Amazing Signs - Mom Sent after Passing

 On April 14, I taught one of my paranormal courses at Adult Education, and the class was pretty full. As I was teaching people about signs to recognize from loved ones who passed, I kept thinking about the many events that transpired since my mother-in-law passed. There were some amazing things, and by sharing them here, if you had similar experiences, you'll know you didn't imagine it.

(Caption: Eastern Bluebird: York County, Maine, USA, October 2023)

1) During the Services - Because I'm a medium, I can communicate with people and pets who pass. During the services, I heard my mother in law talk about a waterfall, and then mentioned Niagara. I had no knowledge of whether or not she had ever been. It turned out that's where she went on her honeymoon! -

(Photo: Mom and Bob at mom's 80th birthday party)

Then Mom talked with me about a white rabbit. When I told that to Tom, he said the floral arrangement he sent for Easter had a white rabbit in the middle of it, and when mom suffered from what was likely a blood clot to her brain, she repeated "White bunny" over and over before she went comatose. But mom was not referring to that. She told me there was a white bunny figure that she had, like the ceramic ones from Tetley tea, and that she wanted Tom to have one. Tom found one. 

(Photo: Dragonfly. Credit: South Carolina University)

2) Dragonflies - A couple of days after the services, Tom's sister experienced a dragonfly that came around her outside and kept lingering!  She said it never happened before and that dragonfly was acting very oddly. - She realized that her mom gave her dragonfly earrings before as a gift, so mom was influencing the dragonflies to let Tom's sister know she is okay in spirit.

3) Bluebirds - On April 14, we drove to a local cemetery. The family decided it would be best to place her and Tom's stepdad's ashes in a columbarium near us (in a different state) as we often visit cemeteries to look at stones, walk the dogs, or eat lunch in a peaceful place. When we pulled into the cemetery, Tom parked the truck and got out to meet the manager. I stayed in the truck with the dogs and saw a bluebird that was a deep blue color perched on the roof of a pergula (sitting place) next to the columbarium. The bird fluttered its wings as if to get my attention, then flew to the ground in front of the truck, flew back to the roof, then flew in a circle in front of the truck!  Such odd behavior!  I knew that mom was influencing the bird to give us a sign that she was on-board with the columbarium in our area.

(Photo: Bluebird. Credit: Penn State Extension) 

4) Bluebirds again - Tom's sister had a similar odd behavior experience with a bluebird. She said that a bluebird flew into the front porch area of her house and lingered. No bird had ever flown into that area before, but the bluebird did after mom passed. - She also confirmed that Mom loved bluebirds and had 2 bluebird figurines. 

So Mom will be using bluebirds and dragonflies to let us know whenever she is around! 

Rob's Reflections on my mom-in-law's Passing

In yesterday's blog you read Tom's memorial tribute to his mom. In today's blog, you'll read my memories of mom-in-law, Ruth. I was so fortunate to have a second Mom in Tom's mom (my mom passed in 2013). Today's blog is filled with fun memories.  

(Photo: Mom and Rob at Bingo in Sept 2025)

 Tom's mom, Ruth, quickly became like a mother to me after Tom and I met. After my mom passed in 2013, I would always get on a call with Tom weekly to chat with his mom. Until 2021 when she and her husband Bob moved to South Carolina, we were fortunate that they lived just 20 minutes away from us in Maryland (before the moved). We spent every holiday together. 

Mom cooked on our first Thanksgiving together, and she asked if I knew how to cook. When I told her I did, we had every holiday thereafter at our house!! - I also remember going out to Chinese food together on many Christmas days. 

(Tom and Mom at our wedding reception in 2009)

She loved all of our dogs, Franklin, Dolly, Sprite, Tyler and Dash. Although she never met Cody in life, we did video chat with him from a distance so she got to meet Cody virtually. (Buzz passed before I knew Tom, so mom didn't know him either). Mom was famous for always bringing a bag of dog treats and handing them out like candy to our canine kids!

Some days, whenever I would have to work late, mom and bob drove to Doggy day care and picked up the dogs for us and brought them to our house. 

(Mom loved all our kids- Franklin, Dolly, Tyler and Dash- and would sometimes pick them up at daycare) 

Mom's Shopping Deals and Discounts - Mom was good at finding out where the sales were happening. Whether it was at a fast-food restaurant, Kohls department store or somewhere else, she always seemed to know about them (and we didn't until she told us). Sometimes when we called her, she would tell us how she went to Kohls with a 20% off coupon the day after it expired and tried to get the discount.  We laughed about it and told her that Kohls had a wanted poster with her name on it, that said "Wanted for trying to get a discount with expired coupons." 

(Photo: Bob, Mom, Tom and Rob at Red Robin after the infamous dual colonoscopy day) 

You would never think that the event of a colonoscopy would be one you'd fondly remember, but it happened! But it wasn't the event, it was the lunch afterward that was memorable. Mom and Bob drove to our house (20 mins from theirs) picked us up and drove us to our procedure (yes, we both had them done at the same time). The memorable part was lunch afterward, as they took us to Red Robin for burgers and endless fries (as we were famished). I think Tom and I re-ordered fries twice!

(Photo: Bob and Rob during a visit in South Carolina)

When Mom and Bob moved to South Carolina, Tom and I helped them clean out their townhouse, donate stuff, and sell stuff off. It was about a 2 week process, and we were there every day. It was a lot of downsizing from a three floor townhouse to a two bedroom apartment in an assisted living facility.

Sometimes we accompanied mom and Bob to Bingo, too, whether in Maryland or South Carolina. 

Mom had all the daubers, and everything you needed. The last time I went to Bingo with mom was in September 2025, when I had last visited (I tried to visit in December, but black ice prevented us from reaching the airport on time). Tom's sister and brother in law, Greg found a bingo place about 20 minutes north of their house, so we all went. I won the last game of the night (with 2 others), so I split the winnings among all of us, so everyone won. It was a great memory.

When it came to board games, Mom loved them! Although as she got older, she claimed she didn't realize what she was doing, but we think there was a little intentional cheating! haha. Like when playing Uno, she would put a Green 4 on a Yellow 8. You have to match color and number... and she would tell us it "looked green." :) 

I will miss calling mom every wednesday on New Comic book day. That's when Tom and I would take the dogs in the pickup truck and drive to the comics shop. Afterward, we would stop for Dunkin' sandwich, coffee and iced tea and call mom. 

(Photo: Tom, Rob and Mom) 

During her last year, when she went on hospice, I tried to send her a post card every week. There's nothing like getting a "Hello" through the mail, and it isn't a bill. When I flew down last week to assist Tom's sister Lisa with things after mom's passing, Lisa gave me the stack of postcards I sent Mom as a keepsake. 

The world is a lot emptier for Tom, Lisa and me. But the fun memories will always be there. In fact, she already gave me two signs she's around - one was a waterfall and the other was a little white rabbit. But that's a story for tomorrow's blog. 

Love you, Mom! 

Rob 

In Memory of Tom's Mom who passed April 9, 2026

This has been a very challenging and sad 8 months for us. Tom's Mom, Ruth, passed April 9, 2026 at home. Although she was on hospice, it happened quickly, and Tom was able to be by her side with his sister Lisa who was her caretaker (she lived in another state). Her passing follows the passings of all three of our senior dogs, Cody, Dash and Tyler, we have endured a lot of loss recently. She left behind a lifetime of good memories.   As a tribute, Tom wrote today's blog is about her life.

(Photo: Tom's mom, Ruth and Tom at our wedding reception in 2009)

Mom, Ruth was born September 16, 1938, to Thomas and Grace Frank on a farm in the small rural tidewater community of Index, VA. She graduated from King George High School in 1956, and immediately moved to Washington, DC for better employment opportunities when she was just 18 years old.

(Mom holding Tom) 

(Photo: Mom at 18 years old with her suitcase ready to move to Washington, DC) 

Mom began what would be her lifelong career as a secretary working for the U.S. Coast Guard. Her manager, Karen, encouraged her to get out more and meet people. At an Arthur Murray dance studio, Mom met our Dad, Seth Williams. They were married on Mom’s birthday in 1960, at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church.

In 1965, the couple moved to Prince George's County, MD and attended Riverdale Baptist Church for many years where Mom managed the church's bookstore and also worked for the church's day school. In 1974, Mom went to work in the Health Unit at Goddard Space Flight Center where she worked for the next 27 years.

(Photo: Mom and her father eating watermelon on the farm in Virginia where she grew up.) 

After Dad passed away in 1992, Mom began dating Robert "Bob" Elmendorf; they were married in June, 2001. Residing in the retirement community of Heritage Harbor in Annapolis, MD Mom and Bob were active in many of the community's activities and organizations, most notably the Heritage Harbor Choir. During this time, Mom worked part-time for the Capital Gazette until she fully retired at age 70.

(Photo: Bob and Ruth after singing in a choir performance in Annapolis, Maryland. This was one of mom's favorite pictures. Credit: R.G.) 

In 2021, Mom and Bob moved to South Carolina where they lived for the remainder of their lives. After Bob passed away in April 2023, from COVID complications, Mom moved in with my sister, Lisa, who became her primary caregiver.

(Photo: Sept 2025, playing a game at home: Rob, Greg, Lisa and Mom)

Mom enjoyed having company, playing Bingo on Fridays at the Mauldin Community Center, and playing cards and board games with family and friends. Her favorite card game was Kings-in-the-Corner.

Complying with her request, Mom passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. She leaves behind a son, Thomas and husband, Rob; a daughter, Lisa, and husband, Greg.

She will be forever in our hearts.

Idiots of the Week: 4 MAGA men convicted of Child Sx Abuse

 This week is a quadfecta (collection of 4) idiots, who are all conservative, MAGA movement supporters who claimed to be religious, and haters of people like liberals, drag queens, transgender people, and democrats. Yet, they hide behind their religion and their political party and have committed heinous crimes against children. It seems that every week there are more and more of these people uncovered. Hopefully Americans who once supported that conservative movement can see there are many hiding behind it and attacking innocent others while abusing children. Nothing is more heinous than that. 

Idiots of the Week: 4 MAGA men convicted of Child Sx Abuse

One was an evangelical pastor, David Rogers of Kentucky, who took his own life after being found out. Another was Former Republican U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on April 27, 2016, for violating federal banking laws as part of a hush-money scheme to cover up his past sexual abuse of male students. Two others are MAGA supporters that posted hateful things on their social media pages.

Article: KY Worship Pastor Dies by Suicide After Being Arrested

Ministry Watch.com Feb 26, 2026 

Last week, former Kentucky pastor David Rodgers, 40, killed himself after being arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges, including possession of abuse materials exploiting a minor under 12.  

Police initially arrested Rodgers on February 16. A few days later, on February 19, police responded to the report of a 40-year-old man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kentucky State Police released an updated statement the next day. “The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and Daviess County Coroner’s Office responded to the apparent suicide of Mr. David Rodgers around 9:45 am yesterday morning near his Utica residence.” Police protocol dictates the case remain open until a formal death certificate is entered, after which the case can be closed. Police began its investigation after receiving a complaint in January 2026 accusing Rodgers of inappropriate behavior against a minor, according to reporting by 14 News.

The former worship pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was ultimately charged with various sexual abuse crimes, including third-degree rape, second-degree sodomy involving a position of authority, first-degree sexual abuse, procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, and possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under the age of 12.

“It looks like it was somewhere around 10-11 years ago where the victim was of early age, perhaps as young as 12 but that can give or take some years with that. The relationship flourished from there where ultimately it went to a sexual relationship and ultimately that’s where the charges stem from with sodomy, rape 3rd, and also the abusing the power of trust,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King said, according to 14 News.  After his arrest, Rodgers confessed to the offenses during his interview with police. He was then released on a $75,000 bond.

THEN THERE IS THIS GUY****Man arrested in Missouri to face child rape charges in North Carolina   WCNC-TV NEWS, February 27, 2026

GASTONIA, N.C. — A man who was arrested recently in Missouri is set to be extradited back to North Carolina to face a child sex charge from eight years ago. The Gastonia Police Department announced on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, that 65-year-old Arnold Ogle was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service's Fugitive Task Force in Kansas City. Police said he is accused of the statutory rape of a child in 2018. The department notes that as of publication, he is being held in Missouri as he awaits extradition.

Court documents reviewed by WCNC Charlotte reveal that Ogle's address at the time of his arrest was in Gardner, roughly 30 miles southeast of Kansas City. He was indicted earlier in the month on the statutory rape charge, along with incest.

The indictment also suggests that the crimes Ogle is accused of spanned the course of 13 years; the date range in his indictment suggested a start date of November 2005.

    AND FINALLY THIS GUY   Bonne Terre Man Charged in Jefferson County Child Sex Abuse Case

Dustin Kopp, KFMO-TV February 23rd, 2026 

 Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Bonne Terre man is facing multiple felony charges following allegations of sexual abuse involving a young girl in Jefferson County. Court documents state that 36-year-old David A. Boren allegedly sexually abused a girl for about a year while she was younger than 12 years old.

The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Boren on December 4 with felony first-degree statutory rape or attempted statutory rape and felony statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy. Boren was arrested on February 9 and is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail, according to court and jail records.

A probable-cause statement filed by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office indicates the girl told investigators the abuse occurred between January 2018 and January 2019 and that Boren allegedly told her not to report the abuse.

Heroes of the Week: California Firefighters use oxygen masks, CPR to save cats from fire

Riverside County, California Firefighters rescued cats from a burning building, and used CPR to resucate them. They are this week's heroes.

Riverside County firefighters and deputy save 4 cats from apartment fire 

By Matthew Rodriguez, : March 23, 2026 / 7:17 PM PDT / CBS LA

Riverside County firefighters and a deputy saved the lives of four cats during an apartment fire in Jurupa Valley.

The Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department said crews found the cats inside a fire-damaged apartment, three of whom were unconscious and not breathing.

"When I looked under the bed, I found the first one," Engineer Ray Guillen said. "As soon as I went to grab it, it fell over. So, I knew something was wrong."

Firefighters rushed the animals outside and tried to resuscitate them as more crews and a Riverside County Sheriff's deputy helped. In a video released by the fire department, first responders tried performing CPR on the cats, with some attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to help the animals regain consciousness.

"We started CPR, started giving them chest compressions," Deputy Adam Maldonado said. "I know from holding my cats that their hearts beat pretty fast. So, I knew it needed to be pretty deep and pretty fast."

Riverside County firefighters rescued four cats from an apartment fire in Jurupa Valley.

Other firefighters rushed in with oxygen tanks for the three unconscious cats. With fresh oxygen, the cats opened their eyes, one by one, and regained consciousness.

"We just treated it like we would treat a pediatric patient that was unresponsive and not breathing," Firefighter Salvador de La Cruz said. "It's small, press hard and press fast and breathe into them.

After getting some water from the firefighters, the cats perked up and started walking around.

Book of the Week - to SKIP- All-Star Superman: DC Compact Comics Edition

I'm a huge fan of Superman, and I've collected a LOT of Superman comics from the 1970s and 80s (when I think they were at their best).  When I learned that the 2025 Superman film (which I liked) was based on the "All-Star Superman" 12 issue comic run, and put into a compact edition, I bought it.  I was disappointed. That's today's book of the week to avoid if you like Superman of the 70s and 80s. 

I've read Superman pretty consistently from 2005 through 2025, too (with exceptions like the "warworld storyline"). Most of the stories and art I have enjoyed, but this run didn't hit me. 

Although I like writer Grant Morrison, I didn't care for this series which re-wrote and " modernized" Superman's history and added quirks. I also like most of Frank Quietly's art, but he draws Superman in an odd sort of bloated muscle way. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  All-Star Superman: DC Compact Comics Edition  is a paperback collection of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's acclaimed 12-issue comic series, released in a new, smaller format by DC Comics in July 2024. It collects the complete, award-winning story, featuring iconic characters like Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, and Bizarro, and is praised as a definitive, modern take on the Man of Steel, exploring themes like mortality and hope through epic adventures

A single injection of mRNA-like treatment healed heart muscle after a heart attack in mice and pigs. Could it work in humans too?

 Today's blog is about possible help to heal a heart after a heart attack. It works in mice and pigs. The next step is to figure out if it would work in humans. First, though, I explain what an mRNA shot does so you can understand the story!

(Image Credit: https://kpwashingtonresearch.org/)

WHAT IS mRNA? mRNA shots (messenger RNA vaccines) use a temporary genetic code to teach body cells to create a harmless protein resembling a virus, triggering an immune response without causing disease. These vaccines are highly effective, rapidly produced, and used for COVID-19

A single injection of mRNA-like treatment healed heart muscle after a heart attack in mice and pigs. Could it work in humans too?

Live Science, March 16, 2026 by Eva Amsen

Researchers boosted levels of a heart-healing hormone in mice and pigs with a single injection of a new, experimental form of self-amplifying RNA that prolonged hormone synthesis for many weeks.

A single shot of self-amplifying RNA can repair tissue damage from a heart attack, new research in pigs and mice shows.

It can take weeks or months to recover from a heart attack, but the new study explored a novel way to boost the production of a natural heart-repairing hormone with a single injection. Although the shot hasn't been tested in humans yet, researchers believe it could one day offer hope for a faster recovery.

''This system is revolutionary, because it's using skeletal muscle as a factory to produce the proteins that we need,'' study co-author Dr. Ke Huang, an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Texas A&M University, told Live Science.

A heart attack is often caused by a blocked artery that prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart muscle. While surgery can remove the blockage, the heart muscle itself also needs to recover from the oxygen starvation. If it doesn't heal quickly enough, scar tissue will take its place, which is less effective at pumping blood and may precipitate heart failure.

In the study, published March 5 in the journal Science, Ke Cheng, a biomedical engineer at Columbia University and senior author of the new study and his collaborators showed that a single injection of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) in the muscle tissue of the hind leg could heal heart muscle cells in mice and pigs by increasing levels of a hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).

From studying mice, researchers learned that ANP levels are much higher in newborns than in adults ‪—‬ a difference they attributed to ANP playing a role in heart development. This inspired Cheng and colleagues to see if it was possible to increase ANP levels temporarily in adult mice to help heal the heart. ''We wanted to see if we can supplement ANP with self-amplifying RNA,'' Cheng said.

Found! Tudor Heart necklace: Henry VIII& 1st wife, Katherine of Aragon

In a dried-up pond in central England a heart necklace was found that indentified the love between Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, but it didn't belong to them.. Learn about the mystery in today's blog.

(Photo: a gold heart-shaped pendant with the letters H and K in red enamel The gold, heart-shaped pendant was discovered by a metal detectorist in 2019. (Image credit: Ben Stansall)

Tudor Heart: A Renaissance gold necklace featuring a French-English pun on the love between Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon

By Kristina Killgrove LIVE SCIENCE, March 30, 2026

A chance discovery of a 16th-century necklace reveals new information about Tudor-era jewelry styles.

 QUICK FACTS 

• Name: Tudor Heart - 
• What it is: A gold necklace with a red-enameled pendant 
• Where it is from: Warwickshire, central England 
• When it was made: Circa 1518

Half a millennium after a solid-gold Renaissance necklace was forged, a metal detectorist spotted it poking out of a dried-up pond in central England. 

The jewel was discovered by Birmingham café owner Charlie Clarke while metal detecting in a field in Warwickshire on a very auspicious Friday the 13th, December, 2019. After his screaming abated, Clarke notified the Finds Liaison Officer who in turn contacted Historic England. 

The necklace's heart-shaped pendant — which features the red-enameled initials H and K, as well as a rose and a pomegranate — is one of only a few Tudor-period jewels to survive the bitter divorce of King Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. (The queen's name is often spelled "Catherine," but she usually signed it "Katherine" while at court in England.)

The Tudor Heart necklace is made up of three parts. The 24-karat gold chain, which consists of 75 links, is 17.1 inches (43.4 centimeters) long and weighs 9.4 ounces (267 grams). A clasp in the shape of a hand coming out of a cloud serves to close the necklace and suspend a heart-shaped pendant. The pendant is 2.3 inches (5.9 cm) long and weighs 1.8 ounces (50 grams). But it's the decoration on the pendant, rather than the necklace itself, that makes the artifact historically significant.

(Photo: A gold heart-shaped pendant with the letters H and K in red enamel, and the red and white rose around a tree on the other side.  (Image credit: Ben Stansall)

On the front of the Tudor Heart, a white-and-red rose is entwined with a pomegranate tree, which represent the House of Tudor dynasty, headed by Henry VIII, and the Spanish homeland of Queen Katherine of Aragon, respectively. The back of the heart pendant is decorated with their initials joined by a tasseled cord. Katherine had originally married England's Prince Arthur, but she was widowed after just five months of marriage. Later, she became the first wife of Henry VIII (who ruled from 1509 to 1547), and their marriage lasted from 1509 until they were divorced in 1533.

Experts at the British Museum have confirmed that the composition of the gold and the style of the jewelry are consistent with an early-16th-century manufacture date, meaning the accessory was likely crafted during Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine. But because the necklace is not listed in inventories of royal jewels from the early 16th century, it's unlikely that either monarch owned it. This raises the question of why or for whom the necklace was made.

One possibility is that the heart was created to celebrate the betrothal of Princess Mary (later Queen Mary I) in 1518. Mary was the only child of Henry and Katherine to survive infancy and was initially promised to Francis III, the Dauphin of France, when she was just 2 years old. The betrothal plan fell through a few years later.

Another possibility is that the necklace was made for someone of high standing, who would have worn it to show allegiance to the monarchs. Elements of the necklace suggest that, although it was made of high-quality gold, the workmanship was not of the same caliber, according to the U.K. Portable Antiquities scheme. If the object was made to be viewed from afar, it may have been given as a prize for winning a royal joust or other equestrian event.

Any educated person knows that climate change is happening, and that Humans and the pollution they've caused is exacerbating (speeding up) the process at a rate greater than some environments can handle. New research indicates Antarctica could warm faster than the rest of the southern hemisphere, and that's alarming. Today's blog explains from an article in Live Science. 

(Image: This color picture of Antarctica is one part of a mosaic of pictures covering the entire Antarctic continent taken during the hours following Galileo's historic first encounter with its home planet. The view shows the Ross Ice Shelf. Credit: NASA)

Antarctica could warm 1.4 times faster than the rest of the Southern Hemisphere 

LIVE SCIENCE, March 24, 2026

Antarctica could heat up 1.4 times faster than the rest of the Southern Hemisphere over the coming decades, which would lock in extreme sea-level rise and ravage polar ecosystems, a new modeling study shows.

This acceleration of warming in Antarctica relative to other regions, known as Antarctic amplification, would likely occur if global temperatures reached 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above preindustrial levels, according to the study. The world has already warmed by 2 F (1.1 C), and the pace at which new temperature records are being set is intensifying. If emissions stay around current levels, we will likely reach 3.6 F of warming around 2050 — but if emissions keep rising, we could hit that threshold around 2040.

The new research is among the first to find a clear sign of Antarctic amplification, which has been hard to detect due to the Southern Ocean's enormous capacity to absorb heat and the powerful circumpolar currents that isolate the frozen continent from rising temperatures. Yet most scientists think Antarctic amplification will happen, because amplification in the Arctic is already underway.

"For many years, Antarctica seemed isolated from the effects of increasing global temperatures," Ariaan Purich, a senior lecturer and climatologist at Monash University in Australia who was not involved in the research, told Live Science in an email. "In this new study, the authors propose that long-term surface warming of the ocean around Antarctica, projected by climate models over the coming century, leads to Antarctic amplification."

(Image: Antarctic sea ice maximum extent, September 10 2023. Credit: NASA) 

Arctic amplification has been documented for years, with temperatures in this region climbing about four times faster than the global average increase over the past five decades. The main mechanism driving Arctic amplification is the ice-albedo feedback, where the melting of snow and ice accelerates warming because water reflects less heat back to space. Where there once used to be reflective sea ice, there is now an ocean that absorbs more heat from sunlight. This causes more ice and snow to melt, in turn exposing even more heat-absorbing water.

Antarctica behaves differently, partly because swirling ocean and wind currents shield the continent from rising air and sea temperatures elsewhere in the world. Contrary to the Arctic, most of Antarctica experienced only gradual warming and no declines in sea ice until about a decade ago, Purich said.

But then, between 2014 and 2016, Antarctica lost as much sea ice as the Arctic had lost in four decades. The continent hasn't bounced back since, Purich said, with exceptionally low winter sea ice extent recorded in 2023, in particular.

"We're now seeing abrupt changes occurring in Antarctica, at very rapid rates," Purich said. "With low Antarctic sea ice coverage, there is now the potential for the ice-albedo feedback to start exacerbating warming of the southern high latitudes."

Big Thanks to Animal Rescue League of NH for my event!

On March 29, 2026, I gave a fundraising lecture at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire in Bedford, NH. This was my 7th year teaching people how their pets communicate from the afterlife, and it's always emotional and moving. This year was no different.

(Photo: Rob and Marianne) 

My thanks to Marianne and Charlotte who manage the shelter and the events. They do this every year for me, and help me bring comfort to many. This year was especially tough for me after we lost all three of our dogs, Tyler, Dash and Cody. 

(Photo: Two of the cats at the Shelter needing a home. The pictured cat is 11 years old)

ABOUT THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF NH- It's a Non-Profit, and their operating budget is $1.7 million annually and they rely on YOUR DONATIONS. So, please consider helping them out. 

For 121 years, the Animal Rescue League of NH has been a lifeline for animals in need, providing shelter, medical care, and the chance to find loving homes. Our work is only possible because of compassionate supporters like you. Your donation helps us continue this legacy of care, rescue, and hope. Every dollar makes a difference, for the animals, and for the community that loves them. 

Donate today and be part of something life changing.

WEBSITE/ADOPTABLE ANIMALS/DONATE: https://www.rescueleague.org/ 

I also stopped by the Rabbit house!  ARLNH also has several rabbits, who make wonderful pets. 

 

Idiot of the Week: In Ireland 12 Police cars and Helicopter Chased Driver with Drugs

This week's idiot is from Ireland, who caused an all-out Garda (Irish Police) chase that involved 12 cars and a helicopter. Not only was the idiot on drugs, but his drug of choice was even more gross than possible, because it had Trump's face on it! Here's the story.

Twelve Garda cars and a helicopter involved in high-speed pursuit of driver, court told 

Man drove towards patrol car, went wrong way on M50, was later found with drugs featuring Trump’s face

Declan Brennan, Irish Times , Fri Feb 27 2026 -  

Twelve Garda cars an air support helicopter were involved in a high-speed pursuit that lasted more than an hour across north Dublin and into Co Meath, a court has heard.

At around 12.30am on May 29th, 2023, Dublin man Dziugas Odinas (25) was driving a Volkswagen Passat with two passengers in the car.A Garda inspector driving in a marked patrol car saw Odinas driving on the Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, driving on the wrong side of the road and at high speed in a direction towards gardaí.

Garda Emma Young told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this inspector had to drive his car on to the grass verge of the road to avoid being struck by the oncoming car. The inspector then activated the blue lights and sirens of the patrol car, but Odinas drove off at speed.

During the high-speed pursuit that ensued, Odinas was observed driving the wrong way on the M50 against the flow of traffic, driving the wrong way down slip roads and driving across red bollards. At one point, he drove in the wrong direction around Dublin Airport roundabout between heavy traffic. On a number of occasions, his driving forced other drivers to take evasive action to avoid colliding with his car.

During the pursuit, Odinas did a U-turn. At a number of times, he switched the car lights off to try to evade detection, the court heard.

The pursuit ended outside Gormanstown, Co Meath, when gardaí threw a stinger, or spiked device, across the road. All four tyres [tires] on the car driven by Odinas were punctured and a number of patrol cars were used to box the car in. Odinas stopped the car and got out, Gda Young said.

She accepted a submission from John Byrne, defending, that from this point his client accepted his arrest and was well mannered towards gardaí.

He was not insured and the car was not taxed (Registered). A small amount of cannabis for personal use was found on him and a large knife was found in the car.

Emmet Nolan, prosecuting, told the court that 12 Garda vehicles were involved in the pursuit and about 30 minutes into it the force’s national air support unit became involved.

Odinas was released on bail and three months later plain clothes gardaí on patrol on the Ballymun road, north Dublin, stopped him and found he had 34 bags of MDMA and four bags of ecstasy tablets.

Doubly Gross

Gda Pierce O’Dwyer told the court that the tablets had Donald Trump’s face stamped on them and that the total estimated street value of the drugs found on Odinas was about €60,900 (71,971.62 U.S. Dollars).

When stopped by gardaí, Odinas said “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” and told them he was being paid €300 for transporting the drugs. Gda O’Dwyer said there was no Garda intelligence to suggest he was doing anything other than moving the drugs. He accepted Odinas was not on the “Garda radar” and not considered to be part of a “hierarchy”.

Odinas, of Sheepmoor Lawns, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA, ecstasy tablets and alprazolam tablets on Ballymun Road on August 3rd, 2023.

He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment at locations in north Dublin on May 29th, 2023.

His previous convictions include road traffic offences [offenses in U.S. English] and convictions for fuel drive-off type thefts. Byrne told the court his client was 22 at the time of these offences and was a more mature man now.

Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to May 11th next for finalisation. She remanded Odinas into custody for appearance on that date

Heroes of the week: Los Angeles Firefighters save dogs from Sherman Oaks house fire

This week's heroes are the  Los Angeles firefighters who rescued 2 dogs from a house fire.

  

Firefighters rescue family dogs from Sherman Oaks house fire

By FOX 11 April 2, 2026 7:01am PDT

Firefighters save dog from Sherman Oaks house fire

Firefighters rescued family dogs during a house fire in Sherman Oaks Wednesday night, April 1, 2026.

The fire, which was sparked by downed power lines and a pine tree, was extinguished in about half an hour. No injuries were reported, and the dogs were successfully reunited with the owners at the scene. 

LOS ANGELES - A Sherman Oaks family is celebrating a joyful reunion after Los Angeles firefighters saved their dogs from a house fire Wednesday night.

The fire was reported just after 8:30 p.m. at a home on West Rhinestone Drive, where flames from a pine tree and downed power lines spread to an attached garage, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

In the chaos of the emergency,  the family dogs went missing, sparking fears for their safety as smoke filled the area.

However, firefighters were able to successfully locate the dogs unharmed and quickly return the dogs to its grateful owners.

 

(Video: Credit; CBS Los Angeles)

Fire crews are conducting a final overhaul to ensure the structure is safe. The LAFD will continue to investigate the sequence of what led to the downed power wires and pine tree igniting.

Neighbors can expect utility workers in the area to repair the damaged electrical lines.