Photo Blog: Fun Margarita Friday

Last Friday we visited our favorite Mexican restaurant, and Tom loves to get a margarita to unwind (Rob doesn't drink), so we were joined by our friends Ed and Rob (we call him Rob-2) for a fun dinner. We'd like to request that Monday through Thursdays be done away with, and we just have a week of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What do you think?

Rob-2 enjoying a Margarita Friday!

PHOTO BLOG: Even the Dogs Know its Monday

Even the dogs know when Monday rolls around. Here are some of their pictures and feelings about Mondays:

Dolly: BIG YAWN!!

Franklin: Let me sleep

Sprite: Is it Monday? 

Revisiting a GREAT Video: Do-Re-Mi Video in Belgium Train Station!!

- This is Rob's all-time favorite You Tube video. If you haven't seen it, it will make you smile It's a video of almost 200 people taking over Antwerpen's Centraal Station in Belgium and doing a carefully choreographed dance to the Do Re Mi song (aka Maria's Dance aka Maria's Song) from "Sound of Music" has garnered almost a million views on YouTube, and continues to grow, sprouting a new round of google trends today. 

Cute Short Video: Meet Ormie the Pig and the Cookie Jar

Our friend Cathy found this really cute video of an animated pig trying to get cookies from the top of a refrigerator. Its a funny, short video. Enjoy!

NEWS: Dogs' feet give Japan scientists paws for thought

(Reuters) - Ever wonder how dogs can walk barefoot in the snow? Now a Japanese scientist may have the answer -- an internal central heating system.
  The secret lies in how dogs circulate their blood to prevent cold surfaces from chilling the rest of their bodies, according to Hiroyoshi Ninomiya, a professor at Yamazaki Gakuen University, just west of Tokyo.
The system uses warm, oxygenated blood to heat the cold blood that has been in contact with a cold surface before returning it to the dog's heart and central circulation.
  "Dogs exchange heat at the end of their legs. Arterial blood flows to the end of their legs and then heats up venous blood before returning it to the heart," Ninomiya said of his findings, published in the journal Veterinary Dermatology.
"In other words, they have a heat exchange system in their feet."
VIDEO:


  Ninomiya studied a preserved dog's leg under an electron microscope and found that because of the proximity of arteries and veins in the foot pad, the heat in the blood carried from the heart to the arteries is easily conducted to the cooler blood in the veins.
  This heat transference maintains a constant temperature in the foot pad, even when exposed to extremely cold conditions.
  Dogs are not alone in having this sort of heat exchange system, which is shared by other animals such as dolphins, Ninomiya said.
  But not all dogs thrive in the cold, due to refining by breeders seeking specific traits, he added.
"Dogs evolved from wolves, and so they still have some of that ancestry remaining," he said.
"But that doesn't mean that one should always go and drag around in the snow all the time. There are many varieties of dogs nowadays that are not able to stand the cold."
(Reporting by Chris Meyers at Reuters TV; editing by Elaine Lies)

IN THE NEWS: Lesbian Denied Communion At Her Mother's Funeral

As a former Catholic, I understand that the church is intolerant of gay people and does not want them to marry or have rights (except for some priests, some of whom I know that welcome everyone), but the following story is disgraceful. In short, during a mother's funeral, the priest learned that the daughter was a lesbian (and a Catholic) and refused her communion, AND didn't show up for the graveside part of the service!  

- I had a different experience: When my dad passed in 2008, the priest KNEW that I had a partner, and Tom was with me. The priest didn't care. That's the way it should be. Tom didn't even go for the communion because he wasn't raised Catholic. - Also at my dad's funeral, my older brother, who is not and hasn't been a Catholic in over 25 years was given communion, no questions asked.

  My point is, that this hatred and intolerance isn't rampant through the entire religion (aside from Rome and the Archbishops, etc.). Some priests understand that we are all people, we are all God's children, we are all deserving of RESPECT, especially at the funeral of a parent. I applaud them. 

  The particular priest in this instance should be tossed out of the church and given sensitivity training, and apologize. He should never do this again. He caused more Trauma to this grieving woman who was there to pay her last respects to her mother. It makes me mad to see this behavior, coming from people we are supposed to respect.

 - I'm thankful for the priests that DO understand, and DO offer compassion and care to all people without exception.  - Rob

THE STORY FROM WUSA-TV, Channel 9, Washington, D.C. 
Lesbian Denied Communion At Her Mother's Funeral
(VIDEO: http://www.wusa9.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=1477352243001) 
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WUSA) -- It's been an extremely difficult week for Barbara Johnson -- perhaps the most difficult week of her life.
  It all started on Saturday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg, where friends and family had gathered to say goodbye to Barbara's mother, who died last week after a brief illness.
   Just a few minutes before the funeral began, Father Marcel Guarnizo, who was presiding over the service, apparently learned that Barbara was involved in a romantic relationship with another woman.
A lifelong Catholic and former Catholic school teacher, Barbara says she hadn't even considered that her sexual orientation would be a problem with Father Marcel until she stepped forward to take communion.
"He said, 'I can not give you communion because you live with a woman,'" Barbara says.
  Though shaken by Father Marcel's actions, Barbara says she tried to compose herself to give her mother the dignified funeral she deserved.  So a few minutes later, Barbara began her eulogy.   "At which time Father Marcel left the altar and didn't return until I finished my eulogy," Barbara says.
According to Barbara, things got even worse, because after first refusing to give her communion, and then walking off the altar when Barbara was giving her eulogy, Father Marcel refused to go with Barbara's mother's body to the cemetery in Aspen Hill. Barbara says she was told that Father Marcel had suddenly become ill.
 In a written statement, the Archdiocese of Washington conceded that Father Marcel had acted improperly, saying, "Any issues regarding the suitability of an individual to receive communion should be addressed by the priest with that person in a private, pastoral setting."
 Barbara Johnson says she's satisfied with the statement, though she adds that the damage done, both to her family and to her mother's memory, could never be repaired.
  "We don't get a do-over.  This was her one moment to pass from this earth," Barbara says.

Today is Superman's Birthday! Feb. 29th

February 29 is traditionally the day we celebrate Superman's birthday.

Why February 29? DC Comics (who create and publish Superman comics) Editor Julie Schwartz declared that Superman's birthday was on February 29th in a number of letter pages during the Silver Age. Supposedly this is how Superman stays looking so, after all he only has a birthday every four years!

In 1985's "Superman Annual #11" his birthdate is mentioned as being February 29 in an actual story. While "Time" magazine published a story in 1988 that also stated this date as being Superman's birthday.

Oddly enough, Clark Kent celebrates his birthday on a completely different day. Clark's celebrates his birthday on the day Jonathan and Martha Kent pulled him from the Kryptonian rocketship that landed in Smallville, Kansas. This was established in "Action Comics #241" in 1958, and was specified in "Action Comics #263" in 1973 as being celebrated on June 18th.

CONTENT courtesy of the Superman Homepage: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=10982

ARTICLE: More Americans believe in climate change: poll

People are Getting Educated!
ARTICLE: More Americans believe in climate change: poll
AFP - Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that climate change is real -- the highest level in two years -- as the public trusted its own observations of rising temperatures, a poll said Tuesday. The growing acceptance of global warming comes despite fierce political division over the issue in the world's largest economy, with proposals to mandate cuts on carbon emissions failing in Congress.
Sixty-two percent of Americans agree that there is solid evidence that the Earth's average temperature has been getting warmer over the past four decades, according to the survey by the University of Michigan's Gerald Ford School of Public Policy and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. FULL STORY: http://www.france24.com/en/20120229-more-americans-believe-climate-change-poll?ns_campaign=editorial&ns_source=RSS_public&ns_mchannel=RSS&ns_fee=0&ns_linkname=20120229_more_americans_believe_climate_change_poll
WANT PROOF? check NASA's research at www.nasa.gov/earth 
- Here's a research story recently issued:

NASA Finds 2011 Ninth-Warmest Year on Record

01.19.12

The global average surface temperature in 2011 was the ninth warmest since 1880, according to NASA scientists. The finding continues a trend in which nine of the 10 warmest years in the modern meteorological record have occurred since the year 2000. FULL STORY/IMAGES:http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2011-temps.html

While average global temperature will still fluctuate from year to year, scientists focus on the decadal trend. Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since the year 2000, as the Earth has experienced sustained higher temperatures than in any decade during the 20th century. As greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to rise, scientists expect the long-term temperature increase to continue as well. (Data source: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory, Robert Simmon)

FACT CHECK: Who Made the Most Political Recess Appointments?

Here's another interesting political fact for people who think that President Obama has the corner of the market on making recess appointments. If you don't believe it, fact check it and let me know- I'll print it.
President Obama and President Clinton made a total of 26 Recess Appointments. President Reagan ALONE made 30 Recess Appointments. Add that with Bush Senior's19 Appointments, and the younger Bush's 22 recess appointments. Since 1980, Republicans made 51 Recess Appointments, Democrats made 26.

To Conservatives Screeching About Obama's Recess Appointments:

What Texting Did on This Highway

Tom gets photos every week at work of "Unsafe Act of the Week." This one was just titled, "Are you still texting?" - Apparently this truck driver was sending a text message while driving on the fast lane of this highway (not sure of the location). Put down the cell phone!

News Stories You May Not Have Heard

Here are some news stories that you may or may not have heard, but I'm sure you'll find interesting or appalling. Take your pick.

GOP Rep Says “Killing a Couple” of Democrats Only Way To Pass Ryan Budget 

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma congressman apologized on Friday for suggesting that "killing a couple" of U.S. senators may be the only way to get a budget passed through Congress.U.S. Rep. John Sullivan made the comments Wednesday during a town hall meeting in Bixby. When asked about federal spending, the Tulsa Republican expressed his frustration with the Senate for its failure to approve a budget. "I'd love to get them to vote for it," Sullivan said at the event. "Boy, I'd love that, you know. But other than me going over there with a gun and pointing it to their head and maybe killing a couple of `em, I don't think they're going to listen unless they get beat." The congressman's spokesperson Vaughn Jennings later said that "the congressman offers his sincere apologies to anyone he offended and for using a poor choice of words to make his point – which was that Senate Democrats are refusing to pass a budget or even vote on the 28 House-passed jobs bills." SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/john-sullivan-gun-comments_n_1299751.html

Virginia Shelves Personhood

In a 24-14 vote the Virginia Senate shelved H.B.1, the state’s personhood bill, sending it back to committee to be taken up again in 2013. The bill had been expected to pass the full Senate and be signed by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R). The House had already passed its version.Virginia was the third state this year to have a personhood measure pass at least one chamber, behind North Dakota and Alabama.
It was the second victory for women’s health in as many days in the state as Republicans walked back their transvaginal ultrasound bill just a smidge. But lets be clear, these victories, as satisfying as they are, pale in the continued assault on women’s rights. Virginia Republicans still may pass an ultrasound law, and they continue to attack poor women’s health care. And for the victory in Virginia comes the sobering reminder that mandatory transvaginal ultrasounds are already law in Texas (and really any state covered by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, so add Louisiana and Mississippi to that list).  States like Pennsylvania and Illinois are pushing similar measures. The fight is far from over.  Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/virginia-shelves-personhood.html#ixzz1nIzILp6r/ and http://leesburg.patch.com

Texas taking health care away from 130,000 poor women to punish Planned Parenthood
Texas Gov. Rick Perry's imagined war with the federal government unfortunately has real casualties—poor women (as usual). In this instance, the Texas government has decide to write Planned Parenthood out of the state's Women's Health Program, a Medicaid-waiver program providing basic health and family planning services to low-income and uninsured women who would not otherwise be eligible for Medicaid unless pregnant. The Department of Health and Human Services warned the state that this rule would not meet requirements for funding, because it violates the Social Security Act. They informed the state that some $40 million in funding would be pulled if Planned Parenthood, which provides 44 percent of the program’s services, was blacklisted. putting $40 million in federal funding at risk. SOURCE: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/24/1067970/-Texas-taking-health-care-away-from-130-000-poor-women-to-punish-Planned-Parenthood- 

Virginia Senate Approves Anti-Gay Adoption Bill
(They just can't seem to stop attacking gay people and women in Virginia, can they?)
By Associated Press, Published: February 21
RICHMOND, Va. — Private adoption agencies could deny placing children with prospective parents who are gay under a bill that received final approval in the Virginia General Assembly on Tuesday.The Senate voted 22-18 to pass the bill and send it to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who has said he will sign it. Virginia will become just the second state with such a law, which proponents said was modeled after North Dakota’s statute. The legislation allows agencies to deny placements that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality. SOURCE: Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bill-allowing-discrimination-by-private-adoption-agencies-sent-to-va-governor/2012/02/21/gIQArkGURR_story.html

Why Are Young People Leaving Evangelical Christianity?

But why? The Barna Group has identified six major factors that are driving young people away from religion:

1. Young adults and teens see their churches as overprotective, saying “Christians demonize everything outside of the church,” and that their churches ignore “the problems of the real world.”
2. Many find their connection to Christianity to be shallow, saying that church is boring, or that their faith “is not relevant” to their career or interests. 20% even stated that God seemed to be missing from their church experiences.
3. Reason number three is a big one – many young adults feel a strong conflict between their religion and science. A full quarter of those surveyed believe “Christianity is anti-science,” and 23% have become frustrated with debating creationism vs. evolution. Three out of ten believe that their churches are out of step with the modern, scientific world. The research further goes to show that young Christians interested in science are struggling to reconcile their religious beliefs with their profession.
4. Many also see their church’s views on sexuality as simplistic and judgmental. Most young Christians are just as sexually active as their non-Christian peers, despite holding more conservative attitudes regarding sexuality.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/why-are-young-people-leaving-evangelical-christianity.html#ixzz1nIzwmEEH

Play time for the dogs!

Franklin loves tearing into toys

Dolly removing stuffing from a new toy

Sprite just watches. With 6 teeth left, he doesn't play with toys