Friday News Bites: Fort Hood, Declassified Files, Mozilla + More

Not a lot of great news this week, but I try to end on an upnote, depending on your feelings for The Lion King.

In Fort Hood, Texas, four people are dead and 16 people are injured after U.S. Army Spc. Ivan Lopez opened fire at the base. Though the Army and FBI have said that nothing had previously seemed amiss with Lopez, there are “strong indications” that the shooting stemmed from a previous altercation with another service member.

Also, it appears that Lopez purchased his gun from the same store as 2009 Fort Hood shooter, Major Nidal Hasan.

In other tragic news, the current death count for the mudslide in Oso, Washington has risen to 30 people, with more than a dozen people still missing.

I think maybe even Hannibal fans will shudder a bit at this: Harvard has discovered that three of their library books are bound in human flesh.

At least a step in the right direction: Japan has to stop whaling in the Antarctic.

Rest in Peace:

House musician Frankie Knuckles has died at age 59 from type II diabetes complications.

And pour one out for Timelady The Rani and Dynasty‘s Caress: Actress Kate O’Mara has died at age 74.

Somewhat good news: A Senate panel has voted to declassify a report on interrogation techniques used by the CIA during the Bush Administration. (I mean, at least we’ll know more, but of course, there was no reason to have these techniques used in the first place.)

After OKCupid called out Mozilla CEO Brenden Eich for being homophobic and for contributing to an anti-gay campaign, Eich has resigned his position and Mozilla has apologized.

Finally, if you can’t help but be stirred by “The Circle of Life,” then check out the Australian Lion King cast singing before a flight take-off.

Until next time, friends.