pileofcrapola

As it was foretold back in May, so it has come to pass: for all those times when you need to know where you’re going but don’t have great Internet service, Google Maps has introduced offline navigation and search.

The feature will start off in Android, with support for iOS coming soon, Google product manager Amanda Bishop wrote in a blog post. Offline access is handy because it’s not like we’re going to go back to trying to figure out actual paper maps anytime soon.

“Ten percent of the time our users are getting slow or no results.” Bishop noted to Tech Crunch. “That’s not really conducive to being confident about where you’re headed next. I mean, in some spots in Los Angeles you might as well print out directions and drop them on the floor of your car like everyone used to before GPS.”

Again, this won’t mean you can pull up a map of anywhere in the world on the fly when you’re stuck without an Internet connection: users will be able to download a map for a certain area onto their phone, which can be viewed, searched and used to get turn-by-turn driving directions while you’re offline.

Once you’ve downloaded an offline map, Google Maps will switch into offline mode automatically when it detects spotty service. If you move into an area with better service, offline mode will turn off again, restoring access to the full version of Maps. The app will only download areas to your device over a Wi-Fi connection, Bishop notes, to prevent large data fees.

Just like a child at daycare, dogs can sometimes be hesitant to enter a dog park. Let your dog take all the time necessary, and do some advance preparation yourself. With the right approach, your dog will be making new friends in no time.

Steps

Preparing in Advance

1. Complete all vaccinations. Puppies and rescue dogs should finish their full course of vaccinations before they visit a park where other dogs have been. An unvaccinated dog could catch parvo or another potentially fatal disease. Keep all vaccinations up to date as recommended by a veterinarian.
   • If the dog is very young or was recently ill or malnourished, check with a veterinarian first, even after vaccination. The dog may need some time to build up his immune system.
2. Train your dog. At minimum, your dog should respond to the "come" command while off the leash. An untrained dog can be a safety risk to himself and others at the dog park. If you're not sure whether your dog is ready, try practicing commands off-leash in a fenced-in backyard, or in your apartment hallway.
   • If you know your dog has behavioral problems, especially aggression, consider attending puppy classes or hiring a professional trainer. Don't visit the park until you are confident you can prevent the bad behavior and stop it promptly if it happens.
   • A trainer can also help teach a puppy appropriate play/bow behavior. These are the body language cues used by dogs when playing with each other.
3. Learn to identify your dog's preferences. While walking your dog, pay attention to how she reacts to other dogs and to people. Some dogs are anxious or hostile around men, overly friendly people, or large dogs. If you know how your dog tends to react, you can respond quickly to calm her down at the park.
   • Your dog can start to learn socialization skills outside of the park. Try taking her to areas with lots of foot traffic, or better yet arrange play dates with another dog.
4. Give your dog enough exercise. Make sure you meet your dog's exercise needs, based on his age and breed. If your dog is cooped up longer than he should be, he might get over excited when let off the leash at the dog park.
5. Check for parasites. Look for fleas and ticks regularly to avoid spreading them to other dogs at the park. Consider using preventative medicine for these parasites, since your dog will probably be exposed to them at the park.
   • If your dog has lost energy or appetite, visit a vet to check for heartworm as well. Your vet can also recommend medication to help prevent heartworm.

Checking Out the Park

1. Pick the park. If you have the option, choose a park that separates dog by size. If you're not 100% confident in your dog's training, choose a park with containment fencing or plan to keep the dog on a leash at all times. Try to avoid parks next to busy roads unless your dog knows to stay away, even if the gate is normally closed.
   • If visiting a park in the evening, make sure it is well lit.
   • Large parks with underbrush may contain wild animals. Be aware of the risk of skunks, raccoons, or whichever animals are native to your area.
2. Pick a time when the park is mostly empty. Dog parks are often packed on evenings and weekends. If you can visit during a weekday afternoon, your dog will get the chance to explore in a calmer environment.
3. Pack the right treats and toys. It's a good idea to bring something to calm your dog down if he gets nervous, or to attract his attention. That said, you don't want to be responsible for the Great Bacon Stampede when three dozen dogs notice what you're holding. Pick a basic treat that your dog enjoys, but nothing with too strong a smell. And of course, a toy to play with is always welcome.
4. Bring water on hot days. Some of the nicer dog parks have a special water spigot and bowls for public use. Otherwise, you'll need to bring bottled water and a bowl yourself.
5. Bring along some wipes. A box of wet wipes or a plastic bag full of damp paper towels might come in handy. You never know when your dog will roll in something and need to be cleaned off.
6. Walk around the perimeter. Let your dog become familiar with the area by walking him on the sidewalk just outside the park. Let him stop and sniff the edges of the park as you walk. The dog is ready to go in when he looks relaxed. A stiff neck, bulging eyes, or freezing in place are all signs of anxiety.
7. Be cautious with your puppy. If you have a puppy or tiny dog, look for other dogs the same age and size. If large or aggressive dogs are dominating the park, this may not be a comfortable place to visit.

Entering the Park

1. Know the leash rules. Check for signs or watch what other dog owners are doing. Many large dog parks have a double-gate system, where you remove your dog's leash when you're between the gates. Don't enter the park with a leashed dog, as the leash can cause your dog to act defensive or aggressive toward the unleashed dogs. You'll have to take off the leash and go with the flow if you want your dog to meet potential playmates.
   • In less dog-friendly cities, "dog parks" are more like ordinary parks where dogs are allowed. Some of these parks require you to keep your dog on leash.
   • If your dog is not well-trained, it's best to avoid off-leash parks completely.
2. Expect a rush of dogs. A crowd of dogs often rushes up to meet the newcomer. Don't be startled or anxious. Keep an eye on the dogs, but let them do their thing while you meet their owners.
3. Watch your surroundings. Stay alert and know where your dog is at all times. You will both be making new friends, but don't get too distracted chatting. There's always the chance of an aggressive dog, or a dog that doesn't get along with yours. The dog park is a fun place for both of you, but you're still on the clock when it comes to watching your dog.
4. Pick up after your dog. This should go without saying, but pick up after your dog promptly. Many dog parks have a box stocked with plastic bags, but always bring your own baggie or scooper just in case.
5. Be friendly with other dog owners. Let them know your dog is new to the dog park and ask them to respect your dog's boundaries. The other owners can be very helpful when it comes to socializing your dog.
6. Leave the park at signs of conflict. If your dog starts harassing other dogs, or if the other dogs harass your dog, leave the park right away. This prevents the conflict from escalating and, if your dog was the culprit, sends a message that the behavior is not allowed.

Tips

• Not all dogs will want to go to the dog park and play with other dogs. Don't force it if your dog is happy with her current level of socialization.
• Dog parks are usually maintained by the city government. If the gate is locked even during the day, you may need to visit city hall and register as a resident pet owner to get a key.

Warnings

• Dogs tend to behave differently when in a "pack." Be extra cautious when bringing multiple dogs to the park, or when your dog has made close friends with the regulars.
• Do not visit the dog park if your dog is over five months old and not neutered, especially if the dog is in heat. The scent can trigger bad behavior in other dogs, even if yours is well trained.
• If your dog tends to eat feces, this habit needs to be corrected before he visits the park. Even when vaccinated, this exposes the dog to disease and parasites.

Related wikiHows

• How to Acclimate Two Dogs
• How to Get Help for Dogs with Canine Epilepsy
• How to Make a Radiant Hair Sparkler
• How to Introduce a New Dog in a Not Neutral Area

We recently told you about the “Homeopathic Constipation Relief” on sale at CVS and how it’s really nothing more than a 40-proof shot of booze and water that anyone can purchase without ID. While the drugstore chain is continuing to sell the product — which, again, contains nothing but alcohol and water — it is telling employees to set a one-drink maximum on underage customers.

In an e-mail obtained by NBC Los Angeles, CVS instructs staffers “to monitor the sale of their constipation relief. This includes declining the sale of more than one bottle to anyone who seems suspicious or the sale of more than one bottle to someone who appears under the age of 21.”

To dissect that statement, it appears that CVS is not necessarily going to check ID of young laxative shoppers; it’s just going to use the ol’ eyeball test to determine if maybe that customer really needs to buy six packages of constipation relief.

That’s how much of the stuff blogger and chemist Yvette “Sci Babe” d’Entremont consumed on-camera to see (A) just how intoxicated she would get and (B) whether or not six doses of the product would have any relaxing effect on her bowels. The answer to A was “legally drunk,” while thankfully for Yvette, it was a resounding “no” to the second question.

In response to the mild policy change at CVS, d’Entremont tells NBC that it’s ultimately up to CVS customers.

“Unless consumers voice their opinions on this, we’re not going to see bad products like this pulled,” she explains.

NBC Los Angeles has more information on how relaxed standards for homeopathic drugs — currently the subject of much discussion at the Federal Trade Commission — can result in over-the-counter product that has no real purpose other than giving users a mild buzz.

Just for kicks, let’s watch d’Entremont get drunk again:

Back in January, we shared the news that Hershey was looking toward the future and thinking about ways to make impulse candy purchases part of consumers’ shopping routines we use more self-checkout options, or have entire orders prepared for us to pick up or have delivered. They’re not alone, it turns out.

“When you go to a store you look at your cellphone, right? You’re actually not even paying attention to the display,” an executive with Mondelez asked AdAge rhetorically. I glance at the impulse items, and periodically pick up a lip balm. Sorry not sorry, snack companies.

Other than vending machine, how can snack companies put us in the habit of grabbing snacks wherever we see them? How about an Amazon Dash button that you can impusively push to have the company send you packs of gum? What if restaurants and fast-food or fast casual eateries had mint for purchase at the checkout? These are all ideas that snack giants like Mondelez and Hershey are testing. There was briefly an experiment where Uber drivers could deliver gum and mints, among other items, on demand.

Apparently, we all have such poor impulse control that we simply need to have sweets and snacks put in front of our faces, and we’ll buy ’em.

Brands Acting on Impulse to Fill the In-Store Checkouts Void [AdAge]

If you enjoyed having a wide selection of toys available to you for 30 hours straight between Thanksgiving and Black Friday, we have some great news for you! Toys ‘R’ Us is keeping the same holiday hours as last year, opening their doors at 5 PM on Thanksgiving and keeping them open straight through until 11 PM on Black Friday.

The 5:00 start time is apparently working for them, since they’ve kept it the same since 2013. At least they aren’t moving the start time back any earlier? There must be a bright side to this somewhere. Also, no one will be waiting outside in the wee hours of the morning to get into the store.

“Each year, we carefully evaluate customer feedback and consumer insights to determine how we can best help those customers eager to get a jumpstart on crossing off items on their gift lists,” Joe Venezia, the chain’s VP for Store Operations said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome shoppers into our stores, providing big savings and expert services as the holiday shopping season officially begins.” Wait, I thought that the holiday shopping season began on November 1. Or is it September 30th?

Curiously missing from the Toys ‘R’ Us press release is a quote from any of the front-line employees who will be the ones running the place and sharing their toy expertise during those late hours. Best of luck, and we hope that only the people who really enjoy working on holidays get called for Brown Thursday and overnight duty.

One thing that disappointed fans of McDonald’s breakfast after the chain expanded its availablility all day long is that not all restaurants offer hash browns all day. Hash Brown Finder is exactly what it sounds like: it flags McDonald’s locations and whether they serve hash browns all day or not. The site is simple to use, plotting locations with hash browns on a Google map. It needs more data, though: if you’ve been to McDonald’s lately, volunteer for this tater-riffic cause. [Hash Brown Finder]

Comcast email customers became the latest victims of a potential hack attack this weekend, as the company confirmed it reset passwords for nearly 200,000 users after their email addresses and passwords were posted for sale on a hacker marketplace.

As first reported by CSO, the list of emails and corresponding passwords made up roughly 590,000 accounts. However, Comcast determined that nearly 60% of that information was for inactive accounts, leaving just 200,000 compromised customers.

The company says it has forced a reset for those accounts and that customers would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

A rep for Comcast says the company’s security teams are certain that none of its systems or apps had been compromised.

According to CSO, the list of information was posted on Dark Web Saturday, and was purchased for $1,000.

CSO theorizes that the information on the list was likely recycled, either from previous breaches or via Phishing scams.

Comcast resets nearly 200,000 passwords after customer list goes on sale [CSO]
[via The Verge]

We could be incredibly lazy today, since it turns out that Target’s Black Friday plans are pretty much identical to what they did last year. They’re opening at 6 PM on Thanksgiving Day, which is also what they did last year. They’re starting Black Friday-style deals on November 9 instead of November 10, so we’d have to change that. Otherwise? Pretty much the same.

In their announcement of the opening time and deals, Target points out that they try to mostly use volunteers to work on the holiday, who receive extra pay and another, unnamed reward. While 6 PM is relatively late, we hope that Target and other stores opening in the afternoon serve up a nice turkey dinner anyway.

The discounter’s Black Friday deals will include electronics and toys, including gaming consoles and telvisions. Some deals will start this week, and others will be available on Wednesday.

Target Debuts Black Friday Promotional Strategy, Stores to Open at 6 p.m. [Target]

RELATED:
Boston Market: Official Caterer Of People Stuck At Work On Thanksgiving

Even amid growing concern about the safety and welfare of both the animals and their trainers, SeaWorld had remained steadfast in defending its signature “Shamu Show,” with commercials and marketing trying to reassure the public that it was doing right by these large and potentially deadly marine animals. Today, the heavily scrutinized theme park company took a step intended to quiet at least some of its critics.

SeaWorld’s flagship San Diego location will be pulling the plug on its current entertainment-oriented orca show, with the goal of replacing it with an event that is more informative for audiences.

Executives for the company announced the attempt to re-position itself amid several efforts from advocates, states and federal agencies to shut down the park’s breeding and entertainment shows, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

SeaWorld said in a webcast about its vision for the future, that it will phase out its current show over the next year in favor of a more informative program.

That show, expected to debut in 2017, will be designed to take place in a natural setting carrying a “conservation message inspiring people to act.”

The termination of the Shamu Show would effectively bring an end to the San Diego park’s theatrical shows. There was no word from SeaWorld on whether orca shows at its Orlando and San Antonio parks would be discontinued, The Union-Tribune reports.

SeaWorld has been the subject of much criticism since the documentary Blackfish came out in 2013, chronicling alleged mistreatment of orca whales by the park as well as accusing it of violating Occupational Safe and Health Administration laws.

The documentary looked at the death of SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was killed in front of park visitors when an orca named Tilikum pulled her into the water and kept her under it during a performance. The documentary created quite a public relations headache for the marine park, landing it in Consumerist’s Worst Company In America contest for the first time in 2014.

The company has been trying to repair its tarnished public image ever since, launching a campaign called “Ask SeaWorld” and pledging to spend $10 million on orca research and expand the whale environment at the park, among other things.

Although SeaWorld has said it beefed up safety measures for its workers, in May the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in California cited SeaWorld San Diego for not properly protecting employees.

SeaWorld to phase out killer whale show [The San Diego Union-Tribune]

You always want to feed your cat something healthy, which is why you pay attention to the labels on the cat food and snacks you buy. But every once in a while some special unintended ingredient makes its way into those packages, which can lead to some very sick kitties.

The folks at Blue Buffalo have announced a recall of some Blue Kitty Yums Chicken Recipe Cat Treats because they may contain low levels of propylene glycol, a chemical barred from use in cat food.

Cats who have consumed a lot of propylene glycol may exhibit signs of depression along with loss of coordination, muscle twitching, and excessive urination and thirst.

The FDA says that if your cat has consumed the recalled product (details below) and has these symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.

The recall is the result of a single customer complaint, which led to FDA testing of the Blue Buffalo product and the discovery of some propylene glycol in the affected lot.

The specific product being recalled comes in a 2-oz., plastic stand-up pouch. Only the packages with the following UPC codes and use-by dates are part of the recall:

Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 — Best If Used By: April 24, 2016.
Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 — Best If Used By: July 24, 2016.

Both the UPC and the date are found on the back of the package.

If you have any of these recalled treats, you can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Blue Buffalo at: 888-667-1508 from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time Monday through Friday or by email at BlueBuffalo5883@stericycle.com for more information.

If you’ve ever known a shoplifter, you’ve probably noticed that he or she has a tendency to hit up the same stores over and over until those victimized retailers either nab the shoplifter or do something to make theft more difficult. It would make seem to make sense then for Walmart to deploy a facial recognition program to identify known or suspected offenders. So why did the company recently give up on this sort of system?

In a story for Fortune.com, Walmart was the only major national retailer that would confirm the use of face-scanning technology.

The retailer acknowledged that some sort of automated recognition program — which would alert store personnel to the presence of a potential thief — had been tested at various Walmart stores around the country, but that the company pulled the plug on it earlier in the year.

A Walmart rep explains that the system simply wasn’t providing the return on investment needed to justify its use.

“We were looking for a concrete business rationale,” says the rep to Fortune.

One factor not mentioned in the story is the fact that a large amount of shoplifting and product loss at big box retail stores — not just Walmart — involves employees. Facial recognition software may be pointless when the pilferer is already someone you recognize without expensive technology.

Back in 2012, a Best Buy employee told us that around 60% of the theft at his store was internal, which is why his location did away with the often-hated process of checking bags and receipts.

“Why are we slowing down the entering and exit of the building by our paying customers for something that even by our own numbers, they barely contribute to?,” he explained of the thought process behind the change.

It’s possible that Walmart came to a similar realization when testing the facial recognition software.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia has provided tens of millions of dollars in Medicaid benefits to ineligible patients because of inadequate reviews and processing delays and is at risk of providing even more, the state’s legislative watchdog agency said Monday.

Virginia officials don’t verify that applicants are telling the truth when they say that they have no earned income, according to the report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which is in the midst of a two-year review of the state’s Medicaid program.

Furthermore, Virginia is failing to promptly determine whether someone’s Medicaid benefits should be renewed after a year, allowing people who are no longer be eligible to remain on the rolls, the report said.

The commission estimated that up to $38 million in the roughly $8 billion program was spent on ineligible recipients in fiscal year 2014 because of that backlog. As of August, nearly 961,000 Virginia residents were on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Republicans who remain staunchly opposed to Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s efforts to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law quickly seized on the commission’s findings as evidence that it can’t handle more recipients.

“You’re taking a program that’s not particularly efficient right now and overburdening it even further,” GOP Del. John O’Bannon said of the expansion, which would add about 400,000 more low-income Virginians to the Medicaid program.

Virginia’s verification process catches only those who report having some income, Jeff Lunardi, project leader for the review told lawmakers Monday. Therefore, people who say they don’t make any money are taken at their word even though it’s likely that “at least some” are actually ineligible for assistance, Lunardi said.

Linda Nablo, chief deputy director for the Department of Medical Assistance Services, which oversees the state’s Medicaid program, said the department has already drafted new policies to fix the problem and they are expected to be in place by the end of the year. She also noted that her department had pushed lawmakers to approve a measure that would have addressed some of the issues, but it was killed in the General Assembly.

The review also found that overburdened offices are failing to promptly determine whether applicants remain eligible for benefits after 12 months.

McAuliffe has signaled that he will make another push to expand Medicaid next session, even though both the House and Senate remain controlled by Republicans, who have blocked his efforts in the past.

Republicans suspect McAuliffe is eying a proposal like one adopted by Colorado that would allow the state to collect fees from hospitals in order to draw down more federal funds that could then be used to pay the state’s share of the expansion costs.

Brian Coy, a spokesman for McAuliffe, said the governor isn’t ready to discuss specific legislation. But he said the state can fix problems in its Medicaid program while also expanding it to cover more residents, if members of the General Assembly don’t “sit on the partisan sidelines.”

“We can always improve our Medicaid system but there is no excuse for leaving billions of Virginians’ taxpayer dollars on the table in Washington when we could be using it to expand access to hundreds of thousands of our friends and neighbors,” he said.

___

Follow Alanna Durkin on Twitter at twitter.com/aedurkin . Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/alanna-durkin .

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WASHINGTON — Forrest is a splendid Shepherd mix who came to the Washington Animal Rescue League from South Carolina after the recent flooding.

Forrest was already in a shelter when the flooding hit the region, and WARL stepped in to help relieve overcrowding in the shelter.  Forrest is very friendly and good with other dogs, and he loves to play.  He is completely entertained by people.

Forrest is large in size, but at 4 years old, has learned his manners and is a terrific companion. Forrest is heartworm positive; WARL will take care of the cost of treatment, but the adopter must be willing to adhere to a heartworm treatment schedule.

Forrest hopes to meet you soon, so come on out to meet him!

About WARL: Founded in 1914, the Washington Animal Rescue League is the oldest animal shelter in Washington D.C. Its mission includes rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for animals who have no where else to go. The League also supports animals through affordable veterinary care, community outreach and education. Learn more about the Washington Animal Rescue League at www.warl.org.

If you are thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, check out these other great shelters in the area:

Maryland

Humane Society of Charles County
(301) 645-8181
71 Industrial Park Dr. PO Box 1015 Waldorf, Md. 20604
Humane Society of Charles County offers a low cost spay/neuter program to the public. Please call or visit our website for more information. The shelter is also looking for more foster parents to help its animals.

Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P.
(301) 299-6756
4808 Moorland Ln, Rockville, MD 20850
Lab Rescue of the LRCP is a volunteer driven, nonprofit organization that rescues, fosters and places homeless, abused, and/or abandoned Labrador retrievers.

Prince George’s County Humane Society
(301) 262-5625
P.O. Box 925 Bowie, Md. 20718
Prince George’s County Humane Society is also looking for foster parents. For more information, contact the organization.

PAW — Partnership for Animal Welfare
(301) 572-4729
P.O. Box 1074 Greenbelt, Md. 20768

Paws Animal Kingdom
(301) 920-2318
P.O. Box 11531 Takoma Park, Md. 20912

Montgomery County Humane Society
(240) 252-2555
601 South Stonestreet Ave. Rockville, Md. 20850

The Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County
(301) 740-2511
12 Park Ave. Gaithersburg, Md. 20877

D.C.

Washington Humane Society
(202) 576-6664
1201 New York Ave. NE 20002

ASAP — Alliance for Stray Animals and People
(202) 331-1330
P.O. Box 65438 Washington, D.C. 20035-5438

Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue
(202) 575-2210
Approved applicants may attend monthly adoption meets that are usually held at the house of a volunteer in either Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland.

Northern Virginia

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
(202) 741-5428
5159 Lee Highway Arlington, Va. 22207
Lucky Dog is a foster home organization and does not run a dedicated housing facility.

A Forever Home
(703) 961-8690
P.O. Box 222801 Chantilly, VA 20153-2801
A Forever-Home is a nonprofit dog rescue group that operates in the Northern Virginia/Washington Metropolitan area.

FOHA — Friends of Homeless Animals
(703) 385-0224
39710 Goodpuppy Ln, Aldie, Va. 20105
All visitors must speak to a Friends representative before receiving directions to their shelter location.

SPCA of Northern Virginia
703-799-9390
P.O. Box 100220 Arlington, Va. 22210-3220

Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
(703) 746-4774
4101 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, Va. 22304

Animal Welfare League of Arlington
(703) 931-9241
2650 S. Arlington Mill Dr. Arlington, Va.

Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
(703) 295-3647
P.O. Box 223953 Chantilly, Va. 20153

HART — Homeless Animal Rescue Team
(703) 691-HART
P.O. Box 7261 Fairfax Station, Va. 22039-7261

King Street Cats Rescue and Adoption
(703) 231-7199
25 Dove St. Alexandria, Va. 22314

Virginia German Shepherd Rescue
(703) 435-2840
P.O. Box 126 Sterling, Va. 20167

 

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Washington Times

Doctors Without Borders refuses Pentagon money to rebuild hospital damaged in ... Washington Times American soldiers examine the charred remains of the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, that was hit by a U.S. AC-130 gunship last month. (Associated Press) more >. By Rowan Scarborough - The Washington Times - Updated: 10:11 ... Kunduz Hospital Attack: MSF Factsheet | MSF USA - Doctors Without BordersDoctors Without Borders Charter | MSF USA - Doctors Without BordersCharter | MSF USA all 58 news articles »

WASHINGTON (AP) — The District of Columbia is testing a program that would change the price of parking based on demand.

The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/1XYg966 ) reports “surge pricing” could require people to pay $8 an hour to park in Chinatown-Penn Quarter at peak times.

City officials say the program is meant to reduce downtown traffic congestion. Officials say studies show 25 percent of the traffic is caused by vehicles circling the block looking for parking.

Soumya Dey, director of the DDOT’s research and technology transfer division, says they are trying to balance the supply and demand for parking.

John B. Townsend II, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, says the new program could discourage lower-income residents from visiting the area.

Surge pricing is scheduled to begin in the spring.

___

Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

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HYATTSVILLE, Md. (AP) — A church van carrying adults and children through a suburb of the nation’s capital collided with a pickup truck that crossed into its path, and the pickup truck burst into flames in an accident that claimed four lives and left 14 others badly injured, authorities said.

A child was among the dead Sunday, and authorities said the conditions of survivors ranged from fair to critical in the Maryland community of Hyattsville just northeast of Washington, D.C.

The crash occurred on a busy, four-lane road with a double-yellow line and no dividing barriers, in front of a two-story brick house with three cars parked in front. Charred debris was strewn on the sidewalk, along the curb and in the small front yard of the house, less than 20 feet from the front door. A man who answered the door at the home declined to comment Monday morning.

Five children were being treated at Children’s National Medical Center, and spokeswoman Emily Hartman said Monday morning that three were in fair condition and two were in critical condition. Eight adults were taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, but a spokeswoman said their conditions were not available.

Witnesses say people ran with fire extinguishers from their homes but could do little to put out tall flames that rose above the pickup truck before firefighters arrived and put out the blaze. Authorities said the fire was kept to the pickup truck, whose driver died along with two adults and a child in the van.

Fire department spokesman Mark Brady in Maryland’s Prince George’s County called the crash scene and the numbers of victims, including children, one of the worst in his 40-year career. He said firefighters were among those debriefed by counselors afterward because of the magnitude of the crash — “so many people, so many injuries and fatalities.”

A police spokeswoman did not return a call seeking comment Sunday evening but authorities said police investigators would be reconstructing the accident.

Donald Huff, who lives on the Hyattsville street where the accident took place, said the tranquility of a Sunday afternoon was shattered around 5 p.m. that day. He said he heard “a loud boom, just like a bomb,” and then saw the flames.

“The fire just got bigger and bigger,” he told The Associated Press by phone.

He said a couple of people ran out on the street with kitchen fire extinguishers “to try to get as close as they could, but it was a little too much.”

He said that the fire department arrived and brought the fire under control, and he could see emergency crews pulling bodies from the van afterward. White smoke billowed from the scene afterward.

Brady said the adults in the van were mostly in their 20s and 30s and that the children ranged from 4 to 10 years old. He added that by late Sunday night authorities were not yet releasing the names or the identity of the church group and drivers involved while relatives were being notified.

He said that 14 injured — six children and eight adults — had to be sent to several hospitals in the region. He said that eight of those were in critical condition, including four children, and others appeared to have serious injuries.

Brady said police are still only in the early phases of investigating. But he said authorities initially believe the pickup truck rear-ended a passenger vehicle before going several hundred feet farther up a road, losing control and then crossing a double yellow center line into the path of the van. Once the pickup truck had crossed over the line, he said, the van struck the pickup on the right side and the pickup subsequently caught fire.

“The fire actually involved the pickup truck” and not the van, he said by phone. Some bystander photos posted on social media showed flames rising above the crash site not far from the van, which Brady said could hold 15 passengers and had front-end damage from the crash.

A witness also told WTTG-TV that she heard the crash from her home, and when she ran out, she saw “just regular people running in and pulling people out of the van.” She said she saw bystanders remove at least four children from the van.

The photos showed the van and the pickup truck had stopped in what appeared to be the front yard of a single-family home.

The post Official: 4 killed, 14 hurt in crash near Washington appeared first on WTOP.

Washington Post

Frozen Turducken for Fido? Here's the Whole Foods of animal food. Washington Post It's easy to get me to write about animals, especially dogs. My yellow Lab was my best darn friend, next to my wife, for more than a decade. So when Laura Clark asked if I was interested in writing about her local pet chain, I was in. The story begins ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Parking at a metered spot in the District of Columbia could become a pricey proposition, with a pilot project imposing fees up to $8 an hour.

The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/1XYg966 ) the District is implementing the program in its Chinatown and Penn Quarter neighborhoods. The base price of $2 an hour will go as high as $8 an hour at peak times.

Sensors are being installed at parking spaces, and meters are being retrofitted to accept credit cards.

Officials say the goal is for prices to rise high enough to reduce demand and ensure at least one space is available at all times. City officials estimate 25 percent of traffic congestion is caused by people circling for parking.

Opponents say only the wealthy will be able to afford to park.

The post DC experiments with variable price parking meters appeared first on WTOP.

Prince William County community calendar, Nov. 8-14 Washington Post Seton Crafters Fall Bazaar Crafts, art, a silent auction, baked goods and a raffle to support local charities. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 12805 Valleywood Dr., Woodbridge. 703-494-8054. Free. Bingo Proceeds support local ... and more »

Canine epilepsy is hard on your dog’s health and hard on you as well. Epilepsy means that your dog suffers from repeated seizures.^[1] A seizure is the result of a burst of electrical energy in the brain.^[2] Some dogs will only have one seizure and never have another one again, while others will have repeated seizures. It is crucial to your dog to see a veterinarian if he suffers from seizures. Seizures may become more severe without veterinary interventions. To help a dog with epilepsy, you can do several things, including supporting your dog during the episode, getting your dog the help he needs after an episode, and taking steps to help prevent further seizures.

Steps

Helping Your Dog During a Seizure

1. Comfort your dog. Your dog is going to be scared and confused during and after a seizure, so it is crucial to do everything that you can to help him feel less afraid. If your dog suffers from frequent seizures, you will also want to learn how to recognize the signs of a seizure so that you can prepare. Some simple steps that you can take to comfort your dog during a seizure include:^[3]
   
   • Placing a cushion or pillow beneath your dog’s head. This will help to protect your dog's head during a seizure.
   • Speaking to your dog in a low, soothing voice. Say things like, "It's okay, buddy. That's a good boy. Easy, easy, I got you."
   • Petting your dog in a calming, gentle way. You may also consider letting your dog lay across your lap or holding him if he is a small dog.
2. Keep your hands out of your dog’s mouth. It is a misconception that dogs will swallow their tongues, and under no circumstances should you stick your hand or fingers into your dog's mouth when s/he is having a seizure. You will get bit. Do not try to put any objects into your dog’s mouth either or your dog may break a tooth or even choke.^[4]
3. Soothe your dog after the seizure. It is important to get your dog calmed down before taking any other action. Sometimes the seizure may restart if your dog is very nervous and/or tries to get up before he has recovered. Continue soothing your dog and stay close for a while after the episode.^[5]
   • To help your dog relax, keep the room quiet. Turn of the television and TV and don’t allow more than one or two people in the room. Take other pets out of the room as well.
4. Pay attention to the duration of our dog’s seizures. Try to keep track of how long the seizures last. If your phone is handy, taking a video of the event may also help the veterinarian to diagnose your dog.
   • If the seizure continues for longer than five minutes, get your pet to a veterinary emergency room as soon as possible. Long seizures can exhaust the respiratory muscles and this can interfere with your dog's ability to breathe.^[6]

Treating Your Dog After a Seizure

1. Take your dog to see a veterinarian. Once the seizure is over, it is important to take your dog to the veterinarian for an examination. This examination will consist of numerous tests to rule out other causes of seizures, which will help your veterinarian to determine the best treatment option for your dog. If these tests are all negative, then your dog may be suffering from primary seizure disorder and your veterinarian will discuss medications with you.
   
2. Ask about medications. There are several medications available that reduce the number and severity of seizures in dogs. Most of these medications need to be given daily and will need to be continued for the rest of your dog’s life. The primary options include:^[7]
   • Phenobarbital. This is the most common medication used in dogs with epilepsy. It works by suppressing seizure activity in the brain.
   • Potassium bromide. This drug is used if phenobarbital causes health problems. Sodium bromide may be used as an alternative to potassium bromide. They both decrease seizure activity in the brain.
   • Gabapentin. This antiepileptic drug is commonly combined with another medication to help control generalized seizures.
   • Diazepam. This drug is commonly used as a sedative instead of a regular drug to control seizures, but it may be used if your dog’s seizures are frequent and long-lasting.
3. Expect sedative effects. Most anti-epileptic drugs will cause some sedation early on, but most dogs will adjust to this sedative effect. Sometimes, too, combination drug therapy can help lessen sedation if your dog seems to react too strongly to one medication.
   • Keep in mind that medication may affect your dog's liver and kidneys, so you should weigh the cost/benefit of treatment versus coping with the occasional seizure.
4. Talk to your veterinarian about sedating your dog during stressful situations. If your dog is very high strung, you may have to use sedatives to prevent seizures during times of stress. Talk to your veterinarian about giving your dog an occasional sedative for these types stressful situations.^[8]
   • You may want to sedate your dog on certain holidays, such as Independence Day in the USA, or others where fireworks are used.
   • You may also want to sedate your dog if you will have a full house and your dog is stressed by strangers.
   • Even during thunderstorms, you may need to tranquilize your dog to get him or her through the frightening noises and flashes of light.
5. Monitor your dog’s condition. Canine epilepsy, while treatable in most dogs, is a progressive problem. Even with medication, some dogs may continue to have seizures now and then. If episodes become more frequent or severe, consult your dog’s veterinarian immediately.^[9]
   
   • Keep in mind that as your dog gets older, seizures and episodes can become more frequent and severe.

Learning About Canine Epilepsy

1. Understand the types of epilepsy. Dogs suffer from two main types of epilepsy: primary and secondary. Primary epilepsy tends to strike young dogs (under two years of age) as it is a genetic disorder although it can take until the age of six to manifest.^[10] This condition is also known as idiopathic epilepsy. Secondary epilepsy may occur at any age. This type of epilepsy is often due to another problem that affects the neurological system, such as an infection, a disease, a brain injury, a stroke or brain tumor.^[11]
2. Know how to identify a grand mal seizure. In a grand mal seizure, the dog falls to its side and becomes rigid while thrashing its limbs. It may howl, salivate, bite, urinate and/or defecate during the seizure, which will last from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Keep in mind that not all dogs have grand mal seizures. Some dogs may have less severe or obvious seizures.^[12]
3. Identify a generalized seizure. Some dogs may suffer from seizure that prompt them to move in a strange way or do something repetitive such as licking or walking in a circle. Pay attention to any unusual behavior that your dog displays. If you are unsure if this behavior is a seizure or not, talk to your veterinarian.^[13]
4. Watch for signs of an oncoming seizure. Prior to a seizure, your dog may sense that something isn't right and begin to react. You may notice your dog doing certain things before a seizure such as:^[14]
   
   • acting clingy
   • pacing
   • whining
   • vomiting
   • looking dazed or confused

Tips

• Look for external triggers like pesticides or household cleaners that can trigger episodes in your dogs.
• The most important thing is to be there for your dog while they are having a seizure. Seizures can be very scary for dogs, so it is vital to comfort them and make it less scary as possible.
• It's a good idea to keep an old towel near by while your dog is having the seizure. Often dogs give signs before excreting. If they start gagging, or giving any signs, it is handy to have a towel to make clean up easier.

Warnings

• A seizure lasting more than five minutes can be life threatening. Bring your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
• Never stop any prescribed medication suddenly without discussing this with your veterinarian.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get Help for Dogs with Canine Epilepsy
• How to Detect Diabetes in Dogs
• How to Avoid Foods Dangerous for Your Dog
• How to Care for a Dog After It Has Just Vomited
• How to Get Over a Seizure
• How to Comfort Your Dog

Sources and Citations

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WASHINGTON — The District is seeing a surge in the number of dogs falling ill to a preventable disease.

The D.C. Department of Health says it’s noticed “an increased number” of cases of canine parvovirus — 24 between June and October of this year.

Parvo, as it’s also known, usually hits puppies and older dogs. People can’t get it; neither can other animals.

It’s a gastrointestinal disease, spread by contact with the vomit or feces of an infected dog, and the first symptom is usually fatigue, followed by a lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea (often containing blood). It’s treatable, but it can be fatal if it’s not treated.

Katy Nelson, a veterinarian also known as Dr. Pawz, calls parvo “one of the worst viruses that we face in veterinary medicine.”

It leaves dogs unable to digest nutrients, and so “they do tend to sort of wither away.”

The good news is, there’s a vaccine, and Nelson says it’s highly effective. The bad news is, dogs have to reach a certain age before they can get it.

“So some of the pets that we’re seeing recently that are acquiring parvovirus are too young to have received the vaccine.  And others are ones that have perhaps had one vaccine but not yet had their boosters. …

“So whether it’s in a dog park situation, [or] it’s in a breeder or a shelter situation, it’s these young pets that have not been fully vaccinated against it yet that are the ones that are the most susceptible.”

If your dog has any of these immunity problems, Nelson says, “my best advise is to stay away from dog parks and other areas where they could encounter other pets’ feces … it’s probably best to just kind of keep them at home until this problem has resolved itself.”

Nelson adds that the D.C. health department “has said that they are going to start a cleaning process of these dog parks, but they’re going to have to be very highly aggressive about it.”

If you think your dog might have parvovirus, Nelson says you need to act.

“This is not one to sit on and worry about. This is one that you want to get to your veterinarian immediately.”

And if the results are positive, in addition to treatment you’ll need to do some serious cleaning, Nelson says. The virus can live for more than six months, and “most of our cleaning products do not kill this virus.” A veterinarian can help you figure out the best way to clean, she says.

WTOP’s Liz Anderson contributed to this report.

The post Parvovirus on rise in D.C.: How you can protect your dog appeared first on WTOP.

A Dumfries man has been arrested after police say he was seen running naked across a hotel parking lot.

The incident happened around 3 a.m. Thursday morning, at either the Best Western or the Comfort Inn on the 2400 block of S. Glebe Road.

Unsurprisingly, the man was under the influence of drugs at the time, according to police. From an ACPD crime report:

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 151105008, 2400 block of S. Glebe Road. At approximately 2:48 a.m. on November 5, a male subject was seen running through a hotel parking lot naked. The subject appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. Kyle Andrew Anderson, 24, of Dumfries Va, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.

This past week’s complete Arlington crime report, after the jump.

AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT, 151101025, 800 block of N. Randolph Street. At approximately 3:40 a.m. on November 1, a male subject touched a 13 year-old male victim inappropriately while he was sleeping. Ahmad El-Khatib, 31, of Annandale VA, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault. He is being held without bond.

BURGLARY, 151030041, 1200 block of S. Eads Street. Between 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on October 30, an unknown subject(s) entered a residence and stole several watches. There is no suspect(s) description.

BURGLARY, 151101035, 1200 block of S. Clark Street. Between 6:00 p.m. on October 31 and 7:00 a.m. on November 1, an unknown subject(s) entered the Sport and Health Club and stole a cash register. There is no suspect(s) description.

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY, 151103007, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. Between 3:02 a.m. on October 18 and 4:58 p.m. on October 31, an unknown subject entered a Footlocker and stole several pairs of Nike shoes. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male with black hair in a ponytail. He was wearing all black clothing at the time of the incident.

BURGLARY, 151102023, 4100 block of S. 6th Street. Between 9:27 a.m. and 10:37 a.m.on November 2, an unknown subject entered a residence and stole an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect is described as a white male in his thirties, approximately 5’6″ and weighed 190 lbs. He was wearing dark colored clothing at the time of the incident.

SIGNIFICANT INJURY, 151103061, 2300 block of S. Shirlington Road. At approximately 11:04 p.m. on November 3, a suspect fled from a vehicle traffic stop and jumped off the Shirlington Road Bridge. The suspect was transported to George Washington University Hospital for life threatening injuries.

LARCENY FROM AUTO (series), 151103011, 4900 block of N. 29th Street. Between6:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. on November 2, an unknown subject(s) entered at least three vehicles in a one block radius and stole numerous items. There is no suspect(s) description.

STOLEN VEHICLES

10/28/15, 2007 Honda 1000RR, Silver
4500 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive

11/03/15, VA WLY7475, 2015 Lexus GX460, Black
4600 block of N. 35th Street

11/03/15, VA SCOOB3, 2007 Suzuki Motorcycle, Purple/black
2700 block of S. Veitch Street

10/28/15

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151028019, 200 block of S. Wayne Street

PETIT LARCENY, 151028060, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

HARASSMENT, 151028020, 600 block of S. 23rd Street

HARASSMENT, 151028021, 1300 block of S. Dinwiddie Street

FRAUD, 151028030, 800 block of S. Dickerson Street

CREDIT CARD THEFT, 151028036, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

LARCENY, 151028040, 3100 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151028045, 5200 block of N. Yorktown Boulevard

10/29/15

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151029004, 3600 block of N. Pocomoke Street

IDENTITY THEFT, 151029017, 1400 block of N. Courthouse Road

UNLAWFUL WOUNDING, 151029024, 1500 block of N. Arlington Boulevard

GRAND LARCENY, 151029033, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

LARCENY, 151029046, 1400 block of S. Hayes Street

10/30/15

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151030007, 2000 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

LARCENY, 151030009, 3100 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151030010, 300 block of N. Granada Street

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151030011, 5300 block of N. 2nd Street

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151030013, 5700 block of N. 5th Street

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151030014, 5600 block of N. 5th Road

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151030020, 500 block of N. Edison Street

PETIT LARCENY, 151030023, 4300 block of Fairfax Drive

GRAND LARCENY, 151030021, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

PETIT LARCENY, 151030024, 4300 block of N. Fairfax Drive

LARCENY, 151030025, 2500 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

GRAND LARCENY, 151030048, 700 block of N. Glebe Road

GRAND LARCENY, 151030050, 300 block of N. Granada Street

10/31/15

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151031003, 5100 block of S. 8th Road

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151031011, 700 block of S. Courthouse Road

ASSAULT, 151031021, 2000 block of N. Cameron Street

FRAUD, 151031023, 5200 block of N. Lee Highway

PETIT LARCENY, 151031029, 1500 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151031033, 400 block of N. Park Drive

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151031035, 1500 block of Clarendon Boulevard

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151031043, 3100 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

GRAND LARCENY, 151031045, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151031049, unit block of S. Old Glebe Road

11/01/15

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101003, 5100 block of S. 7th Road

GRAND LARCENY, 151101005, 900 block of N. Quincy Street

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101007, 1100 block of N. Highland Street

LARCENY, 151101014, 500 block of S. 23rd Street

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101015, 2900 block of S. Buchanan Street

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101016, 4700 block of N. 20th Road

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101019, 1300 block of N. Nicholas Street

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101024, 900 block of N. Stuart Street

ASSAULT ON POLICE, 151101027, 900 block of N. George Mason Drive

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151101030, 1800 block of N. Glebe Road

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151101034, 1300 block of S. George Mason Drive

ASSAULT ON POLICE, 151101041, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street

GRAND LARCENY, 151101043, 2300 block of S. Shirlington Road

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151101055, 700 block of S. Florida Street

11/02/15

GRAND LARCENY, 151102011, 300 block of S. Army Navy Drive

GRAND LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151102026, 1700 block of N. Wilson Boulevard

TAMPERING WITH AUTO, 151102028, 4600 block of S. Four Mile Run Drive

GRAND LARCENY, 151102037, 1200 block of S. Fern Street

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, 151102051, 1800 block of S. Columbia Pike

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151102016, 5200 block of N. Yorktown Boulevard

11/03/15

GRAFFITI, 151103025, 400 block of S. Long Bridge Drive

ASSAULT & BATTERY, 151103029, 1100 block of N. Vermont Street

FRAUD, 151103034, 1000 block of S. Quebec Street

GRAND LARCENY, 151103049, 1200 block of N. Garfield Street

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151103052, 4600 block of N. 33rd Street

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151103055, 3300 block of N. Abingdon Street

LARCENY FROM AUTO, 151103056, 3300 block of N. Albemarle Street

GRAND LARCENY, 151104004, unit block of S. Columbia Pike

The post Crime Report: Hotel Parking Lot Streaker Arrested appeared first on WTOP.

Earlier this week, we told you how a Senate committee was investigating huge price hikes on a handful of niche-market prescription drugs. The companies involved in those probes are generally newer, smaller operations — but it looks like two much bigger names in the pharmaceuticals industry are also being asked about the prices of their drugs.

In a new quarterly filing [PDF] with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Merck discloses that it has received a civil investigative demand from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, seeking information “relating to the Company’s contracting and pricing of Dulera Inhalation Aerosol with certain pharmacy benefit managers and Medicare Part D plans.”

Dumera is Merck’s name brand for an inhaled asthma medication that’s a combination of formoterol and mometasone. According to the Wall Street Journal, year-over-year sales for this drug were up nearly 17% for the nine months ended Sept. 30.

The journal also notes that another big pharma biggie, Eli Lilly, recently disclosed [PDF] that the same U.S. Attorney’s office is conducting an inquiry concerning Eli Lilly’s “treatment of certain distribution service agreements with wholesalers when calculating and reporting Average Manufacturer Prices in connection with the Medicaid drug rebate program.”

Under that program, drug manufacturers with products covered by the government-run low-income insurance plan agree to pay quarterly rebates that offset the overall cost of prescription drugs under Medicaid. The value of these rebates is calculated based on the average price a manufacturer charges to wholesalers.

Eli Lilly contends it did nothing wrong in calculating its rebates.

I have to admit, I’m not much of a candy historian, and I’ve always pictured “sugar plums,” when mentioned in the literary canon, as prunes covered with crunchy sugar. This is, of course, wrong, but in the case of a new holiday-themed Peeps brand product, at least the crunchy sugar part is correct.

The historical sugar plum, like the ones represented by a nice fairy in the ballet “The Nutcracker,” was a candy of hardened sugar around a nut or seed. Back when candy was handmade, the sugar plum was a difficult confection to make and a pricey treat to buy. Receiving some for Christmas would have been a special treat, then. Similar candies became cheaper to make in the era of culinary mass production, but classic Christmas literature has left us with the 17th-century term, and no candy to associate it with.

The scrambling of the historical candy name, the traditional association of sugar plums with Christmas, and our anachronistic tendency to insert the actual fruit where it never was has led to something weird: sugar plum marshmallow Peeps, which are purple, probably because Just Born didn’t feel like giving the world a lecture on candy history. That’s our job.

They are artificially flavored, which I assume means thy have a vaguely plum-like taste. They are covered with fudge and available only at Target this holiday season.

COMING SOON: Sugar Plum Delight Peeps [The Impulsive Buy]
Sugar Plums: They’re Not What You Think They Are [The Atlantic]

WASHINGTON – An animal abuse investigation involving dozens of starving horses at a Virginia farm is expanding into the owner’s finances.

“We anticipate there will be additional charges,” Orange County Commonwealth’s Attorney Diana Wheeler tells CBS 19 in Charlottesville. “We’ve just begun the financial investigation, so I don’t really have a timeline on that. But we do expect there to be other charges.”

Anne Shumate currently is jailed on 27 counts of animal cruelty.

Wheeler tells WTOP, in addition to new charges related to Shumate’s financial dealings, Shumate likely will face additional charges related to the animals as investigators continue to review copious amounts of medical information.

When investigators executed a search warrant at Shumate’s Peaceable Farm in Somerset, Virginia, last month, the dead animals they found included six horses, a donkey, cats, dogs and chickens. As many as nine horses were subsequently determined to be so close to death they had to be euthanized.

Shumate’s attorney Thomas Purcell has said Shumate was doing everything she could to take care of the animals. But that she’d recently divorced her husband, who helped fund the farm, and was trying to take care of the animals with little financial or staff help.

Court documents obtained by CBS 19 show that Shumate was awarded $48,000 a month in alimony in the four months prior to her October arrest. According to the divorce settlement, Shumate’s ex-husband pledged to pay her more than $900,000 in total and to help pay down the mortgage on the Glen Valley farm in Somerset, Virginia.

The attorney for Anthony Goland, Shumate’s ex-husband, is confident Shumate has been receiving the money because he hasn’t heard otherwise.

“There is no question I would have heard from her attorney or from her directly” if the payments had been absent or late, says attorney Joseph Condo.

Before the marriage of Goland and Shumate was dissolved in July, they ran a tax exempt charity together to care for retired race horses.

“To save (the horses) from being euthanized and being sent off to a glue factory or a pet food factory,” Condo says.

Condo says Goland has not been on the farm property since at least the summer of 2014. Shumate managed the horse rescue while Goland acted as the fundraiser.

“He helped raise money for the entire operation. Part of which was the care – feeding of the horses.” Condo says.

The divorce settlement also transferred to Goland sole ownership of a Montgomery County farm in Dickerson, Maryland, where Shumate was allowed to continue board horses, according to the divorce documents.

The next court date related to the farm and its practices will be Nov. 18 to determine whether the county was justified in seizing more than 100 of Shumate’s animals, Wheeler says.

Editor note: A change has been made to this story to reflect CBS 19 obtained the court documents.

The post Orange Co. animal abuse probe looks into owner’s finances appeared first on WTOP.

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (AP) — The launch of an unmanned commercial supply rocket on the eastern shore of Virginia was supposed to be a moment of celebration. Crowds gathered to watch as the sun set. Hundreds of miles up, astronauts huddled around a live video feed in anticipation.

But aerospace company Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket, bound for the International Space Station, exploded six seconds after liftoff on Oct. 28, 2014, marking the first catastrophic launch in NASA’s commercial spaceflight effort.

More than a year after the blast, NASA released images last week showing the fiery explosion that lit up the sky and sent scorched wreckage flying.

NASA’s independent review team said last week that the initial fire was caused by friction from rubbing parts in a turbopump in one of the rocket’s old Russian-built engines. The pump exploded seconds after liftoff, damaging a second engine, according to NASA’s report. As the rocket fell toward the ground, controllers sent a destruct signal just before impact to minimize damage.

Orbital Sciences was hired by NASA to deliver food, clothes and equipment to astronauts in the International Space Station. No one was injured in the blast, but the $200 million mission and the Wallops Island launch complex were ruined.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the images were released by NASA last week, not this week.

The post New NASA photos show massive rocket explosion in Virginia appeared first on WTOP.

Washington Post

Pentagon faces question: Should it make condolence payments for Taliban killed ... Washington Post As the U.S. military continues to investigate the airstrikes it launched on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan, the Pentagon faces a thorny question: Will it make condolence payments for the Taliban fighters who were killed there while ... Probe finds no armed men in Afghan clinic bombed by USWashington Times In the report - MSFMSF all 401 news articles »

If you’re not an outdoorsy type, it’s understandable that you might think Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops are the same store. They’re both big-box stores that are almost more of a tourist destination done a place to shop. Maybe you won’t have to stop and figure out what the difference is: the privately held Bass Pro Shops is considering taking over its publicly traded rival.

Unidentified sources whispered to Reuters about the acquisition, presumably from behind hunting blinds. Recently, Elliott Management, an “activist investor,” or an investor known for making large investments in companies and then using that stake to make changes in the business, purchased 11% of Cabela’s stock.

Elliott had suggested selling the company to a private equity firm, but selling to a rival is another potentially profitable idea for investors. What about fans of the stores, though? It’s so early in this process that word isn’t even out about whether a merger would mean closing stores or divesting some stores that are too close together to a competitor like Gander Mountain.

Exclusive: Bass Pro Shops explores bid for Cabela’s – sources [Reuters]

Mention any cool brand to a bona fide hipster and you’ll inevitably get an earful about how that product sucks now and was so much better blah blah blah. But even the oldest hipster still hanging on to the refurbished sugar warehouse “space” his parents bought him two decades ago isn’t old enough to remember the original Pepsi formula.

And perhaps that’s what the beverage biggie is betting on with its vague plans to release something called “1893” cola.

More precisely, according to the trademark, the new drink will be called “1893 From the Makers of Pepsi-Cola,” because the kids today are all about really long, legally worded brand names.

What the heck is 1893? No one is saying yet, though the company did confirm the beverage’s eventual existence to AdAge.

In terms of cola history, 1893 is the year that Caleb Bradham began selling “Brad’s Drink” — a concoction of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other stuff — out of his North Carolina drugstore. That name lasted for five years until being rechristened Pepsi in 1898.

What remains to be seen is how different 1893 might be from Pepsi’s recently introduced Caleb’s Kola, which also trades on the company’s little-known history.

The company did say in June that it was working on something called Stubborn Sodas, a more upscale line of soft drinks to counter the drop in sales of both sugary and diet sodas.

Not everything has been so retro for Pepsi lately. The company tried to cash in on the first arrival of Marty McFly in 2015 by releasing a “Pepsi Perfect” on Oct. 21. However, that promotion didn’t exactly go as swimmingly as hoped.

A handful of pharmaceutical investors have been snapping up the rights to previously affordable prescription drugs, only to immediately raise prices to the point where patients now pay hundreds of dollars for a single pill — resulting in huge additional costs for consumers, insurers, and healthcare providers. Not only has this practice drawn the ire of the medical community, it’s also resulted in a Senate committee investigation.

Yesterday, the Senate Special Committee on Aging sent letters requesting documents from four pharmaceutical companies regarding their sky-high price increases on certain prescription drugs.

“Some of the recent actions we’ve seen in the pharmaceutical industry—with corporate acquisitions followed by dramatic increases in the prices of pre-existing drugs—have looked like little more than price gouging,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO), ranking member of the committee. “We need to get to the bottom of why we’re seeing huge spikes in drug prices that seemingly have no relationship to research and development costs. I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan investigation so that we can find some answers the public wants and deserves.”

The committee sent letters to the following:

• Turing Pharmaceuticals [PDF]: After Turing acquired the rights earlier this year to Daraprim — an anti-parasitic used to treat malaria and toxoplasmosis — the per-pill price skyrocketed from $13.50 to more than $750. Turing defended the price hike by saying it was going to use the money to invest in research for a better drug to treat the same diseases. But some physicians countered that Daraprim has been used for 60 years and there is no urgent need for a replacement.

• Rodelis Therapeutics [PDF]: This Georgia company recently acquired the rights to sell Seromycin — used in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. After that acquisition, the per-pill price increased from around $17 to $360, meaning a patient who needs 30 pills would be on the hook for $10,800.

• Retrophin Inc [PDF]: Charging $30/pill for kidney disease drug Thiola may not seem like much compared to some of the other drugs in this story, but consider that this same drug only cost $1.50/pill before Retrophin licensed the rights to sell it.

• Valeant Pharmaceuticals [PDF]: The committee requested information on three different drugs that saw significant price increases immediately after Valeant acquired their rights. In a single day, the cost of cardiac arrest treatment Nitropress rose by 625%, from $215/vial to $1,346. Another cardiac drug Isuprel experienced a more drastic 820% price increase — from $180 per ampule to $1,472. The third Valeant drug, Cuprimine, is used for the treatment of Wilson’s disease. Its price soared from $8.88/capsule to $262/capsule, an increase of more than 2,900%.

The companies have all been asked to provide the requested information by Dec. 2, and to schedule a time to confer with committee staff.

“The sudden, aggressive price hikes for a variety of drugs used widely for decades affect patients and health care providers and the overall cost of health care. These substantial increases have the potential to inflate the cost of health care for Americans, especially our seniors, by hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” said committee chair Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. “Given the potential harm to patients across our country who rely on these drugs for critical care and treatment, the Senate Special Committee on Aging considers these massive price increases worthy of a serious, bipartisan investigation into the causes, impacts, and potential solutions.”