Don't Take Your Guns to Town, Return to Sender, -and- Crash!

Don’t Take Your Guns to Town - cops charge unarmed man with 80 bank robberies
Return to Sender - Intuit faces court over spam attack
Crash! - judge’s daughter sues man she hit while drunk

On this day in history: December 22, 1984 - Bernhard Goetz shoots 4 teenage boys on the NYC subway after one of them asks him for money.

Born on this day in history: December 22, 1945 - Diane Sawyer (1945– ) Born in Glasgow, Kentucky, broadcast journalist Diane Sawyer began as a weathergirl in 1967, then became a Nixon press aide (1970), staying on after Watergate to help with Nixon's memoirs. Returning to TV news, Sawyer was the first woman correspondent on "60 Minutes" (1984–9). In I989, she joined ABC News.

Scripture of the Day: For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. — 1 Samuel 12:22

Video of the Day: Futuristic Japanese Cars - submitted by Cap'n Jack

Zeus was the first subject on which I used my new Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 macro lens. 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

For dinner Saturday, I made an Oriental salad: I sliced six large white mushrooms and cooked in boiling water for 10 minutes. I turned off the heat and combined four packages of ramen noodles. After 5 minutes, I strained the noodles and mushrooms and placed them in a large stainless-steel bowl. I added chopped green onions, diced red bell pepper, frozen peas, frozen kernel corn, and shredded chicken breasts that I had grilled earlier in the week. I made a dressing with extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, ground ginger, crushed red peppers, ground black pepper, and lime juice. It was delicious. Leftovers followed both Laura and me to work this morning.

For dinner Sunday, I grilled ahi steaks and filet mignons. Laura dry-rubbed the filet mignons with a special mixture I had previously prepared. She encrusted the ahi steaks with sea salt, ground black pepper, and sesame seeds. It was entirely too foul to grill outdoors, so I used our small indoor grill. We also had baked potatoes with sour cream and chives and an excellent bottle of Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. It was an incredible meal.

Fog! It is foggy this morning! The path leading to the rear yard and carport, where Laura parks her Yaris, was so wet and nasty that I offered to drive her around the block and down the alley to her car so that she could avoid all the path. The fog is clearing nicely now and should be fully gone by 9 AM or so.

I recall many years ago experiencing the worst fog I have ever encountered: My rock band was performing in a club in Chico, CA, and I was living in Paradise, CA—a drive of approximately 25 minutes. It was so foggy when I began my journey home at 2:30 AM, that when I came upon a large semi and trailer as I began driving the Skyway toward Paradise, I decided to simply follow the rig and take advantage of his superior lighting system. As I followed him, when he turned, I turned; when he slowed, I slowed; and so on. In due course, he stopped. I stopped. Suddenly, there was a rapping at my side window. I lowered the glass, and I heard, "I'm home. Where are you going?" As it happened, the semi driver's house was only about two miles from my house, and I found my way home with relative ease.

Fighting Back, Junk Mail, -and- Is There a Doctor in the House?

Fighting Back - deliveryman chases, shoots at driver in his stolen van - gun fight ensues until victim recovers vehicle
Junk Mail - Feds bust alleged spam network behind billions of Viagra e-mails
Is There a Doctor in the House? - physician serving meth sentence saves inmate’s life

On this day in history: October 15, 1917 - Dutch spy H21, also known as Mata Hari, is executed in Paris by a 12-man firing squad. The dancer, born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, had slept with a number of high-ranking military officers from around the world and passed secrets along to the German high command.

Born on this day in history: October 15, 1945 - Penny Marshall (1945-) Born into a showbiz family in The Bronx, actress and film director Penny Marshall played Jack Klugman's secretary on her brother Garry's first hit series, "The Odd Couple" (1970-75). She became a TV star in 1976 as Laverne DeFazio on "Laverne & Shirley" (1977-1983), and then one of Hollywood’s most bankable directors after directing "Big" (1988) and "A League Of Their Own" (1991).

Scripture of the Day: But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." — Judges 10:15

Video of the Day: Hank Williams Jr. - "McCain - Palin Tradition"

"McCain - Palin Tradition" By Hank Williams Jr.

The left wing liberal media have

Always been a real close knit family

But, most of the American People

Don't believe em anyway ya see


Stop and think it over

Before you make your decision

If they smell something

They're gonna come down strong

It's a McCain - Palin tradition


Now this old Union's got problems

That is plain to see

The Democrats bankrupted Fannie Mae N Freddie Mac

Just like 1, 2, 3

The bankers didn't want to make all those bad loans,

But Bill Clinton said you got to

Now they want a bail out, what I'm talking about

Is a Democrat liberal who doo


CHORUS

John N Sarah tell ya

Just what they think

And they're not gonna blink

And they're gonna fix this country

Cause they're just like you N ole Hank

Yes John is a maverick

And Sarah fixed Alaska's broken condition

They're gonna go just fine

We're headed for better times

It's a McCain - Palin tradition


I am very proud of America's name

Bu no society is perfect

And we have had our stains

If I'm down at the coffee shop and

Somebody wants to give our flag friction

We say please move on

Cause we're standing strong

That's an old John McCain tradition


CHORUS

John N Sarah tell ya

Just what they think

And they're not gonna blink

And they're gonna fix this country

Cause they're just like you N ole Hank

Yes John is a maverick

And Sarah fixed Alaska's broken condition

They're gonna go just fine

We're headed for better times

It's a McCain - Palin tradition


Some are bound to tell you I'm

Preaching to the choir

And that is very true

And we are going even higher

Like a mama bear in Idaho

She'll protect your family's condition

If you mess with her cubs

She's gonna take of the gloves

It's an American female tradition


CHORUS

John N Sarah tell ya

Just what they think

And they're not gonna blink

And they're gonna fix this country

Cause they're just like you N ole Hank

Yes John is a maverick

And Sarah fixed Alaska's broken condition

They're gonna go just fine

We're headed for better times

It's a McCain - Palin tradition

All in the Family, To Serve and Protect, -and- Junk Mail

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.

You've Got Mail, Typo, -and- Arf!

You've Got Mail - U.S. Internet spam king arrested
Typo - keystroke error sends $2.5 million check to school counselor
Arf! - Yoko Ono eats dog to protest fox hunting

On this day in history: May 31, 1996 - Timothy Leary dies quietly in his sleep, thereby failing his intended mission of suiciding live on the Internet.

Born on this day in history: May 31, 1930 - Clint Eastwood (1930- ) Born in the San Francisco area, actor, director and producer Clint Eastward landed the role of Rowdy Yates in TV series Rawhide (1959), which ran for eight seasons, then went to Italy to star in Sergio Leone "spaghetti westerns? (1964), which made him a worldwide star. Back in the U.S., he starred in the hugely popular Dirty Harry film series, which included five films over 17 years. Eastwood gained critical acclaim for directing and starring in his own movies, including Unforgiven (1992), Space Cowboys (2000) and more. Eastwood has been married twice, and fathered several children out of wedlock.

Today's Video: Sleep Last Night? - a tribute to our troops - submitted by Harvest Christian Center

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Ultimate List of Car Songs! View the list and submit your favorite car song(s)!

Steve McQueen in "The Blob." Click to enlarge.