Somebody's Watching You, Animal Kingdom, -and- Don't Worry Be Hoppy

In the News Today

Somebody's Watching You - Government surveillance crackdown on Internet goes into overdrive

Animal Kingdom - Scientists puzzled why Alaska polar bears are losing their fur

Don't Worry Be Hoppy - Florida police pose as giant bunnies to catch illegal drivers

Technology in the News Today

NYC Phone Booths to Become "Smart Screen" Stations

YouTube Founders Building Mysterious Magazine Publishing App

Hands On With Max Payne 3

Born on this Day in History: April 9, 1954 - After his breakout role in 1979’s Breaking Away, Dennis Quaid never looked back, starring in a wide variety of films ranging from huge hits (1983’s The Right Stuff) to disappointments (1983’s Jaws 3-D). Quaid found renewed success in the 1990s with such films as Any Given Sunday, Frequency, and Far from Heaven, for which he was named Best Supporting Actor by the New York Film Critics Circle.

On this Day in History: April 9, 1992 - Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering by a federal court in Miami.

Scripture of the Day

Video of the Day





Walmart People - Click to enlarge

Animal Kingdom, Show Me the Money, -and- Food Fight

Animal Kingdom - scientists say dolphins should be treated as "non-human persons"
Show Me the Money - $5 million Lotto winner lives in trailer
Food Fight - woman smashes McDonald's drive-through window when told order could not be filled

On this day in history: January 4, 1997 - Rumors run rampant through Israel, particularly over talk radio, that a UFO will land at Tel Aviv on the following day. The predictions are purported to have been made by spoonbender Uri Geller. Thousands flock to the beaches, but no saucer

Born on this day in history: January 4, 1643 - Sir Isaac Newton (1643 - 1727) Born in Lincolnshire, England, physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton studied at Cambridge and is one of history's foremost scientists. After discovering the laws of gravity in 1665-6, Newton studied the nature of light and, in 1687, wrote his famous "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy."

Scripture of the Day: [God] has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8

Video of the Day: Travis Pastrana jumps 269 feet in rally car! - submitted by Darin

It's Enforcer Cat! Click to enlarge.

For New Year's Eve dining delight, we had an array of sushi delicacies and a bottle of Mumms Champagne Carte Classique.

For New Year's Day brunch, we enjoyed pan-seared top sirloin steaks, sautéed red potato wedges, and fried eggs. It was a delightful way to begin the new year!

Technology News
New malware-loaded PDF in circulation
Horizon to show fuel cell for charging gadgets
Kingston flash drives suffer password flaw

Animal Kingdom, Surf's Down, -and- Brave New Schools

Animal Kingdom - police arrest dog for chewing owner's rent money
Surf's Down - recording industry wants to ban woman from downloading
Brave New Schools - seventh grader sues school over right to wear pro-life T-shirt

On this day in history: July 7, 1665 - King Charles II and his entourage flee London, a city suffering the ravages of the black plague. At this point, about 2,000 Londoners are dying weekly.

Born on this day in history: July 7, 1980 - Michelle Kwan (1980-) Born in Torrance, California, figure skating champion Michelle Kwan began skating at five, winning her first competition a year later. Kwan went on to capture the world title five times.

Scripture of the Day: "And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD." — Ezekiel 38:23

Video of the Day: iPhone Trick - submitted by Cindy

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

The New Grill

The new grill was scheduled to arrive yesterday. It did not. The tracking information on the shipper's Web site says it will be delivered yesterday. That is not encouraging. I yearn for the sight of flesh charring on the new grill!

Update: 3:25 PM

I "listened to elevator music" (as Cindy suggested) sufficiently long enough to finally reach a live person. He researched the shipment of the grill and reported that it arrived in Red Bluff (about 20 miles north of here) early yesterday morning. He said it is expected to be delivered Thursday morning! That certainly makes the shipping company's name, Nonstop Delivery, a gross misnomer, I would suggest.

Animal Kingdom, Anybody Home?, -and- Stupid Criminals

Animal Kingdom - hummingbirds "faster than jets"
Anybody Home? - Wrecking crew uses GPS, demolishes wrong house
Stupid Criminals - online postings led police to serial cat killer

On this day in history: June 15, 1992 - The Supreme Court rules in US v. Alvarez-Machain that it is permissible for America to abduct suspects in foreign countries and smuggle them into the United States for trial, without extradition approval from those other countries.

Born on this day in history: June 15, 1964 - Courteney Cox (1964- ) Born in Birmingham, AL, actress Courteney Cox modeled in New York then became famous as Monica Geller on the TV series "Friends," which ran for 10 years. Her films include "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (1994) and "Scream" (1996).

Scripture of the Day: Instead you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:15

Video of the Day: Laser Flashlight Hack - submitted by Darin

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

The Weekend
The weekend was very serene and restorative—until Laura sprayed catnip on the kitties' scratching post! The cats quickly became feral. My cat, Zeus, is a great devotee of catnip, as evidenced by this photograph!

Animal Kingdom, Armed and Dangerous, -and- It's a Boy!

Animal Kingdom - thieving fox amasses 120 shoes
Armed and Dangerous - cop runs over woman sunbathing on Florida beach
It's a Boy! - Cher's daughter Chastity changing gender

On this day in history: June 12, 1994 - Nicole Brown Simpson and her male friend Ronald Goldman are savagely murdered in front of Simpson's condominium complex in Brentwood, California. The most plausible suspect turns out to be Nicole's estranged husband O.J., who is arrested for the crime a month later. A jury later finds Simpson not guilty, and in a subsequent civil case, he is found guilty.

Born on this day in history: June 12, 1929 - Anne Frank (1929 - 1945) Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Jewish diarist and concentration camp victim, Anne Frank fled the Nazis to The Netherlands in 1933. During the occupation, she hid in an office flat in Amsterdam with her family and kept a moving diary, later published. Frank died in Belsen concentration camp.

Scripture of the Day: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. — Psalm 103:12

Video of the Day: Brat Drop

No caption required! Click to enlarge.

A visitor from Johnsonville!

A visitor from Johnsonville came to this blog yesterday and invited everyone to enter a campaign the company is currently running: "We have this new campaign called Create Your Own Ville, you can create your own Johnsonville ad and enter for a chance at $23,000 in cash and grilling prizes. Anyone else here fans of Johnsonville, or plan on checking out the site to enter a VILLE? Go on to http://www.createyourownville.com to check it out!"

That sounds like an excellent idea to me. I shall certainly enter!

New features in iPhone 3G OS 3.0

1. Cut/Paste
2. Copy/Paste
3. Shake to undo/redo typing
4. Text selection for easy mass deletion
5. MMS
6. Landscape keyboard in Notes
7. Landscape keyboard in Mail
8. Landscape keyboard in Messages
9. Forward texts or picture messages
10. Delete individual texts or picture messages
11. Sending progress bar in Messages app moved to title instead of over the keyboard area (allows typing new message while the first one is sending)
12. USB tethering
13. Bluetooth tethering
14. Stereo bluetooth (A2DP)
15. Spotlight search (searches all app titles, mail, media, contact details, and calendar appointments)
16. Search in Notes
17. Search in Mail
18. Search in iPod
19. In-App purchases
20. Option to have double clicking the home button go to the Spotlight Search
21. Option to have double clicking the home button go to the Camera
22. Preview icon in lower left hand corner for last shot taken in Camera app
23. Shake to shuffle in iPod
24. Scrolling of screenshots in App Store
25. Type of phone used under each call in Recents (i.e., mobile, home, work, etc.)
26. Call history log (including call duration)
27. Option to Share Contact in each contact listing
28. Hold link in Safari to Copy
29. Hold link in Safari to Open in New Page
30. Auto Fill contact information, usernames and passwords in Safari
31. Login to your YouTube account
32. See Comments in YouTube
33. Subscribe in YouTube
34. Rate in YouTube
35. Shake to undo what you have typed
36. Option to retry sending failed text messages, indicated by red exclamation point next to text 37.
Turn-by-turn GPS capabilities
38. Maps can be run inside other applications
39. Access to dock port for accessories to communicate
40. Peer-to-peer connectivity using Bluetooth (no Wi-Fi required)
41. New Voice memo application
42. Extended Parental controls
43. Anti-phishing
44. Wi-Fi auto login
45. Note syncing in iTunes
46. Improved Stocks app
47. New calendar types (CalDAV)
48. Prompt to confirm deleting a note
49. Prompt to confirm deleting a photo
50. Option to select multiple photos to attach to an email
51. "Find My iPhone" option for MobileMe users
52. Unlimited size podcast downloads over 3G
53. Pushing home button on first home screen takes user to Spotlight
54. Pushing home button on Spotlight takes user to first home screen
55. Variable speed playback for audio books
56. App Store subscriptions
57. Push notifications
58. Audio/Video tags
59. New video streaming capabilities (HTML 5 video, h.264 and HTTP)
60. Calendar subscriptions
61. iTunes login
62. iTunes account creation
63. Encypted profiles
64. LDAP (directory services)
65. VPN on-demand
66. EAP SIM
67. Proxy support
68. OTA profiles
69. Revoke certificates
70. Exchange ActiveSync Policies
71. Media scrubber
72. More languages
73. Improved keyboards
74. Failed app updates now are shown in a duplicate icon and labeled "Paused"
75. When selecting multiple emails to forward/delete, any unread emails'
blue dot are shown next to the red selector dot instead of being overridden by the red selector dot
76. Non-contact phone calls list their city and state of origin in Recents and Visual Voicemail under the number.
77. Ability to change ringtones straight from Favorites
78. Lap time display now displayed smaller and above time in Stopwatch
79. Polished Phone, Messages, and iPod icons
80. Swipe to delete notes in the Notes app
81. Advanced Bluetooth options for Handsfree devices
82. Option to close a single web page in Safari page view, which immediately opens a new blank page
83. Improved predictive dictionary
84. Blue dot now displayed in center of location circle in Maps (V1 only)
85. Listening to music while charging the battery now displays the album art instead of the battery
86. Smaller font for song title on lock screen
87. Option in Phone Settings to choose your phone number
88. Option to disable text message reminder alerts
89. Option to disable text message previews
90. Option to show subject field in text messages
91. Ability to integrate iPod music into apps
92. Clickable email links in App Store app descriptions
93. JavaScript 3x speed boost
94. 11 homescreens now allowed
95. Reboots to "slide to unlock" screen instead of homescreen
96. In Settings>General>Home>Search Results, users can choose what is searched on the phone and in what order.
97. Application count added in Settings>General>About
98. Option "Load Remote Images" added in Mail settings
99. Global address book option available if Exchange account is set up
100. Speed control in audiobooks
101. 30 second repeat option for audiobooks
102. Improved scrubbing speeds when holding white dot in song progress bar in iPod 103. When sending a text, your text box where you typed smoothly fades from white to green instead of instantly changing from white to green.
104. When moving an app across homescreens, holding the app on either the left or right side will slowly advance the app one through one homescreen at a time, without leaving empty spots in the bottom right corner or each homescreen it advances through.
105. Album name displayed on lockscreen iPod controls
106. Shake to shuffle on lockscreen iPod controls
107. Podcasts saved on iPhone now show Run Time, Time Left and Date Published
108. Screen goes from dimmed to full brightness after each song when playing the iPod while plugged in
109. WAVE file support in Mail
110. Attachment no longer automatically downloaded until user taps the attachment in Mail
111. When using a bluetooth headset with iPod, volume bar is removed and bluetooth headset name is displayed in its place.
112. A hard reset on your phone (holding sleep and home for 10 seconds) now turns it off instead of restarting it.
113. A space is no longer needed between two words for predictive texting to function.

Animal Kingdom, Bad Parenting, -and- Keep the Change

Animal Kingdom - sightings show cougars expanding into central US
Bad Parenting - German couple abandons three children in restaurant
Keep the Change - parking-meter repairman steals $170,000 from broken meters

On this day in history: April 24, 1928 - The Supreme Court of Canada declares that though women are indeed legal "persons," they are nevertheless ineligible to serve in the Canadian Senate. The Court agreed that the term "person" applies equally to humans of both genders, but the British North America Act referred specifically to "fit and qualified persons" -- necessarily excluding unfit and unqualified people (aka females).

Born on this day in history: April 24, 1942 - Barbra Streisand (1942 - ) Born in New York City, singer, actress and director Barbara Streisand became famous in Broadway's "Funny Girl" (1964), which she repeated in the 1968 film version to win an Oscar. Later films include "Hello Dolly" (1969), "Yentl" (1983), which she co-scripted, composed, directed and starred in, and "Prince of Tides" (1991), in which she also starred and co-produced and directed. A multi-talented entertainer, Streisand has won numerous Grammys, and maintains parallel careers as recording artist and actress.

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: Amazing Accidents - submitted by Darin

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

Charging My Batteries: I am charging my Nikon D3 camera battery and the batteries for my Nikon SB-900 Speedlight, in preparation for attending and photographing ChicoFest at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. It will be an exciting event, and I am eager to photograph the event and the inner workings of the brewery.

For more information on ChicoFest, click the link above!

You Go Girl, Plain Text, -and- Animal Kingdom

You Go Girl! - Miss California's granny comes out swinging
Plain Text - PA men send 217,000 text messages, get $26,000 bill
Animal Kingdom - woman mugged by eagle

On this day in history: April 22, 1997 - After a four-month standoff, 140 government commandos storm the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, Peru. Of the 72 hostages, one is killed in the ensuing firefight, along with all 14 of their captors.

Born on this day in history: April 22, 1937 - Jack Nicholson (1937 - ) Born in Neptune, NJ, actor Jack Nicholson first hit big in a supporting role in "Easy Rider" (1969). His charisma and acute sense of humor have illuminated a wide range of characters in films as diverse as "Chinatown" (1974), "The Shining" (1980) and "Batman" (1989). He has earned several Oscars, notably for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975) and "Terms of Endearment" (1983). Nicholson has also written scripts and occasionally directs.

Scripture of the Day: Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Video of the Day: Terry Tate - Vacation

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

Hot Weather: The hot weather is here! This is a screen capture from my iPhone yesterday afternoon—after the temperature had dropped from a high of 98° earlier that afternoon!

You All Right?, Cleared for Landing, -and- Animal Kingdom

You All RIght? - David Buckner Faints on Glenn Beck's show
Cleared for Landing - passenger safely lands plane after pilot dies
Animal Kingdom - Spokane parks detonating ground squirrels

On this day in history: April 14, 1865 - President Abraham Lincoln receives a cranial gunshot wound from the nation's most famous actor, John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln dies the following day, primarily from ill-advised attempts to extract the bullet lodged in his brain.

Born on this day in history: April 14, 1977 - Sarah Michelle Gellar (1977-) Born in New York City, actress Sarah Michelle made her first TV movie in 1983. In 1993, she joined the cast of soap "All My Children," earning an Emmy, and then moved into leading films roles. In 1997, Gellar landed her star-making role on TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." She is now pursuing a film career.

Scripture of the Day: Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death. - Proverbs 10:2

Video of the Day: Cat Yawning - submitted by Cindy

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

The Wind: The fierce wind that plagued us earlier in the month has returned! It would be a beautiful day—as was yesterday—were it not for this foul wind. The sun is shining brightly, but the birds are unable to maintain a perching posture on the telephone wires because of the wind. Consequently, they are not singing.

For dinner last evening, I made lemon chicken. I cooked jasmine rice in the electric rice cooker. While the rice cooked, I sautéd Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1"-wide slices), bevel-sliced celery, and sliced white onion. I made a sauce with a large Meyers lemon that was given to Laura by a coworker, cornstarch, sugar, and red pepper flakes. I spread the rice on a serving platter, positioned the chicken and vegetables atop the rice, and drizzled the lemon sauce over the dish. It was a delicious meal.

Matters of Life and Death, You Can't Have It Your Way!, -and- Animal Kingdom

Matters of Life and Death - 1 million red envelopes deluge White House
You Can't Have It Your Way! - man fires shots into McDonald's when told he's early for lunch
Animal Kingdom - urban coyote attacks on the rise

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- ) Born in New York City, actor Christopher Walken made his Broadway debut at 16. His first big film role was in "The Anderson Tapes" (1971), and he won an Oscar for "The Deer Hunter" (1978). With an ability to play both sinister and comic roles, Walken has appeared in an enormous range of roles.

Scripture of the Day: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

Video of the Day: The Perfect Crime - submitted by Chris

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

The iPhone: We have been using our iPhones for several days now. The more I use my iPhone, the more amazed I am by its capabilities and its speed. There are thousands and thousands (some say 25,000) applications for the iPhone—a great many of which are free. I installed Bible and quickly became greatly enamored of it. It presents a very capable interface for a multitude of Bible translations. Another application I truly enjoy is Shazam. Shazam analyzes any song that is playing and reports the artist, title, CD, discography of the artist, etc. It is an amazing program. Visit iTunes and see for yourself the vast array of available applications. In addition to the applications to be found at iTunes, many private developers offer applications for the iPhone. The availability of applications is nearly endless.

Laura took this photograph of her cat, Thor, with her iPhone last evening:

The Wind: The wind that has plagued us unmercifully since last Sunday morning appears to have abated! This is wonderful. I loathe the wind. It serves to provide nothing—other than cold, airborne irritants, and general discomfort. I am pleased to see it gone!

Fighting Back, Animal Kingdom, -and- The Kids Are Alright

Fighting Back - armed customer kills robber at Burger King
Animal Kingdom - two komodo dragons maul fruit-picker to death
The Kids Are Alright - girl's lemonade stand earns $24,000 for cancer

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, 1934 - Gloria Steinem (1934 - ) Born in Toledo, OH, feminist and writer Gloria Steinem began as a journalist, attracting attention with an article, "I Was a Playboy Bunny," based on 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 has been working for social reform ever since.

Scripture of the Day: Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. - Psalm 37:16-17

Video of the Day: Guitarist - the iPhone Guitar

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

The Best Stir-fry Dinner Ever! I made stir fry last evening. In the wok, I stir-fried sliced white mushrooms, sliced white onion, slivered Jalapeños, grated ginger, minced garlic, bias-cut carrots, and bias-cut celery. I seasoned with adobo seasoning, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, and the seasoning packets from two packages of ramen noodles. When the vegetables were cooked, I incorporated two packages of ramen noodles that I had cooked and drained while the vegetables cooked. I then added the ingredient that made this the best stir-fry dinner ever: I tossed a quantity of thinly sliced, grilled New York strip steak that remained from our Sunday dinner. I turned off the heat so that the steak would warm but not continue cooking and took the wok to the table. It was delightful. A quantity of leftover stir fry followed me to the office this morning.

Stupid Criminals, The Kids Are Alright, -and- Animal Kingdom

Stupid Criminals - gangster accidently shoots himself, in critical condition
The Kids Are Alright - teen scales fence, saves drowning girl
Animal Kingdom - parrot given award for alerting owner about choking baby

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 - Steve McQueen (1930 - 1980) Born in Slater, MO, actor Steve McQueen became famous in TV Western "Wanted Dead or Alive" (1958), which led to a co-starring role in "The Magnificent Seven" (1960). He became the archetypal 1960s cinema hero/rebel.

Scripture of the Day: The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. - Proverbs 10:7

Video of the Day: "Bullitt" - car chase scene

Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while driving past the park on my way to work! Click to enlarge.

Anticipation: Our iPhones should arrive today. I say that without certainty, since of late my experience with next-day FedEx has not been particularly stellar. The iPhones were ordered last Friday. Theoretically, I would have expected them to appear here yesterday. There was an issue with the order, however, and this was not resolved until yesterday morning at 8:01 AM. Given that, I would expect the iPhones to arrive today. As I say, however, my experience with next-day FedEx has me musing the possibilities—only one of which (and not necessarily the most likely) is that the iPhones will arrive today.

I have several applications awaiting the arrival of the iPhones—including a Mah-Jong app, a guitar app, and a Bible app. Today, I shall continue investigating the available apps and prepare a few more for installation. I shall, of course, continue to stare trance-like into the live feed from the Web cam on my Desktop—waiting...ever waiting, for the FedEx truck to appear in there!

No Vacancy, Calling All Cars, -and- Animal Kingdom

No Vacancy - California to release tens of thousands of inmates due to overcrowding
Calling All Cars - man calls 9-1-1 when Burger King runs out of lemonade
Animal Kingdom - 118 cats removed from couple's filthy trailer

On this day in history: February 11, 2004 - Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling arrested by the FBI. He is later found guilty of no less than 19 counts of conspiracy, fraud, making false statements and insider trading.

Born on this day in history: February 11, 1969 - Jennifer Aniston (1969-) Born in Sherman Oaks, CA, actress Jennifer Anniston achieved fame in her role as Rachel Green in acclaimed TV series "Friends" (1994?2004). She has gone on to star in films. Anniston?s widely publicized marriage to Brad Pitt (2000) ended in an equally publicized divorce (2005).

Scripture of the Day: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

Video of the Day: Fix a Flat with a Lighter - submitted by Frank

Never offer a ride to a stranger!

Cold and Dry: It is considerably warmer (39° this morning and 29° yesterday!) today. Ten degrees makes a considerable difference. It is also dry. Once again, the weatherpeople have forecast incorrectly. California needs rain. The lakes, streams, rivers, and creeks are low, and the fish are thirsty! Rain is predicted for today, Friday, and Saturday. We shall see.

Animal Kingdom, Mommie Dearest, -and- All Clear!

Animal Kingdom - 100+ animals taken from Buffalo apartment
Mommie Dearest - Polish student reports mother to police for torture
All Clear! - bomb squad called over toilet float

On this day in history: February 10, 1863 - Midgets Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren married in a ceremony promoted and orchestrated by P.T. Barnum, reception tickets $75 (adjusted for inflation, $1250 in today's dollars). Commodore Nutt served as best man.

Born on this day in history: February 10, 1961 - George Stephanopoulos (1961-) Born in Fall River, Mass., political commentator George Stephanopoulos worked for then-House majority leader Dick Gephardt. In 1991, he signed on to Bill Clinton's presidential campaign, and served as senior advisor in the White House. Stephanopoulos is now a TV analyst for ABC News.

Scripture of the Day: In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. - 1 John 4:17

Video of the Day: Don't Be Afraid of Dead Zones

Here is Laura (on the left) at her company's annual Employee Appreciation
Dinner last month. Click to enlarge.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! The AccuWeather Gadget indicated that it was 29° as I perched in my recliner, gathering news items for today's blog post on my HP notebook. It was 6 AM, and the house was warm, but it was obviously cold outside! Fortunately, it was very dry as well, so there was no ice on Mr. Nitro's windshield. The rain that was forecast for today and tomorrow has not appeared. Weather forecasts still show rain, so perhaps it will come later today. Meanwhile, it is cold! I am now at my office, it is 7:30 AM, and the outside temperature has reached a frosty 31°. The temperature gauge in the office showed 60° when I arrived. All the computers keep the building relatively warm.

I am enjoying a great treat this morning: Laura had lunch at Hula's Chinese BBQ yesterday, and she brought me her leftovers. I am enjoying a rice, noodle, beef, and vegetable delight. It is tasty indeed, and the crushed red peppers I added are helping to warm me.

Pranksters hack into electronic road sign: Someone hacked an electronic road sign on Cohasset Road in Chico yesterday morning and altered its message. For several hours, the sign read "CHUCK NORRIS FOR PRESIDENT." While I certainly do not condone hacking electronic road signs, I find the premise of the message to be excellent!

The full story can be found here.

Fighting Back, Animal Kingdom, -and- I Hear You

Fighting Back - good Samaritan shoots, kills would-be robber
Animal Kingdom - mule saves woman from fire
I Hear You - man sues ex-wife for hiding recorder in stuffed animal

On this day in history: January 7, 1961 - Young hoodlum Al Pacino arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. He and his compatriots were driving around a suburb of Providence RI, in the middle of the night, wearing masks and gloves.

Born on this day in history: January 7, 1957 - Katie Couric (1957-) Born in Arlington, VA, broadcast journalist Katie Couric began at ABC, went on to CNN bureaus around the country, then to NBC, where she became No. 2 reporter at the Pentagon. She was a popular co-anchor of "The Today Show" before moving becoming the anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" in 2006.

Scripture of the Day: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23

Video of the Day: Legos: The Beer Song - submitted by Jay

I attended a car show yesterday. One of the cars looked very familiar! 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

We hungered for grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts last evening. I seasoned four Tyson chicken breasts with Monterey Chicken seasoning. I braved the cold and slithered outdoors to perform this task. I charred the breasts on both sides nicely, over a high flame. I moved the breasts away from the flame and continued roasting them until they were done. I seasoned sliced cabbage, julienned red onion, sliced celery, and carrots (sliced thinly with a potato peeler) with ground black pepper and sea salt. I cooked this in the microwave oven while the chicken roasted. It was a delicious meal.

I completed reading Kenneth Hagin's book, "How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God." This book describes the true leadings of the Spirit. It also gives warnings concerning some methods of seeking guidance which lead to trouble. The Scriptures on guidance are examined and carefully explained. After reading this book, you will better understand what being led by the Spirit of God is really like. I highly recommend this book.

To Serve and Protect, Animal Kingdom, -and- Media Matters

To Serve and Protect - 15 cops charged in FBI sting, drug-dealing probe
Animal Kingdom - 176-year-old tortoise discovered
Media Matters - "several cities" could have no daily newspaper by 2010

On this day in history: December 4, 1978 - Dianne Feinstein named mayor of San Francisco after the assassination of Mayor Moscone.

Born on this day in history: December 4, 1973 - Tyra Banks (1973-) Born in Inglewood, California, model and TV personality Tyra Banks signed with Elite modeling agency at age 17, launching an international career. Banks is also host and executive producer of reality series "America’s Next Top Model" (2003).

Scripture of the Day: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. — Romans 12:4-5

Video of the Day: Guiness Penguins

It has been cold of late—in the low 60s! Imagine my surprise, nonetheless, when I encountered penguins near the lake behind my office! Click to enlarge.

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

The Return of the Fog The vile fog that plagued us earlier in the week has returned. This is a good time to avoid graveyards, lonely country lanes, docks, and dark alleyways. I have postponed a walking tour of the Corning Catacombs that I had planned for this morning.

Stupid Criminals, Thank God!, -and- Animal Kingdom

Stupid Criminals - Corning sex offender with no pants arrested in pasture
Thank God! - man struck by falling .45-caliber bullet saved by cell phone
Animal Kingdom - dog drives van through coffee shop window

On this day in history: November 21, 1980 - The third deadliest hotel fire in history occurs at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, caused by faulty wiring; 84 people dead. Helicopters were used to rescue stranded guests from the top floors.

Born on this day in history: November 21, 1945 - Goldie Hawn (1945– ) Born in Washington D.C., actress Goldie Hawn began on Rowan and Martin's TV review "Laugh In" (1968–70), won an Oscar for her first film role in "Cactus Flower" (1969), and went on to many movie successes. Her autobiography, "A Lotus Grows in the Mud," appeared in 2005.

Scripture of the Day:

Video of the Day: Animals Close to Extinction - submitted by Danica

Here is a panorama created from 13 photographs taken at last May's Corning
car show. Click to enlarge.

Hometown Christmas This coming Saturday, November 22nd, kicks off the holiday season with Corning Hometown Christmas. This event draws people from all over the North State. The day starts with a pancake breakfast at 7 AM at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and you can start your Christmas shopping after breakfast. Crafter booths will be set up in the hall. There will also be a lunch of clam chowder in a bread bowl and honker potatoes served by the Senior Center starting at 11 AM. Solano Street will be closed from the Memorial Hall to 3rd Street, with more craft and food vendors along the sidewalks. There will be free carriage rides starting in front of the Corning Chamber of Commerce office, and there will also be live Christmas trees for sale. There will be fun activities for the kids, including a jump house, face painting, hair coloring, cookie walk, fun games, lollipop tree, and lots of give-away toys and candy. Santa will arrive on the fire truck at 1 PM and will be available for photos at the chamber office from 2 to 3:30 PM. You will want to check out the art exhibit of local artists at PremierWest Bank. The highlight of the day will be the Lighted Parade. It is spectacular!

Rocketman, Animal Kingdom, -and- Daddy Dearest

Rocketman - jetpack pilot flies over English Channel
Animal Kingdom - woman held captive by pony-sized pig
Daddy Dearest - man dumps 9 kids at hospital and leaves

On this day in history: September 26, 1960 - Kennedy and Nixon face off in the first televised presidential debate. Nixon had been recuperating from illness yet refused to wear makeup for the camera, looking haggard and gray. Radio viewers gave positive opinions for Nixon's performance but so many people saw the debate televised that Kennedy gained the lead in the polls, ultimately winning the election.

Born on this day in history: September 26, 1981 - Serena Williams (1981– ) Born in Saginaw, Michigan, and sister of Venus, tennis player Serena Williams won the U.S. Open singles title in 1999. Further successes include the French Open (2002), Wimbledon (2002, 2003), the U.S. Open (2002), and the Australian Open (2003).

Scripture of the Day: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." — Luke 9:26

Video of the Day: Woman Lives with 130 Cats - submitted by Cindy

It is simple, really! Click to enlarge.

For dinner last evening, I made Chicken Alfredo. I sliced six large white mushrooms and poached in boiling, salted water for 30 minutes, drained, and placed in a large sauté pan. I added three large sliced, previously-grilled Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts and a jar of Classico Alfredo sauce. I simmered this on low for 30 minutes. I cooked Barilla thick spaghetti until al denté. Laura incorporated the thick spaghetti into the chicken, mushrooms, and Alfredo sauce. At the table, we added crushed red peppers and DiGiorno grated Parmesan, Romano, and Pecorino cheeses. We also had toasted garlic bread.

Fighting Back, To Serve and Protect, -and- Animal Kingdom

Fighting Back - homeowners kill intruder
To Serve and Protect - cops revive lifeless 13-month-old baby
Animal Kingdom PETA urges Ben & Jerry's to use human milk

On this day in history: September 24, 1988 - High on PCP and brandishing a shotgun, James Brown interrupts an insurance seminar next door to his business office in Augusta, Georgia and accuses the attendees of using his private restroom. The resulting 90-minute interstate pursuit ends only after police shoot out his truck tires. The Godfather of Soul ends up serving two years in prison.

Born on this day in history: September 24, 1896 - F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) Born in St Paul, Minnesota, writer F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote his first novel, "This Side of Paradise," in 1920. He married Zelda Sayre, an aspiring writer, and the two lived a legendarily extravagant life in New York City. They moved to Europe in 1924, becoming friendly with Ernest Hemingway and other expatriates, while Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Gatsby" (1925). In later years, Zelda was confined to a mental hospital and Fitzgerald wrote screenplays.

Scripture of the Day: "I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. — Jeremiah 9:24

Video of the Day: The Long Dog - submitted by Darin

Dolphin chatter. Click to enlarge.

Chicago War Zone Information

Body count: In the last six months 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago; 221 killed in Iraq.

Senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin, Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., Governor Rod Blagojevich, House leader Mike Madigan, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Mayor Richard Daley: The leadership in Illinois and Chicago are all Democrats.

Thank you, all of you, for the chaos and the combat zone in Chicago.

Of course they are all blaming each other. Cannot blame Republicans; there are none!

State pension fund: $44 Billion in debt—the worst in country.

Cook County (Chicago) sales tax: 10.25%—the highest in the country.

Chicago school system: one of the worst in the country.

So this is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois, and he is going to 'fix' Washington politics?

Yikes!

Animal Kingdom, Run of Bad Luck, -and- It's Me Or the PDA

Animal Kingdom - dog calls 9-1-1 after owner has seizure
Run of Bad Luck - man loses millions, sues casinos
It's Me Or the PDA - 35% of users would choose Blackberry over spouse

On this day in history: September 16, 1985 - Art Scholl, Hollywood's greatest aerobatics pilot, loses control of his Pitts S-2A biplane over the Pacific Ocean during the filming of "Top Gun."

Born on this day in history: September 16, 1925 - B. B. King (1925 - ) Born into a sharecropper family in Itta Bena, Mississippi, musician B. B. King made his first recording in 1949, and toured the nightclub circuit for 30 years. In 1969, he released his biggest hit, "The Thrill is Gone." A model for rock guitarists, King was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Scripture of the Day: "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." - Genesis 9:16

Video of the Day: American Express - Tina Fey - submitted by Darin

The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect
wildlife in the USA.

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party... as they have apparently learned to simply sit and wait for the government to provide for their care and sustenance

Laura swooped upon Home Depot yesterday and snagged a Dyson DC17 Absolute Animal vacuum. She called from the Home Depot parking lot and effused her eagerness to "...get home and vacuum"—something I had not previously imagined hearing her say. Zeus and Thor produce an inordinate amount of hair and deposit a good deal of it on carpets, furniture, and drapery. Laura and I did a great deal of research and settled upon the Dyson DC17 Absolute Animal as the vacuum best suited for the task of removing the hair left behind by our boys.

Matters of Life and Death, Never Too Old, -and- Animal Kingdom

Matters of Life and Death - YouTube censors criticism of Planned Parenthood
Never Too Old - woman gets first driver's license—at 73
Animal Kingdom - cat survives 70-mile trip under owner's car

On this day in history: September 3, 1971 - The office of Daniel Ellsberg's Beverly Hills psychiatrist is burglarized by Nixon's plumbers, led by CIA operative E. Howard Hunt. Watergate investigators later uncover a memo about the burglary addressed to White House domestic affairs adviser John Ehrlichman, predating the actual crime.

Born on this day in history: September 3, 1965 - Charlie Sheen (1965-) Born Carlos Irwin Estevez in New York City, son of Martin Sheen (Ramon Estevez), actor Charlie Sheen got his break in "Platoon" (1986). Notorious for battles with drugs and alcohol, Sheen was star witness in the Heidi Fleiss Hollywood madam trial in 1995. He currently stars in the hit sitcom "Two and Half Men."

Scripture of the Day: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." - John 9:3

Video of the Day: Hands Free: It's the Law in California - submitted by Jeffrey

Sarah Palin - the next vice president of the United States! Click to enlarge.

The Elderly Man

An elderly man suffered a massive heart attack. The family drove wildly to get him to the emergency room.

After what seemed like a very long wait, the E.R. Doctor appeared, wearing his scrubs. He said, "I'm afraid he is brain-dead, but his heart is still beating."

"Oh, Dear God," cried his wife, her hands clasped against her cheeks with shock.

"We've never had a Democrat in the family before."