Friday, August 30, 2013

The Power of Prayer, Gun Control, and GoPro!

The Power of Prayer - I do not recall ever doubting the incredible power of prayer. I have experienced examples of this throughout my life.

Yesterday, when I arrived at my office, I found that Hal (my main desktop system) was unresponsive. Restarting him had no positive outcome. I initiated Windows 7 Startup Repair. This generally works well when servicing others' systems. It failed fully the three times I attempted it.

I then initiated Windows 7 System Restore. I chose the latest restore point available.

This failed—as did the subsequent two attempts using prior restore points.

I located the re-installation DVDs provided by HP for Hal. I did not find the prospect of starting anew and needing to load and configure and associate all applications! (All Hal's data is on drive D:)

I prayed. I thanked God for giving me the wisdom necessary to choose the proper restore point, and I thanked Him for giving me the peace of mind and patience necessary to accomplish the repairs.

I clearly sensed that God—through the Holy Spirit—pointed to a restore point at the very bottom of the list of available restore points. This seemed an unlikely candidate, yet I knew that God does not err, and His instructions are to be followed precisely and without question.

Unlikely though it seemed, the restore point to which God directed me was efficacious! It was a long process, and it would have been a simple matter for me to simply "give up" and employ the HP Recovery Media. I did not. Faith kept me calm and emboldened me. I knew Hal would be restored!

Hal successfully started and has operated flawlessly since then! Praise God!

Gun Control - I recently had a client enter my office with a question regarding configuring a wireless router in her home office. She turned and gazed upon the 39" Vizio LCD HDTV—drawn to do so by what she heard emanating from the 8-speaker Onkyo surround sound system. The pros and cons of "gun control" were being debated. She said, "Seems simple enough to me. Take the guns away and people won't shoot each other anymore. And if somebody's got a good reason to have a gun like to hunt with they sure don't need high-powered military guns that hold lots of bullets to hunt with."

I said, "That is not simple. It is simplistic. It is also simple-minded."

Before she was able to successfully stem the flow of Thorazine-induced drool that fell copiously upon her chin from the gaping maw that was formed of her mouth, I continued: "There are two key issues that apparently elude you: Taking firearms away from law-abiding citizens simply and effectively results in firearm ownership only by law enforcement, the military, and criminals. The Second Amendment provides for the ownership of firearms by law-abiding citizens not for hunting. It provides for the ownership of firearms by law-abiding citizens to protect themselves from oppression and tyranny."

She offered no counterpoint.

GoPro! - Enjoy these GoPro videos! I have a GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition and many accessories for it. I am, however, not sufficiently brave to attempt what you will see here!






Thursday, August 29, 2013

Funny Epitaphs and Ford Wraps 2014 Fiesta in Bacon

Funny Epitaphs - Humor from the graveyard.

  • Here lies my wife, Here lies she;
    Hallelujah!
    Hallelujee!
    In a Leeds graveyard [1861]

  • "I told you I was sick!"
    In a Georgia cemetery

  • The children of Israel wanted bread
    And the Lord sent them manna,
    Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife,
    And the Devil sent him Anna.
    In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery

  • Here lies the body
    of Jonathan Blake
    Stepped on the gas
    Instead of the brake.
    Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery

  • Here lays Butch,
    We planted him raw.
    He was quick on the trigger,
    But slow on the draw.
    In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery

  • I was somebody.
    Who, is no business
    Of yours.
    Someone determined to be anonymous in Stowe, Vermont

  • Here lies the body of our Anna
    Done to death by a banana
    It wasn't the fruit that laid her low
    But the skin of the thing that made her go.
    Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls, Vermont

  • Sir John Strange.
    Here lies an honest man.
    And that is Strange.
    A lawyer’s tombstone in England

  • Here lies
    Ezekial Aikle
    Age 102
    The Good
    Die Young

  • Here lies
    Johnny Yeast
    Pardon me
    For not rising
    In Ruidoso, New Mexico

  • Here lies Ann Mann,
    Who lived an old maid
    But died an old Mann
    Dec. 8, 1767

  • Reader if cash thou art
    In want of any
    Dig 4 feet deep
    And thou wilt find a Penny.
    John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne, England, cemetery

  • Gone away Owin' more
    Than he could pay
    Owen Moore in Battersea, London, England

  • Here lies an Atheist
    All dressed up And no place to go.
    In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery

    Ford wraps 2014 Fiesta in Bacon - Before you get too excited, the car is not wrapped in real bacon. That would clearly be an unauthorized waste of good bacon. Ford showed good sense and created a bacon wrap designed specifically to fit the 2014 Ford Fiesta. If your love of salty pork is unwavering, you can even purchase your own bacon wrap for your Fiesta.


    The Ford Bacon Wrap has 10 gigantic strips of bacon rolled around the Fiesta. Perhaps more suited to the sporty types out there that a full on bacon wrapped would be the epic bacon racing strips. Think two pieces of bacon that span the car’s hood looking like traditional racing stripes.

    Buyers can also opt for the side of bacon, which features two individual strips of bacon that wrap over the rear wheels. If you’re not a fan of pork or prefer to keep your love of bacon on the down low, Ford offers a number of other custom exterior vinyl graphics for you to choose from that are custom-made to fit the 2014 Fiesta.

  • Tuesday, August 27, 2013

    Just Because Day and Enjoy!

    Just Because Day - Today is Just Because Day. Finally, you have a chance to do something without a reason. Most often in life, we do things because we have to, or we want to, or it is expected of us. None of those reasons apply today.

    Is there something you would like to do, but there is no reason or logic for doing it? Well, today is the day to go out and do something "just because."

    It is most enjoyable if it is an uncommon, or unexpected activity or action. Perhaps, you have something in mind. If not, just go with the first thing that comes to your mind.

    To get you started, here are some of our suggestions for Just Because Day:

  • Take an unplanned day of vacation
  • Visit someone you haven't seen in a while
  • Knock on someone's door and compliment them for their great lawn
  • Skip, do not walk
  • Spin a wheel, and bicycle in the opposite direction of where the arrow points.
  • Buy something you do not need
  • Jump in a puddle
  • Walk backwards

    Enjoy! - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!








  • Monday, August 26, 2013

    National Dog Day and Smile!

    National Dog Day - National Dog Day has two goals: to honor dogs and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It is an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives.

    This day is intended to honor dogs for all that they do for us. In addition to giving love and companionship, dogs help us out in countless ways: They are watchdogs for our safety; they lead the blind; they aid in search and rescue; and they seek out bombs and drugs.

    The second goal of National Dog Day is to rescue dogs in need. On occasion, dogs need us to save them from homelessness and abuse. The goal of the National Dog Day foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs a year. Lend a hand to help a dog in need today.

    National Dog Day was created by the National Dog Day Foundation. Their motto is "Saving 10,000 Dogs - One Day at a Time."

    SMILE!












    Thursday, August 22, 2013

    Be an Angel Day and Enjoy!

    Be an Angel Day - Today is Be an Angel Day! This day was established by Jayne Howard Feldman in 1993. Its purpose is to encourage people to perform random acts of kindness and to help those in need.
    Every act of generosity can make a difference. Today, take the time to be an angel to someone. Whether you choose to do a favor for a friend or volunteer your time to assist others in your community, be sure to celebrate this occasion. Extend a helping hand, offer a kind word, or show someone your gratitude. Enjoy Be an Angel Day!


    Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!









    Wednesday, August 21, 2013

    National Senior Citizens Day,

    National Senior Citizens Day - National Senior Citizens Day honors our elderly population. On this day, we are encouraged to recognize and show appreciation for the value and contribution of elderly people to home, family and society.

    In his Presidential Proclamation (August 19, 1988), President Ronald Reagan said "For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older."

    On National Senior Citizens Day, we should:

  • Spend some time with senior citizens
  • Show our appreciation for senior citizens
  • Do volunteer work in support of the elderly

    If you are a senior citizen, enjoy your day any way you desire. After all, this is your day! Make sure to take advantage of senior citizens specials and discounts. There's bound to be plenty offers today.

    Here is a senior citizen that is a paradigm of the armed citizen!



    Chortle -It is now time to chortle!





  • Tuesday, August 20, 2013

    National Lemonade Day, Stupid Criminals, and Enjoy!

    National Lemonade Day - National lemonade day is a day we honor the old-time favorite drink called lemonade. On National lemonade Day, it is traditional to celebrate by mixing up your favorite flavor of your choice. Lemonade now has a broader range of flavors to choose from. You can make regular lemonade, pink lemonade, strawberry lemonade and even watermelon lemonade. All of these are cool and refreshing drinks and make great bases for cocktails too. This is one beautiful drink so make some homemade lemonade and enjoy in the freshness.


    Stupid Criminals - They walk among us!

  • NH Woman Arrested After Calling 911 and Asking for a Pen
  • Cable TV Goes Out, Viewers in Fairfield Call 911
  • Man Trying to Open Plane Door Prompts Emergency Landing

    Enjoy! - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!











  • Monday, August 19, 2013

    World Humanitarian Day, Time to Grill!, and WOW!

    World Humanitarian Day - World Humanitarian Day is a time to recognize those who face danger and adversity in order to help others. The day was designated by the General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

    19 August, 2013 marks 10 years since that tragic event, which claimed 22 lives. This year, the international community will pause to remember those who died, as well as the dozens of aid workers, who have died in the years since.

    But World Humanitarian Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the globe. This year the UN and its humanitarian partners are launching a ground-breaking campaign called The world needs more… This is a first-of-its-kind project that will quite literally turn words into aid.

    To get involved and to learn more about the campaign visit: World Humanitarian Day

    Time to Grill! - Laura selected a tri-tip at the market that simply screamed to me to be tossed upon the grill! I suffered the 106-degree heat and presented this to the table:


    WOW! - WOW! says it all!

    Friday, August 16, 2013

    National Tell a Joke Day

    National Tell a Joke Day - Today is National Tell a Joke Day. We hope your day is filled with chortles and laughs.

    Today will be a fun-filled day, with lots of laughter. To fully participate and enjoy this day, just tell some jokes. You can do it in person or pass along a few humorous emails. The more jokes you tell, the more fun this day will be. We also encourage you to listen to many jokes today.

    Q: How did Darth Vader know what Luke got him for Christmas?

    A: He felt his presents.





    Thursday, August 15, 2013

    National Relaxation Day

    Today is National Relaxation Day - It is not only fun to relax; it is actually vital to a healthy lifestyle! Life is stressful! Have you seen the news lately? There are always so many things to do and never enough hours in the day. We prioritize and compartmentalize and organize, and we try to use every minute of the day to accomplish our tasks.

    Our bodies and our minds need time to rest, to recover from a day's events, and to recuperate so we can feel energized and ready to begin a new day. While those workaholics among us may see it as slacking off, it is actually a great way to be more productive. So sit back and relax and take some time to honor National Relaxation Day.










    Wednesday, August 14, 2013

    Robert Johnson and Chicago

    Robert Johnson - While cruising to mine office this morning, I was enjoying BB King's Bluesville channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. As I slithered into my parking spot behind mine office, the delta blues guitar of Robert Johnson began.

    It was Johnson's classic, "Sweet Home Chicago." I simply could not allow my day to continue without enjoying the song!


    I increased the volume, and I was quickly lulled into reverie by the music.

    As the song ended, a thought quickly ended the serenity I had been enjoying: What would Johnson sing about Chicago, were he to see it as it is today?

    The answer could not be pleasant. In 1936, there is no doubt whatever that Johnson felt that he was at a crossroad—the devil at one fork and God at the other.

    This is the theme of Johnson's "Cross Road Blues."

    The lyrics tell of the narrator's failed attempts to hitch a ride from an intersection as night approaches:

    Standin' at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride (2×)
    Didn't nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by
    Standin' at the crossroad, risin' sun goin' down (2×)
    I believe to my soul now, po' Bob is sinkin' down

    Were he to visit Chicago today, he would not recognize it.

    Unfortunately, life in Chicago is not significantly different from life in other major cities of the U.S.

    It was. as is often espoused, "...a kinder, gentler time."

    All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
    - 2 Timothy 3:16 KJV