Dead stingrays washed up on Gaza beach

Palestinian fishermen collect several Manta Ray fish that were 

washed up on the beach in Gaza City on February 27, 2013. 

(MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

Around 220 mobula rays were discovered at the Gaza City beach yesterday, the Times of Israel reports. The sea creatures were promptly gutted and carted off to market where a fisherman said they could fetch up to $1.50 per kilo. The rays have not visited the waters off the disputed territory for six years, according to a local fisherman. It is unclear how the enormous fish ended up on the beach. Bob Rubin, an expert on stingrays from Santa Rosa Junior College in California, said the rays’ fins could have been bloody because they slapped into something such as "boats, rocks, sand, each other".  "Large underwater noises or electrical signals may have caused some state of disorientation but that is only a guess on my part" Mr Rubin said. A Gaza fisherman said God had provided the rays and he hoped to find more at the beach the next day.

MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images

Two gowns at the Oscars 2013

For what it's worth, here are my two favorite gowns at last night's Oscars: Charlize Theron in a white Dior gown and Jessica Chastain in a copper Armani gown.  Stunning!

Adele wins Best Original Song

So glad that Adele won the Best Original Song - from the James Bond Skyfall movie - at last night's Oscar ceremony!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Donkey meat in UK burgers?

Just when the British thought it couldn't get any worse in the recent scandal of horsemeat masquerading as beef in various food items available in major UK supermarkets, it now seems that Romanian donkey meat has been found in burgers in England, Sweden and France!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/horsemeat-found-in-british-supermarkets-may-be-donkey-8489030.html 

"Preliminary investigation by the French agency that combats consumer fraud had uncovered the Byzantine route taken by the “fake” beef. It came from abattoirs in Romania through a dealer in Cyprus working through another dealer in Holland to a meat plant in the south of France which sold it to a French-owned factory in Luxembourg which made it into frozen meals sold in supermarkets in 16 countries."  Oh boy!

Indonesian snakes slaughtered for fashion

Snakes being dried on a board before being made into handbags

Just after the start of Chinese Year of the Snake, here's an article about snakes which are killed, skinned and turned into handbags in Indonesia. When they reach Western fashion houses these snakeskin bags or purses sell for up to $4,000 (£2,500).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2277475/From-slaughterhouse-shop-shelf-Inside-factory-snakes-killed-skinned-turned-handbags.html#axzz2KkVNGRI6 

Madeline squeals with delight at Amtrak train

The delight and wonder of this three-year old girl catching her first Amtrak train ride is such a pleasure to watch!