Noon update: Sunny skies, ugly dogs and tiny crossbows – Quad City Times

Here's the afternoon forecast from the National Weather Service. It will cloudy gradually becoming mostly sunny with a high near 79 degrees. Winds will gust as high as 25 mph.

Tonight will be partly cloudy and breezy with a low around 55 degrees.

Huge stuffed cow saves 2-year-old boy after fall out window

Police in Massachusetts are crediting a huge stuffed cow with saving 2-year-old boy who fell out of a second-story window and onto concrete below. It happened Wednesday in Chelsea.

Police say the boy was playing in a bedroom with his 12-year-old sister and bouncing on the bed when he bounced out of the window. He fell 16 feet onto the concrete. Fortunately he was holding onto the stuffed cow which broke his fall.

Great uncle, Luis Estrada, said the boy takes the stuffed animal with him everywhere. The boy has some cuts and was taken to a hospital overnight for observation, but has since been released.

World's Ugliest Dog Contest awards underdogs' inner beauty

FILE - In this June 20, 2014 file photo, Peanut, a 2-year-old mutt is held by owner Holly Chandler after winning the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. The annual Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest celebrates homely pooches for their inner beauty in Petaluma. Organizers say the pooches will face off in a red carpet walk and "Faux Paw Fashion Show" during Friday's events. It's intended to show that all dogs, regardless of physical appearance, can be lovable additions to any family. (AP Photo/George Nikitin, File)

FILE - In this June 24, 2016, file photo, first place winner SweePee Rambo, a 17-year-old Chinese Crested Chihuahua, is cradled by her owner Jason Wurtz of Encino after the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. The annual Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest celebrates homely pooches for their inner beauty in Petaluma. Organizers say the pooches will face off in a red carpet walk and "Faux Paw Fashion Show" during Friday's events. It's intended to show that all dogs, regardless of physical appearance, can be lovable additions to any family. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat via AP, File)

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is celebrating today man's best friend's perfect imperfections in California.

The pooches many of which are adoptable or previously adopted face off in a red carpet walk and "Faux Paw Fashion Show," organizers said. The contestants are judged on first impressions, unusual attributes, personality and audience reaction.

A blind Chihuahua-Chinese Crested mix named Sweepee Rambo bested 16 other homely hounds in last year's competition and waddled away with $1,500, a trophy and a flight to New York with her owner, Jason Wurtz, for media appearances. The then-17-year-old champion proved that third time's the charm after falling short in the competition twice before.

By celebrating inner beauty, organizers said they hope to showcase that all dogs, regardless of physical appearance, can be lovable additions to any family.

Contest rules prevent owners from intentionally altering their animals to enhance appearance for the purpose of the contest. These pooches are celebrated for their natural ugliness, organizers said.

FILE - In this June 26, 2015, file photo, Quasi Modo wins top honors in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. The annual Worlds Ugliest Dog Contest celebrates homely pooches for their inner beauty in Petaluma. Organizers say the pooches will face off in a red carpet walk and "Faux Paw Fashion Show" during Friday's events. It's intended to show that all dogs, regardless of physical appearance, can be lovable additions to any family. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

Besides the main crown, the Spirit Award is presented to a dog and owner who have overcome obstacles or provide service to their community, organizers said.

The competition has been held in Petaluma for more than 50 years but is in its 29th year at the Sonoma-Marin Fair.

Chinese parents alarmed by miniature crossbow craze

A listing by a Chinese seller on eBay's U.S. site for a miniature crossbow capable of firing toothpicks is seen on a computer screen in Beijing, Friday, June 23, 2017. Powerful mini-crossbows that shoot toothpicks and needles are the new must-have toy for schoolkids across China - and a nightmare for concerned parents and school officials. Several cities have reportedly banned sales of the palm-sized contraptions, which are powerful enough to puncture soda cans, apples and cardboard, depending on the projectile. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Powerful mini-crossbows that shoot toothpicks and needles are the new must-have toy for schoolkids across China and a nightmare for concerned parents and school officials.

Several cities including Shenzhen and Qingdao have reportedly banned sales of the palm-sized contraptions, which sell for about $1 and are powerful enough to puncture soda cans, apples and cardboard, depending on the projectile.

The fad appears to have sprung out of the southwest city of Chengdu but quickly spread to China's east coast and even across the border to Hong Kong. In the Chinese territory of Macau, police issued a warning this week that using the crossbows might constitute a criminal offense.

Although there have not yet been widespread reports of serious injuries, parents across China have raised concerns with schools, with many circulating petitions on social media in support of a nationwide ban.

"People getting blinded will become commonplace, must ban!" said one user on the messaging forum hupu.com while another asked: "What was the inventor of this thing thinking?"

Taobao and JD.com, China's two most popular e-commerce sites, have responded in recent days by blocking sales. Searches for "crossbow" or "toothpick crossbow" now return empty.

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Noon update: Sunny skies, ugly dogs and tiny crossbows - Quad City Times