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FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa Discussion (pg. 249)
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South African gamblers smoke endangered vulture brains for luck
By John Platt
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diggAs the World Cup launches in South Africa this week, conservationists fear that gamblers looking for a little extra luck will turn to a source those of us in the West might not expect: the practice of smoking vulture brains.
The custom stems from the traditional medicine known in South Africa as muti. The vulture brains are dried, ground up and then smoked in cigarettes which supposedly give the users visions of the future. In addition to dreams of winning lotto numbers or sports teams, practitioners say the practice can give users an edge on taking tests or help their business attract more clients. A tiny vial of vulture brains sells for around $6.50, according to an article from AFP.
Seven of the nine vulture species found in South Africa are endangered in that country, including the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and the cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), the latter of which, according to the Cape Vulture Conservation Project, has only about 380 breeding pairs left in the country. (Both species have stronger populations in some other countries.) Vultures play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to control disease and vermin by eating carrion. (Read our previous coverage of vultures in India, where 99.9 percent of the eco-essential scavengers have died off in the last two decades.)
Mark Anderson, executive director of BirdLife South Africa, said in a prepared release that South African vultures are declining due to lack of food, poisoning by poachers, and collisions with electricity power lines. "The harvesting of the bird's heads by followers of muti magic is an additional threat these birds can't endure," he said. Wildlife groups estimate that at least 300 vultures are killed annually for muti, an unsustainable number that could drive vultures into extinction in the country in the next decade. |
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| wotyzoid |
| quote: | Originally posted by woscar
Brazil sucked this year, it was destined to happen and the fact that it's your opinion that the 90' squad was worse then this one doesn't change absolutely anything. They're out of the tournament by playing horribly, you said they were going to win and they didn't. End of argument. |
:stongue: what a meltdown! |
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| LAdazeNYnights |
| i wonder who germany will use to fill mullers spot....cacau, jansen, trochowski ? |
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| get nyce |
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| LAdazeNYnights |
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| Frenkieee |
Why is that until yesterday's match, literally every referee had blown his whistle when the injury time was done and no second later, while yesterday the ref let the match continue another two whole ing minutes? Some of most nerve-racking minutes of my entire life.
What a goal by Gio. And for everyone saying van Bommel should've been sent off: I'm proud to own a van Bommel shirt, best (Dutch) player throughout the tournament. Sure, sometimes his fouls really are really over the line, but hey, it isn't Futsal, now is it?
I enjoyed the match. WE'RE IN THE FINALS BABY! |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Why is it that this world cup has attracted so much attention whoredom?
So, Larissa Riquelme is taking her clothes off irregardless of the performance of the Paraguayan squad (yes, she showed that much disregard).
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Pics or stfu. Seriously.
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Now apparently a porn actress is going to give blowjobs to all her followers on Twitter if the Dutchlanders get the trophy.
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As above.
Speaking of attention whoredom, I found it funny that the night before England's exit that cockknocker Beckham had a quarter of the yahoo home page devoted to himself, with such subjects as "what it's like to play in the world cup" and "how it feels to be an England captin".
Cue England's pitifull exit not 12 hours later and all sight or sound of Beckham is no where to seen or heard.
Got a feeling he suddenly didn't want to be associated with the team of which he was riding the coat tails and had they got a another win, let alone made it further, 19 management would have him splashed all over the papers as the talisman and saviour of England.
[/rant] |
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| Moongoose |
| Where are people with tazers when you need them. |
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| xtr3m |
Yep
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| Trance-MB |
| quote: | Originally posted by EgosXII
yeah i know that, but that doesn't mean the players wouldn't get a little overconfident, it's why at half time i was hoping van marwijk could bring them back to earth...
i dont know if it was the victory against brazil, but they were just playing sloppy compared to any of their other games at this cup, even just passing and stuff... was suprising cause their technical side is usually almost flawless!
we're through anyway, w00t!! :D |
Still don't think it's overconfidence, but agree it looks like that. Personally I didn't get that impression, they knew Uruguay wouldn't stop till the last second, have seen it before. But it's also not the first time this happens to them, already happened years ago. They stop pushing for whatever reason and by that the other team can pickup their way of playing and make it difficult for Oranje. They also asked Sneijder about this and he said they just lost control a bit and couldn't really give a cause when I'm remembering correct.
What this team does have more then ever before is patience. They are convinced that they will get their chances. Probably this is what brought them this far. The calmness of Bert van Marwijk reflects on the players. |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by woscar
That's because you think the sport is stupid. Why do you keep watching and coming back to this thread, anyways? |
U Mad?
I was thinking maybe they should put a red light and siren on top of the goal like they do in hockey. What u think wahscar?
edit: Germany is a pleasure to watch. Their ball control and passing is so good. |
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| yukii |
| quote: | Originally posted by get nyce
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IM DYIIIINNGGG HEREE!!! :nervous: im a nervous wreck |
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