The death carrot

When you are a cancer patient, you are reduced to getting excited by news stories like this one:

A chemical in the poisonous Mediterranean weed Thapsia garganica — known as "death carrot" by Arab nomads — was found to kill tumor cells in mice, according to scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The anti-cancer drug G202, derived from the weed, travels through the bloodstream until activated by cancer proteins. It won't attack healthy blood vessels and tissues. The researchers treated 29 patients with advanced cancer and are planning a second trial to test the drug in people with prostate and liver cancer.

***

Toro!

Read in the Denver Post:
MADRID — A Spanish bullfighter is likely to suffer facial paralysis and lose the sight in one eye after a terrifying goring, the hospital treating him said Saturday. Television images showed the moment when the bull's left horn ripped into Juan Jose Padilla's lower jaw to emerge beside his eyeball. Padilla is in a stable condition and recovering from a five-hour operation to repair his face, the statement from the Miguel Servet Hospital said.



Bonus goring from last year:

Man collared [har!] for barking at police dog

An Associated Press story in today's Denver Post:

MASON, Ohio — Police say an Ohio man has been charged with a misdemeanor for barking at a police dog. A police report says 25- year-old Ryan James Stephens was charged with teasing a police dog in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason.

Officer Bradley Walker wrote that he heard the K9 dog barking uncontrollably inside his patrol car while he was investigating a car crash at a pub early Sunday. Upon investigating why, Walker says, he found that Stephens was making barking noises and hissing at the animal. Walker reported that Stephens, when asked why he was harassing the animal, said "the dog started it."

The officer said Stephens appeared highly intoxicated. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Stephens was released to a bar employee who promised to drive him home...