Friday, January 31, 2020

News On Fireman Friday: Louisiana Firemen Rescued a Dachshund!

Dachshund rescued by Saint Tammany Fire Protection. Credit: WGNO
Since it's Fireman Friday (at least I share those pictures only on facebook), I thought it appropriate to highlight a great story where firemen saved a Dachshund! This story also appeared from a Louisiana news service, so I know that our friend Linda (who was from Louisiana and passed on Jan 9) made sure I saw this story, because she knows we have Dachshunds. There's no such thing as a coincidence.
Here's the story>>

by: Garett Toflinski
WKRG-TV, Louisiana 
Posted: Jan 16, 2020 / 07:56 AM CST / Updated: Jan 16, 2020 / 07:56 AM CST

Saint Tammany Fire Protection District #1 rushed to save a home and a family pet from a fire in Slidell, Louisiana.

SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) — Firefighters rushed to save a home and a family pet from a fire in Slidell.

According to firefighters, they arrived at the home a little after 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. They found a house with a hole in the roof and flames billowing out of it. The inside of the home was full of smoke.

Nobody answered the door, so firefighters had to break into the house to search it. They didn’t find any people, but they did find the family’s Dachshund in the bathtub. They say the dog was trying to hide but was barely breathing when they arrived.

The dog was immediately removed from the home. Firefighters used a special K9 mask that they carry to provide oxygen for the pet. After about 30 minutes, they say the dog began to breathe better and became more alert.

A short time later, the dog’s owner arrived and was reunited with him.

The fire took about half an hour to put out.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Bravo Prince Harry- Stands Up to Army LGBT Bullies

James Wharton (Left)/Prince Harry (Right) 
No matter where you are in the world, if you're gay, there's always going to be a bigoted, nasty bully.
CBS News reported that a gay British Military gunner in Harry's squad back in 2008 told Harry about how he was being bullied by others in his squad. Harry didn't stand for that (and neither should anyone) Harry and Meghan have been very supportive of LGBT people and they have my appreciation.
   BTW, if you think that LGBT bullying doesn't happen in the U.S., ask my friend Craig in Kansas. OR just just go to Chik-fil-A, a restaurant that conservative bullies frequent. Here's the story about Prince Harry coming to the rescue>>>

British army veteran says Prince Harry protected him from homophobic bullies
BY CHEVAZ CLARKE
JANUARY 16, 2020 / 12:45 PM / CBS NEWS

A British military veteran, who was openly gay when he served in the army, has revealed that Prince Harry once defended him against homophobic abuse from other soldiers.

James Wharton served with Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, in the British army back in 2008 when they were deployed to Canada. Harry, who was "quite offended" by the anti-gay remarks, was Wharton's tank commander.

"I had got myself into a bit of a situation with some soldiers from another regiment and, essentially, they didn't like the fact I was gay," said Wharton, who recounted the story in an interview with the U.K. site Forces News.

"They were sort of chest poking me and making me feel quite uncomfortable. I got into my tank where Prince Harry was doing something, and he could see that I was clearly affected by something and he asked me what the problem was," Wharton recalled.

"I told him that there were a couple of soldiers outside who weren't very happy with the fact I was gay. So, quite offended that his gunner was being picked on by these people, Prince Harry went out and saw these soldiers and spoke to them, and the problem went away," Wharton said.

The former soldier said that once Prince Harry "told them off," the taunting stopped.

"He knew how to do his job, he was skilled, he took the time to know his people, he wasn't afraid to get himself involved with things that were going on," said Wharton.

Prince Harry served in the army for ten years, which included two tours in Afghanistan.

He has been open about his support for the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid tribute to the community on their official Instagram account. "We proudly shine a light on PRIDE," they wrote. "We stand with you and support you."

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

In the News: Apple and pear varieties saved by Wales scientists

As the climate changes many species of plants and animals face extinction. Recently Scientists in Wales saved several species of apples and pears that were on the verge of extinction. Here's the story from BBC News - Wales>

The Jane (left) and Kennedy’s Late (right) are a cider apples found in Wales
The Jane is a bitter-sweet cider apple and Kennedy’s Late is a sharp cider apple. Credit: ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY

Apple and pear varieties saved by Aberystwyth scientists
15 January 2020 BBC News Wales
There are thought to be 7,500 eating apple varieties in the world, with 3,600 in the UK
Endangered apples and pears have been saved by a "living museum" created in an orchard by scientists.

More than 60 Welsh varieties have been "protected from extinction" by plant researchers at Aberystwyth University using a DNA fingerprinting technique.

The Jane and Cadwallader apples are among those saved by breeding experts.  Now scientists are offering experienced gardeners the chance to grow their own varieties using cuttings from apples and pears in the university's orchard.

"We hope this will help put them back on the map, making them viable commercial alternatives for producers and manufacturers to use in mainstream products," said geneticist Dr Danny Thorogood, of Aberystwyth University.

Dr Thorogood said he thought there were 7,500 eating apple varieties in the world, with 3,600 in the UK and 100 in Wales. "The project identified trees from all over Wales that were found to be unique, using a DNA fingerprinting technique," he added.

"These trees were then propagated and planted in the heritage orchard and replica orchards at other sites in Wales." People wanting to grow their own apples and pears can undertake a course at the university's heritage orchard on Wednesday.

Dr Danny Thorogood
Dr Danny Thorogood wants to help bring rare varieties of apples and pears into the mainstream Credit: ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY
 "Our aim is to conduct further scientific research around the ideal uses of each of our heritage varieties, such as eating, cider making or cooking - based on their flavour profiles, texture and longevity, amongst other factors," added Dr Thorogood.

The university's orchard was created as part of a National Lottery fund project managed by the Welsh Perry and Cider Society.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

NewsYou May Have Missed: Devaluing FL Coastal Homes, Red Meat Effects, Disney Makeover

There are a lot of stories in the news, and it's easy to miss things you may find interesting. So, I've compiled several stories over the last 2 weeks for you. They include Devaluing coastal homes (because of sea level rise), Disney's Epcot Makeover (and video), Red Meat consumption findings and smuggling into Florida. Read On! 


AS SEAS RISE, YOUR COASTAL HOME IN FLORIDA COULD LOSE VALUE. ONE REPORT SAYS 15% BY 2030
Increasing sea rise is going to water down the value of some of the most coveted and expensive real estate in Florida, and insurance rates will go up too.


DISNEY’S EPIC MAKEOVER OF EPCOT IS UNDER WAY. TAKE A PEEK AT WHAT’S CHANGING
Some major attractions are being added, the biggest change will be to the tenor of the park. Fictional characters and settings from Disney movies will play a much greater role at the new Epcot. That’s a big switch in a park that historically has featured the cultures and customs of other countries in World Showcase and rides that emphasize discovery and adventure in Future World. New attractions will include both. Among intellectual properties are the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster and Ratatouille dark ride, which are already under construction; and a Mary Poppins attraction
 FAST FACT: ** According to Zillow, the Miami metro area now has seven million-dollar communities.**


Red Meat- Cr: Diabetes UK
INTERESTING ABOUT RED MEAT - Eating red meat increases your body’s production of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1. This could speed up the aging in the body along with cell replication that can increase the risk of multiple types of cancers, according to Joel Fuhrman a family physician and author of the forthcoming book Eat for Life. “Insulin and IGF-1 hormones are tremendously important in the aging process,” Fuhrman said. “The diseases associated with aging ― cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer ― are driven by excessive activity of insulin and IGF-1, which in turn are driven by long-term excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates and animal protein.”

SMUGGLERS FERRYING CHINESE FROM BAHAMAS TO SOUTH FLORIDA, FEDS SAY. THEY’RE USING YACHTS
Dozens of Chinese nationals without proper papers have been smuggled from the Bahamas to South Florida by operators of luxury yachts who are charging them thousands of dollars each for the short Atlantic journey, according to federal criminal cases.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Good News! Australia's Endangered "Dinosaur Trees" Saved!

There are fewer than 200 Wollemi Pines left in the wild.. Cr CNN
With all of the devastation and over 1 billion wild animals thought dead as a result of the wildfires
that have been ravaging Australia, there was an save: Ancestors of trees that go back 200 million years. A stand of trees with ancestors that date back 200 million years was saved from a series of devastating bushfires, a rare glimmer of good news amid the ongoing disaster. A team of firefighters was deployed to a remote part of the Blue Mountains, about 120 miles northwest of Sydney. Here's the story>>

Australia's prehistoric Wollemi pine trees saved from bushfires in secret government mission
By Sara Spary, CNN
Updated 9:52 PM ET, Wed January 15, 2020

(CNN)An ancient grove of pine trees whose ancestors are thought to have stood tall among dinosaurs some 200 million years ago has been saved from Australian bushfires in a covert firefighting mission.

Firefighters in New South Wales (NSW) were enlisted by the local government to save the prehistoric Wollemi Pine grove, which exists in a secret location within the 5,000-square-kilometer (1,930-square-mile) Wollemi National Park northwest of Sydney.

The oldest fossil of the rare pine species dates back 90 million years and the pines are thought to have existed during the Jurassic period.

Gospers Mountain fire in the Yengo & Wollemi National Parks.Cr: Westleigh RFS 
Large air tankers of fire retardant were dropped inside the remote grove as part of the mission, while specialist firefighters attached to helicopters were winched down to set up an irrigation system to protect the trees from catching alight.

Swathes of the Wollemi National Park have been affected by the devastating bushfires and some of the precious pine trees have been charred. "Wollemi National Park is the only place in the world where these trees are found in the wild and, with less than 200 left, we knew we needed to do everything we could to save them," Matt Kean, the NSW environment minister, said in a statement.

"The pines, which prior to 1994 were thought to be extinct and whose location is kept secret to prevent contamination, benefited from an unprecedented environmental protection mission," he added. The NSW government had carried out a detailed scientific assessment and, while some trees have been damaged, the species has survived, he said.
Agence France Presse VIDEO: https://youtu.be/To5hsfPzmv8

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Idiot of the Week: Woman Steals Puppy at Gunpoint

Idiot:  Juanel Huff of Washington, DC
This week's idiot comes from Prince George's County, Maryland (thanks to our friend Jeff who is a police officer for pointing out this miserable, disgusting cretin. Fortunately the stolen puppy was recovered. This piece of human waste needs to go to prison.
   Police NEED YOUR HELP to identify this idiot's accomplice. See the story below from the police department posting:

Prince George's County Police Department
Detectives identified and charged a woman who robbed a victim of his puppy at gunpoint in December in Landover. She is 26-year-old Juanel Huff of the 2600 block of Bowen Street SE in Washington D.C. She is in custody in the District.
On December 30, 2019, Huff and an accomplice robbed the victim of his puppy, Lobo, at Kent Village Drive and E. Ridge Drive in Landover.
The victim told our detectives that he was walking the puppy when he noticed a car pass him and then pull over a short distance ahead. Our preliminary investigation reveals Huff got out of the car and walked to the trunk. The victim says Huff approached him from behind, displayed a gun and demanded the puppy. The victim grabbed the weapon and the two began to struggle over the gun. That's when the second suspect approached. The victim let go of the gun. Huff then pulled the trigger several times, but the gun didn't fire. Huff grabbed the puppy and the two suspects sped away. The victim suffered minor injuries.
On December 31st, 2019, a citizen spotted Lobo alone in Southeast D.C. and called authorities. He told detectives he recognized the puppy from local media coverage. Detectives drove to D.C. and recovered the puppy and returned him to his owners.
Huff is charged with attempted second degree murder, assault first degree, armed robbery and additional charges. She’s in custody in the District on an unrelated charge pending extradition to Prince George’s County. Detectives continue to work to identify Huff’s accomplice.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call 301-772-4425. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)

Messages from my Friend Linda's Spirit at her Memorial Service

Sixteen days ago, my friend Linda, of 28 years passed away. I have so many fond memories of Linda. She loved Louisiana, cats, her children, her work, and had a great sense of humor. She would often share many funny stories of her adventures, and I can still hear that laugh. Since I have had the ability to communicate with people and pets who have passed, it was not a surprise that I heard Linda at her memorial event yesterday. 
Her service was held at an historic mansion, and was set up like an English Tea. Linda loved English tea events so it was perfect.  I saw many of my old work colleagues from almost 30 years ago!  

Linda was indeed at the event today and her sense of humor came through loud and clear. She told me a couple of things. 
First, she said that "Some colleagues didn't age well" (She was kidding as she often did). Then she laughed. I heard her laugh!!
Rob, Linda and Tom

The next thing she told me was about when she went in managed care. (She had dementia). She said that they wouldn't let her smoke. She still smoked, that I know. - So  she said to me that "that was no kind of care." She decided that if she couldn't do what she wanted and enjoy life the way she wanted she didn't want to go on - so she stopped eating (earlier on the phone, her son told me she stopped eating). 

She was very happy that the event was at the historic mansion where she helped serve tea during her retirement.. She loves it so much. 

Finally, she told me to thank all of the ladies she worked with serving those afternoon teas, that she's so grateful for the time you they had together. It was a true highlight of her retirement, and she will be sitting there whenever there's an afternoon tea. People who continue to serve the teas may smell a whiff of smoke, or hear her softly laugh, but she'll be there! 

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Our friend Linda's Obituary That shows her Wit

Today is the day that Linda's memorial service is being held as an Afternoon Tea at the Historic Strathmore mansion in Bethesda, MD. So, we thought it fitting to share her obituary, which is really an insight into the fun and amazing person she is (still is in spirit). This obit really shines with Linda's personality.  

 
 

Of Bethesda, MD passed away on January 9, 2020, at the age of 72. Linda was born in Shreveport, LA to Grady and Bernice Buchanan. She is survived by her three children, James, Charles, and Catherine Burlington, as well as her two sisters and her nephews.
 
Linda was brought up as a good, obedient Southern Baptist girl, which luckily didn't last long. Her intellectual curiosity and independent streak took her to college, graduate school, and then law school and a distinguished legal career. Linda combined a formidable mind and wicked sense of humor with a gentle and kind disposition. During her three decades as an environmental attorney with the federal government, she kept a bullwhip in her office to use if needed on recalcitrant colleagues, and also organized the annual office Christmas cookie exchange. She loved mystery novels, her children, a hot cup of coffee, and a just cause. Linda will be sorely missed.
 
A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, January 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Strathmore Mansion in North Bethesda, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Published in The Washington Post on Jan. 21, 2020

Friday, January 24, 2020

Attn Military Folks: Dept of Defense to Lose Another $7.2 Billion for Trump Wall

More than 80 percent of people in the Military voted for the current resident of the White
House. Over the past couple of years, he's pillaged the military budget that he so proudly touted, to fund his own projects. He removed $2.5 BILLION dollars from the Military in 2019, and NOW he's taking another $7.2 BILLION from the Military. In fact, here in Maryland, the upgrades to Fort Meade and all of the surrounding roadways are STOPPED because he has stolen the money from the Dept of Defense. KEEP THIS IN MIND MILITARY FOLKS... when you VOTE. Your commander in chief has upped your budget and removed a LOT MORE of it to fund his stupid border wall. Here's the story>>>


January 14, 2020- Trump is planning to divert an additional $7.2 billion from the Department of Defense in order to fund his wall along the southern border with Mexico. If the plans go forward, it would be the second time the president has ordered that funds allocated to the Pentagon by Congress be diverted for wall construction.

Trump planning to divert additional $7.2 billion in Pentagon funds for border wall
By
Nick Miroff
Jan. 13, 2020 at 7:35 p.m. EST
President Trump is preparing to divert an additional $7.2 billion in Pentagon funding for border wall construction this year, five times what Congress authorized him to spend on the project in the 2020 budget, according to internal planning figures obtained by The Washington Post.

The Pentagon funds would be extracted, for the second year in a row, from military construction projects and counternarcotics funding. According to the plans, the funding would give the government enough money to complete about 885 miles of new fencing by spring 2022, far more than the 509 miles the administration has slated for the U.S. border with Mexico.

Trump took $2.5 billion from military counterdrug programs for border barrier construction in 2019, but this year his administration is planning to take significantly more — $3.5 billion. Trump administration officials also are planning to take $3.7 billion in military construction funding, slightly more than the $3.6 billion diverted in 2019.

Pentagon has warned of dire outcomes if military projects canceled for wall don’t happen

The move would bring the total amount of federal funds allocated to border fencing to $18.4 billion under Trump, who made the border barrier a priority during his campaign for the presidency in 2016. He also pledged to make Mexico pay for the barrier, delighting crowds at his rallies.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

7 Florida Legislators submit 4 anti-gay bills on last day to file

On January 15, 2020, seven Florida Republicans submited 4 anti-gay bills to remove rights and protections for LGBT people. How does this help anyone? 
Removing people's rights does not help anyone. Here's what these bills are about>>>

WHAT THE BILLS DO:  The bills would repeal LGBTQ antidiscrimination ordinances, criminalize trans health care for minors and allow conversion therapy in places that had banned it.
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? The state lawmakers — Rep. Anthony Sabatini, Sen. Dennis Baxley, Rep. Bob Rommel, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep Michael Grant, Sen. Keith Perry, and Rep. Byron Donalds 
 

Story: Florida Republicans submit 4 anti-gay bills on last day to file

The bills would repeal LGBTQ antidiscrimination ordinances, criminalize trans health care for minors and allow conversion therapy in places that had banned it.

Jan. 15, 2020, 11:02 AM EST
NBC News  By Tim Fitzsimons
Seven Republican lawmakers in Florida filed anti-LGBTQ bills late Monday, just hours before the deadline to file new bills for the coming legislative session.

If passed, the bills would ban gender-affirming health care for transgender children, repeal municipal and county ordinances protecting LGBTQ workers, and legalize so-called gay conversion therapy in places that had banned the medically debunked practice.

The state lawmakers — Rep. Anthony Sabatini, Sen. Dennis Baxley, Rep. Bob Rommel, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep Michael Grant, Sen. Keith Perry, and Rep. Byron Donalds — together introduced the four pieces of legislation, each with a companion bill in the House and the Senate.

Rep. Shevrin Jones, one of Florida’s openly LGBTQ lawmakers, said in a statement that it is “shameful that Republican lawmakers are wasting tax dollars attacking Florida's most vulnerable communities rather than prioritizing the issues that impact everyday people's lives.”

“Clearly they've decided that discrimination and hate are central to their election-year platform despite our state's incredible diversity,” Jones wrote. “Just as I've done since I was elected in 2012, I will continue to fight any legislation that marginalizes or threatens any Floridian's shot at a secure, safe, and bright quality of life."

Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBTQ rights group, also decried the late-session bill dump.

“This is the most overtly anti-LGBTQ agenda from the Florida Legislature in recent memory,” Jon Harris Maurer, the group’s public policy director, said in a press release. “It runs the gamut from openly hostile legislation that would arrest and imprison doctors for providing medically necessary care, to legislation that would carelessly erase critical local LGBTQ protections.”


Gina Duncan, Equality Florida’s director of transgender equality, called out the proposed trans health bill, saying, “Transgender youth are some of the most at risk in our community.”

“It is outrageous that conservative legislators would threaten their health and safety,” she said in a statement. “Medical professionals, not politicians, should decide what medical care is in the best interest of a patient. Forcing a doctor to deny best practice medical care and deny support to transgender youth can be life-threatening.”

NBC News reached out to the legislators behind the bills but did not receive any responses by press time.

Trump campaign's new hire is Fox News regular with history of anti-gay remarks
Conservative Republicans across the country have lately moved to introduce bills that would criminalize the provision of medical care for transgender children — including treatments endorsed by all major medical organizations. Florida’s trans health care ban proposal joins a list of similar bills that have been filed in recent weeks by staunchly conservative lawmakers in Tennessee and Texas.

“Sadly, the medical care of transgender youth has been sensationalized and politicized,” Jack Turban, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, said. “Gender-affirming medical care for transgender adolescents is endorsed by major medical organizations, including the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. It should go without saying, but providing standard medical care should not be a felony.”

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Wonder what Wales Produces and Sells Around the World?

BBC News recently produced a 1 minute video snapshot about what Wales produces and sells from the U.K.  If Brexit happens, and Wales becomes independent, the U.K. has a lot to lose. Watch and learn!


You may think of lamb, along with other food and drinks - but this makes up about £500m of sales abroad per year out of a total of £17bn. Specialist products relating to air and space travel are all made in Wales' manufacturing industry, while the UK's largest steelworks is also found in Port Talbot. Germany and France and USA are the biggest markets for Wales. ½ of Welsh exports are for machinery and transport- like steel.


Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Book Read: Going and Coming: A Minnow Saint James Metaphysical Adventure (Volume 1)

How often have you scanned books in the book store or on Amazon and thought "That sounds interesting?" That's what I did when I found the paperback "Going and Coming: A Minnow Saint James Metaphysical Adventure (Volume 1) by Christopher Stone. Here's what I thought...

I thought the book would be about the doctor's quest to prove reincarnation through his regression therapy. It was actually about him fighting the thought of previous lives until he encountered a student who regressed so far she went back to a previous life..I thought it odd that a regression therapist wouldn't believe that people would regress back to a previous life, but that's just me.
  The author spent a good deal of time establishing the main character's life in a coastal California town where he's on the city council. The characters and personalities are what kept me wanting to read more.
   Although the character is promoted as being gay, he didn't have to be. His being gay really had nothing to do with the storyline. There were no romantic interests. One thing that irritated me is that this successful doctor was afraid to come out to his 70 plus year old Republican parents and be who he is. The character is 40 years old (not 20), and professionally established and successful. It didn't sit well with me that someone so successful was still afraid to be who they really are just because their parents would be mad. Regardless, the second half of the book was really interesting when the writer took you into the young character's past life and afterlife experiences. 4 of 5 stars.


ABOUT THE BOOK: For gay, metaphysical sleuth Dr. Minnow Saint James, the workplace spans time, space, dimensions, and the entirety of the vast, incomprehensible affair that is God's Creation. At forty, Dr. Minnow Saint James, "Minn" to his friends, is a gay, metaphysical sleuth who, through Past Life Regression therapy, spans time, space, dimensions, and the entirety of God's Creation to discover the past, or future, life origins of his patient's most challenging present day problems. Minn did not always hold his current beliefs. He was born into an affluent, atheistic, Republican family in Beverly Hills, California, and raised to believe only what his five physical senses reported. In 2001, after receiving his doctorate from UCLA, Minn opened a highly successful traditional Hypnotic Regression therapy practice in Beverly Hills. For six years he enjoyed his life, until a patient spontaneously regressed herself to a past life in Eighth Century Coba, turning Minn's world upside down. Soon he was questioning his entire worldview. Now Minn is hoping that his past just might save his future.

Monday, January 20, 2020

In the News: Oldest material on Earth discovered

Some pre-solar grains in Murchison meteorite (inset)
could have come from evolved stars similar to the
Egg Nebula (pictured) Credit: ESA/Hubble 
We love science and enjoy sharing news of discoveries. This one is about the oldest material on
Earth. This article appeared last week in BBC News.

By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website

Scientists analysing a meteorite have discovered the oldest material known to exist on Earth.

They found dust grains within the space rock - which fell to Earth in the 1960s - that are as much as 7.5 billion years old.

The oldest of the dust grains were formed in stars that roared to life long before our Solar System was born.

A team of researchers has described the result in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

When stars die, particles formed within them are flung out into space. These "pre-solar grains" then get incorporated into new stars, planets, moons and meteorites.

"They're solid samples of stars, real stardust," said lead author Philipp Heck, a curator at Chicago's Field Museum and associate professor at the University of Chicago.

A team of researchers from the US and Switzerland analysed 40 pre-solar grains contained in a portion of the Murchison meteorite, that fell in Australia in 1969.

"It starts with crushing fragments of the meteorite down into a powder," said co-author Jennika Greer, from the Field Museum and the University of Chicago.

"Once all the pieces are segregated, it's a kind of paste, and it has a pungent characteristic - it smells like rotten peanut butter."

This whiffy paste was then dissolved in acid, leaving only the stardust.

"It's like burning down the haystack to find the needle," said Philipp Heck.

To work out how old the grains were, the researchers measured how long they had been exposed to cosmic rays in space. These rays are high-energy particles that travel through our galaxy and penetrate solid matter.

Some of these rays interact with the matter they encounter and form new elements. The longer they are exposed, the more of these elements form. The researchers used a particular form (isotope) of the element neon - Ne-21 - to date the grains.

"I compare this with putting out a bucket in a rainstorm. Assuming the rainfall is constant, the amount of water that accumulates in the bucket tells you how long it was exposed," said Dr Heck.

Measuring how many of the new elements are present tells scientists how long the grain was exposed to cosmic rays. This in turn informs them how old it is.

Some of the pre-solar grains turned out to be the oldest ever discovered.

Based on how many cosmic rays had interacted with the grains, most had to be 4.6-4.9 billion years old. For comparison, the Sun is 4.6 billion years old and the Earth is 4.5 billion.

However, the oldest yielded a date of around 7.5 billion years old.


More to be found
Dr Heck told BBC News: "Only 10% of the grains are older than 5.5 billion years, 60% of the grains are "young" (at) 4.6 to 4.9 billion years old, and the rest are in between the oldest and youngest ones.

"I am sure there are older pre-solar minerals in Murchison and other meteorites, we just haven't found them yet."
JAMES ST JOHN
Image captionThe Murchison meteorite fell to Earth in 1969

Previously, the oldest pre-solar grain dated with neon isotopes was around 5.5 billion years old.

The findings shed light on a debate over whether or not new stars form at a steady rate, or whether there are highs and lows in the number of new stars over time.

"Thanks to these grains, we now have direct evidence for a period of enhanced star formation in our galaxy seven billion years ago with samples from meteorites. This is one of the key findings of our study," said Dr Heck.

The researchers also learned that pre-solar grains often float through space stuck together in large clusters, like granola. "No one thought this was possible at that scale," Philipp Heck explained.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Idiot of the Week: Total Disrespect toward Another Deceased Man

This week's idiot has been here before... many times, sadly. Imagine yourself going to a public event where your recently deceased spouse, friend or partner is mentioned. That loved one is someone who worked hard in their job, and was admired by people who actually knew him or her.  Then, during the public event, the speaker, who didn't really know your loved one and thinks he despises them because he worked for an opposing company or group, says "He's looking up from Hell."    How would YOU feel? Well, that's what happened, and was said by this week's IDIOT.
  He's no stranger to the Idiot of the Week because he has belittled and offended women, minorities, gay people, the disabled and dead people (like the late John McCain). He just doesn't stop, and doesn't learn... and THAT makes him even MORE of an idiot. This time he implied that the late Rep. John Dingell was looking up from Hell.
 Here's the story


Trump implies that the late Rep. John Dingell is 'looking up' from hell
Dec. 20, 2019
(CNN)President Donald Trump attacked Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell and her late husband, Rep. John Dingell, during a rally on Wednesday, implying the former congressman was "looking up" from hell.

"Debbie Dingell, that's a real beauty," Trump said of the congresswoman, noting he was watching her on television during impeachment proceedings.

Trump said that he gave the family the "A-plus treatment" after John Dingell died, and that the congresswoman, who now holds his seat in the House, told Trump during an emotional call following John Dingell's funeral that her husband would have been "thrilled" by the respect shown for him during his funeral and "he's looking down" on the ceremonies.

"Maybe he's looking up," Trump said, drawing some moans and groans from those in Battle Creek, Michigan, about two hours away from Debbie Dingell's district. "Maybe, but let's assume he's looking down."

Trump's comment about John Dingell, the longest ever serving congressman, fell mostly flat on a crowd in an important swing state that has long revered the former dean of the House. John Dingell was an iconic figure in Michigan who was admired across party lines, and was one of the most popular political figures in the state during his lifetime.

Michigan was key to Trump's election in 2016 and appealing to Midwestern voters like those in the Great Lakes State will be important in his quest to hold onto the White House.

Debbie Dingell responded on Twitter to Trump's attacks on Wednesday, accusing him of sharpening her grief going into the holidays without her husband. "Mr. President, let's set politics aside," she tweeted. "My husband earned all his accolades after a lifetime of service. I'm preparing for the first holiday season without the man I love. You brought me down in a way you can never imagine and your hurtful words just made my healing much harder."

Dingell's fellow Michigan representative, Republican Rep. Fred Upton, said late Wednesday night that "there was no need to 'dis' him in a crass political way. Most unfortunate and an apology is due."

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Another vindication for Clinton as probe reportedly hits dead end

As people with sense knew years ago, there was no Benghazi scandal, there was no "uranium" scandal, there was nothing else that these right-wing conspiracy theory morons have made up - that ever proved true. In fact, Michael Flynn, one of the idiots that propagated this fake crap, is in PRISON.

Another vindication for Clinton as probe reportedly hits dead end

Rachel Maddow relays reporting from the Washington Post and CNN that a federal investigation into Hillary Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, Uranium One, and other pet right-wing narratives has found nothing worthy of criminal investigation, and reviews the other such investigations and suggestive media reports that have previously failed to incriminate Clinton.




Justice Dept. winds down Clinton-related inquiry once championed by Trump. It found nothing of consequence.

By
Devlin Barrett and
Matt Zapotosky
Jan. 9, 2020 at 6:56 p.m. EST
A Justice Department inquiry launched more than two years ago to mollify conservatives clamoring for more investigations of Hillary Clinton has effectively ended with no tangible results, and current and former law enforcement officials said they never expected the effort to produce much of anything.

John Huber, the U.S. attorney in Utah, was tapped in November 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to look into concerns raised by President Trump and his allies in Congress that the FBI had not fully pursued cases of possible corruption at the Clinton Foundation and during Clinton’s time as secretary of state, when the U.S. government decided not to block the sale of a company called Uranium One.

As a part of his review, Huber examined documents and conferred with federal law enforcement officials in Little Rock who were handling a meandering probe into the Clinton Foundation, people familiar with the matter said. Current and former officials said that Huber has largely finished and found nothing worth pursuing — though the assignment has not formally ended and no official notice has been sent to the Justice Department or to lawmakers, these people said.


The effective conclusion of his investigation, with no criminal charges or other known impacts, is likely to roil some in the GOP who had hoped the prosecutor would vindicate their long-held suspicions about a political rival. Trump, though, has largely shifted his focus to a different federal prosecutor tapped to do a separate, special investigation: U.S. attorney in Connecticut John Durham, who Attorney General William P. Barr assigned last year to explore the origins of the FBI’s 2016 probe into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber speaks with Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Thomas Homan by his side during a news briefing at the White House in June 2017. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber speaks with Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Thomas Homan by his side during a news briefing at the White House in June 2017. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
That FBI investigation was being supervised by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III in late 2017, when Trump and his supporters were pressuring senior law enforcement officials to appoint a second special counsel to pursue Clinton.

“Everybody is asking why the Justice Department (and FBI) isn’t looking into all of the dishonesty going on with Crooked Hillary and the Dems,” the president tweeted at the time.



Sessions did not appoint a second special counsel, but weeks later sent a letter to Huber telling him to “review” a wide array of issues related to Clinton. They included the Clinton Foundation and Uranium One matters, along with the FBI’s handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state and alleged leaks by former FBI director James B. Comey. At the time, Sessions was facing persistent public and private criticism from Trump, who was upset over his recusal from the Russia probe.

“Your recommendations should include whether any matters not currently under investigation warrants the opening of an investigation, whether any matters currently under investigation require further resources or further investigation, and whether any matters would merit the appointment of a Special Counsel,” Sessions wrote.

Sessions tasks U.S. Attorney to review FBI actions in Clinton cases

A spokeswoman for Huber referred questions to Justice Department headquarters, where a spokeswoman declined to comment.

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Friday, January 17, 2020

In Memory of our Friend Linda (Passed 1-9-20)

Rob, Tom and Linda (2016) at Belmont Manor
Our friend Linda passed away last week on January 9, 2020. We loved spending time with Linda who had lots of fun stories of her life growing up in Louisiana, crazy adventures with her sister Judy, and her passion for work as an attorney at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Linda and I (Rob) met in 1992 when I went to work for her. She was an attorney with NOAA for many years and she and Randall (the other atty there at the time) brought me in to work on the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (remember the Exxon Valdez spill?) Back then, we were much more than co-workers. We became instant friends.
Linda's family

Linda at Tom
Every time my birthday came around in October she would surprise me with a bag of candy corn, having remembered that I love that sweet candy.

Linda has three adult children and loved cats, all things New Orleans, and English Teas. In fact, one year for her birthday she had an "afternoon tea" gathering that we enjoyed.

I remember one year when Linda and I had to travel to Boston for a conference. She stayed in a hotel, and I stayed with my parents (who lived 12 miles away). That day we flew in, Boston got hit with a bad snowstorm!! I remember my dad and mom driving me to Linda's hotel to get her for the conference, and then taking us to the meeting (which was somewhere in downtown Boston).

Lunchtime meetings were another fun thing we did for many years. Linda and I worked about 30 minutes from each other so we would meet in the middle at Burger King. Sometimes our friends Jason and Nancy (who worked with Linda) would join us, too. It was always a fun lunch. I think I'll have a Whopper Jr. in Linda's honor. That was her favorite Burger King sandwich.

Linda's Birthday Tea -Sunday, April 3, 2011 - This was the second time her kids (all grown) organized an afternoon tea, with sandwiches, great desserts, and all kinds of treats.
When Linda retired, she volunteered for helping out at the Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda, MD, working the afternoon teas. We enjoyed some teas with her there and also took her to the Belmont Manor in the Baltimore area for their afternoon English tea event. Linda also arranged for me to meet Mary, who manages the Strathmore mansion program, and as a result, I've been the featured speaker for 3 years during the Halloween Tea where I have shared my paranormal experiences. Linda was so thrilled that I was speaking at her favorite place, as am I. When I retunr the Strathmore afternoon tea, I know that Linda will be sitting there in the audience sipping her tea in spirit.
Stratmore Tea

When she couldn't drive anymore, Tom and I enjoyed picking her up at her house and taking her out to Panera Bread for her favorite soup lunch. She knew and we knew that she would eventually have to go into hospice, and she did, but she didn't want to be there.

I received a call from Linda's oldest son, Jim on January 13th, telling me that she passed. It was of course, shocking because I thought he was going to tell me she went into managed care. Linda always had a laugh and a fun story for everyone and now she'll be entertaining others in spirit, while still making us smile with memories of her.

Rob, Linda, Tom at Strathmore Tea- Tuesday, April 26, 2016
English Tea at the Mansion At Strathmore!
Recently our friend Linda treated us to an elegant English Tea at the Mansion At Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland. The mansion is also a performing arts venue hosting diverse range of global musicians, and is on the same property as the Strathmore Concert Hall for larger concerts.   The tea featured a string quartet and wonderful small sandwiches, scones and other delectable delights. The tea was tasty and the elegant setting made for a nice way to spend a couple of hours with great company.







Thanks to Linda, I've been lecturing on Halloweens at Strathmore




Thursday, January 16, 2020

Batman TV Actor Burt Ward Receives Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Robin and Burt Ward at the Walk of Fame. Credit: UK Daily Mail
As a fan of the Batman 66'-68' television show, and a huge Batman fan I was excited to hear that Burt Ward who played Robin in the series, was finally given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He and his wife also have worked in dog rescue for many years (making him even MORE of a superhero to me).  They founded Gentle Giants Rescue and saved over 15,000 dogs! 
  Here's the story about his award, and the video of the ceremony below, complete with costumed heroes). >>>> 

Batman TV Actor Burt Ward Receives Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Comicbook.com Article 1-9-20

Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of those lifetime milestones that actors dream about - and its achievement that can arrive long after an actor thought the opportunity is gone. Case in point: Burt Ward, star of the 1960s Batman TV series is getting his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - an honor that Ward probably didn't expect to see. The event was held today by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, with many major stars coming out to support Ward as the 2,683rd recipient of a star on the Walk of Fame. As a touching tribute that DC fans will love, Ward's star will be placed alongside the star of the late Adam West, who was Batman to Ward's Robin in the '60s series.
Batman actors with Burt Ward. Credit: UPI

In addition to helping usher in the era of superheroes as mainstream icons, Burt Ward has been an entertainer longer than most. The 74 year-old actor started at age 2 as a professional ice skater in his father's traveling ice show (before there were Ice Capades), and has spent the last 50 years making appearances in various productions on TV and film. Above you can see the video of Burt Ward getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - as well as the official announcement about the event:

"The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Burt Ward, who played Robin on the Batman television series, will be honored with the 2,683rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, January 9, 2020. The star will be dedicated in the category of Television at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in front of The Guinness World of Records Museum.

“Burt Ward and his character Robin have been cult heroes for many years, to fans of all ages. We are thrilled to honor Burt with his star and happy to have been able to place Ward’s star next to the star of television’s Batman, Adam West and one the creators of the Batman character Bob Kane. We welcome him to our Walk of Fame family, and I cannot wait to say “Holy Walk of Fame star, Burt! when he arrives to dedicate his star that day,” added Martinez."

Burt and Tracey Ward's Gentle Giant Rescue and Adoption:  https://www.facebook.com/GentleGiantsRescue2/
Burt and Tracey Ward's Gentle Giant Rescue and Adoption
ABOUT THE RESCUE: Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions was established in 1994 by Burt and Tracy Ward to create a loving and stable environment for giant breed dogs while finding them safe and loving homes. Gentle Giants now rescues 45 different breeds of dogs ranging from 2 pounds to 300 pounds and during the last 20 years has rescued and saved more than 15,000 dogs. We are a national and international organization rescuing dogs from all across the United States and the world.

We are dedicated to helping dogs live longer, healthier, happier lives. We have created a unique feeding care program and a special world class dog food {Gentle Giants) that has dogs consistently living amazingly longer, healthier lives into their late teens and mid-twenties. Dog owners can read about our feeding and care program and purchase all natural Gentle Giants World Class Canine Cuisine dog food online at our website (www.gentlegiantsrescue.com), and they can also purchase Gentle Giants dog food at more than 700 stores in California. Retail distribution of Gentle Giants dog food throughout the United States is now being arranged.

Here's the link to the entire 50 minute presentation from Hollywood: https://youtu.be/xlmHq0aLutg





Who I am

I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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