New Standard-Issue on Military Sidearm

Members of the United States Army have been yearning for a new sidearm pistol for the past year. With a new contract in the making, many guns and gun companies such as the M&P, General Dynamics (GD), etc. have been entering this huge competition. The official contract will not be released until January of 2015.

For the past three decades, the US Army has been using the Berretta M9 semiautomatic. Before that, they had the M1911 from Colt. This was the starting of semiautomatic pistols. In fact, for ninety years, this gun was on the side to many Americans. The M1911 pistol was issued through wars such as Vietnam, both World Wars, Philippines, etc.

The U.S. Army are just "looking for a new modular handgun system that can easily be adjusted to fit all hand sizes." Reportedly there has been an increasing desire for lighter guns. More and more gun owners are having their gun handle and frame replaced with plastic. The Glock is one of the most popular lightweight pistols that is bought in the United States.

Imagine of a handgun with plastic frame

Two Americans Accused of Stealing Infant Body Parts From Thailand

Two Americans had allegedly stolen adult and infant body parts from the forensic medicine museum of Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital last Saturday in Thailand. Their reasoning was unclear, but the two Americans stated that they "wanted to surprise one of their friends back in the states".

Ryan Edward McPherson and Daniel Jamon Tanner are facing the potential to serve up to seven years in a state prison, with fines up to $15,200. These two men are facing charges of theft from a government hospital, and breaching custom laws. The histories of Thailand's medical advancements are displayed in these glass artifacts and archives of fetuses.

The DHL office in Thailand's Province stated that while some workers were scanning shipments, the three suspicious packages were seen. The packages contained about five acrylic boxes; one had a baby's left foot chopped up into little pieces, with the infant's head right beside it. There is still more that needs to be investigated, and others that could have been involved in the theft.

Although this is cruel and disgraceful act, this is not an uncommon thing seen throughout Thailand. Especially in the black market, Infant body parts are considered to be sold as a supernatural power that protects monks/sorcerers and can ward off bad luck. This is the practice of black magic.

Picture of Infant Body Artifacts contained in acrylic box.

Missing Beauty Queen and Her Sister Found Dead

This Wednesday, a Honduran Beauty Queen and her sister were found dead. Maria Jose Alvarado Munoz, 19, and her sister, Sofia Trinidad Alvarado, 23; had allegedly been buried on top of one another in a shallow grave near a river. 

There have been two detainments, one of Alvarado boyfriend, Plutarco Antonio Ruiz Rodriguez and Aris Valentin Maldonado Mejia. Ruiz was the suspect that had been in contact with these girls the most before their disappearance.

They had last been seen last Thursday, on their way to a spa birthday party for Ruiz. This was another reason for the suspicion for Ruiz's involvement with the murder.The two girl's mother, Teresa Munoz, had initially thought they were kidnapped during the several days they were missing.

Alvarado, 19, was supposed to leave for London soon to participate in the Miss World Pageant, police said. The contestants are going to host a special service to honor the two sisters, one of the chairmen apart of the committee had stated.

The two sisters, Munoz (L), and Alvarado (R).

Northern United States Has More Snow Coming

The entire Northeast Region to the United States has been hit by a terrible blizzard. In Buffalo, New York, there was a total of five feet of snow. People have been trapped in their homes for the past couple of days, some in their cars. In New Hampshire and Michigan, there have been eight reported deaths. Some of them were involved in deadly traffic accidents.


As the temperatures of the region continue to drop to below zero, the radar has picked up more snow to come. Three feet is expected in parts of Buffalo, New York for the next couple of days. It is unheard of to have a massive snowstorm during this time of the year.


Residents are enclosed in their homes as the icy road conditions have prevented travel, train routes have been suspended and schools have been forced to close.  


Map of Snow Storm

Isolated Hermits of Ukraine and Russia

"Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, and great enough to die for." These great words from Dag Hammarskjold can relate to the men of Ukraine and Russia that have become alienated from human society to live "off grid" in the back woods of their countries. They have chosen to find peace and harmony with the unknown world, and are willing to die in and for it. 

A hermit stands and watches for people passing by.

Hermits, another name given to the men that have extricated themselves socially, have made their own shelters/homes out of the surrounding resources. The names to these hermits were not included because some of them do not even have documents.


A home in the middle of nowhere.

Photographer, Danila Tkachenko, was on a mission to find and interact with the men of the woods. He had called local authorities, park rangers, newspapers, and nature reserves to find the men in Ukraine and Russia.  

Before he had taken these photos, he had spent days with these men. He observed that they were "quite talkative and nice." The hermits live off of what they gather, hunt, or find. If they become terminally ill, they find folk methods to deal with their conditions. They never have or will leave the woods, it is their home.  



A burrow home  built into the hill.

Eric Frein Caught and Charged

The 31-year-old survivalist from Pennsylvania, Eric Frein, was captured on October 30th when he was found near a small run-down airport in the Eastern area.

A huge operation that lasted seven weeks, and during this manhunt there was said that thousands of armed officers were searching for Frein. After they detained the "most wanted man", police had found an abundance of various food supplies, clothing, and weapons with ammunition; a laptop, first-aid supplies, shave kits, DVDs, contact lenses and a copy of his New Testament that he wrote for his parents. This was obvious evidence that he was a well-equipped to survive weeks-months in the wilderness. Frein told the police he used a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop, which allowed him to access wireless connections and use the internet.

Frein was charged with first-degree murder, and terrorism-related charges. He told the police in his confession how he wanted to "wake the people up", and make a change in the government, "it is far from what is should be."  

Frein allegedly, when he was found, did not put up a fight. He surrendered, let the officers' hand-cuff him, then was placed in the backseat of the slain trooper's car. Then he was escorted back to the barracks where had made the ambush on the officer. There he waits for the prosecutors to finalize their decision on the death penalty.    

Eric Frein, detained and waiting for his charges.

50 People Arrested For Suspected Kiling of Christian Couple

Picture of Christian couple burned alive.

There were a total of fifty people arrested due to the suspected killing of the Christian couple.  In East Pakistan, it was reported that over 500 people were a part of a mob that had beaten and pushed a couple into a lit kiln, which ultimately killed them. 
The women's name that was murdered was given to the press as Shyman Bibi Urf Shamar and her husband as Sajjad Nasir Zurjah Nazir Nasir. These two worked together in their home, which is 37 miles away from the capital, Punjab. Allegedly the mob had busted through the couple's home, breaking down the door and when they had found the couple they dragged them outside. They continued to beat them, until finally the mob threw both of them into the brick kiln. The owners of the brick kiln were among those who were detained.

It was reported that the couple was guilty of blashperry, and that was the reason the mob had brutally attacked the couple. Many villagers heard rumors of the couple desecrating the Koran, and grew very angry. 

The couple had two sons and a daughter, and their family is devastated. Pakistan's government is donating money and has given the family ten acres of land due to the incident.