POLITICS: Gingrich’s sister supports Obama

You know that a politician is screwed up when their own family won't support them. That's all we're saying.This article from Reuters News Service says it all:

Gingrich’s sister supports Obama
Candace Gingrich-Jones, the openly gay half-sister of former House Speaker and leading GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, says she will back President Barack Obama’s re-election bid. Gingrich-Jones, a director at the Human Rights Campaign, said that she and her half-brother are "mutually respectful" but hold different views on gay rights issues.   Gingrich is known for his socially conservative views and has said he opposes gay marriage. Gingrich-Jones, a director at the Humans Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy group, said he did not attend her wedding. FULL STORY : http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/us-gingrich-idUSTRE7B70B420111208

HOLIDAY FUN- Ft.McHenry Candlelight Tour

Jose, Jeff, Tom, Yolie, Shelly (Rob took picture)

On Saturday, December 3, we were joined by our friends Jeff, Jose, Yolie and Shelly and went to Fort McHenry in Baltimore for an historic Candlelight tour of the fort. The holiday tour was free (usually there's a charge) for the holiday and it featured various actors that explained Christmas-time traditions during the 4 wars that the fort was active (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, World War 1 and World War 2). The fort was at times a hospital during WW1 and WW2. The giant flag flying in the fort was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner." 

  - The tour was really enjoyable and educational. We had a fun Park Ranger tour guide named Vince who was extremely educated, very enthusiastic and animated. He made the whole adventure fun!!  Here are some photos from that adventure.

The Star Spangled Banner Waves over Ft.McHenry

Actors portraying WW2 vets,nurses

Tour guide holding candlelit lantern

Candlelit entry way into the fort

Building that housed officers

The group listening to the tour - Tom, far right

Actors playing cards, portraying 1812 soldiers

Revolutionary War soldiers outside-Ranger Vince (right)

Tom and Rob trying to stay warm

Jeff and Jose enjoying the tour

Basement cell of the fort where a soldier committed suicide (he haunts it)

Anyone Remember Edgar Rice-Burroughs "John Carter" Character?

Does anyone remember the "John Carter, Warlord of Mars" character, created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs? It's been a long time since I've heard about the character. In fact, back in the early 1980s there was a comic book about his adventures. I've also read one or two of the novels. Now, Disney studios has made a movie about the character and it's coming out in March 2012. There's a lot of animation in the movie, because the storyline is that Mars is populated with intelligent life that are in the midst of a war.  Here's the clip from the upcoming movie. I'm unsure if I want to see it, even though I enjoyed the comic books! - Rob

VIDEO: The Daily Show "Really Going to Miss Herman Cain"

Here's an 8 minute video that will have you laughing pretty hard. John Stewart of the Daily Show does a tribute of sorts to Herman Cain as he pulled out of the Presidential race. The Cain quote at the news conference is hysterical, and what John Stewart says afterward is really funny. - Our thanks to Ed for sharing this. Enjoy!
Rob

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Moron of the Week Award Winner!

Congratulations to this week's "Moron of the Week Award Winner"!

Not much guessing needed here. Just read the title

Bachmann: Gays can legally marry ... the opposite sex

Presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., told a teenage questioner in Iowa last week that gays and lesbians can indeed get married, as long as it is to someone of the opposite sex. Bachmann also said she supports ending marriage equality in the state.

Full story: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/michele-bachmann-gay-marriage-overturned-iowa-article-1.986599?localLinksEnabled=false

Another Rainy Day here in the Mid-Atlantic

Dogs and people don't like the rain... and yesterday, Dolly and Franklin donned their raincoats and made the best of it- in a morning and afternoon walk. The rest of the day they just ran out the back door, hoping to run between the raindrops. Sprite ambled outside in the backyard after a morning walk. At 15, walking in the rain is really irritating to him (and I don't blame him). 

Here's a picture of Dolly and Franklin in their raincoats on Tuesday! 

Some Misc. Photos from this Weekend

Sunrise

Dolly Catching the Rope - her favorite outside game

Franklin squinting at the sun- his favorite outdoor "game."

Sprite posing under the Christmas Tree

The finished Tree- decorated tastefully by Tom

Dolly, Franklin and Sprite in their tee-shirts ready to go in the cold!

Gail's Husband Passes Suddenly

Gail and Craig

Our friend Gail lost her husband Craig to cancer this month - he was very young- in his 40s. 

Craig's passing leaves Gail with their two children, Case and , and leaves Gail and their 2 children, Case and Jessica.  We are devastated by Craig's passing as he kept his condition quiet for a long time. 

Here's what Gail wrote:  From Gail Johnson Whitcomb

Craig, Gail, Case and Jessica

I lost my soulmate and best friend today. Craig was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in oct 2010. He went through several rounds of chemo and radiation as surgery was not an option for us. In June it looked like treatments were working. A scan in September showed progression to metastatic as it spread to several other areas of his body. Up to three weeks ago he was health and things started to go down hill very quickly from there. I know many of you are shocked as you did not know, but that was the way Craig wanted it. He didn't want to dwell on it. We enjoyed everyday that we got to share together. I will miss him tremendously. We are having services in Massachusetts on Friday and will be sitting shiva at the whitcomb house on A st starting on Saturday at Sundown through Thursday at Sundown. Please come by and pay your respects to his whole family. ♥ I will be opening up his facebook page for posts so we all can memorialize him. Peace and love. He can rest peacefully now.

You can help:  There is now a benefit fund for Craig's children. Donations can be made to the 'Case and Jessica Whitcomb Fund' c/o Hingham Institute for Savings, 401 Nantasket Avenue, Hull, MA 02045.

 

An Ostrich Story: Be Careful What You Ask For!

 

Thanks to Maureen in Mass. for sending this great story:

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him.The waitress asks them for their orders.
The man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke," and
turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?"
"I'll have the same," says the ostrich.
A short time later the waitress returns with the order.
"That will be $9.40 please." The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and
the man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke."
The ostrich says, "I'll have the same."
   Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.
This becomes routine until the two enter again.
"The usual asks the waitress?"
   "No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad," says the man.
"Same," says the ostrich.
 Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, "That will be $32.62."Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.
The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer.
"Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?"
   "Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there."
   "That's brilliant!" says the waitress. "Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!"
  "That's right…Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce,
the exact money is always there," says the man.
The waitress asks, "What's with the ostrich?"
    The man sighs, pauses and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with a big ass and long legs who agrees with everything I say.."

Shocking- Craig's 5 Year Old Dog, Gracie Passes

Last night we got a text message from our friend Craig, whose lovable mastiff Gracie passed suddenly. Gracie was rescued by Craig several years ago after his beloved dog, Oprah passed away. Gracie belonged to a neighbor who didn't want her, soon after they adopted her, so Craig took her in and raised her.
 - Craig and Gracie went many places and did a lot of things together.
When Craig came home last night, Gracie was failing suddenly and without warning. Craig sent a text that as he was driving her to the vet, she passed away in his car. She was only 5 years old. Craig was devastated as we all are who knew her and know Craig.  He said the vet said it sounded neurological.
  Craig said on his blog today, Dec. 3,"Nothing will ever be the same because my

Gracie, Princess Velvet Face and PooNoo died at 5 years."

Squirrel!

Gracie & Craig visit a nursing home

Jim and Eric play with Gracie

Gracie's riding buddy- a panda head seat cover!

No place was too small for Gracie to sleep!

   We're heartbroken. Craig rescued Gracie when she was in need of a home, and he gave her so much love and affection. She had a short life, but Craig made sure it was the BEST life. Below are some photos of Gracie and the wonderful life that Craig gave her, as a tribute to both Gracie's short time here and to the love the Craig showed her during that time.

Facts About Drinking Water Versus Coke

  This was sent to me (Rob) from a scientist. I DO know that the coke on battery acid is FACT. AND, the dehydration issue with lack of water drinking is also FACT.
                 



WATER
#1.    75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
          (Likely applies to half the world population)
  #2.    In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak
       that it is mistaken for hunger.
  #3.    Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

#4.    One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

 #5.    Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
#6.    Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of
         water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain
        for up to 80% of sufferers.
#7.    A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
#8.    Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of
         colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast
        cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop
        bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water
        you should drink every day?

 

COKE 

#1.    In many states the highway patrol carries
            two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from
          the highway after a car accident.
 

#2.    You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke
           and it will be gone in two days.
 
#3.    To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the
         toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour,
       then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes
       stains from vitreous china.
 

#4.    To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:
            Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds
          Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
 

#5.    To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour
            a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble
           away the corrosion.

#6.    To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola  to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
  #7.    To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into
           the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake.    Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

#8.    To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke
          into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run
          through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen
          grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your
          windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
  #1.    The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid.
             It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric
             acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major
             contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis.
  #2.    To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate) the
          commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place
          cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
  #3.    The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean
          engines of the trucks for about 20 years!    Now the question is, would you like a glass of water?

or Coke?
     

Action Comics #1 Fetched More Than 2 Million Dollars!

Who says comic books aren't good investments? I still collect them including Superman, Batman, Supergirl, Justice League, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Batgirl and others.  They're written for adults with complex social and emotional themes, as well as the good vs. evil.

A copy of the first issue of Action Comics, featuring Superman's debut, has become the world's most expensive comic, fetching $2.16m (£1.4m).

It was auctioned online for a starting bid of just $1, with a reserve price of $900,000.
The buyer or seller's name was not disclosed, but there is speculation it was owned by actor Nicolas Cage.
It is the first time a comic book has broken the $2m barrier. The issue was published in 1938 and cost 10 cents.
About 100 copies of Action Comics No 1 are thought to be in existence, and only a handful of those are in good condition.
Another copy of the same issue sold for a then record-breaking $1.5m in March last year.
But that one was not in as good condition as the copy that sold on Wednesday through New York-based ComicConnect.
It is said to have been stolen in 2000 and was thought lost until recovered in a California storage shed in April this year - just like an issue owned by Nicolas Cage.
The Hollywood star - who has a son called Kal-El, the Man of Steel's birth name - bought his copy of Action Comics No 1 for $150,000 in 1997.
Connoisseurs of the comic world say this type of investment has become popular during troubled economic times because rare collectibles hold their value more reliably than property or shares.
STORY: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15978677