Spirits of our loved ones are always sharing messages of love, and trying to get us to focus on what's important in life. This 4 minute clip from one of my favorite television shows sums up that message in a very moving way. Watch it.
In December 2023, the last episode of the television show "Superman and Lois" (about how they are married with 2 teenage sons) hits the nail on the head. Whether you're a fan or not, it doesn't matter. The message here is powerful. And it's EXACTLY the message spirits try to convey to the living.
This is a must-see 4 min. clip for EVERYONE.
At the end of Superman and Lois, when Clark ages and passes, he walks through what is important in life, and it will move you deeply. The lesson is so powerful. You will never forget it. I won't.
Here in southern Maine, during the third week in January, an Arctic outbreak brought high daytime temperatures in the teens with daytime windchills in the single numbers, and actual night-time temperatures near zero!!! Although the dogs have coats with hoods, they need physical activity in place of walking... so we have games, and I do indoor agility with the dogs. That's today's blog.
GAME 1 - Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Hide N Slide Dog Toy, Purple - this has cylindrical pieces that slide, and plastic leaf shaped tabs that also slide and cover a treat. In the first picture, Cody, far back, is playing with this toy. It's available on Chewy for about $15.00.
Level 2 intermediate dog puzzle is paw-fect for pets with little to no puzzle experience.
Your dog will slide blocks and swivel flippers to find hidden treats–holds a quarter cup of dog food.
GAME 2 - YELLOW FLIPPERS - This game is round, and has 8 circular storage containers. (Photo: above and right) It has 4 big yellow hand flippers that dogs can spin around to access all 8 treat holders. Dogs use their nose to flip open the "flippers" to get the treat. Tyler and Cody love this puzzle. Photo is Tyler sniffing out a treat by nudging the yellow flipper with his nose.
VOLCANO PUZZLE - This plastic toy has four "legs" and looks like a volcano with an opening where you can drop treats in the center, and the treats roll down into the ends of the legs. At the end of the "legs" dogs use their noses to lift the plastic door to get to the treat. Dash (above) loves this toy!! Cody (right) also likes to play with it.
This week's idiot is another wrong way driver on an Interstate in New Hampshire. What the heck is wrong with all these people? Every week in New Hampshire, there's a wrong way driver!!!
Laconia, nh Man Accused Of Wrong-Way Driving On I-93
CONCORD, NH — A man from the Lakes Region was charged with reckless conduct after a wrong-way driving incident on Interstate 93 in Salem on Jan. 14, according to the New Hampshire State Police.
According to Tyler Dumont, the public information officer for state police, Dexter Cilley, 63, of Laconia, was arrested by a state trooper around 4 p.m. after being accused of wrong-way driving.
“The preliminary investigation determined that Cilley drove a Honda Accord the wrong way up the Exit 2 northbound offramp,” he said. “Cilley then drove southbound in northbound lanes until (a) trooper located him. At that point, Cilley attempted to make a U-turn to reverse direction. Cilley then stopped and was taken into custody.”
No crashes or injuries were reported during the incident.
Cilley will be arraigned in Salem District Court at a later date.
Falling through ice during the winter time is often fatal unless someone happens to be there to pull you out. This week's hero is a man who saw a dog whom he didn't know, struggling in a mostly frozen river in Vermont and immediately went into the river to save the dog!
New England Man Risks His Life to Save Drowning Puppy in Nothing but a T-Shirt
From now on, when people ask what a hero is to me, I will show this video.
A pet owner's worst nightmare came true last week when a dog was found drifting down a frozen river in Vermont.
This is scary on so many levels.
First off, the dog was NOT near his or her house. It was floating down a river, trying to escape on the snow and ice-covered sides.
Unfortunately, as you will see in the video below, the freezing cold water was moving so fast that it was hard for the pup to get ahold of the edge.
Further, the colder it is, the harder it is for humans, and animals, to use their body, muscles, and joints correctly.
Essentially, this dog was drowning in a swiftly moving, freezing-cold river, with no owners in sight, and no strength to help themselves...
But out of nowhere comes T-Shirt MAN (I gave him the superhero nickname).
VIDEO: *********
(Caption: Vermont man rescues a dog from a freezing river, The dramatic rescue Friday by Chris MacRitchie was caught on video by his son, who had first spotted a dog struggling to escape an icy river as they were going through the drive-thru of a local Dunkin’ Donuts. Associated Press)
Stuck on the ice on the river's side, the T-Shirt Man had no choice but to just go get the pup. And thank god he did - the water was moving so fast that if the dog drifted past this civilian, he may not have lived.
If you watch the video you can see just how cold and weak the dog really was. Unable to pull himself up the side, unable to doggy paddle, and then after being rescued, he was still unable to walk...
If it were not for T-Shirt Man, this poor puppy would not be here today.
I recently finished enjoying Tin Star by Jackson Lowry (part of the Ralph Compton Sundown Riders Series). Ralph Compton is a famous writer of Western novels, and when he passed, Jackson Lowry wrote some of the series. Tin Star was great!
The story opens with an average guy (in the 1860s) named Luke, who while getting married to his wife-to-be, Audrey is shot by a villainous gang of thieves and murderers. The book follows his recovery and quest to find his wife. He presents himself as a Pinkerton Detective (he's not) to get leads on the gang, and he gets himself in lots of trouble. At one point, I was thinking "how much bad stuff can happen to one guy trying to do the right thing?" - The story takes a twist when he gets out of jail from a mystery benefactor, later meets a Pinkerton detective and gets in more trouble! The events near the end of the story reveals a twist you won't see coming. I didn't! It was a great novel, and I highly recommend it.
ABOUT THE BOOK: A man rides a path of vengeance in this all-new Ralph Compton Western in the Sundown Riders series.
Luke Hadley never imagined he would be left for dead with a chest full of bullets on the day of his wedding. All he wanted to do was tend to his farm with his new wife, Audrey, and begin their lives together.
But when the Rhodes Gang crashes his wedding party, they wreak havoc and abduct his bride, leaving the lifeless bodies of his guests. Luke has only a sparse trail of clues to follow, but with help from a phony Pinkerton badge and a mysterious woman with many skills—including breaking him out of jail—he finally rides down those who’ve wronged him....
“The greatest Western writer of them all.”—The Tombstone Epitaph
This fall and winter, home heating costs are expected to go up by 10.5% on average due to colder temperatures forecasted for parts of the country, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). Costs could be even higher depending on your home’s heat source.
Here NEADA’s predictions for heating costs this season:
$644 for heating with natural gas (up 7.2%)
$1,208 for heating with electricity (up 13.6%)
$1,42 for heating with propane (up 7.3%)
$1,963 for heating with heating oil (up 6.1%)
Those numbers may drive you to turn down the thermostat and pull out your bulky sweaters. Here are nine ways to stay toasty and to stave off the cold without breaking the bank this winter.
1) Get the right thermostat to heat up your savings.
If you install a smart thermostat, you could trim an average of 8% off your utility bills without sacrificing comfort. Smart thermostats work by using motion sensors or geofencing technology to detect when no one’s home and turn down the heat until you return. (Bonus: you might be able to get a rebate for installing a smart thermostat, and some devices have mechanisms in place to prevent your pipes from freezing in extremely cold weather.)
2) Banish drafts to keep the heat inside your home.
Identifying and sealing air leaks can save you 10% or more on your heating bill this winter. You can hire a professional to perform a full energy assessment or you can do a DIY inspection for air leaks. Check for drafts coming from these areas:
Attic hatches
Baseboards
Doorframes
Dryer vent areas
Electrical outlets
Fireplace dampers
Wall or window AC units
Wiring holes for cable TV
You can check visually, feel for drafts with your hand or hold up a candle to see if the flame flickers. You can use caulk and weatherstripping to plug some leaks, and you may want to consider installing storm windows. If that’s not in your budget and you’re losing heat through drafty windows, applying shrink-to-fit plastic wrap over your windows can be an easy, affordable way to minimize drafts and keep your home toasty warm.
3) Invest in energy-efficient window coverings.
Invest in energy-efficient window coverings to prevent heat loss this winter, such as:
Thick drapes. Substantial drapes, kept closed at night and during the day when the sun is not shining, can reduce heat loss by up to 10% and make a room feel warmer. For maximum warmth, drapery should hang as close to the window as possible and stretch from ceiling to floor. Use velcro to attach drapes to the wall for a better seal.
Insulated cellular shades. In cold weather, tight fitting insulated cellular shades can reduce heat loss by 40% or more, which translates to savings on your heating bill. Cellular shades with side tracks, which are vertical strips on either side of a window frame, improve the insulation of the shades by sealing out drafts.
Window quilts. Window quilts generally roll up or down and can be fitted to the window with velcro, snaps or tracks for maximum effectiveness.
4) Let the sun heat your home.
75% of window coverings in U.S. homes stay in the same position all day. Instead, open your window coverings during the day when the forecast calls for sunny weather, then close them to keep the heat in as the sun sets.
5) Keep humidity in check.
If your home is too humid, it will feel colder in fall and winter. Indoor humidity should ideally be between 30 and 50%, on the lower end in winter. Some smart thermostats offer built-in humidity readings, or you can buy an inexpensive humidity gauge at a hardware store.
If the humidity in your home is too high, run exhaust fans when showering, cooking and running the dishwasher, and purchase a dehumidifier if necessary. As a bonus, desiccant dehumidifiers release heat while operating, making a room feel warmer.
6) Turn down the heat at night while you sleep.
You can save 10% a year on heating by turning the temperature down by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day, according to DOE.
Stay warm at night with cozy comforters and thick socks. Consider a blanket orcomforter made of natural material such as wool or down, which provides natural insulation by trapping warm air between the blanket or comforter and your body. If you go with down, look for a high fill factor (700 or higher) to keep you warmer.
Another option is an electric blanket or a heated mattress pad. However, Electric blankets cause about 500 fires a year, and these are almost always blankets more than 10 years old, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation.
7) Get in the zone with heat sources.
Ever heard of supplemental zone heating? The idea is that you can turn down the thermostat in your home and use a supplemental heat source—like an electric or gas fireplace–in the room where you spend the most time.
Electric fireplaces are affordable, easy to maintain and inexpensive to operate, costing an average of $50 to $80 a year to run. If you like to spend time outdoors in the cold, consider gas patio heaters to keep you warm.
8) Get cooking to warm up your home.
Cooking with your oven can be a smart and tasty way to add extra warmth to your home in winter.
9) Run your ceiling fans clockwise.
As the weather cools down, reverse the direction of your ceiling fan from counterclockwise to clockwise. Warm air rises, and running your fan in this direction pushes that warm air near the ceiling back down toward the ground. This will help keep you and the rest of your household toasty.
We've been dog dads since 2004 and have always had coats for our dogs. Dogs with short fur, like Dachshunds and Weimaraners need coats in the winter to keep in their body heat. Back in the 1980s, my mom was brilliant and knitted, sewed and created coats for our family's toy poodle, Gigi. My mom knew that dogs get cold in winter, just as anyone does (although there are exceptions as Alaskan Malamutes were bred for cold). We've seen our 16 yr old, Dash; and our 12 year old, Cody, both long-haired, shivering outside even in their coats. So be good to your dog. They're your children. I'm happy to say I have all the coats my mom made in the 1980s and they fit our three Dachshund and dachshund-mixes. Tyler, our 14 year old wears the bulky wool sweater my mom made and it keeps him super warm in winter. Here's an article from Veterinarians about why some dogs should wear coats.
Although dogs come equipped with their own fur coat, during the winter they may need a little extra insulation. The dog’s breed, size, and temperament play a part in deciding which dogs need to wear coats, and which ones don’t.
At what temperature does a dog need a coat?
If there’s snow and ice on the ground, or persistent chilly winds, then a winter jacket for your dog is a good idea. Small or thin-furred breeds, puppies, and senior dogs will generally need a winter coat when the temperature outside feels at or below 32°F (0°C). Once the temperature drops below 20°F (-6.6°C), keep a close eye on your dog, regardless of breed, for signs that they are uncomfortably cold. If you’re putting on a coat to go outside, odds are good that it’s cold enough for your dog to need a coat as well.
Is it okay to put a coat on a dog?
Yes, putting a coat on a dog is fine, provided it’s under the right circumstances. Dogs should not be wearing coats in mild weather, while indoors, or just for fun. If your dog is clearly opposed to wearing a coat (for example, shows signs of anxiety or repeatedly tries to take it off), then modify their routine to minimize their exposure to cold weather.
Which dog breeds need to wear coats and jackets?
There are lots of dogs that can benefit from wearing coats when it’s cold out, but for different reasons.
Shorter-haired dogs: Dogs with fine hair, especially if they have low body-fat, will get cold faster. These include Greyhounds, Whippets, Pit Bulls, and Chihuahuas, among others.
Small dogs and puppies: These little guys don’t generate or retain as much body heat as large dogs.
Senior dogs: Older dogs have weaker immune systems and often suffer from arthritis or other age-related ailments; cold can exacerbate these problems.
Dogs with medical conditions: Heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes can interfere with a dog’s ability to maintain body temperature.
Short-legged dogs:Dogs like Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Corgis can lose heat quickly if their low stature puts them in contact with snow.
What about in-between size dogs, like Jack Russells? Or the gigantic yet short-haired Great Dane? Or your mutt rescue?
It really depends on the individual dog. A good rule of thumb, no matter what the breed, is that if your dog seems cold—shivering, whining, or slowing down—a coat can’t hurt.
Don’t force your dog to wear a coat if they don’t want to. The stress on your dog (and on you) isn’t worth it. If necessary, adjust your dog’s routine to ensure they still get enough exercise and stimulation, but avoid getting too cold.
Do dogs even get cold in the winter?
Dogs get cold just like people do. But some dogs, like Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies, were bred for cold climates. Others, like Newfoundlands or Chow Chows, are so large and furry that the cold doesn’t affect them much. Then again, if you have a Chinese Crested, they probably get cold when you open the fridge. No matter what their breed, dogs who are accustomed to warm weather may experience cold more strongly.
Intense cold can cause hypothermia, which occurs when a dog’s body temperature falls to dangerously low levels. Hypothermia causes muscles to stiffen and breathing and heart rate to slow. In serious cases, it can be fatal. Frigid weather may also cause frostbite, which most often affects a dog’s ears, tail, or paws. (A winter coat can help prevent hypothermia, but has no effect on frostbite, which afflicts extremities.)
I've been a fan of Superman since the 1960s when I was a little kid. Not only does an actor have to make their portrayal of Superman believable, but also be convincing as the Clark Kent alter ego. The Clark Kent persona is critical because Clark has to be a "different person" to keep his identity safe. Only 2 actors pulled that off for me: Tyler Hoechlin from the TV show "Superman and Lois" and George Reeves from the TV show, "The Adventures of Superman." Even Kirk Alyn from the 1950s Superman movie serial was great.
This blog looks at those, and Includes the Incredible tear-jerking ending of Superman and Lois that demonstrates my point about Tyler's performance. Watch it.
What prompted me to think about the portrayal of Clark Kent? Chris Halls of the Facebook page "Comics and Superhero Related" posted a great observation about actors who best portrayed the Clark Kent alter ego of Superman. He wrote, " Out of everyone I've seen play Superman, Tyler Hoechlin nailed it on multiple levels. His Clark Kent/Superman was so humble, so down to earth, like this is what Superman represents I know everyone has their favorites, Christopher Reeves, Henry Cavill are always in the conversation. But the show runners, and writers of Superman & Lois knew how to present us a Superman show. "
MY TAKE ON CLARK - I've never seen Clark portrayed the way Tyler Hoechlin did. He captured the humble Clark, the caring Clark, the wise Clark, the sometimes funny Clark, and the sympathetic Clark. The only other actor who gave an amazing portrayal is Clark Kent is George Reeves. He did a brilliant Clark in the 1950s as a more dedicated reporter.
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WATCH THIS SHORT CLIP The Superman & Lois 4x10 Epilogue "Life Goes By So Fast" Scene Series Finale and you'll see what I mean about Tyler's performance. I cry every time I watch it (I've seen it now 5 times).
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/IUhSOeASK2k?si=FnZRCl3bxWHlBO4o
ABOUT THE SCENE: This takes place after Clark's wife Lois Lane passed from cancer. The characters include his adult sons by his bed, his sons appearing as teens in his afterlife experience, His friends Kyle and Chrissy, Lana and John, he forgives Lex Luthor, greeted by his dog Krypto, and reunites with Lois in the afterlife.
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I loved the Christopher Reeve films of the 1970s and 80s, enjoyed Brandon Routh's take on him in "Superman Returns" and the CW Network Arrowverse as the "Kingdom Come Superman." As much as I loved the performances of those like Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh, they didn't have enough time in their movies to present Clark in total. I think that's because movies don't give enough time to develop a character the way television series do. Although in their short times on screen as Clark Kent, they were really great.
Although I loved Henry Cavill as the handsome, muscular Superman but he never got a chance to really be Clark.
I left out Smallville, because I didn't care for it. The actor Tom Welling didn't capture the humble Clark from Kansas. Instead he was portrayed as more of a tougher character. That isn't Clark. Further, I resented Tom Welling's refusal to don the Superman suit because it was a huge slap in the face of comics readers who love the comics of Superboy, the adventures of Superman when he was a boy. (I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this, but it's all true.)
I also didn't acknowledge Dean Cain from Lois and Clark. His portrayal was just awful and even as a huge fan, I couldn't bear to watch it. Now, Cain is a right-wing nut who has lost his mind, so I'm glad I didn't care for his portrayal either.
Going back to the early-mid 1950s, actor Kirk Alyn in the1950s Movie serials did a great job on Clarkand put Welling and Cain's performances to shame.
Tyler was the best Clark, ever. As a Superman fan since the 1960s, I will always cherish and thank Tyler Hoechlin for his incredible performance.
Today, January 27, 2025, an earthquake hit at 10:22 a.m. ET, centered just 7 miles off the York County, southeastern Maine coast. We heard a loud Boom, then rumbling here in southern Maine. It was felt in Southern Maine, Eastern New Hampshire, Boston, Mass. and even Providence, Rhode Island. It was a 3.8 on the Richter scale (originally reported as a 4.1). There were no damages, and fortunately, no tsunami. Waiting to see of there will be aftershocks here in Maine. The state of Maine typically experiences several small earthquakes every year.
USGS reports 3.8 magnitude earthquake off coast of York, Maine
YORK, Maine — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a magnitude 3.8 earthquake happened off the coast of southern Maine on Monday.
According to the USGS, the earthquake happened at 10:22 a.m. just over 6.2 miles (10 km) southeast of York Harbor. The depth of the earthquake was 8.2 miles (13.2 km).
The Maine Geological Survey's online database indicates that this earthquake was tied for the third-strongest earthquake with an epicenter in Maine since 1997. The only earthquakes that were stronger were a magnitude 4.5 that happened in East Waterboro on Oct. 16, 2012, and a magnitude 4.2 that happened east of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Oct. 2, 2006. A magnitude 3.8 earthquake last happened on July 14, 2006, about 15 miles northwest of Portage in Aroostook County.
Maine's Total Coverage has received reports from people across southern Maine who felt the ground shake or heard a loud rumble.
People in New Hampshire and Massachusetts also reported feeling the earthquake.
The state of Maine typically experiences several small earthquakes every year.
In 2024, there were four earthquakes with an epicenter in Maine. The strongest was of those earthquakes came on July 28, when a magnitude 2.8 happened in West Gardiner.
The Richter Scale is logarithmic, which means each whole number increase in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in scope. Therefore, Monday's earthquake had a ground motion 10 times as large as the one that happened in West Gardiner on July 28, 2024.
On January 11th, there was a big book signing event for my latest book, "Haunting of Emery Estate," with my co-author Monique Toosoon. Monique arranged the entire event in an historic (and haunted) building in Nashua, New Hampshire and today's blog shares some pictures and background about it.
(Monique and Rob sign books)
Tom and I drove to the event, which is about 90 minutes away. Tom helped with the unpacking and packing of my books, banners and the like. I had an absolutely amazing time with my super talented, funny, creative co-author, Monique Toosoon at the book signing and after-party paranormal investigation of the building.
(Photo: Tom, our friend Jim, Rob)
Oh, Snow!! The night before the event, snow started falling and by 2pm it ended as 2" on the ground. Fortunately, it didn't scare away most folks. Monique's daytime business is nearby, so many people who know her from there attended.
How did we get into an historic building? It's all about connections. Monique aka Robert, knows the building manager, who allowed us to host the event there.
(Photo: Monique, Lauren, Kevin and Doug (far right)
Friends Attend! It was so great to see some of our old friends who live within an hour away like Kevin and Lauren and Doug. Jim (a fellow meteorologist) and I have known each other over 25 years. We've known Suzanne for almost 20 years.
Set Up! I am so thankful to Monique and her husband, Danny who brought refreshments, made signs and worked hard to get everything together. I admit, it was a little challenging getting all of the books, food, promo stuff and banners out of both our vehicles because of the snow on the ground.
(Photo: the investigation begins!)
Emery Estate Investigators Join Us - Every one of the paranormal investigators who were at the Emery Estate came to this event. Alaura, who is a medium and paranormal investigator who teamed with Monique and me during the Emery investigation came with David, who is also a paranormal investigator and a tech expert.
Thomas, who was stationed in the basement of the Emery Estate also attended. If you read the book, you'll learn about the activity there.
(Photo: Monique, Alaura, and Amy the building manager)
We were also joined by Derek and Candace known as the "ParaClauses" because they have dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus during some paranormal investigations. Derek is a software guru and tech guy, and Candace is a medium.
(Photo: Start of the investigation. Derek (of the Paraclaus' far right, Monique, next to him, Candace (of the Paraclaus') center, next to the man in the baseball cap)
All stayed for the crazy paranormal investigation which ran from 9:30pm to 11:30p! We encountered several resident ghosts. Perhaps that will be a topic for an upcoming book. What a night!
In northern New England, speeding excessively on highways or drunk driving seems to be common problems... in fact weekly (sadly). Here's the latest idiot driving drunk and speeding excessively. He's lucky to be alive, and not to have killed anyone. That's today's idiot blog.
(Photo: NH State Police at another traffic accident in 2025. Credit: New Hampshire State Police) Brentwood man faces charges after high-speed Route 101 chase leads to trooper crash
EXETER — A Brentwood man is facing charges of driving under the influence and reckless conduct after leading police on a high-speed chase on Route 101 that resulted in a state police trooper being involved in a rollover crash.
State police said the pursuit began at 11:10 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2025 after Trooper Shane McClure of the Troop A barracks observed a 2018 Toyota Camry traveling westbound at 131 mphnear Exit 11, where the posted speed limit was 65 mph.
Michael P. Holt, 56, of Brentwood, NH, is facing charges of reckless conduct, disobeying an officer, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs or liquor, conduct after an accident, and criminal mischief.
McClure, according to police, followed and activated his emergency lights but the Toyota continued west at a high rate of speed on Epping Road (Route 27) in Exeter.
"While continuing to pursue, Trooper McClure was involved in a rollover crash near the intersection of Epping Road and Old Town Farm Road," state police stated in a press release. "Other Troopers, along with members of the Exeter police and fire departments, responded to the crash scene to assist Trooper McClure while additional troopers searched the area for the eluding driver of the Toyota."
McClure was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was eventually discharged.
At approximately 11:25 p.m., state police troopers located the Toyota on Middle Road in Brentwood. However, the driver failed to stop, and the pursuit continued, according to state police. Troopers successfully deployed tire deflation devices as the driver turned onto Deer Hill Road, but despite multiple deflated tires, the driver continued back to Route 101 westbound.
Near Exit 7, the driver of the Toyota made a U-turn and began driving eastbound in the westbound lanes, heading directly toward the pursuing troopers. As the troopers attempted to stop the driver from continuing the wrong way into oncoming traffic, the driver reversed direction again and continued westbound.
Near Exit 6, state police reported that the driver lost control of the Toyota, veering off the right shoulder before rolling over into the woods. Troopers surrounded the vehicle, made contact with the driver, broke a window, and ordered the suspect out of the car. The driver, later determined to be the sole occupant, complied and was taken into custody.
I had such a great time with these 2 hosts on this program "Second Hand Haunting" from Australia! We arranged it so I talked with them on a Friday night my time/Saturday morning their time. Callum & Olly are joined by Author, Paranormal Investigator, and Pet Medium Rob Gutro to talk about the myriad ghosts, shades, and spirits that haunt the Darlington Civic Theatre.Along the way Rob teaches the boys about animal ghosts, reincarnation, and investigation techniques. Here's a FUN Promo (video) and Link to the entire podcast.
Here's a story about three heroes who work for CBS News that rescued 3 dogs trapped in a California home, surrounded by wildfires. This video report will bring happy tears to your eyes as it did to mine (well, unless you're cold hearted!). This week's heroes are reporter Jonathan Vigliotti (whom I love), and his two unnamed camera crew.
Caption: It was a dramatic rescue. CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti was contacted by a stranger who told him his three rescue dogs were stuck inside his Pacific Palisades house – alone – as the Palisades Fire closed in. Jonathan and his producer, who were reporting nearby, did not hesitate to help – risking their lives to save all three dogs.
Rescue dogs stuck in home during California wildfires saved by CBS News crew
A family's dogs were trapped in their LA home with wildfires closing in. A CBS News crew saved them.
By Simrin Singh, January 13, 2025 / 9:36 AM EST / CBS News
Andrea Pasinetti was in San Francisco for work and his wife, Sixuan, was overseas when the Palisades Fire broke out on Tuesday, devastating neighborhood after neighborhood — including their own. Their dogsitter was stuck in the roads leading to their block, leaving the Pasinettis' three dogs waiting at home as the flames began ravaging their street, Lachman Lane.
Bundled with anxiety and not knowing the fate of his beloved pets, Pasinetti said he jumped on a flight to Los Angeles, hoping to make it home in time to get Alma, Archie and Hugo out of danger.
"The flight into [Los Angeles] was definitely very, very hard because we just didn't have any information," he told CBS News from a hotel room.
Pasinetti's friend picked him up with a car full of fire retardant materials and blankets, in case he would need them when rescuing the pets, and they sped over to the Palisades. But when they were about eight minutes out, Pasinetti said they struggled to find a way in with "cops at most intersections."
"It's this feeling of helplessness and devastation and also just the unknown," he described. "Wanting to maintain hope, but also kind of bracing for the worst."
While on the phone with his wife, Pasinetti said he determined there were two options they could move forward with — either he finds a way to the house, or someone else needs to. That's when Sixuan saw CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti reporting from Palisades Charter High School, which was a short distance from their residence.
"We started wracking our brains to see if we knew anyone who might be able to get in touch with Jonathan, and we were tweeting at him and eventually we found a friend and sort of colleague of his, who was able to get a message through," Pasinetti said.
That colleague was CBS News producer Christian Duran, and the two-man team decided to help, heading over to the house that was "on its last legs," according to Pasinetti — despite the risk involved.
"We knew it was a tall order to extract all three dogs from the house," he said. "Obviously, Jonathan didn't have a key to the house, so I told him to break whatever window he could and he managed to get into the house."
Alma, Archie and Hugo are rescue dogs, and as a result, "pre-wired with a lot of anxiety," Pasinetti explained. The three of them were likely in separate areas of the house — with Alma right at the entrance and Hugo likely under a bed, he said, potentially making the rescue even more difficult.
"They managed to wrangle [Alma] somehow and I think they threw a blanket over her and kind of got her covered, then they proceeded to the second pup, Archie," he said. "I imagine they had to lift the bed in the primary bedroom and extract Hugo."
"The circumstance probably couldn't have been any more dramatic. The house was surrounded by flames," Pasinetti continued. "I think it burned down a few hours after he was able to get the pups."
Pasinetti said he was almost in disbelief when he found out all three had been rescued from the house safely.
"I have never felt that mixture of joy and relief and exhaustion and despair and gratitude towards someone," he said. "The generosity and kindness and risk that they put themselves through to get the dogs was really — I think it's the best that humanity has to offer."
The Pasinettis still have a long road ahead — picking up the pieces of a lost home, something they haven't even had an opportunity to comprehend yet, he said. The Palisades Fire has destroyed nearly 23,000 acres and continues to burn with little containment.
Pasinetti added that the experience has reminded them about what's important in life.
"I think we go through life accruing so much stuff and curating our belongings, but at the end of the day, it's all stuff — and while it's sad to lose, I think the possibility and prospect of losing something much more important, just put it into perspective," he shared.
Pasinetti also emphasized he was grateful for the efforts that first responders and firefighters had been tirelessly putting in to save lives and homes. One firefighter even offered to take him to his home that night amidst the chaos, he said.
"I think all the plaudits and all the commentary on the firefighters and the first responders really, really is very much deserved and they put themselves in harm's way to try to save what they could," he said. "They were sort of in the line of fire, literally, for many hours and days often without water."
As a comics fan since the mid-1970s, the Justice League of America has always been my favorite group. That run from the 1960s until the early 1980s (known as the Silver Age) was my favorite run of stories of the team. No run of JLA since has ever equaled it. One great collection of stories from that age is about when new members were elected, and this collects those with the exception of 4 important members.
The Trade Paperback"Justice League of America Hereby Elects" is a great collection from the first and classic (Silver Age) run of stories from the Justice League of America- but it didn't include 2 big members that actually joined. Instead, it included one that refused membership.
It should have included Firestorm, the Atom, Hawkman and the Phantom Stranger who actually joined the JLA, unlike Black Lightning, who refused membership. Still, the other stories, of Green Arrow, Black Canary, Elongated Man, Red Tornado (my favorite), Hawkgirl and Zatanna were great. I'd love to see an updated revision that includes the other characters and their stories of accepting membership.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Membership in the World's Mightiest Super-Team is earned in these classic stories from JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #4, # 75, #105-106, 3146, #161 and #173-174 as Green Arrow, Black Canary, Elongated Man, Red Tornado, Hawkgirl, Zatanna and Black Lightning prove they have what it takes to join the JLA!
THE ATOM- In Justice League of America #14, the JLA inducted the Atom into their membership, providing him with a special floating miniature chair and miniature emergency signaling device.**********
HAWKMAN - In JLA #31 in 1964, Hawkman accepts to invitation and is taken to JLA headquarters and given his membership plaque as well as a JLA emergency signal.
FIRESTORM - Firestorm first joined the Justice League in Justice League of America #179.
THE PHANTOM STRANGER - After a vote of the majority of the team in Justice League of America #103, they offered him membership, with Superman declaring the Stranger "a member" without qualification.
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
