Over the Limit, Surf's Up, -and- Fast Food, Fast

Over the Limit - drunk man found in engine of Indian Airlines Airbus
Surf's Up - study finds Internet more important than television
Fast Food, Fast - McDonald's customer crawls through drive-through for fish sandwich

On this day in history: March 31, 1991 - Danny Bonaduce arrested for assault after he fought with a transvestite prostitute. No contest, 750 hours community service.

Born on this day in history: March 31, 1943 - Christopher Walken (1943 - ) New York City actor Christopher Walken made his Broadway debut at age 16. In 1978, he won an Oscar for the film The Deer Hunter and in 2002 he was awarded a Screen Actor's Guild award for the movie Catch Me If You Can. Walken has also gained a cult following for his many appearances on "Saturday Night Live."

Scripture of the Day: He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:5-6

Video of the Day: Toronto Zombie Walk 2006 - submitted by Amber

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

Technology News
Apple fixes 23 iTunes, QuickTime vulnerabilities
Microsoft's emergency IE update fixes 10 vulnerabilities
Last version of Firefox 3.0 released

Photography Contest

Voting: Several have voiced the idea that they would prefer to have the voting be for photographers, rather than for photographs. It is a concept that I had considered myself when considering the submissions that have already been made—well ahead of the official start of the contest, April 1st.

If this methodology of voting were to be adopted, one would vote for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place by the numbers assigned to the submissions. In that way, photographers would be judged on the merit of their submissions. I would assign numbers to photographs submitted by the same photographer, and one would vote for "photographer 3 or photographer 9," etc.

I invite comments regarding voting in this manner. Please email me and tell me whether you would prefer to vote for photographers or individual photographs. Use this link to email me. If you prefer,
you may simply state your preference as a comment.

All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

To submit entries, please send them to me as email attachments. You may use the email link below to initiate an email message to me. Simply attach the images you wish to enter to your message.

Email Photographs

Please feel free to edit, crop, and enhance the entries as you wish. You may submit the entries in any resolution.

Photography Contest Gallery.

Animal Kingdom, Ferris Bueller, -and- Stupid Criminals

Animal Kingdom - Monkeys taking over as London Zoo allows visitors and primates to interact
Ferris Bueller - hotel staffer calls in fake bomb threat for day off
Stupid Criminals - man fleeing Ohio police jumps fence, lands in prison yard

On this day in history: March 30, 1995 - A police officer who was also a member of the Aum Supreme Truth cult fires three shots into Takaji Kunimatsu, chief of Japan's National Police Agency. Takaji is seriously wounded but survives. Investigators try unsuccessfully to hide the fact that the gunman was a police officer.

Born on this day in history: March 30, 1945 - Eric Clapton (1945 - ) British rock musician who is arguably one of the most influential guitarists of our time. Clapton's career spans decades as a major singer-songwriter and he has persevered through great personal hardships and tragedies. He's the only triple inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo artist).

Scripture of the Day: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and he carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. — Isaiah 53:3-4

Video of the Day: Night of the Zombie - submitted by Cap'n Jack

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

Technology News
Apps to curb texting while driving multiply
4 times you should just say, "No" to a deal
Engineer breaks Rock Band 2 world record
Microsoft rushes to patch zero-day IE hole
AT&T's U-verse gets 24Mbps downloads

Photography Contest

Voting: Several have voiced the idea that they would prefer to have the voting be for photographers, rather than for photographs. It is a concept that I had considered myself when considering the submissions that have already been made—well ahead of the official start of the contest, April 1st.

If this methodology of voting were to be adopted, one would vote for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place by the numbers assigned to the submissions. In that way, photographers would be judged on the merit of their submissions. I would assign numbers to photographs submitted by the same photographer, and one would vote for "photographer 3 or photographer 9," etc.

I invite comments regarding voting in this manner. Please email me and tell me whether you would prefer to vote for photographers or individual photographs. Use this link to email me. If you prefer, you may simply state your preference as a comment.

All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

To submit entries, please send them to me as email attachments. You may use the email link below to initiate an email message to me. Simply attach the images you wish to enter to your message.

Email Photographs

Please feel free to edit, crop, and enhance the entries as you wish. You may submit the entries in any resolution.

Photography Contest Gallery.

Heroes, Over the Limit, -and- Animal Kingdom

Heroes - nanny saves 5-year-old from burning home
Over the Limit - PA man arrested after he gives mouth-to-mouth to dead possum
Animal Kingdom - dog that bit police car must attend classes

On this day in history: March 29, 1951 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are both convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage.

Born on this day in history: March 29, 1976 - Jennifer Capriati (1976 - ) Tennis player Jennifer Capriati was a phenomenon at age 13, winning a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Personal problems resulted in an extended break from tennis in 1994 but in 2001, she served up one of the greatest comeback stories in sports as she won her first Grand Slam singles titles, the Australian Open and the French Open.

Scripture of the Day: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. — 2 Corinthians 5:21

Video of the Day: Pizza Zombies - submitted by Danica

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

Technology News
The strangest product of CTIA: Eye-controlled earphones
Google moves toward fiber network locale
LA newsman accused of Google leak

Photography Contest
All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

To submit entries, please send them to me as email attachments. You may use the email link below to initiate an email message to me. Simply attach the images you wish to enter to your message.

Email Photographs

Please feel free to edit, crop, and enhance the entries as you wish. You may submit the entries in any resolution.

Photography Contest Gallery.

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Brew!
For the full story (and an excellent video!), go to:
Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary

Walk Right In, Heat of the Moment, -and- Weapons of Choice

Walk Right In - cops in N.J. town given keys to houses
Heat of the Moment - killer icicles terrorize Russians
Weapons of Choice - Department of Education buying dozens of 12-gauge shotguns

On this day in history: March 26, 1830 - Joseph Smith publishes The Book of Mormon, after translating it from golden plates turned over by the angel Moroni. Smith maintained that the text contained in the tablets were written in "Reformed Egyptian" which he read by means of two magic stones from the Old Testament, the Urim and Thummim.

Born on this day in history: March 26, 1948 - Steven Tyler (1948 - ) Born in Yonkers, New York, musician Steve Tyler co-founded rock band Aerosmith in the 1970s. The group's first five albums went multi-platinum, and produced hits such as "Crazy," "Love in an Elevator" and "Don't Want to Miss a Thing." In 2009, after more than 30 years with the group, Tyler left to pursue solo ventures.

Scripture of the Day: For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. - Philippians 1:29

Video of the Day: Time-lapse Zombie Makeup- submitted by Danica

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

Technology News
Vaporware no more: JooJoo begins shipping
T.J. Maxx hacker gets 20 years in prison
Time Warner offers free Wi-Fi in NYC

Photography Contest
All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

To submit entries, please send them to me as email attachments. You may use the email link below to initiate an email message to me. Simply attach the images you wish to enter to your message.

Email Photographs

Please feel free to edit, crop, and enhance the entries as you wish. You may submit the entries in any resolution.

Photography Contest Gallery.

Weapons of Choice, Stupid Criminals, -and- Hic!

Weapons of Choice - Arizona: no permit, no problem
Stupid Criminals - robbers called ahead for take-out cash
Hic! - Southern California teacher arrested for allegedl drunken teaching

On this day in history: March 25, 1967 - As part of Operation Green Mist, the U.S. Army detonates explosive warheads containing the deadly sarin nerve agent at Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve on the big island of Hawaii. The open-air tests are kept secret for more than thirty years.

Born on this day in history: March 25, 1944 - Gloria Steinem (1934 - ) Feminist writer Gloria Steinem began as a journalist, attracting attention with the article, "I Was a Playboy Bunny," based on her undercover work. In 1971, she joined other feminists in forming the National Women's Political Caucus, and took the lead in launching "Ms" magazine (1972). Steinem still continues to work for social reform.

Scripture of the Day:If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

Video of the Day: Zero-budget Zombie Makeup - submitted by Cindy

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

Technology News
Gmail alerts users of possible hacking attempts
Bill would sanction countries harboring cybercriminals
Frenchman arrested for hacking Obama's Twitter account
Cops: Notorious Twitter hacker caught, released

Photography Contest
All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

To submit entries, please send them to me as email attachments. You may use the email link below to initiate an email message to me. Simply attach the images you wish to enter to your message.

Email Photographs

Please feel free to edit, crop, and enhance the entries as you wish. You may submit the entries in any resolution.

Photography Contest Gallery.

Fighting Back, Weapons of Choice, -and- To Serve and Protect

Fighting Back - private guards kill Somali pirate for first time
Weapons of Choice - record numbers now licensed to carry concealed firearms
To Serve and Protect - on-duty Colorado trooper arrested for drunk driving

On this day in history: March 24, 1989 - Exxon tanker Valdez, piloted by a drunk captain, strikes a well-charted reef at Prince William sound, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil.

Born on this day in history: March 24, 1930 - A Portrait of Steve McQueen (1930 - 1980) Slater, Missouri, actor Steve McQueen came to fame in the TV Western "Wanted Dead or Alive" (1958). This led to work in films such as The Magnificent Seven (1960) and The Great Escape (1963). McQueen was also renowned for his off-screen racing skills, and he often did his own stunts—including the high speed chase in his famous film, Bullitt (1968).

Scripture of the Day: The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:23

Video of the Day: "A.D." teaser (ZOMBIE ANIMATION) - submitted by Amber

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

Technology News
3 examples of why the iPhone needs background processing
Firefox Mobile: where it stands now
Boss' Facebook message tells teen she's fired

Photography Contest
All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

To submit entries, please send them to me as email attachments. You may use the email link below to initiate an email message to me. Simply attach the images you wish to enter to your message.

Email Photographs

Please feel free to edit, crop, and enhance the entries as you wish. You may submit the entries in any resolution.

Photography Contest Gallery.

Fighting Back, Quiet!, -and- To Serve and Protect

Fighting Back - rock-wielding woman fights kidnap attempt
Quiet! - NJ town to ban dog barking round-the-clock
To Serve and Protect - CA correctional officer charged with lying about being shot at S.F. sex club

On this day in history: March 23, 1997 - Heaven's gate suicides leave 39 dead, all wearing Nike shoes. Five dead bodies are found arranged in a cross formation at the burned Quebec home of Didier Queze. They were members of the Solar Temple cult who in 1994 to 1996 had totaled 69 suicides in Europe and North America.

Born on this day in history: March 23, 1908 - Joan Crawford (1908 - 1977) Born in San Antonio, Texas, actress Joan Crawford got her start in silent film. She was a Hollywood icon in the 1930s and 40s, winning an Oscar for Mildred Pierce in 1945 and becoming one of the highest paid women in America. She suffered a career decline in the 1970s, however, and all but disappeared from public life until her death in 1977.

Scripture of the Day: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

Video of the Day: Meow - submitted by Danica

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

Technology News
Seattle, Boston, D.C. Named "riskiest" online cities
SanDisk debuts first 32GB microSD card
Firefox 3.6.2 addresses critical vulnerability issues

Photography Contest
All visitors are invited to submit photographs (no limit!) to be considered for the Photography Contest! The contest will begin April 1 and will run through May 31st. As submissions are received, they will be added to the Photography Contest Gallery. I will set up a voting system, whereby visitors may vote for their favorites. This will be in place by the end of the contest.

Photography Contest Gallery.

RSVP, No Bloviating!, -and- ET Phone Home!

RSVP - doctor says texting caused teen's carpal tunnel syndrome
No Bloviating! - legislators want to limit email, text messages
ET Phone Home! - search for aliens inhibits search for (space) aliens

On this day in history: March 22, 1947 - U.S. President Harry Truman signs Executive Order 9835, beginning the Great Loyalty Crusade. 2,000,000 government employees were required to take oaths and submit to loyalty investigations; of those a mere 139 were terminated in the span of three years.

Born on this day in history: March 22, 1976 - Reese Witherspoon (1976 - ) Born in Nashville, Tennessee, actress Reese Witherspoon answered a call for extras on a whim and, at age 14, wound up as the lead in her first film, The Man in the Moon (1990). She went on to star in box-office hit Legally Blonde (2001) and earned praise as June Carter Cash in 2005's Walk the Line. She also runs the production house, Type A Films.

Scripture of the Day: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. - Ephesians 6:10-11

Video of the Day: "Maybe you know what a zombie is." - Bob Hope film clip - submitted by Cindy

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

Technology News
Census time heightens privacy concerns
Barge-scale cleanup in California waterways (photos)
Report: Memory card exposed 3,000 phones to virus

Armed and Dangerous, Surf's Down, -and- Stupid Criminals

Armed and Dangerous - cops blame 50 raids on same wrong house on computer glitch
Surf's Down - London hospital to treat Internet-addicted teens
Stupid Criminals - burglar logs into MySpace on store computer

On this day in history: March 19, 1982 - The guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, dies during the Diary of a Madman tour after the plane he is flying in buzzes the band's tour bus and clips the wing of the plane, crashing into a nearby farmhouse.

Born on this day in history: March 19, 1955 - Bruce Willis (1955 - ) Born in West Germany, actor Bruce Willis came to fame in the TV drama "Moonlighting" (1985-9). He achieved star status in the Die Hard film series, which led to roles in movies including Pulp Fiction (1994), 12 Monkeys (1995) and Sin City (2005). Willis also started work as a director with films such as The Hip Hop Project (2007).

Scripture of the Day: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23

Video of the Day: Zombie Survival Guide - 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.

Technology News
"Highly critical" Firefox hole to be patched March 30
Windows Phone emulator unlocked
Facebook chatter betrays alleged Mafia hitman
Microsoft: Only minor tweaks in Windows 7 SP1
A look at Windows Phone's "smart links"

Photographic Weekend
Laura and I are looking forward to a photographic weekend: The weather promises to be wonderful—sunny and warm, with temperatures forecast to reach 80° or more. The wind that plagued us for the last two days appears to have abated, and no significant wind is predicted for the weekend.

I gave Laura a new Nikon D5000 DX-Format 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera, Nikkor 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, Nikkor 55mm - 200mm f/4-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR (Vibration Reduction) Autofocus Zoom Lens, SanDisk 16GB SDHC Storage Card.extra battery, Nikon lens pen, and Tamrac Series 2603 System 3 camera bag. She is eager to explore the capabilities of her new camera system!

We are also eager to explore the capabilities of the ESP 5000 Wolverine Entertainment Storage Player!

Traditionally, I have taken a laptop with me when doing a photo shoot. If I fill my two 16GB CompactFlash storage cards, I can move the photographs to the laptop. If I wish to show a client the photographs I have taken, I can download the images onto the laptop and run a slide show. This methodology of managing photographs while in the field works, but it is slow, and the added weight of the laptop is not welcomed graciously. My Tamrac camera bag is easily heavy enough—containing a Nikon D3, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Micro lens, Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens, Nikon Speedlight SB-900, and an array of accessories and spare batteries!

I spent several hours researching alternative storage devices and decided upon the ESP 5000 Wolverine from Wolverine Data.

The Wolverine abates the weight issue nicely: It weighs but a few ounces. Copying or moving files from camera cards to the Wolverine is very simple: When a camera (or any storage card) is inserted into the Wolverine's card slot, the unit automatically queries what one wishes done with the images or data on the card. If one chooses to copy or move the images, this is done quickly, and the progress is displayed graphically. The camera card may then be reinserted into the camera, and one is ready to continue shooting! If one wishes to run a slide show, the Wolverine will do so instantly, since there is negligible start-up time, and a slide show may be run directly from the camera card, without needing to copy or move the images! If a television is available, the slide show may be displayed on the television.
The Wolverine is available in several capacities—from 80GB to 250GB. I opted for the 250GB model.

Here are some of the features of the Wolverine:

Download images directly from any digital camera without a computer

Use it to backup and carry all your digital images

Display JPEG, Bitmap, Tiff, Text and RAW images (most popular SLR Cameras)

Print directly to printers

Store and Play Thousands of Songs

Supports five music Formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, AAC (MP4-audio) & CDA

Easy, drag and drop music files from your computer and play them instantly

Store and Play Hundreds of Hours of Video

Supports: MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV9 and Xvid

Built-in FM Radio

Listen and RECORD your favorite talk shows or music from any FM Radio Station

Scan and preset up to 18 different Radio Stations

Plugs to TV and Stereo System

With the included Video/Audio cable connect the ESP directly to any TV or Projector

View a slide show of your favorite photos or watch recorded videos on the big screen

Connect to a stereo system to enjoy and share your music collection

Record Video Directly from TV/DVD/VCR/Camcorder or any other video source (require optional Cradle)

Use the ESP as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to record directly from TV/DVD/VCR/Camcorder using the optional Cradle System (not included)

Bring last night's game, cartoons or an entire season of your favorite TV series with you and watch them anytime, anywhere

Fighting Back, Animal Kingdom, -and- Start Me Up

Fighting Back - customer grabs weapon, shoots, kills armed robber
Animal Kingdom - bulldog mauls police car, Taser fails to stop it
Start Me Up - hacker accused of disabling over 100 cars remotely

On this day in history: March 18, 1980 - A significant percentage of the Soviet space program's scientists are killed when a Vostok rocket explodes on the launch pad. Fifty people die at the Plesetsk Space Center.

Born on this day in history: March 18, 1970 - Queen Latifah (1970 - ) Born Dana Owens in Newark, New Jersey, actress and musician Queen Latifah issued debut album All Hail to the Queen in 1989, which sold over one million copies. In 1991, she became CEO of her own record company, then made it to the big screen in films such as The Bone Collector (1999) and Chicago (2002).

Scripture of the Day: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13

Video of the Day: Zombies 2 Trailer - submitted by Danica

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

Technology News
Beware the new Facebook password reset scam
McAfee warns of Facebook worm
Do you want to pay a "national broadband fee"?

Warm Weather
We have been enjoying warm weather for several days. Spring will begin in two days (Saturday, March 20), and forecasts indicate the warm weather will continue through the weekend and into next week. It is predicted that the high today will be 79°. That is a good start!

Photographic Expedition
Laura and I shall venture upon a photographic expedition this weekend. She is eager to use her new Nikon D5000 DSLR. We shall journey into the wilderness and see what can be found!

Bad Parenting, Armed and Dangerous, -and- Overdosed

Bad Parenting - 3-year-old boy unclaimed after birthday party
Armed and Dangerous - cops sued for taking secret videos of women in bathroom
Overdosed - thieves get $75 million in prescription drugs

On this day in history: March 17, 1996 - A U.S. midget submarine located a missing hydrogen bomb which had fallen from an American bomber into the Mediterranean off Spain.

Born on this day in history: March 17, 1972 - Mia Hamm (1972 - ) Born in Selma, Alabama, Mia Hamm is largely considered the best female soccer player in history. Hamm played with the United States women's national soccer team for 17 years, building one of the biggest fan bases of any American athlete. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

Scripture of the Day: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. - Psalm 23:1-3

Video of the Day: "Zombie" - The Cranberries - submitted by Cindy

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

Technology News
Microsoft IE9 pops with speed, standards
FCC national broadband Plan - what it means to you
Google Nexus One now available on AT&T
Microsoft: IE9 won't run on XP

Fighting Back, Be Careful Out There!, -and- Hackers

Fighting Back - black belt "gift wraps" home invader for cops
Be Careful Out There! - State Department warn spring break revelers
Hackers - D.C. home to most cyber-criminals

On this day in history: March 16, 1994 - Figure skater Tonya Harding arrested for obstruction of prosecution during the fallout from the Nancy Kerrigan figure skate clubbing.

Born on this day in history: March 16, 1926 - Jerry Lewis (1926 - ) New Jersey comedian Jerry Lewis partnered with singer Dean Martin in 1946, creating one of the most famous comedy duos of all time. Lewis' Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association have also become legendary, earning more than $1.46 billion for the charity. His philanthropy earned him the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2009.

Scripture of the Day: As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. — Colossians 3:12

Video of the Day: The Official Zombie Survival Guide - submitted by Amber

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

Technology News
Apple to charge $107 to replace iPad battery
Classmates.com tied to more dubious marketing practices
Dell sues, alleging 5 LCD manufacturers fixed prices
Photo gallery: Windows Phone 7's third-party apps
GigaPan panoramic robot now for SLRs too
FCC unveils National Broadband Plan

GigaPan for DSLRs

GigaPan's devices are motorized camera mounts that automate the process of precisely orientating the camera across an array of positions so the resulting photos can be stitched together into a single, very large shot.

This device intrigues me greatly. I am very much an enthusiast of panoramas. The $895 price seems reasonable—considering the capabilities of the device and the potential it affords one. Perhaps a client with a need for high-end panoramas will soon emerge!

To Protect and Serve, Bad Grades, -and- The Taxman Cometh

To Protect and Serve - Anaheim cop gets three DUIs in a year, still on the job
Bad Grades - teacher writes "loser" on assignments
The Taxman Cometh IRS visits Sacramento car wash in pursuit of 4 cents

On this day in history: March 15, 44 - Julius Caesar, already warned to be wary on this the Ides of March by the astrologer Spurinna, assassinated with pointy knives by a group of Senators at the Pompey

Born on this day in history: March 15, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 - ) Born in New York City, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed as circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C. in 1980. In 1993, she earned a seat on the Supreme Court, becoming the first person of Jewish heritage and the second woman in history to serve in the nation's highest court.

Scripture of the Day: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth ... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. — Acts 4:10-12

Video of the Day: Zombies! Halloween Make up, Guts, Effects : BFX - 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.

Technology News
Apple patches 16 holes in Safari
Venezuelan president calls for Internet regulation
Man fined for insulting ex-girlfriend on Facebook

Save the Whales, Weapons of Choice, -and- Somebody's Watching You

Save the Whales - Santa Monica sushi chef, restaurant charged with serving endangered whale
Weapons of Choice - California lawmaker would outlaw "open carry" gun right
Somebody's Watching You - new technology tells world from where one is tweeting

On this day in history: March 12, 1980 - A Chicago jury finds John Wayne Gacy guilty of the murders of 33 men and boys. The next day, he is sentenced to death; after years on death row, Gacy is finally executed in May 10, 1994.

Born on this day in history: March 12, 1922 - Jack Kerouac (1922 - 1969) Writer Jack Kerouac is best known for his book On the Road (1957), a semi-autobiographical tale that spoke for the Beat Generation. The novel made him an instant success, but the overhelming fame sent him into hiding six months after its publication. In 2007, Kerouac earned a posthumous honorary degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Scripture of the Day: He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. — 2 Peter 1:4

Video of the Day: Zombie vs. Shark - submitted by Cindy

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

Technology News
What happens when your Web mail gets hacked
IE 9, Windows Phone in the Mix
Mozilla aggressively asks older Firefox users to upgrade

A New Camera for Laura!
Laura's interest in photography was reanimated recently when she visited the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation and photographed the wild animals there. I produced a slide show from the photographs she took there.

Laura voiced to me a complaint which has made her less than enthusiastic about photography: Her 10-year-old Nikon Coolpix 995 is simply too slow to capture action.

I have addressed this issue: I ordered for her a new Nikon D5000 DX-Format 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera, Nikkor 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, Nikkor 55mm - 200mm f/4-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR (Vibration Reduction) Autofocus Zoom Lens, and SanDisk 16GB SDHC Storage Card.

Click to enlarge.

Update
Tracking information indicates that the camera and lenses will arrive this morning. Unfortunately, tracking information also indicates that the storage card will not arrive until Monday! YIKES!

Laura's new Nikon D5000, lenses, and filters arrived! The storage card, unfortunately, will not arrive until Monday! Click to enlarge.

Up in Smoke, Turn Me Loose!, -and- Hold the Salt

Up in Smoke - odor from burning marijuana leads to record pot bust
Turn Me Loose! - killer signs himself out of mental hospital
Hold the Salt - Democrat lawmaker proposes salt ban in NYC restaurants

On this day in history: March 11, 1958 - A B-47 bomber drops a nuclear bomb in the town of Mars Bluff in South Carolina. While it did not detonate a nuclear explosion, conventional explosives within the bomb left a 75 foot crater, destroying one house and damaging five others.

Born on this day in history: March 11, 1931 - Rupert Murdoch (1931 - ) Born in Melbourne, Australia, media mogul Rupert Murdoch inherited the News Limited company in 1953. He went on to build a global publishing empire, and became a leading investor in satellite TV, film, and the Internet. By 2009, he was ranked the 132nd-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $4 billion

Scripture of the Day: The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. — Deuteronomy 7:9

Video of the Day: The Zombies - "She's Not There" - submitted by Danica

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

Technology News
Apple's iPad could kill the Mac
PayPal recommends anti-phish plugin
Pink Floyd wins court fight on downloads
Microsoft Outlook makes friends with MySpace

Laura's New Camera
Based upon tracking information, it appears that Laura's new Nikon D500, 18-55mm lens, and 55-200mm lens will arrive tomorrow! Unfortunately, tracking information indicates her 16GB SanDisk SDHC storage card will not arrive until Monday! Yikes!

Fighting Back, Now See This, -and- Animal Kingdom

Fighting Back - 7-year-old calls 911, saves family from attack
Now See This - patients' medical records go online without consent
Animal Kingdom - the squirrels who love to get stuck in coconuts

On this day in history: March 10, 1948 - Czech foreign minister Jan Masaryk thrown from a window at his apartment in Prague under mysterious circumstances. His death was ruled "suicide" and later by the communists, to have "fallen accidentally while sitting in a yoga position on a window sill to combat insomnia."

Born on this day in history: March 10, 1983 - Carrie Underwood (1983 - ) Oklahoma farm girl Carrie Underwood got her big shot at fame after winning the musical talent show "American Idol" in 2005. Her debut album, "Some Hearts" (2005), became the fastest-selling female country album on record. By 2009, she became the top-earning "American Idol" alumnus and the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Scripture of the Day: In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. — 1 Peter 3:15

Video of the Day: Bush vs. Zombies - submitted by Amber

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

Technology News
Malware found on HTC Android phone from Vodaphone
Microsoft tweaks browser ballot code
Excel, Windows Movie Maker patched

A New Camera for Laura!
Laura's interest in photography was reanimated recently when she visited the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation and photographed the wild animals there. I produced a slide show from the photographs she took there.

Laura voiced to me a complaint which has made her less than enthusiastic about photography: Her 10-year-old Nikon Coolpix 995 is simply too slow to capture action.

I have addressed this issue: I ordered for her a new Nikon D5000 DX-Format 12.3 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera, Nikkor 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX (VR) Vibration Reduction Wide Angle Autofocus Zoom Lens, Nikkor 55mm - 200mm f/4-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR (Vibration Reduction) Autofocus Zoom Lens, and SanDisk 16GB SDHC Storage Card.

Click to enlarge.

Food for Thought, Drink Up!, -and- They're Here!

Food for Thought - man arrested for "thinking of cheeseburger"
Drink Up! - troopers raid popular bars for unlicensed beers
They're Here! - Ohio man claims to have captured evidence of UFOs

On this day in history: March 9, 1967 - Josef Stalin's daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, walks into the U.S. Embassy at New Delhi and asks to defect.

Born on this day in history: March 9, 1964 - Juliette Binoche (1964 - ) Parisian actress Juliette Binoche got started on stage as a teenager and went on to stardom in André Téchiné's Rendez-vous (1985), which won Binoche a César. Binoche went on to international success in The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). Later films include The English Patient' (1996), for which she won an Oscar, and Dan in Real Life (2007).

Scripture of the Day: God has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. — 2 Timothy 1:9

Video of the Day: ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction - submitted by Cindy

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

Technology News
HP mimics, mocks iPad with Slate demo video
NewEgg confirms fake Core i7s, apologizes
Hands-on TextPlus free iPhone texting
More states propose Internet sales taxes
Google launches tool for searching public data

COLD! The temperature dropped to 33° early this morning! It rained yesterday, and hail was forecast but did not appear. It is a mere 36° at 8 AM. This is COLD!

Bad Religion, Tase Me Bro!, -and- Place Your Bets

Bad Religion - defectors say Church of Scientology hides abuse
Tase me Bro! - man laughed off Taser jolt while battling Rochester cops
Place Your Bets - chips are down for U.S. casinos as revenues slide

On this day in history: March 8, 1968 - A Soviet submarine sinks in the Pacific Ocean, killing all 97 crew members aboard. Later in the year a U.S. submarine secretly retrieves an encryption machine, codebooks, and nuclear warheads from the Soviet vessel. A further bold attempt is made in 1974 to bring up the entire submarine using the CIA ship Glomar Explorer, built by Howard Hughes. That mission supposedly fails, and is made public by the Los Angeles Times to the great embarrassment of the Agency.

Born on this day in history: March 8, 1945 - Micky Dolenz (1945 - ) Musician, actor, director. In 1965 Micky Dolenz was catapulted to fame when he was cast as the drummer and lead vocalist in the television series and band "The Monkees." Thanks to this role, his voice can be heard for all posterity on such classic hit songs as "Last Train to Clarksville" (1966) and "I'm a Believer" (1966).

Scripture of the Day: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Video of the Day: How to Survive a Zombie Attack - submitted by Cindy

Laura and Brian were given a special personal tour of the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation last Friday morning. Laura returned to civilization with some nice photographs—taken with her Nikon Coolpix 995 digital camera. I produced a slide show from 149 of her photographs. You may view the slide show HERE! The slide show lasts 13 minutes, so be certain you have the free time to view it.

Technology News
Jobs: iPad won't tether with iPhone
Warning: beware fake census sites
Symantec: Energizer battery recharger ships with Trojan
100Mbps broadband may be closer than you think

ESP 5000 Wolverine Entertainment Storage Player
Traditionally, I have taken a laptop with me when doing a photo shoot. If I fill my two 16GB CompactFlash storage cards, I can move the photographs to the laptop. If I wish to show a client the photographs I have taken, I can download the images onto the laptop and run a slide show. This methodology of managing photographs while in the field works, but it is slow, and the added weight of the laptop is not welcomed graciously. My Tamrac camera bag is easily heavy enoughcontaining a Nikon D3, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Micro lens, Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens, Nikon Speedlight SB-900, and an array of accessories and spare batteries!

I spent several hours researching alternative storage devices and decided upon the ESP 5000 Wolverine from Wolverine Data. Click the image to enlarge it.

The Wolverine abates the weight issue nicely: It weighs but a few ounces. Copying or moving files from camera cards to the Wolverine is very simple: When a camera (or any storage card) is inserted into the Wolverine's card slot, the unit automatically queries what one wishes done with the images or data on the card. If one chooses to copy or move the images, this is done quickly, and the progress is displayed graphically. The camera card may then be reinserted into the camera, and one is ready to continue shooting! If one wishes to run a slide show, the Wolverine will do so instantly, since there is negligible start-up time, and a slide show may be run directly from the camera card, without needing to copy or move the images! If a television is available, the slide show may be displayed on the television.
The Wolverine is available in several capacities—from 80GB to 250GB. I opted for the 250GB model.

Here are some of the features of the Wolverine:

Download images directly from any digital camera without a computer

Use it to backup and carry all your digital images

Display JPEG, Bitmap, Tiff, Text and RAW images (most popular SLR Cameras)

Print directly to printers

Store and Play Thousands of Songs

Supports five music Formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, AAC (MP4-audio) & CDA

Easy, drag and drop music files from your computer and play them instantly

Store and Play Hundreds of Hours of Video

Supports: MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV9 and Xvid

Built-in FM Radio

Listen and RECORD your favorite talk shows or music from any FM Radio Station

Scan and preset up to 18 different Radio Stations

Plugs to TV and Stereo System

With the included Video/Audio cable connect the ESP directly to any TV or Projector

View a slide show of your favorite photos or watch recorded videos on the big screen

Connect to a stereo system to enjoy and share your music collection

Record Video Directly from TV/DVD/VCR/Camcorder or any other video source (require optional Cradle)

Use the ESP as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to record directly from TV/DVD/VCR/Camcorder using the optional Cradle System (not included)

Bring last night's game, cartoons or an entire season of your favorite TV series with you and watch them anytime, anywhere

Armed and Dangerous, Fly by Night, -and- Gentlemen Start Your Engines

Armed and Dangerous - deputy tries to shoot his way out of jail cell
Fly by Night - airline pilot flew for 13 years with forged license
Gentlemen Start Your Engines - U.S. Navy ships raced each other at sea

On this day in history: March 5, 1982 - John Belushi found dead at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood from a cocaine and heroin overdose. A sketchy woman, Cathy Smith, is later charged with administering the fatal injections.

Born on this day in history: March 5, 1958 - Andy Gibb (1958 - 1988) Born in Manchester, England, singer Andy Gibb became the first male solo artist to land three consecutive No. 1 hits on the 'Billboard Hot 100'. The youngest brother of the band members of the Bee Gees, Andy collaborated with his siblings to create the hit singles "Shadow Dancing" (1978) and "Don't Throw It All Away" (1979)

Scripture of the Day: These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. - Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Video of the Day: Rob Zombie - "Living Dead Girl" - submitted by Darin

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

Technology News
Good luck burying the undead IE6
New Photoshop for Android includes Apple potshot
Microsoft to fix eight Windows and Office holes

Laura Visits the Wild Animals
This morning, Laura will visit the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation. As you may recall, the Foundation brought an eight-week-old leopard cub to Laura at Sierra Nevada. This morning, Laura and Brian will visit the leopard—along with a new tiger cub and a wide assortment of other wild animals, birds, and reptiles—at the Foundation's current location in Durham. They will also tour the site of what will be the new Foundation home. Laura is eager to visit the wildlife and is taking her real camera (a Nikon Coolpix 995) to photograph them.

By Hooker by Crook, Child's Play, -and- Setting a Bad Example

By Hooker by Crook - Spitzer's madam runs for Governor
Child's Play - JFK tower allowed 2 kids to direct air traffic
Setting a Bad Example - domestic violence lobbyist charged with killing her husband

On this day in history: March 4, 1861 - The "Stars and Bars" is formally adopted as the flag of the Confederate States of America.

Born on this day in history: March 4, 1958 - Patricia Heaton (1958 - ) Born in Bay Village, Ohio, actress Patricia Heaton made her Broadway debut in gospel musical Don't Get God Started (1987). Heaton also appeared in film, including Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) and Space Jam (1996). In 1996, she landed the role of Debra Barone on the hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996-2005), which won her an Emmy.

Scripture of the Day: "Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

Video of the Day: White Zombie Trailer - submitted by Amber

White Zombie was the first feature-length zombie movie.

Technology News
Apple's patently absurd HTC lawsuit
Feds weigh expansion of Internet monitoring
Mozilla issues new Firefox test release

Photography Can Be Dangerous!
Tuesday, I braved the wind to photograph a field of wildflowers around the corner from our house. When I returned, the wind caught the security door and was going to slam it into the new Weber grill. I grabbed the door, and it grabbed my foot. I tried to yank my foot loose (I was wearing sandals, stupidly), and the door slammed on my ankle and cut a deep gash in my ankle. The pain was too much, and I tumbled to the floor in the entryway. I managed to hold my Nikon D3 with the Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 attached free from the fall. The camera and lens escaped unharmed, but I broke a few toes and have an unattractive gash on my ankle. Let this serve as an example to anyone considering a career in photography!

Fighting Back, Faith under Fire, -and- Going to Pot

Fighting Back - 74-year-old babysitter battles thug who sexually assaulted 10-year-old girl
Faith under Fire - praying in park called "disorderly conduct"
Going to Pot - California insurer offers medical marijuana coverage

On this day in history: March 3, 1934 - John Dillinger escapes from an escape-proof jail in Crown Point Indiana, using a wooden pistol he carved himself. It's his second escape.

Born on this day in history: March 3, 1982 - Jessica Biel (1982 - ) Minnesota actress Jessica Biel got her start in 1994 as a teen model. Her print work earned Biel a role on the wholesome TV drama "7th Heaven." After appearing in a scandalous magazine spread, however, Biel left the show to pursue a film career. Since then, she's appeared in dozens of films including The Illusionist (2008) and Powder Blue (2009).

Scripture of the Day: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

Video of the Day: Zombieland - The Rules - submitted by Chris

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

Technology News
Google confirms YouTube outages
Spamhaus DNS blacklist IDs spam domains
Spain arrests three accused of running huge botnet
Man swallows flash drive, charged with obstruction

Zombies All Month!
Darin suggested that zombies be the theme for the Video of the Day throughout the week. I agreed. Chris then suggested that this be the theme for the entire month. I agreed! Email my your submissions. Any reference to zombies will qualify a video for consideration!

Fighting Back, Good News!, -and- Run Chicken Little Run!

Fighting Back - former Marine chokes car-theft suspect to death
Good News! - teacher wins major victory for God in school
Run Chicken Little Run! -hundreds of fish fall from the sky over remote Australian town

On this day in history: March 2, 1968 - Syd Barrett leaves Pink Floyd, after melting his mind with various extremely dangerous drugs. He spends the following years mumbling about pork chops and refrigerators.

Born on this day in history: March 2, 1968 - Daniel Craig (1968 - ) Scottish actor Daniel Craig was introduced to an international audience when he appeared as Angelina Jolie's love interest in Lara Croft: Tom Raider (2001). Craig became a household name when he became the sixth actor cast in the role of secret agent James Bond in the film Casino Royale (2006), for which he won a BAFTA award.

Scripture of the Day: He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. - Job 23:10-11

Video of the Day: Electric Drag Racing: White Zombie - submitted by Cap'n Jack

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

Technology News
Sony fixes Playstation network date bug
Beware Windows XP's F1 Help bug
Four indicted in CAPTCHA hacks of ticket sites
Botnets cause surge in February spam
Heartless Web scam leaves brides at the altar

Zombies!
It was suggested that zombies be the subject of the video of the day through the week (or beyond, perhaps) by a reader. I agreed. If you have a video you wish to submit for Video of the Day, please email me with the YouTube URL for the video, and I shall consider it for inclusion here. The video must meet one simple criterion: It must address zombies in some fashion. As you will see from the video submitted by Cap'n Jack and linked here as the Video of the Day, the reference to zombies need not be specifically to flesh-eating creatures! I eagerly await your submissions! - David

Shouldn't You Be in School?, Stupid Criminals, -and- Stupid Criminals Too

Shouldn't You Be in School? - Apple admits to using children in factory building iPods, iPhones
Stupid Criminals - drunk Bridgeton man calls 911 from patrol car,
claims kidnapping
Stupid Criminals Too - couple robs jewelry store, leaves child behind

On this day in history: March 1, 1971 - The radical group Weather Underground explodes a bomb in a restroom of the U.S. Capitol building, causing significant damage. The bomb exploded after an intensive search of the building yielded no results. Nobody is ever convicted of the attack.

Born on this day in history: March 1, 1954 - Ron Howard (1954 - ) Ron Howard gained fame as a child actor on TV shows such as "Happy Days" (1973) and "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960). He went on to great success as the director of such films as Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2002), and Frost/Nixon (2008). He is also the uncredited narrator of the critically acclaimed TV show, "Arrested Development."

Scripture of the Day: Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:25-26

Video of the Day: Zombieland trailer - 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.

Technology News
eBay buyer pays $41,300 for Nintendo game
Qualys to scan Web sites for malware
E-prescriptions more reliable than handwritten ones
DOD authorizes soldiers to Tweet, use Facebook
Twitter warns of direct message attacks, a bit late
Facebook glitch sends emails to wrong users