In the news; Bjorn Ulvaeus: 'New ABBA music will be released in 2020' | ITV News

Earlier this month one of the members of the Swedish supergroup ABBA (that we love) did an interview with ITV News (England). Bjorn Ulvaeus said in the interview that 'New ABBA music will be released in 2020.' The interview also highlighted a really awesome looking interactive musical event in England, where attendees sit in the middle of the "Wedding scene" from the Mamma Mia ABBA musical, and participate (and get to sing along). That would be sooooooo cool to do. Sadly, it's not in the U.S. Here's the video interview:

https://youtu.be/0TRGbjobv0Y

Sometimes it takes a Tragedy - "I'm Not Buying a #$@& Mask" -Now he's Dead

I've encountered several people on social media who continue to buy into the FOX NEWS and right-wing garbage that COVID19 is a hoax. Fox continues to tell people that disease expert Dr. Fauci is "the devil," and sadly people believe them at the cost of their lives and other's lives.
  Sadly, this Veteran believed Fox News and it led to his death.
  Now, his family and friends will never know his smile again. His cats are without a dad. The military lost a former soldier.
   Please, please don't listen to right wing media and listen to scientists and doctors to Save YOUR life and the Lives of many Others.
   Here's what the newspaper in Ohio ran about this man:

Richard Donald Rose, III, 37, of Port Clinton passed away Saturday, July 4, due to complications of Covid-19 at his home. He was born July 25, 1982 in Port Clinton. He graduated from Port Clinton High School. He served his country in the United States Army for nine years serving two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He enjoyed social media, online streaming, paranormal and his two cats Dale and Tucker. He was a fan of NASCAR, Dirt Track Racing and Georgia Bulldogs Football.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Neidecker, Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Port Clinton, Ohio where visitation was held Tuesday. Interment will be at Riverview Cemetery, Port Clinton. Memorial contributions may be given to the family.

Story: https://www.thebeacon.net/richard-donald-rose-iii-july-25-1982-july-4-2020/   

BEHIND THE SCENES: How a Self-Published Author does Book Self-Promotions- a Massive Mailing

How I am manually getting veterinarian addresses

Being a self published author, it's all up to me and only me to promote my books and make
people aware of them. There are many things I do, and it's a LOT of work. In fact, it's more work to promote a book than write it. This week, I've been making mailing lists for promotional post cards. I've been doing this project since August 2019. Here's what I've done>>
PUT TOGETHER A PRESS PACKAGE FOR EACH BOOK -   I put together my own press package: a press release announcing the new book, a headshot photo, bio, and cover of the book. Then pay press release services to distribute them. I also contact internet radio shows based on the subject matter (you can google it for your book topics if you're a writer). But I also schedule lectures, book fairs, and have gone to animal-related events (for my 2 Pets and the Afterlife books).
PROMOTIONAL POST CARDS -  I create promotional post cards and bring them to events to hand out (with website, order, social media info, and book photos).
MY YEARS-LONG MASS MAILING PROJECT -  But I've also decided to let veterinarians around the U.S. know about those books to help grieving pet parents. So, I created a post card to let them know. I wrote a note to veterinarians on one side, and had pictures of my books on the front with a summary. I had several thousand printed (yes, it's expensive, but I take it out of what little I make on the books - which is less than $1.00 for a $10 book).

HOW I AM DOING IT -  Putting the list together is exhausting. (Yes, I looked into buying a list of veterinarians across the USA, but the cost of the lists were between $2,000 and $5,000 and I don't have that kind of money in my author-only savings account).  SO, I google the most populated cities in EACH state. Then google "veterinarians in XXXX, Michigan."  Usually, for major cities there are hundreds of them. So it takes hours for each city. As I click through them I type addresses in alpha order to avoid duplication. I print the pages on huge label sheets, cut  up and affix them and post card stamps on the post cards. It's a HUGE project- it's taken years, but I work on it between writing my next books.
BOTTOM LINE -    So, being a self-published author is a LOT OF WORK. - If you know a self-published author, word of mouth helps so tell people about their books.
YOU CAN HELP A SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR! -  As for those who have read "Pets and the Afterlife" and "Pets and the Afterlife 2" -please, please tell your friends, co-workers and acquaintances about the books if they have pets. And PLEASE tell your veterinarians. My books are Less than $10 paperback and less than $3.99 Ebook (Much less than the others on the market) and both have been and continue to be best-sellers on Amazon.
   So, if you write a book, be prepared to promote it. That's the hardest part!- - Rob

 

In 1968: Stan Lee Condemned Bigotry in Marvel Comics Op-Eds

People who love Spiderman, Thor, Captain America, Black Panther, the Hulk, the Avengers or the Fantastic Four like Marvel Comics characters and they were all part of Stan Lee's creations at Marvel Comics. Before he passed away in 2018, Stan Lee would make little cameo appearances in the Marvel movies so you likely saw him, if you saw any of those films. Although I'm really a DC Comics reader, but I do like the Marvel characters, and I've always liked Stan Lee. Not only was he brilliant, creative and kind, but he also stood against racism and bigotry as far back as the 1960s when he started in comics.
   In every Marvel comic book from 1967 to 1980, he would write a small Op-Ed section on the letters pages of the comics (they had letters pages then). In 1968 he wrote an Op-Ed against racial prejudice and bigotry. Here we are 52 years after he wrote that and we're still dealing with racial prejudice and bigotry. It's a sad statement on humanity.

Here's the 1968 Op-Ed of his “Stan’s Soapbox” column:

Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them—to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are. The bigot is an unreasoning hater—one who hates blindly, fanatically, indiscriminately. If his hang-up is black men, he hates ALL black men. If a redhead once offended him, he hates ALL redheads. If some foreigner beat him to a job, he’s down on ALL foreigners. He hates people he’s never seen—people he’s never known—with equal intensity—with equal venom.

Marvel Comics Superheroes

Now, we’re not trying to say it’s unreasonable for one human being to bug another. But, although anyone has the right to dislike another individual, it’s totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race—to despise an entire nation—to vilify an entire religion. Sooner or later, we must learn to judge each other on our own merits. Sooner or later, if man is ever to be worthy of his destiny, we must fill out hearts with tolerance. For then, and only then, will we be truly worthy of the concept that man was created in the image of God–a God who calls us ALL—His children.

Instead of using his customary phrase, “Excelsior,” Lee signed the column “Pax et Justitia” — Latin for “Peace and Justice.”

In October 2017, Lee also posted a video reiterating his view that Marvel’s array of characters would always reflect “the world right outside our window.”

“Those stories have room for everyone, regardless of their race, gender or color of their skin,” he said. “The only things we don’t have room for are hatred, intolerance and bigotry.”

Idiot of the Week- "News Anchor" Thinks Toronto is in the U.S.A. - Twitter has a field day

On July 17, 2020 Fox News “Anchor” Laura Ingraham tweeted that Joe Biden should protect religion in Toronto. She doesn’t know Toronto is in Canada. Therefore, she returns as IDIOT of the week. 

  If you're supposed to be a journalist, knowing geography is critical- you should know what is and isn't part of your country.  If you want to bash someone in politics, you need to know that he/she doesn't have jurisdiction over a foreign country. 

    Here’s what the idiot Tweeted: “Will Joe Biden do more to protect religious liberty than Donald Trump? Not a prayer. “City of Toronto Bans Catholic Churches From Administering Holy Communion” 

HERE ARE THE HILARIOUS  RESPONSES ON TWITTER  

my name is literally stephen king  @alsostephenking

“toronto is in canada” is trending because a fox news anchor blamed biden for something related to toronto churches. it’s too early for this shit i’m going back to sleep 

Tom Tilley @ttilley64 · @IngrahamAngle

1) If Trump wanted churches to be able to safely function he should have taken the virus seriously. He didn't, what does that tell you?

2) Toronto is in Canada, which is a different country.

3) Were you dropped on your head as a child?

José  @yoruguaenusa

 Omg Laura could you be any stupider?  TORONTO IS IN CANADA

TheEndOfTheErrorIsNear@NearEndOfError

Toronto is in Canada and #BrownAcidAndOrangeKoolAid apparently do not mix so good. At this point, seriously,  to still support trump shows a sign of mental illness.  Not that supporting him ever showed good signs

Tg  @terezglenn

Toronto is in Canada look at a fucking map.

Stupid Should Hurt  @StupidShdHurt

The City of Toronto is in Canada. Canada is a sovereign nation, a member of the British Commonwealth. Canada is not the 51st state of the USA. Either get an education or shut up.

@IngrahamAngle is an embarrassment to the US education system.

Good Deeds: Wild horse rescued from bog in Alberta

Earlier this week I shared a video of people helping a bear cub by removing a plastic jar from his head. Here's another example of how people are genuinely good. People who help and save animals are my favorite people. This video comes from Alberta, Canada. This video shows the rescue of a wild horse who found herself in a muddy bog and was unable to get out. Had this group of people not come along the horse likely would have died of starvation. Instead, this group of volunteers pulled the horse from the mud in the foothills of Alberta, Canada.
STORY/VIDEO:

Interesting Book: Secret Service Dogs by Maria Goodavage

As a dog dad I love books about dogs. Recently I came upon the book "Secret Service
Dogs" by Maria Goodavage and enjoyed it. The book  gives great insight into how dogs are chosen and trained. The author was given permission to follow along on some training, and interview some of the men and women who partner with these amazing dogs. The book identifies the different types of jobs dogs are assigned, from "friendly dogs" to bomb sniffing dogs. They scope out parade routes, buildings, even go down cliff faces with their handlers!
    They don't just go into a kennel at night, they go home with the handlers, which forms a special bond. In some of the chapters the author allows you to meet the handlers and the dogs, and show their attachment is much, much deeper than co-workers. These dogs become family members and when when gets hurt or passes, its devastating to the humans. The last couple of chapters were especially moving.
    Read this and you'll gain an appreciation for these dogs and the Secret Service men and woman who work with them and face all kinds of threats. Highly recommended!  - Rob

Hurricane and Marshall M. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In an age fraught with terrorism, United States Secret Service canine teams risk their lives to safeguard the president, vice president, their families, visiting heads of state, and a host of others. Unprecedented access to these heroic dog teams has allowed a fascinating first-time-ever look at a very special breed of heroes.

Wherever the president goes, there will be dogs. They’ll be there no matter what the country or state. They’ll be there regardless of the political climate, the danger level, the weather, or the hour. Tactical dog handlers on the White House lawn, handlers whose dogs sniff for explosives around the world, and those who walk their amiable floppy-eared dogs up and down Pennsylvania Avenue all live one common mantra: Not on my watch. Or my dog’s.

Secret Service Dogs immerses readers into the heart of this elite world of canine teams who protect first families, popes, and presidential candidates: the selection of dogs and handlers, their year-round training, their missions around the world, and, most important, the bond—the glue that holds the teams together and can mean the difference between finding bombs and terrorists or letting them slip by.

Secret Service Dogs celebrates the Secret Service’s most unforgettable canine heroes. It is a must-read for fans of Maria Goodavage, anyone who wants a rare inside view of the United States Secret Service, or just loves dogs.

Quick Trip to Ellicott City #4 - Howard County Jail (tie to Underground Railroad)

The old Howard County Jail

This is the fourth and final blog about our short walk through the streets of Historic Ellicott

Rob and Tom mask wearing in Ellicott City

City on July 5. We discovered a building associated with the Underground Railroad that we had never seen before. It was on one of the hills overlooking the city. It appeared that it received a brand new historic marker (which is why we didn't remember it).  It was the 1851 Howard County Jail.

ABOUT THE HISTORY AND TIES TO UNDERGROUND RAILROAD -
The Howard County Jail, located at 1 Emory Street, in the Historic District of Ellicott City, Maryland, was the location where freedom seekers and those charged with encouraging enslaved persons to run away or rise up against their masters or similar charges during the age of enslavement were held from January 1852 through the end of slavery in Maryland on November 1, 1864. 

The Maryland General Assembly passed an act authorizing the Board of Commissioners of Howard District to levy taxes to create the jail. The jail was accepted for use on December 16, 1851. Among the prisoners held were runaways like Augusta Spriggs and Richard Martin, held as a fugitive without a pass.

INSIDE ALMOST TOTALLY RENOVATED- According to the Maryland Historical Trust, "The interior has been completely altered, with concrete floors, new metal cells, and a commercial kitchen in the ell. The only historic feature found was a barred door between the ell and the main block on the basement level."

back side of the Old Howard County Jail (1851) 

ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE - The Howard County Jail is a two-story, five-bay by three-bay structure of a coarse granite ashlar that faces southeast and has a gable roof with slate and a southwest-northeast ridge. There is an ell on the rear that is two stories tall, with a raised basement that is banked into the hill on the southwest, and is three bays by two bays. It is of rubble stone on the basement and first story and frame with German siding on the second story. It has a gable roof with asphalt shingles and a northwest-southeast ridge. The site is a hill that has been excavated, with two-story tall rubble stone retaining walls built to the northwest, southwest, and northeast of the jail. The main block of the jail, on the southeast elevation, has a pavilion front in the center bay that has finely-cut
quoins and a cross gable roof. The first story has double doors of iron bars. The second story of the center bay has a large, round-arched window with a finely-cut, plain granite surround and iron bars.

STONE CITING DATE AND ARCHITECT - Above the 2nd story window is a marble date stone with "John Laing C. E., Architect; James Rowles, Robert Wilson, Builders; 1878."

Quick Trip to Ellicott City #3- New Wall Mural "Car Dealership: Looking into the Past"

 "Car Dealership: Looking Into the Past" mural

This is the third blog about our short walk through the streets of Historic Ellicott City on July 5. We noticed a couple of new murals painted on the sides of buildings, and one in particular caught our eye because it cited an historic business and was beautifully done. Of course, it had 2 dogs, a cat and a little mouse in it, too, so the animals caught our eye as well.

THE BEAUTIFUL MURAL - It's called "Car Dealership: Looking Into the Past" and it was painted by Antonia Ramis Miguel in 2019.  The mural was painted on the side of a building that was a former garage and Ford dealership built in 1921. It was a Model T building.
It's located on the east wall of Sweet Elizabeth Jane at 8289 Main Street, Ellicott City, Md.

Dog and bicyclist - right side of the mural

ABOUT THE ARTIST - According to the Baltimore Sun newspaper, Miguel, 56, was selected in June as part of a mural competition organized by the Fund for Art in Ellicott City, a nonprofit founded in 2017 to bring public art to the community. She has lived in Ellicott City for 16 years.
Here's a Baltimore Sun newspaper story link about her and the mural: Baltimore Sun-Mural

Quick Trip to Ellicott City #2 - Taylor's Row, Manor Hill Tavern and Tiber River

Taylor's Row, Ellicott City, Md. 

This is the second blog about our short walk through the streets of Historic Ellicott City on July 5. One of the historic buildings we looked at was actually a group of them called "Taylor's Row." We also walked by the Tiber River which flooded in 2016 and 2018.

Taylor's Row Plaque

WHAT IS TAYLOR'S ROW? - The inscription on the historic plaque reads: This row of 19th century utilitarian structures has been the architectural orphan of Ellicott City. Referred to on early maps as barns or sheds, these buildings were built between 1830 and 1870 to serve the livery trade. Because of their relative obscurity, they have been untouched and today very much resemble the original structures. They have withstood the threat of demolition and, wearing new faces, will continue to play a role in this historic community.

WHERE IS IT LOCATED? Marker is on Old Columbia Pike (Maryland Route 144) 0.1 miles from Main Street, Ellicott City, Md.

MANOR HILL TAVERN IS NOW IN THE SERIES OF BUILDINGS- Manor Hill Tavern occupies the historic Taylor’s Row in Old Ellicott City.  Built in the mid-19th Century, this iconic series of buildings initially served the livery trade of the area.  Our bar and dining areas feature original architectural elements such as exposed stone walls, barn doors, and beams.  Local artwork hangs throughout the Tavern’s many rooms and a newly commissioned mural adorns a main wall, a nod to the eclectic and vibrant artistic community of Old Ellicott City. The result is a unique and memorable atmosphere unlike any other.

Their Menu is available here.

REVITALIZING THE TIBER RIVER- When we walked by the Tiber River, we noticed it appeared wider (since it flooded over in 2016 and 2018), so we imagine it was widened on purpose to accommodate run off and prevent more flooding.

The Tiber River

WHAT IS THE TIBER RIVER? - The main Street of Old Ellicott City, Md. follows the narrow valley formed by the Tiber River, one of four tributaries that converge in Ellicott City before emptying into the Patapsco River. Many of the buildings on the lower end of the street actually straddle the stream. The history of Ellicott City is a history of harnessing the flow of water.

Quick Trip to Ellicott City #1- Envy Salon (History and Haunting)

On July 5, we decided to finally take a short ride about 30 minutes north and briefly walk the streets of Historic Ellicott City (which is still being renovated after massive, destructive flooding a couple of years ago). One of the historic buildings we looked at now houses the Envy Salon.
  It's known as the "Day-French-Puhl" house, named for the man who built it and the families that lived in it. In today's blog you'll learn its history and see a video about its haunting (which I am included in)!

IT WAS THE "DAY-FRENCH-PUHL HOUSE" - This brick house was built in 1842. It is located at 3723 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City MD 21043. The sign on it reads: Day, a master stone mason, purchased this lot from the Ellicotts (2 brothers who founded Ellicott City) and built this federal style home, one of the oldest brick structures in the district. Rear and side additions were prior to 1887. Later home to the French’s for many years, then beginning in 1957 the Puhl’s, who restored it. In 1999 new owners carefully adapted it as Envy Salon.

Rob in 2017 Short Video: A Few Odd Minutes: Ghostly Cat in Envy Salon!

The Video series "A Few Odd Minutes (in Howard County) just published their latest video about a Ghost Cat at the Envy Salon in Ellicott City, Maryland. Rob Gutro, author/medium was interviewed about why the cat may linger 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/a7-0IUOqoFw

Idiots of the Week: Alabama students throwing 'COVID parties' to see who gets infected

This week's idiot is actually a HUGE body of idiots who are supposed to be getting an education to not be idiots. How Ironic.
  They are  Tuscaloosa, Alabama students throwing 'COVID parties' to see who gets infected. Seems like there's absolutely no hope for these students to graduate. Even if they survive COVID19, it's likely some of their relatives will die from it after they infect their families.
  Here's the story from ABC News on July 1, 2020:

Alabama students throwing 'COVID parties' to see who gets infected: Officials

https://abcnews.go.com/US/alabama-students-throwing-covid-parties-infected-officials/story?id=71552514&fbclid=IwAR0z7raRAHXXrKI3z5-mWu7FjdYx9Bj2OHCrVbQ4ytqpqIKdcdkHrOwX8ME
July 1, 2020 ABC News

Students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 have been attending parties in the city and surrounding area as part of a disturbing contest to see who can catch the virus first, a city council member told ABC News on Wednesday.

Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry said students have been organizing "COVID parties" as a game to intentionally infect each other with the contagion that has killed more than 127,000 people in the United States. She said she recently learned of the behavior and informed the city council of the parties occurring in the city.

She said the organizers of the parties are purposely inviting guests who have COVID-19.

"They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense," McKinstry said. "They're intentionally doing it."

Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith told the City Council on Tuesday that he has confirmed the students' careless behavior.

In a briefing to the City Council, Smith expressed concern that in recent weeks there have been parties held throughout the city and surrounding Tuscaloosa County, "where students, or kids, would come in with known positive," according to a video recording of the meeting obtained by ABC affiliate station WBMA in Birmingham.

"We thought that was kind of a rumor at first," Smith told the council members. "We did some research. Not only do the doctors' offices confirm it but the state confirmed they also had the same information."

In his presentation, Smith, who wore a face mask, did not say what is being done to curb the behavior or what schools the students were from. Tuscaloosa is the seventh-largest city in Alabama and home to The University of Alabama and several other colleges.

Just hours after Smith's briefing, the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring people to wear face coverings when out in public.