A kitty a day keeps the blues away? A study finds that cat owners are less likely to suffer the physical and emotional symptoms of the “winter blues,” such as colds. The report by Cats Protection, a British cat charity, found that feline owners suffered 60% fewer headaches in January and February, caught 21% fewer colds and described themselves as being less miserable, impatient and tense. The study found that the benefits of cat ownership were spread across all age groups and both sexes, but that men under 40 were especially helped.
Popular pooch: The Labrador retriever was America’s most popular purebred dog for the 18th consecutive year. The American Kennel Club, which keeps track of registered breeds, says the Lab was the most popular dog in New Orleans. The Yorkshire terrier was the second most popular dog nationally in 2008, followed by the German shepherd and the golden retriever. In New Orleans, the German shepherd was the second most popular, followed by the boxer and the Yorkie.
A salute to Hollywood’s worst: Mike Myers’ comedy flop The Love Guru led the field today for the Razzies with seven nominations, among them worst picture and worst-acting slots for Myers, Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley. The Razzies is an Oscar spoof that dishes out “dis-honors” for the lousiest movies Hollywood dredged up the previous year. The other worst-picture contenders are Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans, Hollywood spoofs that shared a nomination for a “badly beaten dead horse of a concept”; the fright flick The Happening; Paris Hilton’s romantic comedy bomb The Hottie & the Nottie; and the sword-and-sorcery fantasy In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. Razzie “winners” will be announced Feb. 21, the day before the Oscars.
