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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We’ve seen it coming for years, but we might have to finally face the facts that the United States may not be top dog globally anymore.

MSNBC, with NBC News colleagues around the world, collected thoughts of what America means to our fellow nations. The results weren’t exactly favorable, especially in the Middle East.

But is that surprising?

“America means war,” says Afghanistan resident Mohammad Ashraf Shahidi, “America means blood, America means someone who sucks out the public’s blood and keeps them in poor conditions in order to be dominant.”

Recent attention to the U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan doesn’t help our country’s case and many believe America is a violator of human rights.

And there are other nations challenging our position as the world’s economic leader — China in particular.

A recent study by Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project reveals China’s rise to the top. Unfortunately, on top of all that, is the widespread perception that the U.S. tends to act unilaterally and is inconsiderate of other countries.

Our reputation is not completely lost though. Many global attitudes still see America as a champion of freedom, innovation and passion — characteristics we’ve always valued.

“America is on TV all the time,” South African Lesego Seitisho says, “and when the TV is off and America is still switched on in your mind, you see it’s like the land of the free… people live freely.”

As Independence Day looms around the corner, what does America mean to you?

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Here’s the key to the happy, faithful marriage you’ve always wanted. (TheCheeky.com)

Want to make sure your other half is keeping his or her “for better or for worse” alter vows?

From the site that gave us HickyTats and Dirty Doilies and promises a commitment to continue launching “more inappropriate gift ideas”, there’s a ring for you.  TheCheeky.com say it has the perfect fidelity insurance: the Anti-Cheating Ring.

If your lover insists on that Friday girl’s night at the club, don’t worry because this ring has your back. A seemingly innocent wedding band on the outside, it engraves “I’m Married.” on the finger of the wearer so misunderstandings are impossible.

For just $550, you will never have to worry about that fit younger man buying your girl a drink.  Unless, of course, he doesn’t care that she’s married. Then you’re right back at square one.

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Not this Elmo. This Elmo only wants to hug you.

A man in an off-brand Elmo costume had to be taken from New York City’s Central Park after launching into an obscenity-filled rant, according to the Gothamist.

The man — also clad in blue kneepads for some reason — became agitated after pestering tourists to pose with him for pictures and, according to witnesses on twitter, aggressively blamed most of his troubles on the Jewish population.

Police described the Elmo impersonator as “emotionally disturbed” and the man was reportedly taken away for psychiatric observation.

It’s worth noting that the man was a poor impersonator, given Elmo’s generally sunny, accepting disposition. Though that has been known to wane on occasion.

Apparently, an intolerant Elmo has been plaguing the park for some time. YouTube has several videos of a man in a matching, kneepad-clad Elmo suit ranting in the area of the Zoo. The most recent one is embedded below, followed by a video where Elmo screams that he “works for John Gotti,” and is ultimately confronted by a man in shorts and a heart-spotted, long-tailed tuxedo jacket.

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A Waco resident has been charged with cruelty to a nonlivestock animal in an incident in which a man claiming to be on a synthetic form of marijuana called K-2 chased a neighbor while barking and growling and then attacked a family dog, which he beat, strangled and then started to eat, KWTX-TV is reporting.

Michael Terron Daniel, 22, was arrested Monday without incident, the Waco station says.

On June 14, a caller told police that a man was “going crazy,” KWTX says. The man, who claimed to have ingested K-2, “got down on his hands and knees and chased a neighbor while barking and growling like a dog,” a witness told police.

The man took a black dog to the front porch of the home, beat and strangled the animal and then “began to bite into the dog, ripping pieces of the flesh away,” Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton told the station.

Officers reportedly found Daniel sitting on the porch with blood on his face, hands and clothing, KWTX says.

Read more:

Local Man Arrested After Family Pet Killed, Eaten

-Posted by Robert Kolarik