I made it one more year around the sun and thank you for coming along on the ride with me into True Paranormal adventures. I'm very thankful to everyone who has supported me, come to lectures, taken my classes, read my books or joined investigations.
Today would have been my Spirit friend Ed's birthday. It's a good day to read his story that teaches YOU how spirits of your loved ones give you signs.
(Image; A new species of armored dinosaur whose ancestors likely migrated from North America to Asia, a new study finds. Image credit: Masato Hattori)
Rare armored dinosaur found in Japan may have ancestors that migrated across a land bridge 100 million years ago
By Skyler Ware Edited by Laura Geggel, Kimberly Hickok, Live Science, September 24, 2026
Rare fossils discovered in Japan more than 30 years ago are from a new species of armored dinosaur — one whose ancestors likely reached Asia by trekking across a land bridge, a new study finds.
The newly named dinosaur, a type of nodosaurid, is now one of just three species of its kind found in Asia to date. It was named Nipponopelta yezoensis. "Nippon" refers to Japan, and "pelta" means "shield" in Greek. "Yezo" is the traditional name for Hokkaido.
The scarcity of nodosaurids in Asia, and the fact that the newly described beast is similar anatomically to those from North America, hint that its species likely arose from a migration from North America to Asia via the Bering Land Bridge, an ancient strip of land that connected present-day Alaska and Russia, researchers reported in the February 2027 issue of the journal Cretaceous Research.
"It's super cool to see [the specimen] getting a new look and a new name," said Victoria Arbour, manager of research and collections at the Royal B.C. Museum in Canada. Arbour was not involved in the new work.
Nodosaurids are armored dinosaurs covered in bony plates. They are closely related to ankylosaurids, but they lack the heavy tail clubs ankylosaurids used to protect themselves from predators. Nodosaurid fossils have primarily been found in North America and Europe, though a few have been uncovered in Asia.
In the new study, a team of researchers revisited one such fossil specimen originally discovered in 1995 on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan. The scientists performed computed tomography (CT) scans of the fossils, which are somewhere between 93 million and 100 million years old, and include the back of the skull, part of the lower jaw, and several teeth and bony plates.
Weird spikes poking through a teen's eyelid turned out to be a wayward tooth
The patient: A 16-year-old boy in IndiaThe symptoms: The teen developed swelling on his left upper eyelid that persisted for a few months but was painless. However, he later noticed two sharp, white projections poking out from the skin above his eye.
About a month after these projections appeared, he went to a hospital.
What happened next: Doctors examined the teen's eyelid, noting that the spikes had a "fairly smooth surface and were hard on palpation," said Dr. Meghana Tanwar, a medical consultant at the Aravind Eye Hospital in India who co-authored a report of the case. The texture and color of the projections suggested they might be teeth, she told Live Science in an email.
Initially, the doctors thought the points also might have been related to a teratoma, a rare type of tumor that can include different types of tissue, including bone and tooth tissue. They also wondered if the projections might be a foreign body in the eyelid. They conducted a CT scan to take a closer look.
The diagnosis: The scan revealed that the projections were indeed part of a tooth.
"The structure of a lone tooth in the superior orbit was quite obvious," Tanwar said. "Superior orbit" refers to the upper eye socket, and the tooth had poked out in the small space between the boy's eyelid and eyebrow.
Teeth that develop and erupt in abnormal locations are known as ectopic teeth. This umbrella term includes teeth that are in the mouth but erupt outside their typical positions; for instance, in about 2% to 6% of people, their first permanent molars grow "out of place" in the expected line-up of teeth.
In this case, though, the patient had an ectopic tooth that appeared completely outside the dental arch, which is far rarer.
The treatment: The doctors surgically removed the ectopic tooth from the patient's eyelid and found that it was a mature canine tooth. It didn't have any features that suggested it was part of a teratoma.
"Since the imaging done did not show the presence of any other ectopic teeth, the likelihood of him having another one are unlikely," Tanwar noted.
What makes the case unique: This is not the first ectopic tooth in the medical literature, but it was in a very notable location.
"To the best of our knowledge this is the first and only ectopic tooth reported in the superior orbit," Tanwar said. Previously, they've been reported in the nasal cavity and the bottom of the orbit, under the eye, she noted. According to MedPage Today, they've also been found in the nostrils, chin and maxillary sinus, which is located inside the cheekbone.
"This was a first not just for us but the world over," Tanwar said of the case. "We were very surprised by it."
In the forests of Bolivia, there was a new cat species discovered recently. Thanks to my friend Jackie for sharing this cool news. That's today's blog.
Tiny Tilcayo, the First Brand-New Cat Species Identified in More Than a Century
Sarah Kuta | Daily Correspondent, September 21, 2026, Smithsonian
The diminutive feline, dubbed the tilcayo, lives in the Bolivian Yungas, the cloud forest where the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon basin. It’s smaller than a house cat, weighing just three to four pounds, and has large, irregularly shaped rosettes dotting its light brown fur.
Scientists say the creature, which they describe in a study published September 17 in the journal Current Biology, is a reminder that the natural world still holds plenty of mysteries.
“Our world is extremely complex,” study co-author Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a biologist and the founder of the Bolivian Felids Research Program, tells National Geographic’s Jason Bittel. “Sometimes we think that most of it is known, that there’s not a whole lot to discover, but in fact, it’s the other way around.”
The tilcayo’s discovery story began around 2016, when a local man found a tiny cat on a road in the forest near La Paz. Thinking it was a domestic kitten, the man took the creature home and started feeding it noodles, rice and eggs. After about a year, however, he realized the animal was probably wild. He took it to the nonprofit Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary.
That’s where Nogales-Ascarrunz first encountered the mysterious animal, a male nicknamed Tigrino that had rounded ears, a small face and big, leopard-like spots. At first, she thought the creature might be a northern tiger cat, also called the oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus). But that identification didn’t seem quite right—the cat itself was too small, its rosettes were too large and its tail seemed different.
“It didn’t really match,” she tells the New York Times’ Kate Golembiewski.
Genetic testing confirmed her hunch: The unusual cat belonged to its own species, one that was previously unknown to science. Researchers named the creature L. tilcayo because tilcayo is what local people call it—though the origins of that name remain unclear.
“When you ask, ‘Does it have some meaning in Quechua or Almyra and other Indigenous languages?’ they say, ‘No, my grandpa told me that’s the tilcayo,’” Nogales-Ascarrunz tells NBC News’ Evan Bush. “This is a traditional knowledge that they have in the community. We want to preserve that knowledge, and we didn’t want to give it another name.”
Because the cats are so small and elusive, scientists know very little about L. tilcayo, including its diet, lifestyle and behaviors. Researchers also don’t know how many tilcayo exist in the wild. However, scat samples suggest the cats might eat small rodents, and wildlife camera footage hints that they could be nocturnal, per Reuters’ Marta Serafinko.
A genetic analysis of 38 individuals from the Leopardus genus—a group colloquially called tiger cats—revealed that L. tilcayo split off from the lineage roughly 1.4 million years ago during the Early Pleistocene, a period of substantial climate fluctuation. As glaciers advanced and retreated, tropical forest lowlands became dry savannas, the researchers write in the paper. Montane forests, meanwhile, held onto their humidity, acting as “climatic refugia” for cloud forest species. The resulting habitat fragmentation likely isolated different populations of tiger cats, setting the stage for their genetic divergence.
The cat family tree has gained several new branches in recent decades as researchers have elevated subspecies to full species or determined that what was once considered a single species is actually multiple. L. tilcayo, however, is different. It’s the first brand-new feline species identified since the pampas cat in 1923.
With the addition of L. tilcayo, scientists have now described five distinct species of tiger cat, which live in Central and South America. Beyond the new member, the group includes the northern tiger cat (L. tigrinus), the southern tiger cat (L. guttulus), the clouded tiger cat (L. pardinoides) and the eastern tiger cat (L. emiliae). Nogales-Ascarrunz and colleagues also identified a new subspecies found in Peru’s Yungas called L. tigrinus antisuyo.
Pro-Susan Collins ads accidentally run in the Wrong Portland!
A Republican Super PAC mistakenly spent nearly $25,000 on television ads targeting voters in Portland, Oregon, instead of Portland, Maine, in support of U.S. Senator Susan Collins' reelection campaign
Key Details of the Gaffe
• The Error: The ad buy was placed by Defending Main Street SuperPAC Inc., which is linked to the Republican Main Street Partnership.
• The Target: The commercial attacked Maine's Democratic Senate nominee, Troy Jackson, branding him "taxin' Troy Jackson".
• The Location Mistake: The media buyer, Cross Screen Media, mistakenly targeted the Portland, Oregon television market (which also reaches parts of Washington state) rather than Portland, Maine.
• Financial Impact: Between $20,000 and $25,000 was misallocated.
• The Resolution: After the mix-up came to light, Sarah Chamberlain, president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, stated she was furious about the blunder. Cross Screen Media admitted the mistake, pulled the ads from the Oregon market, issued a full refund to the PAC, and redirected the campaign to run in Portland, Maine.
• The Context: The gaffe occurred during a tight, high-stakes Senate race in Maine where Collins and Jackson are running neck-and-neck in the polls.
Over the weekend of Oct 2-5, Tom's sister Lisa and her hubby, Greg, visited for the first time since we moved. It was their first visit to Maine, so they got to experience Maine and New Hampshire attractions, a memorial celebration, food and events and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. And of course, there were many dog walks!
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(Photo right: Beautiful horses at the farm where we stopped)
FOOD STUFF- Local food is always a treat for visitors, and you can't get any more local than me (Rob's) home cooking. :) One evening I made homemade sloppy joes on white rice with baked beans and another night I made pot roast with baked potatoes, corn and fresh bread. Not to mention baking fresh pumpkin bread and other desserts. We ventured out to our favorite Mexican restaurant, and our favorite breakfast place located in a former train station in southern New Hampshire.
FALL FARM STANDS - Since we're experiencing fall colors, and it's in the 40s at night, and 60s in the daytime, Fall is in Full Swing in Maine.
What better place to go than a farm stand connected to an apple orchard and big working farm?
The amount of pumpkins and the different varieties were incredible!
CHASE FARMS - From their website: "Family owned and operated since the 1600s, Chase Farms specializes in homegrown meats and produce. Come visit us in Wells, Maine to try our beef, pork, produce, fresh baked goods, a large variety of locally sourced items, and a greenhouse with abundant offerings that change with the seasons."
"HAD TO BUYS" - Of course we bought a pumpkin. Tom bought a bunch of "Indian corn" to use as a seasonal decoration outside of the house. I bought homemade Apple Butter, and Lisa and I both eyed the "apple cider donut," so we got one to split later.
(Photo: Rob and Lisa with a homemade apple cider donut and apple butter)
On the morning of the event, the weather was perfect with temperatures in the 60s with sunshine and blue sky. It was a solemn event but a nice peaceful place, and its comforting to know that although they're spirit is in a better place, what's left behind for us is close by. The cemetery had a meditation area near by with benches under a trellis. the trellis was nicely decorated with large pots of beautiful fall mums.
On October 10, 2026, I was happily surprised and humbled to see THREE of my books about my True Encounters with ghosts were in the top 100 on Amazon!
By Sarah Donovan, Foster's Daily Democrat, Sept. 16, 2026
DOVER — Victor Gonzalez Triana, 49, of Dover, has been arrested and charged with the abandonment of two small dogs in the woods near Gerrish Road.
Police have said the dogs were found Aug. 20 left alone in a cage under a cardboard box in the woods near Gerrish Road after they were found by a woman walking her dog.
A miniature pinscher and a chihuahua were found in a wire kennel partially covered with a cardboard box, according to police, who described the kennel as "filthy" and with a "foul-smelling sludge pooling at the bottom."
The dogs were in good health and brought to the Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley in Dover.
Two small dogs, now in the care of Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley in Dover, were found abandoned in woods in the area of Gerrish Road on Aug. 20, 2026. Photos of the dogs were posted online by Dover police, who received anonymous tips leading to Gonzalez Triana of Polly Ann Park in Dover, according to the department.
Gonzalez Triana was arrested Sept. 15 for two counts of cruelty to animals, both misdemeanors, according to police Capt. Brad Gould. The suspect was released on personal recognizance bail pending arraignment Oct. 22 at the Dover District Court.
Dover police ask anyone with information to call the department at 603-742-4646 or report tips anonymously to Dover CrimeLine at 603-749-6000 or via dovernhcrimeline.org.
It was not immediately known if Gonzalez Triana has an attorney.
This week's hero is a 19-year-old man who tried to rescue his girlfriend after she fell onto subway tracks in the Boston area. Unfortunately, when he jumped down on the tracks he suffered fatal electrocution.
By Ross Cristantiello, Boston Globe,August 31, 2026
A 19-year-old who died after falling onto an electrified third rail at an MBTA (subway) station over the weekend was trying to save his girlfriend at the time, according to his family.
The victim was identified as Frankey Wright in a GoFundMe set up by a cousin.
The “tragic accident” occurred at the Forest Hills MBTA station on Saturday afternoon. “His loss has left a deep hole in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him,” the fundraiser reads.
A woman with Wright at the time, another 19-year-old, lost her balance on the platform at Forest Hills and fell into the “empty right of way.” Wright then attempted to help her and also fell into the “right of way.” He landed on an electrified third rail and was later pronounced dead. The woman was brought to a hospital for treatment, Transit police told Boston 25 News.
The two were reportedly carrying flags representing Caribbean countries as they traveled to Boston’s annual Caribbean Carnival, which was held in Franklin Park on Saturday.
Wright’s father, also named Frankey Wright, said that his son had never ridden a train before. Wright was going to attend the Caribbean Carnival for the first time, his father told Boston 25.
“Those closest to him will always remember Frankey as a noble boy with a big heart, someone who put others before himself even in his final moments,” his family wrote alongside the GoFundMe. The page had raised almost $6,000 as of midday Monday. The money will be used to “help give Frankey the good service he deserves and to honor his life with love and dignity.”
ABOUT THE BOOK: The complete reprinting of Superman's adventures in chronological order continues with this new, sixth volume, featuring tales from the early 1940s. Among the menaces facing The Man of Steel in this new volume are the mysterious gang leader known as the Unknown X, a petty thief turned radioactive, and Lex Luthor, who has gained the ability to turn invisible. Plus, Clark Kent becomes Police Commissioner after a criminal gang scares the other candidates out of taking the job.
