A Fun Read for Fans of the CW Show: Supergirl : "Supergirl: Curse of the Ancients"

I recently finished reading "Supergirl: Curse of the Ancients" by Jo Whittimore, and it is an original  story based on the characters in the CW Network TV show that I enjoy. This is also book 2 in the series, and it's a hard cover.
    I would give this about 3 out of 5 stars - I liked it, but I didn't love it. It's about how most of Supergirl's city gets transformed into buildings like those back into ancient Roman times- and people are becoming more brainwashed that they have to act like they are living in that period. It's because of a combination of a demon and a comet passing by... Anyway, one highlight was that the author brought in a weird DC Comics character called "The Demon" who is a good guy that deals with mystical and supernatural beings.
    Fans of the show would enjoy the book.
- Rob

A Hauntingly Good Holiday Party!

LtoR: Ronda, Tom, Margaret, Rob

    We belong to a paranormal group to use our "gifts" of mediumship to help families who deal with Earthbound ghosts haunting their houses, but this weekend, we attended the group's Holiday party. It's always nice to partake in a gathering where you have something in common with everyone (how often can you say that?).
   We participated in a gift swap where if  someone didn't like their gift, they had an opportunity to swap it with someone whose gift they did like. 
   The gifts ran the gamut from a book on ghosts, paranormal tools like flashlights and batteries to wine, gift cards, puzzles, and food.  

Nancy, Pat, Judy, Renee

   We wrapped up gift cards to a Supermarket, because, well, they're practical, and everyone shops for groceries!  I got a gift bag with a Dunkin' gift card, a delicious brownie, and a coupon at Kohls (where we shop) so that was perfect- Coffee, sugar, and shopping. 

Margaret, Ronda, Colleen, Nancy

   Tom got a bottle of wine and he was all excited about that... until our friend Dana swapped out her gift and took Tom's wine. So Tom had to pick another gift... and picked a bag that had three puzzles of 1000 pieces. Tom doesn't do puzzles, but he wound up with them. He doesn't have the best luck with these swaps. 

LtoR: Judy, Renee, Dana, Jimmy, Amy

    He was pretty funny about it, though because he said aloud "Who would give a puzzle? I don't do puzzles, but I like wine!"
   Last year, the gift swap didn't go so well for Tom either. Last year with the gift swap. Although the gifts are supposed to be gender-neutral, he wound up with a pair of ladies' earrings, which he promptly gave someone else!
   The event was fun, though, and spending time with like-minded and caring friends was a great way to mark the holidays.

Idiot of the Week: Kansas GOP Offical Cites "the Master Race"

This week's idiot is another Republican who is a white supremacist and outed himself as one when he cited the "Master Race" (which is what the Nazis called white, blonde people) to a black city employer.



Kansas County Official Who Made ‘Master Race’ Remark Resigns
Washington Post: Nov. 20, 2018

A Kansas county commissioner who made a “master race” comment to a black city planner has resigned amid swift backlash over what many officials saw as more than just a poor attempt at a joke.

Louis Klemp insisted in a resignation letter Tuesday that his comments were “well-meaning,” not racially motivated, and misinterpreted. But a chorus of local and state officials disagreed, decrying Klemp for invoking the Nazi-tinged language and calling for his resignation.

“It is with great sorrow that I am submitting this letter to the community that I love and have been a part of for more than 80 years. In order to maintain a focus and prioritize the needs of the county I have made a decision to resign,” Klemp wrote in a letter to Leavenworth County Clerk Janet Klasinski, adding that he regrets the comment and has apologized to the city planner.

Video: https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/kansas-commissioner-resigns-after-master-race-comments/2018/11/16/44a9ae2e-e9b1-11e8-8449-1ff263609a31_video.html



Louis Klemp, a county commissioner in Leavenworth, Kan., made comments about a “master race” at a commission meeting Nov. 13. (Leavenworth County Kansas via Storyful)

UK NEWS: Plymouth theatre's bronze sculpture will be 'UK's largest'

With all the history in England, it seems a bit odd to have the biggest sculpture to be an actor's pose,
but Shakespeare IS from England!  What do you think?


PLYMOUTH THEATRE'S BRONZE SCULPTURE WILL BE 'UK'S LARGEST

A piece of art inspired by an actor's on-stage pose will be the UK's largest cast bronze sculpture when it goes on display next year.

The 7m (23ft) sculpture, called Messenger, will be installed outside the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Sculptor Joseph Hillier was inspired to create it by an actor rehearsing Shakespeare's Othello at the theatre.

He said its name refers to the "pivotal" role of a performer to "breathe life into words".

The sculpture, commissioned by the theatre, had a working title of Bianca after the character whose "split-second pose" is the basis for the piece.

"This work offers a young, powerful woman, a potent force about to transform the world by her actions," Mr Hillier said.

"The actor carries the voice of her playwright or director - she carried a message.

"It's a metaphor for what great theatre does," he added.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-46343613

Our Friend Ed Retires! A Tribute to a Great Guy

Ed managed NASA Shuttle Outreach and loves photography

If you want to know anything about NASA, our friend Ed, who also has been my boss (and a good friend) for the last 17 years, is the guy to ask. He's been with NASA for 35 years and has worked NASA Shuttle missions, worked at NASA Headquarters, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center in Texas, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. He's also an amazing photographer, Margarita connoisseur, and has brought me my favorite Dunkin' Donuts coffee each Friday for many years.
    In today's blog you'll learn about Ed, and read my tribute to a true-life superhero. 

Ed outside a NASA building

Ed's Retirement countdown clock

He's retiring as the News Chief (I'm his Deputy) from Goddard, and he's had an amazing career... one that EVERYONE in the U.S. and beyond has been affected by. Here's why:
  

ED'S AMAZING CAREER - Most people today remember the NASA Shuttle Challenger with the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe. Well, Ed was THE public affairs officer for the Teacher in Space and the Shuttle program during the tragic Challenger explosion.

Ed displaying some of his amazing photos

HIS PROUDEST MOMENT, AND WORST MOMENT - During a presentation Ed gave about his career, he said that after years of work on Teacher in Space, his proudest moment was when the space shuttle lifted off with Christa McAuliffe. 73 Seconds later, his worst moment occurred when the Challenger exploded and the world was horrified. (I have a lump in my throat writing this).

ED'S FAVORITE QUOTE:  Groucho Marx: "I would never belong to any organization that would have me as a member."

Margarita is a favorite word

A WORD ABOUT ED, FROM ME- There are some people that you meet that just make your life better. If you're lucky enough you befriend them. Ed is one of those people. We've been friends for a long time now. He trusted me to promote me to be his deputy, and I have always said that we are like Batman and Robin. We're always working well together to solve things and make the newsroom work well. 
    Ed taught me how the NASA public affairs newsroom should work. He always keeps a cool head even when things get crazy. 

front L to R: Michelle, Ed (the Minister), Rob (Superman)

   It's been such a pleasure to work for someone who you can trust, who is a friend, who will help solve problems and keep calm! 
    He's always referred to himself as "The Minister of Truth" - and one Halloween he dressed as exactly that (of course, I was in my Superman costume).
   I'll miss seeing him in the 2 mornings I'm in the office, because we would each bring the other a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. 
  But there'll be plenty of margaritas available now for Ed and he doesn't have to worry about a work night! :)   
   I just hope I can maintain the legacy established by my "Batman" aka: the Minister of Truth and look forward to hearing about his retirement adventures over dinners. Have fun, Ed - you deserve it. You have left behind an amazing legacy. 

Ed is a HUGE Baseball fan- Often at Nats Park

  - Rob
 

 Here's a word from Ed two weeks before his retirement date (which is today, Dec. 7th) in his own words: 

Steve, Ed, Rob at the retirement party

    I am closing in on the finish line to my NASA career. Was originally planning that tomorrow, December 1, was going to be my last day. Because I still have some things to do, I needed to make an adjustment and now plan that next Friday, December 7, WILL be my last day in office.
     I am taking tomorrow and Monday off but you will find me the rest of next week packing my office, organizing news chief material for handover and attending a few final meetings.

Rob Garner (a great party MC & webmaster), Ed, Rob

     Since I like to make NASA analogies to what I’m doing, my final steps of retirement will be like a Saturn V rocket – it will be in three stages. Stage 1 was yesterday when I had the chance to speak to my fellow GSFC PAOs (Goddard public affairs office) about my NASA career and what I have learned along the way (see attached photo). Stage 2 will come tonight at my farewell party. And stage 3 that will place me in my retirement orbit will be next Friday.
So, this is not my final message. As has been said many times before by various folks – the best is yet to come.
Eduardo

Inspirational Man of the Month: Francesco Clark

Francesco Clark

I recently saw Francesco Clark's story on CBS this morning and as a fellow Superman fan (he looked up to Christopher Reeve - who played Superman in three films in the 1970s and 1980s) , I can truly  say that he is indeed a hero. He had a serious accident that took away his mobility and has made amazing progress in overcoming it, in addition to creating a skin care line called
Clark's Botanicals. Here's his story: 

  Francesco Clark, who then worked at Harper's Bazaar, suffered a crippling spinal cord injury in a swimming pool diving accident on June 1, 2002. 

In 2002, Francesco Clark was a twenty-four-year-old with a bright future who worked at Harper's Bazaar. A nocturnal dive into a swimming pool's shallow end changed everything, forever. Paralyzed from the neck down, Francesco was told by his doctors that he would never move from his bed or even breathe without assistance. But Francesco fought back. Within days, he was breathing on his own. His father, a doctor himself, investigated every opportunity for experimental treatment, and Francesco used every resource available to speed his recovery. 

To avoid having his lungs painfully suctioned, he sang, loudly, for hours--and that was just the beginning.  

With his central nervous system impaired, Francesco lost the ability not only to walk, but even to sweat.


As he continued strengthening his body he began exercising. That amazed doctors who said that he would be unable to move from the neck down. He began rebuilding his body and continues to do so. But in the meantime,  his mind was working to create something.-

Because he lost the ability to sweat, it led to clogged pores and chronic breakouts. When neither over-the-counter nor prescriptive remedies worked, he turned to his father, Dr. Harold Clark, a physician trained in both traditional Western medicine and homeopathy.

Francesco as Clark Kent

Together they developed botanically-based formulas that effectively rebalanced Francesco's skin, clearing it up entirely. Through word-of-mouth, other people discovered and fell in love with these products, and in 2005, Francesco began selling Clark's Botanicals on his website: www.clarksbotanicals.com

Francesco Clark is the founder of Clark's Botanicals, which has been featured in the New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and many other publications. An ambassador for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, he lives in Bronxville, New York.

The Website: https://www.clarksbotanicals.com/pages/meet-francesco

CONTACT INFO:
General contact: info@clarksbotanicals.com
Press Inquiries: press@clarksbotanicals.com
Wholesale:wholesales@clarksbotanicals.com

 "Clark's Botanicals is an organic part of me and my recovery," says Francesco. "Everything about this line has a purpose and reason for being, from the ingredients to the packaging. It's an expression of who I am in its purest form." Francesco Clark

Clark's Botanicals

  Clark's Botanicals is now available at Nordstrom.com. Maybe what my physical therapist told me years ago is true: "Strong snails win!" https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/space-nk-apothecary-clarks-botanicals-smoothing-marine-cream/5144878?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll+Results&color=none
 
THERE'S A BOOK ABOUT HIS STORY - called "Walking Papers" by Francesco Clark. It's available on Amazon.com, and I've already ordered it. 

 

Another Reason to Love Target stores!

We love it when ignorant people are put in their place, and today we celebrate Target Stores for putting a bigot in her place- back under the rock from which she came - with Facts. 

What do you call a person who speaks three languages?  Trilingual 
What do you call a person who speaks two languages?  Bilingual 
What do you call a person who speaks one language?  Target had the answer to someone who complained about commercials in Spanish... LOVE THIS!~

We saw in Concert an Amazing Musical Group: Well-Strung!!!

During the weekend of Nov. 18-19, we took an overnight drive to Delaware where we saw an amazing group of performers called "Well-Strung." This 4 man string band was awesome!!! Four handsome guys, 3 of which played violin and the fourth a cello (and 1 also played guitar) - and they all have great voices - put on an amazing performance!
   Well- strung (http://well-strung.com/ ) fuses classical pieces with pop songs, to come up with highly entertaining music.

playing Christmas tunes, too!

WHO ARE WELL-STRUNG? Well-Strung, a New York City based string quartet, derives their unique blend of vocals and strings by fusing classical music with the pop music of today. Members Edmund Bagnell (1st violin), Chris Marchant (2nd violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello), and Trevor Wadleigh (viola) spend their time making new music and touring internationally. The group was conceived by producer Mark Cortale and Chris Marchant


We  would see them again in a MINUTE!





https://youtu.be/Pv2Al5PPLe8

Their latest CD

Darn it! Daredevil’ Canceled on Netflix After Three Seasons

We are HUGE fans of the  Netflix series on Daredevil, the blind Marvel comics superhero. I've always loved the character, although I stopped reading the comic years ago (because it wasn't good).. but have recently bought some graphic novel collections because we love the tv series so much. Charlie Cox, who plays Daredevil (and atty Matt Murdoch, his alter ego) is fantastic.  Now the series is ending this year. We're really sad to see it go. It was outstanding, as were the supporting characters. - Rob

 Daredevil’ Canceled on Netflix After Three Seasons

Marvel series follows cancellations of “Luke Cage” and “Iron Fist”

Reid Nakamura | November 29, 2018 @ 5:56 PM Last Updated: November 29, 2018 @ 6:15 PM

Netflix

“Daredevil” has been canceled by Netflix after three season, as the streamer continues to cull its Marvel series offerings.

The first of Netflix’s live-action Marvel adaptations, “Daredevil” first premiered in 2015 with Charlie Cox starring as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who moonlights as a crime-fighting vigilante. The show’s most-recent third season debuted on the platform last month to largely positive reviews.
Netflix’s move to cancel the series comes just over a month after “Iron Fist” and “Luke Cage” — two of the other series in the streamer’s “Marvel’s Defenders” franchise — were both axed from Netflix’s line-up.

“Marvel’s Daredevil will not return for a fourth season on Netflix,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. “We are tremendously proud of the show’s last and final season and although it’s painful for the fans, we feel it best to close this chapter on a high note. We’re thankful to our partners at Marvel, showrunner Erik Oleson, the show’s writers, stellar crew and incredible cast including Charlie Cox as Daredevil himself, and we’re grateful to the fans who have supported the show over the years.”

As with the cancellations of “Iron Fist” and “Luke Cage,” Netflix hinted that the character of Daredevil could live on in some other capacity: “While the series on Netflix has ended, the three existing seasons will remain on the service for years to come, while the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel,” the statement continued.

The move to reduce the number of Marvel Television series on Netflix appears to signal the end of the studio’s relationship with the streaming giant at a time when Marvel’s parent company Disney is gearing up to launch a rival streaming service of its own.

Marvel Studios has already announced plans to create a number of projects for the upcoming Disney+, including at least one limited series spinoff of the Marvel Cinematic Universe film franchise.
The only Marvel series remaining on Netflix are “The Punisher” and “Jessica Jones,” which have already been renewed for their second and third seasons, respectively. No premiere dates for either show have been announced.
Erik Oleson served as showrunner and executive producer on “Daredevil.” In addition to Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elden Henson, Deborah Ann Woll, Joanne Whalley, Wilson Bethel and Jay Ali also starred.

Idiots of the Week: Parents Who Don't Vaccinate Their Kids: Huge Chickenpox Outbreak in NC

Chicken pox- painful blisters on the body

This week's "Idiot of the Week" actually goes to a large group of parents who have children in a private school in North Carolina, and didn't vaccinate them. The main reason cited for not vaccinating their kids "Religious Exemption." Now, many kids have chickenpox, and when they grow up, they're candidates for the very painful adult shingles virus (because it comes from chickenpox virus exposure).  I (Rob) had Shingles and it was VERY painful.
 
NOT VACCINATING IS BAD PARENTING. That's just stupid. When we went to school we had to show we were vaccinated to prevent an outbreak. Now, dumb parents refuse to give their kids vaccines and then cry and pout when their children die. They are all idiots of the week.
   



FACT:  In November 2018, A private school in North Carolina has reportedly been hit by the state’s worst chickenpox outbreak in over two decades after parents claimed religious exemptions to the state’s vaccination requirements.


HERE'S THE STORY (From the NC Citizen-Times Newspaper)
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/11/20/chickenpox-asheville-waldorf-school-quarantine-court-challenge-religious-freedom-civil-liberities/2069844002/

ASHEVILLE — First came the rash, then the quarantine — and with it, a legal challenge.

The late October outbreak of chickenpox at Asheville Waldorf School prompted Buncombe County health officials in early November to call for the quarantine of 104 of school's 152 students. Nearly 75 percent hadn't been vaccinated for the virus.

That order expired Tuesday, though it is unlikely to mark the end of county concerns at the private West Asheville school that serves toddlers through sixth graders. Buncombe health officials will continue to monitor conditions when students return from Thanksgiving break next week.

In a Nov. 1 order sent to the parents of unvaccinated children, Buncombe County Health Director Jannine Shaphard wrote that "the intent of this quarantine is to decrease the risk of transmission of the illness and protect the health of non-immune students, staff and community members." Asheville attorney Lakota Denton said Tuesday the quarantine violated the civil liberties of the children — two of whom he represents.

WHAT IS CHICKENPOX? Chickenpox (varicella) is a viral infection that causes a fever, and an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. Chickenpox is highly contagious to people who haven't had the disease or been vaccinated against it. A person with chickenpox may have as many as 500 blisters. The rash can spread over the whole body. Chickenpox can be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6wiWtYbwhlg


ABOUT 110 KIDS NOW QUARANTINED FOR 3 WEEKS
"The quarantine placed around 100 children, including my clients, under house-arrest for 21 days," Denton said. "I felt that there should be a more significant threat to public health to justify this kind of curtailing of civil liberties, so I contested the quarantine in Superior Court on behalf of these children."

The quarantine order the county provided to Asheville Waldorf School parents gave them a choice. They could have their children vaccinated, prove they're immune to the virus or keep them away from others.

Given the choice, parents — even those who oppose vaccines — typically choose to immunize, Buncombe Health and Human Services Medical Director Jennifer Mullendore said Friday. Parents can't usually afford to keep their children out of school for so long, she said. That wasn't the case with this outbreak. The majority of parents presented with the county's order chose quarantine, Mullendore said. Mullendore wrote in an email that the county "is committed to protecting the public's health.""The court agreed that the local health director can use her quarantine authority to control an outbreak of chickenpox," she added.

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS CITED FOR NON-VACCINATIONS
During the 2017-2018 school year, the last for which data were available, Asheville Waldorf had a higher rate of religious exemptions for vaccination than all but two other schools in the state. Of the 28 kindergartners who enrolled that year, 19 had an exemption to at least one vaccination required by the state for school entry. During the same academic year, Buncombe County led the state in religious exemption rates for kindergartners with 5.7 percent.

It's Dolly's 14th and Tyler's 8th Birthdays! (11/29/18)

Dolly & Tyler with treats they picked at petsmart

This week, Dolly and Tyler celebrated their birthdays on Nov. 29th. SO, we went to Petsmart and they walked up and down the aisles sniffing out treats and toys they wanted.  Our Weimaraner Dolly Loretta (named for Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn) turned 14. Our youngest Dachshund, Tyler turns 8!
  In today's blog, you'll learn where they both came from, why they share a birthday, and what they're up to Today! 

DOLLY'S BIRTHDAY!  Dolly, our lovable, affectionate, obedient, loyal, protective, sweet Weimaraner. I remember when I drove to Tennessee in March 2005 to the Wolf Creek Weimaraner rescue to adopt her (our friend Jeff came with me). Dolly is the sweetest dog you'll ever know. Our friend Elvina calls her a "classy lady."

DOLLY FACES CHALLENGES OF AGING GRACEFULLY -
    Dolly has been having her health challenges but whenever something begins we take care of it immediately. She's got a medical file about 6-8 inches thick, but she's come through it all. Her recurring eye ulcers of the last 3 years have stopped (for now) with 2 eye drops daily. She's lost about 75% of her vision, but follows her nose.
   Two years ago I noticed that she would pant heavily and walk behind us. Then she could no longer jump into the pick up truck, or jump up on the bed. I realized that she was likely in pain from arthritis. We had xrays and confirmed arthritis in her hips. So, we started acupuncture and laser treatments.
   Months later, she was again able to jump up on the bed, and into the pick up truck and still does at 14. She also climbs up and down the staircase (we had to get stair carpet steps).
   She's had a few accidents in the house, but it's either when she gets excited or she's had too much water. She loves her brother Tyler, though, and they eat, sleep and play together.

Tyler and Dolly in Petsmart's toy aisle

TYLER GETS DOLLY'S BIRTHDAY!  Tyler came to us in December 2012 as a foster dog through Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue. His paperwork said that he was 2  years old, BUT he had NO birth date. Because he and Dolly became a tightly bonded pair, we made Dolly's birthday Tyler's birthday ,too!  They never go anywhere without each other.
 
TYLER HAS COME A LONG WAY - Once a terror, now amazing. 1 year of obedience training and 2 1/2 years of agility training made Tyler a new dog from his crazy, non-housebroken terrible twos (when we adopted him). He defends the house and us, fiercely. He still doesn't like other dogs (with exceptions, like Jeff's Myrtle, and Stacey and Nathan's Mopar - but Tyler has issues with their other (bigger) dog Hemi! - they butt heads).  We learned that Tyler must have been abused by a man with a beard and someone who often wore dark colored pants, because he always tries to nip them. Even if he has known them for years now. Some things dogs and people can't get over.
   Tyler is also famous for allowing me to pose him with any prop, in any situation. He's the best poser, ever!



IF SEPARATED- TYLER GETS MAD!  The first time I took Dolly to the acupuncturist (Dolly has been getting acupuncture and cold laser treatments every 2 weeks on her back legs and hips because of her arthritis- and it has done miracles!) , when I came home from the vet with Dolly, Tyler let me know he was pissed. Literally.

Tyler sitting with the huge bag of stuff he and Dolly chose at Petsmart

   We all walked into the kitchen, and then Tyler walked over to the living room rug, looked up at me and promptly peed all over it. I knew he was mad at me! Haha. I Learned my lesson. - Rob

Fantastic Mystery Play Dead by David Rosenfelt (5 of 5 Stars)

The second mystery book I read by David Rosenfelt was equally as amazing and gripping as the first.
   I recently finished and totally enjoyed "Play Dead" which came out in 2007, but is as fresh as today. - David Rosenfelt writes about an attorney with a team who investigates cases he's handling - and there are always DOGS in them, and twists and turns to keep you reading a lot!   I don't want to give anything away, but the dog helped a lot in freeing his dog dad from a life prison sentence. 
    FIVE of FIVE STARS! You need to read this!!

ABOUT THE BOOK: Few can rival attorney Andy Carpenter's affection for golden retrievers, especially his own beloved Tara. After he astonishes a New Jersey courtroom by successfully appealing another golden's death sentence, Andy discovers that this gentle dog is a key witness to a murder that took place five years before. Andy pushes the boundaries of the law even further as he struggles to free an innocent man by convincing an incredulous jury to take canine testimony seriously. It will take all the tricks Andy's fertile mind can conceive to get to the bottom of a remarkable chain of impersonations and murder, and save a dog's life--and his own--in the process.