Category Archives: Relationships

Royal official slammed for bizarre wildlife advice – Fraser Coast Chronicle

BUCKINGHAM Palace’s swan boffin has been told to keep his beak out of the Gold Coast’s business after causing an internet flap, egging people on to feed bread to wild native birds.

The controversial comments by David Barber, the Queen’s official “swan marker”, have ruffled the feathers of the city’s leading wildlife vet and a Gold Coast councillor, prompting them to cry fowl and urge nature lovers to ignore the bread edict.

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital chief vet Michael Pyne has warned a bread diet causes young swans and ducks to grow too fast, leading to bone deformities that leave the birds at the mercy of predators.

Mr Barber, who has held the royal role since 1993, said there was “no good reason not to feed bread to swans”.

His advice went viral this week on social media in this swan-obsessed city, where the health of the local swan population and the fate of Black Swan Lake at Bundall have been in the news.

Queen Elizabeth II, pictured with Swan Marker David Barber (red jacket) on the Thames (Photo by Sang Tan — WPA Pool/Getty Images)

But Dr Pyne fears the consequences of people trying to take the birds under their wing and feed them, warning it is “unequivocal that feeding of bread to native wildlife can only cause problems”.

He said bread could cause bone deformities in young swans and ducks known as “angle wing”, which made it difficult for them to fly and put them at risk from predators.

“The high energy diet of bread causes the young birds to grow too fast, leading to the bone deformities and we regularly see swans suffering from angle wing on the Gold Coast,” he said.

Dr. Michael Pyne at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital with an injured swan.

Dr. Michael Pyne at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital with an injured swan.

“Bread if fed regularly can lead to over population and subsequent overcrowding and territorial problems, particularly swans.

“Bread is often linked to a number of other health problems such as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) and clostridial enteritis.”

Mr Barber’s advice has gone viral and there are fears that locals will feed bread to the Coast’s swan population.

Mr Barber’s advice has gone viral and there are fears that locals will feed bread to the Coast’s swan population.

The Queen’s swan marker is an official royal role dating back to the 12th century. The holder of the title gives advice on the welfare of swans and works closely with rescue organisations.

Technically, all unmarked swans in open water in the United Kingdom belong to the Queen, although the Crown only “exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries”.

The British Royal Family have a long history with swans — Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother is pictured feeding the swans.

The British Royal Family have a long history with swans — Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother is pictured feeding the swans.

It is not the first time Mr Barber has been drawn into Gold Coast affairs. Environmentalists last year wrote to his office requesting help in preventing Bundall’s Black Swan Lake from being filled in – an effort which has proved futile.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster said Mr Barber’s advice had been shared frequently on Gold Coast social media sites in recent days, sparking concerns that the birds in the city’s waterways could get sick from a sudden influx of bread into their diets.

Cr Hermann Vorster.

Cr Hermann Vorster.

“My personal view is that there is no good reason to feed local native birds and those who choose to persist in feeding swans should favour cracked corn and shredded lettuce,” he said.

“My understanding is this would reduce the incidence of botulism, which favours warmer weather, in local swans and would lower the nutrient load in our waterways.

“Given the virility of these social media posts, I would like local residents to do the correct thing by our local swans.”

Facebook is left baffled by woman who gloated about proposal with genitals – Daily Mail

‘Disinfect that right now!’ Facebook is left BAFFLED by a woman who gloated about her boyfriend’s bizarre proposal – which involved her ‘pulling out’ the engagement ring from his genitals

  • The bizarre post was shared on the aptly named wedding-shaming Facebook group That’s it, I’m Wedding Shaming
  • Commenters were confused by the woman’s claim that she ‘pulled out’ the ring when she put her hand on his penis 
  • Facebook users couldn’t resist sharing their thoughts on where the ring was hidden, suggesting everywhere from inside his penis to underneath his foreskin

Erica Tempesta For Dailymail.com

A woman left more than a few people shaking their heads after she boasted about how her boyfriend proposed to her — by hiding her engagement ring in his genitals.

The bizarre post was shared on the aptly named wedding-shaming Facebook group That’s it, I’m Wedding Shaming, and people were baffled by the woman’s claims that her fiancé asked him to perform oral sex on him as a ruse to get her to find the ring. 

In the post, the woman shared a photo of her engagement ring on her finger, explaining she put her hands on her beau’s penis ‘and this is what I pulled out.’

Say what? A woman has claimed that her boyfriend proposed to her by hiding the engagement ring on his genitals and asking her to perform oral sex on him so she would find it 

Say what? A woman has claimed that her boyfriend proposed to her by hiding the engagement ring on his genitals and asking her to perform oral sex on him so she would find it 

‘Last night, he asked me to blow him. I put my hands on his c**k and this is what I pulled out,’ she wrote. He is truly a blessing in my life. I wouldn’t ask for anything else.’

Claiming she was ‘in a perfect relationship,’ the bride-to-be ended the post by sharing some interesting dating advice. 

‘Don’t date a broke f**k and if you give him the best head he’ll ever get, cook him food, and don’t be a c**t. You might get a 1.6c e diamond too [sic].’ she said.  

Unsurprisingly, many people were appalled by the post on a multitude of levels, and one woman commented: ‘Please disinfect that right now.’

‘This brings a whole new meaning to the “family jewels!”‘ another person joked.   

Well, that's graphic: The bizarre post was shared on the aptly named wedding-shaming Facebook group That's it, I'm Wedding Shaming

Well, that's graphic: The bizarre post was shared on the aptly named wedding-shaming Facebook group That's it, I'm Wedding Shaming

Well, that’s graphic: The bizarre post was shared on the aptly named wedding-shaming Facebook group That’s it, I’m Wedding Shaming

They got jokes! People couldn't resist poking fun at the strange proposal 

They got jokes! People couldn't resist poking fun at the strange proposal 

They got jokes! People couldn’t resist poking fun at the strange proposal 

And someone else added: ‘Pulled it out of his penis, like some kind of budget magic trick.’

There were also plenty of Facebook users who couldn’t figure out where exactly he had hidden the ring, prompting a great debate. 

‘What you “pulled out” of where?’ one person asked, adding: ‘Oh did he have it in his foreskin?’

‘I think he hid it in his foreskin,’ someone else commented.  

‘I’m really confused. Is he uncut with a foreskin the size of Canada that he fit a ring inside? Did he put the ring around his penis? I MUST KNOW,’ another person asked. 

Out of where? Commenters were confused by the woman's claim that she 'pulled out' the ring when she put her hand on his penis

Out of where? Commenters were confused by the woman's claim that she 'pulled out' the ring when she put her hand on his penis

Out of where? Commenters were confused by the woman’s claim that she ‘pulled out’ the ring when she put her hand on his penis

‘Where was it?’ If it was ON his body, then this is going to be a very unsatisfying marriage. If it was IN his body, I’d get that ring cleaned before taking photos,’ one commenter wrote. 

Others felt it was more likely that he had the ring hidden in his pants.

‘OK I saw this before and I was confused like where was it? In his hole? But now as I was scrolling by and saw it again I realized she probably touched his penis through his pants and felt it? And unzipped his pants and found the ring box?’ one woman deduced. 

‘She said pulled OUT, not OFF. So I’ll take it that in the process of getting his under clothes off, she felt the ring and pulled it out,’ another person explained.   

Then there were those who couldn’t resist oozing with sarcasm when they joked about how ‘classy’ the proposal was.

‘Wow it’s like Shakespeare himself wrote it,’ one woman commented.

‘That is not an engagement story I would want to tell anyone,’ another Facebook user noted, while some thought the woman made up the shocking proposal story.  

‘I call foul! I think she made this up to shock,’ someone else wrote. ‘Or she’s a trashy b***h. Actually, she’s a trashy b***h’ either way. ‘

However, there was one person who pointed out that there are worse tales.

‘Still a better love story than Twilight,’ the commenter joked. 

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This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Conan O’Brien and Kristen Bell Are Friends – Vulture

Conan O’Brien and Kristen Bell. Photo: Earwolf

The comedy podcast universe is ever-expanding, not unlike the universe universe. We’re here to make it a bit smaller, a bit more manageable. There are a lot of great shows and each one has a lot of great episodes, so we want to highlight the exceptional, the noteworthy. Each week, our crack team of podcast enthusiasts and specialists and especially enthusiastic people will pick their favorites. We hope to have your ears permanently plugged with the best in aural comedy.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend — Kristen Bell

It’s hard to believe that a guy who’s been on national television for a quarter-century is wanting for friends but, to hear him tell it, Conan O’Brien is turning to podcasting in order to find a true chum. In the second episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, the host chats up potential pal Kristen Bell (The Good Place), who seems very well-suited to the position. She dives right in, asking O’Brien why he needs a friend so badly when he’s got so many people already in his life who share his goals — whether it’s the folks who help make his TBS TV show run, or his wife and kids at home. It turns out that maybe what he really needs is more “me”-time than “we”-time, whether that means working out more or getting out on the open road on his motorcycle. We learn that Bell and O’Brien have been out on the town together, double-dating with their significant others (Dax Shepard and Liza O’Brien), and the door is left open for more “friendship-adjacent” action. The conversation is breezy and easy, with a little more edge than his TV segments generally allow. The show is tagged with a “True or False” segment, where O’Brien quizzes his plucky assistant Sona Movsesian to get to know her better. Also along for the ride is the show’s producer, Matt Gourley of Superego, whom O’Brien doesn’t seem to quite trust, yet. — Marc Hershon.

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

The Hilarious World of Depression — Aparna Nancherla

As we gear up for the holiday season, now is the perfect time to deck some halls, bake those cookies, and, yes, check in on your own mental health. Statistically speaking, holiday depression, anxiety, and stress can affect anyone at any age. For me, The Hilarious World of Depression acts as a wonderful bridge between a traditional comedy podcast and one that tackles the taboo subject of mental illness. This week, Aparna Nancherla joins host John Moe to discuss her history with depression and anxiety. With something much like the vulnerability and courage it takes to attempt stand-up in the first place, Nancherla, true to form, is unapologetically open and honest about her battles with depression. She brings us on a journey that starts with a breakdown she suffered in college, through the beginning stages of her comedy career, and to her current struggles with depression and anxiety today. Throughout, Moe asks insightful questions that touch on the difficulties of being vulnerable onstage, whether Twitter has been bad for Nancherla mental health, and what she wishes she knew about depression long ago. Aparna and John, through honest conservation, help shed some light on whether or not depression can actually be funny. — Tom Rainey.

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Anna Faris Is Unqualified — Bill Hader

At 150 episodes and hundreds of more questions into her podcast, is Anna Faris finally qualified to give relationship advice? Faris would say no, but this week’s excellent episode proves she’s nearing expert status. Freshly minted Emmy Award winner Bill Hader first opens up about hiding his anxiety at SNL and the loudest laugh he’s ever heard inside Studio 8H, which happened to be during one of Faris’s hosting appearances. The two Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs co-stars go on to trade war stories from their collective press tours that sound truly nightmarish. We even get a classic Bill Hader laugh-break while Faris role-plays Beige Schumacher-Smith, her red-carpet reporter character. Blank-slate questions like “Tell us about your new show Larry,” and, “Now, Kanye?” cause Hader to completely lose it. It’s a delight to listen to. After the interview, Faris plays the voice of reason to a previous caller, rescuing him from Hader and co-host Sim Sarna’s unhelpful college dating advice. The second caller shares the sobering details of workplace harassment by a male co-worker. The three try to help but ultimately admit they are unqualified to give real advice on the situation, thus keeping the podcast’s title and the balance of the podcast universe in order. — Mark Kramer.

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Off Book: The Improvised Musical — Jeff Hiller in “A Sea Star Is Born Live” from Murmrr

Let’s consider this an audition for guest Jeff Hiller to replace Lady Gaga as Ursula in the live-action Little Mermaid. Live in Brooklyn, Jess, Zach, and New York’s own Hiller take the stage to weave a masterful new underwater musical. “Swim On In” to hear Hiller inhabit both Ursula (yes, that one) and Ally, the starfish who’s been told she’ll never work in this industry. That’s right — this a potential origin story for a Disney villain and the underwater tale of how “A Sea Star Is Born.” As someone who’s yet to see Gaga’s new film, I have to believe it’s about a stingray and a sea cucumber seeking out a sea-witch/cabaret singer and undeveloped future star to sing at their underwater lounge. It must involve Ally’s being scared to perform, someone repeatedly trying to convince her to do so, and sexually charged dolphins. As for the hosts’ claim that Hiller is one of the greatest musical improvisers of all time, it’s hard to disagree. With guest New York musicians and Hiller’s fearless vocal stylings, this episode’s songs are more than good enough for Bradley Cooper. Find out how far from the sha-ha-shallow we end up! — Anna Marr.

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Other Podcasts We’re Listening To:

Why Won’t You Date Me? — Erin Whitehead
Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

The Soft Spot — Cereal Killer Nick Wiger
Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Armchair Expert — Conan O’Brien
Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

The Misfits Podcast — Misfits House
Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Cool Playlist — Solo Karaoke with Eliot Glazer
Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Got a comedy podcast recommendation? Drop us a line at comedypodcasts@vulture.com.

Paris Hilton isn't thinking about dating right now – Daily Local News

Paris Hilton isn’t even “thinking about” dating right now.

The DJ and socialite insists she is focusing on her work and family following her split from ‘Leftovers’ actor Chris Zylka and is “busy being a boss-babe”.

She told E! News: “I’m amazing. I am busy being a boss-babe, running an empire. That is all I have time for. I barely have time for myself, let alone anything else. I am not even thinking about [dating] right now. I am literally so busy. I hardly have time to see my own family, let alone do that. I am so happy. I just love my life. My advice is to always be happy and feel good about yourself – because life is truly too short.”

Meanwhile, Paris previously admitted she thought her marriage to Chris was going to be her own version of a “Disney” happy ending.

She said: “I’m doing really good. I’m just really having my me time. I just feel that when I fall in love, I fall in love fast and hard. It was this whirlwind romance and I’ve always been obsessed with Disney stories and love stories, and I thought it was going to be my happy ending and I just realised after time that it wasn’t the right decision.”

And the 37-year-old star hasn’t ruled out getting married and having children in the future.

She added: “You know, one day, I would love to get married and have children, but for right now I’m just focusing on myself and my work.”

A source previously claimed that Paris’ wedding to Chris was “never going to happen”.

They said: “This wedding was never going to happen. They never had an engagement party and Chris’ parents never even met Paris’ parents. They postponed the 11/11 date without a new date. No one is surprised by this at all. Paris got caught up in wanting a wedding and she just didn’t think about the marriage part. It was never going to work with Chris.”