Somebody's Watching You, Flying High, -and- Stupid Criminals

Somebody's Watching You - Google offers free software to track people
Flying High - passengers remove totally drunk pilot
Stupid Criminals - 9-1-1 caller puts police dispatcher on hold to make a drug deal, lands in jail

On this day in history: February 4, 1983 - Karen Carpenter dies of anorexia nervosa. She frequently took laxatives and induced vomiting to prevent weight gain. At the time of her death she was pencil thin.

Born on this day in history: February 4, 1913 - Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Born in Tuskegee, AL, civil rights advocate Rosa Parks was a community activist best known for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, which resulted in the famous bus boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr. (1955–6). Parks is honored as the "mother" of the civil rights movement.

Scripture of the Day: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. — 1 John 4:10

Video of the Day: Flying Motorcycle - submitted by Darin

I happened upon this scene yesterday afternoon while driving home from my office. It was a beautiful afternoon, and I decided to take the scenic route—around the lake and past the park. Imagine my surprise when I encountered this makeshift hot tub! Click to enlarge.

As many of you know, I maintain a list called "The Ultimate List of Car Songs." (There is a link to this in the Links section, below the Web cam image.) Yesterday, I received a submission email that contained four song titles and artists' names. As I always do when I receive submissions for this list with which I am unfamiliar, I performed Google searches for the songs. They were all songs, and the artists' names supplied by the submitter were correct. However, none of the four songs refer to an automobile in any way. I emailed the submitter, thanked her for her interest in the list, and explained that her submissions did not meet the requirements of the list, since they were not songs about cars. She replied saying that she felt it was discriminatory to exclude songs from the list strictly on the basis of their not being car songs. At first, I thought this was a joke. Several emails later, I had no option but to accept the validity of the woman's proposal. I said, "I believe that this issue would best be resolved—and the concept you propose best served—were you to begin your own list of non-car songs! I have not received a reply.

Pull Over!, Don't Stop! -and- Flying High

Pull Over! - 'hot-rod' golf cart eludes Morgan County Sheriff's deputies
Don’t Stop! - gadget that guarantees every traffic light will be green when you get there
Flying High - United Airlines pilot arrested in cockpit before takeoff on suspicion of being drunk

On this day in history: October 20, 1977 - En route to a gig at Louisiana State University, Lynyrd Skynyrd band members Ronnie Van Zandt and Steve Gaines are killed when their private plane runs out of fuel and crashes into a swamp in Gillsburg, Mississippi.

Born on this day in history: October 20, 1931 - Mickey Mantle (1931 - ) Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, baseball player Mickey Mantle had an 18-year career as a Yankee outfielder (1951-68). The switch-hitting slugger hit 536 home runs and was voted American League Most Valuable Player three times (1956-7, 1962). Mantle was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1974.

Scripture of the Day: Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him. — Deuteronomy 10:20

Video of the Day: Challenger: Faster than a Speeding Bullitt - submitted by Darin

McCain throws Joe the Plumber at Obama! Click to enlarge.

Perspective

A man and his wife watched new neighbors move in next door. The following morning, the wife saw the new neighbors' wash hanging on the line and remarked, "Would you look at those clothes. They're not clean. That woman has no idea how to do laundry."

A few days later, laundry hung on the line, and again the wife remarked on it: "Look at that. That laundry's filthy. When will she learn."

Several days later, the wife remarked similarly regarding the laundry that hung on the line that morning.

Then, one day the wife peered out the window and saw sparkling-white sheets and bright clothing hanging on the neighbors' line. "Well," the wife remarked, "she finally learned how to do laundry."

"No," her husband countered. "I washed your windows."