VIDEO: 5 min. video of a Challenging Dog Rescue in Serbia!

Dog rescue happens all over the world (although unfortunately not in every country), but this video of a dog rescue in Serbia was filmed on January 16, 2015.
    A person named Zox Raymaker  filmed the rescue. He said "On my way home today i met a few of my friends and they told me that there is a small dog stranded on one of Nišava's river islands. So we went there to try to help but from our perspective there was little we could do without some gear and tools.
    We started calling various institutions and people but only Mr. Saša Pešić from "Dog shelter" (#savesashasdogs) came to the rescue. 
  Here's the video: http://youtu.be/V8cSXS-xhnc
 

Colonoscopy Time! Our experience/tips: What to expect, Prep and more!

When you reach the magic age of 50, your doctor recommends you get a colonoscopy. Well, we both reached that magic number and yesterday had a colonoscopy.  
   We learned that the two top killers of men are prostate and colon cancer... so although it's nothing to look forward to, it's worthwhile.  Fortunately, the procedure was short (in and out in a couple of hours). The prep was the worst part.  
   We're both good for another 10 years, so it was welcome news. Here are some tips we learned to help make YOUR adventure less stressful. - Rob and Tom



Here's the facts  from the Movi Prep website about it:  
A Colonoscopy is the best available test for detecting and preventing colon cancer, but a successful colonoscopy requires a complete colonoscopy prep.  An effective colonoscopy prep allows your doctor to examine the entire lining of your colon for abnormal growths, which may grow into cancer if they are not detected and removed.


OUR TIPS ON  PREP 

Okay, so this is truly the worst part of it all. Here are some things you need to know and our tips
1) A Week Out- 7 days before the colonoscopy, stop taking vitamins, Aspirin (thins blood) and do not eat Nuts or Seeds (they get held up in your colon and give a false sense of a polyp).
2) Check with your Insurance - to ensure that the facility your doctor recommends is IN YOUR NETWORK. Ours was, so we were good. I also called to let them know. you're going in and when. *Check your co-pay, too.*
3) Fill out Health History Forms On-Line (in advance) and bring with you. Include ALL medications on it. 
4) Get your Prescription for MoviPrep a week in advance -   MoviPrep is a low-volume colonoscopy prep that is proven to provide a clear view of the entire colon, allowing your doctor to detect abnormal growths.INFO: http://moviprep.salix.com/
5) Get Milk of Magnesia in advance
6) Schedule first thing because you CAN'T EAT or DRINK the day of the procedure

DAY BEFORE - THE NASTY PREP DAY - 
1) No solid food all day!!!!
2) Clear liquids, no dairy products. 
3) Can only have 1 cup of coffee or tea (no cream)
4) Drink at least 48 oz. of water  (You can mix with white grape juice or white cranberry juice. NO Citrus juices.
5) We had chicken and beef bullion soup for lunch and dinner
6) PREP TIME - At 1pm after lunch we took 3 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia (that was nasty!)
7) At 4pm we mixed MOVI PREP in the big plastic container. You have to drink one quarter of it every 15 minutes.
8) Within an hour- you'll be spending good hour in the bathroom. Have a GOOD BOOK in there. :) 
- Yes, it causes your stomach to roil, and bloating- but its' a laxative!
9) At 6pm, we had dinner- bullion soup.

10) By 8pm We had the 2nd and LAST container of MoviPrep, Drinking 1/4 of it at a time over an hour.
11) By 9pm it was fun time again.... By this time, though, you're passing mostly water    (your tummy should settle by 11pm)
12) DRINK Water after this, but STOP ALL WATER by midnight.


 THE DAY OF THE PROCEDURE 
1) Schedule first thing because you CAN'T EAT or DRINK the day of the procedure (you can have a sip of water with any necessary meds the morning of if needed) 
2) Remove all Jewelry except wedding band!  Don't take cell phones unless you need them- everything including all of your clothes (except your socks) get stuffed in a bag under your gurney. Yes, you have to wear a backless gown. Good luck tying it!!!!

3) The Anesthesia-  They used propofal  to knock you out and Don't put tubes down your throat.
  **NOTE TO ASTHMATICS - Because I have asthma, and have had an attack after anesthesia I asked about this. It's only anesthesia where they put breathing tubes in your throat that irritate your lungs and can trigger attacks. With Propfal, they don't do that, so I didn't have an asthma attack. GOOD TO KNOW.
4) They take blood pressure, temp, etc. and put an IV in you. Then you're wheeled into the procedure room.
5) You lay on your side (they will tell you which side), ask you a question while inserting the Propfal in the IV, and after you answer the question You're OUT!
6) Length of the procedure: Ours lasted between 10-15 minutes. We assume all are under 30 minutes.
7) You awake within 15-30 mins. in a recovery room and the doc gives you the news.
8) You will likely need to clean up briefly before getting dressed and they'll walk you out to the waiting room for your ride.
9)  Afterward, you'll be hungry! - the recommend something light (but we had a chicken sandwich)
10) Two hours after the procedure, you should be feeling pretty good, although you may be groggy or woozy from the anesthesia. (You just can't Drive that day or night). 
Best of luck with your procedure... and don't be nervous!





 

A Dog Rescue Adoption Success Story: Heath

We love it when dogs that we met or fostered get forever homes as our little Mack did in December. Well, another dog that we had for a couple of days found a forever home- thanks to Donna G. of Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, and April, the foster mom of Heath (the dog).
     Heath was originally supposed to go to April, but we decided to try fostering him. Over 2 days we realized that he

Heath got a forever home!

must've been abused by a man, because he had adverse reactions to us, even when we fed him.
    So, we brought him to our friend April, who got him to the doctor, who put him on prozac, and April was able to rehabilitate him with being around men (April has 2 sons). April did an AMAZING job. 


   (We actually wound up doing a  Foster Dog Switch: and we got  12 yr. old Mack  (who was adopted in Dec.)SEE STORY of "The Foster Switch": http://rob-tom-dolly-franklin.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-latest-foster-dog-12-yr-old-mack.html

   PATIENCE AND CARE - Some of the dogs that come into the rescue have been neglected, injured, are sick, old, or have behavioral issues. We've met some that we solely used for breeding and never saw the outdoors or felt grass under their feet. So, fostering can be very rewarding when you bring a dog out of it's funk and teach them how to enjoy life again. 
    THAT is what April and her family did with Heath.    Heath is now very happy in his new home in Pennsylvania with is "brother" Basil (a light colored Dachshund).
           ***************************************

Basil and Heath - new brothers!

ABOUT HEATH:  Heath is a black dachshund (17 lbs). Heath was born on July 22, 2004 and 1 year and 1 month later, Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home and left him without a family. He was rescued and adopted in New Jersey where he lived for almost 9 years before given to the rescue. He's shy and loves to go in his bed in a crate. He doesn't play with toys, but loves blankets and being with you. He doesn't have separation anxiety and goes into his crate/bed. He walks well on a leash and doesn't pull. He arrived into a foster home on Oct. 24, 2014, and will be available for adoption by late Nov. after dental treatment, shots, etc. He has a shiny short fur coat with a gentle sprinkle of grey on his muzzle. He gets along very well with other dogs. (Unknown with cats).  When rescued he let his foster dad cut his nails and bathe him without a problem.
This little guy is a hurricane survivor, and his last family didn't take him to the vet for 4 years. He needs a great home where you will love him as he will love you.

THIS IS THE VIDEO I MADE OF HEATH WHEN WE HAD HIM FOR 3 DAYS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFVLksiFoxU

"Video: "Love Letters to Richard Dawkins"

     If you don't know who Richard Dawkins is, he's a well-educated man and an evolutionary biologist who has written several very popular books about how a "god" doesn't exist. Whether you believe in a god or not, this isn't about that - this is more lighthearted than that (and you can believe what you want).   The author has received vicious hate-mail from Christians, and decided to read them in a 7 minute video... which is quite funny (to him and the viewers).  Although the letters are hateful and vile and use many curse words, you really have to laugh when you hear them read aloud, knowing that they are from (misguided) people who "believe in a loving God." 
   If you are a Christian, you may want to tell other Christians not to be quite so nasty and treat others with love as Jesus would have... just saying. Anyway, this is really worth watching!
  VIDEO: http://youtu.be/gW7607YiBso

Fun Mystery: Janet Evanovich's One for the Money

 Our friend Merri recommended Janet Evanovich's books and sent us "One for the Money" featuring Stephanie Plum, who becomes a bounty hunter when other career paths don't work out. The character and supporting characters are likeable and comical at times. Having grown up in the northeastern U.S. I could definitely picture this New Jersey town and people. This was a really enjoyable novel and I look forward to reading more in the series!  - Rob 

***************************************

BOOK SUMMARY:  Watch out, world. Here comes Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter with attitude. In Stephanie’s opinion, toxic waste, rabid drivers, armed schizophrenics, and August heat, humidity, and hydrocarbons are all part of the great adventure of living in Jersey.

She’s a product of the “burg,” a blue-collar pocket of Trenton where houses are attached and narrow, cars are American, windows are clean, and (God forbid you should be late) dinner is served at six.
Now Stephanie’s all grown up and out on her own, living five miles from Mom and Dad’s, doing her best to sever the world’s longest umbilical cord. Her mother is a meddler, and her grandmother is a few cans short of a case.
Out of work and out of money, with her Miata repossessed and her refrigerator empty, Stephanie blackmails her bail bondsman cousin, Vinnie, into giving her a try as an apprehension agent. Stephanie knows zilch about the job requirements, but she figures her new pal, fearless bounty hunter Ranger, can teach her what it takes to catch a crook.
Her first assignment: nail Joe Morelli, a former vice cop on the run from a charge of murder one. Morelli is also the irresistible macho pig who took Stephanie’s virginity at age sixteen and then wrote the details on the bathroom wall of Mario’s Sub Shop. There’s still powerful chemistry between these two, so the chase should be interesting.
It could also be extremely dangerous, especially when Stephanie encounters a heavyweight title contender who likes to play rough. Benito Ramirez is known for his brutality to women. At the very least, his obsession with Stephanie complicates her manhunt and brings terror and uncertainty into her life. At the worst, it could lead to murder.
Witty, fresh, and full of surprises, One for the Money was among the most eagerly awaited crime novels of the season.
Originally published in hardback June 1994, Scribner

Video: Dog Training: The Weave (at home)

Our 5 year old black and tan dachshund Tyler has been in pre-agility training class for the third semester, and we practice at home every night after dinner. That's when our 10 year old Weimaraner, Dolly joins in. Dolly is super smart and she's learned everything that Tyler has!  Here's the first of two videos of Tyler and Dolly doing the "Weave" command- learning to weave through chairs so they can later weave through poles on an agility course. It's a 13 second video... and they love, love, love doing this.

HOW TO: Clearing your Computer's Temporary Files

If your computer is running slow you may want to clear all the "Temp" files. These are files that you don't need. 

Here's how to get rid of them... and once you do, I guarantee your computer will work faster! 

 

 Clearing your Temporary Files

To delete your Windows temporary files, read the sections below for the operating system you are running:

To delete your Windows temporary files on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8:

1)     Click on Start (For Windows 8, hit shortcut Windows key + R)

2)    Type %temp% in the search box, and then hit the Enter key.

3)     Click on one of the files in the folder that just opened, and press Ctrl + A to select all of the files in this folder.

4)     Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

5)    When prompted if you are sure, choose Yes.

If you receive a Error Deleting File or Folder message while the files are being deleted, it just means that one of the files is in use by a program right now. Click OK, close all open programs, and repeat the steps above. If this continues, try restarting your PC and repeating the process again.

6) Empty Recycle Bin!  

Our Friend Nina Retires!

L to R: Rebecca, Lynn, Rob, Nina!

Our friend Nina has been the Protocol officer at NASA since 1977, but she's also a talented performer, actress and singer! She's been in countless productions, and is always cheerful and has a smile for everyone. 

Nina, Dave, Rebecca

 Nina was inspired to come to NASA by her dad who was an aeronautical engineer!  She worked in various positions and in 1992 she became Goddard's Protocol Officer. She gave VIP tours and organized visits for very important people in high places. She toured all kinds of people from astronauts to political delegates explaining the wonders of NASA. 
    She knew the campus inside and out and One of the visits she orchestrated a couple of years ago was from Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth who visited NASA Goddard!  
      She loves dogs and has a great boxer named Baxter (so all the doggy people in our office stick together). 

Lynn and Rob aka: Felicity and Ollie :)

Lynn, Rob and Rebecca!

Retirement looks good on Nina!

Rebecca and Lynn

    Nina is one of the most fun, wonderful, positive people you'll ever meet, and the office will be empty without her radiance. However, we live close to her, so we'll be able to get together easily. 
    There was a wonderful party at the office for Nina and so many showed up to pay her tribute. Here are some pictures from that special event- for a very, very special lady. 

Educational Short Video: A Senator Schools the Senate on Climate Change

You will get a better understanding that climate change is a reality after watching this short talk from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) who talks facts and educates the Senate on the facts and reality of climate change in June 2014 . As a meteorologist, and someone who works with satellite data and researchers who have proven the Earth has been warming at a faster rate than normal (yes, it goes through cycles, but pollution has exacerbated the rate), I applaud this Senator from Rhode Island. 

   PLEASE WATCH THIS and listen.

      BTW, after this factual talk, climate denier Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) blocked the resolution that would have acknowledged the reality of climate change. Sometimes even the facts can't fix ignorance.  Please Watch and learn! 

VIDEO: http://youtu.be/YDL4Bs3NbB0

The Best Sleeping Positions, Pillows for TMJ Patients

I (Rob) have TMJ - that's tempomandibular jaw syndrome, where your jaw pops or slips out of it's socket causing jaw and headache pain. I can't keep my mouth open long at the dentist - however, if you tip your head back in the chair it reduces the pain.   Recently the TMJ pain has become constant and miserable, so I checked sleeping positions and pillows. Here's what I found out: 

The Best Sleeping Positions for TMJ Patients

The Best Sleeping Position for TMJ Patients

Sleeping on your back is going to be the best position if you suffer from TMJ, another TMD or orofacial pain. Lying on your back has a number of benefits:

• It won’t put pressure on the jaw.
• It will offer proper support to the head, neck and shoulders.
• It provides the best alignment of the body keeping the spine, neck and head in a neutral position.
• You will be less likely to clench your jaw or grind your teeth.

Lying on your stomach is typically the worst position for sleeping, followed closely by sleeping on one side with an arm under your head. In these positions your posture is all out of alignment, which worsens TMJ.
SOURCE: www.medcentertmj.com/

Pillow Recommendations: Use what you have

SOURCE: www.medcentertmj.com/ Posted on December 30, 2013

Pillow talk matters. What does your pillow say to you at night? Does it whisper sweetly in your ear or more like nails on a chalk board?  Make sure you’re using the pillow properly at night, because if you suffer from TMJ or CMD, you need a pillow that sings!    

Expensive doesn’t always make a difference!
You don’t need a fancy new pillow to obtain relief from TMJ and CMD symptoms Many people mistakenly believe if they purchase the very best pillow money can buy, they will get maximum benefits. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between expense and value. Pillows tend to cost more depending on what is used inside for filling. Synthetic cotton fiber pillows are usually less expensive compared to downy or feather pillows.  For therapeutic purposes, it makes no difference what kind of stuffing is in your pillow. However, a pillow with loose stuffing is much easier to manipulate and reshape.
Use what you already own
What’s already on your bed will work just fine. First, take the pillow and shake the contents to one end. Now take the other side of the pillow and roll it inward.  You will discover that you have created a bulge on one end of the pillow. Get some safety pins and place them across in a straight row. This will ensure the filling stays in place inside the pillow.  At night, sleep on the bulky portion of the pillow. This will provide support for your neck and jaw muscles.
It’s too bulky
If you don’t feel the pillow was comfortable after your first night of sleep, make adjustments as necessary.  Undo the row of safety pins and decrease the amount of pillow stuffing at one end.  It may take several nights of experimenting before you create a satisfactory pillow.

Video: Gay Twins Struggle to Come Out To Dad (YouTube) (and my experience)

Telling people, friends and family, that you're gay is stressful and frightening to gay people. We never know what to expect. Some parents say they've always known. Some are relieved or welcoming. 

     Others act hostile and cite their religions. Some throw their children out and leave them homeless. Some gay kids are beaten in the name of Jesus (it's more common than you think). 

    When I (Rob) came out to my mom and dad (over the phone at 33 years old), my younger brother was there (with my parents) to talk with them and support me.  My dad said "okay, we just won't talk about it." My mother didn't speak to me for 6 months and whenever she answered the phone, she wouldn't say anything when I said "hello"  - and she would hand the phone to my dad. That hurt for a long time.    My mother finally called me 6 months later and said "I've been foolish. I just want you to be happy, and find love like everyone else, but I don't understand it."   Fast-forward to 2009 when I married Tom. She was thrilled that we were getting married and said "Tom is the only son that doesn't give me grief." I joked that she loved Tom more than me and my brothers. 

   So, for people who are struggling with it- it gets better. If your parents are so bent on their religion that they ignore the care and humanity of people, you can't fix it. Sometimes they learn for themselves. Sometimes they don't and we must let them be. What's important is to be who you are, and be true to yourself as these twin brothers did in this video. - Rob

Date: 15-Jan-2015

Do you remember the moment when you told your father you were gay? Twins Aaron and Austin Rhodes filmed as they rang their dad to break the news to him. Check out the emotional clip below : https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=L3K0CJ8usPU

 

'The boy who came back from heaven' Alex Malarkey says best-selling book is false!

    Whenever someone lies and misleads people about an afterlife experience it really disturbs me. Such is the case with a book that became a best seller and was made into a film last year called "The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven."          

     As someone who has genuinely had a gift to get messages from people on the other side since I was a teenager, the moment I read the jacket of this book I told others it was a fake. 

   What's even more disgusting to me is that it was all concocted by a preacher - the young boy's father (now divorced from his mother).  He obviously made up this story to convince people of his religion and profit from his deception. 

    So, I urge people to be careful what they read about afterlife experiences. If it follows too closely to a religion, then it is likely false. 

    I have come to know several genuine mediums who can pass messages on from the other side, and the messages usually never include any religion's references. I've written my own books about my experiences but everything I've written can be validated by others. To do so otherwise is shameful, misleading and abhorrent. Question motive before you believe them. - Rob

   

SOURCE:  The following "confession" appeared in christianitytoday.com: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.boy.who.came.back.from.heaven.alex.malarkey.says.i.did.not.die.i.did.not.go.to.heaven/46044.htm

AND  http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/53993/20150115/the-boy-who-came-back-from-heaven-recants-story-says-the-bible-is-the-only-source-of-truth.htm

'The boy who came back from heaven' Alex Malarkey says best-selling book is false

Mark Woods 15 January 2015

 

The best-selling story of a boy's near-death experience is a fake, according to its co-author and subject.

Tyndale

Alex Malarkey has retracted his story about going to heaven and returning

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven was written by Alex and his father Kevin Malarkey and published by Tyndale House in 2010. It purported to tell the story of six-year-old Alex's experiences in heaven after a car accident in 2004, which included meeting and talking to Jesus.
    Now, however, Alex – who was left quadraplegic by the accident – has written an open letter to booksellers including the Southern Baptist Convention's Lifeway business recanting his story and taking aim at other accounts of "heaven tourism", a genre that includes Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and My Journey to Heaven by Marvin Besteman.
Addressed to "Lifeway and Other Sellers, Buyers, and Marketers of Heaven Tourism, by the Boy Who Did Not Come Back From Heaven", the letter says: "Please forgive the brevity, but because of my limitations I have to keep this short.
"I did not die. I did not go to Heaven.

     "I said I went to heaven because I thought it would get me attention. When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible.     People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible.

"It is only through repentance of your sins and a belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for your sins (even though he committed none of his own) so that you can be forgiven may you learn of Heaven outside of what is written in the Bible ... not by reading a work of man. I want the whole world to know that the Bible is sufficient. Those who market these materials must be called to repent and hold the Bible as enough."
      Alex's mother Beth, who is divorced from his father (who is a preacher) and who is Alex's caregiver, had previously disowned the book, writing on her blog: "It is both puzzling and painful to watch the book The Boy who Came Back from Heaven to not only continue to sell, but to continue, for the most part, to not be questioned." She claimed that he had not benefited financially from it, concluding: "Alex did not write the book and it is not blessing him!"
  The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution at its 2014 conference critical of 'heaven tourism' books, though they continue to be sold by Lifeway.
Tyndale House and Kevin Malarkey were approached to comment on this story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR FROM AMAZON: Kevin Malarkey is a Christian therapist with a counseling practice near Columbus, Ohio. He attended the College of Wooster and earned a graduate degree from Ohio State University. He and his wife, Beth, have four children (Alex, Aaron, Gracie, and Ryan) and attend a nondenominational evangelical church.

FACTS: What the New Congress was up to this past week

Want to know what the new Republican Congress was up to this past week?  Only one of these makes any sense. The others are ridiculous.
 Click the word "Resolution" to get more info on each topic.
(Source:  JoeMyGod blog):

The 114th Congress took office this week and the Tea Party wasted no time in introducing a barrage of things. Here are just a few items that I've pulled from the House site.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) introduced a resolution to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment, which authorizes Congress to levy income tax.

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) introduced a resolution that would authorize Congress to sue to the president for "actions inconsistent" with his duties regarding immigration laws.
Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) introduced a resolution that would authorize the House to sue any member of the executive branch who "oversteps their authority" regarding immigration laws.

Rep. Robert Anderholt (R-AL) introduced a resolution that would repeal any executive order regarding immigration reform and "restore" such actions to the federal legislature.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced a resolution that would "terminate" the Internal Revenue Code.

Rep. Andy Barre (R-KY) introduced a resolution that would limit members of the Senate to serving two consecutive terms and limit members of the House to serving six consecutive terms.   **THIS IS THE ONLY SENSIBLE ONE!**

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) introduced a resolution that would make it a felony punishable by five years in prison to perform an abortion on a woman carrying a "pain-capable" fetus.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) introduced a resolution to repeal the Affordable Care Act. (How many times have they tried this? Thirty? Forty?)  (They voted on it 56 times BTW, and wasted taxpayer money)

Rep. Todd Young (R-IN) introduced a resolution that would raise the threshold for classification as a full-time worker from 30 hours per week to 40 hours per week, which would mean the end of mandated health insurance for everybody who works fewer than 40 hours.

As for the Democrats, the most interesting item they've put forward so far is the resolution from (non-voting) Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), which would "provide for the admission of the state of New Columbia to the Union."

We took part in the Sea of Blue DC March Yesterday

Ken, Jill, Rob, Tom

Marching to the Capitol

Huge Crowd at the Capitol

 On Saturday, January 17, 2015 from Noon to 3:00 pm, we joined our friends Ken and Jill, Sean and Sterling (and his parents and sister) and Lisa in the "Sea of Blue DC March" to support our police around the nation. 

   Several of our close friends are police officers: Ken, Jeff and Nathan, and we can't thank them and all the men and women around the nation who keep us safe. So we proudly attended the March in Washington, DC.

some of the signs

From the organizers (three wives of policemen):  About the March: "END THE MADNESS: SEA OF BLUE DC MARCH"

Rob and Tom

Jill and Ken

   Was created to come out and show support for our Officers. Let us show the world we can put an end this hatred towards one another. God put us here to love one another, not hate and fight each other. We will meet at the NLEOMF at noon and when we are ready we will walk over to the U.S. Capitol for a peaceful rally! Please wear something blue, fly your flag Thin Blue Line or American flag, bring the kids bring your neighbors. The lodge will be open after the event for anybody that needs to warm up or just to enjoy each other.
  Schedule:
11:30 a.m. - Noon: Meet at the National Law Enforcement Memorial between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
Noon: Moment of Silence and opening ceremony events
12:30:Form up E Street and march to Capitol (approx. 1/2hr walk)
1:00: Arrival, Speakers and Benediction
ARTICLES AND VIDEOS AFTER THE MARCH:
CNN VIDEO (One of the speakers): http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/17/us/police-support-march/
U.K. DAILY MAIL Article!  - (with Jill's picture): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2914934/Blue-Lives-Matter-Demonstrators-march-capitol-Sea-Blue-rally-support-police.html
WNEW-FM News Radio (Washington, DC) Article: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/01/17/march-rally-in-support-of-police-planned-in-d-c/
REUTERS VIDEO: http://www.reuters.com/video/2015/01/17/law-enforcement-supporters-march-in-sea?videoId=361807794  (Same video on Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/video/law-enforcement-supporters-march-sea-213157050.html)
That video also appeared on WSB-TV in Atlanta: http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/law-enforcement-supporters-march-in-sea-of-blue/vDBYwp/ and in Dayton, Ohio News: http://www.daytondailynews.com/videos/news/law-enforcement-supporters-march-in-sea-of-blue/vDBYx4/  and Lycos News: http://www.daytondailynews.com/videos/news/law-enforcement-supporters-march-in-sea-of-blue/vDBYx4/ and Atlanta Journal Constitution's webpage: http://www.accessatlanta.com/videos/news/law-enforcement-supporters-march-in-sea-of-blue/vDBYy9/
VIDEO#1: Local Fox 5 report: http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/01/17/hundreds-attend-sea-blue-march-washington-dc-support-police
ARTICLE (WJLA-TV Washington): http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/01/-sea-of-blue-rally-backs-police-in-d-c--110663.html
ARTICLE: Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/17/police-supporters-washington-dc_n_6494062.html

old police car

Sterling and Sean

Supporters holding signs

Prepping for the march

rallying

Rallying

Jill, Ken, Sean, Tom

Lisa Supporting her son

Tom and Sean

**********************************************************
ARTICLE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:  http://www.dc-fop.org/news.php

Sterling and Sean

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hundreds of demonstrators marched in support of police officers in the nation's capital on Saturday.

The three women who organized the event are all wives of local police officers who say they've had enough of negativity aimed at law enforcement.
Organizer Bobbie Padgett tells WTOP-FM that the march and rally was an opportunity to thank police for their service.

Three men in blue

Lisa in front of the Capitol Dome

Kelly Wince, whose husband works for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, tells The Washington Times that officers' morale is low amid anti-police rhetoric in the wake of the high-profile deaths of unarmed black suspects by officers in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City.
Wince also says many officers have had to work extra shifts to cover the ensuing protests of those shootings.

supporters

 FROM THE WASHINGTON POST: 

By DeNeen L. Brown January 17 at 3:41 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/sea-of-blue-marchers-come-out-to-support-police/2015/01/17/144cb3f8-9e82-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced_story.html 

Demonstrators carrying signs saying “Blue Lives Matter” marched to the U.S. Capitol on Saturday in a show of support for police officers across the country who organizers say are not thanked enough for the danger they face in the line of duty.

At the Capitol

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“They feel unsupported,” said Kelly Wince, 52, a District police officer’s wife who organized the march with two other officers’ wives. “When they walk out the door, we don’t know whether they are coming home. We wanted to let them know we care.”

Great signs!

Oliver Smith Sr., 66, of Cheverly, Md., told the audience about his son, Oliver Smith Jr., a police officer who died in the line of duty. Smith turned his back to show a T-shirt he was wearing with the names of 180 officers who were killed in the line of duty across the country in 1997, the year in which his 28-year-old son was killed in Forestville, Md., at the end of a shift. Smith said that during the “Sea of Blue” march in Washington, he saw signs of counter protesters calling police “bad cops.” “It hurt me,” he said. “This is a peaceful demonstration. Nobody threw rocks. Nobody killed anybody. Nobody threw stones.”

Theresa Dittamo, 71, of Woodbridge, Va., remembered her son Paul Dittamo, a police officer who was killed when his patrol car crashed in Anacostia in 2010.

 HERE"S A VIDEO REPORT FROM FOX 5 NEWS, WASHINGTON, DC (Jill, Rob, Sterling and his parents and sister are seen between 1:31 and 1:34 in the video) 
LINK: http://www.myfoxdc.com/clip/11044887/pro-police-rally

DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG

HERE'S ANOTHER VIDEO  FILMED BY SOMEONE INVOLVED IN THE MARCH: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqfsOnsdbrk