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CBS NEWS: Hairless Pooch Ugliest Dog

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The owners of the other contestants in this year's World's Ugliest Dog Contest may have thought their pooches had a chance — until they saw Sam.

The 14-year-old pedigreed Chinese crested recently won the Sonoma-Marin Fair contest for the third consecutive time, and it's no surprise.

The tiny dog has no hair, if you don't count the yellowish-white tuft erupting from his head. His wrinkled brown skin is covered with splotches, a line of warts marches down his snout, his blind eyes are an alien, milky white and a fleshy flap of skin hangs from his withered neck. And then there's the Austin Powers teeth that jut at odd angles from his mouth.

He's so ugly even the judges recoiled when he was placed on the judging table, said his proud owner, Susie Lockheed, of Santa Barbara.

"People are always horrified when I kiss him. He may turn into a prince yet. He's definitely a toad," she said. "I always thought he'd be great on greeting cards or on a commercial for Rogaine."

Sam, who's pushing 15, has something of a cult following after winning the contest — and fans' hearts — for three years running. Last year, huge crowds gathered around Sam and Lockheed at a local parade and Lockheed said she received letters and calls about her pup for weeks.

"So many people have told me they've got his picture on their refrigerator. He certainly has a little cult following," she said. "I did years of professional musical theater and never achieved the fame Sam has."

Sam will appear in this weekend's Fourth of July parade in Santa Barbara, but the recent events may be the cap on a long, ugly career. Lockheed says Sam's now suffering from congestive heart failure, lung and kidney problems and has definitely slowed down in his twilight years.

Zombie Awareness:

Be Aware Of Zombies In Your Area!

Due to our recently aquired knowledge of the coming zombie invasion, we advise all persons to purchase a 12 gauge shotgun and enough rounds. For more information on this topic post your questions on the link above.Offering a radom helpful fact about once every day or so.

Random Helpful Fact #1: In a pinch a sharp pencil can be used in place of a wooden stake.
Random Helpful Fact #2: Zombies hate raw chicken. it makes them sick.
Random Helpful Fact #3: Zombies and ravers have similar properties. Be carefull what you kill.

CBS NEWS: Mexico Issues Cartoon Stamp

Stamps issued by the Mexican government depicting an exaggerated black cartoon
character known as Memin Pinguin. (Source AP)

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's government insists a black cartoon character with exaggerated features is a national icon who deserves his own postage stamp --not an embarrassing racial stereotype.

The Mexican postal service has begun issuing five stamps featuring the character “Memin Pinguin,” from a comic book published for the last 60 years in Mexico.

The White House says “racial stereotypes are offensive no matter what their origin.”

But a spokesman for Mexican president Vicente Fox says the comic book, depicting a character with dark skin, thick lips and wide eyes, promotes family values.

The spokesman says the stamp is a celebration of Mexican culture and a salute to the country's cartoonists, and is “not racist.”