dog breeds.</p> <p><a href="http://wbztv.com/slideshows/smartest.dogs.breeds.20.695791.html?rid=0">Here's the list.</a></p> <p>I watched a friend's Border Collie for a week a couple of weeks ago and I agree Max is incredibly smart. But just like the clever kid in grade school, there are all kinds of behavioral problems associated with an over-developed brain! He kept on trying to escape, no doubt looking for more intelligent lifeforms beyond the boundaries of our home.</p> <p>Poodle? Are you kidding me?!</p> <p style="text-align: right;">&mdash; Andrew Mockett</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


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Title: BorderCollieWynne7Years3.JPG
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 BorderCollieWynne7Years3.JPG talkofthetown