In Memory of our Friend Hil- (1926-2018)

Tom, Hil and Rob on Wedding recption day

 On Nov. 11, 2018, just shy of his 92nd birthday (which would have been TODAY, Nov. 30), our longtime friend Hil passed away, leaving his dogs Amy and Bamba behind, and 2 nephews (and their families).
  Tom has known Hil for almost 30 years, and I've known him for 14 years. Hil officiated our wedding reception  in Sept. 2009 (Our friend Mike B. actually married us in June 2009).
  He was married to his longtime (late) partner Richard (they were together over 50 years).
  Hil always had a dry wit, and was always there for many who asked. 
  We enjoyed going to get him and taking him to lunch in Washington, D.C. and catching up on all the "gossip."

Hil and Tom

  Tom could tell you many stories about his memories with Hil, but I'll just leave it this way, Hil and his late husband Richard were a wonderful couple and great friends of whose memories we will always treasure.
   At least now, they're together again.

Hil officiating our reception

TOm, Rob and Hil

FACTS: Why Central Americans Are Fleeing to the U.S.

One of the questions that came up at the Thanksgiving table was "Why are Central American families fleeing their countries to seek asylum in the U.S.?"  The person who asked that question said "it couldn't possibly be that bad." It is. I researched it and here's what I learned.

Mothers and their children walked hundreds of miles and fled unspeakable horrors in the hope they would find asylum here in America. Instead of being met with compassion, they were tear gassed and threatened with "shoot to kill" orders from the U.S. - which is no better than what they left behind. Here's WHY they fled from  the "Northern Triangle" of Central America.....


WHY ARE THEY FLEEING? VIOLENCE
 The UN Refugee Agency noted "Gang warfare and violence have transformed parts of Central America into some of the most dangerous places on earth. In recent years, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala (known as the Northern Triangle) have experienced a dramatic escalation in organized crime by gangs, called maras." Police are called and do nothing. So families move over and over again in their country and it's the same. Brutality. Murder. Violence.

HIGH HOMICIDE RATES - Current homicide rates are among the highest ever recorded in Central America. Several cities, including San Salvador, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, are among the 10 most dangerous in the world. The most visible evidence of violence is the high rate of brutal homicides, but other human rights abuses are on the rise, including the recruitment of children into gangs, extortion and sexual violence.

INCREASING NUMBER FLEEING - From 2011 to 2016, the number of people from the Northern Triangle who have sought refuge in surrounding countries has increased by 2,249 percent. The majority fleeing are women and children.

Video Central American refugees flee violence
: https://youtu.be/v_sa0-6uEiU

******************************
 

The Northern Triangle of Violence. Credit: Nat'l Geographic

 The U.K. Guardian Newspaper noted in an October 2018 article: "Families are fleeing the “northern triangle” of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to escape poverty, violence and the early effects of climate change. Omar, 48, was traveling with his 17-year-old daughter who didn’t want to be named because they were fleeing threats and extortion by one of the many street gangs that dominate the region."

THE U.S. PART IN HONDURAS' PROBLEMS:  Many Hondurans blame the US for supporting the 2009 military coup against the country’s elected government. “They destabilize our country, wreck our economy, and protect the corrupt, who keep all the money the US sends. We don’t care if they stop the aid – we never see any of it,” Omar said.

TO HELP OUT- Donate to the United Nations Refugee Agency: UNHCR is helping provide shelter and protection for families on the run, including cash assistance, education programs, temporary accommodation and legal services. 

Find Out Here if You Live in a Flood Zone

Do you live in a flood plain? That is, an area that is subject to flooding, where you should consider
Flood Insurance. Now you can find out with this interactive FEMA Flood Map. Use it by searching by your zip code. If you are in a flood zone, get flood insurance!

Whether you are in a high risk zone or not, you may need flood insurance because most homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood damage. If you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you are 5 times more likely to experience flood than a fire in your home over the next 30 years. For many, a National Flood Insurance Program's flood insurance policy could cost less than $400 per year. Call your insurance agent today and protect what you've built.

GO TO THE MAP: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search#searchresultsanchor

Have you heard of Richard Ojeda? He's Running for President in 2020

Richard Ojeda

Recently we came across an article that spotlighted Richard Ojeda, who is now in the running for the Presidental election in 2020. Here's a short interview with him and what he's about - he's a Democrat from West Virginia and a Veteran. We haven't formed an opinion - just sharing this for your info. We've never heard of him!

Richard Ojeda is running for president. Ojeda, a West Virginia state senator and retired U.S. Army major, lost his congressional bid in the state’s 3rd District on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

WHAT HE STANDS FOR: As a state senator, Ojeda led a push to legalize medical marijuana and played a central role in this year’s teacher walkouts that resulted in a rare pay increase for educators. In his congressional race, he ran on a thoroughly pro-labor, progressive platform, despite the partisan lean of the district, framing issues as pitting people against corrupt, out-of-touch elites. He focused heavily on the role of Big Pharma in sparking the opioid epidemic.

Ojeda’s case for his candidacy is straightforward: The Democratic Party has gotten away from its roots, and he has a unique ability to win over a white, black, and brown working-class coalition by arguing from a place of authority that Trump is a populist fraud. He’s launching his campaign with an anti-corruption focus that draws a contrast with Trump’s inability to “drain the swamp.”

Video: https://youtu.be/h-4uJ6MX1I0

ABOUT THE VIDEO:  TYT Politics Contributor Ryan Grim spoke with Democratic congressional candidate Richard Ojeda about medical cannabis, the West Virginia teacher's strike, and how Ojeda's 24 years of military service inspired him to run for West Virginia Senate and now for U.S. Congress

FOUND Long-lost Greece's ancient city of Tenea

location of Tenea

We love archaeology, and there's been another new discovery of an ancient city. This one was in Greece, where archaeologists have discovered remnants of the long-lost ancient city of Tenea, built by Trojan prisoners. 
  Tenea is located in southern Greece, southwest of Athens. 
 Here's the Story from USA Today and Associated Press:

Having been previously documented only in ancient texts, Tenea was excavated in the southern region of Peloponnese, and the dig uncovered "proof of the existence of the ancient city," the Greece's culture ministry said on Nov. 12, 2018

Tenea is believed to have been a city settled by Trojan prisoners permitted to build their own city after the Trojan War. Past digs have found clues near the city, but the most recent excavation uncovered the "city's urban fabric," including floors, walls and door openings, the culture ministry said.

WHAT WAS FOUND

This undated photo provided by the Greek Ministry of Culture on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, shows remains of walls and floors, probably from houses, from the lost ancient city of Tenea. The ministry said Tuesday archaeologists have located the first tangible remains of the city that, according to tradition, was first settled by Trojan war captives after the Greek sack of Troy.(Photo: Greek Culture Ministry via AP)

Taking place from September to early October, the excavation found remnants of residences, pottery, coins and tombs, among other discoveries. "It is significant that the remnants of the city, the paved roads, the architectural structure, came to light," lead archaeologist Elena Korka told CNN. "We've found evidence of life and death ... and all this is just a small part of the history of the place." Korka also told CNN that her team found child burials, a key clue to determining they had uncovered residences because only children were buried in buildings during Roman times.

Korka and her team had been digging in the area since 2013, but only in nearby cemeteries, she told the Associated Press.

Kouros from Tenea, ca. 560-550 BCE

A WEALTHY CITY
This recent excavation also indicated that the city experienced economic prosperity under Roman rule. The city had been believed to survive Rome's invasion of nearby Corinth. Specifically, coins discovered in the dig dated to the era of Roman emperor Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193 to 211, indicating economic success, the ministry said. "The citizens seem to have been remarkably affluent," Korka told the Associated Press.

ABANDONED
However, archaeologists determined that the city was likely damaged by Visigoths between 396 and 397 and abandoned some 200 years later during Slavic raids, the ministry said.

Unqualified Person of the Week: Named South African Ambassador

Lana Marks

No idiot of the week today, but certainly someone appointed to a position with ZERO experience. As with others, our "leader" has now appointed Lana Marks, a handbag designer who happens to be a member at his resort, to the position of  U.S. ambassador to South Africa. It's a blatant example of it's "Not what you know, it's who you know," and why in the world that woman would even consider the job is unfathomable.
  It's another Betsy DeVos situation. SIGH  

 Here's the story:

Trump Names Mar-A-Lago Member And Handbag Designer As Ambassador

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his intention to nominate Lana Marks, a luxury handbag designer, as the U.S. ambassador to South Africa. She is also a member of the president’s exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, multiple outlets reported.

HER LACK OF EXPERIENCE 

Marks has no prior diplomatic experience. She was born and raised in South Africa and, according to the White House, speaks Afrikaans and Xhosa, two languages spoken in the nation.

The post, which requires Senate approval, has been vacant since former Ambassador Patrick Gaspard resigned in 2016. 

HER HANDBAGS 

Marks launched her eponymous handbag label after she was unable to locate a red alligator handbag to match the suit she planned to wear aboard the royal yacht Britannia for Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday celebration in 1984, according to her website. Her accessories brand specializes in bags cut from “exotic” materials including alligator, ostrich and lizard. They typically retail for five-figure sums ― although one red-carpet creation was priced at $400,000 ― and she counts among her fans celebrities such as Madonna, Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker, according to her site.

HISTORY OF NOT PAYING PEOPLE, LIKE YOU KNOW WHO

But Marks is also known for stiffing those who work for her, the Palm Beach Daily News reported last month when rumors of the impending appointment cropped up. She has been accused of underpaying attorneys, accountants, landlords and employees, the outlet stated, and is involved in a legal battle with her siblings over the care of their elderly mother.

OTHER RESORT EMPLOYEES GIVEN GOV'T ROLES 

Trump has granted administrative roles to other Mar-a-Lago members, naming friend (and huge supporter) Robin Bernstein as ambassador to the Dominican Republic last year. Bernstein was confirmed in July. Three other Mar-a-Lago insiders have been instrumental in shaping the Trump administration’s Veterans Affairs policies, ProPublica reported in August.

SOURCE: Trump Names Mar-A-Lago Member And Handbag Designer As Ambassador

4 Good news stories of Fighting Back Against Stupidity!

With all the stupidity from the "right" it's about time that people have decided to stop putting up with
it, and that brings 4 good news stories about fighting back and doing the proper thing.
Here they are:

WE LOVE BRIAN FROSH- MARYLAND CHALLENGES TRUMP’S AG PICK The state of Maryland launched a court challenge to President Donald Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting U.S. attorney general, saying the president overstepped his constitutional authority and broke federal law

                        

MORE GOOD NEWS - DEMS TO PROBE VOTER SUPPRESSION Democrats in control of the House of Representatives have already announced their first act of 2019 will be to pass legislation expanding voting rights. Now, key members of the party say they will investigate voter suppression in the 2018 midterms.

DISNEY WON’T HAVE THE CRAP EITHER - Disney permanently banned this Trump fan for repeatedly flashing “Trump 2020” signs. Earlier this month, Dion Cini rode down Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World holding a “Trump 2020” sign above his head. Then he held up a “Keep America Great” sign on Expedition Everest, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

SOMEONE TOOK NOTICE- A Florida church will no longer serve as a polling location after its pastor put up a sign on Election Day that suggested Christians shouldn’t vote for Democrats. Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley told HuffPost that he received hundreds of complaints on Nov. 6 about the controversial sign at New Port Richey’s Grace of God Church.  The sign, handwritten in marker on white paper, read, “Don’t vote for Democrats on Tuesday and sing, ‘Oh how I love Jesus’ on Sunday.”

    Corley said the church’s senior pastor, Al Carlisle, put up the sign and refused the supervisor’s requests to take it down.

Question of the Day

Question of the Day: 

Does anyone else find it ironic (and sickening) that while we were celebrating being with family and friends, you know who ordered U.S. troops to "Shoot to Kill" South American families trying to get to the U.S., (a safer country than theirs)?

Restaurant Discounts for 55 years old and older!

As you get older, a discount here and there always helps. So, here's a list of discounts from fast food to steak restaurants

■ McDonald’s: discounts on coffee and beverages (55+)
■ Whataburger: free drink with purchase of a meal, depending on location (55+)
■ Wendy’s: give free coffee or other discounts depending on location
■ Piccadilly Cafeteria – 10% discount with “Prime Time for Seniors” card
■ IHOP – 10% discount (55+) and a menu for people aged 55 and over at participating locations
■ Golden Corral: Senior discount varies by location
■ Krispy Kreme Senior Discount: 10% off (50+) (age and discount varies depending on location)
■ Perkins Restaurants: Fifty-Five Plus menu Offers special deals (55+)
■ Subway: 10% off (60+) varies by location
■ The Old Spaghetti Factory: Spaghetti Factory “Senior Menu” offers discounted list of menu items
■ Uno Pizzaria & Grill: “Double Nickel Club” 25% off on Wednesday (55+)
■ Sizzler: Offers “Honored Guest Menu” (60+) varies by location
■ Papa John’s Senior Discount: check with your local stores (no standard senior discount policy)
■ Old Country Buffet: Daily discounts for seniors (55+)
■ Friendly’s Restaurants: 10% off meal w/ free coffee at breakfast or free small sunday during non-breakfast hours
■ Fazoli’s: Join “Club 62” for special senior menu items (62+)
■ KFC: free small drink with any meal depending on location (55+)
■ Country Kitchen: Great Senior Menu (55+)
■ Burger King: 10% discount on purchase depending on location (60+)

Keep in mind that deals may vary at participating locations and can change without notice.

Happy Thanksgiving from Our House to Yours

Happy Thanksgiving! We're thankful for the friends and family that we have in our lives and hope this day finds you surrounded by those you love. If they can't be there in person- they're always there in spirit, no matter the distance. 
 -  Today, Dash, Dolly, Tyler and Franklin posed to send their best wishes to all of you! 

World's longest sea bridge Opened in China!

Part of the world's longest steel bridge

Because we like architecture and engineering, we thought we'd tell you about a brand new bridge this is the longest in the world. It just opened in October 2018!

BBC News reported on Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, the world's longest sea bridge opened on Oct. 23- it spans 55 kilometer (34 miles) and connects the cities of Hong Kong and Macau as well as the mainland city of Zhuhai.

It is the world's longest steel bridge–tunnel system, which consists of a series of three cable-stayed bridges and one undersea tunnel, as well as 2 artificial islands. It spans the Lingdingyang channel, which connects Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai, three major cities on the Pearl River Delta.

Map of Bridge location (Credit: Wikipedia)

It took six years of planning, eight years of work, a 6.7 kilometer (4.1 mile) tunnel to allow ships to pass, a 625-meter (2,051 foot) artificial island - even if that in itself is impressive. It will help transform what's being called the Greater Bay area into what China hopes will become a huge economic hub.

It will slash travel times between the cities, which will make it easier to transport goods to mainlad China from Hong Kong's airport, the world's busiest cargo airport.

Part 4: Funny Headlines

With all of the bad headlines, I thought I'd take a break from them and do a run of funny headlines. These are all from legitimate newspapers... and you have to wonder how the editors didn't see them! Here's part 4.

1) This bizarre headline apparently refers to a costume party melee, otherwise that town has some serious issues.
2) Good to Know about Tiger Woods. Otherwise it would be called "assault." 
3) That's quite an accepting teenager... or a loose one! 

In Memory of our Friend Les (Passed Oct. 2018)

Our friend Les passed in Oct. 2018

On Oct. 11, 2018. our friend Les passed away. Rob has known Les for about 20 years, and Tom for  14 years. We always enjoyed meeting Les for breakfast and talking about work, dogs, horses and more.  On the weekends, Les enjoyed riding his horse, Sierra (who passed some years ago) and his latest horse, PRC Real Gold at Rodeos and Barrel races. He won several awards and was well-known in the horse event circuit around the U.S.

     He grew up in Missouri and got his degree at the University of Missouri.

PHOTO RIGHT:  Les onboard his horse, PRC Real Gold, at the National Barrel Horse Association World Championships in Augusta, GA last year.

    In his work in the government, he managed a lot of projects and he and Tom used to talk about building projects. Les was driven and was a hard worker. He went through a tough time on one job but found a wonderful place to work over the last several years. He kept talking about his retirement and when he passed suddenly, he was 3 years away from retirement. But he was driven and dedicated to his work.

  We will truly miss our friend Les, and our
Panera bread weekend breakfasts. Every time we see a horse, we'll know he's around in spirit. 

We attended a memorial service for Les in early November, where we met his twin brother (who resides in Florida). It was uncanny to see his brother... but we know Les was there, too, in spirit.

PHOTO BELOW: On Aug 10, 2015,  Les posted:

Meet Clay, my recent addition to the family!

Idiot of the Week: "Zombie TV Shows Lead to Mass Shootings" says the Kentucky Governor

Kentucky's governor

Here's this week's idiot... Ironic since it was likely zombies that voted him in. No other words needed.


Do zombie shows lead to mass shootings? Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin thinks so.
Thomas Novelly, Louisville Courier Journal Published 6:27 p.m. ET Nov. 13, 2018

'Not a chance I'd walk away' says Bevin. 'There's not one (Democrat candidate) even remotely worthy of carrying the torch for the people of Kentucky.' Matt Stone, Louisville Courier Journal

Gun regulation isn't the solution to mass shootings in the U.S., Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said Tuesday, and America's culture of death, illustrated by Americans' obsession with zombie television shows, is more to blame.

In a radio interview with conservative talk show host Leland Conway, the Kentucky Republican said new laws aren't the solution to violence, but addressing a "culture of death" in media is the start.

“It starts with everything from the type of entertainment that we focus on,” Bevin said. “What’s the most popular topic that seems to be in every cable television network. Television shows are all about, what? Zombies! I don’t get it ... that’s what we are.”

Bevin went on to say Kentuckians are staunch defenders of the Constitution and that liberal attempts to enact gun control won't be successful.

He added that violent shows are morphing the minds of young, impressionable children.

Kentucky Zombies 

“When a culture is surrounded by, inundated by, rewards things that celebrate death, whether it is zombies in television shows, the number of abortions ... there’s a thousand justifications for why we do this," Bevin said.

Last month, Bevin literally shot grenade launchers and threw smoke bombs in a video as an analogy for "blowing up things like corruption, blowing up things like pay-to-play and inside deals," he said in a tweet featuring the video.

In June 2018, Bevin blamed video games, psychotropic drugs and smartphones as some of the root causes for violence in America's schools.

Bevin's comments come a week after a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, which left 13 people dead. It was the 307th mass shooting in the United States this year alone, according to Gun Violence Archive.

Bevin, who has said he is running for re-election in 2019 but has not filed candidate paperwork or started fundraising, is polling poorly in the Bluegrass.

A poll by Morning Consult released this past summer, showed the Kentucky Republican ranked as one of the top 10 least popular governors in the U.S. But Bevin said Tuesday he doesn't care much for polling and doesn't think it offers any insight about his re-election.

“Have you ever seen a poll in which I wasn’t unpopular?“ Bevin asked the radio host.

Dunkin’ is changing how they make—and serve—their lattes

New and improved Dunkin' Lattes!

BIG NEWS for Latte Fans! (I don't drink 'em, I just like plain black Dunkin' Donuts coffee, thank
you). But  Dunkin’ is changing how they make—and serve—their lattes “There’s no reason to go to Starbucks anymore."

By

Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston Globe

 

Not content with just “coffee regular” drinkers, Dunkin’ wants to win over more customers with their espresso.

A month after officially shortening its name, the Canton-based coffee chain announced what it calls “one of the most significant product initiatives in the brand’s recent history.” In a press release Wednesday, the company said it plans to install new espresso machines in stores across the United States to improve the taste of its lattes and other espresso beverages.

The initiative also includes a new espresso recipe, extensive employee training, and new, distinct orange cups featuring an exclamation point for their hot espresso-based drinks. Dunkin’ says they’re hoping for the changes to be implemented at the “vast majority” of their 9,200 U.S. stores by the holiday season (some self-serve and non-traditional locations, like in hotels or sporting arenas, will not have espresso on the menu, the company told Boston.com in a statement).

“There’s no reason to go to Starbucks anymore,” Tony Weisman, Dunkin’s chief marketing officer, told the paper.

In the company’s press release, it says the new machines should result in a stronger and more robust espresso flavor, particularly catered toward the tastes of “younger espresso drinkers.”
“Espresso is one of the fastest growing coffee categories, particularly among younger consumers, and with our coffee credentials we believe we have a tremendous opportunity to improve our awareness and credibility among espresso drinkers,” Weisman said in a statement Wednesday.

Over the last few years, Dunkin’ has expanded their espresso menu to include not just lattes and cappuccinos, but also macchiatos and Americanos. Following in the vein of Starbucks, the historically blue-collar company has also added dark roast and cold brew coffee and premium teas to its drink menu, while pairing down its food offerings. The changes, which even extend to the design of Dunkin’ stores, have been led by the company’s new CEO, David Hoffmann.

IN THE NEWS: Shipwreck found in Black Sea is 'world's oldest intact'

We're fascinated with archaeology and the discovery of ancient finds. Here's an article about a
2,400 year old intact ship that was found recently in the Black sea!

Shipwreck found in Black Sea is 'world's oldest intact'
Source; BBC NEWS

A Greek merchant ship dating back more than 2,400 years has been found lying on its side off the Bulgarian coast.

Black Sea MAP/EEF Expeditions

Image caption The ship was surveyed and digitally mapped by two remote underwater vehicles

The 23m (75ft) wreck, found in the Black Sea by an Anglo-Bulgarian team, is being hailed as officially the world's oldest known intact shipwreck.

The researchers were stunned to find the merchant vessel closely resembled in design a ship that decorated ancient Greek wine vases.

The rudder, rowing benches and even the contents of its hold remain intact.

"It's like another world," Helen Farr from the expedition told the BBC.

"It's when the ROV [remote operated vehicle] drops down through the water column and you see this ship appear in the light at the bottom so perfectly preserved it feels like you step back in time."

Bad Environment News; Mercury Regs Weakened /Trade Agreement has "Corporate Fossil-Fuel giveaways"

  During the week of Oct. 1, more things were done to damage the environment. If you didn't hear, they involve diminishing or eliminating mercury and lead pollution controls. Of course, there were also giveaways to fossil-fuel companies. Sigh.

TRUMP TRADE DEAL BENEFITS FOSSIL FUEL GIANTS - Trump’s deal to tweak the NAFTA trade agreement was panned by environmental groups, arguing it includes “corporate giveaways” for fossil fuel giants, excludes binding agreements on lead pollution and contains no mention of human-caused global warming. [HuffPost]

WHITE HOUSE WEAKENS MERCURY REGULATIONS The Trump administration is taking steps to significantly weaken a major Obama-era regulation that curbs the amount of mercury that power plants are allowed to emit. [HuffPost]

RELATED BLOG:DID YOU KNOW? Trump Dissolving 67 Environmental Protections

 By NADJA POPOVICH, LIVIA ALBECK-RIPKA and KENDRA PIERRE-LOUIS UPDATED Jan. 31, 2018 (NY TIMES) https://rob-tom-dolly-franklin.blogspot.com/2018/04/did-you-know-trump-dissolving-67.htmlhttps://rob-tom-dolly-franklin.blogspot.com/2018/04/did-you-know-trump-dissolving-67.html

A Caution on Postings / In the News: Man Arrested for Death Threats

   We live in an unsettling time. Some of the more conservative fringe people seem to feel more free to express intolerance, hatred and bigotry. They have the guns, and there's a lot of mental illness left unchecked.  So, we (the people who oppose bigotry, racism, and intolerance) even have to be careful about what we post on social media - because we can become targets.
    Often, when I post something, I let you  draw your own conclusions. Recently, however, I put in an opinion and was called on it. What's sad is that no matter how I try to give some the benefit of the doubt, it's sometimes not possible to do. One such incident is the following. There's no excuse for this behavior, or the people who promote and accept it. 

A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THREATENING TO KILL SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN.

LANCASTER, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California man has been arrested after authorities say he sent an email threatening to kill Sen. Dianne Feinstein.  

Authorities say Craig Shaver of Lancaster, California sent a Sept. 30 email to the senator. Other details weren’t disclosed. Prosecutors said Thursday that Shaver, who has a 1991 grand theft conviction, attempted a criminal threat and accused him of being a felon in illegal possession of a revolver.

At a campaign-style rally in Iowa on Tuesday, Oct. 9, President Trump said Feinstein was one of the Democrats who have gone “wacko” in opposing now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.  A crowd of Trump supporters chanted “Lock her up” when Feinstein’s name was mentioned.

Part 3: Funny Headlines

With all of the bad headlines, I thought I'd take a break from them and do a run of funny headlines. These are all from legitimate newspapers... and you have to wonder how the editors didn't see them! Here's part 3.

1) Good to know the dead are still dead..
2) How unfortunate that a councilwoman's last name is "Chick" when they're talking about sexism! 
3) "Mistress of the Universe"?   Hmm... not something most people would want to be known as! 

In the news: Rare skull of baby diplodocus shows how giant dinosaurs grew

Archaeology is something that we find fascinating, and since I was a kid, I've also had a fascination with dinosaurs. So, when I found this article about a  baby Diplodocus, I was intrigued!  Now you can learn about the Diplodocus!

The young diplodocus 'Andrew'
during the late Jurassic about 150 million years ago. (Andrey Atuchin)

Rare skull of baby diplodocus shows how giant dinosaurs grew 


The first baby diplodocus skull ever found is helping scientists uncover how tiny babies that hatched from melon-sized eggs grew into the some of the largest animals that ever walked the Earth.

"You consider that you start your life coming out an egg the size of a cantaloupe. And when you die, you're a hundred feet long. That's quite a number of growth spurts you have to go through," said Cary Woodruff, lead author of a new study on the rare skull published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports.

Researcher Cary Woodruff,  PhD student, University of Toronto

Woodruff, who is currently a PhD student at the University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum, nicknamed the baby dinosaur "Andrew" after the 19th century Scottish American steel baron Andrew Carnegie, who was a great patron of paleontology and for whom one species of diplodocus is named (Diplodocus carnegii).


Diplodocuses belonged to a group of huge, long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs that walked on four legs and are known as sauropods.

Andrew was unearthed in 2010 at a site in Montana called the Mother's Day Quarry by Glenn Storrs of the Cincinnati Museum Centre.

ABOUT "ANDREW'S SKULL"

Its skull is just 24 centimetres long — about the size of a pineapple fruit without the leaves. Researchers estimate Andrew was just two to four years old when it died 150 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic. There were about 15 other young diplodocuses in the herd, all six years old or less. It's not clear how they died.
Woodruff notes that diplodocuses don't seem to have cared for their young. Instead, the young animals would have moved in herds of animals similar in age, probably hiding in the forest along the coast of the nearby inland sea to avoid predators like Allosaurus. Despite its young age, Andrew was probably already six metres long — about the length of a cube van.

ANDREW'S TEETH

Reconstruction of the young Diplodocus 'Andrew' next to an adult.

By studying the skull, Woodruff thinks he has some new clues about how diplodocuses grew so fast.
While adult diplodocuses have only 10 or 11 peg-like teeth at the front of a wide muzzle designed for grazing ferns in savannah-like landscapes, Andrew had a much narrower muzzle with 13 teeth that went all the way to the back of its jaws.
The ones at the back were spoon-shaped teeth designed to handle tougher material than just ferns.


GROWING UP FAST


"Andrew has to grow up really fast," he said, noting that diplodocuses reached full size in about 25 years. "To grow up really fast, it's got to eat a lot of food. With  these different teeth, Andrew could basically pick and choose to eat any plant material around him."
He added that the narrower muzzle than that seen in adult animals also indicated that baby diplodocuses may have been pickier eaters than adults — but had more varied diet







It was funded by J.Horner and the Museum of the Rockies, with additional support from the Cincinnati Museum Center and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Idiot of the Week: : Man accused of groping woman on flight: Cites President's Approval

This week's Idiot in the News is one who committed an assault on a woman because he felt he was given the okay by the President's words and actions. 
   A leader is supposed to set an example of decency, integrity and honesty and that's not what we've seen in the last couple of years. 
   The leadership has provoked and encouraged people to attack reporters and it's even led to assaults on women in air travel. 
  The latest incident occurred on Oct. 23 when a man who groped a woman's breasts on a southwest airlines flight ACTUALLY CITED the President's words as a means to justify his assault. Here's the story from USA Today and the/Washington Post:

Man accused of groping woman on flight: Trump 'says it's OK to grab' women's private parts

Source: USA Today 10/23/18

A man cited President Donald Trump after he allegedly groped a woman during a Southwest flight from Houston to New Mexico on Sunday, according to court documents.

Bruce Alexander, 49, was arrested on an abusive sexual contact charge after Southwest Flight 5421 landed in Albuquerque.

According to an affidavit, when Alexander was placed in handcuffs, he told officers that "the president of the United States says it’s OK to grab women by their private parts." 

Alexander is accused of touching a woman's breast while he was sitting behind her on the Southwest flight.

The woman said she felt Alexander's hand move from behind her and grab her right breast. She said she fell asleep about 20 minutes into the flight and not long after, she felt him touch her but assumed it was an accident, according to court documents.

About 30 minutes later, she said she felt Alexander's hand grab the back of her arm and grope around her ribs and then her breast.

 

The woman then stood up and told Alexander she did not understand how he could think that was OK and he needed to stop. She then asked a flight attendant to re-seat her and was seated in another section of the plane.

The woman said she had not been drinking alcohol or taking any sleep aids.

When Alexander was questioned by authorities, he said he could not recall touching the woman. He said he was sitting behind a woman and was asleep for most of the flight.

He has been charged with abusive sexual contact.

USA TODAY has reached out to Southwest for comment.

Contributing: KHOU-TV in Houston

 

GOOD NEWS: Ohio police officer saved the life of a dog Using Narcan

The saved dog!

Some good news today- and another amazing save by a Police Officer. Here's the story, and  short video.
   An Ohio police officer saved the life of a dog having an adverse reaction to anesthesia by administering the overdose reversal drug naloxone, also known as Narcan.
   Austintown Police Sgt. Rick John responded to the Austintown Veterinary Clinic on Friday after a Doberman pinscher named Trooper was reported to be having a severe reaction to anesthesia.
   Trooper, who was at the clinic to be neutered, was in an “opioid emergency,” according to a news release by the Austintown Police Department.

https://www.wytv.com/news/local-news/austintown-police-officer-saves-dog-from-opioid-emergency-with-naloxone/1507309522




An effective dose of Narcan was given to Trooper, which reversed the effects of the anesthesia and assisted in reviving him.

“Within seconds the Narcan worked,” the police department wrote.

Narcan, or naloxone, is a drug that blocks the effects of opioids, such as codeine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone, allowing overdose victims to resume breathing almost immediately.

When used, the drug is placed in a syringe and sprayed into the victim’s nose. According to the Ohio Department of Health, state emergency responders administered naloxone 47,274 times in 2017, the most recent data available. Link to original story

IN THE NEWS: Dog with 3D-printed skull gives researchers hope for helping human patients!

Patches before and after surgery

As dog dads, our 4 kids are our world. Here's a story about a dog mom who went to amazing lengths working with veterinarians and Cornell University to do something never done before to save "Patches."  They created a 3D skull. Here's the amazing story and video:



Dog with 3D-printed skull gives researchers hope for helping human patients

ALLENWOOD, Pa. — Every dog owner thinks their pup is special. Patches the 9-year-old dachshund really is.

Four years ago, her owner Danielle Dymeck noticed a small bump on top of Patches' head. She took her to the vet. The bump continued to grow at an alarming rate, and the diagnosis was a life-threatening tumor.

"They didn't really know what it was," Dymeck said.

"It was big and it was pressing on her brain," said Dr. Michelle Oblak, a veterinary surgical oncologist at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College. "To remove it, we were going to have to take about 70 percent of her skull."

the 3D skull replacement Patches received, post tumor

So Oblak and a team from Cornell University tried something never before done in the U.S. Using a 3D printer, they created a replacement skull made out of titanium that fit over Patches' brain perfectly.
Except for a few scars, the new skull is unnoticeable. But its implications are huge — not just for dogs, but for people, too.

"Instead of having to take an implant off the shelf, we could take an implant that we've designed perfectly for that patient," said Oblak.

When asked if she ever thought of putting down Patches, Dymeck gave an emphatic "no."
"Other than having this big bump on her head, she was a completely healthy dog," Dymeck said.
She's now also a little dog that just opened up a big world of possibilities.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/nN5NPvcQre8

Amazing Book for ALL Pet Parents: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

   Our friend Jeff recommended that we read "Lily and the Octopus" by Steven Rowley and I have to say it was truly THE best book about a pet parent and his dog, named Lily, which in this case happens to be a Dachshund (like 3 of  our kids).
  The story is all about a single gay dog dad who one day sees a tumor growing over his 12 year old Dachshund's eye and refuses to acknowledge the word, so he calls in an Octopus. The book is delightful, and really shows how a dog dad should be- he and Lily have movie nights, board game nights (he plays for her), and a night to talk about guys. The book is so fun, and so moving as the dog dad goes through coping with the ultimate outcome, but it's a book about the special bond between a dog parent and his dog-kid.
   It's also very helpful for anyone facing making that choice to let their beloved fur-kid pass out of pain. 

  ALL pet parents should read it!

5 of 5 stars!  (It was also a National Bestseller).

  ***THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE NOVELS**

  BTW- I find it appropriate that I'm posting a blog about a book I read today, which would have been my dad's 90th birthday, since he inspired me to read a lot!   - Rob

VIDEO: Novelist Steven Rowley, author of Lily and the Octopus, fondly remembers meeting his charming, little dachshund Lily for the first time.
Link: https://youtu.be/XJLrxSSJ9Tw