Fantastic Trade Paperback: Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 (and Swamp Thing TV and Movies)

 Growing up in the 1970s, I got into reading and collecting comic books, and I was often drawn to the mysterious heroes (likely because I had the ability to talk with people who passed). So, I loved the ghostly superhero called the Spectre. But I also liked the man-monster known as Swamp Thing. In today's blog I'll talk about a great collection of the original series and tell you who he is (and he's on Television (again) and has been the topic of movies). 

WHO IS SWAMP THING?  He's scientist Alec Holland, who was working on a bio-restorative formula for plants. He and his wife Linda (also a scientist) were set up in a laboratory in the swamps of Louisiana when a crime syndicate wanted to get their research illegally. When they couldn't, they blew up the lab, killing Linda and sending Alec running on fire into the swamp after being doused by the chemical formula. He emerged as a humanoid plant life with Alec's memories, and a lot of difficulty speaking. He became a superhero of sorts and the stories are very interesting.

WHAT IS VOLUME 1? It contains the first 13 issues of Swamp Thing comics from the 1970s, by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. The character was actually developed for a 1 shot story in the "House of Secrets" horror comic series in the 1970s, but editors must've realized how fascinating that character was because they gave him his own comic book. Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 collects the original short story "Swamp Thing" from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13, featuring all of Wein and Wrightson's original run on the series and including art by Nestor Redondo, Michael Wm. Kaluta and Luis Dominguez.

NEW TV SERIES- Currently, In December 2020, The CW Network is airing the new Swamp Thing TV Series, (originally made for DC Universe streaming service). It's so incredibly well-done!!! We both watch it and enjoy it. 

PREVIOUS TV SERIES - Based on the legendary DC Comics character, the USA Network commissioned a total of 72 episodes of this cult favorite that aired between 1990-1993. (Image Right)  Starring Dick Durock (reprising his title role from the popular Swamp Thing feature films).  We have the entire series on DVD and it's also good, - but not as good as the 2020 series.  

TWO FILMS - Swamp Thing is a 1982 horror movie

that focuses on the transformation of Alec Holland into the Swamp Thing. A sequel, The Return of Swamp Thing, was released in 1989.

(LEFT IMAGE: The movie poster for the first Swamp Thing film in 1982, with Louis Jordan and Adrienne Barbeau)

How We Spent Christmas Vacation Week

 Moving is traumatic and stressful. Over Christmas vacation week (we both took the week off),we spent every day at Tom's parents' house, helping them pack, clean out and prepare to move south.  In today's blog you'll learn about our adventurous week... BUT I also I hope today's blog inspires you to take a look around your house and either donate extra things you have to homeless or battered women's shelters or Goodwill. Toss out old papers, shred all tax returns older than 7 years. Donate books to book drops. If you haven't worn something in a year, donate it. If you have hundreds of plastic food storage containers, recycle some. Do it now. Don't wait. I've mentioned in my paranormal blogs that a tidy house emits more positive energy. If you have stuffed animals, wash them and donate them.   Here's the adventure>>>>

(Photo: 25 bags of trash we assembled and put out)

Tom's folks have been in a townhouse for over 25 years, and over that amount of time, you accumulate stuff. Most of the time, you don't realize how much you have, or even what you have!   So, when his folks made the final decision to move to an assisted living facility in the Carolinas, we were the only ones around to help with the cleaning, organization, and packing. Every day for 6 days we were at the house, and we brought our dogs Tyler and Dash (who looked for places to lay down). 

When you're in your 80s, many things hold memories. Then again, some of them don't and those need to go. When you move from a three floor townhome into a 2 bedroom apartment, you need to seriously downsize. The emotional impact of that is HUGE and it's not only stressful for the people moving, but the people trying to convince the movees they need to take less stuff. I spent 2 1/2 hours bubble wrapping a huge set of dishes. I spent another 2 1/2 hours bubble wrapping little porcelain cows on a kitchen display, and about 100 tiny glass animal ornaments, all to ship south. 

(Photo right: 5 Bubble wrapped tubes of over 100 tiny porcelain animals I wrapped)

We filled about 20-25 trash bags, and made about 5 runs to Goodwill. Yesterday you read the blog about how we played local Santa's Elves by distributing lots of my mother-in-laws stuffed animals to people who had nothing for Christmas, and we donated a big bag of them to a woman who runs a shelter for battered women (some who come into shelters with children).

With the big move happening in a couple of weeks, we're still working at it. Regardless, the purpose of this blog is to urge YOU to donate, clean out, toss out and reduce things in your home. If you don't look at them in a year, consider giving hem to someone who can use them or appreciate them.

Stella Parton (Dolly's Sister) Slams Church Leaders & Politicians for Not Giving to COVID Vaccines

As a huge Dolly Parton fan, I've always admired her family, too. Stella starred in the TV

series 9 to 5, and is a singer in her own right. Now, she's fed up with these televangelists and billion dollar preachers and politicians who never donated any money toward the COVID19 vaccine and she's letting them know. BRAVO, STELLA!!!!    Just read these tweets- Stella Parton is my new Hero. 

  Below are her tweets.  like:  

Stella Parton: If a little Hillbilly singer like my big sister Dolly can invest in the vaccine then why the hell can’t some of you old moldy politicians pitch in a few million yourselves? I noticed you started getting vaccinated right away while people are starving and dying you Aholes.

The 71-year-old was referring to her sister’s $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center ― which helped develop Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine ― and to the government’s rollout of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines while failing to reach a stimulus deal.

Parton’s initial tweet racked up more than 370,000 likes. In a follow-up tweet, she wrote: “I haven’t heard of one Televangelist donating one damn cent to the research fund but they sure can fleece the flock and try to cast out demons when they are possessed themselves!”

She also shared a Bible quote and added, “These so called church leaders are in dire trouble for the way they behave.”

MORE AWESOME TWEETS FROM Stella Parton @StellaParton · 25m Now how is it that Joel Osteen can defend getting a 4.4 million dollar loan for his mega building while people in Houston are lined up for miles for food? Read Matthew 7:21-23 and keep reading what Jesus said about ALL of you so called church folks. This is unconscionable! 

Stella Parton @StellaParton · 14m All of you generous and Frightened church folk who give to these ministries until it hurts what have they ever done for you? What about all of you political junkies donating millions, you don’t have to the Defeated President to keep him in the WH? What is wrong with you?

Short Video: A Holiday Message From Champ And Major Biden (German Shepherds)

Joe Biden posted this Christmas video message from his 2 German Shepherds this year and said, "No matter how you’re celebrating this year, Champ and Major wish you a Merry Christmas."

 

Video: https://youtu.be/XPqZd-16Xig

We got to Play a Craigslist Santa of sorts

Before Christmas we had the chance to play "Santa" in a way, by giving people free toys- through posting them on Craigslist. Here's how it came about.>>>

  Tom's folks are moving south and we have spent the week helping them prepare and clean up the house. His mom loved to collect stuffed toys from anywhere. In fact, there were so many plush toys they filled a large garbage bag. 

There were bears, and Sesame Street characters, dogs, and even a stuffed Pillsbury Dough boy! I checked around for Toys for Tots drives, including the toy drive at the U.S. Naval Academy, but they had all wrapped up before December 19. So, we were going to donate them to Goodwill, but I had another thought. 

Since Goodwill will just price them and sell them, and people who are jobless during this pandemic can't afford anything, I decided to post them individually on Craigslist and have people pick them up on our front porch. 

First, I will tell you that I took photos of each stuffed animal and then emailed them from my phone to the computer. Then I downloaded them to the computer. I had to come up with a description for each, as well as how people could contact me (I never put our address or phone on Craigslist- just email responses only). 

Posting each of them took hours on my Sunday (the 19th), and then came the flurry of emails requesting different animals. I respond to all of them, so I tell people if they are the 2nd, 3rd, etc. person requesting. Then later, if the toy is taken, I email them back to let them know. (It's a lot of record-keeping from Santa's Elf Office here). 

I bagged each toy with the taker's name on it, and put it on our front porch. 

In one case, a woman who manages shelters for battered women contacted me for a bear, because some women come with kids, and they have nothing but the clothes they're wearing. I gave her a big bag full of toys, and Tom's mom also provided a bunch of toiletries and blankets, too. 

Once a toy or toys were taken, I removed them from Craigslist and notified everyone. It's a lot of tracking and coordination, but Santa does that! Of course, he has elves. I have 2 dogs cheering me on. 

Happy Holidays!  

Idiots of the Week: Club gala ignites political dispute over COVID-19 restrictions

The idiot of the week has a LOT of company. This week's Idiots are an entire group that decided to meet and not follow ANY COVID19 protocols for their own safety or the safety of others.  Among the idiots was a Idiot of the Week winner from 2 weeks ago, Matt Gaetz.  Further, the SUPER-Idiot that is the President of the Club said the group did nothing wrong. As the saying goes, "You can't fix 'stupid'."  Here's the article: 

(Photo: This image provided by the New York Young Republican Club shows U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, foreground right, as he poses with attendees at the organization's 108th Annual Gala in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. –Courtesy New York Young Republican Club via AP)

 N.Y. Young Republican Club gala ignites political dispute over COVID-19 restrictions

 By DAVID PORTER, APDecember 7, 2020 

A New Jersey restaurant that hosted a political gala put on by a New York Republican club was ordered temporarily closed Friday over potential violations of coronavirus guidelines.

 Photos and video posted on Twitter showed dozens of maskless partiers at the New York Young Republican Club event Thursday night in Jersey City, some of whom tweeted taunting messages to Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Among the attendees was U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, and conservative political activist James O’Keefe.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democrat, said in an emailed statement that the event at the Maritime Parc restaurant in Liberty State Park was “an egregious violation” of state coronavirus guidelines and that he was ordering the restaurant temporarily closed.

New York Young Republican Club President Gavin Wax scoffed at the criticism online, saying the group had done nothing wrong. “We embrace life and living while you all cower in your pods worried about a disease with a 99%+ survivability rate,” he said in one tweet, referring to a pandemic that has killed more than 24,000 people in New York City alone and more than 17,000 in New Jersey.

 

Good People of the Week : Fun VIDEO: Alaska Airlines for Promoting Safety Through Music

As a big fan of pop music of the 80s, it made me smile to see that Alaska Airlines parodied "The Safety Dance" song by the group "Men Without Hats" in their latest commercial. The lyrics were spot-on and I could watch this over and over. :)  AND, the dancers were actual employees of the airline!  It certainly made me feel better about flying safely during this pandemic. Here's the story and video commercial: 

Alaska Airlines parodied an ’80s song to promote COVID-19 safety 

BOSTON GLOBE Dec. 16, 2020

Airlines have built plenty of COVID-19 rules into their messaging this year, but one U.S. airline just dropped safety tips via a music video parody of the ’80s song “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats.

Alaska Airlines released “Alaska Safety Dance” on Sunday, a video directed by Warren Fu, known for his work with artists such as The Weeknd, Daft Punk, Dua Lipa, and HAIM, and choreographed by Anna Matuszewski, who has worked with Macklemore, according to an Alaska Airlines blog post.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/b9w_paUjzKs

(Caption: At Alaska, we love safety so much, our employees made a music video about it. Watch the #AlaskaSafetyDance and find out how to safely get back out there in spring and summer 2021. 🕺🌴 Book now. Mask up. Let’s go. Book today at AlaskaAir.com)

“It was refreshing to work on a project with some much-needed levity after such a challenging year,” Fu said in the post. “You can highlight the importance of safety and still have fun with it. I hope the uplifting energy and enthusiasm showcased by our Alaska Airlines employee talent brings a smile to people’s faces.”

The revamped lyrics read, in part: “We can fly where you want to, we can leave your house behind. But if your friends won’t mask, and why don’t they mask? Well, they won’t fly this airline.”

The dancers are Alaska Airlines employees, chosen either for their involvement in the Alaska Flight Attendant Drill Team, which performs at Seattle’s Torchlight Parade and other nationwide events, or for their ability and willingness to dance, according to the airline.

The employees were provided a video of the choreography in advance so they could practice at home and then completed an eight-hour dress rehearsal with Matuszewski, according to the airline. The video was filmed in Alaska Airline’s Boeing cabin trainer and the Alaska Maintenance Hangar in Seattle over a period of two days.

A production crew of about 40 people followed strict COVID-19 safety measures when filming, including testing and wearing masks and following the directions of onsite COVID-19 compliance officers, airline officials said.

Happy Christmas from our House to Yours (A Recap of 2020)

 Happy Pawlidays from our house to yours. Despite the pandemic, we hope you are happy and healthy. Here's what's been going on this year....

 Although it's been challenging not to see friends and family this year, like everyone else, we've been using video chats, phone calls, emails and social media. We tried to go to Massachusetts to visit my brother but the state requires a COVID test with results within 3 days of arriving. Since getting a test back on a certain day can be a challenge, and we have our dogs Tyler and Dash, too, we canceled it. 

WORK- We both have been teleworking since March, and I love it. Tom even likes it now! I want to continue working this way until I retire in 4 years. :) 

OUR FAMILY- This year was a tragic year for our little family. Franklin our red dachshund, passed in May at 16 years old when another disc slipped in his back causing him constant pain (despite 2 pain meds) and made his back legs useless. In October, Dolly, our weimaraner who was just shy of her 16th birthday suffered from the exact same thing. While Franklin's decline occurred over a period of 2 months, Dolly's happened over ONE day and within 24 hours, she couldn't stand or walk on her back legs.  (PHOTO: RIGHT: Dolly and Franklin) 

GOOD NEWS - Franklin and Dolly have been very, very active at giving us signs they are still very much around. In fact, Dolly has also gone to friends of ours around the country (mostly those who have Dachshunds, or who inquired about her the day before she showed up in spirit to them).  They've BOTH got interesting chanpters in my (Rob) new book coming out.

ROB'S 8TH BOOK - I finished writing my 8th book- "Pets and the Afterlife 3:  Messages from Spirit Dogs" - My thanks to friends Jackie D. and Steve C. for wonderful edits. I'm not finishing the final, final, final edits. Lisa at "Got You Covered," a professional book  cover designer who made my "Kindred Spirits" and "Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking" book covers, is making the Pets 3 cover. She's including Dolly and Franklin crossing the rainbow bridge. It was an idea that  I decided on thanks to my friend Denise D. who photoshopped an image of Dolly on a rainbow bridge.  

(RIGHT: The Image from Denise that inspired the Cover of the upcoming book)

In addition, I owe a big thanks to my friend Bill who provided a chapter on dealing with grief and loss (he helps people  for a living). It should come out in January...   You can find out more at www.robgutro.com

Happy Pawlidays, get vaccinated, and stay safe,

Rob and Tom 

Tyler the Dachshund Sings to Santa's Firetruck Sirens (2 short videos) and Teaches What "NOEL" means

 Our 10 year old Dachshund Tyler has a thing with sirens. He sings to them. Well, actually, he howls!  In today's blog you'll see 2 videos taken in the minutes our local fire department came down our street with trucks, sirens and Santa... and you'll hear Tyler howling! (Tyler will also teach you about the word "Noel" in today's blog). So, enjoy his experience and learn from Tyler. >>>

Every year, our city's fire department makes Christmas a little more fun for everyone. They have Santa dress up and ride atop a fire truck, all decorated for Christmas. The Santa truck is preceded by another fire truck (also decorated), and this year they were playing christmas songs. They run the sirens as they drive through all of the neighborhoods (between 6:30 pm and 8:30pm). 

Tyler howls to sirens, so when we all stood outside on the front porch of our house, Tyler let loose to sing to Santa!  

VIDEO#1: THE APPROACH (17 seconds) : https://youtu.be/h2sjawg1lIY

VIDEO #2 (1 minute): SANTA DRIVES BY: https://youtu.be/BkFm8A7M8is

TYLER TEACHES YOU ABOUT THE WORD "NOEL"-  Since Tyler can read, he consulted with Dictionary Com, who helped out. Tyler learned Noel is another word for Christmas.

However, the word Noel is often used only in a religious context. It’s possible for people to wish each other a Happy Noel, but the word is perhaps most commonly seen written on things like Christmas cards and decorations.

The word can also be used to refer to a Christmas carol or song (in which case it is not capitalized), but is no longer commonly used this way. Fittingly, most people know the word from the popular Christmas carol “The First Noel.”

The first records of the word Noel in English come from the early 1800s. It comes from French Nöel—the French way of saying “Merry Christmas” is Joyeux Noël. The word derives from Latin word nātālis (diēs), meaning “birthday.” Another name for Christmas is Nativity. Both Nativity and Noel reference the birth of Jesus and ultimately come from the Latin verb nāscī, meaning “to be born.” The English word natal (meaning “relating to a person’s birth”) is also based on this root.

My Memories and a Massachusetts Christmas Light Display Looks like an Entire Street!

  When I was a kid, my parents liked to pile me and my 2 brothers in their Ford Station Wagon and drive around at night during the Christmas season, so we could check out the lights on houses. 

MY MEMORIES - We also decorated my childhood home (usually I volunteered to put up the lights with my dad), but it was nothing like the crazy, elaborate displays of today. We would light up three big trees that formed a triangle on our corner lot, and then the front row of bushes, that extended to the side of the house. 

   The Boston Globe published a story about a young 22 year old guy (he must be a multi-millionaire) who created his own structures to resemble a street full of houses, and lit them all up. Here's the image and a video from ABC Network television about the display. (It must be from 2019, pre-pandemic, and the display is up again this year).

This Massachusetts house’s Christmas lights display is so good it’s causing traffic problems 

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com Staff December 14, 2020 

This isn’t the first year that Charles Fiore’s all-out Christmas lights display just off I-93 in Wilmington has gotten attention.

But this is the first time it’s gotten so much.

Last week, Fiore’s family house and elaborate drive-through display — both of which he quite literally covered with lights — on Concord Street took the $50,000 first-place prize on ABC’s reality TV show “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” In addition to standing up a full-size set of intricate building facades, the 23-year-old explained that he spaced out each strand of lights by two and half inches, the same distance between each bulb on the strand. “I just wanted to make a perfect square of lights so everything was uniform,” Fiore said on the show, impressing judge Taniya Nayak. 

 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VnbjE_5eWxo

“The traffic has been pretty significant,” Wilmington Deputy Police Chief Brian Pupa told Boston.com on Monday.

“Between the national notoriety and the pandemic, where people are restricted to where they can go, those things have kind of led to the situation where it’s more popular than ever,” Pupa said. FULL STORY: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/12/14/wilmington-christmas-lights-traffic-problems?s_campaign=Email:BComToday&SUBID=d7882715bb&AUDID=24226685

Greece Archeaology News: Ancient master Phidias’ workshop to be restored

On Dec. 11, the Greek news source Ekathimerini reported that the workshop of a famous Greek sculptor named Phidias is being restored. In today's blog, you'll read about the restoration after you learn about the sculptor! 

WHO WAS PHIDIAS? - Phidias or Pheidias (/ˈfɪdiəs/; Ancient Greek: Φειδίας, Pheidias; c. 480 – 430 B.C.) was a Greek sculptor, painter, and architect. It is said of Phidias that he alone had seen the exact image of the gods and that he revealed it to man. He established forever general conceptions of Zeus and Athena. His Statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Today, most critics and historians consider him one of the greatest of all ancient Greek sculptors. 

The article: 

Ancient master Phidias’ workshop to be restored 

IFE 09.12.2020 : 18:12 

The restoration study for the workshop of the famed Greek sculptor, painter and architect Phidias (480-430) in Ancient Olympia has been approved by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS). 

The study is part of the program to highlight the Roman phase of the archaeological site. The building, which researchers have identified as the workshop of Phidias, is located in a central position in the archaeological site of Olympia. The presumption is that it remained in continuous use from Classical times to the Byzantine era. 

The study, prepared and funded by the German Archaeological Institute, aims at the complete protection of the monument and the wider area.

Phidias achieved fame through the ages for his statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well as the statues of the goddess Athena on the Athenian Acropolis.

(Photo: Phidias: sculpture of Heracles

Heracles, marble statue produced in the workshop of Phidias, from the eastern pediment of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Athens, c. 5th century BCE; in the British Museum.

Adam Eastland Art & Architecture/Alamy)

Maybe Now More Men will Be Concerned about COVID19: It Can Cause Erectile Disfunction

 It seems that science isn't good enough for some people. For those idiots, they only understand when something affects them. Well, since recent findings indicate COVID19 can seriously affect their bedroom performance, maybe they'll take precautions. Then again, if they're that stupid, they don't need to be procreating and raising more stupid people.  Just saying. 

Here's the article: 

COVID-19 can cause blood flow issues, which could be a factor in erectile dysfunction. 

We know that the coronavirus can affect many parts of the body, including the brain and lungs. Is it time to acknowledge impotence might be a symptom too? 

 As more cases of COVID-19 have appeared, so too have more reports linking erectile dysfunction to the disease. A study published in July in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found coronavirus survivors may experience sexual and reproductive health issues like ED following their illness. Doctors and experts also say they’ve seen patients who have struggled with the problem after contracting the virus. 

FROM THE JOURNAL ARTICLE SUMMARY: "Despite being a trivial matter for patients in intensive care units (ICUs), erectile dysfunction (ED) is a likely consequence of COVID-19 for survivors..." 

 The fact is that COVID-19 is still new to the medical world, and we’re still discovering short-term and long-term effects of the virus. There isn’t enough scientific data to definitively and directly link the coronavirus to erectile dysfunction. But some experts don’t anticipate ED remaining a rare symptom as time goes on, and believe it will become more common “in anyone who has a severe COVID infection,” said Judson Brandeis, a urologist in California.

Here’s what could be going on with people experiencing erectile dysfunction following COVID-19:  COVID-19 can cause blood flow issues, which could be a factor in erectile dysfunction. Data has shown that the virus can infect and attack blood vessels. This explains why some people who survived COVID-19 have experienced blood clots, complications with the lungs or kidneys, or oral health issues like tooth loss. It could also be the reason behind coronavirus-related ED, according to Christopher Kyle, a urologist in Oregon and medical advisor at Giddy, a company that focuses on sexual health and wellness for men and their partners. 

“Erectile dysfunction largely stems from issues with blood flow, so it’s no surprise that COVID-related vascular issues may be related to erectile dysfunction,” Kyle said. “Anything that degrades blood vessels or impedes how freely blood flows throughout all parts of the body will almost assuredly have an impact on the ability to achieve an erection.” MORE: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/does-covid-19-cause-erectile-dysfunction_l_5fcfdffdc5b6636e0928d7b3?ncid=newsltushpmgnews

LINK TO THE JOURNAL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355084/

Video! Inspired Ghost Tracking Members talk about Christmastime Ghosts and Spirits ! (1 hour video)

the Inspired Ghost Tracking group 1 hour video on-line event this weekend where we were talking about how spirits of your loved ones visit during the holidays, you can see it here. We also talk about the same GHOST that Troy and I met at the Ford's theatre, 1 year apart. Margaret Ehrlich, IGT manager was joined by IGT mediums Troy Cline and Rob Gutro for this "Spirited" holiday discussion! VIDEO: https://youtu.be/66UVwtG3XlU

Idiot of the Week: Karma: Pastor Who Blamed COVID19 on Gays and Non-Virgins Succumbs to It

When you do and say lies and hateful things to purposely offend and harm others, especially those who have done absolutely nothing to you, Karma will come back to you. Such is the case of this week's idiot. Although I don't wish death on anyone, this fool decided to use his position to spread hate and intolerance for gay people. These evangelicals never seem to tire of attacking LGBT people.  This is the same man who said critics of Donald Trump are "satanic." Sigh. He also followed his politics and denied science and medicine and thought the COVID19 virus was a hoax. Well, Karma taught him a horrible lesson. It took his life. So, let this be a wake up call to everyone. 

Anti-gay Televangelist who blamed COVID-19 on premarital sex dies from virus

NY post/Queerty/MetroWeekly Nov. 8, 2020

An antigay televangelist who claimed LGBTQ people, non-virgin brides, and anyone having sex outside of wedlock were exclusively to blame for COVID-19 has died from the virus.

Rev. Irvin Baxter Jr. was the founder of Endtime Ministries and host of the television program End of the Age, which reaches 100 million households in North America and millions more across the globe.

In March, he blamed “the sin of fornication” for the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are 7.5 million couples living together in the United States, this is not worldwide, just in America,” he said. “7.5 million couples. That means 15 million people that are living together unmarried.”

Baxter, who was a major Trump supporter, then launched into an antigay tirade before adding that only “5% of new brides in America now are virgins. That means 95% have already committed fornication.”

“If we think we can just ignore God and live a sinful lifestyle, well, we cannot do it. You know, I believe in what you’re saying, that God may be using this as a wake-up call. This coronavirus may be a privilege, because I’ll tell you right now, there’s a much bigger judgment coming. It’s in the Bible.”

This week, Endtime Ministries announced Baxter died in the hospital on November 3, just a few days after testing positive for the coronavirus. He was 75 years old.

“Irvin went on to his great reward,” said his End of the Age co-host Dave Robbins. “We celebrate his life, but at the same time, there is sorrow, there is grieving.”

Robbins added that the ministry will “continue in his legacy, sharing the message and good news.”

To date, the U.S. has reported nearly 10 million coronavirus cases and over 235,000 COVID-19-related deaths.

Good Person of the Week: 3 Rhode Island restaurant servers receive a huge tip

 On Thanksgiving this year my younger brother called me and said I should do a "good person of the week" instead of an idiot of the week. Well, I thought it was a good idea to make every Saturday a "good person" story day. 

   However, since there are so many idiots, and its good to know who they are to stay clear of them, "Idiot of the Week" will continue on Sundays. Here's today's Good Person of the Week. This story comes from Rhode Island, where a couple left 3 servers a tip to help with their holidays.

3 Rhode Island restaurant servers receive $2,100 tip

“Hope this will help you all. You all have a nicer Xmas.”

BARRINGTON, R.I. (AP) — Three servers at a Rhode Island restaurant received a tip for over $2,000 from two generous patrons last week.

The two customers insisted that the servers at Bluewater Bar and Grill wait until they left to close the tab and left a tip for $2,100 to be split between the three on Nov. 20, WJAR-TV reported.

The server, Melissa Jordan, said that the couple, who asked to remain anonymous, brought the servers to tears with this generous gift.

“We all have children. I have two small children, Shannon has a small child also, and Karen has three children. We are of course thinking about Christmas, but not taking anything for granted and taking care of our families with it, which was his intention,” Jordan said.

On the back of the receipt, the couple wrote, “Hope this will help you all. You all have a nicer Xmas.”

8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Pet- Especially at Christmas

As a dog dad and a dog rescuer, I see a LOT of people "giving" dogs or cats as "presents" at the holidays. It makes me cringe, because as a rescuer, many of these animals wind up back in kill shelters days, weeks or months after Christmas, when the new "pet parent" fails at parenting and can't handle the responsibility. I always tell people:  Adopting a Pet is the SAME as adopting a human child- they just don't grow up, marry someone you hate, and leave you.  Pets always rely on you. So please DO NOT give a pet as a present. This should be the decision of the person adopting. You can pay the adoption fees, though, if they are okay with it. 

   Recently the H. Post published this great article about questions to ask before you adopt a pet. And it IS an adoption. BTW, We had Dolly and Franklin for 16 YEARS each. That's a LONG TIME, so remember that. I would give anything to still have them here but they' both passed this year leaving a hole in my heart. 

  Here's the article.

8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting a Pet

 Experts share the important factors to consider before welcoming a dog, cat or other animal into your home. 

By Caroline Bologna, Huff Post 

 The benefits of pet ownership are numerous, and clearly, people know it. In 2020, dog adoptions and sales soared amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and one market research firm has projected that the total number of pet-owning U.S. households will grow from 68 million in August to 71 million by the end of the year.

“Pets bring joy, help with learning responsibility and compassion for others, companionship, stress-relief, and can be a great addition to your family!” Camp Bow Wow animal health and behavior consultant Erin Askeland told HuffPost.  Below, Askeland and veterinarian Rolan Tripp outline eight questions to ask yourself before taking the leap into pet ownership.

1)  Can I afford a pet? Even if you aren’t shelling out large sums of money to buy a pet from a breeder or shop, there are still costs involved.

“Fees for adopting a pet can vary greatly, but that’s just an initial cost,” Askeland noted. “You’ll also need to budget for veterinary visits with booster shots, bloodwork, fecal testing (for parasites), etc. depending on the type of pet you choose. This veterinary care continues throughout the pet’s life.

There's also Food, Training, Supplies (crates, leashes, beds, Pet Sitters, Day care, boarding fees, etc.  

ROB'S IMPORTANT NOTE: Dogs NEED Heartworm and Flea preventative. Our TYLER was heartworm positive before we adopted him. They weakened his heart. The treatment is also 6 months to eliminate them. My friend Dan cared for a shelter dog named Kuzco this year, who died from Heartworm. 

 

2) Do I have the time it takes to care for a pet? Pets ownership involves a lot of money and time.  “Pets require flexibility and time at home to allow for care, training, exercise, and cleaning. Some pets require more attention than others, but all require some daily interaction,” Askeland explained.

3) Do I live in a pet-friendly home? “You can make most living situations with a pet work, but if you live in an apartment, some pets will be more challenging ― dogs need to go out to potty and exercise, in particular,” Askeland said. She emphasized that pets should always be monitored, whether inside or outside and even if in a fenced area.  

4) Am I prepared?  Before you get a pet, keep in mind that you will be sharing life for the next decade or so. “When you are not prepared to give pets the time and type of care they need, pets can become anxious and a source of stress instead of the healing and happiness we often seek from pets.”.

“Once the pet is home, like a marriage, it takes a ‘for better or worse’ attitude and plans for the better,” Tripp said. “Resist bringing home a pet without planning or because you feel ‘love at first sight.’”

5) Is this the right breed for me? Do research the kind of animal you want to bring into your home to see if it’s compatible with your lifestyle. Think about different breeds and the characteristics associated with them. This is especially important for dogs.

ROB NOTE:  If you want a dog to lounge around, Consider a Senior dog - Animal rescues and shelters are LOADED with them.  because cruel, heartless idiots raise them until they are old, and dump them because they need medical care - Like our Dash, who was dumped at a kill shelter at almost 11 years old. 

. Factors to consider include the breed’s activity level, tr

ainability, and its tendency to be vocal and be friendly to other dogs or cats. If you or someone in your household has allergies, think about allergen levels as well.

6) Do I have a good support system and backups if I need help? “It’s best to have everyone in your home involved with caring for the pet, even if you are the primary caregiver,”  Also- think about who would take care of the pet in case of emergencies.

7) Do I have realistic expectations about pet ownership? “ Read books about the pet you want, talking to friends or family who have owned that kind of pet, looking up the cost of care and supplies that the pet will need, researching pet insurance costs, and taking a realistic look at your life and schedule to see how a pet fits in. 

8) Am I willing to make sacrifices for my pet? Reflect on your lifestyle. How pet-friendly is it? And if the answer is “not very,” consider whether you’re willing to make changes for your pet, whether that’s canceling trips, missing social engagements or putting less time into other endeavors. While you may be home a lot in 2020, think about how your life may change as the COVID-19 vaccine gets a wider distribution.  “If you travel frequently for work, a pet may not be an ideal choice because of the time commitment involved,” 

READ MORE: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Adopting-a-Dog

Live Interview TONIGHT at 11pm ET and On-Line Events: Dec 19, 20, 24th!

There are 4 more on-line events as we head toward Christmas, and the next one happens tonight, Thursday, Dec. 17. Here's a rundown on that event and the following three. Hope you can tune in.- Rob

**LIVE BROADCAST** Thurs. Dec. 17 at 11 pm EST Rob Returns as a Guest on Beyond Reality Radio  Hosted by JV Johnson about Paranormal Cases of the Inspired Ghost Tracking group (based on Rob's new book)  LISTEN: http://www.beyondrealitywithjv.com/ ; 

 www.youtube.com/c/jvjohnson // www.twitch.tv/jvjohnson 

**FACEBOOK LIVE-Sat. Dec. 19 at 7pm ET, Christmas Ghost and Spirit Stoires! - Join Rob, Troy and Margaret from Inspired Ghost TrackingListen / Watch Live: https://www.facebook.com/inspiredghost  

**LIVE ON-AIR INTERVIEW** Sun. Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET Rob talks Pets and the Afterlife w/Host Greg Bakun of Ghost Box Radio, live on AM950Radio in the Twin Cities!  LISTEN:  http://www.am950radio.com/

*CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY SHORT VIDEO (20 mins)*Thurs. Dec. 24 at 7pm ET -Meet the 3 Ghosts of Christmas Past from the Fords Theatre. Rob Gutro Talks about 3 ghosts he met. A Westminster Public Library program. https://www.facebook.com/WestminsterBranchLibrary

New: David Bowie Honor launched towards space/BONUS: Special Holiday video w/Bing Crosby)

The United Kingdom's Royal Mint gave David Bowie and out-of-this world honor recently in honor of his first hit single called "Space Oddity." I didn't know any of David Bowie's earlier works growing up. I first heard of him when he did the "Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth" duet with Bing Crosby for Christmas in 1977.  I've embedded the video of that song at the end of this blog, since we're approaching Christmas.  Meanwhile, here's the story from the BBC about what the Royal Mint did to honor David: 

David Bowie coin launched towards space by Royal Mint

BBC NEWS  Dec. 8, 2020 (Images Credited to the U.K. Royal Mint)

The Royal Mint has - quite literally - launched a commemorative coin celebrating the career of David Bowie. The Mint, based in Llantrisant, sent the coin to an altitude of 35,656 meters (116,982 feet) as it revealed the third edition of its Music Legends series. 

The Starman, Life on Mars? and Space Oddity singer follows Queen and Elton John in being honoured with a coin. One of the most influential musicians of his era, Bowie died of cancer in 2016 aged 69. The one ounce silver proof coin journeyed for 45 minutes before safely descending and is being offered as a competition prize. 

There are a number of versions, ranging in price from £13 for a £5 coin to £72,195 for a £1,000 denomination coin. The Mint said the design had been inspired by an image of Bowie from his time spent living and recording in Berlin. It features the iconic lightning bolt motif from Aladdin Sane, and captures Bowie's career journey. Thanks to "the latest innovative technology and manufacturing techniques," the Mint said the lightning bolt that features on a number of the special edition coins appears to be laced with stardust to create a glitter effect. 

"In recognition of Bowie's first hit single Space Oddity, we felt it was fitting to send his coin into space and celebrate the Starman in his own pioneering fashion," said Clare Maclennan, from the Mint. "David Bowie's music has inspired and influenced generations of musicians and we hope this commemorative coin will be cherished by fans around the world."

VIDEO:  Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy 1977   (link: https://youtu.be/ADbJLo4x-tk) 

Watch on YouTube! Rob talks Holiday and Animal Spirits on the Edge of the Rabbit Hole Show

Watch on You Tube! If you missed last night's 1 hour video chat about Pets and the Afterlife and Holiday spirits with Mike Ricksecker and Victoria Mundae, hosts of "Edge of the Rabbit Hole." **PLUS- I debut the cover of Pets and the Afterlife 3: Messages from Spirit Dogs!

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/qA2k4R-tPYA

Science News; An enormous supervolcano may be hiding under Alaskan islands

 You never know what is hiding out of sight until you start researching it. This article from Science News on Dec. 8 revealed findings that hint a Super Volcano may be located in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Here's the article from ScienceNews: 

An enormous supervolcano may be hiding under Alaskan islands

A geologic game of connect the dots reveals hints of a giant undersea crater Islands of the Four Mountains

 

(Image:  The multiple volcanoes in the Islands of the Four Mountains (shown), part of the chain that make up the Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska, appear to be connected by one large caldera created when a supervolcano erupted, a new study suggests.

 

By Beth Geiger DECEMBER 7, 2020 AT 10:58 AM

A mysterious, previously undiscovered supervolcano may be lurking beneath Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

A new study suggests a wide crater, created when the supervolcano exploded, connects at least four existing volcanoes. It’s so big that if the supervolcano erupted during the last few thousand years, it could have disrupted civilizations around the world, says John Power, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Volcano Observatory. Power presents the findings at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union on December 7.

  

The discovery, not yet confirmed, emerged from several pieces of evidence that at first glance seem unrelated, says Diana Roman, a volcanologist at Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. “There’s no one smoking gun,” she says. And in fact, the mythical-sounding Islands of the Four Mountains, actually six volcanoes located near the center of the island chain, look like an ordinary volcanic cluster.

 

But taken together, the data point convincingly to the existence of a caldera about 20 kilometers across. The volcanoes’ peaks are arranged in a ring and bathymetric seafloor mapping, mostly from the 1950s, shows arc-shaped ridges and a 130-meter-deep depression in the center of the ring. Both are clues that the volcanoes are connected by one big caldera, a massive crater that forms when a very large magma chamber in a volcano explodes and empties.

 

Gravity data from satellites echo the look of other calderas. And analysis of such volcanic gases such as sulfur dioxide, as well as patterns of microearthquakes also suggest the presence of a caldera.

“We weren’t surprised there were microearthquakes,” says Roman, considering one of the volcanoes, Mount Cleveland, is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutians. But, she says, those microearthquakes extended farther east and north than they would expect just based on the volcanoes seen at the surface. “That makes more sense in the context of the caldera.”

 

One hallmark of many calderas is still-active volcanoes on their rims that tap into the same magma chamber, even long after the caldera itself formed. Mount Cleveland fits that scenario. It has “erupted 60 or 70 times since 2001,” says Power. Besides blasting out sky-high ash plumes that disrupt air travel (SN: 11/27/18), this level of constant activity is typical of volcanoes rimming other known calderas, he says. One such volcano is Indonesia’s Rinjani, whose eruption around the year 1257 dumped enough sulfur particles into the atmosphere to cool the entire planet (SN: 6/14/12).

Piecing the evidence together has been challenging, thanks to the extremely remote location, a largely underwater setting and newer volcanic deposits which obscure older ones. In addition, separate studies provided different lines of evidence for a supervolcano caldera, but none connected the dots. Roman likens the team’s approach to “looking under the couch cushions.”

Searching for a supervolcano 

Some of the clues that a supervolcano may lurk under the Islands of the Four Mountains, in the Aleutian Islands chain in southwest Alaska, come from seafloor topography mapping, like this bathymetry map compiled by NOAA. Gray areas mark the existing volcanoes. The orange zones show shallow volcanic areas apparently connected below the surface in a roughly circular pattern.

 (Image:  Seafloor mapping around Mount Cleveland Seafloor mapping around Mount Cleveland HÉLÈNE LE MÉVEL)