On this day in history: January 8, 1991 - Guitarist Steve Clark from Def Leppard found dead from a drug and alcohol overdose. He was 31.
Born on this day in history: January 8, 1935 - Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, pop singer Elvis Presley caused a national sensation on Ed Sullivan's "Talk of the Town" in 1956 because of his "scandalous" pelvic gyrations. That same year, he released his first million-selling single, "Heartbreak Hotel." Presley went on to become a pop icon, and one of the best-selling solo artists in music history.
Scripture of the Day: Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. - Amos 5:14-15
Video of the Day: New Google Phone vs. iPhone
Click the image below to see details on the exciting Adventure Cruise!
Good Parenting - Kansas dad lifts car off 6-year-old daughter The Kids Are Alright - 6-year-old girl saves mother after car wreck Un-holy - priest outrages police, tells poor to shoplift
On this day in history: December 21, 1970 - President Nixon meets with prescription drug addict Elvis Presley at the White House to discuss The King's becoming a special drug enforcement agent. He presents Nixon with a pistol, and receives a special DEA badge in return.
Born on this day in history: December 21, 1957 - Ray Romano (1957 - ) Born New York City, comedian-actor Ray Romano landed an appearance on "The Tonight Show." In 1996, he debuted the CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," which earned several Emmys and ran for nine seasons. A documentary about his stand-up gigs was released in 2007 and his new sitcom, "Men of a Certain Age," hit the airwaves in 2009.
Scripture of the Day: And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ... With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. — Acts 2:21, 40-41
Video of the Day: Rope Swing Fail - 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.
The Weekend in Review My plans of tossing a large hunk of sirloin onto the Weber vanished quickly Saturday morning when I peered outside and evaluated the day's weather—interpolating AcuWeather's forecast into my prognostication. Instead, I stewed the large sirloin roast in a pot. I seared all sides in extra-virgin olive oil then added two cups of Merlot, one cup of spring water, a quantity of Pappy's seasoning, several dashes of Red Monkey Mango Habanera seasoning, parsley flakes, Monterey steak seasoning, ground Cayenne pepper, whole mushrooms, large carrots (cut into 1-inch lengths), a large white onion (cut into six sections), six large stalks of celery (cut into 1-inch lengths), six large Jalapeños (cut into eights), four large Roma tomatoes (cut into sixths), two large heads of garlic (peeled), and six medium red potatoes (quartered). This cooked for four hours. It was absolutely wonderful. A quantity of leftover stew followed Laura to Chico this morning for her lunch. We shall have a redux of Saturday's dinner tomorrow evening. The remaining sirloin will then be used to make burritos later in the week.
Sunday morning, I performed with the worship team using my new guitar for the first time. It is a wonderful instrument.
Last evening, I made Jalapeño-bacon cheeseburgers and oven fries. I sautéed ground sirloin patties and sliced Jalapeños. I cut large baking potatoes into thin sections and placed in a bag with seasonings and extra-virgin olive oil. I massaged the bag to thoroughly coat the fries. I baked them in the conventional oven at 400°. Laura tended to the meal at this point. She placed the sautéed Jalapeño slices, bacon slices, and extra-sharp cheddar cheese slices atop the patties and turned the oven to broil. She toasted whole-wheat burger buns, and took everything to the table. We assembled our burgers—adding condiments large tomato slices. It was a delightful meal.
On this day in history: March 19, 1957 - Elvis Presley tours and then immediately agrees to purchase the 14 acre Graceland estate from Ruth Moore for $100,000.
Born on this day in history: March 19, 1955 - Bruce Willis (1955- ) Born in West Germany, and raised in New Jersey, actor Bruce Willis became known for his role in TV show "Moonlighting" (1985?9). He made a film debut in "Blind Date" (1987), and achieved star status in the "Die Hard" series, starting in 1988.
Scripture of the Day: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment. - Proverbs 10:21
Video of the Day: Elvis Presley - "Heartbreak Hotel" (1956)
Imagine my surprise when I encountered this apartment fire while driving to my office this morning! It appeared the man had things under control, so there was no need to alert the fire department.
The Americans With No Abilities Act President Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress are considering sweeping legislation that will provide new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said California Sen. Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability (POI) to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing."
In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons With No Ability.
Private-sector industries with good records of non-discrimination against the inept include retail sales (72 percent), the airline industry (68 percent), and home-improvement warehouse stores (65 percent). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has an excellent record of hiring Persons with No Ability (63 percent).
Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million mid-level positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given so as to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability (POI) into middle-management positions, and give a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the Americans With No Abilities Act contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as, "Do you have any skills or experience that relate to this job?"
"As a non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Mich., due to her inability to remember righty tighty, lefty loosey. "This new law should be real good for people like me." With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Sen. Dick Durbin: "As a senator with no abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation and a good salary for doing so."
The Kids Are Alright - 9-year-old boy rescues girl from pitbull Drive - 6-year-old boy takes parents' car after missing bus Mush! - Minnesota sled-dog race cancelled due to excessive snow
On this day in history: January 8, 1991 - Guitarist Steve Clark from Def Leppard found dead from a drug and alcohol overdose. He was 31.
Born on this day in history: January 8, 1935 - Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) Born in Tupelo, MS, pop singer Elvis Presley caused a national sensation on "Ed Sullivan's Talk of the Town" in 1956 because of his "scandalous" pelvic gyrations. That same year, he released his first million-selling single, "Heartbreak Hotel," and starred in the first of 33 films. After 1974, Presley became drug-dependent, spending his last years living reclusively at his Memphis home, Graceland.
Scripture of the Day: The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. - Lamentations 3:25
Video of the Day: White and Nerdy in Lego - submitted by Jay
Mr. Nitro has been Google-ized! The Google camera car caught Mr. Nitro napping on a Saturday morning. Click to enlarge.
Some of my fondest memories of my youth center about an enterprise that once operated on Highway 99W, just outside of Corning—The Snake Pit! The Snake Pit was an excellent venue for a young boy who has a fascination with snakes. Dangerous snakes could be viewed there at close range, without danger. When I-5 was completed, The Snake Pit closed. Like many businesses along Highway 99W, The Snake Pit was a victim of new freeway. Travelers no longer passed these businesses, and they quickly became shuttered. The owner of The Snake Pit is rumored to have loosed all the snakes into the adjacent field.
I have ferreted through all my historical photographs of Corning, and I have not found any photographs of The Snake Pit. PLEASE: If you have photographs of The Snake Pit, bring them to my office, so that I may scan them and add them to my collection of historical photographs of Corning! If you are distant, please mail them to me. I shall scan them and return them to you within 24 hours of receiving them, and I promise to treat them with the greatest of care! Thank you.
All in the Family - pizza worker sees dad when wig falls off robber To Serve and Protect - cop busted for selling confidential information Junk Mail - man gets 30 months in prison for spamming AOL
On this day in history: July 16, 1998 - An inattentive deputy sheriff in Lafayette, IN, drives his automobile into the stolen tombstone of actor James Dean. The 400 pound tombstone, which was stolen two days prior from Dean's gravesite at Park Cemetery (and later abandoned on a country road), rips the transmission out of the deputy's vehicle.
Born on this day in history: July 16, 1967 - Will Ferrell (1967-) Born in Irvine, California, the son of Righteous Brothers keyboard player Lee Ferrell, actor-comedian Will Ferrell began comedy shtick in high school. He joined The Groundlings, a Los Angeles improv troupe, and, in 1995, the cast of Saturday Night Live. Ferrell has since moved into films.
Scripture of the Day: [After Jesus had raised the son of the widow from Nain:] They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." - Luke 7:16
Video of the Day: Andy Kaufman Elvis impersonation (1979 Johnny Cash show) - submitted by Amber
The sky is blue and the birds are singing! Hopefully, the wildfires that have plagued California for weeks are nearing containment. Temperatures have dropped, winds have abated, and evacuation orders have been rescinded!
For dinner last evening, we had chicken, mashed potatoes, and celery and carrots. I diced white potatoes, peeled a head of garlic, and placed the potatoes and garlic in a covered casserole dish. I sliced celery and cut baby carrots into thirds, lengthwise. I seasoned the celery and carrots with Red Monkey lemon pepper seasoning, celery salt, and Tony Chachere's More Spice. Laura seasoned the potatoes, cooked them for 8 minutes in the microwave oven, added I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, ranch dressing, grated cheeses (cheddar, jack, and Jalapeño), and whipped with an electric mixer. She steamed the vegetables and reheated the Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which had been previously grilled. It was a delightful meal.
Seller Beware - woman faces $10 million fine for eBay business Semper Fi - Berkeley gives Marines the boot Never Too Young - West Virginia considers hunter training in schools
On this day in history: February 1, 1964 - Governor Matthew Welsh of Indiana declares "Louie, Louie" as recorded by The Kingsmen (originally by Richard Berry & The Pharaohs) "pornographic." And while the FCC couldn't figure out the lyrics, the governor's move backfires by making the song one of the most covered titles in existence.
Born on this day in history: February 1, 1968 - Lisa Marie Presley (1968-) Born in Memphis, TN, daughter of Elvis Presley, singer Lisa Marie Presley was sole heir and inherited Graceland, the King of Rock’s legendary estate. She has been married and divorced three times, including to superstar Michael Jackson. Presley now pursues a singing career, and debuted her first album in 2003.
Scripture of the Day: My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:1-2
Video of the Day: Pancakes II - submitted by Amber
It is dry today! It was foggy earlier this morning, but the only moisture on the ground is from the fog. Hopefully, today will be dry. Yesterday, the rain and wind were relentless. Laura reported that the power went off in Chico yesterday. Sierra Nevada, where she works, has its own power, so the company was not affected by the outage. Many others in Chico remained without power for extended periods. Some still are without power. We did not suffer any outages here in Corning. Hopefully this respite from the storm will last through the weekend.
For dinner last evening, we had chicken fajitas. I made a quantity of guacamole, with two large avocados and salsa. I sliced a large white onion, 16 garlic cloves, a large red bell pepper, two large Jalapeño peppers, and two grilled chicken breasts. Laura sautéed the vegetables in extra-virgin olive oil and seasoned them with Tony Chachere's More Spice seasoning and ground black pepper. When they were cooked but still crisp, she added the chicken, stirred, covered, and removed from the heat. She warmed flour tortillas, and we dined. It was delightful. We ate it all!
Heat of the Moment - over 400 prominent scientists dispute global warming Not Welcome - couple forced to take in criminal lodger Dive! - cocaine kingpins have submarine fleet
On this day in history: December 21, 1970 - President Nixon meets with prescription drug addict Elvis Presley at the White House to discuss The King's becoming a special drug enforcement agent. He presents Nixon with a pistol, and receives a special DEA badge in return.
Born on this day in history: December 21, 1940 - Frank Zappa (1940–93) Avant-garde rock musician and composer, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He played guitar in a high school blues and rock band and briefly studied music theory in college. He led the satirical "underground" band The Mothers of Invention (with varying line-ups) in the 1960s and 1970s, making inventive and often scabrous albums such as "Freak-Out!" (1966) and "We're Only in it for the Money" (1967, a parody of the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album). Influential solo albums included "Lumpy Gravy" (1968) and "Hot Rats" (1969); and from various new groupings of Mothers came "Just Another Band from LA," "Over-Nite Sensation," and more. He created and scored the film "200 Motels," and composed serious music, performed by Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, and others.
Scripture of the Day: "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7)
Video of the Day: Creation - submitted by Laura
Here is an amazing photograph of the Orion Nebula, taken with a Nikon D3, at ISO 1600 for 70 seconds! Click to enlarge.
Take Me Home! - Paris Hilton released from jail for "medical reasons" Call Waiting - man drowns trying to get cell phone in sewer 10-4 - trucker saves young father from traffic
On this day in history: June 7, 1982 - In an effort to defray its $500,000 annual upkeep costs, Priscilla Presley opens Graceland to the public only five years after Elvis died in an upstairs bathroom. The bathroom is kept off-limits to tourists.
Born on this day in history: June 7, 1981 - Anna Kournikova (1981 - ____) tennis player. She is known for her glamour on and off the tennis court.
Today's Video: Most People Riding a Surfboard
VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.
The weather remains cool, although there has been no rain nor fierce wind since Tuesday's powerful storm. The storm did a good deal of damage in this area. It brought down trees and power poles and left some areas without power or telephone service for several hours. While I did not experience any loss of electric power, the telephone at my office was affected for several hours, and the DirecTV satellite signal was lost for about twenty minutes.
Paris Hilton was released from jail today for "medical reasons." She shall serve the 40-day balance of her sentence confined to her home and must wear an ankle bracelet. This is not hawt! It shall be interesting, however, to see whether Paris can successfully complete the 40-day home confinement without slipping out of her ankle bracelet and making the party scene. Of course, with the resources she has available to her, she could easily arrange for the party to come to her!
Don't Eat It! - seafood from China raised in untreated sewage Foul - court rejects FCC broadcast decency limit Leaving on a Jet Plane - road-rage suspect tries to fly out of U.S.
On this day in history: June 5, 1956 - Elvis Presley appears on Milton Berle TV show. His undulating hip movements during the song "Hound Dog" cause quite a controversy.
Born on this day in history: June 5, 1898 - Federico Garcia Lorca (1898 - 1936) poet, dramatist. He was noted for his poems of death and for his dramatic trilogy: "Blood Wedding,"1933; "Yerma," 1934; and "The House of Bernarda Alba," 1936.
