Lunch Break: Space Poo, Donkey Leaves Ballet

By Connect Mason News Director Elizabeth Stern

Daily items of interest from all over the news and blog feeds.

Gun rights advocates will begin bringing guns into restaurant establishments in an effort to argue their cause, stirring controversy among some patrons and restaurant owners. Citizens with concealed gun permits will be able to carry a gun in a restaurant as long as it is in plain view and they cannot order alcohol.

A team of students at UCF is designing a satellite that will fecal matter into space as a means of finding alternative ways of disposing of waste.

Waltz-dancing donkey Monika made her final leap across stage as part of Russia's Mariinsky ballet. Monika has been featured in productions of Don Quixote, and will be replaced with another donkey, Alina. Monika received carrot cake, a pinafore and kerchief as parting gifts.

In other animal news, a 1 1/2-year-old black-and-white Chihuahua named Conan has learned how to mimic the motions involved in prayer. The dog now joins in daily prayers at Naha's Shuri Kannondo temple in Japan. He is able to sit up on his hind legs and put together his front paws.