The Good News, Heat of the Moment, -and- No Trespassing!

The Good News - anonymous donor gives $50 million to translate bible
Heat of the Moment - huge blunder discredits Gore's chief scientist
No Trespassing! - teen attacked by a cougar when she and her boyfriend illegally entered wildlife collector's home

On this day in history: November 17, 1992 - Scaremongering "journalists" at Dateline NBC falsify a demonstration involving a GM truck exploding on impact. In reality the trucks do not explode on impact, and smarmy reporters do not always tell the truth.

Born on this day in history: November 17, 1942 - Martin Scorsese (1942 - ) Born in Flushing, New York, film director, writer and producer Martin Scorsese, is considered one of the foremost directors of his generation. His many films include "Taxi Driver" (1976), "Raging Bull" (1980) and "Gangs of New York" (2002). In 2004 he received the Directors Guild of America lifetime achievement award. Scorsese won his first Academy Award for best director for the film "The Departed" (2006).

Scripture of the Day: "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!" — Zechariah 11:17

Video of the Day: Top 10 Weird Animals - submitted by Darin

A dog attacks a Nikon D3! (NOT mine!) Click to enlarge.

Laura is home, resting. She was saved by the grace of God. Nothing else can explain what the doctors deemed to be a miracle, since they felt that the quantity of blood in her system was insufficient to sustain life! I took Laura to St. Elizabeth's Hospital last Thursday. She received transfusions Thursday and Friday, and I redeemed her Friday evening. She has been resting at home since then and growing stronger and feeling better each day. She thanks all who prayed for her!

As a special dinner last evening, I prepared New York strip steaks, giant prawns, and huge baked potatoes. In the morning, I made marinades for the prawns and steaks: I marinated de-veined giant prawns (tails removed) in extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, lemon pepper, powdered wasabi, granulated garlic, and fresh cilantro. I marinated the steaks in extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, and ground black pepper. I grilled the steaks and prawns over a high flame. The steaks were beautifully charred on the exterior, while the interior remained rare. The prawns' shells were charred, and the meat inside remained moist and succulent. I baked two huge Russet Burbank potatoes. At the table, we split the potatoes open and added I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, sour cream, chopped chives, ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, sea salt, ground Chile de Arbol, and ground Cayenne. Laura used teriyaki sauce as a condiment, and I enjoyed wasabi paste similarly. It was a delicious meal.

Fighting Back, Dog House, -and- Wired

Fighting Back - German supermarket cashier foiled three armed robbers by pelting them with cheese
Dog House - 800 small dogs seized from filthy Arizona home
Wired - IBM to help build broadband network in power lines

On this day in history: November 12, 1933 - Hugh Gray of the British Aluminium Company took five pictures of the Loch Ness Monster, the first known photos. Four the the five exposures were blank, and the remaining photo was later proven to be a hoax.

Born on this day in history: November 12, 1929 - Grace Kelly (1929 - 1982) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, film actress and Princess Grace Kelly made her film debut in 1951, achieving fame in such classics as "High Noon" (1952) and "To Catch a Thief" (1955). In 1956, she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Kelly was killed in a car accident.

Scripture of the Day: A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. — Proverbs 11:12

Video of the Day: Lazy Cat - submitted by Cindy

The Grand Marshall of Corning's Veterans Day Parade. Click to enlarge.

Harvest Festival 2008 Photographs from yesterday morning's Veterans Day parade await your viewing pleasure! From the index page for the Photo Gallery of Local Events, choose Veteran's Day Parade. You may view the images individually by clicking on them, or you may view them as a slide show by clicking on "start slide show." Enjoy!

Back Pain: I have suffered from back pain for countless years. The pain is generally kept within reasonable bounds using aspirin and ibuprofen. When I do a photo shoot, however, the pain becomes very nearly unbearable. I traditionally lean against trees and other objects in order to alleviate the pain somewhat.

When I shot the recent homecoming parade, I used a ThermaCare® HeatWrap for the first time and was amazed to find that I suffered no back pain whatever! I used a ThermaCare® HeatWrap when shooting the recent Harvest Festival. Again, there was no back pain encountered—and the shoot lasted several hours! Yesterday, I used a ThermaCare® HeatWrap while shooting the Veterans Day parade. Again, there was no back pain encountered!

I highly recommend this product to anyone who suffers from back pain! The cost is under $3 each—sold in packages of 2 wraps. They are not reusable.

Woman Bites Dog, Brave New Schools, -and- Fruit of the Vine

Woman Bites Dog - attacks pit bull to save pet
Brave New Schools - 6-year-old suspended for sexual harassment
Fruit of the Vine - Italian wine under investigation for adulteration

On this day in history: April 4, 1988 - Arizona Governor Evan Mecham becomes the first U.S. governor to be impeached and removed from office in nearly 60 years. He was convicted for obstructing justice by discouraging a state official from investigating a death threat, and also misusing $80,000 in public money.

Born on this day in history: April 4, 1965 - Robert Downey Jr. (1965-) Born in New York City, son of avant-garde filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., actor Robert Downey first appeared in films like "Weird Science" (1985), and gained profile as the flamboyant cocaine addict in "Less Than Zero" (1987). He went on to Charlie Chaplin biopic (1992) and other success. Downey has suffered serious drug and legal problems, serving jail time, but recently re-married and his career is back on track.

Scripture of the Day: But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. - Galatians 4:4

Video of the Day: Expelled Preview of "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." This is a controversial documentary film which claims that educators and scientists are being persecuted for their belief that there is evidence of design in nature. Hosted by Ben Stein, it claims that what the film calls "Big Science" allows no dissent from the scientific theory of evolution, and blames the theory for a range of modern movements from Nazism to Planned Parenthood. It is due to be released on April 18, 2008. Submitted by Laura

Here is the limited-edition Bruce Lee Model Nikon D3! Click to enlarge.

It is considerably warmer this morning than it has been for the last several days. I inadvertently left my jacket in the cargo area of Mr. Nitro yesterday afternoon and found it sufficiently warm this morning that I eschewed it. I walked from the rear parking area to the front of my office and was not particularly troubled by the temperature. The temperature display on the heating/cooling control showed the interior temperature to be 65 degrees. This is 4 degrees warmer than yesterday. The forecast for tomorrow and Sunday are now several degrees warmer than they were yesterday. This is encouraging!

The Eyes Have It, Show and Tell, -and- Disarmed

The Eyes Have It - bionic contact lens may create tiny personal displays
Show and Tell - man exposes himself, blames restless-leg syndrome
Disarmed - major credit card company disallows firearm purchases

On this day in history: January 31, 1961 - The United States sends its first monkey into space, Ham the chimpanzee. His Mercury/Redstone 2 achieves an altitude of 158 miles, a 19-minute ride that subjects Ham to a force of 16 times gravity. The space ape splashes down safely, his capsule is plucked from the ocean by the USS Donner.

Born on this day in history: January 31, 1919 - Jackie Robinson (1919–72)Born in Cairo, GA, baseball player Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play in the major leagues, becoming a star for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1947-56). Robinson was Rookie of the Year in 1947, and league batting champion and Most Valuable Player in 1949.

Scripture of the Day: Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD ... they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. - Proverbs 1:29,31

Video of the Day: Monkey Cowboy Rides Dog - submitted by Laura

Monkey turns cowboy

Here is a photograph I took of Mr. Nitro with my new Nikon D3 DSLR. I took this photograph with a Nikkor 24-120mm lens, at 24mm, from a distance of 18" from the vehicle. Click to enlarge.

The rain has returned! The wind has returned, also. It began sprinkling lightly while I was on my way to the office. It is now raining in earnest. The weatherpeople have been wrong all week, but their forecast for today appears to be correct.

It is difficult to imagine that it has been nearly a year since we purchased Mr. Nitro and Mr. Yaris, but the evidence cannot be disputed: The registration renewals and 2008 license-plate stickers arrived (I renewed the registrations online—something I highly recommend doing.), and I received a letter from Sirius Satellite Radio alerting me that I have only a few days during which to renew my Sirius satellite radio subscription. When I purchased Mr. Nitro, a one-year subscription to Sirius was included. The free ride will soon end. I enjoy Sirius a good deal, so I shall renew the subscription. Laura and I have our favorite channels, and reception is excellent nearly everywhere. Tunnels, car washes, indoor parking structures, and trees can sometimes affect reception, but this is a mere temporary inconvenience. In remote areas and mountainous regions where FM signals are inaccessible, Sirius is available. Also, the necessity to search for stations while traveling—as one exits the broadcast area for a station—is not an issue with Sirius.

I finally employed Mr. Nitro's remote start function last evening. I left the heater controls set when I exited Mr. Nitro yesterday afternoon at our home. When we were nearly ready to depart for Bible college at Harvest Christian Center, I activated Mr. Nitro's remote start function from the warmth of our house. When we entered Mr. Nitro, he was comfortably warm. I repeated this procedure when we were departing the church. The remote start function—as well as the alarm arm/disarm functions operate from a distance of up to 300 feet—so long as there is a clear path for the signal from the key to the vehicle.

Heat of the Moment, Avast!, -and- Never Too Young

Heat of the Moment - critique mounts against biofuels
Avast! - sailor convicted on 10 counts of wearing unearned medals
Never Too Young - teen arrested for plane hijack plot

On this day in history: January 25, 1971 - Charles Manson and three of his followers are convicted in Los Angeles of the Tate and LaBianca murders. All were sentenced to the gas chamber, with sentences commuted to life imprisonment when the death penalty was temporarily abolished.

Born on this day in history: January 25, 1981 - Alicia Keys (1981-) Born Alicia Augello Cook in New York City, musician Alicia Keys blends pop, gospel, R&B and soul, and burst onto the music scene in 2001 with her debut album "Songs in A Minor," which racked up 5 Grammys.

Scripture of the Day: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
- Philemon 1:25

Video of the Day: Very Funny Cats Part 9 - submitted by Cindy

Got beer! Click to enlarge.

Light Bulb Comparison Excel spreadsheet shows cost comparison between incandescent, CFL, and LED light bulbs.

The rain continues! It rained throughout the night and continues today. The forecast for the next five days: Rain! While the rain has been relatively light (albeit continuous), and there is no immediate threat of flooding, this weather is certainly uninviting. I am eager to put my new Nikon D3 DSLR to use, but I certainly have no desire to take it out into the rain!

There was an armed robbery at Valero early Monday morning. There was an armed robbery there last year. The robbers were apprehended within minutes. The suspect in Monday's robbery has not been found. This is particularly disturbing, since Valero is only a block from our house. Thankfully, we enjoy the protection of God's angels! (We also have a Sig Sauer P229 .357 Sig and a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum.) We shall remain secure from scofflaws!

Slither, Jury Duty, -and- Heat of the Moment

Slither - man arrested after stroll with python
Jury Duty - court orders passers-by to serve
Heat of the Moment - global-warming protest frosted with snow

On this day in history: January 18, 1991 - The United States admits that the CIA paid Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega over $300,000 during his career as undercover narc.

Born on this day in history: January 18, 1955 - Kevin Costner (1955– ) Born in Compton, CA, actor Kevin Costner gained fame in "Bull Durham" (1988) and "Field of Dreams" (1989). He directed and starred in epic film "Dances With Wolves" (1990), which won seven Oscars. Costner has gone on to starring roles in numerous films.

Scripture of the Day: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

Video of the Day: Nikon D3 Preview!

Mr. D3 has arrived! He is wonderful well beyond the limits of the human imagination! Click to enlarge.

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

The Saga of the Nikon D3: (NOTE: The following took place yesterday.) On September 12, 2007, I pre-ordered a Nikon D3 Digital SLR body to replace my Nikon D1 Digital SLR body (available in the For Sale Forum on this board). Because I am a certified Nikon Professional Services member, my order was prioritized by Nikon. Nikon would ship a D3 body to the seller (Ritz Camera) under my name, when the camera became available. The camera began shipping in late December, and my position on the NPS list arose this week. Nikon shipped a D3 body to Ritz Camera, and Ritz Camera shipped it to me two days ago.

So far, so good, you are thinking. Ah!

I tracked the shipment and was understandably upset when tracking this morning resulted in the status showing "no one at home - delivery not made"! I raced to my house and retrieved the FedEx door tag. Yikes! Apparently, Ritz Camera was unable to differentiate between "billing address" and "shipping address" and was further unable to read the shipping directions from the NPS directive.

I scanned the FedEx door tag and emailed it to Laura. She called a few minutes ago to say that she had successfully retrieved the 8-pound (!) package from the FedEx depot at the airport in Chico on her way home from her position as Executive Assistant to the owner of Sierra Nevada.

I am now able to relax for the first time since 10 AM this morning, when I received the abhorrent status report.

I told Laura how relieved I was, and she said, "Look on the bright side. They could have left it on the doorstep, and somebody could have grabbed it." That certainly made me appreciate the way things took place. The thought of some scofflaw selling my $5,000 camera body to buy meth conjured an image that I shall not soon forget.

True South, Police State, -and- Monkey Business

True South - Chuck Norris blasts "The Golden Compass"
Police State - cops test surveillance system at tree lighting
Monkey Business - young chimp beats college students

On this day in history: December 3, 1974 - Civil aviation authorities in England issue a warning to pilots to avoid a 40-foot-long inflated pig. The aeropork had escaped its tether during a Pink Floyd photo shoot.

Born on this day in history: December 3, 1930 - Jean-Luc Godard (1930 - ____) director. He was a founder of French New Wave cinema; his controversial films include "Breathless," 1960 and "Hail Mary," 1985.

Scripture of the Day: "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35)

Video of the Day: Terry Fator, Ventriloquist - Part 1 of 5 - submitted by Frank

Here is a photograph of the new Nikon D3 professional digital SLR. I am impatiently awaiting mine to arrive. 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!

Friday evening, we had six-cheese ravioli for dinner. Laura brought this treat home from Sierra Nevada. It was delicious. We also enjoyed some of Sierra Nevada's fresh bread and wonderful dipping oil.

Saturday morning, I arose at 7 AM. It was 28 degrees when I started making a giant batch of chili. AccuWeather is a Sidebar Gadget on my Vista Ultimate Desktop, and I checked my email just before I began preparations for making the enormous batch of chili. I used 6 pounds of ground sirloin, 4 white onions, 12 Jalapeños, 4 stalks of celery, 2 Habaneros, 8 Roma tomatoes, 1 red bell pepper, 2 packages of Carroll Shelby's chili seasoning, 8 tablespoons of Gebhardt's chili powder, 4 tablespoons of ground Cayenne pepper, 2 tablespoons of ground black pepper, and 2 bottles of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. The chili simmered all day, and we enjoyed it for dinner. At the table, we added fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, grated cheddar cheese, and sour cream.

Sunday morning, Laura sang in the choir at Harvest Christian Center. We attended the early service. Laura stayed to sing in the choir at the late service. I scurried home and made a scrumptious frittata, with five small white potatoes, two small white onions, two heads of whole, peeled garlic, six Jalapeños, six jumbo eggs, a package of New York-style link sausage, and cheddar cheese. It was a treat, and half remains for a future meal.

For dinner that evening, we enjoyed some beef tamales. These tamales were produced by a lady who attends Harvest Christian Center. She and her daughters produced 48 dozen authentic, traditional tamales for a fundraiser for one of the young members of the congregation. He will soon leave to attend a Christian college in Texas. The church has been holding fundraisers to help defray the costs he will encounter. We are having a large yard sale for this purpose on the 15th.

Tell Wal-Mart, "Thank you"!

- for ending corporate contributions to national homosexual activist groups.

- for resisting pressure to treat homosexual partners the same way as married couples for purposes of giving employee benefits.

- for not censoring the word "Christmas" in marketing materials during the Christmas-shopping season.

- for supporting the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign by allowing their bell-ringers to solicit contributions on Wal-Mart property--and for throwing a $1 million donation in the kettle.

No corporation as large as Wal-Mart will ever be perfect in all of their corporate practices. But in the last year and a half, Wal-Mart has shown that it will listen to the concerns of its customers who hold to traditional values and that it has the backbone to resist at least some of the demands of "political correctness."

So when you shop at Wal-Mart this season, tell your local store manager, "Thank you and Merry Christmas!"

Family Research Council
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Washington, D.C. 20001
Family Research Council