What's Up Doc?, Hic!, -and- May I Take Your Order?

What's Up Doc? - CA dentist claims groping part of treatment
Hic! - booze bust nets 1,382 beer cans on boat
May I Take Your Order? - McDonald's worker drive-through drug dealer

On this day in history: February 25, 1932 - Austrian Adolf Hitler granted German citizenship, to meet a "minor" technical requirement in order to run for president.

Born on this day in history: February 25, 1943 - George Harrison (1943-2001) Born in Liverpool, England, musician George Harrison played lead guitar and sang with the Beatles, developing an interest in Eastern music and religion. After the Beatles' break-up, he made solo albums, including "All Things Must Pass" (1970), and performed with other artists, notably "super-group" The Traveling Wilburys (1988-90). He also produced several films, such as "Monty Python's Life of Brian" (1979). Harrison died after a long battle against cancer.

Scripture of the Day: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. - Numbers 6:24-26

Video of the Day: "Motorcycle" - submitted by Jay

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

Recommended New Site: Ishi Archery Club I just completed the construction of this new site and invite all to visit and see what the club offers!

Grilling: The weather yesterday was beautiful. It was sunny, warm, dry, and calm. I tossed a gargantuan London broil onto the grill last evening, as the sun set and the frogs in the neighbor's pond began to croak. Earlier, I had prepared salads with heart of Romaine, cluster tomatoes, large white mushrooms, and green onions. I grilled the large hunk of animal flesh over a high flame—nicely charring the exterior while leaving the center rare. It was a delightful meal.

The Layover, The Write Stuff, -and- Don't Think About It

The Layover - Japanese man spends 3 months in Mexico City airport
The Write Stuff - man banned from carrying felt-tip pens
Don't Think About It - study says too much thinking can make you fat

On this day in history: January 2, 1939 - Time magazine named chancellor Adolf Hitler its "Man of the Year."

Born on this day in history: January 2, 1969 - Christy Turlington (1969-) Born in Walnut Creek, CA, model Christy Turlington got her start by chance when a photographer snapped a photo of her on horseback and it landed at a modeling agency. Today, she has appeared on more than 300 magazine covers and is best known for work for Calvin Klein and Georgio Armani. Turlington is married to actor-filmmaker Edward Burns and has two children.

Scripture of the Day: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires... - Ephesians 4:22

Video of the Day: Macro Photography Tutorial - from Nikon, an excellent macro photography tutorial.

Tired of your digital photos coming out in all the wrong colors? The baLens lens cap's translucent plastic dome lets light through, allowing you to perfectly set the camera's white balance while the cap is still on.

I shall investigate this product and present my findings here when I have completed my research. Click to enlarge.

Recommended Site:
David Louis Harter Photography - a showcase for the photography of David Louis Harter

Top Things for 2008!
Top Mug Shots of 2008!
Sports Illustrated Photos of the Year
Best Quotes of 2008
Naughtiest and Nicest CEOs of 2008 Funniest Stories of 2008

Hello everyone! Welcome to 2009! Let us pray that this year will be significantly more prosperous and peaceful than was 2008!

Laura and I enjoyed a quiet evening at home on New Year's Eve. We enjoyed a wonderful meal of stuffed pork loin, with sautéed cabbage, white onion, and zucchini.

New Year's Day, we snacked on Jalapeño poppers, Triscuits, salami, cheeses, sliced Jalapeños and champagne, while playing Scrabble. Laura won the first game—starting nicely with her first word employing all seven of her letters. I won the second game.

That evening, we enjoyed a lovely meal of grilled giant prawns, filet mignon, and asparagus. I butterflied the giant prawns, removed the tails, and marinated them in La Conda Ranch extra-virgin olive oil from The Olive Hut, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, ground black pepper, ground chile de arbol, and lime juice. I rubbed the filet mignons with a seasoning mix of my creation and ground black pepper. I poached the asparagus for three minutes prior to tossing upon the grill. It was a delightful meal. Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon accompanied this feast. A goodly portion of our filet mignons remained, and it followed me to the office this morning—sliced and placed on Oroweat Health Nut bread, with mayonnaise, wasabi paste, and sliced cheddar cheese. It shall be an excellent luncheon treat for me, I warrant!

After dinner, we watched "Iron Man" in Blu-Ray. [After ultrarich inventor and weapons maker Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) escapes from kidnappers using makeshift power armor, he turns his invention to good by using it to fight crime. But when he must face the evil Iron Monger, his skills are stretched to the limit. Based on the Marvel comic, this captivating superhero tale from director Jon Favreau co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard.] The special effects were incredible, the soundtrack was awesome (in spite of the disappointment of the absence of the vocal track in Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," which played during the titles), the acting was superb, and the action scenes were amazing. However, we both felt that the story droned laboriously through the majority of the movie. Hopefully, the sequel (and this movie begs for a sequel!) will feature a director who is considerably more focused on the action and less upon unnecessary, boring, minutiae.

Cool Cool Sand, Pay the Piper, -and- Look Out!

Cool Cool Sand - Dubai hotel to have world’s first refrigerated beach
Pay the Piper - German politician says poor should catch rats for the bounty
Look Out! - Chico woman drives car into eye doctor’s office

On this day in history: December 18, 1940 - Hitler formulates plans, issued today as Directive 21, for the invasion of Russia. The intent of Operation Barbarossa was to destroy the Red Army. Fighting on two fronts eventually caused Germany's defeat.

Born on this day in history: December 18, 1963 - Brad Pitt (1963-) Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, actor Brad Pitt got noticed in a bit part in "Thelma and Louise" (1991). Stardom followed with later films, including "Interview with the Vampire," "Seven," and "Ocean's Eleven."

Scripture of the Day: But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. — 1 Corinthians 12:18-20


Video of the Day: Funny Crazy Dog - submitted by Darin

Click to enlarge.

Recommended Site:
David Louis Harter Photography - a showcase for the photography of David Louis Harter

Top Things for 2008!
Top Mug Shots of 2008!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! It is COLD! The low last night/early this morning was 25°! When I arose this morning at 5 AM and began researching news articles for today's blog, the temperature had crept up only to 28°! When I arrived at my office at 7 AM, the temperature had reached 32°. Yikes! Fortunately, it is very dry, so frost is not an issue. It is definitely cold, however, and it appears that this cold will continue for the next several days.

Fighting Back, They Young and the Speeding, -and- Fat Cat

Fighting Back - homeowner shoots, injures man trying to break into his house
The Young and the Speeding - 1-year-old leads cops on 100-mph chase
Fat Cat - 44-pound domestic cat found

On this day in history: July 30, 1938 - In his Dearborn, Michigan office Henry Ford proudly accepts a Nazi medal on his 75th birthday. The Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle is the highest award the Reich can bestow on foreigners. The medal arrives with a note of personal greetings from Adolf Hitler. A rabid anti-Semite, Ford paid for copies of the racist hoax Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion to be deposited in major U.S. libraries.

Born on this day in history: July 30, 1947 - Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947 - ) Born near Graz, Austria, bodybuilder, actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger won several Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia titles. In the 1980s, he starred in a new genre of action films, including Conan the Barbarian (1982) and The Terminator (1984). Schwarzenegger became an American citizen in 1983, and, in 2003, was elected governor of California.

Scripture of the Day: At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?" - John 7:30-31

Video of the Day: Russian Street Racing, Really Crazy - submitted by Darin

Today is the first day following the merger of the Sirius and XM satellite radio systems. It is certainly not encouraging that Sirius' "Listen on Line" feature is not functioning this morning! This office is eerily quiet—following the death of the television last week and the crash of Sirius this morning. EEK!

Sirius Update - 8:10 AM: Apparently, it was Phaedra (my main system) and not Sirius Satellite Radio that was misbehaving this morning! As the morning progressed, additional applications began to stop responding. Ultimately, I was left with only the Web cam and HotFax MessageCenter running—and they, just barely. Yikes! I restarted Phaedra, and all appears well now. She is about 6 years of age, so she has certainly had a long and fruitful life. I am not, however, enthusiastic about the idea of replacing her at this time! Be good, Phaedra!

The Water's Fine, Wake Up!, -and- Taxman

The Water's Fine - diners flock to flooded restaurant
Wake Up! - "Goldilocks" burglar found fast asleep in victim's home
Taxman - IRS worker snooped on celebrities

On this day in history: July 29, 1921 - Adolf Hitler is selected as leader of the National Socialist Party.

Born on this day in history: July 29, 1938 - Peter Jennings (1938-2005) Born in Toronto, Canada, broadcast journalist Peter Jennings established the first American TV news bureau in the Arab world. Named ABC news anchor in 1983, he covered the fall of the Berlin Wall, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and more, winning numerous awards. Jennings died of lung cancer at 67.

Scripture of the Day: "Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign LORD, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever." - 2 Samuel 7:29

Video of the Day: California Cops Crushing Illegal Street-racing Cars - submitted by Darin

Villagers were shocked after a monkey-like piglet was born in China. Curious locals flocked to the home of owner Feng Changlin after news of the piglet spread in Fengzhang village, Xiping township. The piglet looks just like a monkey, with two thin lips, a small nose and two big eyes. Its rear legs are also much longer than its forelegs, causing it to jump instead of walk. Click to enlarge.

The sky is beautiful! The sky is beautiful this morning! The sky has been clearing—and the air quality has been significantly improving—since Saturday. It is wonderful seeing a beautiful, blue sky. The birds are happy. Their songs fill the air!

Hic!, Weapons of Choice, -and- Do You Want Fries with That?

Hic! - drunk driver unaware he was missing wheel
Weapons of Choice - Montanans insist on gun rights
Do You Want Fries with That? - restaurant offers 134-pound burger

On this day in history: February 26, 1974 - A U.S. Senate report reveals Ford Motor's involvement in Nazi Germany's war efforts, for which CEO Henry Ford received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle from Adolf Hitler himself. After the war, the car company was paid nearly $1M reparation by the U.S. government to compensate for one of its plants that was bombed within the Reich.

Born on this day in history: February 26, 1932 - Johnny Cash (1932–2003) Born in Kingsland, AR, singer Johnny Cash, one of the greatest stars of country music, recorded his first hits, "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues," in 1956. In 1968, he married June Carter (1929-2003), a member of country music's famous "first family." Cash was inducted into the Country Music Association (CMA) Hall of Fame in 1980.

Scripture of the Day: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. - James 2:26

Video of the Day: fin d'été - end of summer - submitted by Amber

Hillary stares in horror as the vote count is reported. Click to enlarge.

Warm weather! It is forecast to be 70 degrees today and tomorrow and 74 degrees on Thursday! The weekend is forecast to be warmer yet! Praise God!

The Price Is Right, Meow!, -and- Pet MD

The Price Is Right - restaurant lets customers determine cost of meals
Meow! - cat survives three weeks in storage container
Pet MD - suicidal pets get anti-depressants

On this day in history: February 25, 1932 - Austrian Adolf Hitler granted German citizenship, to meet a "minor" technical requirement in order to run for president.

Born on this day in history: February 25, 1943 - George Harrison (1943–2001) Born in Liverpool, England, musician George Harrison played lead guitar and sang with the Beatles, developing an interest in Eastern music and religion. After the Beatles’ break-up, he made solo albums, including "All Things Must Pass" (1970), and performed with other artists, notably "super-group" The Traveling Wilburys (1988–90). He also produced several films, such as "Monty Python's Life of Brian" (1979). Harrison died after a long battle against cancer.

Scripture of the Day: Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. - John 2:24-25

Video of the Day: Little Girl Sings "Indescribable"

This is a photograph I took at Harvest Christian Center. It represents the passing of the mantle from Pastor Rob Kee to Pastor Mike Sharp. Click to enlarge.

Following a weekend of near-hurricane-force winds and torrential rain, today is a beautiful day—filled with sunshine and the singing of birds!

Saturday evening, my two brothers came to our house for dinner. I made pasta with marinara sauce. The pasta was Barilla thick spaghetti. For the sauce, I simmered Johnsonville Italian sausage (mild, since one of my brothers eschews spicy foods), sliced white onion, sliced white mushrooms, diced red bell pepper, diced Roma tomatoes, a package of bacon (cut into 1-inch strips), minced garlic, Italian seasoning, ground black pepper, and Tony Chachere's More Spice in Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon. Laura stirred this while it simmered for two hours. She then added a jar of Classico marinara sauce and stirred. I cooked the pasta until al dente, and Laura incorporated it into the marinara sauce and transferred it to a large pasta bowl. I toasted garlic bread under the broiler. At the table, we added DiGiorno grated Parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers. We had a delightful Woodbridge Zinfandel with the meal. It was a delicious dinner.

Saturday morning—following The Lord's Table class at Harvest Christian Center, I made an excellent frittata with diced red potatoes, diced Jalapeño peppers, a large habanero pepper (sliced very thinly), a package of bacon (cut into 1-inch pieces), a sliced white onion, two heads of garlic cloves (peeled), six jumbo eggs (beaten), and eight slices of sharp cheddar cheese. We ate only 1/4 of this, along with tortilla chips and salsa.

Sunday morning, we attended a very special service at Harvest Christian Center. The mantle was passed from Pastor Rob Kee to Pastor Mike Sharp. For a press release of this event, Click here. It was a wonderful event, and the sanctuary was filled to capacity and dozens observed from the foyer.

Sunday even, Laura grilled a large London broil, halved red onion, two large Jalapeño peppers, two large halved red potatoes, and two large halved Roma tomatoes. The wind had abated sufficiently for Laura to grill outdoors. It was a delicious meal.

Following church service, we had another 1/4 of the frittata and a package of miniature Pillsbury biscuits. We shall enjoy the balance of the frittata following Bible class on Wednesday evening.

Animal Kingdom, Just Say "No!," -and- Call Me!

Animal Kingdom - giant rat species found in Papua forest
Just Say "No!" - "gay" plans to target 2-year-olds
Call Me! - cell phone spending surpasses land lines

On this day in history: December 18, 1940 - Hitler formulates plans, issued today as Directive 21, for the invasion of Russia. The intent of Operation Barbarossa was to destroy the Red Army. Fighting on two fronts eventually caused Germany's defeat.

Born on this day in history: December 18, 1963 - Brad Pitt (1963-) Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, actor Brad Pitt got noticed in a bit part in "Thelma and Louise" (1991). Stardom followed with later films, including "Interview with the Vampire," alongside Tom Cruise, and thriller, "Seven." Pitt's personal life has been widely publicized, including divorce from actress Jennifer Anniston and romance with actress Angelina Jolie.

Scripture of the Day: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago)," (Luke 1:68-70)

Video of the Day: Louie Giglio - Stars

Recommended Sites:
Nikon Photographer Forum - a free forum for photography enthusiasts
Corning California Message Board - a free message board for Corning
Olive Hut Blog - specials, olive news, recipes, and more

Today is a SHOE DAY! I rarely wear shoes. Throughout the warm months, I wear sandals. When it becomes uncomfortably cold, I wear thick, white cotton socks with my sandals. Today, however, it is raining! Large puddles dot the landscape, the rain that fell throughout the night continues, the sun is hiding, the wind is howling, and no birds are singing. It is, indeed, a SHOE DAY!

Tony Chachere's: Our order from Tony Chachere's Famous Creole Cuisine arrived yesterday. We got two 14-ounce containers of Tony Chachere's More Spice Seasoning and two large bottles of Tony Chachere's Cajun Power Garlic Sauce. I am eager to put these items to use. I have heard wonderful things about Tony Chachere's spices and sauces and will soon determine if all that I have heard is true. I shook some of the seasoning into my hand and found it delightfully spicy and tasty. I am eager to use it on some chicken, pork, or beef!

Fighting Back, To Serve and Protect, -and- A Very Redneck Christmas

Fighting Back - home-invasion suspect fatally wounded by resident
To Serve and Protect - Parole Commissioner in state car nabbed at DUI checkpoint
A Very Redneck Christmas - man accused of running over neighbor’s Christmas decorations, shooting him

On this day in history: December 10, 1993 - Adolf Hitler is baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in a ceremony performed inside their London temple. Mormons use this strange retroactive baptismal ritual to ensure ancestors or other relatives may join them in heaven.

Born on this day in history: December 10, 1830 - Emily (Elizabeth) Dickinson
(1830–86) Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, poet Emily Dickinson published only two poems during her lifetime. After her death, sister Lavinia Dickinson published several more collections. Dickinson has now gained a cult-like following.

Scripture of the Day: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him." (Deuteronomy 18:15)

Video of the Day: Ferrari Drive - submitted by Frank

Here are some photographs I took this weekend of the native American gathering at the Sacramento River near here. Click to enlarge.

Recommended Site: Corning California Net - A free forum for Corning, California!

Recommended Site: Nikon Photographer - A free forum for all photographers (NOT just Nikon users!) and anyone interested in photography!

Saturday, Laura and I journeyed to Chico to Home Depot to replace the exploded microwave oven. I attempted to purchase the oven upon which we decided online but received a message that shipping to our Zip Code was unavailable. I felt that Corning was being slighted. When I entered the Zip Code for the Home Depot store in Chico, the same message appeared. Apparently, shipping is not available anywhere. That is interesting.

As we passed the Chico Mall, we noticed that the parking lot was completely filled. Not a single parking space was available. Yikes! When we reached Home Depot, however, there were several good parking spaces available. I parked Mr. Nitro in a secure area, and we strolled into the store. The microwave we desired was on display. There was none in inventory, however. We took the display oven and received a 10% discount. It is a beautiful 2.1 cu ft GE Profile oven with black body and stainless-steel front. It has enormous capacity and many features that were not present on the previous oven.

Last evening—following a delightful dinner of grilled London Broil, white onion, red potatoes, Jalapeños, and red bell pepper, we settled into our recliners and watched a Johnny Cash DVD. The new microwave made a wonderful batch of popcorn.

We'll Always Have Paris, Bolt from the Blue, -and- The Water's Fine

We'll Always Have Paris - Hilton says shes "proud" she served jail sentence
Bolt from the Blue - lightning kills man under cloudless sky
The Water's Fine - fire crew used hydrant to fill pool

On this day in history: June 22, 1940 - France surrenders. Adolf Hitler forces the instrument of surrender to be signed in the very railcar in which the French inflicted the humiliating World War I Treaty of Versailles upon the Germans.

Born on this day in history: June 22, 1949 - Meryl Streep (1949 - ____) actress. She has starred in many films, including "The Deer Hunter," 1978 and "Kramer vs. Kramer," 1979.

Today's Video: Just for Fun

The weather—on this, the second day of summer—continues to be relatively mild. It has been in the low 90s for the last several days, and evenings bring a gentle breeze. It is very pleasant weather.

For dinner last evening, we had gourmet burritos. I simmered the remainder of the pig butt in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for several hours. I added six sliced Jalapeños, two diced habaneros, two sliced white onions, two diced tomatoes, ground black pepper, sea salt, ground cumin, and ground cayenne. Laura began tending to the pan when she arrived. Eventually, the pig meat shredded beautifully. The meal was delightful. Laura left for work this morning with leftovers in tow.