Monday, November 30, 2009

On the Job, VIctor/Victoria, -and- Heat of the Moment


On the Job - waitress celebrates 90th birthday at restaurant where she's worked for 70 years
Victor/Victoria - woman finds long-lost dad, but he's now a she
Heat of the Moment - climate-change scientists admit dumping data

On this day in history: November 30, 1954 - At 1 pm, an 8.5 pound stone meteorite falls from the sky and strikes Elizabeth Hulitt Hodge from Sylacauga, Alabama. The housewife was seriously bruised but survived.

Born on this day in history: November 30, 1835 - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri, writer Mark Twain established his reputation as a humorist with The Innocents Abroad (1869). His later works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), drawn from boyhood experiences, are considered world classics.

Scripture of the Day: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. - Proverbs 31:30

Video of the Day: Funny Kitty Thanksgiving 2009 - submitted by Cindy





Laura took these photographs of our Thanksgiving meal with her iPhone. We roasted a turkey breast, herbed red potatoes, and hot Italian sausage dressing on the Weber grill. Click to enlarge.













Technology News
Pub fined 13K for Wi-Fi copyright infringement
Why to embrace Firefox 3.6's new tab ethos
Five tips for Web shopping

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Never Too Young, Heat of the Moment, -and- Short People


Never Too Young - 4-year-old attacked teachers, expelled from school
Heat of the Moment - Senator Inhofe calls for Congressional investigation of global-warming "fraud"
Short People - 3-foot-6 man has trouble reaching parking meters

On this day in history: November 25, 1867 - Patent granted to Alfred Nobel for dynamite.

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: The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? — Psalm 27:1

Video of the Day: How to De-bone a Turkey - submitted by Darin








Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene at Walmart this morning while on the way to my office! Click to enlarge.






Happy Thanksgiving! If the current weather forecasts prove to be correct, we shall enjoy beautiful weather here tomorrow. Earlier forecasts called for rain on Thanksgiving day, but the rain is now predicted to arrive on Friday.

Laura and I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. We shall be enjoying a small gathering for Thanksgiving—just the two of us and our cats, Zeus and Thor. We shall have a festive time. We shall have New York strip steaks and eggs for breakfast. The Thanksgiving meal will be turkey breast, stuffing (made with hot Italian sausage, cubed and toasted sourdough bread, mushrooms, white onions, garlic, celery, Jalapeño peppers, seasonings, and chicken stock), mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and champagne. I shall be pleased, should current weather forecasts hold—in particular, since I intend to roast the turkey breast on our Weber grill. I also intend to do the final cooking of the stuffing on the Weber.

Many of you will be traveling to enjoy Thanksgiving with relatives and friends. Please drive with great caution and return safely!

There will be no blog post Thursday or Friday. Enjoy!


Here is a photograph from last year's Thanksgiving meal. Click to enlarge.




Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Gnarly Dude!, The Locator, -and- I'll Be Back!


Gnarly Dude! - surfers ride into record book with 110 on same wave
The Locator - man traces father, learns he is Charles Manson
I'll Be Back! - Schwarzenneger caught parking Porsche in red zone

On this day in history: November 24, 1971 - D.B. Cooper hijacks a Northwest Orient 727 and parachutes into the freezing rain over Washington state from the rear stairway of the plane with $200,000 in cash. Rotting currency from the ransom is eventually located, but his rotting body isn't.

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: If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. - Psalm
37:23-24

Video of the Day: How to Make a Turducken - submitted by Darin





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this Walmart shopper while passing through Walmart on the way to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 I began using Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 yesterday. It is an excellent product, with many enhancements and new features. I recommend it highly!

The Weather The weather promises to be pleasant today: The low during darktime was 40°, and the forecast high is 70°. There is but a slight breeze. It is sunny, and the sky is clear. Hopefully, this weather will continue through Thanksgiving. It would be wonderful to have pleasant weather—in particular, since I shall be grilling a turkey breast. I also intend to complete the cooking of the dressing on the Weber grill.

Technology News
Walmart's Black Friday ad leaked
Another worm strikes jailbroken iPhones
Hulu adds tagging for movies, TV shows

Monday, November 23, 2009

A Match Made in Cyberspace, Matters of Life and Death, -and- To Protect and Serve


A Match Made in Cyberspace - man marries virtual girlfriend--with public reception
Matters of Life and Death - Rep. Kennedy banned from Communion
To Protect and Serve - cop fired for demanding free ice cream

On this day in history: November 23, 1910 - English murderer Hawley Crippen hanged, after he was caught aboard the SS Montrose attempting to escape to Britain. It was the first use of radio for the apprehension of a criminal.

Born on this day in history: November 23, 1888 - Harpo Marx (1888 - 1964) Born Adolph Arthur Marx in New York City, comedian and actor Harpo Marx, with brothers, Leonard (Chico), Julius (Groucho), Milton (Gummo) and Herbert (Zeppo), developed the successful Marx Brothers comedy act on stage and for films. Harpo became a gifted mime, never speaking professionally.

Scripture of the Day: Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. - Psalm 31:23-24

Video of the Day:

How to Cook Turkey in a Crock Pot, New Mexico Style - submitted by Danica



This is what our cats crave! They leap upon the dining room table and impatiently await their kitty treats each morning and evening. They are very spoiled cats! Of course, we feel that they deserve being spoiled. Click to enlarge.






The Weather The weather was graciously warm and sunny Saturday. Hometown Christmas was successful. Rain had been forecast for Saturday, but it was a beautiful day! I shall share some photographs of the event soon.

Technology News
Roku adds Flicker, Facebook, Pandora, and more video channels
Three charged in worldwide ATM attacks
Twitter adds geotagging feature

Friday, November 20, 2009

Fighting Back, No Service, -and- Higher Education


Fighting Back - store greeter foils shoplifter
No Service - couple busted for refusing to pay tip
Higher Education - UCLA tuition increased 32%

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 - ) 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.

Scripture of the Day: When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. — Psalm 94:19

Video of the Day: MacBook Air Ad (Parody) - submitted by Cindy





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while passing through Walmart on the way to my office! Click to enlarge.






The Weather The weather reports have changed so often during the week that one is left with great uncertainty regarding what sort of weather Hometown Christmas will encounter. Early this week, most forecasts predicted rain on Wednesday, heavy rain on Friday, and sunshine on Saturday. Yesterday, forecasters predicted heavy rain beginning Friday and lasting into next week. A major storm was predicted. The forecast for Saturday turned from sunshine to rain. This morning, forecasts call for rain late this morning and again this evening and sunshine and clear skies Saturday through next Thursday. I shall arise in the morning and peer outside. I will then be able to predict the weather with some degree of accuracy!

Hometown Christmas Corning's annual Hometown Christmas will take place Saturday, November 21—featuring Downtown Corning food vendors, craft vendors, live Nativity scene, pictures with Santa, and a lighted parade.





Technology News
Air Canada tests in-flight Wi-Fi
Dell earnings down 54%
Town to photograph every car that enters and leaves

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Fighting Back, Armed and Dangerous, -and- Alien Nation


Fighting Back - feisty 5-year-old girl confronts knife-wielding burglar
Armed and Dangerous - police use taser on unruly 10-year-old girl in her home
Alien Nation - Church of Scientology accused of torture and forced abortions

On this day in history: November 19, 1703 - The Man in the Iron Mask dies in the Bastille. He was a prisoner of Louis XIV, forced to wear a black velvet mask, and his identity has never been revealed.

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: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. - Romans 14:19

Video of the Day: 1978 Atari Commercial - submitted by Cap'n Jack





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while passing the airport on the way to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.








Hometown Christmas Corning's annual Hometown Christmas will take place Saturday, November 21—featuring Downtown Corning food vendors, craft vendors, live Nativity scene, pictures with Santa, and a lighted parade.





Technology News
Microsoft unveils Silverlight 4 Beta
Microsoft releases Office 2010 for Windows Mobile
Firefox edges toward 3.6 with another beta
Microsoft releases Sharepoint, Office 2010 betas
Microsoft provides early look at Internet Explorer 9

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

StopThief!, How Was Your Trip?. -and- Victor/Victoria


Stop Thief! - man with $600 on him arrested for stealing pencil
How Was Your Trip? - Customs agents find woman hiding in luggage
Victor/Victoria - Tampa city council votes to opens women's restroom doors to men

On this day in history: November 18, 1978 - Congressman Leo Ryan is slain at the People's Temple compound in Guyana, after which over 900 members of the cult led by the Reverend Jim Jones drank cyanide laced Flavor Aid (a Kool Aid knockoff).

Born on this day in history: November 18, 1968 - Owen Wilson (1968 - ) Born in Dallas, Texas, actor and writer Owen Wilson is known for his subdued comedic personae, 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: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - 2 Peter 3:18

Video of the Day: Domino World Record 2009 - submitted by Amber





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while journeying to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Life at Home Laura has the cold from which I suffered over the weekend. She came home early from work yesterday and is staying home today. She was reading Piercing the Darkness [Piercing the Darkness, which was published in 1988, is a sequel to Frank E. Peretti's novel This Present Darkness. It shows contemporary views on angels, demons, prayer and the spiritual realm. Piercing the Darkness won the ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award for best fiction in 1990. The book, along with This Present Darkness, has been instrumental in promoting belief among Christians in Territorial Spirits. They have also increased an interest spiritual warfare.] when I arrived home after a grueling day of IT work, scoring worship songs, and working crossword puzzles. I watched an episode of "Chuck" while Laura read. I realize the show is silly, but I really enjoy it! I made a festive dinner of pan-seared New York strip steaks and sautéed mushrooms, red bell pepper, and zucchini. We went abed early. I awoke at 4 AM, feeling that I had enjoyed all the sleep due me. I collected the links for today's blog post, read various online news resources, and enjoyed another episode of "Chuck." Did I mention that I really enjoy that show?

Correction I was mistaken, apparently. Laura is currently reading This Present Darkness.


Hometown Christmas Corning's annual Hometown Christmas will take place Saturday, November 21—featuring Downtown Corning food vendors, craft vendors, live Nativity scene, pictures with Santa, and a lighted parade.





Technology News
Pirate Bay shutting down; are torrents dead?
"YouTube Direct" designed for citizen reporters
T-Mobile says workers sold customer data
The eight most brainless tech rumors

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Don't Make Waves!, Jaws of Death, -and- Mow It Down!


Don't Make Waves! - row boat arrives at Golden Gate, from Japan
Jaws of Death - surfer girl survives shark attack
Mow It Down! - fines for too-tall grass could reach $1,000 per day in Florida city

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: The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you
with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17

Video of the Day: Sumo Wrestler vs. Monkey - submitted by Danica





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office! Click to enlarge.






The First Frost of the Season! This morning, I encountered a thin patina of rime on Mr. Nitro's windshield. This was quickly removed with a spray and two wipes of the windshield wiper. It was, however, an ominous portend! Cold weather is here!

Hometown Christmas Corning's annual Hometown Christmas will take place Saturday, November 21—featuring Downtown Corning food vendors, craft vendors, live Nativity scene, pictures with Santa, and a lighted parade.





Technology News
Apple patent could embed ads in OS
Google now translates on the fly
Windows 7 cracking tools unearthed
Droid launch sales soar
FAQ: Recognizing phishing emails
Report: Countries prepping for cyberwar

Monday, November 16, 2009

Her Cheatin' Heart, Late Fee, -and- The Nose Knows


Her Cheatin' Heart - police seek blogger who exposed unfaithful wives online
Late Fee - library books returned after 50 years
The Nose Knows - Common cold may hold off swine flu

On this day in history: November 16, 1906 - Opera star Enrico Caruso is charged with an indecent act committed in the monkey house of New York's Central Park Zoo. He pinched the bottom of a woman described as "pretty and plump," causing outrage amongst New York high society. Caruso claimed a monkey pinched the lady's bottom.

Born on this day in history: November 16, 1873 - W.C. Handy (1873 - 1958) Born in Florence, Alabama, blues composer W. C. Handy began as a cornet player in a minstrel show, then formed a band and a publishing company. Despite being blind, he was the first to introduce the blues style to printed music.

Scripture of the Day: Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Video of the Day: Deer Door - submitted by Danica





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Hometown Christmas Corning's annual Hometown Christmas will take place Saturday, November 21—featuring Downtown Corning food vendors, craft vendors, live Nativity scene, pictures with Santa, and a lighted parade.





Technology News
Windows 7 hole was not a "zero-day exploit"
YouTube adds 1080p video
Man allegedly steals bus, posts video on YouTube

Friday, November 13, 2009

Amen!, Weapons of Choice, -and- Quack!


Amen! - army veteran saved by bible from Salvation Army
Weapons of Choice - ex-soldier faces jail for handing in gun
Quack! - mom caught feeding ducks fined for littering

On this day in history: November 13, 1805 - Johann Georg Lehner invents the hot dog.

Born on this day in history: November 13, 1955 - Whoopi Goldberg (1955 - ) 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: Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. - Romans 14:13

Video of the Day: 2009 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Highlights





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






"Fringe" We did not watch "Fringe" last evening. Laura and I were otherwise occupied:


I practiced worship songs,




and Laura played Zombie Pizza.




Tonight, however, we shall watch a few episodes. I have Season 1—Episodes 11 through 20—in queue, awaiting our viewing.

Technology News
Apple fixes holes with Safari 4.0.4
Google adds "lock"
feature to SafeSearch

Office 2010 beta leaks early

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Test of Faith, Brave New Schools, -and- Achoo!


Test of Faith - federal judge rules Christian license plates unconstitutional
Brave New Schools - principal defends cash-for-grades fundraiser
Achoo! - doctors baffled by girl who sneezes 12,000 times a day

On this day in history: November 12, 1933 - Hugh Gray of the British Aluminum 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, but tragedy struck when she killed in a car accident.

Scripture of the Day: May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. - 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Video of the Day: Girl Sucked into Car Blower - submitted by Jay





Veterans Day Parade The rain that had been forecast earlier for yesterday did not arrive. This allowed the annual Veterans Day parade to take place as planned. While the sky was overcast and the day was cold and dreary, at least it was dry! It is unfortunate that the sunshine and warmth we are enjoying today was not available yesterday. Today promises to be a beautiful day.

Here are a few photographs from yesterday's Veterans Day parade. Click to enlarge.


























Technology News
Hacker tool steals personal information from iPhones
Mozilla releases Firefox 3.6 Beta 2
Windows Live gets even more social
Microsoft probing Windows 7 zero-day hole
Facebook status update saves man from jail

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

E.T. Phone Rome, Matters of Life and Death, -and- Prison Break


E.T. Phone Rome! - Vatican seeks signs of alien life
Matters of Life and Death - judge rejects Planned Parenthood injunction request
Prison Break - inmate uses flip-flop to unlock cell, escape

On this day in history: November 11, 1938 - Armistice Day declared a U.S. national holiday

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: Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. - Romans 14:1

Video of the Day: Veterans Day 2009





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






"Fringe" Laura remarked last evening that we would watch but one episode of "Fringe" after dinner. I told her that I would accept her decision, in this regard. I slow-cooked a pork loin roast, white potatoes, carrots, white onion, and mushrooms in a covered casserole dish in the microwave oven. I seasoned the meat and vegetables with Pappy's seasoning, Red Monkey Habanera Mango rub, granulated garlic, ground black pepper, dried parsley, dried basil, and celery salt. I cooked this on power level 3 for 75 minutes. It was delightful. We then watched an episode of "Fringe." Laura declared it was yet early and said we should watch another episode. I agreed. Following the viewing of the second episode, Laura declared that we should watch "just one more," and I agreed!

Veterans Day Parade The forecasts for today have changed dramatically over the past several days. Currently, it is dry, and forecasts call for only a "slight chance of rain" in the early morning and late afternoon. The parade will begin at 11 AM. Hopefully, it will be dry at that time!

Veterans DayThe first Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, marked the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I, what many proclaimed, with an optimism that turned out to be wildly misplaced, "the war to end all wars." It became a U.S. national holiday in 1938, and in 1954 was renamed Veterans Day to honor all veterans. There are currently 23.2 million veterans, down from a peak of 28.6 million in 1980.

Technology News
Hackers take over hundreds of Facebook groups
Microsoft upgrades Bing Maps
Will Craigslist drive scalpers out of business?
Create audio messages from song samples
Windows 7 use continues to climb
Microsoft patches critical hole in Windows kernel

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Fighting Back, Stupid Criminals, -and- Don't Drink That!


Fighting Back - working mom takes down meth ring
Stupid Criminals - man holds up bank with banana, leaves his wallet behind
Don't Drink That! - beer that survived Hindenburg to sell for $8300

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. We should note that Disney was an atheist and thus subversive in his own little way.

Born on this day in history: November 10, 1932 - Roy Scheider (1932 - 2008) Born in Orange, New Jersey, Roy Scheider began his career as a boxer and a military man before becoming a stage actor. In 1971, he got his big break in The French Connection, for which he earned an Academy Award nod. But his best-known role came in 1975 with Steven Spielberg's film Jaws.

Scripture of the Day: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

Video of the Day: New Jersey Cop Assaults TV Cameraman - submitted by Cap'n Jack





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.





Veterans Day Parade Hopefully, the unexpected rain storm that visited us last evening was the rain that had been forecast for Wednesday morning. If so, we may have dry weather for tomorrow's Veterans Day parade. Current forecasts indicate that more rain is due Thursday, but the forecast for tomorrow is currently more promising.

"Fringe" We watched two episodes of "Fringe" last evening. It is excellent how Warner Bros. queues the episodes chronologically and plays them automatically. I simply pause play at the end of an episode, leave the site open in a Firefox tab, and resume play when next we are ready to watch another episode (or two). I like that.

Technology News

Apple patches 53 holes in massive Mac OS X update
Nokia recalls 14 million AC adapters
Google will not give Clearwire more financing
Apple TV users warned about disappearing content
Initial Motorola Droid sales look good

Monday, November 09, 2009

Fighting Back, License to Drive, -and- Animal House


Fighting Back - 9-year-old boy thwarts carjacker
License to Drive - woman finally passes exam on 950th attempt
Animal House - students arrested after food fight

On this day in history: November 9, 1997 - Michael Paul Lookinland, aka "Bobby" from the Brady Bunch, charged with drunk driving in St. George, Utah. With a BAL of 0.258, the 36 year old former child star was very drunk.

Born on this day in history: November 9, 1922 - Dorothy Dandridge (1922 - 1965) Born in Cleveland, Ohio, singer and actress Dorothy Dandridge won the leading role in 1954's Carmen Jones, making her the first African-American to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She also starred in 1959's Porgy and Bess, opposite Sidney Poitier. Owing to racism, she had trouble finding other roles, suffered a nervous breakdown, and died of an apparent suicide.

Scripture of the Day: Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. - Proverbs 3:9

Video of the Day: Chuck Norris Pushing the Earth Down - submitted by Danica





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Worship Service Sunday, I performed with the worship team at Harvest Christian Center for the first time. I was truly wonderful, playing my guitar and worshiping the Lord. I am eager for next Sunday's worship!

"Fringe" I have been telling Laura how much I have been enjoying watching episodes of "Fringe" on Hulu and Warner Bros. Yesterday, I convinced her to watch the pilot. She was hooked! We watched several episodes prior to going abed.

Veterans Day Parade The annual Veterans Day Parade is scheduled for Wednesday at 11 AM. Hopefully, the weather reports that currently indicate rain will change prior to the event! Earlier this morning, the reports showed rain for Wednesday and Thursday. Currently, the forecasts show only Wednesday being wet. Time will tell!

Technology News
Five ways to improve your Motorola Droid's features
Slacker, Photoshop.com join Android apps parade
Rickrolling iPhone worm is never gonna give you up

Friday, November 06, 2009

When Beauty Queens Attack, Jaws of Death, -and- Surf's Up!


When Beauty Queens Attack - Miss England relinquishes crown after bar fight
Jaws of Death - great whites near shore more often than believed
Surf's Up! - China bans physical punishment for Internet addicts

On this day in history: November 6, 1988 - Beatle/boozehound Ringo Starr checks into an alcohol rehabilitation center. While many consider Ringo the least talented Beatle, he has shown exceptional acting ability in his "Atouk zug zug Lana" role (Caveman, 1981).

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: So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" - Hebrews 13:6

Video of the Day: McDonald's Commercial - submitted by Cap'n Jack





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Let Us Worship! Last evening, I participated in worship rehearsal at Harvest Christian Center. Sunday, I shall perform with the worship team for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed last evening's rehearsal, and I am very enthusiastic about Sunday's worship! It has been many years since I have performed on stage, and I am very excited that my return to public performance will be in the form of worship offered to our Lord! Laura accompanied me last evening and took these photographs with her iPhone:













Technology News
Microsoft: Only six patches next week
Midnight Droid madness in Manhattan
Near-final Thunderbird 3 due next week

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Starring Roles, Law of the Land, -and- Stupid Criminals


Starring Roles - 43 show-stealing cars
Law of the Land - judge says man can sue store he robbed
Stupid Criminals - man stabs himself to keep job at Blockbuster

On this day in history: November 5, 1975 - Logger Travis Walton is abducted by aliens near Snowflake, Arizona and is missing for five days. Aliens performed "various experiments" on the abductee. Needless to say, Walton finds the experience immensely lucrative as his experiences are chronicled in the mediocre book Fire in the Sky and a very bad film by Paramount.

Born on this day in history: November 5, 1913 - Vivien Leigh (1913 - 1967) Born in Darjeeling, India, British actress Vivien Leigh achieved motion picture immortality by playing two of American literature's most celebrated Southern belles: Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois. Her leading lady performances led to two Academy Awards and a lengthy career as a dramatic performer.

Scripture of the Day: If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin... - Romans 6:5-6

Video of the Day: Kenwood Commercial





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Veterans Day Parade There will be a Veterans Day Parade at 11 AM Wednesday, November 11. The parade will begin at City Hall and end at the Veterans Memorial Hall. There will be a hamburger and hot dog lunch after the parade at 11:30 at the hall for $6.00.

The Weather Forecasts made yesterday called for rain today and heavy rain tomorrow. Earlier this morning, these forecasts were amended to a slight chance of light rain this morning and the same for tomorrow. It was sunny and beautiful at 7 AM. Now,less than an hour later, the sky is very overcast, the sun has disappeared behind dense clouds, and what weather we shall encounter today and tomorrow appears very uncertain.

Technology News
Tethering plan coming for the Droid
Buying the right Windows 7 upgrade
Mozilla: Firefox 3.6 won't be late

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Stupid Criminals, Merry Christmas!, -and- The Nays Have It!


Stupid Criminals - woman calls 911 to report herself as drunk driver
Merry Christmas! - CA teacher petitions for ballot issue: Christmas carols to be required in public schools
The Nays Have It! - Maine voters reject same-sex marriage

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: We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. - 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Video of the Day: BlondeStar - submitted by Amber





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene at a client's while on the way to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Food For dinner last night, we had tacos. I made the meat filling for the tacos by browning 1.5 pounds of ground sirloin, draining, and adding a package of taco seasoning, a cup of water, Gebhardt's chili powder, Pappy's seasoning, ground Cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, and Crystal Extra-hot Pure Louisiana Hot Sauce. This simmered for 30 minutes. It made a wonderful base for the tacos. There was a quantity of this remaining following our taco feasting, so this morning I made breakfast burritos: I heated the meat mixture in a small sauté pan and tossed in two eggs. I stirred the meat and eggs until the eggs were fully cooked. I spooned this into flour tortillas, atop pepperjack cheese that I had placed on the tortillas. I folded in the bottoms and rolled the tortillas tightly. Laura's burrito followed her to Chico, and mine followed me to my office. The burritos were indescribably delicious.

Technology News
Head to Head: Google Chrome 4 Beta vs. Firefox 3.6 Beta
Best Buy to deliver streaming movies via CinemaNow
Sony's slick Android phone recognizes your friends
Man charged with running modem-hacking business
Verizon's Droid data plan cheaper than you think
Hacker breaks into jailbroken iPhones, asks for $7

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Fatal Attraction, Surf's Down!, -and- Don't Touch That!


Fatal Attraction - man says he's allergic to his wife
Surf's Down! - experts say Web could run out of addresses next year
Don't Touch That! - man accidentally ejects while flying in jet

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

Born on this day in history: November 3, 1948 - Anna Wintour (1949 - ) Born in London, England, Anna Wintour became an international fashion icon as editor-in-chief of the highly influential "Vogue" magazine. She is known for her oversized dark glasses, sharp bob hairstyle, and icy demeanor. In 2009, the documentary "September Issue," was made about Wintour and the largest issue of the "Vogue" published.

Scripture of the Day: For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:3-4

Video of the Day: Lazy Cat on a Treadmill - submitted by Cap'n Jack





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene at a local park while driving to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.






Technology News
Firefox gains Windows 7 features
Disinfections drop in Microsoft anti-malware report
Hulu adds episode release schedule

Monday, November 02, 2009

Sir Have You Been Drinking?, Just Say No, -and- The Deep


Sir Have You Been Drinking? - California cops crack down on drunk biking
Just Say No - mayor refuses to judge evil Halloween event
The Deep - Japanese fishing trawler sunk by giant jellyfish

On this day in history: November 2, 1988 - The Internet Worm is released by Cornell grad student Robert Morris. His ingenious program was meant to explore the Internet harmlessly, but due to a bug, it crashed some 6,000 computers. Spaf parlays the incident into a career.

Born on this day in history: November 2, 1755 - Marie Antoinette (1755 - 1793) Born in Vienna, Austria, Queen of France Marie Antoinette married the Dauphin, afterward Louis XVI. At the outbreak of the French Revolution, she helped alienate the monarchy from the people. After the king's execution, she was guillotined.

Scripture of the Day: I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." - Psalm 91:2

Video of the Day: Lolo Jones - Extreme Press-Ups Challenge - submitted by Darin





Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while passing through Walmart on the way to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.





Harvest Festival Saturday evening, Harvest Christian Center sponsored the 15th annual Harvest Festival. The weather was incredibly warm and pleasant, the attendance was great (estimated in excess of 1,600 people!), and the event was a major success. Previous Harvest Festivals have been held on the church campus, but the event has grown so large that this year, it was moved to Northside Park. Several other local churches and organizations joined Harvest Christian Center to make the event a great success. I photographed this event and will soon produce a slide show from these photographs. I shall post a few images here tomorrow as a preview of the slide show.

"Fringe" Over the weekend, I watched 12 episodes of "Fringe." One might easily imagine that this would cause me to sleep fitfully and dream of encounters with bizarre creatures. I slept soundly and enjoyed pleasant dreams, actually.

Firefox 3.6 Beta 1 The first beta of Firefox 3.6 is available for downloading. You can access this download from the link withing the first Technology News article below. I have been using it and find it to be very stable. It has many significant enhancements that are certain to appeal to users. Read the article for details.

Technology News
Mozilla releases first beta of Firefox 3.6
Best Buy, Verizon brace for massive Droid demand
Bing's new mobile site wants to be touched
Miley Cyrus: Twitter should be banned