Wednesday, October 01, 2008

The Fats of Life, Man's Best Friend, -and- Burp!


The Fats of Life - woman sheds 110 pounds to join Army
Man's Best Friend - man punches shark, saves his dog
Burp! - Utah bans alcoholic malt beverages

On this day in history: October 1, 1993 - Richard Allen Davis kidnaps Polly Klaas during a slumber party in her Petaluma, California home and later murders the 12-year-old. The horrific ordeal transforms her father, Mark Klaas, into a major media figure.

Born on this day in history: October 1, 1903 - Vladimir Horowitz Biography (1903 - 1989) Russian pianist. He attended the Kiev Conservatory and made his debut in 1921. His stunning technique gained him a large international reputation, and he became an inveterate touring performer, giving 100 concerts a year in the U.S. alone. In 1933 he married Arturo Toscanini's daughter, Wanda. Always susceptible to nervous strain, in 1953 he decided to quit public performance; his return to the concert stage in 1965 was attended by great publicity. He favoured the works of Romantics such as Robert Schumann, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, and his friend Sergey Rachmaninoff. He continued to perform into his 80s.

Scripture of the Day: Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. — Isaiah 10:1-2


Video of the Day: Rats Having Fun - submitted by Darin





Go, Sarah! Click to enlarge.













"Fireproof": Setting box office on fire!

A Christian film has been blazing hot in movie theaters—earning $6.8 million and becoming the fourth best-selling movie in the nation! "Fireproof" had the highest opening weekend box office of the year for films released on 1,000 screens or less. Samuel Goldwyn Films' "Fireproof," starring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea, is a faith-based movie with a powerful message to couples: "Never leave your partner behind."




"Fireproof" was produced by Sherwood Pictures—a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. Director Alex Kendrick is an associate pastor at the church. He and his brother, Stephen Kendrick, wrote the screenplay.

Laura and I are particularly excited to see "Fireproof" doing so well, since we have been great enthusiasts of the films produced by Sherwood Pictures—"Flywheel" and "Facing the Giants"—and of Kirk Cameron's work in the "Left Behind" series and "The Way of the Master."

For dinner last evening, I made Cajun Rice with Beef: I placed 1 1/2 cups of Calrose rice in a large sauté pan. I added 2 1/4 cups of juice from the a batch of salsa I made last week. I then added thinly sliced top sirloin steak that had been grilled Sunday, a large white onion (sliced), three large Jalapeños (diced), a stalk of celery (thinly sliced), a head of garlic (finely chopped), a small habanero pepper (finely chopped), two large cluster tomatoes (diced), sea salt, Gebhardt's chili powder, and Tony Chachere's More Spice. I brought this to a rolling boil on high and cooked for five minutes. I lowered the burner to one notch above low and cooked, unattended, for 45 minutes. It was wonderful.