Oil Spill Response

Over the last month I've been hearing from the Republican Party "the Federal Government needs to do something about the oil spill in the Gulf." I worked for NOAA (the agency that is managing the government's clean up/response and managing the fisheries) and can tell you I see they've been doing a tremendous job on-site.
It's very easy to blame everyone, especially to blame the President- but the blame doesn't lie with President Obama, it lies with oil companies, Congress, lobbyists, and Federal Agencies for issuing permits too easily.
Louisiana's GOP Governor Bobby Jindel just told CBS News tonight (5/31) that "This is the Federal Government's spill and they have to clean it up." WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. To that fool of a governor I say - This is not a "democrat vs. republican oil spill" you ass. This is a BP Oil Company spill. BP is in charge of cleaning it up. NOAA and other federal agencies are doing a lot to help clean up the oil. In fact, most of the oil has NOT beached, and given the fact it's supposedly larger than the Exxon Valdez in 1989, that means they're doing a FANTASTIC job of keeping it off the beaches, AND they're saving marine birds and sea life as much as possible.
Oil clean up is an area that BP and other oil companies SHOULD have been more knowledgeable before drilling. PERIOD. Part of it is the Federal Government's fault for issuing a permit (and the head of the Minerals Management Agency stepped down). According to the NY Times, "the Minerals Management Service let BP and “dozens of other oil companies” drill in the Gulf without getting proper permits from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as it is required to do by law. The answer is simple: It’s everyone’s fault. It’s the industry’s fault for overzealous drilling and lazy safety, it’s the fault of Congress for refusing to engage in real oversight when companies with big lobbying budgets are involved, and it’s the fault of regulatory agencies for being too close to the businesses they are meant to oversee."
Is this the President's Fault? NO. Was Exxon Valdez President George H.R. Bush's fault? NO. Did they fault him? NO. So, to the Republican Party- and the fool who said from the GOP tonight that "the Obama Administration needs to report out every hour" I say: Stop acting like idiots. Everyone is working together. NOAA provides DAILY UPDATES on this site: http://www.incidentnews.gov/. In fact, the GOP can "Subscribe to the NOAA Incident newsfeed (Atom or RSS) for updates on new incidents as they happen." Now... it's time for everyone to help out. Disasters are usually good at bringing people together. Hopefully, this one eventually will do that.

Book Review: Pet Ghosts by Joshua Warren

Book Review: Pet Ghosts by Joshua Warren
This book came out in 2006, but I hadn't heard of it until I did a search on the topic recently. I just finished reading it, and I was disappointed because I was expecting insight into animal intelligence, behavior and communications with those they left behind. Having lost a puppy (who communicated with me a LOT), I hoped to read signs from others. Instead, paranormal investigator Joshua Warren focuses on ghostly animals throughout history, such as from ancient and medieval texts (including the Bible) and different cultures. The book talks about Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster, hellhounds and werewolves. None of this made much sense to me because none of these things are "pets." I think the book should have been called "non-human and mythological ghosts."
If you've lost a beloved dog or cat and are looking for comfort from this book, you won't find it here, unfortunately. Warren does great research, but the title of the book is really misleading.

Thanks to all at the 2 Mass. Book Events

This weekend has been full of wonderful experiences and the two book talks/signing events were wonderful. On Friday, May 28, Derek Bartlett (manager of the Cape Cod and the Islands Paranormal Research Society (www.caiprs.com) hosted me at the Cape Cod Community College. I met a lot of wonderful people, some with the gift of mediumship that that are also trying to develop, others with after-death experiences, and others who have seen ghosts or spirits. Derek set me up for a Powerpoint presentation with a microphone, and I had a lot of great interaction with the audience. I'm looking forward to staying in touch with so many folks, and immediately felt a connection with Derek and his wife. My thanks also to my partner Tom (for always coming and supporting me), my mom, brother and friend Janice who came over from Nantucket Island.
On Saturday night, May 29, Jenn from the Coffee Break Cafe in Quincy enabled me to provide an intimate talk and signing with a great group and enjoy great coffee (http://www.coffeebreakcafe.net/). I also connected with Jenn and her mom, and my mom's best friend Jane came with her daughter and husband; and our friend MaryAnn also surprised us! Everyone at both events had great questions and it was a fantastic experience to meet and talk with everyone.
- My next event is THIS SUNDAY, June 6 at the Federal Hill Jazz Festival in Baltimore. I'm teaming up with my friends Steve and Lynn Jenner (who wrote an hysterical parody of "Twilight" called "Twilite: the Parody." Come out and visit! We'll be there from 11am-7pm!

Our Dogs Sense Sarah's Spirit

On the night we learned of our close friend Sarah's passing, our dogs Dolly and Franklin could not get to sleep. So, I put them on our bed. Dolly kept looking at the corner of the bedroom near Tom's side of the bed and I got my tell-tale headache alerting me that a spirit was there. Meanwhile Dolly just stared and stared at the corner.
I'm sure it was Sarah letting me know she was okay. It was a peaceful presence, indicating to me that Sarah was indeed here, so I was able to relax, knowing she's at peace. Our dogs would not sleep on their beds after "seeing" or "hearing" Sarah, and had to sleep on our full-sized bed. That made for quite a crowded bed!
As I've mentioned before, dogs have heightened abilities that humans don't share. Spirits are energy, and they even communicate at a higher decibel range than humans can hear, although dogs can hear it. Think about how a digital recorder can pick up a spirit or ghost's voice even though it is unheard by people. Dogs also have different cones and rods in their eyes and a different visual physiology that although makes them less able to recognize colors (most colors appear gray except for yellows and blues), they have a better ability to sense motion (including spirits).

Video/ Rob's Brother Organizes Volleyball Event

My (Rob) brother has been a tremendous force in local politics in my home state for many years, and one of the things he did was to organize an annual beach volleyball tournament to benefit the community. Here's a short video from the local newspaper about the event, with interviews of my brother. I'm very proud of him!

Movie Trailer for DC Comics' Weird Western Hero Jonah Hex

Warner Bros. Pictures has started airing these two TV spots for Jonah Hex, coming to theaters on June 18. I've always loved westerns, and most especially, DC Comics' Weird Western Hero, Jonah Hex. Hex is a surly and cynical cowboy whose face is horribly scarred on the right side, and who is bound by a personal code of honor to protect and avenge the innocent. He briefly fought for the confederate army in the 1860s before becoming disgusted by their desire to maintain slavery, so he abandoned the army and became a bounty hunter.
The film, directed by Jimmy Hayward, the action thriller stars Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Michael Shannon and Michael Fassbender.

Hex's facial injuries can be traced back to being sold into slavery by his father to the Apache for safe passage. Jonah eventually saved the chief from being killed by a mountain lion and was made an honorary member of the tribe. He was soon betrayed by the envious son of the chief while on a raid. He returned years later to challenge him in a sacred tomahawk battle but the chief's son sabotaged Jonah's tomahawk and Jonah used his knife in self defense when the tomahawk broke. The tribe saw this as breaking the rules of the sacred battle and sentenced Jonah to wear the mark of the demon by pressing a searing hot tomahawk to his face. They said his honorary relationship to the chief was the only thing that saved him from death.

Remembering Our Friend Sarah

Our friend Sarah has been a tremendous part of our lives for the last 5 years when I (Rob) met her at a dog event with her husband Denis. There was an immediate connection, and Tom and I have grown to love her and Denis so very much. Last night, we talked with Denis to learn that Sarah passed away from her battle with cancer. We're devastated. On Sunday, we went to Sarah's birthday party and she was all smiles and glowing with love, despite her deteriorating condition. Sarah never lost hope. This is a photo from Sunday of Sarah with her husband. Her smile is infectious as it has always been.

Less than 6 months ago, Sarah went to the doctor to check out a stomach ache, and learned she had stage 4 cancer, although she was asymptomatic. It was a shock, but she never gave up hope. That's Sarah. She was the kindest, most loving, happy, optimistic person who always had a smile, a hug and a kiss for us. I always looked forward to her emails every week asking for SNOW, even in July Sarah LOVED Snow. Well, this winter I "gave" her 2 blizzards and record snow in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. She was ecstatic, and still wanted more. She made me laugh when it came to my forecasts and the weather.

Sarah had a tremendous love for dogs that started through Denis. It didn't take long for Sarah and Denis to become an advocate for pet rights- and when they lost their beloved dog Shadow to the bullet of a madman in Vermont, they pushed for pets to be recognized as companions in the state, not just "empty animals." We're behind that 110%. Anyone that has a dog understands that feeling. Our dogs ARE our children. The day Sarah passed, the Vermont Supreme Court issued a decision that acknowledged dogs are more than just replaceable. Sarah told the Vermont press "It's so important for people to really recognize the relationship between the families and their companion animals." Sarah and Denis have 5 dogs and a foster dog, so their house was always full of canine companionship and love.

Sarah was very excited for us when we went to Connecticut and got married last June. When we told her about a small local reception she immediately volunteered to bake gourmet cupcakes for all of the guests! For weeks we tried her various recipes, got boxes and other things together. The cupcakes were such a hit that there were only 2 left after the reception, and people still talk about them even a year later.
-We often met Sarah and Denis for dinner during the week, just to keep in touch in person. It was always something to look forward to doing.
Sarah is a tremendous person, so full of love, life, happiness, optimism and someone who has deeply touched our hearts. We miss her so much, but we know that she's now at peace with her loving dog Shadow.

2nd Appearance on "Ghost Chronicles" Internet Radio - Wed May 26 at 8pm EDT!

MAY 26 at 8pm EDT (WEDNESDAY): 2nd Appearance on "Ghost Chronicles" Internet Radio - I've been invited back for a return on-air visit with Ron Kolek and Maureen on the Ghost Chronicles: Internet Radio Show to talk about this coming weekend's talks/book signings in Mass. and my book.
WHERE CAN YOU HEAR IT? Listen On-Line Live to "Ghost Chronicles" every Wednesday (8-9 PM) on Toginet.com and http://toginet.com/shows/ghostchroniclesinternational and Para-x.com
YOU CAN CALL IN: With questions and stories at: (877) 864-4869. More information about the New England Ghost Project: http://www.neghostproject.com/ghostchronicles.htm

Book Event/ "Karmafest"

Tom helped move a friend on Sunday while Rob went to another book event. Rob learned of an event called "Karmafest" happening north of Baltimore on Sunday, May 23, and after contacting the person managing it (a really nice woman named Patty) he was invited to bring his books "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium" for a book signing. Here are some photos from Karmafest.

GOOD AND BAD KARMA - The day was mixed with good and bad "Karma." I tried going into a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot enroute to Karmafest and there were no spaces and a very impatient (and huge) man pulled into the parking lot behind me beeping his horn. I guess I stood between him and his dozen donuts, so I backed around his van and left without coffee. I did find another Dunkin' and got my coffee.
I (Rob) met a lot of really nice people at Karmafest. I'll explain stories and topics on the Ghost book blog. One "bad karma" that I found interesting was from another author at the Karmafest. I arrived at 9:45am and was told to just sit on the corner of a stage and spread my books (and sign) out. The "stage" had a table and chairs for multiple authors but there were no others when I arrived. By 11:15am a young woman arrived and appeared outraged that only my book sign was up. I told her to sit on the stage next to me and put her books out. She stormed off.
Five minutes later someone from the festival had me pack up my books and brought me all the way to the front entrance of the festival, while the young woman sat at the table on the stage with her books. Fascinating. 45 minutes later when I looked at the stage she and her books were gone. I thought "having bad karma at karmafest likely doesn't make for success."
I also noticed that our friend Douglas stopped by with his friend, but I was talking with several people - and I couldn't talk with him. What a great friend to come by. Thanks, Doug!

So Many Invitations...Not Enough Time

Did you ever notice that you can go for a string of weekends without any invitations to events, then you get multiple ones for the same day around the same time? That's what happened to us this past Saturday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARAH - Our friend Sarah was celebrating her birthday, and she's been braving a battle against cancer, so we went to celebrate with her and her husband.
Sarah is the most loving, optimistic, determined person ever, and radiates love. Even battling for her health she maintained smiles, hugs, and love for everyone. Sarah and her friend Dona (whom we had never met until Saturday) had spent days last summer baking and making elegant cupcakes for our wedding reception. The cupcakes were such a hit that we only had one left after the guests departed! We also share a deep love for our canine children. We are so proud of Sarah in her determination and we ask you to keep her in your prayers.
One of her friends hosted the event and it was wonderful. The house was situated on the Severn River and had a beautiful view into the Chesapeake Bay. There was also a hammock there, that Tom couldn't resist!


GRADUATION EVENTS - The events that we were unable to attend (both in different towns), but were there in spirit were for our friends Sadie (graduating from college) and Phil (graduating from high school). We are very proud of both of them and they've both got a great life and career ahead of them.

Hooray for Dollywood! This video will inspire a trip there

Dollywood is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and we need to go back!!! It's my favorite vacation spot in the world (Yeah, I'm a little red around the neck).

Tom's "Ooops" Moment

On Thursday night Tom and I went to the gym and worked out. As we were coming out of the gym we opened the glass door to leave, and I stepped out on the sidewalk. Tom was behind me and noticed a very large young woman coming his way, so he stopped and held the door open.
He looked at her and said "Are you coming in here?"
She smiled and said "Uh-uh, but I know I should!"
Tom just smirked (and turned a little red) as the woman walked past us and she said, "I'm going to the dollar store, but I need to go to the gym."
We laughed a lot as we walked to the car. Ooops!