UK Pig Farmers Squeal Poverty

Cristina Kirchner describes 'impressive' pork-fueled weekend

(NEWSER) - Pork is no longer just the other white meat, but also the other blue pill, according to Argentina's president. That’s right: porcine meat is good for your libido. “Pork consumption improves sexual activity,” Cristina Kirchner said as she announced lower meat prices. “Some nicely grilled pork is much more gratifying than taking Viagra.” And she said she has personal experience. More»

Brit with metal detector uncovers 7th-century Anglo-Saxon jackpot

(NEWSER) - The biggest stash of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found has been unearthed in a farmer's field in Staffordshire, England, by an amateur treasure hunter using a metal detector. The hoard, estimated to date back to the 7th century, includes weapons, helmets, and gold coins. Archaeologists are stunned both by the size—some 1,500 pieces—and the workmanship of the treasure, which brought tears to one expert's eyes. More»

UK blogger marvels at Americans' love of pork

(NEWSER) - Bacon has been popping up everywhere, observes Hattie Garlick for the Times of London. Store shelves teem with chocolate-covered bacon, bacon-flavored vodka, and bacon-flavored donuts, but she almost couldn’t believe the latest culinary staple to get the pig treatment: coffee. “It's a beautiful marriage of two culinary powerhouses—providing an extra kick that'll help you sail into the weekend,” one blogger gushes, to Garlick’s disbelief. More»

Smaller cattle cheaper to raise but still deliver good meat

(NEWSER) - Facing higher feed costs, ranchers aren’t having a cow—they’re merely downsizing them, the Los Angeles Times reports. Mini-cows have become the latest trend on farms around the country, because many eat less and are easier to handle, but produce 50% to 75% the rib-eyes and fillets of their normal-sized brethren. “We get more sirloin and less soup bone,” said one rancher. More»

(NEWSER) - Countries are tightening borders and stepping up containment methods as the swine flu body count continues to rise, the New York Times reports. The disease is suspected in 152 deaths, all in Mexico; 50 US cases are now confirmed from California to New York City. Health officials in Japan and at least eight other Asian countries are now screening anyone arriving from North America. More»