The Gun Report: December 17, 2013 – NYTimes.com

A 5-year-old girl was wounded by a stray bullet in DeKalb County, Ga., late Sunday. The child heard gunshots and looked out her bedroom window to see what was going on when she was struck in the shoulder. Police do not have any information about a motive or suspects.

via The Gun Report: December 17, 2013 – NYTimes.com.

IAVA – Letter from a Master Sergeant to Congress: “My family and I should not be penalized to subsidize the budget” | Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

As I finish out my 20 year career, the last thing I expected was to find out the government is now going to penalize my cost of living adjustment on my retirement pay for the next 22 years. Over the past few years, the government has threatened to not pay me numerous times and I find it absolutely despicable the United States Government has to put the burden of a budget on the back of it’s military. The fact we require a law to protect the pay of our military demonstrates a fundamental disconnect the government has from the citizens.

Be that what it is, I will press on with pride and explain to my wife and son, this is yet another sacrifice we will make for our great nation. It seems to me the cost of freedom keeps going up every year, but now I am being told my retirement pay won’t keep up with that cost. I guess the old adage is true, freedom isn’t free.

Please seek a resolution to this problem as my family and I should not be penalized to subsidize the budget.

Thank you for your time.

Brandon Bennett, MSgt, USAF

via IAVA – Letter from a Master Sergeant to Congress: “My family and I should not be penalized to subsidize the budget” | Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

VDU’s blog: Influenza A (H10N8) virus, the new kid one the block…

Step by step we seem to be getting familiar with the entire influenza spectrum of naming combinations and permutations. When you consider that even 2 influenza viruses with the same common naming scheme (like H7N9) may have completely different evolutionary histories and clicnial impact, well, influenza is a tough act to follow epidemiologically.

The latest, called H10N8 was detected in a human (73-year old female) for the first time Dec-6th. H10N8 has been found in the environment in the past.

via VDU’s blog: Influenza A (H10N8) virus, the new kid one the block….

Sebastian Errazuriz’s ’12 Shoes for 12 Lovers’ is Simply Fantastic – The Fox Is Black

One of my favourite showcases of this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach was that of NYC based artist, Sebastian Errazuriz, titled 12 Shoes for 12 Lovers. Utilizing 3D printing, Errazuriz went about fashioning a series of wildly imaginative shoes, inspired by the failed romantic relationships of his past. The passions of the heart have given way to timeless creativity, and Errazuriz has managed to hone his heartbreak to follow suit. There’s something for everyone in this offering—whether it be the fashion, the design, the tech, the writing, or the photography. If none of that, Errazuriz manages to at least captivate with something we can all relate to: love and heartbreak.

via Sebastian Errazuriz’s ’12 Shoes for 12 Lovers’ is Simply Fantastic – The Fox Is Black.

71 journalists were killed in 2013 – Reporters Without Borders

71 journalists were killed in 2013

2013 in numbers

Journalists killed: 71 (-20%)

Journalists arrested: 826 (-6%)

Journalists threatened or physically attacked: 2160 (+9%)

Journalists kidnapped: 87 (+129%)

Journalists who fled their country: 77 (+5%)

Media assistants killed: 6

Netizens and citizen-journalists killed: 39 (-17%)

Bloggers and netizens arrested: 127 (-12%)

Journalists killed:

39% in a war zone

8% freelance

4% women journalists

Media types

Print: 37%

Radio: 30%

TV: 30%

Website: 3%

via 71 journalists were killed in 2013 – Reporters Without Borders.

Horse Slaughter Plants Prepare to Open – Why?

It was the third time in five months that the horse plants were scrambling to open. Valley, which led the effort to resume domestic horse slaughter two years ago after Congress lifted its ban on the practice, along with Rains and Responsible, were preparing to open in August when The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups sued to contest the Department of Agriculture\’s permitting process.

A federal judge in Albuquerque issued a temporary restraining order, prompting the Iowa company to convert its operations to beef. But U.S. District Judge Christine Armijo threw out the lawsuit in November, allowing all three companies to proceed.

The animal protection groups filed an immediate appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which issued an emergency motion that again blocked the plants from opening. The appellate court lifted that order late Friday, saying the groups \”failed to meet their burden for an injunction pending appeal.\”

Dunn said it could be six months before there is a final ruling in the case, but he called the action good news and a sign the appeals judges found it unlikely that the animal protection groups would be able to prevail.

The Humane Society said \”the fight for America\’s horses is not over.\”

via Horse Slaughter Plants Prepare to Open.

Zoonotic TB may be public health threat in Zambia | Vaccine News Daily

According to the research, Namwala contains a large degree of genetic variation amongst M. tuberculosis strains in humans and the bacteria isolated from humans and cattle are respectively related. Because the bacterium is found in cattle, the animals may be a reservoir for human tuberculosis. Humans may become infected with M. tuberculosis and M. bovis by eating untested meat and by drinking unpasteurized milk.Malama concludes that health authorities, cattle owners and wildlife managers must work together to stop zoonotic TB in Namwala and its bordering areas. He said a one health approach adapted to local needs should be employed to control the spread of TB in the area.The incidence of all forms of human TB in Zambia is estimated to be 444 infections per 100,000 people.

via Zoonotic TB may be public health threat in Zambia | Vaccine News Daily.

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