NASA satellite Sees Dramatic Solar Flare Erupt

On April 16, 2012, a prominence shots off the left side of the sun in association with an M1 class flare that was not Earth-directed. NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) monitors the sun 24/7 and captured this amazing prominence. SDO observed a beautiful prominence eruption shot off the east limb (left side) of the Sun (April 16, 2012). Such eruptions are often associated with solar flares, and in this case an M1.7 class (medium-sized) flare did occur at the same time, though it was not aimed toward Earth. The movie (in extreme ultraviolet light) covers four hours of activity. As we have observed in some other events, some of the charged particles do not have enough force behind them to break away and they can be seen streaming back into the Sun. (More info: www.nasa.gov/sdo)

POSTPONED - Rob is a Guest TONIGHT on "Francis & Jon Internet Radio Show" 9pm ET

RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY, MAY 27th****
**Due to Technical difficulties** 
 originally- April 29, 2012 , Sunday from 8pm to 9 p.m. EDT Rob is a guest on "The Francis and Jon Show" on Worldtunedradio.com.
*Hosts Francis and Jon will interview Rob about his new book and have already gathered great questions about mediumship, animals, infants, and more.
TO TUNE IN: www.worldtunedradio.com and CLICK "LISTEN LIVE"

Sunlight plus lime juice makes drinking water safer

NEW RESEARCH FROM BALTIMORE, MD.:  Sunlight plus lime juice makes drinking water safer
Looking for an inexpensive and effective way to quickly improve the quality of your drinking water? According to a team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, sunlight and a twist of lime might do the trick.
Researchers found that adding lime juice to water that is treated with a solar disinfection method removed detectable levels of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) significantly faster than solar disinfection alone. The results are featured in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
    The SODIS (Solar water Disinfection) method requires filling 1 or 2 L polyethylene terephthalate (PET plastic) bottles with water and then exposing them to sunlight for at least 6 hours. In cloudy weather, longer exposure times of up to 48 hours may be necessary to achieve adequate disinfection.
To determine if one of the active constituents in limes known as psoralenes could enhance solar disinfection of water, Schwab and Alexander Harding, lead author of the study and a medical student at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, looked at microbial reductions after exposure to both sunlight and simulated sunlight.
The researchers filled PET plastic bottles with dechlorinated tap water and then added lime juice, lime slurry, or synthetic psoralen and either E. coli, MS2 bacteriophage or murine norovirus.
Researchers found that lower levels of both E. coli and MS2 bacteriophage were statistically significant following solar disinfection when either lime juice or lime slurry was added to the water compared to solar disinfection alone.

Full story: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Sunlight_plus_lime_juice_makes_drinking_water_safer_999.html
"

Tune in for Rob's Live Radio Interview Friday 10pm EDT- Signs of the Dead Radio

Tune in for Rob's Live Radio Interview Friday 10pm EDT- on Signs of the Dead Internet Radio! Listen on-line this Friday, April 27, 2012 at 10 p.m. EDT as Rob guests on the Internet Radio program: "Signs of the Dead Paranormal Radio"

Steven, the host, interviews Rob Gutro about his new book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead."

TO LISTEN:: http://signsofthedead.podomatic.com/

In the News: Dutch Govt/Maine Most Peaceful/Equal Pay Illegal in WI

Here are some stories in the news I found interesting, and wanted to share:

DUTCH GOVERNMENT COLLAPSES OVER DEBT WOES
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch government, one of the most vocal critics of European countries failing to rein in their budgets, quit Monday after failing to agree on a plan to bring its own deficit in line with EU rules. Queen Beatrix's office said she had accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his Cabinet after Rutte informed her talks on a new austerity package collapsed over the weekend. STORY: http://www.usatoday.com/money/story/2012-04-23/dutch-government-collapse/54483476/1?csp=Dailybriefing

Survey: Maine ranked 'most peaceful' state; Louisiana last

The annual United States Peace Index finds the country overall more peaceful than at anytime in the past 20 years, with Maine finishing first as the "most peaceful" state and Louisiana placing last for the 11th year in a row. In rankings by metropolitan area, the 2012 survey finds Cambridge-Newton-Framingham in Massachusetts as most peaceful and Detroit-Livionia-Dearborn in Michigan as least peaceful.FULL STORY: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/04/survey-maine-ranked-most-peaceful-state-louisiana-last/1?csp=Dailybriefing#.T5aZe9XZGSo 

Dispatches- A woman's blog: Women’s Rights Are Human Rights

For all of our female friends: An Interesting summary of women's issues in health and politics. Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/dispatches-from-the-war-on-women-womens-rights-are-human-rights.html#ixzz1sxZopQFP

This just isn't right: Study shows how broad pay disparities are between sexes

(BTW- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker just REPEALED the "Woman's Equal Pay Law") Women of all ages, races, ethnic backgrounds and education levels — and in almost every line of work — earned less than men, according to a report issued Tuesday by the American Association of University Women. Women in the USA earned 77% of what men earned in 2010, says the report from AAUW, which has advocated for pay equity since 1913. Tuesday was Equal Pay Day, which was started in 1996 by the National Committee on Pay Equity to call attention to the gap between men's and women's wages.

FULL STORY:  http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/story/2012-04-17/gender-pay-gap-study/54368152/1#.T460IeNdAoA.email

Repeal of Equal Pay Act encourages unfairness in Wisconsin

The Democrats "GOP War On Women" rallying cry got a major lift from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker today, with the news that the Republican darling repealed a Wisconsin law that made it easier for women to fight wage discrimination.
The Huffington Post reports that Walker quietly overturned Wisconsin's Equal Pay Enforcement Act last night, bowing to pressure from the state's Republican lawmakers. The equal pay law was designed to deter wage discrimination by making it easier for workers to press charges against their employers.

Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-04-06/politics/31298794_1_mitt-romney-wage-discrimination-governor-walker#ixzz1sxcL3pAM

and http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/07/wisconsin-s-repeal-of-equal-pay-rights-adds-to-battles-for-women.html

 

I Don't Get it: Mississippi

Have you been keeping up with the news from the state of Mississippi? 

I've never been there, but the politicians are really messed up.

Last week, the Governor signed into a law, procedures that would make it virtually

impossible for a woman to have an abortion in the state- which would shut down

the only clinic in the state. - SO, What about woman who are raped? Whose lives are in

danger during childbirth? What do they do?

- This state also wants to ban contraception!

- AND want to close down Planned Parenthood (who can counsel women and teens)!

Apparently, they don't see that those stupid decisions they've made DON'T WORK.

This article just came out from Reuters Newswire (a non-partisan world-wide

news service):

  

Mississippi teen pregnancy rate 

highest in U.S.: CDC

(Reuters) - Mississippi has the highest teen birthrate in 

the nation while New Hampshire has the lowest, the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday, following 

\up on a report that found the incidence of pregnancy among U.S. 

teens was falling.   Mississippi reported 55 births per 1,000 

teens aged 15 to 19 in 2010, more than 60 percent above the 
U.S. average, according to state data released on Tuesday. New 
Hampshire's rate was less half the national average at 15.7 births for 
the same age group.   ********************************************

Not only are the politicians REMOVING educational outlets, they're opening ALL doors to

allow for MORE Teen pregnancies and illegitimate children that state and federal 

taxpayers would have to pay for. This is outrageous! \

The voters already voted DOWN the "Personhood" law that stated a woman's egg is a "person." 

SO, now the Republican party has figured out other ways to get into people's bedrooms. \

WHY aren't the women of Mississippi furious over these conservative MEN telling them 

what they can do with their bodies?!?   I don't get it.  

We're Now on Skype!

We're finally now on Skype! 

Rob has been setting up interviews for his new book, and some are with on-line "paranormal" radio programs. One of the programs uses Skype to video-stream for its listeners/viewers and asked Rob to Skype, so this weekend we went out and bought a camera/microphone and set it up! 

 - Our first and only call so far, was to Mom F. in Maine (Jeff's mom). The camera and microphone worked very well - and we were both able to get in the frame. 

 - So, if you're on Skype, let us know what your log in is-  It would be great to see you all! 

Free! Read Paranormal Underground Mag article about Rob/Inspired Ghost Trackers

Paranormal Underground's December 2011 issue is now available to read (free)- it features an article about the INSPIRED GHOST TRACKERS (that includes me as one of the mediums of the group). It runs from Page 10-12.  - My thanks the this great magazine for making this back issue available to all. I highly recommend this magazine, as it always has some great features and advertisements! 
- Rob
TO READ IT ON-LINE (FREE!) 
http://issuu.com/paranormalunderground/docs/december_2011_paranornal_underground?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fdark%2Flayout.xml

FROM IRELAND: Irish Catholics Reject Church’s Teachings on Sex

Irish Catholics get it. They're educated. Maybe the U.S. and other countries will catch up. The church and politicians need to stay out of everyone's bedrooms.  -Rob
 SOURCE: The IRISH TIMES NEWSPAPER:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0413/1224314683201.html

Irish Catholics Reject Church’s Teachings on Sex

One third of Irish Catholics may attend mass every week, one of the highest numbers in Europe, but they strongly disagree with the Church’s teachings on sex.
Commissioned by the Association of Catholic Priests, the Contemporary Catholic Perspectives survey was carried out among 1,000 Catholics throughout the island of Ireland over a two-week period in February.
It found 
- 75% thought that what the Church had to say on sexuality had “no relevance.”
- 87% said that they believed that priests should be allowed to marry, 
- 77% believed there should be women priests and  
- 72% believed that older married men should be allowed to become priests.
- 61% disagreed with the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. Less than a fifth thought that homosexuality is immoral.
- Divorced and/or separated people in a second stable relationship should be allowed to take Communion, according to 87%, with just 5% saying they should not.
According to the United Nation’s 2010 Human Development Index, Ireland has the world’s largest percentage of married women under 49 using contraception.
A survey carried out in 2008 showed that 84% of Irish people supported civil marriage or civil partnerships for gay and lesbian couples, with 58% supporting full marriage rights in registry offices.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/irish-catholics-reject-churchs-teachings-on-sex.html#ixzz1sUQ3zjXD

WEIMARANER WALK A THON - @8am April 28 in Washington, D.C.

I just found out that there's a WEIMARANER WALK A THON in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 28th at 8am to raise money for the Weim rescue of Washington, D.C. **People are meeting at the Smithsonian Metro station. Please go and help raise money for the rescue. Although we hope to be there,we have another event later that day. Please support your local Weimaraner rescue!
http://rescue.dcweimclub.org/

Nevada- Couple Together 41 Years-- battling to be recognized

HOW many couples do you know that have been together over 40 YEARS? This lesbian couple has been together 41 years, raised children and have grandchildren!  YET, they can't be recognized as a married couple. Now they're fighting in a lawsuit to be recognized. They deserve that right and those federal and state protections. Watch the news interview.
Beverly Sevcik, 73, and Mary Baranovich, 76, are lead plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit challenging Nevada’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In an interview with Face to Face the couple explained that during their 41-year relationship they believe they have been treated as second-class citizens, and that it is time for this to stop. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Nevada, notably cites California’s Proposition 8 lawsuit, a case that is now at the discretion of the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals but one which has so far successfully challenged California’s ban on marriage equality on grounds that it denies Plaintiffs their constitutional rights and was enacted through a campaign based on animus toward gay and lesbian couples.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/lead-plaintiffs-speak-out-on-nevada-marriage-equality-lawsuit.html#ixzz1sUOyjgyJ

Amazing Short Video: Planet Earth: Amazing nature scenery

With Earth day on April 22, here's a short video of amazing scenery around the world- from a BBC production called "Planet Earth."

Close up of Space Shuttle Discovery Headed Home

On April 17, 2012 NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery flew over the Washington, D.C. area on a Boeing 747 aircraft, and was headed to its final home in the Udvar Hazy Smithsonian Museum near Dulles Airport, Va. When it flew over NASA Goddard, NASA-TV producer Silvia Stoyanova had a telephoto lens on her camera and captured this amazing photo (right) of it.

Ed Campion captured a more on-the ground view (left) of the employees at NASA watching the shuttle fly overhead and capture it on their cameras. It was a day that all folks at NASA will remember in the Washington, D.C. area.
 For more info, photos and the history of Discovery, go to NASA's website: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

These are more amazing photos, taken by Tom Wrubleski of NASA's GOES Project, who was in Washington, D.C. - He caught a pic of the Discovery being shuttled with the White House in the foreground. Tom also got a shot of the Discovery with the U.S. Capitol Building in the foreground - just amazing shots!

Janice and Marianne Visit Baltimore

Our friend Janice was visiting Baltimore this weekend and brought her friend Marianne, so we met them for dinner at the Grille 700, located in the elegant Inner Harbor Marriott. The lobby of the hotel looks like a museum! The hotel also has a nice view of the Inner Harbor (it's right on the water).
- After a nice dinner we walked over to nearby Little Italy and enjoyed a sit-down Italian dessert at Baltimore's Vaccaro's Italian Bakery/Cafe. It's the best-ever place to get dessert!
- Following dessert we walked back to the Inner Harbor and saw a 9/11 memorial in front of Baltimore's "World Trade center tower,"  where we took this picture of Janice and Marianne. We were unaware of the memorial, and were glad we stumbled upon it. (You can see the famous "Power Plant" building lit up in the background with the Hard Rock Cafe's famous guitar sign).
- It was a wonderful and short time together, but very memorable. It's always a treat to see old friends and make new ones. 
 - A little about the memorial: Maryland's 9/11 memorial sits in the outdoor plaza of Baltimore's World Trade Center, overlooking the Inner Harbor. Three steel beams from the north tower of New York's World Trade Center — 21/2 tons fused together, twisted and jagged — sit atop a marble platform, on which are inscribed the names of the 68 Marylanders who died in the attacks. Organizers believe the beams formed part of the 94th through 96th floors.

New Book! "Giant George" -Life with World's Largest Dog

- Here's a new book that looks interesting. George stands over 4 feet tall on all fours, and over 7 feet tall on his hind legs! 
   'Giant' George the world's largest dog is used to enormous amounts of attention and is all set for more with the release of his new book.
Written by his owner, Dave Nasser, 'Giant George: Life with the World's Biggest Dog' charts the gigantic allowances that the 230 pound Great Dane needs daily to get by.

Standing almost four-foot-tall at the shoulder and seven-foot three-inches on his hind legs, George consumes 180 pounds of food a month and sleeps on a queen sized mattress.

FULL STORY and PHOTOS FROM THE U.K. Daily Mail:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2127960/Giant-George-Life-Worlds-Biggest-Dog-written-Dave-Nasser-7ft-Great-Danes-owner.html#ixzz1s7KCsWsB

VIDEO OF GEORGE AT A DOG PARK:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2127960/Giant-George-Life-Worlds-Biggest-Dog-written-Dave-Nasser-7ft-Great-Danes-owner.html

Where's the IRS? Mormon & Catholic Churches of Md SHOULD BE TAXED

  When the heck is the IRS going to do its job and monitor and TAX churches  that get into politics? 
   Here's an article about the Mormon Church, now joining the Catholic Church of Maryland to REPEAL the Gay Marriage law.   How "caring" is that? Finally a law is put into place to provide safety, health and financial security for gay couples and these hateful churches want to remove it?
  - THIS is why I left the Catholic church. It's a Hate Group. Pure and simple. How would these people like it if I voted to remove their Social Security, Medicare, Health care, disability? 
- Rob

•  Members of the Mormon Church in Maryland are working to overturn the state’s recently passed marriage equality law, according to an email obtained by the Washington Blade.    In the message dated March 29 sent to D.C. and Southern Maryland-area church members, the writer states that a coalition of inter-denominational Maryland churches has joined to place a referendum before voters in November on the marriage law before it goes into effect.
    “We need to collect approximately 200,000 signatures by the end of May,” the email states. “We are looking for people to gather signatures within the LDS community.”
   

Drive to bring a National Fire Dog Monument to the nation's capital!

American Humane Association is working to bring the first National Fire Dog Monument to the nation's capital.  The National Fire Dog Monument (NDFM) was created by Jerry Means, owner of the 2011 American Humane Associations Hero Dog Awards™ finalist, Sadie. The bronze statue was sculpted by a Denver area firefighter and serves to acknowledge the incredible, heroic work of Certified Accelerant-Detection K-9s (Arson Dogs) everywhere.

    Each year billions of dollars worth of property damage and hundreds of lives are lost to arson. Arson Dogs help fight those crimes.

    Did you know?

   -  Arson Dogs have been trained to sniff out minute traces of accelerants

   -  Arson Dogs go through extensive training to become certified

   -  Arson Dogs spend all of their time with their handlers — making them part of the family

   -  Arson dogs provide community outreach programs and educational seminars on fire prevention and safety

Support the National Fire Dog Monument, help heroic arson dogs like Sadie and help protect kids and animals everywhere.  To Donate: https://secure2.convio.net/aha/site/Donation2?df_id=3381&3381.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=pfgiyjofs1.app226a

Texting Man Surprised by a Bear!

Here's one of the dangers of texting and not paying attention to what's going on. This video was shot from a news helicopter from Southern California News from KTLA -TV, Channel 5.

PHOTO: Dogs Dressed for a Cold Morning

Although we had a mild winter and its now mid-April, we're still having cold temperatures in the morning. It was 39F this morning, and the wind chill was in the mid-30s, so the dogs donned their winter gear and Rob donned his winter coat and hat, and we enjoyed our walk this morning!

Left to right: Sprite, Franklin and Dolly

Joke of the Week

A drunk man, who smelled of liquor, sat down on a subway next to a priest. The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.

After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, 'Say Father, do you know what causes arthritis?'
The priest replies, 'My Son, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of a bath.'

The drunk muttered in response, 'Well, I'll be damned‘ Then returned to his paper.

The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. 'I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?'
The drunk answered, 'I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does.'

What's Happening in Wisconsin- May Have Big Effect

If you haven't heard about what's happening in the great state of Wisconsin, politically, you should know about it. Here are some things you should know, because the Wisconsin conservative platform is being used to launch the national platform. See what you think...

1) Governor Scott Walker (R) is now under recall.

2) Gov. Walker STRUCK DOWN collective bargaining rights for all unions in the state. 

3) WI Governor Scott Walker Quietly Repeals Wisconsin Equal Pay Law

4) Governor Walker's Policies Set the Stage for National Republican Policies 

5)  Walker signs bevy of bills into law: More Abortion Restrictions; "Abstinance Only Way"; Preventing Discriminated from Suing 
6) Reuters:  Wisconsin Governor Walker to face recall vote on June 5

 

1) Governor Scott Walker (R) is now under recall. 50,000 signatures were needed to get a recall in effect for the governor, and 930,000 were collected. The recall happens in June. He is being recalled for eliminating all bargaining rights for unions in the state.  Voters decide for only the third time in the nation’s history whether to recall a sitting governor.
WASHINGTON POST: Wisconsin recall effort against Gov. Scott Walker now at center stage nationally.  ARTICLE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wisconsin-recall-moves-to-center-stage/2012/04/07/gIQAiqQ71S_story.html

2) Gov. Walker STRUCK DOWN collective bargaining rights for all unions in the state. 

ARTICLE - HUFFINGTON POST: 
WASHINGTON -- A year after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) signed groundbreaking anti-collective bargaining legislation into law, union supporters from across the world are gathering in the state to to share lessons from the fight and rally for the governor's recall. Candelight vigils are planned across the state Friday night, with a "Reclaim Wisconsin" march on the state capitol building in Madison planned Saturday at 10 a.m.
The law, signed by Walker on March 11, 2011, after a weeks-long battle, stripped most public employees of collective bargaining rights. Labor leaders denounced the law as an attack on working families.
SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/scott-walker-anti-union-law_n_1335658.html?ref=wisconsin-protests

3) WI Governor Scott Walker Quietly Repeals Wisconsin Equal Pay Law

The Governor of Wisconsin, with little notice or discuss, repealed the state’s Equal Pay law.  For Scott Walker, it was no doubt the most logical step in his ongoing war on women and the working class, as the Equal Pay Law protected not just women but any protected class.
But for the Republican who was most enthusiastic about rescinding the law, it was really about fairness.  After all, according to him, money is more “important” for men.
   The 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act was meant to deter employers from discriminating against certain groups by giving workers more avenues via which to press charges. Among other provisions, it allows individuals to plead their cases in the less costly, more accessible state circuit court system, rather than just in federal court.  In November, the state Senate approved SB 202, which rolled back this provision. On February, the Assembly did the same. Both were party-line votes in Republican-controlled chambers.
 SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/06/scott-walker-wisconsin-equal-pay-law_n_1407329.html?ref=tw

4) Governor Walker's Policies Set the Stage for National Republican Policies 

This homegrown fight has national implications. Walker has become a symbol of Republican governance in today’s GOP. He is campaigning energetically and unapologetically, arguing that he took courageous action to deal with his state’s severe fiscal problems — the same thing Republicans are saying should be done nationally. Walker contends that his policies have been good for the state’s economy and its taxpayers.
ARTICLE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wisconsin-recall-moves-to-center-stage/2012/04/07/gIQAiqQ71S_story.html

5)  Walker signs bevy of bills into law: More Abortion Restrictions; "Abstinance Only Way"; Preventing Discriminated from Suing

Gov. Scott Walker has signed bills putting new restrictions on abortion, requiring schools that teach sex education to promote marriage and barring those who are discriminated against at work from suing for punitive damages in state court.
The new laws would:

• Require schools that teach sex education to promote marriage and tell students that abstinence is the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The change in law also allows public schools to teach abstinence-only courses, which had been barred since 2010 under a law Democrats approved when they controlled state government.
• Prevent people subjected to employment discrimination from seeking punitive and compensatory damages in state court.
• Require doctors to consult with patients face-to-face - rather than via Web camera - when administering abortion-inducing drugs. That measure would also require doctors to speak privately with women seeking abortions to ensure they were not being coerced, and physicians could face felonies for ignoring the law.
• Prohibit insurance plans offered in Wisconsin under the federal health care reform law from covering some abortions.      SOURCE  MILWAUKEE-JOURNAL SENTINEL: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-signs-dozens-of-bills-into-law-gh4t9ll-146443915.htm

 6) REUTERS NEWS ARTICLE:  Wisconsin Governor Walker to face recall vote on June 5
(Reuters) - Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker will face a recall election on June 5 over a new law he championed that strips public sector unions of most power, becoming the first U.S. governor to face a no-confidence vote in nearly a decade.  FULL STORY:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/30/us-usa-politics-wisconsin-idUSBRE82T0UF20120330

VIDEO: Amazing Voice from Homeless So. Korean Teen

I didn't know that South Korea had a "national Televised talent show" - but this came up on You Tube, and this
amazing teen - who is homeless, and was beaten and abandoned, just shined. It has English subtitles, and
it will move you as the British 17 year old singing opera did, that I posted earlier this week.
His name is Sung-bong Choi.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter all - Hope you have a chocolate Bunny and some Easter Eggs! We're enjoying dinner at home... and Rob is cooking -look out! :)

From Rob's Ghost Blog: Risen from the Dead: An Easter Thought

Easter is the time that Christians celebrate Christ's resurrection from the dead, and his re-appearance on Earth. As such, the holiday made me think about the ghosts and spirits that have been in touch with me and so many others.


Think about this - if you're a ghost hunter, or if you've had an experience with a ghost or a spirit, you've either seen them, heard them, sensed them, smelled them or felt them. Right? Well, they, too, were living, breathing people who still exist "after physical death" just like Jesus did. I say this not to sound sacriligious, but to make a point that Jesus was one of the first known living people to appear to come back from physical death.

When Jesus first appeared after death, people didn't recognize him, as sometimes ghosts are not recognized as the people they were. In fact, some ghosts are seen as shadow figures. Others clearly have faces, bodies, etc. and are seen doing things like sitting in a chair, or heard singing, or rocking a living baby in a crib.

The Christian bible says that Jesus also solidified, so that Thomas could feel his wounds. People today who have had encounters with ghosts or spirits that return to Earth have reported that they can feel clothing, get a hug, feel a ghost tug some clothing, slap them in the face, or feel a ghost or spirit's cold hand on them.

My own grandfather literally bumped into his late aunt Elvina's spirit when he went to shovel coal into a house furnace in the early 1900s. I have felt hands (and fingers) of both ghosts and spirits on my arm, back and shoulder. Others will tell you the same.

That being said, the Easter celebration of Jesus' resurrection is acknowledged over and over again today as loved ones in spirit return with messages and those trapped as Earth-bound ghosts provide visible, physical, audible signs that they have also returned.

Amazing- Most well-preserved Mammoth Found in Siberia (photo)

 This is AMAZING!  - I've loved dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals since I was a kid, and this is the most amazing find I can remember. The photo of this young Wooly Mammoth's remains are incredible. The Mammoth had blonde fur! - As far as I can recall, scientists thought Mammoths had brown fur.  Look at the photo. Awesome. - Rob
 ************************************************
A young, entombed Wooly Mammoth has been discovered in Siberia near the Arctic Ocean. Nicknamed “Yuka,” the mammoth has been described by discoverers as being “remarkably well preserved” despite being cut open by ancient people.
Yuka was discovered in Siberia during an expedition funded in part by the BBC and the Discovery Channel and is believed to be at least 10,000 years old. The discoverers believe this finding could possibly provide proof of early human interaction in the Siberian region.
Yuka remains in excellent condition, thanks to the freezing cold temperatures of Siberia. In fact, much of the meat is still intact, retaining a pink color. Strawberry blond hair covers the mammoth. Daniel Fisher, curator and director of the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology told Discovery News, “This is the first relatively complete mammoth carcass — that is, a body with soft tissues preserved — to show evidence of human association.”
Working with an international team of experts, Fisher will help to analyze Yuka and to retrieve genetic samples from the carcass.
The team is also conducted carbon dating on Yuka, but believe the mammoth to have died at least 10,000 years ago. They believe the mammoth to have been about 2 1/2 to 4 years old when it died.
Judging from wounds found on the mammoth and other cuts and breaks, the team believe Yuka may have fallen prey to lions before humans came along to finish the job.
“It appears that Yuka was pursued by one or more lions or another large field, judging from deep, unhealed scratches in the hide and bite marks on the tail,” Fisher said. “Yuka then apparently fell, breaking one of the lower hind legs. At this point, humans may have moved in to control the carcass, butchering much of the animal and removing parts that they would use immediately. They may, in fact, have reburied the rest of the carcass to keep it in reserve for possible later use. What remains now would then be ‘leftovers’ that were never retrieved.”

Mammoth found in Siberia! -Credit: Discovery Channel

While most of Yuka’s innards are missing, such as organs, ribs, vertebrae, and some meat, the lower parts of each leg and the trunk remain incredibly well preserved.
French mammoth hunter Bernard Beigues is also part of the international team, and suggests the humans may have been after Yuka’s fat and large bones. He believes the bones may have been used in rituals and therefore were kept close to the body.
Such discoveries will enable scientists to study the genetics of these animals. For example, the discovery of Yuka has confirmed an earlier assumption about mammoths’ hair color. The red hair found all over Yuka proves this theory, as well as provides information about the genetic codes of the mammoth as it pertains to hair and eye color. With such a wealth of genetic material to investigate, scientists suggest cloning is possible, bringing the mammoths back from extinction. Tim Walker, a director and producer for the Discovery Channel told Discovery news that cloning a mammoth could take years, even decades. Yuka will be a part of a new documentary produced by the BBC and the Discovery Channel called “Mammoth.”
SOURCE: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112508285/wooly-mammoth-found-in-siberia-is-remarkably-well-preserved/

Video: Cruft's Dog Show Agility FAIL

In the 2012 Cruft's Dog Show Agility run, an incredibly talented dog and it's owner gets disqualified for taking a sudden and needed "Break." Thanks to Susan for sharing.

My Orthpedic Challenges- Hand and Wrist

Getting older is never without health challenges, and we all have them.
Thankfully, our friend Susan recommended an Orthopedic doctor to me (Rob) for a couple of issues I've been dealing with, and the doctor knew what he was doing. That's a far cry from the previous doctor I went to see- here's the story:
 - In the summer of 2011, the cartilage in my wrist was damaged while I was walking all three dogs, and had the leashes wrapped around my left wrist, when a squirrel ran across the street and all of the dogs pulled to chase it!  That's about 120 pounds of sudden pressure, and the wrist went "pop."  So, after months of constant pain that felt like a hot poker on the side of my wrist (and I wrapped it, iced it, and took ibuprofen), I saw an Orthopedic doctor, who, so happened to be near retirement, but was covered by my health plan. He took MRIs and' said the cartilage was damaged, and even fragmented. I asked what I could do to relieve the pain. He replied, "After about a year, you'll get used to it."Then he showed me out. Yeah, I PAID for that.  

Trigger finger... mine is a thumb!

   So I continued to self treat until I developed "Trigger finger" on my left thumb three weeks ago. That's when the tendons in your hand tighten and your finger joints get "stuck," then pop out painfully. I mentioned this to our friend Susan and she recommended a great Ortho doc in Annapolis, who told me what was happening, and gave me cortisone injections in the thumb and wrist, both of which now feel better! BTW- 10 years ago, cortisone shots were Painful. Now, they include novacaine in them. Smart!  No pain in the injections, just a little when the novacaine wore off.
   If the wrist doesn't improve, minor surgery to remove the fragments of cartilage will need to be done. The wrist is actually almost pain free now, three days later, while the thumb keeps locking. Regardless, I feel MUCH better than I have in about a year. Yay for cortisone. :)

VIDEO: teen Zach Wahls defending his two-mom family at an Iowa State House hearing

Last year, a video of teen Zach Wahls defending his two-mom family at an Iowa State House hearing went viral.
He was giving testimony against an attempt to repeal the state’s gay marriage law by defining marriage as a heterosexual union in the Iowa Constitution.
The video became the most-watched video on YouTube in 2011.

Since then, Wahls — who is straight — has traveled the country telling his family’s story and on Saturday night he showed again what a fantastic advocate he is at Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards in New York City.

“Now since that speech went viral back in February of 2011, I’ve been all over the country,” Wahls said. “From California to New York down to Florida. And I’m continuing to share my story, and have this conversation about gay marriage. Or as I like to call it: marriage.”

“Because obviously my moms are gay, but they’re not my gay moms.”

He joked about the sorts of questions he gets asked by other young straight guys, like who is the man and who is the women…He said that while meeting Ellen DeGeneres was “awesome” and Neil Patrick Harris “tweeting about me was like dream come true,” the best parts of his year were private conversations he had with those he met during his travels or who communicated with him over Facebook. Like the young lesbian in Michigan who said that hearing him tell his story made her think she could be a mother.
Wahls said that the reaction to his testimony was a reminder of “the power I have — the power we all have — to shape the narrative that describes the human condition.”

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/teen-son-of-lesbian-moms-becomes-star-rights-advocate-video.html#ixzz1qvZCKtoQ

Video- 17 Year old Opera singer on Britian's Got Talent!

I heard of this 17 year old boy singing opera on TV and was blown away by it.  
JONATHAN ANTOINE AUDITION - BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT 2012
I had to share it.
It will move you!

Eating lots of chocolate helps people stay thin, study finds

For the study, published in the March 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers examined more than 1,000 healthy men and women who were free of heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol problems. They were all enrolled in another study that measured the effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, but for this study researchers assigned them questionnaires that gauged how often participants chowed down on chocolate.
The researchers found that the participants - who were an average age of 57 - ate chocolate for an average of twice of week and EXERCISED roughly 3.5 times per week. But the more frequent chocolate-eaters had smaller BMIs, a ratio of height and weight that's used to measure obesity.
What explains the effect? Even though chocolate can be loaded with calories, it's full of antioxidants and other ingredients that may promote weight loss, the researchers said.
FULL STORY: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/hallelujah-chocolate-makes-you-thinner/12516?tag=nl.e660

Story with a Good moral: The window from which we look...

-Thanks to our friend Cathy in PA for sending this. 

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.
The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the Wash outside.
... "That laundry is not very clean", she said."She doesn't know how to wash correctly.
Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, The young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and Cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others Depends on the purity of the window through which we look.  

MORAL: Clean your own windows before criticizing and belittling others.