Happy Halloween! This is a look at the costumes that we've made for our canine kids over the years. Sadly, all of these kids are now in spirit, but the memories remain. Wishing you a wonderful Halloween!
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Friday, October 30, 2026
Books of the Week: Werewolf by Night, vols. 1 and 2 (Marvel Comics Essentials collection)
Since it's almost Halloween, this week is a Double-Book of the week, because it's about a Werewolf. And, if you read one volume, you have to read the second. So I recently enjoyed Marvel Comics' "Werewolf By Night" - Essential collections Volumes 1 and 2, which starts with the characters' first appearance in the 1970s up to the final issue #43 in 1977. I've always been intrigued by the character so this was a treat to read. Today's blog is about my experience and info about these two volumes of 580 pages of reprints. 4 of 5 Stars for me.
Jack Russell is the Werewolf by Night. When this kid turned 18 he was suddenly made aware of a curse on his family, where at that age, everyone transforms into a werewolf during full moon periods. The character has a younger sister who is afraid of turning into a werewolf, and it turns out his step dad isn't the person he thought he was. The sister gets cured, but Jack doesn't. When the series was 3/4ths of the way through, it got weird and took away from the character's struggle (which was dealing with his transformations where he had no control or memory of what he did as a werewolf), and for about 8 issues, I was losing interest. But around issue #41 (third to last in the entire series), it started getting better.
MY THOUGHTS ON THE SERIES - I love the concept and the struggle of an 18 year old trying to deal with being a werewolf at full moon events. I also didn't mind reading about a muscular shirtless guy (although some artists could have been better at depicting him) becoming a werewolf. I couldn't figure out how he managed to survive though, without a job... other than likely living off his step father, but that would distract from the stories I suppose.
In the last couple of issues, #42 and #43, Iron Man was a guest and Jack Russell was able to transform into a Werewolf on command and maintain his human mind - which made the character MUCH BETTER, in my opinion. Then, sadly, the series ended at #43. 
ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS - Marvel Comics' Essential Werewolf by Night Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are black-and-white trade paperbacks from Marvel Comics that collect the complete 1970s classic Werewolf by Night series and related appearances of Jack Russell. Each volume spans 580 pages!
Volume 1 - Release Date: October 2005
Contents: Marvel Spotlight #2–4; Werewolf by Night (vol. 1) #1–21; Marvel Team-Up #12; Giant-Size Creatures #1; and The Tomb of Dracula #18.Key Highlights: Collects the origin and earliest adventures of Jack Russell, introducing characters like Lissa Russell, Buck Cowan, and Topaz, plus crossover appearances with Spider-Man and Dracula.
Volume 2 - Release Date: November 2007
Contents: Werewolf by Night (vol. 1) #22–43; Giant-Size Werewolf #2–5; and Marvel Premiere #28.Key Highlights: Features the conclusion of the original 1970s series, guest appearances by the Frankenstein Monster and Morbius, and the historic first appearance of Moon Knight in Marvel Premiere #28
Thursday, October 29, 2026
RECOVERED! Lost Italian Statue by Trevi Fountain Artist Discovered in Salvage
Here's a story about a piece of artwork by the Famous Italilan sculptor who created the famous Trevi Fountain. This statue was discovered by a sharp eyed person, who noticed it in a salvage yard. That's today's blog.
(Image: 300-year-old model by Baroque master Pietro Bracci of Pope Clement XII (circa 1736) Woolley & Wallis / SWNS)
Lost Italian Statue by Trevi Fountain Artist Discovered in Salvage Yard Among the Garden Ornaments
Good News Network -Oct 10, 2026
A Roman artifact from the Italian sculptor responsible for the Trevi Fountain was discovered in a reclamation yard for a mere 300 British pounds ($400).
The 27-inch-tall (68cm) model was fashioned by Pietro Bracci as a pitch for a giant bronze sculpture of Pope Clement XII, which was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate the pope’s donation to the Capitoline Museums.
While the final full-sized bronze was tragically melted down for scrap metal 60 years later, Bracci’s presentation ‘maquette ’ made of marble—believed to have been completed in the 1730s—quietly survived.
Shipped back to a country estate in England, it fell out of favor and was moved outdoors to become a common garden ornament.
Seeing it sitting among hundreds of architectural cast-offs, a builder with a sharp eye for antiquities spotted its quality in the salvage yard in Wiltshire and took a chance that he may have found a treasure.
It was was put up for auction yesterday by Woolley & Wallis after it was estimated to fetch between $6,600 to $13,300 because of its uniqueness, and artist’s signature.
“It’s an exceptionally exciting discovery,” said the auction house’s furniture specialist Mark Yuan Richards.
“To have a rare eighteenth-century marble figure of Pope Clement XII by Pietro Bracci come to light, and now be offered for sale, is a remarkable opportunity.
“Bracci was one of the great sculptors of eighteenth-century Rome, and this extraordinary survivor offers a tangible connection to the world of the papal court and the artistic splendor of the period.”
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Made Page One! My Talk tomorrow in York, Maine
On Thursday, October 29th, 2026 at 5:15pm, I am giving a lecture at the York Public Library, in York, Maine! And the library put an article in the local newspaper called the Sentinel that appeared on the front page.
From 2 of Rob’s books, you can experience a public paranormal investigation at the Hunt Memorial Library in Nashua, NH with Rob and Monique Toosoon. Their findings revealed three ghosts that were not associated with the building but chose the building as their residence. Together with other paranormal professionals and members of the public they uncovered a haunted secret love, illicit trysts, a ghostly teenage accident victim and haunted paintings.
In the Ghosts of Linville Manor – Maryland’s Most Haunted House, Rob’s investigation revealed the identities of several ghosts, including one who remains there due to being unjustly accused. This book details that investigation, provides a glimpse of the home's past, and shares many of the supernatural interactions people have experienced.
YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Amanda Johnson, Programming Librarian
15 Long Sands Road | York ME 03909
207-363-2818 ext.1023 | yorkpubliclibrary.org
Library Hours: M-Th 10-7, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2
Missing Celtic fort annihilated by Julius Caesar finally found under Paris hospital
Archaeologists in Paris have discovered the remains of a missing Celtic fort sacked by Julius Caesar in 52 B.C. and part of Lutetia, a Celtic settlement. Today's blog shares this amazing discovery from the first century B.C.
(Photo: Archaeologists have been working at the excavation site, on the Île-de-la-Cité in Paris, since February 2026. Image credit: Anastasia Choquet/DRAC Île-de-France)
ABOUT LUTETIA - Lutetia was a Celtic pre-Roman settlement founded by the Parisii tribe around the 3rd century BCE on an island in the Seine River (modern-day Île de la Cité in Paris, France)
DISCOVERY! Missing Celtic fort annihilated by Julius Caesar finally found under Paris hospital
LIVE SCIENCE,By Kristina Killgrove Edited by Tia Ghose, Pandora Dewan, Published September 23, 2026
Archaeologists excavating a Paris hospital's courtyard, a stone's throw from Notre-Dame, have discovered the first evidence of a Celtic fort that Julius Caesar tried to conquer in 52 B.C. The ancient walls show evidence of a violent fire, seemingly confirming the claim that the Celtic group who lived there, known as the Gauls, burned down their own town so that it wouldn't fall into Caesar's hands.
"The wall's architecture, with its large blocks and interlocking beam system, immediately led us to believe it was a wall of Gallic tradition," Dorothée Chaoui-Derieux, chief curator of heritage at the Île-de-France Regional Archaeology Service, said in a translated statement. Traces of fire and first century B.C. artifacts further suggested the archaeologists had finally found material evidence of Lutetia, a Celtic settlement mentioned in Caesar's Gallic Wars.
(Image: Archaeologists have uncovered a significant discovery beneath the Hôtel-Dieu on the Île de la Cité, potentially providing the first material evidence of Lutetia, the Celtic settlement mentioned in Julius Caesar's account of the Gallic Wars in 52 B.C. Photo credit Hamid Azmoun, Inrap.)
In the first century B.C., Lutetia was a Celtic pre-Roman settlement, known as an "oppidum", in what is now Paris. Lutetia was the capital city of the Parisii tribe, who lived along the River Seine. As part of the Gallic Wars, which ran from 58 to 50 B.C., Julius Caesar and his troops fought the Battle of Lutetia in 52 B.C. The Romans won a decisive victory, but the Gauls burned Lutetia and cut the bridges so that Caesar could not take the town. As a result, the ancient fort had never been found.
But in February, a team of archaeologists began excavating in the courtyard of the Hôtel-Dieu, which is Paris's oldest working hospital. On the small Île-de-la-Cité island in the middle of the Seine, close to Notre-Dame, the archaeologists discovered a 65-foot (20-meters) stone and timber wall typical of Celtic fortifications. Charred facing, burnt seeds and a burned wooden building discovered nearby suggested the site had been destroyed by a fire.
"The initial results of carbon-14 dating of the wooden elements suggest a date range between 200 and 10 B.C. Furthermore, a Gallic spearhead was found at the foot of the wall," Chaoui-Derieux said.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Good News- Democratic Congressional Push Re-Activates 988 Crisis Line for LGBTQ people
Today's blog is a light in the darkness. In July, 2025, the Trump Administration closed down accessibility for LGBTQ people to talk with someone in crisis through the National 988 crisis number (because they despise LGBTQ people).Finally, thanks to intervention from an Illinois democrat, that life-saving crisis line has been reactivated in October, 2026..png)
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988 LGBTQ+ youth crisis line Finally restored after 14 months
For more than 14 months, LGBTQ+ young people seeking help through the nation’s suicide prevention lifeline could no longer choose the specialized service created for them. On Wednesday, that option returned without The Trevor Project, the organization that helped launch it.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin and The Trevor Project separately confirmed that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services, commonly known as “Press 3,” had resumed. The restoration follows a congressional directive and sustained pressure to reverse the Trump administration’s July 2025 shutdown.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat who pushed for the restoration, welcomed the service’s return Thursday, October 8, 2026, while calling for continued access. “When an LGBTQ+ young person reaches out for help in a moment of crisis, they deserve to reach a counselor trained to understand and support them,” he said in a statement. "This program should never have been taken away, and now we need to make sure it stays available for every young person who needs it."
The original service began as a pilot in September 2022, connecting LGBTQ+ young people with counselors trained to address their needs through calls, texts, and online chats.
The Trump administration ended it on July 17, 2025. The broader 988 network continued operating, but the dedicated LGBTQ+ service disappeared.
Monday, October 26, 2026
Doggy Beach Experience! York Beach, Maine
Over the last couple of Monday blogs we told you about places we took our visitors in early October, and one was York Beach, Maine. But our three little dogs got to come along and we don't know if was the first time any of them experienced a beach.
(Tom with Jimmy, Joey, Rob and Roger sit for a spell on the rocky beach)
Roger, our long-haired black and tan Dachshund, seemed to be loving his first Maine beach visit! He seemed very happy and smiled a lot!
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Little Jimmy, the smaller and lighter colored of the two Chiweenie brothers was trying to understand what the ocean was and why the beach ended into it! He was also watching people walking on the beach.
Joey, the larger Chiweenie who looks more like a Dachshund than his brother Jimmy, was on guard all the time. He never stopped looking around to see who may have been coming. Joey is definitely the protector and watch dog of the pack, and he's especially protective of his little brother Jimmy.
(Photo -R to L: Joey, Roger and Jimmy enjoyed their first beach visit!)
ABOUT LONG SANDS BEACH - Long Sands Beach stands as the crown jewel of york beaches maine, extending 1.5 miles along Route 1A. This expansive stretch of golden sand attracts surfers, sunbathers, and families. The beach faces southeast, providing spectacular sunrise views and afternoon sun exposure. During summer months, lifeguards patrol designated swimming areas, ensuring safe conditions for families with children.
York’s colonial legacy extends back to 1624, making it one of America's oldest English settlements. However, the transformation of york beaches maine into a tourist destination occurred during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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ABOUT LONG SANDS BEACH - Long Sands Beach stands as the crown jewel of york beaches maine, extending 1.5 miles along Route 1A. This expansive stretch of golden sand attracts surfers, sunbathers, and families. The beach faces southeast, providing spectacular sunrise views and afternoon sun exposure. During summer months, lifeguards patrol designated swimming areas, ensuring safe conditions for families with children.
HISTORY OF YORK BEACHES - According to Maine's Beaches.com,
The arrival of railroad service in the 1870s made coastal Maine accessible to urban populations from Boston and beyond. Wealthy families built grand summer cottages, while enterprising locals established hotels, boarding houses, and beach amenities. York’s development as a beach resort accelerated through the 1900s, establishing patterns that continue today.
The historic preservation of York's character distinguishes it from more commercialized beach destinations.
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Idiot of the Week: A NY School Board Member Thought the Salem Witch Trials were about "Satan"
You would think that someone elected to a school board would know that the Salem Witch Trials were all about "religious hysteria" concocted against women (and a few men) in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. But this week's IDIOT, who happens to be a pastor, thought it was about "satan." Why he is on a school board is absurd.
(Batavia NY school board member and Christian pastor Dan Schmidt)
SUMMARY: In New York, Batavia school board member and Christian pastor Dan Schmidt voted against a senior trip to Boston because students wanted to visit the Salem Witch Museum. He called it “Satanic”—then admitted he didn’t know its history.
Christian school board member melts down over class trip to “Satanic” Salem Witch Museum
Batavia City Schools board member Dan Schmidt admitted he didn’t know the museum’s history—but condemned it anyway
A member of the Batavia City Schools board in New York voted against approving a senior class trip to Boston because the itinerary included a stop at the Salem Witch Museum.
As “a pastor in the room,” Dan Schmidt explained, “we're going to send our kids to a witch museum? To me, like, that is awful.” He later voted against the trip as a whole because he didn’t want kids going to “what I would consider a Satanic witch museum.”
He was the only vote against the trip. But the discussion surrounding it was appalling to watch.
Here's the video story if you prefer to watch/listen:
Student representatives presented a draft itinerary to members of the school board. The itinerary, as it stands, includes the Duck Tour, a dinner cruise, and a stop at the Salem Witch Museum, which chronicles the infamous trials from the 1600s.
I’ve been there. It’s fascinating. It’s an educational experience, not an attempt to indoctrinate anyone into witchcraft. My kids loved it, too.
But Schmidt heard the word “witch” and couldn’t get over it.
Even when one parent (the one sitting with her back to the camera) tried to explain how visiting the Witch Museum would be incredible for her own daughter, Schmidt just dismissed her and kept ranting.
Deanna King is the mother of a student in that district, and she posted about Schmidt’s comments earlier this week—along with a brief lesson on the Salem Witch Trials. (Definitely worth watching!): VIDEO: instagram LINK Salem, she explained, was a reminder of what can happen when “fear becomes more powerful than facts.”
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Gave a Halloween lecture about a haunted library in another one!
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, I gave a lecture about my book the 'Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library" at the William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine, which also happens to have a ghost!
I've given a couple of lectures there and each time I've come in, I've sensed a ghost in the far back room. Before this lecture, an attendee told me of a paranormal group that investigated previously, and saw an object thrown off the mantle of a fireplace in one of the other rooms.
If you want to read about the three ghosts I encountered at the Hunt Memorial Library, Pick up a copy of the book (by Rob Gutro) on Amazon in paperback, Kindle or Audiobook!
Here's a link to the short video I made explaining about the three ghosts I encountered in the Hunt Memorial Library": https://youtube.com/shorts/l_UJxqTW2JY?si=OlZDycePpCt2OnJn
Hero of the Week! Oil truck driver saves dog in NH House fire
This week's hero is a truck driver who happened to be driving in a neighborhood and saw a house on fire, so he pulled over and raced to the house to see if someone was trapped inside. He wound up saving a dog, and firefighters who arrived soon after saved cats from the home.
(Max the dog, saved by Matthew Wrisley. Photo credits: D.F. Richard Energy)
Oil truck driver saves dog in Rochester, NH fire: 'What a courageous act'
By Karen Dandurant, Foster's Daily Democrat, Sept. 24, 2025
ROCHESTER, New Hampshire — Matthew Wrisley, an oil truck driver for D.F. Richard Energy, is being credited with saving a family's dog in a fire that destroyed their home Sept. 23, 2026.
Michael LaPanne, operations manger for D.F. Richard, said Wrisley was driving by when he saw the mobile home on fire at 23 Royal Crest Park in the Hideaway Village neighborhood. He said Wrisley is shy and doesn't want attention for saving Max, the dog.
"He kicked in the door and saved the dog," LaPanne said. "He is kind of embarrassed by all the attention he is receiving. He said he just did it, and he would do it again, because it was the right thing to do. He said he just wants to go back to doing his job."
Max the dog was saved in a fire in Rochester by a D.F. Richard Energy oil truck driver. Dylan and Erin L'Heureux and their young son were not home at the time of the fire and they are safe. Their two cats were located by firefighters, given oxygen and survived.
Owen Richard, grandson of the D.F. Richard Energy's founder, Ray Richard, said the company is very proud of Wrisley.
Fire strikes a home at 23 Royal Crest Park in the Hideaway Village neighborhood in Rochester Sept. 23, 2025. Dianna Purves, a resident of 47 Royal Crest Park, said she witnessed the driver's heroics and talked to him.
"He could barely see Max’s black face in the front window," she said. "Took him a few tries to kick in that door. He coaxed Max to come to him because he couldn’t go in and he took him and went down to the end of the street just in case the propane exploded. Thankfully that didn’t happen. He waited for the owner to show up. He loves dogs. He has dogs himself. He even had a leash for Max so he could be safely walked to the owners' aunt’s house. I absolutely love Max and was very relieved to see him sitting in the D.F. Richard van. ... He was a hero. What a courageous act."
How to help family who lost home in fire
Kevin Brigham, president and board chair for Hideaway Village Cooperative, set up a fundraising effort to help the family: gofund.me/d8a735913.
Friday, October 23, 2026
Book of the Week: Murder She Wrote: A Body in Boston
The Murder She Wrote mystery series has been one of my all time favorites since Donald Bain began writing it in the 1980s. Terrie Farley Moran is one of the two latest authors that "collaborate with Jessica Fletcher" on the books, and the latest I enjoyed was "A Body in Boston." That's today's book of the week (with 2 of my pet peeves about increased cost and formatting).
BIG PET PEEVE - BOOK SIZE AND DOUBLE COST - The size of these books have changed from the 4.25" by 6.75" standard paperbacks to 5.5" by 8.25" so they don't stack with all of the other 60 books in the series. They're also not less than $9.99 anymore- Instead the Publisher DOUBLED THE PRICE to $20 for a Paperback!!!! RIDICULOUS.
MY TAKE - 4 of 5 stars. This was not one of my favorites in the series (which now has 65 books, and this was #61). I did like the setting in Boston, and the author was familiar with the city (I know it since I worked in Boston). I was glad Jessica and Seth Hazlitt (the Cabot Cove, Maine doctor and Jessica's best friend) were in the story. Also included was Harry McGraw, the private detective that sometimes caused Jessica grief (on television episodes). My favorite character (other than Jessica and Seth) was Mahmood, the Boston Cab driver.
- The opening revelation of the murder felt odd, but it worked. The author did a great job of introducing a LOT of suspects, and Jessica took on the role of private eye to interview all of them. The mystery will keep you guessing.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Jessica Fletcher has dinner with her old pal Harry McGraw and gets pulled into a puzzling murder case.
Invited to deliver a lecture at the Boston Public Library, Jessica Fletcher excitedly makes plans to see local friends. Naturally that includes dinner at Gilhooley’s with PI Harry McGraw. Harry excitedly talks about his latest client, the CEO of Cure All Pharmaceuticals, who’s received anonymous blackmail demands and wants Harry to identify the culprit. Cookie, Gilhooley’s longtime bartender, also has something he wants to tell Jessica: he asked Harry to investigate his daughter Aileen’s boyfriend, who Cookie thinks is too slick by half, but now Harry is too wrapped up in this new case. While Jessica wonders how best to approach Aileen, the young woman stumbles into Gilhooley’s covered in blood. She just discovered her boyfriend’s corpse — and quickly becomes the chief suspect in his murder!Thursday, October 22, 2026
Temple to Mars, the Roman god of war, Found in Germany
An 1,800-year-old temple to Mars and statue of Victory was recently unearthed at Roman military fort in Germany!
Archaeologists in Germany have found a temple to Mars, the god of war, next to a Roman Empire military encampment.
Archaeologists have discovered a temple dedicated to the Roman god of war Mars near the Kapersburg fort in Hesse, about 26 kilometers north of Frankfurt. Fragments of a dedicatory inscription were found in the structure, part of which has already been translated: the text confirms that the temple was dedicated to Mars, Live Science reports.
Statues of Mars and Victoria
According to archaeologist Kai Mükenberger of Hessen Archaeology, researchers also found the remains of a statue of Mars. The discoveries include a damaged statuette of a winged figure with a palm branch and a laurel wreath. Experts believe it likely depicts the Roman goddess Victoria, the embodiment of victory in battle.
The temple was part of a settlement near a Roman military camp. Civilian settlements, known as vici, usually emerged near Roman forts, where traders, families and other civilians lived.
(Photo: Colossal statue of Mars found in the forum of Nerva photographed at the Capitoline Museum. Credit: https://ancientimes.blogspot.com/)
Excavations near the fort
Research at the Kapersburg fort and the adjacent vicus has been ongoing since 2024. According to earlier excavations, the fort itself was built at the beginning of the 2nd century, probably during the reign of Emperor Trajan or Hadrian. For about a century and a half, until around 275, the fort was used by a unit of Roman soldiers and cavalry.
Archaeologists note that the cultural layers at the site are well preserved directly beneath the forest floor, including material bearing traces of burning. During the current work, they found fewer residential buildings than expected, but uncovered evidence of craft activity: blacksmithing pits and ovens for drying wheat and baking bread. The team plans to continue excavations next year.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
NH Rescue Event: Learn How your Pets Give Signs in the Afterlife (Nov 7th)
If you live in New England and recently had a pet pass, or know someone who has, this interactive lecture will teach you how your pets communicate from the afterlife. It will be held at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire in Bedford (near Manchester), Saturday, November 7th, 2026 from 11am to 12pm.
Rob will also be joined by his friend Kevin, who will share his story about his amazing dog, Pupeye, and the signs he has sent. Rob will discuss how to cope with grief and loss, identify the signs our pets may give us, and explain the science behind it. He’ll also explore why living pets may be able to sense spirits. By the end of the talk, you’ll have a better understanding of how to recognize signs from your pets in spirit.
For this event, please bring a photograph with you of a beloved pet that has passed.nbsp;Rob will not be providing readings at the ARLNH, but he will guide attendees on who has the ability to more easily tune in to a pet in spirit.
This interactive event will be held at the Animal Rescue League of NH! Book signing to follow. $25 per person - 100% of your registration fee will be donated to ARLNH! TO REGISTER https://lnkd.in/gHJAZ-HC
For this event, please bring a photograph with you of a beloved pet that has passed.nbsp;Rob will not be providing readings at the ARLNH, but he will guide attendees on who has the ability to more easily tune in to a pet in spirit.
This interactive event will be held at the Animal Rescue League of NH! Book signing to follow. $25 per person - 100% of your registration fee will be donated to ARLNH! TO REGISTER https://lnkd.in/gHJAZ-HC
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
RESEARCH: 1 in 8 cancer cases are caused by infections, underscoring the importance of vaccines
New research has shown that 1 in 8 cancer cases are caused by infections, which could have been prevented by getting vaccinated for various illnesses.
1 in 8 cancer cases are caused by infections, underscoring the importance of vaccines
Four pathogens account for most infection-related cancers, a new study highlights, but the tools to prevent them range from well-established vaccines to treatments still under development.
LIVE SCIENCE By Anirban Mukhopadhyay Edited by Nicoletta Lanese, Laura Mondragón Oct 3, 2026
About 1 in 8 cancer cases are caused by infections with viruses, bacteria or parasites, a new study finds, suggesting that one of the most effective ways to reduce cancer rates might be to prevent common infections.
In a new analysis published Sept. 28 in the journal The Lancet Oncology, researchers mapped the global impact of 12 cancer-causing pathogens. They estimate that infections drove about 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024, or about 12% of all cancer cases diagnosed that year.
The study highlights that a large fraction of cancer cases could be avoided if these underlying infections were prevented, Dr. Prashant Mathur, director of India's National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email.
"When combined with other risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, appropriate diet, physical activity, and environmental pollution, it is estimated that about 50 to 60 percent of all cancers in India are avoidable," he said. Past studies suggest that similar figures hold on a global scale.
In the new study, the researchers used the Global Cancer Observatory's GLOBOCAN database, which combines data from various cancer registries to estimate that about 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2024. The team combined that information with other published data examining the prevalence of different infections in people with specific cancers. This enabled them to estimate how many cases were attributable to each infection.
Their analysis focused on 12 pathogens tied to cancer, including human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, HIV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus behind mononucleosis. The resulting breakdown revealed that just four pathogens accounted for roughly 92% of the cancer cases caused by infections.
A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, which infects the gastrointestinal tract, accounted for 760,000 cases, primarily gastric cancers.
The other three leading cancer triggers were viruses. HPV accounted for 750,000 cases, including cervical, penile, throat and mouth cancers. The liver-attacking hepatitis B virus was responsible for 360,000 cases and EBV drove 260,000 cases. (EBV is known to increase the risk of throat cancers, as well as certain lymphomas and stomach cancers.)
The scale of the burden contrasts with gaps in prevention. In 2024, just 31% of eligible adolescent girls worldwide received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, well below the 90% target, the World Health Organization reports. The degree of protection provided by the vaccine is striking in countries that have achieved higher coverage.
Monday, October 19, 2026
Short Video pondering: What Ghosts would haunt an airport?
Have you ever encountered a ghost at an airport? I haven't, but here are some thoughts about who may haunt one...
WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO PONDERING: https://youtube.com/shorts/ZYH6GTcxVHM?si=OADPB9CzqrimzjSx
Since I made this video earlier today, I've learned of ghosts reported at the Denver, Colorado airport, the airport in Atlanta, Georgia and Denmark!
Read about hauntings, and why and where ghosts choose to stay behind in my books! Rob Gutro
Weekend Visitors Part 2: Fall Corn Maze and a Lighthouse
This is part 2 of 2 in the blog about our early October visitors. In this blog, we enjoyed a large corn maze in the shape of a Chipmunk, and a visit to a famously photographed Maine Lighthouse.
The temperature outside was in the 60s, and it was sunny with a beautiful blue sky, making for the perfect experience.
(Tom and Rob take a wrong turn)
THE CHIPMUNK CORN MAZE!
Designed to look like a chipmunk with an acorn, this year's 6-acre maze boasts stalks of corn 8-9 feet high and opened on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 
(Photo: Jimmy got to ride with his aunt Lisa to the lighthouse and beach!)
WHO KNEW? Chipmunks have five dark stripes on their backs and sides, separated by lighter bands of cream or white fur
FARM INFO- Coppal House Farm 118 North River Rd, Lee, NH, Website: www.nhcornmaze.com/corn-maze-home Contact: 603-659-3572
LIGHTHOUSE AND BEACH STOP! - We drove to York, Maine and they enjoyed Long Sands Beach, and then the most photographed lighthouse in Maine, Nubble Light. For that trip, our canine kids, Jimmy, Joey and Roger came along.
(Photo: Lisa and Greg at Nubble Light)
ABOUT NUBBLE LIGHT - Located in scenic York, Maine, Nubble Lighthouse (formally known as Cape Neddick Light Station) is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. It sits just off the mainland on Nubble Island and can be viewed by visitors from Sohier Park. "The Nubble", as many locals refer to it, stands as an iconic symbol of Maine's maritime history.
(Photos: Nubble Lighthouse, the most photographed Maine lighthouse, and Lisa and Tom)
NUBBLE LIGHT'S HISTORY - In the late 1870's, the decision was made to construct a lighthouse along the rough shoreline in York after numerous boat wreckages. In 1878, Congress appropriated $15,000 to begin the construction of a lighthouse off the coast of York. By July 1, 1879, the Cape Neddick Light Station was illuminated using a fourth-order Fresnel lens.
From the moment the tower was lit for the first time, the Nubble Lighthouse played an important role in guiding ships through the perilous waters. The light itself is visible for 13 nautical miles and helped mariners navigate around the reefs and shoals.
For over a century, the Nubble was manned by 13 different lighthouse keepers and their families, who lived on the island. The keepers ensured that the light was operational and maintained the structure during harsh New England coastal conditions.
In 1985, the Nubble Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical significance and architectural beauty.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Good News: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library had a proven impact on children around the world
Sundays are usually reserved for "idiot of the week" but this weekend is my birthday weekend, so it's going to be a day of Heroes instead!
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library had a proven impact on children around the world
Dolly Parton had first-hand experience of the effects of limited literacy. Her father could not read or write. He was, she once said,
This sentiment fueled her passion for encouraging childhood literacy. It drove her to establish the Imagination Library, with the goal of inspiring “a love of reading and learning from a young age."
Launched in 1995, the Imagination Library sends children enrolled in the program a free, age-appropriate, culturally inclusive book in the mail every month from birth until their fifth birthday. The program began in Sevier County, Tennessee — Parton’s home county — before spreading across the world.
It has established roots in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ireland.
To date, the Imagination Library has distributed 318 million books, with 3.4 million books sent out monthly across these regions.
The Australian program was officially launched in 2013 and now operates in more than 430 locations. Currently, nearly 50,000 Australian children are receiving a free book every month.
Building foundational skills For the past five years, I have been working firstly on a research project in Tamworth into the effects of the Imagination Library program. As Head of Research at United Way Australia, distributors of the Imagination Library in Australia, I am not involved in the delivery of the program itself. All the data I analyzed was de-identified.
The Tamworth region has produced rich data on early childhood literacy. It boasts 98% enrollment of newborns in the Imagination Library program.
The research conducted in Tamworth was then extended to a global sample. Data has been collected from over 86,000 caregivers across the five countries the Imagination Library is delivered in. This study is currently the largest dataset in the world on shared book reading in the home.
One of the key findings from Tamworth was that the program encouraged caregivers to read to their children. Compared to the average Australian child, children in the Imagination Library in Tamworth were found to be read to more often, for longer, and have more books in the home. Further, these early reading routines were maintained.
The worldwide evidence showed that children enrolled in the Imagination Library were significantly more likely to display foundational early literacy skills and to develop an interest in reading compared to those not on the program.
In Australia, enrolled children were found to be nine times more likely to be interested in books, 17 times more likely to join in during shared book reading, and six times more likely to demonstrate key emerging literacy skills than those who were not enrolled.