2 Min. video: World Meteorological Organization: State of the Global Climate in 2019

Here's a short video from the World Meteorological Organization about the state of global climate this year. It covers a lot in 2 minutes and it's very informative and educational. This is Highly worth a Watch!

The year 2019 concludes a decade of exceptional global heat, retreating ice and record sea levels driven by greenhouse gases from human activities. Average temperatures for the five-year (2015-2019) and ten-year (2010-2019) periods are almost certain to be the highest on record. 2019 is on course to be the second or third warmest year on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The Entire press release: https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/2019-concludes-decade-of-exceptional-global-heat-and-high-impact-weather

Video: https://youtu.be/5RW1gZKY4KM

Rob's 3 hour Interview on You Tube's Paranormal Soup Program!

Here is my 3 hour you tube interview from last night until 2am today, Dec. 29, 2019 with Paranormal Soup You Tube Channel. My thanks to my friend Cole Preston Webster for watching the entire broadcast live! What a trooper. The interview covered my books on Pets in the Afterlife, Kindred Spirits and Ghosts of England!
VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/mwpparanormalsoup/videos/500424983921778/

My Book Review: The Flash: The Tornado Twins (The Flash Book 3)

As a superhero fan, I try to read any novels that come out about my favorite characters.  Recently I
read "The Flash: The Tornado Twins (The Flash Book 3)" by Barry Lyga. I did read the previous books, too, and they all have a storyline thread that connects them.
  This one, titled the "Tornado Twins" didn't grab me. The "tornado twins" seemed like filler characters that the Flash ran into somewhere in the future, while trying to get further in the future. These characters didn't do anything for me. Granted they helped solve a problem the Flash faced, but I didn't care about them.  The story also says they introduced the Flash to the 'cosmic treadmill,' going outside of comic book lore. As a Flash fan, that bothered me. So did the fight scene in the future, but I won't give that away.
   I understand the need to bring in young (teen) readers, but the story just didn't do it for me- and an angry outburst from the Iris West character was so out of line for the character as depicted on the television CW Network show. So, I would skip this novel, and unfortunately, I don't intend to get any future volumes.
   It's a rare thing for me to put in a not positive review, but I was  really disappointed.

Idiot of the Week : Conservative Radio Host Wishes for "A Nice School Shooting" to distract from Impeachment

We've been saying for years that conservative voters and followers suffer from mental illness. This week's idiot actually has a radio show that those voters listen to, and cheer. This week's idiot wished for "A Nice School Shooting" to distract Americans from the president's impeachment. That's SICK.
People who listen to him and support him and these values are SICK. The idiot later said "It was a joke." Joking about murdering students in a school is NOT a joke. 
Here's the story.
Conservative radio host wishes for a ‘nice school shooting’ to distract from impeachment
washingtonpost Dec 19, 2019

As Chuck Bonniwell welcomed listeners back from a break on his Colorado talk-radio show just after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, he laughed as he introduced a segment discussing the “never-ending impeachment of Donald Trump.”

“You know,” he said, “you wish for a nice school shooting” to interrupt the nonstop impeachment coverage.

His wife and co-host, Julie Hayden, immediately jumped in and cut him off.

“No, no, don’t even — don’t even say that,” she said. “No, don’t even say that. Don’t call us, Chuck didn’t say that.”

Bonniwell quickly tried to back off from the statement, saying he would want a shooting “in which no one would be hurt,” but the damage had already been done. By the end of the day, the couple’s conservative show was canceled by the Aurora, Colo., radio station 710 KNUS.

“Given the history of school violence that has plagued our community, 710 KNUS confirms that an inappropriate comment was made on the ‘Chuck & Julie’ show by co-host Chuck Bonniwell,” the station said in a statement Wednesday evening. “A programming decision was made to end the program immediately.”

Bonniwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday. In a now-deleted tweet, Bonniwell defended himself, suggesting people had misunderstood his intent.

“I made an inappropriate comment meant as a joke,” he said, the Denver Post reported. “I’m sorry it was not received that way.”

“Chuck & Julie” was removed from the station’s website and returned an error message by early Thursday.

The radio station said the “Chuck & Julie” show would be replaced by former White House aide Sebastian Gorka’s “America First” program starting Thursday.

KNUS is no stranger to controversy brought on by its programs. Another host denied allegations last week that he had posted white-supremacist memes online after he made comments on-air that mirrored an anti-Semitic post by someone using his name on a Russian social media platform frequented by extremists. That host told 9News the post was part of an elaborate plot by a local anti-fascist group to defame him. The station defended him.

Plants that are Poisonous to your Pets

There are many plants that can be poisonous to your dog or cat, and 6 are common around the holidays.  The ASPCA maintains a list (it's LONG) of many houseplants and outside plants that are dangerous to pets.
    Relative to that, one woman who wrote me about the passing of her puppy asked how he passed, and he showed me it was from eating plants.I sent her a list (links below) from the ASPCA and she confirmed several of the plants in her yard, and that he liked to eat them. (That's the chapter of Clancy in my "Pets and the Afterlife 2" book).
   Now, Here's a list of those 6 holiday plants from Pet Wellbeing:

6 Common Holiday Plants to Keep Away from Pets

As the holidays grow near, homeowners are sure to begin decorating their homes with festive décor, plants and lights. Although these decorations are marvelous to look at, if you’re a pet owner, they could also be sources of danger for your beloved furry friend.

Holiday plants are some of the most common causes of pet health problems around the holidays, alongside injury from decorations and illness caused by toxic foods. A few staple holiday plants are very dangerous to cats and dogs; others are less dangerous but can cause mild toxicity. If you want to include live plants in this year’s holiday décor, here are six plants you’ll want to keep away from your pets.

Mildly dangerous

A few holiday plants have gotten a bad reputation over the years but are not nearly as toxic as many people think they are. With that said, they still can cause problems like gastrointestinal upset, so it’s a good idea to keep these plants out of your pet’s reach.

• Poinsettias: A lot of people think that poinsettias are extremely toxic to pets, but they tend to cause more worry than is truly warranted. However, poinsettias can cause digestive problems in both cats and dogs if they are eaten. The leaves of poinsettia plants exude a sap that can cause irritation in the mouth and throat. If your pet eats these leaves, they may experience nausea and vomiting. Poinsettias do have the potential to cause fatal poisoning, but it is uncommon for pets to eat enough of the leaves because they are usually deterred by the irritating feel.
• Christmas cactus: The Christmas cactus is a beautiful flowering plant, but it can pose a threat to your pet’s safety and comfort. Although it is not technically toxic, its fibrous plant material is often hard on cats’ and dogs’ stomachs if eaten, potentially causing digestive problems. The Christmas cactus can be a safe holiday plant to keep around pets, but don’t leave it within reach if your pet is a known plant chewer.
• Christmas trees: Although they are considered less of a plant and more of a decoration, live Christmas trees can be a somewhat dangerous thing to pets. Christmas trees come with their own unique set of hazards, but live, freshly chopped trees can drop needles that are hazardous to cats and dogs in some capacity. The oils from fir trees can irritate pet’s mouths and cause nausea and diarrhea, while the needles can pose a risk of injury, puncture or blockage in the intestines. And, if you have a cat, make sure you get a fir tree, not pine, since pine trees can be toxic to cats and cause liver damage or even death if enough needles are ingested.

Very dangerous

Aside from the mildly dangerous plants, there are also a few common holiday plants that can be extremely dangerous to both cats and dogs. Avoid having these plants in your home at all during the holidays to keep your pets safe.

• Holly: Holly may be a lovely decoration to add to your tree, on a centerpiece or above the mantle, but it is poisonous to dogs and cats. Both the leaves and berries can cause vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, as well as excessive drooling if ingested. If your pet eats a large amount of holly, it could lead to seizures and death.
• Mistletoe: Commonly hung from the ceiling and used to elicit kisses from loved ones, mistletoe is a fun and seemingly harmless plant common around Christmastime. Unfortunately, the plant is quite hazardous to have around both cats and dogs. Mistletoe and its berries contain toxalbumin and pharatoxin viscumin, both of which are toxic to pets and can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Pets may also experience more dramatic symptoms, such as excessive drooling, a severe drop in blood pressure, breathing problems and hallucinations. Eating large quantities of mistletoe can potentially be fatal for pets.
• Amaryllis: The amaryllis plant’s bright red flowers are lovely to look at but are very dangerous for pets. The plant contains a noxious substance called lycorine, which can cause salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, lethargy and tremors in both cats and dogs. The bulb of the plant is also very dangerous. Avoid keeping this plant in the house at all if you have pets!
• 
  
• FULL LIST OF POISONOUS PLANTS
• LIST OF ABOUT 100 PLANTS THAT AFFECT DOGS: 
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
• LIST OF ABOUT 100 PLANTS THAT AFFECT CATS: 
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants?field_toxicity_value%5B%5D=02

What to do if Your Pet Ingests a Plant

If your pet manages to sink their teeth into your holiday plants, isolate the pet and call your vet right away to learn what to do. Do not attempt to induce vomiting on your own. Follow your vet’s instructions to ensure your pet stays safe after their close encounter with a dangerous plant. 

ALSO - you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 24 Hour Emergency Phone Number: (888) 426-4435

In general, you should always keep plants away from pets. Even if they aren’t toxic, they have the potential to cause mild digestive problems. However, in the case of very poisonous plants like mistletoe and amaryllis, play it safe and opt for fake plants or other types of decorations, instead.

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

BETTER PETS.COM 11 little-known facts about owning a dog

We just published a more comprehensive guide that details 11 little-known facts about owning a dog. I’ve found that many people who adopted a dog did not fully understand all the responsibilities, time, and costs that come with being a dog parent. I hope our guide can help set the right expectations for your readers so they can raise their pups responsibly.   https://betterpet.com/11-things-to-know-about-owning-a-dog/

Karma in Action: Recently in Massachusetts

Karma means that whatever you do to others will be done to you. Of course, if you're a good person
you have nothing to worry about. However, if you're a jerk to someone, or many people, that bad energy keeps building up. Earlier this year, there was such an example of that when a racist bully who pushed a black man through a window (he survived) received his Karma calling. Here's the story from Boston. com.

NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN CHARGED IN ASSAULT, ACCUSED OF YELLING RACIST SLURS DIES
   One of two brothers facing criminal charges for attacking and yelling racist slurs at a 22-year-old man in Massachusetts has died, authorities said.
   Jeremy Stephenson and James Stephenson, 39, of Salem, New Hampshire, have been accused of assaulting a man in the parking lot of a pizza shop and telling the victim to “go back to Africa” on Sept. 27 in Dracut, Massachusetts. (The alleged victim’s name was not made public.). The brothers punched the man, yelled racist slurs and pushed him through a plate glass window, officials said. According to officials, the man stabbed Jeremy Stephenson in self-defense during the alleged attack.
  The Lowell Sun first reported Jeremy Stephenson’s death on Friday.

FULL STORY: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2019/12/15/new-hampshire-man-charged-in-assault-accused-of-yelling-racist-slurs-dies?s_campaign=Email:BComToday

Letters Like this about my books Make it all worthwhile

As a self-published author who does all my own promotions, travel (using funds made from my books), animal rescue benefits, and answering countless emails from people who lost a person or pet (and found out about me via a radio or tv interview or bought my books), it's important to me to hear if my hobby and all the time I spend is appreciated and helpful to grieving people. Recently I received the following letter that shows me all the energy, time and expense I put out make it worthwhile. Tell someone when they touch your life. It makes a difference.

Last month, I received the following letter from Deanna, and it made my day. Deanna lost her precious dog Georgio, and read my Pets and the Afterlife book to help her understand how Georgio could communicate. I am so pleased that it seemed to help bring her peace. With her permission, here is her letter:  ************************************* Dear Rob,A year ago today, I said goodbye to my dog, Georgio. One of the hardest days of my life. I was so lucky to have him by my side for 15 years. I knew our time was nearing the end and like so many I struggled with the decision of "when".  I rationalized putting it off, he was still eating normally and wanted his daily walks, we just didn't go as far anymore or as fast.  When the day came, I laid with him until he took his final breath.  I was not leaving his side when he needed his mom the most. My heart broke into little pieces. I struggled with the guilt that you described in your book.  "Did I wait too long? Did I do it too soon". When I read about how you sent an email to a friend recounting your Sprites ailments in Chapter 6, "The Questioning" I decided to do that, too.  My heart felt a little lighter. I started to forgive myself.  I accept that I made the best decision for my boy at the time that I could make it and with his help.  It was right. And I thank you for that.  I bought your books after not being able to attend your fundraiser at the Animal Rescue League of NH this past September. After reading them, I realized that Georgie was sending me a whole bunch of signs that I was too blind with grief to see, like waking up at 3:30am every night.  I believe he is also influencing my other dog, Jay, in a good way ;)   I kept wondering what else I had been missing and made an appointment with a local medium.  Amongst others, my mom came through.  With her was a young male, recently passed, a young son, my brother? no.  She then asked, who's George? My dog.  She said they were together.  Happy tears. How could she know that just that morning, I picked up his picture, wished him a happy birthday in heaven and said "I hope you are with Grammy celebrating." Then, I told my mom to give him a kiss for me. I guess I got my answer!  They told her. Now I look for signs everywhere. Last night while changing into my PJ's, I looked at G's picture and talked to him. Shortly after I thought I heard my phone ping. His picture is my screen saver. I looked at it and the time was 9:19.  Numbers that I always chose when playing the lottery or selecting a password.  Georgio's birthday.  He heard me! Thank you for your books.  Thank you for your devotion to animals and guest speaking at rescue organizations in order to raise funds.  Most of all, thank you for helping people like me. I will make sure I am one of the first to sign up for your next fundraiser at the Animal Rescue League of NH September 2020!Sincerely, Deanna

Happy Holidays from us to you

Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. from our family to yours. Often we think that a good gift is something you can buy or make, but it's not. It's love. The love of our 4 canine children are the best gift in life, and we are thankful every day. For the kisses, the cuddles, the squirrel chasing, the excitement over dinner, the expectations of the three 8pm daily treats, tucking them under a blanket and kissing them good night each night, wagging tails at the door when we come home, and toys scattered all around the house!  Even the memories of our dogs Buzz and Sprite who passed in 2005 and 2013 are a gift.  So appreciate the love you have in your life, whether a dog, cat, horse, friend, co-worker, acquaintance, family member or someone that helps jump your car battery, or lets you ahead of them in a store check out line. Enjoy your holidays! Rob, Tom, and kids

A Simple Sign from Sprite's Spirit on his Birthday

We got a sign from our dog Sprite (who passed in 2013) that he was around on his birthday!

Sprite in 2011

If you've read either of my "Pets and the Afterlife" books, you understand that pets in spirit can send subtle messages to let us know they're around during birthdays (theirs or yours), anniversaries (adoption, passing, etc.) or even holidays. They know these times because when they are alive in the physical they can read our emotional energy levels and know those dates are special times. When they're in spirit, they can also read that energy, so they know enough to return to us at those times to let us know they are still around us. That said, our dog Sprite, who passed in 2013 gave me a subtle sign this year, 2019, on what would have been his birthday, Dec. 23. 

Sprite was a dachshund who passed away on July 8, 2013 at 16 1/2 years old.  Sprite was a funny little guy, who liked to keep to himself and didn't play with toys (he came to us from the rescue just before he turned 14 and wound up have several surgeries and 22 rotted teeth removed). Sprite loved our other dogs, Dolly, Franklin and was getting accustomed to Tyler (who was young at the time).  

Because he had most of his teeth removed, he found it difficult to eat his food from a bowl, so we bought him a small, square dish that was flat with slightly elevated/angled ridges around it. When Sprite passed, my friend Troy, a medium, told me that Sprite wanted us to keep his dish and use it for our food. So, I did.

Sprite's special dish (with a chip in it)

Yesterday, on Dec. 23rd, I quickly needed to get a small dish to prevent a spill in the kitchen, so I flung open the cabinet and grabbed the first dish. It was Sprite's special square dish!  
   I realized immediately that it was his birthday, and the he directed me to open the cabinet and grab his dish as a reminder he is still very much with us. That's how spirit works. Even something as subtle and simple as a dish can be a sign. 

To read Sprite's story and how he came to 2 other mediums with the same message, and to learn many ways that your pets can send signs, read "Pets and the Afterlife" by Rob Gutro on Amazon.com (Under $9 paperback /$2,99 kindle. 
  

Ed's Message On the Anniversary of his passing: "Kindred Spirits"

Ed in the 1990s 

Recently at my office, I went to lunch with 3 colleagues who have each had paranormal experiences. We talked about living in haunted homes and their experiences with humans or animals who passed. I never mentioned Ed's spirit, whom is the subject of my latest book "Kindred Spirits: How a Medium Befriended a Spirit." But, Ed wanted me to know he's around. Here's what happened.

Last week, during the Christmas rush of getting presents together, baking and organizing things, I heard Ed on Thursday, Dec. 19 suggest taking three copies of my "Kindred Spirits" book to work and give one each to my colleagues. I didn't think anything of it until the morning of Dec. 20. Then it hit me. 

I thought, Today is the anniversary of Ed's passing. I totally forgot, but he didn't. 

I was reminded when I checked my husband's facebook page and he posted the following "Though the voice may be quiet, the memory of you remains. You are still greatly missed. 10/15/60 - 12/20/96."
There, looking at me was Ed's face in a photo that Tom posted.  

As I gave Paul, Michelle and Courtney their copies, I realized it was the anniversary of his passing, and that Ed wanted to reassure me that he's still very much alive and around. It brought a tear to my eyes, and a comfort. 

That's how spirits work. They will influence you to do things on a certain date that is special to them, so that we'll know they are still around us. You can read about many of the ways Ed has communicated with me over the last 14 years (and he still does, obviously!) in my book "Kindred Spirits: How a Medium Befriends a Spirit" on Amazon.com. 

Thank you, Ed! I love you. 
- Rob 

Idiot of the Week: Candidate Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend, Extortion, Threats

If you're running for office, don't you think that stalking an ex is a pretty dumb thing to do? Well,
apparently this guy in California didn't think so. After he did it, he was arrested. Here's the story.

GOP candidate  arrested for allegedly stalking ex-girlfriend, Extortion, Threats

Congressional candidate Omar Navarro was arrested late last night in San Fransicso on extortion, stalking, making criminal threats, and disobeying a court issued domestic relations order preventing him from further contact with Pelosi challenger DeAnna Lorraine. Allegedly after attending a San Francisco Republican Christmas party, she came back to her new apartment in San Francisco to find Navarro outside stalking and threatening her, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

San Francisco police arrested Navarro after his ex-girlfriend, DeAnna Lorraine Tesoriero, reported he had been threatening her that night, according to the Daily Beast, which was the first to report on the arrest. Navarro challenged Waters in 2016 and 2018, and he is again running in 2020.

Tesoriero, a conservative commentator who is in the GOP primary in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s California district, told the Daily Beast she saw Navarro wandering around near her apartment Saturday night. She then received a text message from an unknown number that read: “Bitch, I came to see you.”

Today: 12/21: What is a Solstice and December solstice is the shortest season!

Today marks the December Solstice. If you don't know what that means, you will after you  read this explanation from EarthSky.com, look at the graphic and watch the short video from National Geographic (below). You'll also learn what happened in 1246 and what will happen in the year 3500 in terms of seasons.

December solstice starts shortest season!
EARTHSKY.COM
The December solstice will come on December 22, 2019, at 04:19 UTC. That’s 10:19 p.m. (22:19) CST on December 21 for those in the central time zone in North America. It’s when the sun reaches its southernmost point for the year. This solstice marks the beginning of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere. And, no matter where you are on Earth, it marks the beginning of your shortest season.

By season, we mean the time between a solstice and an equinox, or vice versa. The upcoming season – between the December solstice and March equinox – is a touch shy of 89 days.

Contrast the number of days of the upcoming season with that of the longest season, a Northern Hemisphere summer or Southern Hemisphere winter. The longest season as measured from the June solstice to the September equinox lasts 93.65 days.

Why is the upcoming season nearly five days shorter?
Here’s why the seasons are different lengths. Every year in early January, the Earth swings closest to the sun for the year. Because Earth is nearest the sun at this time, Earth moves most swiftly in its orbit. That’s why a Northern Hemisphere winter or Southern Hemisphere summer is the shortest of the four seasons.

On the other hand, in early July, Earth is farthest from the sun and moving most slowly in its orbit.

The Earth's tilt during solstices and equinoxes. Cr: Epoch Times

Lengths of the astronomical seasons:

• December solstice to March equinox: 88.99 days
• March equinox to June solstice: 92.76 days
• June solstice to September equinox: 93.65 days
• September equinox to December solstice: 89.84 days

According to the computational wizard Jean Meeus, a Northern Hemisphere winter or Southern Hemisphere summer became the shortest season after the year 1246. The astronomical season between the December solstice and the March equinox will reach a minimum value of 88.71 days around the year 3500, and will continue to reign as the shortest season until about 6430.

Bottom line: By season, we mean the time between a solstice and an equinox, or vice versa. Shortest season begins on December 22, 2019. It’s a touch shy of 89 days in length.

VIDEO FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: WHAT IS A SOLSTICE? 
What is the definition of a solstice, and when do they happen? Is the winter solstice always the first day of winter? Find out what causes these bi-annual astronomical events, as well as how they bring about the shortest and longest days of the year.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/btcTfor-j-c

Video: Santa Surprises Giant Homeless Dog with a New Family for Christmas

Rocky Kanaka, Pet Rescue Advocate and owner of The Dog Bakery, arranges the best Christmas EVER for Goliath, a 9-year-old Great Dane who doesn't have a home.
   Goliath was dumped at a shelter by his former family at 9 years old. Large dogs don't live beyond 10 usually, and that was outrageously cruel. Fortunately, this story has a good ending. Just watch the video. 
   Wait 'til you see Goliath's reaction when he finds out he's been adopted! Watch this heart-warming video that will definitely get you in the holiday spirit!
Video: https://youtu.be/KB43nr4gY9w

Why Is “Christmas” Abbreviated As “Xmas”?

If someone tells you there is a "War on Christmas" when you say "Xmas," you can tell them they
need to be educated. Personally, I'm tired of conservatives trying to get people angry with their false conspiracy theories. If people who follow conservative "news" or websites would simply investigate, they would find these false conspiracy theories are just that- FALSE. Thanks to Dictionary.com, here's the truth behind "XMAS," and YES, it has a religious meaning.


Why Is “Christmas” Abbreviated As “Xmas”?
Source: Dictionary.com

Here’s a holiday surprise that only the dictionary can provide. Do you find the word Xmas, as an abbreviation for Christmas, offensive? Many people do, but the origin of this controversial term might change your mind!

You won’t find Xmas in church songbooks or even on many greeting cards. Some people associate Xmas with the holiday as a commercial, secular occasion instead of as a particular cultural and religious ritual.

Where did Xmas come from?
But, the history of the word Xmas is actually more respectable—and fascinating—than you might suspect. First of all, the abbreviation predates (by centuries) its use in gaudy advertisements. It was first used in the mid-1500s.

X represents the Greek letter chi, the initial letter in the word Χριστός (Chrīstos). And what does Χριστός mean? “(Jesus) Christ.” X has been an acceptable representation of the word Christ for hundreds of years. (And why would people need to abbreviate Christ? Well, the word is very widely written.)

Other abbreviations for Christ include Xt and Xp, the P here representing the Greek letter rho, source of our letter R. A stylized version of the Greek chi (X) and rho (P) is ☧, a symbol of Christ called a Christogram.

In the same vein, the dignified terms Xpian and Xtian have been used in place of the word Christian.

Where does the –mas in Christmas come from?
The –mas in Xmas comes from the Old English word for mass, as in a church service, especially one in the Roman Catholic Church including a celebration of the Eucharist. That word, mæsse, is believed to have been derived from Church Latin missa, ultimately from Latin mittere which means “to send (away).” It was perhaps derived from the concluding formula in the Latin mass, Ite, missa est, meaning “Go, it is the dismissal!” That is, the service is over.

In the News: 'Somebody answered my dead brother's number' (not what you think)

Sometimes people who have lost loved ones have actually received phone calls from the deactivated phone numbers of their loved ones who have passed. I haven't, but I do know that I will not delete my parents' house phone number from my phone. Many others do the same thing, as cited in this story from BBC News.

This story isn't about a deceased loved one who communicated from the other side though. It's about a living person that received the former phone number of a deceased loved one, got a text message from the living relative who continued to text her late loved one, and had the heart to respond to the grieving person. Then offered support. What a gift. Here's the story from the BBC News (Oct. 11, 2019):

'Somebody answered my dead brother's number'
By Dhruti Shah BBC News, Washington DC

10 October 2019

When a loved one dies, it is often hard to let go and many people try to maintain a connection any way they can. For some, it can be by visiting a grave, posting on a Facebook memorial page or even texting them.

For six months, Ruth Murray had been finding comfort in text messaging the phone number belonging to her brother Mike - it was a way of staying close to him after he died suddenly.

The 36-year-old from Minneapolis never expected a response but it was just her way of staying connected to her older sibling.

So in late September, when her phone buzzed with a message from the number she had for years labelled "brothaboo", her stomach dropped.

She had texted him just hours previously saying: "I just miss you so much. God. What the hell".

But the stranger - Amber Leinweber, 32, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin - has turned out to be a godsend for grieving Ruth.

When Amber found out what Ruth was going through, she told her to "text anytime you need to", adding: "I know we don't know each other, but [I] don't mind being a sounding board."

She had, by coincidence, been assigned Mike's old number when her bosses gave her a work phone, and had at first thought that the texts she kept receiving were for a lost phone.



Ruth said: "My brother Mike overdosed on heroin in March. He had struggled with addiction for 12 years and although he had been clean for three months, he relapsed and passed away aged 37.

"We were really close and would text every day. He called me sisterboo. If I had a joke to tell him or a memory I wanted to share or I just wanted to reach out to him, I'd message him in the same way as before he died."

Rob's books teach how spirits communicate

She said she never expected his number to be reassigned so quickly and when Amber first messaged, Ruth had to leave the room she was in and find somewhere to cry.



However, when Ruth posted the exchange on Reddit, she was shocked by how much it resonated, with more than 80,000 upvotes and 800 comments. People from all over the world admitted to how they too would contact their loved ones via text, Snapchat, Facebook and more.
Camille Sharrow-Blaum from Michigan was among those who responded. She posted that her friend Jenny had died from cancer last year aged 27 but despite this Camille's network continued to reach out to her.

"Her husband keeps paying for her cell phone and number so that we can all text it. He keeps it charging in a drawer and never looks at the messages, but he knows there are five of us in a group chat and we can't bear to start a new one without her."

She told the BBC the group still felt Jenny was a key part of their lives and they wanted to share milestones with her, adding: "It just feels right for our conversations to continue with her in the group chat - it makes it feel like a direct line to Jenny. It helps us remember her, no matter how long she's been gone."

'Small things'
Jaclyn Schwartz from Texas also continued to pay for her husband Jason's phone line following his death from multiple organ failure in 2017. It allows her to text him, see the images he took and the conversations he has with people.

"It makes him seem not so far away when I really miss him," she said.

"It's something that was such an ordinary part of his day, using that phone. And when you lose someone the little things can disappear so fast with time. How his hair smelled or the way he walked a little wonky in flip flops or the way he drove me crazy by never deleting any emails, even junk mail.

"I don't want to lose the small things. I'm in no rush to shut it off."



And Jessica Allen, of London, Ontario, told Redditors: "We buried my brother with his phone, so that we could text him. My parents paid for it for a few months then stopped. Eventually a year later someone got the number."

Jessica told the BBC her brother Brad killed himself aged 18 in 2007. She said it had been important to the family to maintain that connection through the phone. When the number was reassigned, Jessica admits it was difficult as it marked another loss.

Andrea Warnick is a psychotherapist in Toronto specialising in grief counselling. She is unsurprised by the need for people to stay in touch with deceased friends and families through their phones and social media: "There is a profound human need to stay connected to the dead."

She said that historically this would be where religious and spiritual institutions would step in and offer rituals.

"Most of the people who engage in this are not expecting a response. It's just a means of communicating. Many of us don't have the rituals or traditions that used to be the guiding force in these times."



She says it was perfectly healthy to want to stay in touch however, when the numbers were reassigned by third parties, there was a risk of it feeling like an additional death. She added it was important for those grieving to make room for death in their lives.

Ruth says she felt comforted by the reaction and she wanted to meet Amber to thank her in person, especially after discovering this one-time stranger's husband once played in the same poker circles as her brother.



Amber, 32, said: "I truly believe I was supposed to get that number. It's more than a coincidence that I was given it. The more we talked over messages, the more we realised we had so much in common.
She is a little puzzled why it "blew up" on Reddit like it did.

"When did being a compassionate human being become something exceptional?

"It didn't cost me anything to respond. People get hung up on trying to say the right thing in these types of situations but sometimes people just need to be able to vent or say what they need and move on.

"They don't need advice on how to grieve. They just need space. It takes nothing to lend your ear."

News you May Have Missed Recently: Boston's Airport, Food Stamps Cuts Now in Progress, UK Recession indicator?, a Dumb Walmart Sweater, UK Gay Vet Gets Medal Back

There's a lot of news that we don't seem to hear. Usually radio and television repeat the same stories over and over and over, and never talk about anything outside of their area. Well, we're fixing that. Today you'll read about drama at Boston's Airport, Food Stamps Cuts Now in Progress, UK Recession indicator?,  a Dumb Walmart Sweater pulled from shelves, and a UK gay Vet gets his Medals back.  Stories>>

LOGAN AIRPORT DRAMA IN BOSTON

Dec. 3- A Malden man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly went through an emergency exit door in a Logan Airport terminal, fled across the airport tarmac, and climbed into a plane’s cargo hold, according to state police.  Sergiu Parfeni, 31, was immediately pulled from the cargo hold by JetBlue employees, authorities said. Parfeni owns Bikeeny Caffe, an Eastern European-style cafe there with two business partners; serves on the board of directors for MATV, Malden’s community access television station; and is also involved with the Malden Chamber of Commerce — he represented the organization in a mayoral debate panel.

TRUMP ADMIN  ISSUES FOOD STAMP BENEFIT CUT  

Affecting hundreds of thousands of food stamp recipients: The Trump administration is stopping benefits to an estimated 688,000 people on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), (previously known as the U.S. Food Stamp Program).  The USDA   released a press release entitled “USDA Restores Original Intent of SNAP: A Second Chance, Not a Way of Life,” with a half-dozen subdocuments, one of which explains that a longstanding rule allowing states to extend SNAP benefits will be restricted—effectively disqualifying 688,000 on April 1, 2020.  Currently, SNAP  provides roughly $160 in food purchases for three months to able-bodied workers without dependents, which can be continued by working or training at least 20 hours a week. However, many states, particularly in high-unemployment regions, extend the benefits long beyond three months. Now states will only be able to issue waivers if the unemployment rate is over 6%, and waiver applications will require complex data and specificity.

**Devin Nunes is the idiot in Congress that kept saying the WH illegal activities were "made up."

NUNES WAS IN CONTACT WITH GIULIANI, PARNAS The House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment report released Tuesday includes call records showing that the committee’s own ranking member, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), was privately in contact with key players in President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine that led to the impeachment inquiry.

Hints of a World Recession from the UK?

UK ECONOMIC GROWTH SLOWEST SINCE EARLY 2009

The economy suffered its worst three months for more than a decade after official figures revealed output failed to grow once again in October.Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed the economy flatlined month-on-month in October, after two months of declines. It was the weakest three months since early 2009.

HOW STUPID TO SELL THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE- Walmart Canada removes Santa cocaine sweater, apologizes.

ENGLAND NEWS:  FALKLANDS VETERAN 'FORCED OUT OVER SEXUALITY' WILL GET MEDAL BACK

A Falklands veteran forced out of the Royal Navy over his sexuality will have a military honour returned.  Joe Ousalice, 68, served as a radio operator for 18 years but was discharged in 1993 because of a ban on LGBT people in the armed forces.  

In the News: UK's 'largest' gold nugget discovered in Scottish river

LEE PALMER/PICTUREEXCLUSIVE.COM

Image captionThe Reunion Nugget could be the largest unearthed in the UK

Planning a trip to Scotland? You may want to visit and grab your gold panning gear. Here's a story
from BBC News on Dec. 4 about
a gold hunter that found a fortune in river in Scotland. Here's the story

UK's 'largest' gold nugget discovered in Scottish river

BBC NEWS 12-4-19: A gold hunter claims to have discovered the UK's largest gold nugget in a Scottish river.

The lump of pure gold, which weighs 121.3g (4.2 oz), was unearthed in a mystery location in May this year.

The two pieces form a doughnut shape and could be worth £80,000. The previous largest find, in 2016, was the 85.7g (3oz) Douglas Nugget.

However, gold panning experts are remaining sceptical until its provenance can be confirmed.

The treasure was discovered in two pieces but fits together perfectly, earning it the name The Reunion Nugget.

The gold-panning community is renowned for its secrecy, and the name of the river where it was found has not been revealed. The lucky finder is also remaining anonymous.

'Remarkable find'
The finder brought the discovery to the attention of author Lee Palmer who was researching his book Gold Occurrences In The UK.

Mr Palmer, 50, said: "This is now the largest nugget in existence in the UK. When you look at it, it's doughnut-shaped.

"There are no impurities in it, it is just pure gold nugget of about 22 carats. It really is a remarkable find."

Idiot of the Week: Mass. man clocked at 120 mph on Interstate

Suniel Ross, 36, of Bridgewater, Mass. 

Courtesy New Hampshire State Police

This week's Idiot was going twice the legal speed limit while totally drunk. A HUGE thanks to the 
New Hampshire State Police for stopping this fool. Here's the story. 

IDIOT OF THE WEEK Mass. man clocked at 120 mph on I-95

GREENLAND, NH — A Massachusetts man has been charged after a state trooper said he was driving 120 miles per hour on Interstate 95. Around 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Trooper Petros Lazos of the New Hampshire State Police said he saw a car driving extremely fast on the interstate in Greenland, New Hampshire (just over the Mass/NH line).  His radar showed the car was traveling at 120 miles per hour.

Lazos stopped the car and identified the driver as Suniel Ross, 36, of Bridgewater, Mass. Ross has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. 

Ross was released on personal recognizance bail and is to appear in Portsmouth District Court on Dec. 16.