Tail

Once again, witness the tail wagging the dog in our "special" relationship with Israel ("Too much, too fast for peace?" Oct. 7). In an effort to keep alive a moribund peace process, the U.S. is groveling before Israel attempting to appease a client state with favors so that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will extend a moratorium on the expansion of illegal settlements. But this, in effect, validates existing settlements on Palestinian land because these are not addressed. For any meaningful resolution of the conflict, the U.S. has to be a more impartial mediator.

Every day at 4 p.m., the Labragator follows me around the house and stares me in the eye, throwing in the occasional whimper just in case I didn't notice the 96 pounds of black dog in my face. That, you see, is the beginning of her afternoon routine. Outside for a potty break at 4, dinner at 4:45 (or earlier if she can annoy me enough that I give in), and then immediately to the front door to wait for my husband to get home. The waiting has become my favorite part. She lays just inside our storm door on a throw rug that's just her size (can you say “spoiled rotten Labragator?

Who among us hasn't wondered the question as old as time itself: Do these jeans make my butt look big? Well, Phinneas is here to tell everyone that these jeans make his tail look adorable. He was modeling them along with an Old Navy visor, trying to win the "best dressed" contest at the recent Laurel Dog Show.

While it's bustling with activity every weekend, the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center in Abingdon is going to be particularly busy on Jan. 12, with three major programs that will offer something for all ages throughout the day. The white-tailed deer survey kicks off the day at 9 a.m. and continues until 11. Harford County seems to be experiencing explosive population growth - and not just with humans. So, estuary center managers need help from anyone 16 or older to determine if the deer population of Leight Park is a healthy size.

The Capitals fired Bruce Boudreau on Monday and named former captain Dale Hunter as the team's next coach. Judging by this video, Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin might want to start back-checking and crashing the crease. [ via Hot Clicks ]

As one potential Kentucky Derby favorite dealt with the changing color of his tail, another breezed to probably the most impressive win of the prep season over the weekend. Hansen, the white colt and 6-5 favorite at the Blue Grass Stakes, finished second after having dye applied to -- and then washed out of -- his tail. The bizarre mini-controversy overshadowed Dulluhan's stirring charge over the last three furlongs . Under Kent Desormeaux, the Dale Romans-trained colt went from 10th to first and set a new stakes record on Keeneland's Polytrack.  At the Arkansas Derby, late-comer Bodemeister overwhelmed the field, racing out from the No. 11 post and taking an early lead.

In a Preakness week when Baltimore goes mad for horses, it shouldn't come as a surprise that folks in horse circles are sharing shampoo and grooming products with their four-legged charges.Makers of equine products figured it out about four years ago when they noticed a run on horse shampoos that was inconsistent with their market estimates. The stuff was being used by humans.Mane 'n Tail shampoo, made by Straight Arrow, was one of the first to come flying out of the gate, spurred on by tips and stable gossip.

TOO BAD THE Easter Bunny wasn't at the Baltimore courthouse. Thieves brazenly made off with 300-pound solid brass doors that had graced the side entrance of the downtown building for 65 years.They pulled the caper when the crime-fighting bunny was busy with another case in Ellicott City.Barry Gibson, a dental technician, donned long ears and a bushy tail to promote his wife's shop on Main Street. But Mr. Gibson's bunny ears were definitely up when a couple entered the shop, the Forget-Me-Not Factory, two weeks ago. He saw the woman tuck a wooden Christmas ornament into her purse.

Having put us through one torturous, mind-binding fiasco, here's hoping that the Republican Party has learned how to keep the tail from wagging the dog. Al Funk, Timonium

Every day at 4 p.m., the Labragator follows me around the house and stares me in the eye, throwing in the occasional whimper just in case I didn't notice the 96 pounds of black dog in my face. That, you see, is the beginning of her afternoon routine. Outside for a potty break at 4, dinner at 4:45 (or earlier if she can annoy me enough that I give in), and then immediately to the front door to wait for my husband to get home. The waiting has become my favorite part. She lays just inside our storm door on a throw rug that's just her size (can you say “spoiled rotten Labragator?

In a new ad for Visa, Ravens tough guy Ray Lewis becomes putty in the hand of a little girl in pig-tails. The 33-second spot is called "Ray Lewis's toughest interview yet. " It features Lewis at a press conference. He's is seated at the podium, a scrum of tough-looking media before him asking him uncomfortable questions. Suddenly, a hand shoots up and little girl voice shouts out, "Mr. Lewis!" "What's your favorite color?" she demands. "Purple," Lewis answers, a charmed look on his face.

As one potential Kentucky Derby favorite dealt with the changing color of his tail, another breezed to probably the most impressive win of the prep season over the weekend. Hansen, the white colt and 6-5 favorite at the Blue Grass Stakes, finished second after having dye applied to -- and then washed out of -- his tail. The bizarre mini-controversy overshadowed Dulluhan's stirring charge over the last three furlongs . Under Kent Desormeaux, the Dale Romans-trained colt went from 10th to first and set a new stakes record on Keeneland's Polytrack.  At the Arkansas Derby, late-comer Bodemeister overwhelmed the field, racing out from the No. 11 post and taking an early lead.

"Red Tails," the years-long project of director George Lucas, is sure to bring some overdue attention to the Tuskegee Airmen, the all-black aviation unit that fought discrimination in the U.S. military as well as our enemies in World War II. Reviews for the movie have not been outstanding, but I'm looking forward to seeing it anyway. (Then again, I've watched "The Longest Day" over and over.)  According to a National Park Service history of the Airmen, before 1940, blacks were barred from flying for the U.S. military.

We're down to the last two games in regular season. To come out with a winning record, Teddy has to nail both picks. Fingers crossed. Paws crossed. Even tail in a little pretzel shape. Go Teddy!

In what's become a Howard County holiday tradition, tonight the Symphony of Lights display is letting dogs in. For tonight only, people can walk through the festive show with their dogs from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. -- the last dogs can start the trail at 5:15 p.m. What dog wouldn't enjoy a change of scenery for the afternoon walk, a mile and a half stroll through 70 holiday vignettes, all lit up?  The cost is $10 per two-legged walker -- dogs get in free. The proceeds benefit Howard County General Hospital.

The Capitals fired Bruce Boudreau on Monday and named former captain Dale Hunter as the team's next coach. Judging by this video, Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin might want to start back-checking and crashing the crease. [ via Hot Clicks ]

Bill wants to save Boris' tail with emergency aid, and each member of Congress losing a military base expects the same courtesy.The top pol in Japan hid $50 million under the mattress. Mexico's president hit grateful entrepreneurs for $25 million contributions to good government. Everybody in Italy does it. Our graft is chicken feed.

The number 2-9 -- Packers' record in past 11 games at Metrodome. The quote "You look at a guy who has busted his tail for 10 years to get into this position (and) for him to get hurt, it is tough." Steelers' Lee Flowers, on QB Tommy Maddox, who suffered a concussion and spinal cord contusion in loss to Titans.

Who among us hasn't wondered the question as old as time itself: Do these jeans make my butt look big? Well, Phinneas is here to tell everyone that these jeans make his tail look adorable. He was modeling them along with an Old Navy visor, trying to win the "best dressed" contest at the recent Laurel Dog Show.

Dolphins are so cute that many kids wish they could have them as pets. These marine cuties are too big for the home aquarium, so kids will have to content themselves with watching pint-sized characters nurse an injured dolphin back to health in "Dolphin Tale. " This family-oriented movie is so squarely pitched at very young viewers that their adult guardians may find themselves losing count of how many thuddingly obvious life lessons are imparted along the way. It's such a sweet-natured example of cinematic therapy that older viewers are likely to get over any reservations about its thematic obviousness and end up liking it too. Although it's based on an actual case involving a dolphin that lost its tail and had to learn to live with an ingeniously crafted prosthetic tail, "Dolphin Tale" has been amply fitted with enough dramatic elements to ensure that it works as an inspirational tale.