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After numerous accounts of coyotes spotted in the northern half of Arlington, one has been spotted while apparently en route to South Arlington.

Eliana Kee snapped the photos above while heading westbound on Washington Blvd, just before the Fort Myer exit, around 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

“It was just sniffing around, close to a heavily trafficked road and not very hidden as you can see from the pictures, and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get back to the cover of the undergrowth,” relayed Brian Kee.

Coyotes (or a lone coyote) have been previously spotted in Potomac Overlook Regional Park, near Lubber Run and in Cherrydale.

The closest thing to a recent coyote spotting in South Arlington happened last fall, when a dead coyote was found on Route 110 near Arlington National Cemetery. It had been struck by a car.

Coyotes are relatively rare in Arlington but experts say they don’t present a danger to humans.

“These animals learn to live next to humans and not mess with humans,” Arlington Natural Resource Manager Alonso Abugattas told ARLnow.com last year. “There have been cases, however, where feral cats and loose dogs, coyotes will occasionally eat a smaller dog, both as a competitor and as prey. Cats are considered prey as well. That’s the only way that they might affect the public.”

The post Coyote Spotted Heading Toward South Arlington appeared first on WTOP.

LEONARDTOWN, Md. (AP) — Authorities in southern Maryland say the St. Mary’s County sheriff was struck by a firetruck while helping at the scene of a crash in Leonardtown.

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Jennifer Stone said Sheriff Timothy Cameron was providing care to the driver of a vehicle that crashed on Pin Cushion Road on Wednesday morning. Stone says a firetruck arrived at the crash scene and as it maneuvered into position, the firetruck hit Cameron, injuring him.

The driver of the car was flown to Prince George’s Hospital Center’s trauma center. Stone says Cameron was treated at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and later released. She says Cameron had abrasions, but no broken bones.

Deputies issued citations to the operator of the firetruck, 61-year-old Kenneth Scully, charging him with negligent driving and other offenses.

The post Southern Maryland sheriff hit by firetruck appeared first on WTOP.

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is nine-year-old Cody. He’s a smiley dog who was adopted from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue and loves to play.

Here’s what Cody had to say for himself.

Hi!  My name is Cody and I am 9 years young. Two years ago my Mom adopted me from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue.  As you can see, I was in pretty bad shape but she gave me all the love and attention I so desperately needed and now I am quite the dapper dog! The picture of me in the car was the day my Mom brought me home. I was sooo happy!  I love zooming around the house chasing my toys, going for long walks and greeting everyone I meet on the way with a smile and wag of my tail. My Mom tells me that I am the only dog she has ever had that smiles. I have an older brother and, well, we get along like brothers. It’s a love-hate relationship but when it’s time to go to bed you can usually find us sleeping side by side. I’ve got a pretty great life but it would be even better if Mom could won the lottery and stay home and play with me all day!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email arlingtonnews@gmail.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Arlington and Northern Virginia.

The post Arlington Pet of the Week: Cody appeared first on WTOP.

CBS Local

Police Say Officers Shot Man Wielding Crowbar in Manassas CBS Local Police said in a news release that the incident occurred about 2:10 p.m. Wednesday on Lake Drive. Officers say a homeowner reported a man was hiding in a bush on her property. Authorities say officers saw the man walking along a creek. They say he ... and more »

DC Animal Watch Washington Post These cases were handled by the Washington Humane Society, which operates its shelter at 7319 Georgia Ave. NW, and the District's, at 1201 New York Ave. NE. For information or assistance, call 202-723-5730 or go to www.washhumane.org.

Prince William County adopt a pet Washington Post Lucky (ID 6761) is an older female Chihuahua mix. Kitty (ID 6095) is a 3-year-old female who arrived at the shelter with her kittens and needs a home of her own. The Prince William County Animal Shelter, 14807 Bristow Rd., Manassas, makes animals ... and more »

CBS Local

Prince William County crime report Washington Post These were among incidents reported by Prince William County police. For information, call 703-792-7245. BRISTOW AREA. ASSAULTS. Falling Water Dr., 9200 block, 6:15 p.m. Sept. 15. During an argument, a man assaulted a female acquaintance and ... Police Say Officers Shot Man Wielding Crowbar in ManassasCBS Local all 20 news articles »

CBS Local

Prince William County police investigate officer-involved shooting in Manassas Washington Post Prince William County Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that wounded a 22-year-old man they say refused to drop a crowbar he brandished at close range as officers pursued him Wednesday. The man was not identified by police, who said ... Police Say Officers Shot Man Wielding Crowbar in ManassasCBS Local all 20 news articles »

Loudoun County Animal Watch Washington Post These were among cases received by the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services. For information on the animal shelter's hours and location, adoption and licensing, rabies clinics and low-cost neutering, call 703-777-0406 in eastern Loudoun or ...

The federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program means that kids in high-poverty schools receive cups of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, starting kids on what program boosters hope will be a lifelong habit of thinking of fresh produce as valid and delicious snacks. Who could possibly object to that? Lobbyists for the frozen, canned, and dried fruit industries.

The program began as a snack program back in 2002, but turned the contents of kids’ snack cups into tiny battle arenas for members of Congress and lobbyists. Fruit was good: how about dried fruit? If dried fruit is good, how about trail mix? If trail mix is good, how about beef jerky? Eventually, the program is just random midday food, and not focused on showing children that fresh produce is edible.

Yes, fresh fruit is harder and much more expensive and to serve than its cousins that ended up in bags, boxes, or cans, but the goal of the program is to expose children from low-income families to fresh foods that may not be familiar to them. In 2008, the program’s Congressional sponsor, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, rewrote legislation to limit snacks to only fresh fruits and vegetables.

There are already plenty of canned and frozen vegetables in school breakfasts and lunches, and kids don’t seem to find them very inspirational. However, from the point of view of marketers of preserved produce, what the program is doing is giving thousands of future grocery shoppers the message that fresh is best, and that all other foods are inferior.

Supporters argue that while forming kids’ early experiences and eating habits, it’s important to get them familiar with, say, bunches of grapes and whole peaches before moving on to enjoy those foods in their fruit cocktail or purée form.

Senator Harkin is retiring, and he’s the biggest defender of fresh-food-only. Will the preserved-food lobbyists take over and make sure children snack on “fruit and vegetable consumption in all forms,” as one frozen-food lobbyist puts it? It looks likely.

The carrot war gets serious [Politico]

The appealing feature of tempered glass is that it is supposed to not break into giant jagged shards that can injure you, but it’s not supposed to shatter in the first place. That’s what makes it an appealing material for, say, shower doors. Yet there’s a rare and terrifying problem: shower doors spontaneously shattering, sometimes while a person is showering, resulting in wet, naked, injured people.

That happened to a nine-year-old boy interviewed by CBS Chicago, who was taking a normal shower when the tempered glass door suddenly disintegrated, cutting him. “It just exploded. It just shattered like a bomb,” he said. “I was shaking. It was really scary.”

You can find similar stories on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s searchable defective-products database, where adults were just as scared. One person reported pieces of glass had flown up to six feet away from the shower.

Fortunately, this seems to happen in most showers while they’re not in use, but it would be better if it didn’t happen at all. The boy in Chicago had to go to the emergency room, with lacerations from big pieces of flying glass on his arm and leg.

One glass expert recommends putting a protective film over tempered glass surfaces to prevent them from exploding at you. This is best done by someone who knows what they’re doing: hire a professional to install the film, maybe at the same time that you have the door installed.

What experts don’t know is what is causing the doors to explode.

Local 2 Investigators: Boy, 9, Injured After Glass Shower Door Shatters [CBS Chicago]

When someone mentions the Batmobile, do you pause and say, “Hold on — which Batmobile? Batman’s car or just like another car that’s shaped like a bat, has crime-fighting technology and ferries around a caped crusader?” Probably not, because everyone knows what the Batmobile is and who it belongs to. That entitles it to copyright protection, the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals said on Wednesday, affirming a district court’s judgment in a copyright and trademark infringement action brought by DC Comics against a maker of Batmobile replicas.

The three-judge panel held [PDF] that the Batmobile — as seen in Batman comic books, TV shows and movies — was entitled to copyright protection because it’s basically its own character, albeit a four-wheeled one, and therefore “was a sufficiently distinctive element of the works.”

“Originally introduced in the Batman comic books in 1941, the Batmobile is a fictional, high-tech automobile that Batman employs as his primary mode of transportation,” wrote Judge Sandra Ikuta. “The Batmobile has varied in appearance over the years, but its name and key characteristics as Batman’s personal crime-fighting vehicle have remained consistent.”

Those consistent character traits are protected by copyright, Ikuta wrote in the unanimous decision.

“No matter its specific physical appearance, the Batmobile is a ‘crime-fighting’ car with sleek and powerful characteristics that allow Batman to maneuver quickly while he fights villains,” she wrote.

There’s no dispute over who has the right to sell Batmobile cars, either, as Ikuta notes that DC Comics owns a copyright interest in the Batmobile character, as it’s expressed in the 1966 TV show and the 1989 movie starring Michael Keaton, “because it did not transfer its underlying rights to the character when it licensed rights to produce derivative works.”

The panel held that the defendant’s replica cars — based on the same 1966 TV show and the 1989 movie — infringed on DC Comics’ copyrights. Ikuta notes that the defendant concedes that his replicas copy the designs of the Batmobile as depicted on TV and in the movie, “though they do not copy every feature.” Before DC brought its lawsuit, he advertised each replica as the “Batmobile,” the judge notes, though by his own admission, he is not not authorized by DC to manufacture or sell any products bearing DC’s copyright or trademark.

“My client just sells cars,” an attorney for the defendant told Reuters. “The car is not a character. The car is a car.”

DC Comics sued him for copyright infringement in 2011, and a lower court judge ruled for DC.

“As Batman so sagely told Robin, ‘In our well-ordered society, protection of private property is essential,'” Ikuta wrote, in what had to be a pretty fun decision to write.

In order to prevail on its claim for copyright infringement, DC Comics now has to prove that hat it owns a copyright in the Batmobile as it appeared in the 1966 television series and 1989 movie, and that the defendant infringed that copyright by creating unauthorized replicas.

This is a big win for the rather busy lawyer who’s represented DC Comics in this case — he’s currently the attorney for the plaintiffs suing makers of counterfeit Marvel, Star Wars and Hello Kitty Cake Frosting, also recently settled a lawsuit with the makers of Darth Vader cufflinks.

When a few pixels go out on your 65″ TV that’s still under warranty, the warranty should cover that, right? That was the dispute between Currys, a UK electronics store sort of like Best Buy, their customer, and an alleged insect, now deceased and stuck in the TV’s screen somehow.

The retailer refused to grant the customer a warranty repair, calling the broken screen an “act of God.” That doesn’t mean that the Almighty flung an insect at the TV set, but only that the event wasn’t the owner’s fault and wasn’t the manufacturer’s fault, and isn’t covered under the warranty.

The retailer asked £95 for the repair, which is about $144. That’s not an unfair amount, but the customer still thought that it ought to be repaired within the warranty.

That’s what he was told when he dropped it off, at least. Then there was a call from the store. Instead of telling him to come pick up his freshly repaired TV, he reports that the repair service called him, saying “they wouldn’t repair it and were really vague as to why.”

Now he is receiving a warranty repair, but it’s not clear whether Currys changed its mind again before or after he took his story to national television news. Either way, he should get a working and bug-free TV set back, and won’t have to pay for a warranty repair on a set that he paid £800 ($1,219) for after last Christmas.

Currys sent a statement to ITV news about this customer’s plight:

We are sorry that [the customer’s] experience with us did not reflect our usual high standards.

We understand LG are now repairing his TV but we will contacting him to offer a future gesture of goodwill and hope he is back enjoying his box soon.

Currys refuse to repair £800 TV broken by fly because it was an ‘act of God’ [ITV News]

Twinkling lights have been hung on boughs of evergreen with care, sparkling ornaments are shining merrily in their Christmas trees and Santa’s sleigh waits, gleaming and ready, behind a velvet rope. All before the first official day of fall, at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City.

Friend of Consumerist Steve spotted the preparations for the holiday season in full swing at Macy’s flagship store on Tuesday, up on the ninth floor, where he was exchanging some dishes in the home goods and fine China area.

Though it wasn’t exactly a scene that screamed “open for business,” as workers were going in and out of the area, apparently involved in setting it up, there wasn’t anything keeping shoppers away while the decorating was in progress.

“No signs or anything, and it wasn’t like you could just go in there and hang out, but it was there, in all its glory,” Steve notes.

Though September might seem awfully early to get the holiday ball rolling — heck, we haven’t even hit peak Halloween season, much less Thanksgiving — this isn’t the first time Macy’s “Holiday Lane” has taken up residence on the ninth floor months ahead of Christmas: last year Gothamist spoke to a Macy’s rep who explained that the early set-up was “consistent due with set up in previous years due to the extensive product assortment (ornaments, trees, lights, cards, among other items) the department features.”

And a big part of that decision to start setting up early comes from the size of Macy’s holiday displays, as the company needs a lot time for its “visual and stock teams work to create the holiday experience.”

We did reach out to Macy’s about this year’s early setup, but have yet to hear back.

Less than a week after the Environmental Protection Agency ordered Volkswagen to recall nearly 500,000 vehicles equipped with software that tricked emissions tests, the company’s CEO announced he would resign.

The Telegraph reports that CEO Martin Winterkorn told the company’s board he would leave his post amid the growing scandal that now covers 11 million VW and Audi vehicles world wide.

In his resignation speech, Winterkorn said he was “shocked” by the events of the past few days, adding “above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.”

“As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group,” he said. “I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part.”

While a successor has yet to be named, Winterkorn suggested that VW needs a fresh start.

“I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation,” he says. “I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life.”

The EPA’s announcement of the ordered recall on Friday has set off a string of reactions from the car company and others.

Shortly after the recall was announced, our colleagues at Consumer Reports decided to suspend the “Recommended” ratings it had previously given the Passat diesel and Jetta diesel.

“These recommendations will be suspended until Consumer Reports can re-test these vehicles with a recall repair performed,” reads a statement from the publication. “Once the emissions systems are functioning properly, we will assess whether the repair has adversely affected performance or fuel economy.”

On Sunday, the carmaker announced it would stop the sale of all affected vehicle models until the issue was fixed.

And on Monday, it was rumored that the Department of Justice is considering bringing criminal charges against VW.

While last week’s recall of three VW clean diesel models and one Audi vehicle only affected around 500,000 cars in the U.S., Volkswagen revealed this Tuesday that the defeat device software was installed in around 11 million cars worldwide.

The company, whose stock price plummeted in the wake of Friday’s announcement, says it is setting aside $7.3 billion to cover the cost of “necessary service measures and other efforts to win back the trust of our customers.”

Following General Motors’ ignition switch debacle — a long-delayed recall that resulted in more than 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries because neither the company nor federal regulators thought it merited a safety risk — and the ongoing recall of millions of cars fitted with Takata airbags that could explode and spew deadly shrapnel, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s time for everyone to stop taking things for granted.

“We’re questioning everything now,” said NHTSA chief Mark Rosekind at the Automotive Industry Action Group conference earlier today.

Volkswagen scandal: CEO Martin Winterkorn resigns in wake of emissions deception: live [The Telegraph]

Ducklings that have just hatched from their shells need a warm, safe environment to grow up strong and healthy. If you create a home free of hazards and provide them with plenty of food and water, your curious, playful baby ducks will be able to waddle and swim on their own before you know it. Learn how to make ducklings feel at home, feed them what they like to eat, and keep them safe from harm.

Steps

Making a Duckling Home

1. Find a brooding box. After ducklings have hatched from their shells and spent about 24 hours getting used to their new surroundings, they're ready to move to a brooder.^[1] A plastic storage container, sturdy cardboard box, or large glass aquarium can all work for this purpose.
   
   • The box should be well-insulated, since the ducklings need to stay warm. Don't choose a box with too many holes in the sides or the bottom.
   • Line the bottom of the box with wood shavings or old towels. Avoid using newspaper or other slippery material. Ducklings are still wobbly on their legs for the first few weeks after they hatch, and they can slip easily and hurt themselves on surfaces like plastic or newspaper.
2. Install a brooding lamp. Baby ducks need to be kept very warm in the first few weeks after they hatch, to give them the chance to get used to the chilly air outside their eggs. Buy a brooding lamp at a feed store or hardware store and affix it to the top of the brooder.
   
   • Use a 100-watt bulb to start. For very young ducklings, this should create the right amount of heat.
   • Make sure part of the brooder is located away from the heat, so they have a place to cool off if they need to.
   • Make sure the bulb isn't too close to the ducklings. This may cause them to overheat, or if they touch the bulb, they could get burned. If you're using a shallow brooder, prop the lamp up higher using blocks of wood or another sturdy prop
3. Check the placement of the brooding lamp. Periodically check the lamp’s placement, ensuring that the ducklings are getting an appropriate amount of warmth.
   
   • The heat and wattage of the lamp should be altered based on your ducklings' behavior as they get older.
   • If the ducklings tend to huddle close together under the lamp, they may be too cold and you should move the lamp closer or get a higher wattage bulb.
   • If the ducklings are scattered out and breathing heavily, they're most likely getting overheated, and you need to move the lamp further away or use a lower wattage bulb. Comfortable ducklings should be warm and settled.
4. Adjust the brooding lamp as the ducklings grow. As the ducks grow older, they will need less heat. Raise the lamp or change the bulb to a lower heat when they stop sleeping under it.
   

Providing Water and Food

1. Give your ducklings plenty of water. Put a shallow drinking bowl inside the brooder that is deep enough for the ducklings to dip in their beaks, but not their entire heads.^[2] Ducklings like to be able to clear their nostrils as they drink, but if you give them access to deeper water they could climb in and drown.^[3]
   
   • Change the water and clean the bowl every day to make sure the ducklings don't get sick from drinking dirty water.
   • If you fear the bowl you have is a little too deep for your ducklings to drink from safely, lining the bottom with pebbles or marbles will make it safer for them.^[4]
2. Feed the ducklings starter crumbs. Ducklings don't eat for the first twenty-four hours after they hatch, since they're still absorbing nutrients from the yolk inside the egg they hatched from. After that, they graduate to starter crumbs, tiny pellets of duck food available at feed supply stores.^[5] Buy a plastic feeder, fill it up, and place it in the brooder.
   
   • If the ducklings seem hesitant to eat, try adding a little water to their food to make it easier for them to swallow. You can also add a very small amount of sugar to their water for the first couple of days to help them get off to a good start and give them energy.
3. Feed weak ducklings duck egg yolk. Very weak ducklings may need a little extra yolk nutrition before they're ready for starter crumbs. Feed them a bit of mashed duck egg yolk until they become more interested in the starter crumbs.^[6]
   
4. Give the ducklings constant access to food. Make sure the ducklings have access to food 24/7. They need to be able to eat whenever they're hungry since they grow so quickly at this stage of life. They also need water to help them swallow their food, so keep the water bowl full at all times.
   
   • After about ten days, ducklings are ready for grower's pellets, which are the same as the starter crumbs, only bigger.
5. Switch to adult duck food. When the ducklings become adults, after about 16 weeks, they're ready for adult duck food.
   
6. Avoid feeding ducklings food that isn't made for ducks. Many foods humans eat, like bread, don't provide them with the nutrition that ducks need, and some can even make them sick.^[7]
   
   • Even if the ducks are interested in food such as bread, it is not good for them.
   • Ducks can have very thinly cut fruits and vegetables as a snack, but make sure their main meal is duck food.
   • Don't give ducklings food made for baby chickens. It doesn't have the right nutrient makeup for ducklings.
   • Never use medicated feed for ducklings. It can cause organ damage.

Raising Ducklings into Healthy Ducks

1. Encourage the ducklings to swim. Ducks love to swim, and they'll start as soon as the first day after they hatch if you let them. Do not let them swim unattended. Baby ducks are covered with down, which isn't waterproof, and their bodies are still too fragile to cope with swimming alone at this stage.^[8]
   
2. Make a little swimming pool out of a paint roller tray. The paint roller tray makes a great environment for starter swimming.^[9] You can supervise them closely, and the slope in the tray creates a little ramp to help the ducklings get in and out safely.
   
   • Don't let the ducklings swim too long, or they'll get chilled. When they're done swimming, dry them off gently and place them back in the brooder so they can warm up.
   • You can also let them sit on a heating pad covered with a clean towel for a few minutes.
3. Allow adult ducks to swim unassisted . When ducklings are fully feathered with their waterproof, adult feathers, they can swim without your supervision. Depending on the type of duck, full feathers should be in place by 9-12 weeks of age.
   
4. Be wary of older ducks. Make sure the ducklings are supervised at all times while they're still growing their adult feathers and learning to swim, particularly if letting young ducks swim in an outdoor pond. Older adult ducks that may share the same pond or water source may try to drown or kill the younger ducks.
   
5. Keep ducklings safe from predators. Ducks, particularly when young, can be targets for predatory animals. You can free range your ducks when they are adults, but remember you may lose ducks occasionally to predators. You should make every effort to keep them safe from predators.
   
   • If you're raising ducklings in a garage or barn outside, make sure no other animals can get near them. Wolves, foxes, and even large predatory birds could harm your ducklings if you aren't careful.
   • Ducklings raised inside your home need to be kept safe from dogs and cats, which may try to attack or even play too roughly with the ducklings.
   • Once the ducklings move from the brooder to a larger pen, make sure there's no way for predators to get in.
6. Keep some emotional distance from the ducklings. It's tempting to cuddle with the sweet, fuzzy ducklings, but if you get too close to the ducklings, they might imprint on you too strongly. To make sure your ducklings grow up into an independent, healthy adults, enjoy watching them play with each other, but don't join in the fun too much.
   
7. Move the ducks to a larger space. Once the ducks are too big for the brooder, move them to a large dog kennel or a shed with a latching door. Feed them adult duck feed and let them spend their days swimming and splashing in a pond. Make sure to bring them back into their shelter at night to keep them safe from predators.
   

Tips

• Don't try to feed ducklings berries or grapes.
• Do not feed ducklings onions, wild bird or caged bird seed, or any type of bread. You can feed them starter duck feed, peas, corn, green beans, lima beans, cooked carrots, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, crickets, worms, small feeder fish, grass, milk, and turkey feed.
• After ducks are in the pond or water source, you may feed floating fish food or dog food in very small amounts. Switch their basic diet to a good quality unmedicated waterfowl or poultry ration, usually available at most feed stores.
• If your ducklings become sick, call the vet or consult an online source to find a solution right away.
• If you have other larger pets like dogs or cats, keep the ducklings away from them.
• When you are petting a duckling pet it very lightly because ducklings have very fragile bones.
• When you first get some ducklings make sure you give them enough space for them to settle into their new home. How would you feel if you just got to your new home and you are shoved into a small area? Give the ducklings some space to settle in.

Warnings

• Always have clean water near food source, as ducks cannot swallow food properly without water.
• Never let your ducklings swim unattended.
• Never leave your ducklings outside unattended, as a wild animal may harm them.
• Never feed your ducklings medicated poultry feed!
• Never leave ducklings unattended for the first day.

Things You'll Need

• A brooder box
• A brooder lamp and 100-watt bulb
• Hay or bedding such as clean towels
• Starter crumbs and grower's feed with a feeding dish
• A shallow water dish
• A paint roller tray

Related wikiHows

• How to Get a Pet
• How to Name a Pet
• How to Understand Your Bird's Body Language
• How to Calm Down a Bird
• How to Raise Call Ducks

Sources and Citations

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MANASSAS, Va. (AP) _ Animal control officers say that nearly three-quarters of the cats at the Prince William’s County Animal Shelter have had to be euthanized recently after contracting a respiratory virus.

The Washington Post reports that 73 cats were euthanized on Monday and Tuesday because they all had feline calicivirus.

The county police department’s animal control director, Capt. Alfred Miller, says 36 cats who have not yet shown signs of illness remain alive. The shelter has stopped taking in or giving away any cats for at least the next two weeks.

The shelter said in a statement that the virus causes sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes, painful mouth sores, arthritis and other symptoms in cats. It does not pose a health risk to humans.
___
Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

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The “monkey selfie” saga continues. More than a year after the U.S. Copyright Office made it pretty clear that a non-human animal can’t hold copyright, a new lawsuit argues the grinning macaque “has the right to own and benefit from the copyright… in the same manner and to the same extent as any other author.”

This is according to animal rights organization PETA, who aren’t just making a theoretical claim that a monkey deserves equal treatment under copyright law, but who have gone so far as to file a lawsuit [PDF] in federal court.

A brief refresher: In 2011, photographer David Slater was taking photos of macaque monkeys in Indonesia when one of them grabbed a camera and snapped several photos, including the one shown above.

The image became popular online and was eventually added to the Wikimedia Commons collection of 22 million images and videos that are free to use.

Slater made repeated attempts, with varying success, to have the photo pulled, claiming he was the rightful copyright holder. But in Aug. 2014, the Wikimedia Foundation explained that its understanding of U.S. copyright law is that the copyright belongs to the photographer, not the camera owner. And since the photographer in this case was a monkey, who can’t legally hold copyright, the image is in the public domain.

A U.S. Copyright Office document released weeks later bolstered this argument, citing other examples where non-humans could be said to have made art but could still not hold copyright, like a mural painted by an elephant.

But PETA claims that the monkey, who is apparently named Naruto, should be treated as if he were a human artist who had taken the same photo.

“The Monkey Selfies resulted from a series of purposeful and voluntary actions by Naruto, unaided by Slater,” reads the complaint, “resulting in original works of authorship not by Slater, but by Naruto.”

Even though the Copyright Office made its stance clear on the issue of non-humans, the lawsuit contends that the actual law isn’t as unforgiving toward monkeys and other non-human artists, arguing that the Copyright Act itself is “sufficiently broad so as to permit the protections of the law to extend to any original work, including those created by Naruto.”

PETA contends that monkeys are similar to humans in many ways and are just as interested in visual stimuli as we are.

“Naruto and all crested macaques are highly intelligent, capable of advanced reasoning and learning from experience,” reads the complaint. “Like other primates, including humans, Naruto and all crested macaques have stereoscopic color vision with depth perception and are vision dominant. As a result, visual images, including seeing their reflection in a motor bike mirror or camera lens, are intensely interesting experiences for them.”

The complaint doesn’t simply argue that Naruto should be granted copyright, but that Slater is violating the monkey photographer’s copyright by making money from the sale of a book that uses Naruto’s photo.

Even if the U.S. Copyright Office says a non-human can not register a copyright, Naruto’s legal eagles try to make the case that their client took the images in Indonesia, and thus no copyright registration in the U.S. is needed.

At the same time they allege that Slater’s continued use of the photo is a violation of Naruto’s copyright under U.S. law.

PETA is seeking to have Naruto declared the copyright holder, for the court to enjoin Slater and others from using the photos taken by Naruto, for Naruto to receive appropriate payment for the use of his photos in Slater’s book, and for unspecified damages.

While Slater has not given up his battle to be considered the copyright holder for the monkey selfit, PETA uses Slater’s own words against him in the complaint.

According to the suit, the photographer wrote in his book, “The recognition that animals have personality and should be granted rights to dignity and property would be a great thing.”

One would think combining free sample day and Nutella would create the ideal shopping experience. That certainly wasn’t the case at a California Costco where an elderly shopper was punched in the face was punched in the face in the name of free chocolate hazelnut spread.

The Burbank Leader reports that a 78-year-old man was punched in the face on Sunday morning after asking an excessive sample grabber to share with others.

Police say the incident occurred when a 24-year-old man snatched several Nutella and Eggo Waffle samples from a cart.

The older shopper reportedly told the younger man to take just one sample, at which point the overzealous younger man allegedly punched his fellow shopper in the face.

Authorities say the older man was transported to the hospital with a one-inch cut and swelling to his eye.

The younger man was arrested on suspicion of elder abuse following the incident.

Elderly man reportedly punched at Costco by excessive Nutella-sampling shopper [The Burbank Leader]

American Airlines says it’s apologized to a retired U.S. Marine, after the veteran said he wasn’t allowed to board a flight he’d booked out of Los Angeles because he had his service dog with him.

The man, his wife and service dog Axel were on their way back to Virginia after attending an award ceremony over the weekend, where the canine won a “Service Dog of the Year” award from the American Humane Association, reports CBS Los Angeles.

According to a post the veteran wrote on Facebook, he and his wife had been “denied access and not been allowed to board our plane by American Airlines due to us not being able to prove that Axel is a Service Dog.”

He said he answered all the gate staff’s questions but that he didn’t provide any paperwork — because he’d called ahead and believed everything was fine, and they’d never had an issue in the past, including on the flight out to California.

Besides, he wrote, they’d been waiting in front of the gate for the last two hours where surely staff must have seen them, but instead, he’d been pulled out of line as he tried to board.

“We take these matters very seriously and are looking into what exactly occurred,” American Airlines said in a statement, adding that the company apologized to the veteran and his family, “and are very appreciative of his service to our country.”

The man and his family have returned home, and say they are now urging airlines to step up their training to better serve veterans.

If you are traveling with a service animal, you should check out each airline’s policy regarding them. Here’s American Airlines’ policy; United Airlines’ policy; Delta Air Lines’ policy (under Service & Emotional Support Animals); JetBlue’s policy; and Southwest Airlines’ policy.

Marine Corps Veteran Says Service Dog Was Denied Entry On American Airlines Flight [CBS Los Angeles]

Prince William County community calendar Washington Post Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. Doors open at noon on Sunday with games beginning at 2 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Mondays with games beginning at 7:15 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304 ... and more »

Manassas Election Guide: Candidate Info, Where to Vote, Important Dates Patch.com Voters in Manassas will head to the polls on Nov. 3 to select representatives to the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, as well as several county offices. See ballot information below. Important Info: Polling places in the city open at 6 a.m. and ... and more »

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens have obtained cornerback Will Davis from the Miami Dolphins for a 2016 seventh-round draft pick.

Now in his third season, Davis was selected by Miami in the third round of the 2013 draft out of Utah State.

His career has thus far been marred by injuries. Davis played five games as a rookie, and last year he missed the final six weeks after hurting his knee in November.

Davis has played in 15 games overall, none this season, and has not yet started.

This year he was in danger of not making the team coming out of training camp, but made two interceptions in the final exhibition game and survived the last roster cut.

The Ravens hope Davis can aid a defense that allowed 351 yards passing and three touchdowns Sunday in a 37-33 loss to Oakland.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

The post Ravens obtain CB Davis from Dolphins for 7th-round pick appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — The man who founded Reston, Virginia, more than 50 years ago died Monday at the age of 101.

Robert E. Simon, Jr. — the “founder and soul” of Reston — died peacefully at his home, according to the Reston Historic Trust.

“Beloved in his community, Mr. Simon is remembered for his keen intelligence, wonderful wit, and spirited involvement in all aspects of Reston’s life.  We all will miss him,” the Reston Historic Trust said in a news release.

Simon founded Reston on April 10, 1964. It was one of the first master-planned communities in the U.S.

In an interview with WTOP in 2014, Simon said he knew Reston would be so successful.

“Yes, I sure as hell did [know it would be successful,” Simon said. “That was the program. The program was for 75,000 people with seven village centers and one town center.”

Simon offered advice for future generations of Restonians.

“Get out of your rooms where you keep your high-techery. Get outside. Get on a bicycle. Get on the tennis court. Row a boat, paddle a boat, sail a boat. All the things that make life for a fuller life than just exercising your thumbs,” said Simon.

A memorial service will be held later at a date to be announced, the Reston Historic Trust said.

The post Reston founder Robert E. Simon, Jr. dies at 101 appeared first on WTOP.

The Straits Times

If women have made gains under Obama, why does the White House gender pay gap ... Washington Post For the first time in history, a majority of top policy appointments in a presidential administration are held by women and minorities. But if President Obama has put women in so many top posts, why do female White House staffers still earn less on ... Obama to welcome Indonesian leader to White House in OctoberU.S. News & World Report Indonesian president Joko Widodo to visit White HouseABC Online Indonesian president to visit White House next monthChannel News Asia all 55 news articles »

We’ve often said that it’s not really a good idea to post on social media or e-mail a company while you are physically standing in their store or restaurant, and talking to a person is a better alternative. Here’s a possible exception to that from the TechCrunch Disrupt hackathon: a text-messaging service that uses a combination of bots and customer service chat reps to let you text for help from within Walmart.

This presumes, of course, that you get any phone reception from inside Walmart, which can be dicey at my local stores. Here’s the basic idea, though: you text a number posted in the store with your question, and the service texts you back with an answer provided either from the store’s data or from a live representative. The idea is to spend less time in the store and more time actually finding the things that you’re looking for and getting out.

“I want to get my hot Cheetos and get right out,” one of the developers of the project said, expressing how most people feel about Walmart.

While there’s no substitute for asking a live employee for help, it could help answer some basic queries, assuming that the combination of artificial intelligence and remote chat representatives could actually get facts correct.

While customers might not want to download an entire app for some initial help, the text exchange could then encourage shoppers to download the store’s shopping app.

Walmart Simple Text Could Be Walmart’s Version Of Magic [TechCrunch]

When travelers send their personal belongings off into x-ray machines at the airport, we expect them to come out on the other side exactly how they entered. But officials at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport say one man happened to notice his wallet come through a security screening a bit lighter than it had gone in, leading to the arrest of a Transportation Security Administration agent.

According to a report from the New York Daily News, a 26-year-old Bronx man picked up his wallet from a security screening bin and discovered he was missing $61.

Port Authority police then watched surveillance footage of the checkpoint and reportedly saw the agent taking the cash out of the wallet and putting it in his own pocket.

He was arrested and charged with criminal possession of stolen property and larceny, authorities said, while the TSA said it planned to fire him from his position on Monday, NJ Advance Media reports.

Previously in sticky-fingered TSA agent news: Report: TSA Paid Out $3M In The Last 5 Years For Lost, Stolen And Damaged Baggage;
TSA Screener Fired For Allegedly Swiping $36 From Traveler’s Checked Luggage
TSA agent stole cash from man’s wallet at Kennedy Airport: officials [New York Daily News]
TSA agent arrested for stealing cash from passenger’s luggage, police say [NJ Advance Media]

WASHINGTON — Meet Spot, an adorable, exuberant pit bull terrier mix puppy. This 3.5-month-old little boy is enthusiasm personified!

Spot loves people and playing, and revels in exploring the world around him.

Like most puppies, Spot is still learning the manners he’ll need to grow into a well-behaved adult dog. He’s already learned to sit and is looking for human companions who will not only love him but will also continue his training and provide the exercise an energetic puppy needs.

In return, he’ll give you his undying affection and a lifetime of fun. Stop by the Washington Animal Rescue League to meet Spot: He’ll be waiting!

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.

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) 773-5960
14645 Rothgeb Dr. 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.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
(202) 741-5428
Lucky Dog is a foster home organization and does not run a dedicated housing facility.

Northern Virginia

A Forever Home
(703) 961-8690
A Forever-Home is a nonprofit dog rescue group that operates in the Northern Virginia/Washington Metropolitan area.

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

FOHA — Friends of Homeless Animals
(703) 385-0224
All visitors must speak to a Friends representative before receiving directions to their shelter location.

SPCA of Northern Virginia
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 Shepard Rescue
(703) 435-2840
P.O. Box 126 Sterling, Va. 20167

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