Wednesday, February 28, 2018

An Afternoon English Tea!

Back: Tom and Tom/Front: Joe and Rob
This past weekend we enjoyed an "English Tea Time" at the historic Belmont Manor and historic park in Elkridge, Md. Our friends Joe and Tom joined us for the event. The tables were nicely set with tablecloths, flowers, china, etc. The first course included finger sandwiches (4 varieties), and a blueberry scone. The teas were Earl Grey and a nice, strong raspberry that tasted even better when Joe suggested adding a slice of lemon to it.  The desserts included apple and chocolate pastries. 

  It was a nice setting, and the staff was very attentive ( I think we drank a total of 6 pots of tea)! 
  So if you're looking for something different to do, it's pretty cool. They hold English teas at the Belmont once a month.


For more information: https://www.belmontmanormd.com/teas


Your taste buds will be tempted
with a bottomless pot of tea, a Manor
scone served with clotted cream and jam, tea
The Belmont Manor
savories and a delectable assortment of desserts.
After taking tea, we invite you on a self-guided tour. Pre-registration is required. Seating is communal. We suggest you arrive promptly at 2:00 PM so you can save seats together for your entire party.

Register at:
or call 410-313-0200



Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Why Police and Law Enforcement Should Not Support Republicans

 Over the last year we're watched the Commander in Chief and the entire Republican party trash the FBI, CIA and law enforcement employees. What's ironic is that a majority of law enforcers voted mostly for Pres. Trump (and some we've spoken with have really regretted it).  This month, we've heard the President call some sheriff deputies "cowards." We've heard his NRA-backed idea of arming teachers with guns in schools (which would make it much harder for responding police to identify "good" vs. "bad" shooters.)

   So, THINK before you vote.  If you work in law enforcement  keep in mind that the Republicans have shown they have no respect for you.




Monday, February 26, 2018

Part 2: Funny Student Answers on Tests

Animal-savvy student
In part 2 of clever student test answers you'll see answers from kids who know that animal cruelty is wrong, another who apparently knows bodily functions and one that tells it like it is. 
ANIMAL QUESTION- To the student that wrote "you should not hit dogs" on a question, I would give that student an "A." Very smart kid, and I'm sure the teacher changed the answer options afterward. 
A comedian in training
SOLID, LIQUID, GAS - This kid is going to be a comedian. He obviously knows bodily functions, and they'll get laughs... even on tests.




LOGIC - It seems logical to us that one year ended to start another... and when an instruction says "write THIS" you write "THIS."




Sunday, February 25, 2018

Idiot of the Week: GOP Utah Rep, Husband, Dad - Used State Money for Prostitutes

The idiot of the week feature never seems to run dry for content, sadly. There seems to be a married (straight) conservative politician every week who campaigned for "Family Values" and "Ant-gay marriage" who are uncovered either with prostitutes, money laundering, child pornography, adultery, etc. In this case, Utah GOP Rep. Jon Stanard, husband and dad of 3, who voted for tougher penalties for prostitution (and is rabidly anti-gay), just resigned amid allegations he used TAXPAYER MONEY to pay for hotel rooms to have sex with a hooker twice. She outed him because she realized he was such a hypocrite.

Here's the report from KUTV in Salt Lake City, Utah:

(KUTV) — DailyMail.com reports that former lawmaker Rep. Jon Stanard,(R-Dist. 62), who resigned from his position on Tuesday citing "immediate personal and family concerns," met with a Salt Lake escort twice for sex.
   Stanard was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2012. He resides in St. George and is married with three children.
     The 43-year-old former state representative voted in favor of stricter laws on prostitution in March 2017. The penalty for soliciting sex is $2,500 and a Class A misdemeanor because of the passed legislation.
   
As a Mormon, Stanard could face severe punishment including ex-communication. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a stringent stance against adultery, likening it next to murder.
If convicted for engaging in prostitution, Stanard could be charged with a $2,500 fine. Taylor could also face charges as the bill Stanard voted in favor of makes it easier for authorities to prosecute escorts.

INTERVIEW WITH THE PROSTITUTE WHO OUTED HIM: 
   Brie Taylor is the self-professed escort that Stanard solicited. She stated to DailyMail that Stanard paid her $250 for each one-hour sexual session on two separate business trips to Salt Lake City, which took place in June and August.
    Text messages obtained by DailyMail.com appear to show that Stanard met with the 39-year-old after seeing her advertisement online and looking at her website.
    The phone number these text messages were sent to match the phone number listed on Stanard's public profile on the Utah House of Representatives website, the DailyMail reported.
    The DailyMail reported that Taylor is a single mother and quoted her saying Stanard's political stance is "hypocritical" and that his resignation was "inevitable."
"People here will be grossed out and appalled by this," Taylor said in the DailyMail article. "They thought they knew him."
     Taylor told the DailyMail that she was surprised to learn he voted in favor of stricter [prostitution] laws."It is hypocritical because he is supporting laws that make it stricter for other men who do what he does," Taylor is quoted in the article.
PHONE NUMBER/TEXTS CLINCH IT:   Cell phone screenshots shared with the DailyMail appear to show correspondences between Stanard and Taylor lasted from March 2016 through November 2017. The exchanged messages displayed in the article show Stanard requesting a meeting with Taylor, but she declined because her 10-year-old son was ill.
     According to the DailyMail, Stanard allegedly messaged her once more the following month, but she was again unable to get together with him.
     However, they did meet June 20, 2017, at the Fairfield Inn in Salt Lake City, the article reported.
Taylor told the DailyMail that she knew who Stanard was because she screens all of her clients using a phone number service and search engine.
    "I was surprised that he was using his real phone number," Taylor was quoted in the article. "I thought that was kind of stupid but I knew he wasn't a psycho so I met him."

 VIDEO LINK: http://kutv.com/news/local/report-married-utah-lawmaker-allegedly-paid-escort-for-sex-twice

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Part 1: Funny Student Answers on Tests

Kids can be incredibly clever, and in part 1 of this 3 part blog, we share some really creative answers that kids put on tests.  If I were only as clever during math tests!  And the answer to the "identify the drawing" test was unexpected.

Well, this makes good sense!
GEOMETRY TEST- I (Rob) hated Geometry and it was my worst subject in school. If only I were as clever as the student who took this geometry test. After all, it's right!  

CANDY BAR MATH QUESTION - Now this is a student who knows about ingesting too much sugar. Very medically intuitive kid.   (Of course here's the truth about that -- and it's only in regard to Type 2 diabetes: Sugar consumption will not directly cause diabetes. However, excess sugar consumption can cause weight gain. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes.
Once a person has diabetes, eating too much sugar can make symptoms worse, since diabetes makes it more difficult for the body to manage blood sugar levels - according to Medical News Today.com)
 

ANATOMICALLY CORRECT- In what looks like a test for a kinder-gardener,  answer #3 is quite surprising, although correct. Who would expect a 5 year old to write that?

These kids really deserve an "A" for creativity, although we have to wonder what the teacher would grade them. 

Friday, February 23, 2018

In the News: Weapons Cache at Home of Maryland Teen Who Brought Gun to School

Alwin Chen, a student at Clarksburg High School in Montgomery County
How do parents NOT know that their kids are assembling a war-chest of weapons?  - If they DO know, why don't they call the police, a psychiatrist, or someone to get the kid HELP?
  It's unfathomable to us how teenagers can get firearms.  If you missed this in the news this week, there was a teenager here in Maryland with assault weapons and a list of students he had issues with. 

Authorities reportedly found multiple guns – including an AR-15 style rifle – and a list of grievances against fellow students at the home of a Montgomery County honor roll student charged with bringing a loaded gun to school last week.


By Dan Morse, The Washington Post
Police in Maryland found an AR-15 styled rifle, a shotgun, two handguns, landmines, ammunition and a tactical vest in the home of an 18-year-old honor roll student who police say last week brought a loaded 9mm handgun to school, authorities said Tuesday.

Officers also discovered that the suspect — Alwin Chen, a student at Clarksburg High School in Montgomery County — had previously brought the same handgun to school and had compiled a “list of grievances against students in the school,” Montgomery Assistant State’s Attorney Frank Lazzaro said.
 
THE PARENTS' GUNS?
Chen is charged with possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm by a person under 21 and possession of a firearm on school property.  David Felsen, an attorney for Chen, stressed in court that the weapons were not found in his client’s bedroom, and noted his accomplishments before the allegations. “They were found in someone else’s room,” Felsen said. “Someone who is, we believe, authorized to have all these things.”

HONOR ROLL STUDENT
Felsen said Chen has received two college scholarship offers — from schools in Maryland and Florida — is on the honor roll, and “has never been in any trouble.” He also said his client does not appear to suffer from mental illness.

NO BAIL  
He ordered Chen to be held in jail without an opportunity to post bond.

TWO DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS
For his part, Chen allegedly gave police two different explanations on Thursday after a school resource officer found a loaded Glock 9mm in his book bag. First, Chen said, he was going to do target practice after school, prosecutors said in Chen’s initial court appearance.  He “then told the police he had brought the gun to school for possible protection because students at the school had been harassing him and bullying him,” Lazzaro said.

https://youtu.be/0K3fs1GiKLY

How to Get lifesaving dog food recall alerts

If you have adopted a dog or dogs, as we do, you want to keep up on food or treat recalls. Here's a way to do it. 

The Dog Food Advisor is a public service website designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. It provides lists of Food and Treat recalls on the page: https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/

You can now get lifesaving dog food recall alerts anytime there's a recall event in the U.S. or Canada. You'll also get tips and ideas to help you feed your dog better and safer.
To subscribe by Email, go to:
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall-alerts/


ABOUT THE FOUNDER OF THE WEBSITE: 
My name is Mike Sagman — and I love dogs.

Mike Sagman and Bailey
Mike and Bailey
And if you love your dog as much as I love mine, you’re probably concerned about how to find a safe and healthy food to nourish her. What’s more, you’d probably like to know a little about me and how my website can help you.
I’m a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia with a doctorate in dental surgery.
My undergraduate studies include a major in chemistry and a minor in biology.
In addition to my dental school studies in human nutrition, I’ve also cultivated a personal passion for canine nutrition, too.
Our current team includes two dedicated research assistants, an experienced social media admin as well as one extraordinarily knowledgeable (and generous) veterinarian.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Wow- Just Read: Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff / #1 New York Times Bestseller

  We had to read "Fire and Fury" by Michael Wolff about the total dis-function of the Trump White House during the first 9 months of his presidency, and wow, was this revealing. Michael Wolff said that he was invited to the White House and was there daily, to the point where they didn't even notice him... but he made great notes.
   It reveals that Trump is a massive egotist who has to have people heap praise on him daily. Everything that makes him look bad he deems "Fake News." When someone disagrees, he bashes them to everyone. Right-wingers like Roger Ailes (now deceased) of Fox News and Rupert Murdoch were heard telling others that Trump is "an idiot."  
  Bannon trashes people and hates Jared Kushner and Ivanka. They hated him. Everyone hates each other and that's why there were so many firings. It's like a house of 5 year olds with anger issues and no experience between them. Quite horrifying.
 
SPILLING IT from TRUMP'S DIRECTOR OF NAT'L ECONOMIC COUNCIL 
Gary Cohn
Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council and President Donald Trump's top economic advisor got disgusted with the Trump White House before he left.  Author Michael Wolff was copied on an email in April 2017 from Gary Cohn that was very telling. It said about the Trump administration: "It's worse than you can imagine. An idiot [Trump] surrounded by clowns. Trump won't read anything.." He goes on to say Trump gets up and leaves when talking with world leaders because he gets "bored." - There's more (it's on page 186).
     Get the book. Read it and realize what a total screwed up nightmare is running the White House and the country. It's frightening... and they're all corrupt. THEN make sure that everyone you know votes these buffoons out of office next election. 



ABOUT THE BOOK (FROM AMAZON) :  #1 New York Times Bestseller
With extraordinary access to the West Wing, Michael Wolff reveals what happened behind-the-scenes in the first nine months of the most controversial presidency of our time in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.
Since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, the country―and the world―has witnessed a stormy, outrageous, and absolutely mesmerizing presidential term that reflects the volatility and fierceness of the man elected Commander-in-Chief.
This riveting and explosive account of Trump’s administration provides a wealth of new details about the chaos in the Oval Office, including:
-- What President Trump’s staff really thinks of him
-- What inspired Trump to claim he was wire-tapped by President Obama
-- Why FBI director James Comey was really fired
-- Why chief strategist Steve Bannon and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner couldn’t be in the same room
-- Who is really directing the Trump administration’s strategy in the wake of Bannon’s firing
-- What the secret to communicating with Trump is
-- What the Trump administration has in common with the movie The Producers
Never before in history has a presidency so divided the American people. Brilliantly reported and astoundingly fresh, Fire and Fury shows us how and why Donald Trump has become the king of discord and disunion.
“Essential reading.”―Michael D’Antonio, author of Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success, CNN.com
“Not since Harry Potter has a new book caught fire in this way…[Fire and Fury] is indeed a significant achievement, which deserves much of the attention it has received.”The Economist

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Dunkin’ Donuts Plans To Finally Get Rid Of Styrofoam Cups By 2020

Dunkin' Donuts, our favorite coffee, tea and sandwich restaurant chain is ditching their styrofoam cups in a couple of years. It's been in the works for years, but there was a lot more involved in it because they had to make the customers happy... Here's the story:  

 Dunkin’ Donuts Plans To Finally Get Rid Of Styrofoam Cups By 2020
After years of teasing plans to eliminate styrofoam cups from all of its stores, Dunkin’ Donuts says it’s finally ready to deliver.
The popular coffee chain announced on Wednesday that all of its styrofoam cups will be replaced with sustainably sourced, double-walled paper cups by 2020. That milestone achievement, which the company said would eliminate nearly 1 billion foam cups from the waste stream annually, follows Dunkin’ announcing a similar goal for 2016.  

Though the company missed that mark, it’s not because they haven’t been trying, a Dunkin’ spokesperson said.
In an email to HuffPost on Thursday, the company said replacing the foam cups has been a “No. 1 priority issue,” but suggested that an unpopular lid is to blame for the delay.
Instead of styrofoam cups, Dunkin’ Donuts plans to offer these double-walled paper cups
“Over the years we have tested countless cups with mixed results. In fact, a few years ago we considered switching our system to a polypropylene cup, but we found it did not offer the best experience for our guests because they did not like its lid,” the statement read.
Customers not preferring a certain lid may sound like a small issue ― especially when compared to styrofoam’s detrimental impact on the world’s landfills ―  but when it came to their business, it mattered.
“Transitioning 9,000 restaurants from our iconic foam coffee cup is a big decision that has implications for our franchisees’ bottom line and the guest experience, and we did not want to take it lightly,” the company said.
Nearly six years ago, the company said in a 2012 corporate report that they hoped to find a more environmentally friendly cup within the next two to three years. This followed five years of unsuccessful searching for an alternative product that has “the necessary manufacturing capabilities, availability of raw materials, the ability to meet food safety requirements, thermal qualities, and environmental attributes such as recyclability or biodegradability.”
The winning solution: Trading out the foam and keeping the stores’ current lid.
The new cups, which Dunkin’ plans to begin rolling out this spring, will be composed of paperboard that’s certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standard, the company said.
Though the more eco-conscious cups may feel different, the company insists that it will keep beverages just as hot as its current foam cups and that an extra sleeve won’t be needed to keep hands cool.

“With more than 9,000 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in the U.S. alone, our decision to eliminate foam cups is significant for both our brand and our industry,” Karen Raskopf, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Dunkin’ Brands, said in a statement.
Dunkin’s anti-styrofoam announcement follows that of McDonald’s, which vowed last month to make its packaging 100 percent green by 2025. That means that all of its consumer packaging will be made out of renewable, recyclable and certified materials within seven years. Recycling bins are also being added to all of its stores.
McDonald’s previously vowed to eliminate foam packaging from its global supply chain by the end of 2018.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Dolly Gets Cryo-treatment Again: What is Cryosurgery?

Dolly smiling after her treatment
As dogs age some develop skin tags, bumps, lumps, and growths. Some of them are in places where they can be torn open, so they should come off. Our 13 year old Weimaraner, Dolly, can't have anesthesia because she has an "air pocket" or "bullae" in her lungs so we opted for "Cryosurgery," which isn't really surgery... it's a freezing of a growth the kills the tissue.

LAST FALL'S FREEZE - Dolly had a 1 centimeter in diameter lump on her ear back months ago, that she scratched and it bled like crazy (Ears tend to bleed a lot). So, immediately, I quelled the bleeding by using the dog-styptic powder that is used when you cut a nail too short. Turns out it was the right thing to do. We had that frozen 4 times, but because the growth was too large, it didn't entirely work (just 1/2 froze and fell off). So, it has to be surgically removed, somehow.

THIS MONTH'S FREEZE - This month she developed a small 3 millimeter bump or pimple in the center of her back, so we had that one cryotreated. Hopefully, that will come off . It usually turns black, dries out and falls off in a couple of days to a week.

BOTTOM LINE: Cryotreat small bumps or pimples before the grow too large. Smaller growths come off more easily.

A PATIENT PATIENT - She's really patient and just stands there allowing the doctor to freeze the growths and she doesn't move. The doctor said she's the best patient, ever!
the cryo-treated small lump on Dolly's back

WHAT IS CRYOSURGERY? Cryosurgery refers to the application of intense cold in order to kill living tissue, according to Wagwalking.com. Indeed, the procedure is slightly misnamed since no surgical cutting is involved, so 'cryotherapy' is more apt. Cryosurgery is used to treat lumps on the surface of the skin or tumors in places where surgical removal would be difficult, such as the mouth. It is not necessarily the first option for treatment, but reserved for patients for whom the anesthetic risk is considered unreasonable, such as elderly dogs. The actual procedure is temporarily painful, but can be overcome with local anesthetic. Cryosurgery used to be more popular than it is at present, and now first opinion clinics offer it as a treatment option.

Read more at: https://wagwalking.com/treatment/cryosurgery

Monday, February 19, 2018

Idiot in the news: Smoking Driver Accidentally Ignites Van Carrying Flammable Materials

The idiot's van on fire. Credit: People’s Daily
Here's a story from China that you may have missed earlier this month, about a total idiot who
decided to SMOKE while driving a van full of flammable materials. Of course, it didn't end well.  Thus, he's the Idiot of the Week!



Smoking Driver Hits Crowd In Shanghai After Accidentally Igniting Van
A van ran into a crowd of pedestrians in Shanghai on Feb. 2, injuring more than a dozen people. The accident was caused by the van’s driver, who unintentionally set the inside of the vehicle on fire while smoking, according to the state-run People’s Daily. 

The news site noted that the driver was suspected of illegally moving hazardous goods.17 pedestrians were hospitalized after the incident, which occurred in the city’s Huangpu District, according to Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

5 things you (probably) didn’t know about Henry VIII

Tom and Henry VII statue
Tom is an amateur historian on the Tudors and their rule in English history. So, today we're sharing an article from  Historyextra.com called "5 things you (probably) didn’t know about Henry VIII."


Henry the VIII is largely remembered as a bully who executed his opponents, oversaw the destruction of religious buildings and works of art, and killed off two of his six wives. But is this image wholly accurate? Here, historian Tracy Borman shares five surprising facts about the former king...

1   Henry VIII was slim and athletic for most of his life
At six feet two inches tall, Henry VIII stood head and shoulders above most of his court. He had an athletic physique and excelled at sports, regularly showing off his prowess in the jousting arena.
Having inherited the good looks of his grandfather, Edward IV, in 1515 Henry was described as “the handsomest potentate I have ever set eyes on…” and later an “Adonis”, “with an extremely fine calf to his leg, his complexion very fair…and a round face so very beautiful, that it would become a pretty woman”.
All this changed in 1536 when the king – then in his mid-forties – suffered a serious wound to his leg while jousting. This never properly healed, and instead turned ulcerous, which left Henry increasingly incapacitated.
Four years later, the king’s waist had grown from a trim 32 inches to an enormous 52 inches. By the time of his death, he had to be winched onto his horse. It is this image of the corpulent Henry VIII that has obscured the impressive figure that he cut for most of his life.

Hampton Court Palace (from our 2013 vacation)
2  Henry VIII was a tidy eater
Despite the popular image of Henry VIII throwing a chicken leg over his shoulder as he devoured one of his many feasts, he was in fact a fastidious eater. Only on special occasions, such as a visit from a foreign dignitary, did he stage banquets.
Most of the time, Henry preferred to dine in his private apartments. He would take care to wash his hands before, during and after each meal, and would follow a strict order of ceremony.
Seated beneath a canopy and surrounded by senior court officers, he was served on bended knee and presented with several different dishes to choose from at each course.

3  Henry was a bit of a prude
England’s most-married monarch has a reputation as a ladies’ man – for obvious reasons. As well as his six wives, he kept several mistresses and fathered at least one child by them.
But the evidence suggests that, behind closed doors, he was no lothario. When he finally persuaded Anne Boleyn to become his mistress in body as well as in name, he was shocked by the sexual knowledge that she seemed to possess, and later confided that he believed she had been no virgin.
When she failed to give him a son, he plumped for the innocent and unsullied Jane Seymour instead.

4 Henry’s chief minister liked to party
Although often represented as a ruthless henchman, Thomas Cromwell was in fact one of the most fun-loving members of the court. His parties were legendary, and he would spend lavish sums on entertaining his guests – he once paid a tailor £4,000 to make an elaborate costume that he could wear in a masque to amuse the king.
Haunted Hallway in Hampton Court Palace
Cromwell also kept a cage of canary birds at his house, as well as an animal described as a “strange beast,” which he gave to the king as a present.

5  Henry VIII sent more men and women to their deaths than any other monarch
During the later years of Henry’s reign, as he grew ever more paranoid and bad-tempered, the Tower of London was crowded with the terrified subjects who had been imprisoned at his orders.
  
One of the most brutal executions was that of the aged Margaret de la Pole, Countess of Salisbury. The 67-year-old countess was woken early on the morning of 27 May 1541 and told to prepare for death.
Although initially composed, when Margaret was told to place her head on the block, her self-control deserted her and she tried to escape. Her captors were forced to pinion her to the block, where the amateur executioner hacked at the poor woman’s head and neck, eventually severing them after the eleventh blow.

GHOSTLY HISTORIC NOTE: One of the queens Henry VIII executed is 
Catherine Howard, whose ghost has been seen and heard running up and down a hallway (pictured) screaming for mercy in Hampton Court Palace. This is a photo we took in 2013 of the hallway. Yes, we ran into her ghost there!

Who I am

I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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