Fighting Back, Matters of Life and Death, -and- The Termin-actor

Fighting Back - retiree fends off muggers with walking stick
Matters of Life and Death - Planned Parenthood offers gift certificates
The Termin-actor - thespian robot takes the stage

On this day in history: November 28, 1981 - Natalie Wood topples off her yacht near Catalina Island and drowns. Her husband Robert Wagner, and friend Christopher Walken, were onboard and unaware of her predicament.

Born on this day in history: November 28, 1962 - Jon Stewart (1962-) Born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, comedian Jon Stewart is the anchor of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," the popular satirical news show critical of the political establishment and news media. He co-authored the best-selling "America (The Book)," acted in several films, and hosted The Academy Awards.

Scripture of the Day: He [Jesus] replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." — Luke 11:28

Video of the Day: The Geico Gecko

Thanksgiving Dinner - Click to enlarge!

Laura took this photograph of our Thanksgiving dinner. I was otherwise occupied--eating!

MENU:

Game hens: marinated in extra-virgin olive oil, ground black pepper, granulated garlic, ground Cayenne pepper, ground Chile de Arbol, lime juice, and ground cumin. On the grill, the game hen halves were grilled for 20 minutes over the front burner, with the skin side down, over a very low flame, with the rear burner on high. After 20 minutes, the halves were turned skin-side up and drizzled with honey. When the honey had flowed and coated the halves, they were turned skin-side down and grilled for 10 minutes. They were then turned every 15 minutes for 45 additional minutes. The front burner was turned off for the last 30 minutes.

Dressing: Ground hot Italian sausage, julienned white onion, minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, diced Jalapeño peppers, finely-diced habanero pepper, sliced mushrooms, baby spinach, chopped celery, poultry seasoning, Tony Chachere's More Spice, ground black pepper, ground Cayenne pepper, and ground Chile de Arbol were sautéed. Sourdough bread was cubed and toasted. The sausage mixture was added to the cubed bread, a can of chicken stock was added, and the dressing was mixed and placed in a Pyrex cooking dish. When the game hens were nearly done, this was baked in the conventional oven until the top was crisp.

Green beans: Fresh green beans were boiled for 3 minutes and placed in cold water to stop the cooking process. Bacon (cut into 1-inch pieces), julienned red onion, sliced mushrooms, minced garlic Gebhardt's chili powder, and lemon pepper was sautéed in extra-virgin olive oil. When this was cooked, the beans were incorporated, and the mixture was placed in a Corningware casserole dish.

Potatoes: Red potatoes wee diced and placed in a pot. A large head of garlic was peeled, and the cloves were added to the potatoes. This was cooked until the potatoes were done. The potatoes and garlic were drained and returned to the pot. Tony Chachere's More Spice, sea salt, ground black pepper, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, milk, and ranch dressing were added. The potatoes were whipped with an electric mixer.

Gravy: 4 chicken bouillon cubes were added to water, corn starch, poultry seasoning, and ground black pepper and simmered until the desired consistency was reached.

Brave New Schools, You Say It's Your Birthday, -and- The Scarlet Letter

Brave New Schools - kindergarten Pilgrim, Native American costumes banned
You Say It's Your Birthday - 106-year-old woman celebrates birthday on wrong day for a century
The Scarlet Letter - South Korea seeks to jail actress for adultery

On this day in history: November 26, 1975 - Manson family member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Ford.

Born on this day in history: November 26, 1922 - Charles (Monroe) Schultz (1922 - 2000) Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, cartoonist Charles Schulz submitted a sample strip entitled "Li'l Folks" to many newspapers before United Features accepted it, renaming it "Peanuts" (1950). It became one of the world's most successful strips. Schulz based the Charlie Brown character on himself.

Scripture of the Day: [Jesus said] "Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" — John 11:26

Video of the Day: Happy Thanksgiving

Laura received a beautiful floral arrangement when she was ill. This is a rose from that floral arrangement. Click
to enlarge.

Thanksgiving is nearly here. I wish to take this opportunity to wish all visitors here a very Happy Thanksgiving. If you are not traveling, I wish you a very happy and festive day at home. If you are traveling, I pray for your safe journey and wish you a happy and festive day at your journey's end.

There will be no blog tomorrow, but the blog will return on Friday. While I do not intend to open my office on Friday, I shall produce the blog on my notebook, from the comfort of my recliner.

Fighting Back, Somebody's Watching You, -and- Bah Humbug!

Fighting Back - homeowner takes intruder's gun away, beats him
Somebody's Watching You - citizens operate speed traps
Bah Humbug! - Florida university bans Christmas decorations

On this day in history: November 25, 1987 - Fawn Hall, Oliver North's assistant, removes documents from sealed National Security Council offices inside the White House by hiding them inside her skirt.

Born on this day in history: November 25, 1914 - Joe DiMaggio (1914 - 1999) Born in Martinez, California, baseball player Joe DiMaggio spent his career as an outfielder for the Yankees (1936–51), and was named American League Most Valuable Player three times. Married briefly to screen icon Marilyn Monroe, DiMaggio was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1955.

Scripture of the Day: [Jesus said] "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." — Mark 11:25

Video of the Day: Street Legal Ferrari FXX by Edo Competition

Here is an photograph from last Sunday's Corning Hometown Christmas. Click
to enlarge.

The weather remains unusually pleasant for this time of year. The sun continues to shine, the sky is blue and clear, and birds continue their singing. Yesterday morning, the wind was unpleasantly strong. It soon dissipated, however, and did not return today. It is currently 50° and forecast to be a relatively low (it has been in the low 70°s for some time now) 61°. I realize that we need rain, but I certainly enjoy this dry, unseasonably warm weather! If the weather forecast proves correct, Thanksgiving shall present us with grilling weather. Laura and I intend to grill game hens for Thanksgiving dinner. While I can certainly tend to the grill in foul weather, it would be considerably more pleasant not to need hip waders and anorak. I much prefer grilling in shorts, tank top, and sandals!

Fighting Back, I Right the Wrongs, -and- Don't Take a Knife to a Gunfight!

Fighting Back - carjacking suspect hit with frozen turkey
I Right the Wrongs - judge sentences teens to Manilow music
Don't Take a Knife to a Gunfight! - Guard fatally shoots man armed with swords at Scientology building

On this day in history: November 24, 2003 - After his BMW struck a Toyota Camry, country singer Glenn Campbell is arrested with an impressive blood alcohol level of .20 on charges of "extreme" drunk driving, hit and run, and assaulting a police officer, in Phoenix AZ. He is freed on $2000 bond. While in custody, Campbell hummed his hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" repeatedly.

Born on this day in history: November 24, 1888 - Dale Carnegie (1888 - 1955) Born in Maryville, Missouri, writer and public speaker Dale Carnegie began in the 1930s with a radio program and books, notably "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (1936). His name became synonymous with the self-help-to-success he promoted.

Scripture of the Day: He [Barnabas] was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. — Acts 11:24

Video of the Day: Plane-to-Plane Skydive - submitted by Cap'n Jack

Here is a 360° panorama of Hometown Christmas, taken in front of my office. Click to enlarge.

I have a new Web site: David Louis Harter Photography. This will be a site dedicated to photography. If you are interested in photography, by all means visit this new site!

The weather on Saturday was beautiful, and the annual Corning Hometown Christmas benefited greatly from the spring-like weather. The attendance was excellent, and the lighted parade was easily the best ever. I took 850 photographs of the event and shall alert readers when a select group of these photographs is ready for viewing. By all means, take a look at the panorama above. I created it from photographs I took while standing in front of my office and turning in a circle. It is a full 360° panorama! To view it properly, maximize the image and scroll from left to right. I believe you will be impressed!

It was a busy weekend. Saturday—following the lighted parade—I grilled cheeseburgers. I toasted whole-wheat buns on the grill while the burger patties cooked. At the table, we added sliced red onion, sliced cluster tomatoes, and green leaf lettuce. Laura used mayonnaise and catsup for condiments. I used mayonnaise, mustard, and wasabi paste. The burgers were delicious.

Last night, we enjoyed enchiladas I had made and refrigerated earlier. I sautéed sliced onion, minced garlic, chopped Jalapeños, and ground sirloin—seasoned with Tony Chachere's More Spice, ground black pepper, ground cumin, ground Cayenne, and ground Chile de Arbol. I made sauce with tomato sauce, Gebhardt's Chili Powder, ground Cayenne, ground Chile de Arbol, ground cumin, granulated garlic, and sea salt. I coated a large Pyrex baking dish with sauce, rolled meat mixture in flour tortillas, and placed them in the baking dish. I covered the enchiladas with sauce and topped this with extra-sharp cheddar cheese. We baked this in the microwave until the cheese was melted and bubbling. I made a batch of guacamole—using salsa I had made earlier in the week. It was an incredible delight. We have another meal awaiting us in the refrigerator, another meal awaits us in the freezer, and a small portion shall follow Laura to Chico today and provide her with a wonderful lunch.

Stupid Criminals, Thank God!, -and- Animal Kingdom

Stupid Criminals - Corning sex offender with no pants arrested in pasture
Thank God! - man struck by falling .45-caliber bullet saved by cell phone
Animal Kingdom - dog drives van through coffee shop window

On this day in history: November 21, 1980 - The third deadliest hotel fire in history occurs at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, caused by faulty wiring; 84 people dead. Helicopters were used to rescue stranded guests from the top floors.

Born on this day in history: November 21, 1945 - Goldie Hawn (1945– ) Born in Washington D.C., actress Goldie Hawn began on Rowan and Martin's TV review "Laugh In" (1968–70), won an Oscar for her first film role in "Cactus Flower" (1969), and went on to many movie successes. Her autobiography, "A Lotus Grows in the Mud," appeared in 2005.

Scripture of the Day:

Video of the Day: Animals Close to Extinction - submitted by Danica

Here is a panorama created from 13 photographs taken at last May's Corning
car show. Click to enlarge.

Hometown Christmas This coming Saturday, November 22nd, kicks off the holiday season with Corning Hometown Christmas. This event draws people from all over the North State. The day starts with a pancake breakfast at 7 AM at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and you can start your Christmas shopping after breakfast. Crafter booths will be set up in the hall. There will also be a lunch of clam chowder in a bread bowl and honker potatoes served by the Senior Center starting at 11 AM. Solano Street will be closed from the Memorial Hall to 3rd Street, with more craft and food vendors along the sidewalks. There will be free carriage rides starting in front of the Corning Chamber of Commerce office, and there will also be live Christmas trees for sale. There will be fun activities for the kids, including a jump house, face painting, hair coloring, cookie walk, fun games, lollipop tree, and lots of give-away toys and candy. Santa will arrive on the fire truck at 1 PM and will be available for photos at the chamber office from 2 to 3:30 PM. You will want to check out the art exhibit of local artists at PremierWest Bank. The highlight of the day will be the Lighted Parade. It is spectacular!

Taking the Rap, Armed and Dangerous, -and- Surf's Down

Taking the Rap - murderer sentenced to 40 years after writing song about killing
Armed and Dangerous - undercover officers use Taser on pallbearer
Surf's Down - Iran admits to blocking millions of Web sites

On this day in history: November 20, 1912 - Mad Bomber Carl Warr enters Los Angeles city jail with 60 sticks of dynamite strapped to himself. After an hour, two detectives attack Warr who then pulls the bomb's trigger. Nothing happens, and the freakishly masked bomber begs police to kill him.

Born on this day in history: November 20, 1946 - Duane Allman (1946-1971) Howard Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee on November 20, 1946. Duane, as he was known, and his brother, Gregg, were raised by their mother Geraldine Allman after their father, Willis, was murdered when Duane was just 3-years-old. Geraldine, "Mama A" moved with her boys to Daytona Beach, Florida in 1957. Once Gregg heard a neighbor playing guitar, he decided that he needed to learn the instrument. Duane soon followed suit, and became an even better player than his brother. The boys were influenced by the bluesy music of artists such as B.B King, whom they saw in concert while teenagers. Duane dropped out of high school to stay home and practice guitar and when Gregg graduated from Sea Breeze High School in 1965, the young men formed their first official band, the Allman Joys. When the Allman Joys became The Hour Glass in 1967, the group moved to Los Angeles. During this time, Duane perfected his electric slide guitar technique, using an empty Coricidin glass bottle over his ring finger as a slide. Duane simply loved to play the guitar, and was a much in-demand session musician for acts such as Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Boz Scaggs, and Herbie Mann. When he grew frustrated by the limits of being a session musician, Allman headed back to Florida with a few musicians. In March 1969, the Allman Brothers Band was formed, featuring Jaimoe Johanson, Dickie Betts, Berry Oakley, Reese Wynans, and Duane and Gregg Allman. Their debut self-titled album dropped in 1969 and the band began to tour. A huge fan of Eric Clapton, Duane Allman was surprised and thrilled to be asked to play on Clapton’s album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs." Clapton was, in turn, a huge Duane Allman fan. In addition to touring with his band, Allman was known to drop in on recording sessions to jam with whomever happened to be recording. Allman often received cash payments but rarely album credit, so it is impossible to know exactly how many recordings of his work exist. Duane Allman died on October 29, 1971, less than a month before his 25th birthday. His tragic death was the result of a motorcycle accident; when he swerved to avoid a turning truck, he lost control of his vehicle and was thrown through the air. He died a few hours later. The Allman Brothers had recorded just three albums, but his fame was secured.

Scripture of the Day: Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. -Psalm 95:1-2

Video of the Day: Too Many Robots - submitted by Cindy

[While I slept] I owned an exotic-car dealership. The showroom and lot were filled with an incredible collection of modern high-performance cars and vintage American muscle cars. Business was good. I decided to have the carpet of the showroom floor replaced with travertine tile. I met with my friend, Frank, [a tile man in real life] and selected the tile from samples he showed me. In anticipation of the tile being installed, the cars in the showroom were moved to the lot. The following morning, I drove to the dealership in my 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T convertible and saw that the cars were all gone! In order to avoid disturbing any evidence, I remained in my Challenger and called the police. Two detectives arrived to take my statement. One of them looked at my Challenger and said, "Nice car. Why didn't they take that?" There was a supercilious tone to his voice. "Because it was not here," I replied. I suddenly felt the urge to sneeze and reached into my pocket for a tissue. [I routinely carry tissues.] I awoke, on the verge of sneezing, and I had a tissue in my hand—taken from the box at bedside.

Hometown Christmas – This coming Saturday, November 22nd, kicks off the holiday season with Corning Hometown Christmas. This event draws people from all over the North State. The day starts with a pancake breakfast at 7 AM at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and you can start your Christmas shopping after breakfast. Crafter booths will be set up in the hall. There will also be a lunch of clam chowder in a bread bowl and honker potatoes served by the Senior Center starting at 11 AM. Solano Street will be closed from the Memorial Hall to 3rd Street, with more craft and food vendors along the sidewalks. There will be free carriage rides starting in front of the Corning Chamber of Commerce office, and there will also be live Christmas trees for sale. There will be fun activities for the kids, including a jump house, face painting, hair coloring, cookie walk, fun games, lollipop tree, and lots of give-away toys and candy. Santa will arrive on the fire truck at 1 PM and will be available for photos at the chamber office from 2 to 3:30 PM. You will want to check out the art exhibit of local artists at PremierWest Bank. The highlight of the day will be the Lighted Parade. It is spectacular!

TTYL, Invasion U.S.A., -and- Eye in the Sky

TTYL - drunk teen girl crashes car while texting
Invasion U.S.A. - Walmart trucker smuggles illegals across border
Eye in the Sky - Indian rival to Google Earth to zoom into 10 meters (Google stops at 200 meters)

On this day in history: November 19, 1961 - Michael Rockefeller, 23 year old son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller (later Vice President), disappears while searching for Asmat wood carvings in the jungles near Atsj, Papua New Guinea.

Born on this day in history: November 19, 1962 - Jodie Foster (1962 - ) Born in Los Angeles, actress and director Jodie Foster became famous in child roles, then established herself as an adult actress, receiving Best Actress Oscars for roles in "The Accused" (1988) and "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991).

Scripture of the Day: Teach them [God's commandments] to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. — Deuteronomy 11:19

Video of the Day: Ken Block Gymkhana Practice - submitted by Frank

Here is a photograph of the live manger from last year's Corning Hometown Christmas. Click to enlarge.

Hometown Christmas – This coming Saturday, November 22nd, kicks off the holiday season with Corning Hometown Christmas. This event draws people from all over the North State. The day starts with a pancake breakfast at 7 AM at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and you can start your Christmas shopping after breakfast. Crafter booths will be set up in the hall. There will also be a lunch of clam chowder in a bread bowl and honker potatoes served by the Senior Center starting at 11 AM. Solano Street will be closed from the Memorial Hall to 3rd Street, with more craft and food vendors along the sidewalks. There will be free carriage rides starting in front of the Corning Chamber of Commerce office, and there will also be live Christmas trees for sale. There will be fun activities for the kids, including a jump house, face painting, hair coloring, cookie walk, fun games, lollipop tree, and lots of give-away toys and candy. Santa will arrive on the fire truck at 1 PM and will be available for photos at the chamber office from 2 to 3:30 PM. You will want to check out the art exhibit of local artists at PremierWest Bank. The highlight of the day will be the Lighted Parade. It is spectacular!

The Fats of Life, I Spy, -and- Life Imitates Art

The Fats of Life - man sheds 140 pounds to join Marines
I Spy - San Francisco artist to replace eye with Web cam
Life Imitates Art - Crime novelist attacked while jogging, in scene similar to book

On this day in history: October 18, 1997 - Gary Glitter arrested in Britain on a child porn charge. Glitter had brought his computer in for repair, where contraband images were discovered.

Born on this day in history: October 18, 1968 - Owen Wilson (1968-) Born in Dallas, Texas, actor and writer Owen Wilson is known for his subdued comedic personas, and made his first feature in 1993. He went on to co-write film comedies and appear in big budget films, often with actor Ben Stiller.

Scripture of the Day: When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." — Acts 11:18

Video of the Day: Animated Aurora Borealis, from Orbit - submitted by Cap'n Jack

This is a panorama created from six photographs taken at last month's Harvest Festival. Click to enlarge.

If you enjoy panoramas, you will wish to download the free Microsoft application, Windows Live Photo Gallery. This application makes creating perfect panoramas easy! Get it now from Microsoft

Spring-like weather! The beautiful weather continues. It was in the upper 70s yesterday and is forecast to be in the low-to-mid 70s today. This Saturday, the annual Corning Hometown Christmas will take place. There will be food, craft, and entertainment throughout the day and a lighted parade at 5:30 PM.

The Good News, Heat of the Moment, -and- No Trespassing!

The Good News - anonymous donor gives $50 million to translate bible
Heat of the Moment - huge blunder discredits Gore's chief scientist
No Trespassing! - teen attacked by a cougar when she and her boyfriend illegally entered wildlife collector's home

On this day in history: November 17, 1992 - Scaremongering "journalists" at Dateline NBC falsify a demonstration involving a GM truck exploding on impact. In reality the trucks do not explode on impact, and smarmy reporters do not always tell the truth.

Born on this day in history: November 17, 1942 - Martin Scorsese (1942 - ) Born in Flushing, New York, film director, writer and producer Martin Scorsese, is considered one of the foremost directors of his generation. His many films include "Taxi Driver" (1976), "Raging Bull" (1980) and "Gangs of New York" (2002). In 2004 he received the Directors Guild of America lifetime achievement award. Scorsese won his first Academy Award for best director for the film "The Departed" (2006).

Scripture of the Day: "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!" — Zechariah 11:17

Video of the Day: Top 10 Weird Animals - submitted by Darin

A dog attacks a Nikon D3! (NOT mine!) Click to enlarge.

Laura is home, resting. She was saved by the grace of God. Nothing else can explain what the doctors deemed to be a miracle, since they felt that the quantity of blood in her system was insufficient to sustain life! I took Laura to St. Elizabeth's Hospital last Thursday. She received transfusions Thursday and Friday, and I redeemed her Friday evening. She has been resting at home since then and growing stronger and feeling better each day. She thanks all who prayed for her!

As a special dinner last evening, I prepared New York strip steaks, giant prawns, and huge baked potatoes. In the morning, I made marinades for the prawns and steaks: I marinated de-veined giant prawns (tails removed) in extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, lemon pepper, powdered wasabi, granulated garlic, and fresh cilantro. I marinated the steaks in extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and ground black pepper. I grilled the steaks and prawns over a high flame. The steaks were beautifully charred on the exterior, while the interior remained rare. The prawns' shells were charred, and the meat inside remained moist and succulent. I baked two huge Russet Burbank potatoes. At the table, we split the potatoes open and added I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, sour cream, chopped chives, ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, sea salt, ground Chile de Arbol, and ground Cayenne. Laura used teriyaki sauce as a condiment, and I enjoyed wasabi paste similarly. It was a delicious meal.

Don't Speak, Surfin' Safari, -and- Let's Go Surfin'

Don’t Speak - court tells Yuba Community College officials to halt their enforcement of rules banning a student's Christian testimony
Surfin’ Safari - TV’s merger with the Web is here
Let’s Go Surfin’ - Australian web filter to block 10,000 Internet sites

On this day in history: November 14, 1993 - Michael Jackson checks into a drug rehabilitation program in order to treat his addiction to painkillers, taken in response to media allegations that he is a homosexual pedophile. According to his publicist, Jackson was "barely able to function adequately on an intellectual level."

Born on this day in history: November 14, 1954 - Condoleezza Rice (1954 - ) Born in Birmingham, Alabama, politician and academic Condoleeza Rice became National Security Advisor to President George W Bush in 2001 and was appointed 66th Secretary of State in 2004.

Scripture of the Day: And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. — 2 Corinthians 11:14

Video of the Day: Strange Behavior of Sand – submitted by Cap’n Jack

I climbed to the top of Condor Peak last night and took this photograph of Corning. The city seems much larger from this vantage point. Click to enlarge.

Warm Weather! The temperature is forecast to be 79° through the weekend and cool to 72° on Monday! This will be wonderful grilling weather!

Laura is in Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Red Bluff. She was suffering from anemia and required a blood transfusion. I took her to the hospital yesterday—following an examination by her doctor in Chico. She has a private room with LCD TV and says the food is excellent and the care is first class. She had a transfusion yesterday and shall have another today. Hopefully, I shall be able to bring her home this afternoon. The cats miss her a good deal. I, of course, miss her greatly.

Hold Your Breath!, Crazies to the Left, -and- Extreme Makeover

Hold Your Breath! - study says California dirty air kills more than car crashes
Crazies to the Left - liberals clinically mad, concludes top psychiatrist
Extreme Makeover - cosmetic surgery addict injected cooking oil into her own face

On this day in history: November 13, 1974 - Nuclear activist Karen Silkwood's car is forced off the road into an embankment, while travelling to an interview with author and New York Times reporter David Burnham. Her files were missing from the wreck, but an FBI investigation concluded the wreck was an accident.

Born on this day in history: November 13, 1949 - Whoopi Goldberg (1949-) Born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York City, actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg has appeared in over 80 film and TV productions since 1985, and is known for groundbreaking work as an African-American woman in Hollywood, including a leading role in award-winner "The Color Purple."

Scripture of the Day: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. — Hebrews 11:13

Video of the Day: Mr. Lux: At Your Service - submitted by Danica

Imagine my surprise when I encountered this sand sculpture on the beach behind my office this morning! Someone was very busy and creative during the night! Click to enlarge.

The weather remains relatively warm (high 60s), and the wind remains relatively calm (4 - 6 mph). The sky remains clear and blue, and the birds continue to sing. If this continues, there will be grilling done this weekend.

The annual Corning Hometown Christmas will take place Saturday, November 22. This event will feature arts and craft booths, food booths, entertainment, photos with Santa, and games for children throughout the day and a lighted parade at 5:30 PM.

Fighting Back, Dog House, -and- Wired

Fighting Back - German supermarket cashier foiled three armed robbers by pelting them with cheese
Dog House - 800 small dogs seized from filthy Arizona home
Wired - IBM to help build broadband network in power lines

On this day in history: November 12, 1933 - Hugh Gray of the British Aluminium Company took five pictures of the Loch Ness Monster, the first known photos. Four the the five exposures were blank, and the remaining photo was later proven to be a hoax.

Born on this day in history: November 12, 1929 - Grace Kelly (1929 - 1982) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, film actress and Princess Grace Kelly made her film debut in 1951, achieving fame in such classics as "High Noon" (1952) and "To Catch a Thief" (1955). In 1956, she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Kelly was killed in a car accident.

Scripture of the Day: A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. — Proverbs 11:12

Video of the Day: Lazy Cat - submitted by Cindy

The Grand Marshall of Corning's Veterans Day Parade. Click to enlarge.

Harvest Festival 2008 Photographs from yesterday morning's Veterans Day parade await your viewing pleasure! From the index page for the Photo Gallery of Local Events, choose Veteran's Day Parade. You may view the images individually by clicking on them, or you may view them as a slide show by clicking on "start slide show." Enjoy!

Back Pain: I have suffered from back pain for countless years. The pain is generally kept within reasonable bounds using aspirin and ibuprofen. When I do a photo shoot, however, the pain becomes very nearly unbearable. I traditionally lean against trees and other objects in order to alleviate the pain somewhat.

When I shot the recent homecoming parade, I used a ThermaCare® HeatWrap for the first time and was amazed to find that I suffered no back pain whatever! I used a ThermaCare® HeatWrap when shooting the recent Harvest Festival. Again, there was no back pain encountered—and the shoot lasted several hours! Yesterday, I used a ThermaCare® HeatWrap while shooting the Veterans Day parade. Again, there was no back pain encountered!

I highly recommend this product to anyone who suffers from back pain! The cost is under $3 each—sold in packages of 2 wraps. They are not reusable.

Brave New Schools, That Old Black Magic, -and- Uncivil Liberties

Brave New Schools - teachers asked to pay for classroom use during tutoring
That Old Black Magic - woman sues fortune teller after paying her $13,200
Uncivil Liberties - ACLU bullies small-town festival for including Christians

On this day in history: November 11, 1988 - Seven bodies are discovered under the ground of a Sacramento California boardinghouse owned by Dorothea Puente. The batty landlord had killed nine elderlies and was receiving their social security money.

Born on this day in history: November 11, 1974 - Leonardo DiCaprio (1974– ) Born in Los Angeles, film actor Leonardo DiCaprio became known for his role in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" (1993), and an international star in "Titanic" (1997) and "Catch Me If You Can" (2002).

Scripture of the Day: In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. — 1 Corinthians 11:11

Video of the Day: Veterans Day Tribute

Today is Veterans Day! Click to enlarge.

Harvest Festival 2008 Photographs from last month's Harvest Festival 2008 at Harvest Christian Center await your viewing pleasure! From the index page for the Photo Gallery of Local Events, choose Harvest Festival, October 2008. You may view the images individually by clicking on them, or you may view them as a slide show by clicking on "start slide show." Enjoy!

For dinner last evening, we had a salad (green leaf lettuce, celery, green onions, mushrooms, and cluster tomatoes), toasted garlic bread, and trout fillets. The trout was the star of the meal. It was given us by friend and reader, Frank. I sautéed it lightly in extra-virgin olive oil, seasoned with lemon pepper and dill weed. He caught the trout—as witnessed by the photograph below! Click the photograph to visit Big Frank's Blog Spot!

Fighting Back, Polly Earns a Cracker, -and- Ride Captain Ride

Fighting Back - homeowner guns down one of three intruders
Polly Earns a Cracker - parrot saved girl's life with warning
Ride Captain Ride - lone teen sailor almost halfway around world

On this day in history: November 10, 1940 - Walt Disney begins serving as a secret informer for the Los Angeles office of the FBI, to report back information on Hollywood subversives. He was made a "Full Special Agent in Charge Contact" in 1954.

Born on this day in history: November 10, 1483 - Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) Born in Eisleben, Germany, religious reformer Martin Luther began to attack the papal system in 1517, and is credited with leading the German Reformation, which culminated in 1530. Luther’s translation of the Bible is a landmark of German literature.

Scripture of the Day: "They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their forefathers." — Jeremiah 11:10

Video of the Day: McDonald's: The Rap - submitted by Cindy

Click to enlarge.

The Weather: Saturday, the weather turned most foul indeed! Suddenly, without warning, lightning began to flash, thunder began to roar, and torrents of rain fell! It was certainly not the "slight possibility of rain" forecast by the weatherpeople! My brother came to dinner. Grilling was not an option! We had two DiGiorno Ultimate Supreme pizzas.

Sunday, the weather was beautiful! My brother came to dinner again, and we had grilled cheeseburgers and Fridays onion rings. We watched "Johnny Cash's America"—recorded a week prior on the DVR from the Biography Channel. It was easily the best biography I have ever seen produced by the Biography Channel. I remarked this, and Laura agreed. I highly recommend this to all.

Tomorrow morning at 11 AM, the Veterans Day parade will take place. The forecast is for cool (61°) but dry weather. Today is forecast to be 65° and clear. The wind that plagued us greatly Friday is, thankfully, not in residence today. Hopefully, the wind will not reappear soon.

Somebody's Watching You, Out Damned Spot!, -and- The Nose Knows

Somebody’s Watching You - nation’s street sweepers turn into spies
Out Damned Spot! - new detergent gets rid of those pesky bloodstains
The Nose Knows - odors are as unique as fingerprints

On this day in history: November 7, 1872 - The cargo ship Mary Celeste sails from New York, never reaching Genoa. Four weeks later it is found completely abandoned, whereabouts of the ten man crew unknown.

Born on this day in history: November 7, 1918 - Billy Graham (1918 - ) Born near Charlotte, North Carolina, protestant evangelist Billy Graham converted to fundamentalism at 16. In his first high-profile crusade in Los Angeles in 1949, he preached to 350,000 people. A magnetic preacher, Graham has converted millions of people, and is a national figure.

Scripture of the Day: For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. — Psalm 11:7

How William Shatner Changed the World - submitted by Amber
Video of the Day:

Gas prices have certainly fallen! Click to enlarge.

Photographs from the CUHS Homecoming Parade 2008 await your viewing pleasure. From the Photo Gallery of Local Events, choose CUHS Homecoming Parade 2008. You may view the images individually by clicking on the thumbnails, or you may view them as a slide show by choosing "Start Slide Show."

[While I slept] It was Tuesday, November 11, 2008—Veterans Day. I arrived at my office at 7 AM and began the day as usual. I had Outlook 2007 set to alert me at 10:45 AM that it was time to prepare for photographing the Veterans Day parade, which would take place on Solano Street—passing in front of my office. I intended to exit the front door of my office, walk to the edge of the sidewalk, and photograph the parade as I have done when photographing parades for the last ten years.

I continued about my day as I usually do. I completed the blog post for the day, responded to emails, read the news, prepared a quotation for a client who was scheduled to come to my office that afternoon, and listened to Sirius Satellite Radio via the Internet.

At 10:45 AM, Outlook 2007 alerted me that the parade would begin in 15 minutes. I opened my camera bag and took out my Nikon D3 and removed the lens cap and affixed the lens hood to the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. I walked to the front door, and I was unable to open the door, because someone had set up a booth directly in front of the door and sufficiently close to the door that it was not possible to open the door. The door opens outward, and in the past, it has been blocked by people who have set up booths there. When this has happened, I have successfully got the attention of these people by rapping on the glass of the door and indicating that I required use of the door. Rapping on the glass was ineffective, and the doorway remained blocked. I determined that I would exit the rear door and walk down the alley and around the corner of the block to my usual shooting position at the edge of the sidewalk in front of my office.

When I reached the back door and attempted to open it, I found it blocked by a large truck that had backed into my parking spot sufficiently close to the rear door of my office that I was unable to open it. [In reality, the rear door of my office opens inward, so it would not be possible to block it in this fashion.] I walked to the front door and rapped upon the glass once again. There was no response, and the time for the parade to begin was drawing near.

I noticed a sign on the booth that was blocking my doorway. It read, “Rita’s Carnitas” and listed a telephone number. I called the number and reached someone who apparently spoke no English. I attempted to communicate the situation, using the few Spanish words at my command, but I was unable to do so.

I walked to the rear of my office, stood on a step ladder [I have no such ladder.], and opened an entryway in the ceiling. [There is no such entryway in the ceiling.] I entered this and found myself in the area between the ceiling and roof. I located an exit to the roof, took it, and found myself on the roof of my office. I found that it was a good vantage point for photographing the parade. I saw that the parade was just beginning to form in preparation for beginning. I put my camera down and returned to my office. I took a folding chair from the storage area of my office [There are actually two such chairs there.] and returned with it to the roof. I sat in the chair and photographed the parade.

When the parade ended, I returned to my office and began downloading the photographs I had taken. At this point, I awakened.

Fighting Back, Somebody's Watching You, -and- Matters of Life and Death

Fighting Back - rape victim drives attacker to police station after he falls asleep in car
Somebody's Watching You - Internet black boxes to record every email and Web site visit
Matters of Life and Death - assisted suicide green-lighted in Washington

On this day in history: November 6, 2002 - Actress Winona Ryder found guilty of shoplifting, after she lifted $5500 in crap from Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire Boulevard. Among the merchandise she stole was a $760 sweater and $600 hair decorations. And an $80 pair of socks.

Born on this day in history: November 6, 1955 - Maria Shriver (1955-) Born in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of diplomat Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy, journalist and California First Lady (2003 - ) Maria Shriver worked in correspondent roles at CBS News from 1978 – 2003. She resigned when husband, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, became 38th Governor of California. Shriver has written several children’s books.

Scripture of the Day: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. — Hebrews 11:6

Video of the Day: 2008 Dodge Challenger Burnout - submitted by Darin

Superhero - another photograph from last Friday's Harvest Festival. Click to enlarge.

Today is beautiful! The sun is shining, the wind is low, the sky is clear, and the birds are singing! It is forecast to be in the low 70s through the weekend. I realize we need rain, but this is certainly nicer!

When I bought Ahi fillets at Sav-Mor Foods earlier in the week, I used one fillet for the salad I described in an earlier post. The other fillet remains vacuum-sealed and waiting use. I believe I shall make sushi tomorrow evening!

For dinner last evening, we enjoyed egg and bacon burritos. I cracked and beat six Eggland's Best eggs and cut 15 slices of cooked bacon into one-inch pieces and added to the eggs. I seasoned this with Tony Chachere's More Spice and cooked until fluffy and done. Laura warmed four large Mission flour tortillas. At the table, we assembled burritos—adding grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese, fresh Chiles d'Arbo, crushed red peppers, and Louisiana hot sauce. Following dinner, we attended Bible class at Harvest Christian Center.

Fighting Back, Pet Me! -and- Brave New Schools

Fighting Back - woman kills man who returned to rape her second time
Pet Me! - cat and dog owners must provide "entertainment" and "mental stimulation" for their pets under new government advice
Brave New Schools - bus driver threatened to stop on railroad tracks to quiet unruly children

On this day in history: November 5, 1979 - Ayatollah Khomeini declares the US to be "The Great Satan." In return, Time Magazine later selects the ayatollah "Man of the Year."

Born on this day in history: November 5, 1911 - Roy Rogers (1911-1998) Born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, singing cowboy Roy Rogers, with trademark horse Trigger, appeared in nearly 100 films from the 1930s through the '50s, often with second wife Dale Evans. In 1988, Rogers was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Scripture of the Day: [In response to John the Baptist's question as to whether Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus said to tell him] "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." — Matthew 11:5

Video of the Day: Boston Legal: Hired Guns Clip - submitted by Frank

This is Cookie Girl—a photograph taken at last Friday's Harvest Festival. Click to enlarge.

For dinner last evening, I made an Ahi salad. I filled a large stainless-steel bowl with spring mix assorted greens and topped with sliced red bell pepper, sliced white mushrooms, sliced cucumber, and sliced tomatoes. I pan-seared a large Ahi fillet until it was lightly charred on both sides and beautifully rare in the center. When the Ahi had cooled, I sliced it thinly and arranged the slices atop the salad. I made a dressing of extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, lemon pepper, ground black pepper, celery salt, ground ginger, granulated garlic, and lime juice. It was a delightful meal.

Bang!, Stupid Criminals -and- Eek!

Bang! - man charged with firearms offenses after shooting himself
Stupid Criminals - teen arrested breaking into police station
Eek! - scientists create life from mouse frozen for 16 years

On this day in history: November 4, 1993 - A series of fires rage in Southern California, destroying 300 very expensive homes in Malibu and 700 homes scattered elsewhere. Damage totals $500M to $1B. Half of the large fires were arson.

Born on this day in history: November 4, 1969 - Matthew McConaughey (1969-)Born on November 4, 1969, actor Matthew McConaughey grew up in the small Texas town of Uvalde. Known for his good looks and easy-going personality, McConaughey soon achieved leading man status with "A Time to Kill" (1996). Sometimes compared to Paul Newman, McConaughey has received praise for his on-screen charisma.

Scripture of the Day: Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. — Proverbs 11:4

Video of the Day: By the Way, I'm Voting for McCain/Palin

He needs help! Click to enlarge.

VOTE! Be certain to vote!

If you are a Republican, vote today!

If you are a Democrat, vote tomorrow!

Recommended Site: My friend and reader, Chris told me of a new browser interface. I installed it and found it to be awesome! Cooliris will make your computer look like the futuristic computers on "CSI Miami"! Try it. You will like it! Cooliris creates a "cinematic" environment for browsing the Web.

Death Takes a Holiday, Armed and Dangerous -and- Family Feud

Death Takes a Holiday - Miami has first murder-free month since 1966
Armed and Dangerous - teen girl sues police for ruthless interrogation
Family Feud - man sues to evict his 88-year-old mother

On this day in history: November 3, 1913 - Income tax law signed.

Born on this day in history: November 3, 1952 - Roseanne Barr (1952– ) Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, comedian and producer Roseanne Barr began in stand-up comedy in the 1980s, and is best known for her realistic TV sitcom "Roseanne" (1988?97). She has written two autobiographical books.

Scripture of the Day: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. — Hebrews 11:3

Video of the Day: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for John McCain

Selfish! Click to enlarge.

The Weather: I prayed for a respite from the rain for Friday evening, so that the Harvest Festival at Harvest Christian Center could be enjoyed by thousands of local youth. My prayer was answered! It rained earlier in the day, and there was a light sprinkling late in the afternoon, but the rain abated completely during the festival, there was no wind, and the temperature was pleasant. 18 gallons of chili was enjoyed—along with hot chocolate, several hundred cookies, popcorn, and an incredible quantity of candy. It was a wonderful event. I shall have a slide show available for viewing soon and will alert readers when this is ready.

Saturday was extremely wet and uninviting. I made Barilla thick spaghetti with Italian sausage, mushrooms, and Classico marinara sauce. I also made garlic toast. My brother came to dinner.

Sunday, the sun returned, and it was sufficiently warm that I was able to open several doors and windows. The cats thoroughly enjoyed lounging by the open front door, relaxing and sniffing at the great outdoors.

My brother came to dinner Sunday. Most likely, he shall be returning to Southern California Tuesday or Wednesday. I marinated three large, thick New York strip steaks in extra-virgin olive oil, granulated garlic, lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, and Merlot. I marinated huge prawns (deveined, tails removed) in extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, granulated garlic, lemon pepper, ground ginger, lime juice, and powdered wasabi. I grilled the steaks and prawns over a very high flame—charring the steaks nicely on the outside, while leaving the center nice and rare. The prawns were succulent and wonderful, not unlike small lobster tails. Laura baked a quantity of steak fries in the conventional oven. It was a delightful meal.

VOTE! If you have not already voted (Laura and I have. We vote absentee always.) do not neglect voting tomorrow! It is important that you exercise your right to vote—unless, of course, you intend not to vote for John McCain. In this case, it would be best that you stay home!