Fighting Back, No Reason o Celebrate, -and- You Can Bet on It

In the News Today:

Fighting Back - man shoots, kills intruder in home two days after burglary

No Reason to Celebrate - California fireworks displays require new environmental review

You Can Bet on It - Illinois House approves bill allowing casino in Chicago

Technology in the News Today:

SanDisk debuts new SSD U100 and iSSD i100 for tablets and ultra-thin notebooks

Twitter gives up details of anonymous tweeter

Cookiejacking exploit hits Internet Explorer, targets your gogin Info

On this Day in History: May 31, 1889 - Relentless rain and inadequate maintenance causes the South Fork Dam to fail, unleashing a 35-foot-high wall of water on Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Then 2,209 people are entombed beneath a pile of debris half a mile wide.

Born on this Day in History: May 31, 1930 - Clint Eastwood (1930 - ) Actor Clint Eastward got his big break on the TV series "Rawhide" (1959), which ran for eight seasons. He then went to Italy to star in Sergio Leone "spaghetti westerns," which made him a worldwide star. Eastwood gained critical acclaim for directing and starring in his own movies, including "Unforgiven" (1992) and "Space Cowboys" (2000).

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: -

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

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Time Off for Bad Behavior, Twister Logic, -and- Car 54 Where Are You?

In the News Today:

Time Off for Bad Behavior - California blames computer glitch for release of 450 violent criminals

Twister Logic - Rosie O'Donnell says tornadoes caused by global warming

Car 54 Where Are You? - new LAPD patrol car to sport infrared night vision, license plate scanner

Technology in the News Today:

Apple Macs hit by scareware attacks

New teen ailment: Facebook depression

Move over, Apple: Amazon launches Mac Download store

On this Day in History: May 27, 1977 - After the pressing plant initially refuses to duplicate the record and the printer refuses to make the covers, Virgin finally releases "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols in time for the monarch's Jubilee celebration.

Born on this Day in History: May 27, 1923 - Henry Kissinger (1923 - ) Born in Fuerth, Germany, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (1971–6) gained national attention with his first book, Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy (1957). He was an adviser to Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, and served as Secretary of State in the Nixon and Ford administrations.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: -

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

Animal Kingdom, Homeland Insecurity, -and- The Unfriendly Skies

In the News Today:

Animal Kingdom - California family finds mountain lion in garage

Homeland Insecurity - GOP lawmaker: I saw TSA pat down 'little old lady,' child, but not Arab man

The Unfriendly Skies - Air India pilots caught flying with newspaper-covered cockpit windows

Technology in the News Today:

Warning: Police scanner apps can you lead you to serve hard time

MacDefender malware renamed MacGuard, bypasses Apple fix

How skillful advertisers can word-jack your brain

On this Day in History: May 26, 1960 - America's UN Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge charges the Soviets with having bugged the Moscow embassy. He shows off a large wooden carving of the United States seal which had been hollowed out to conceal a sophisticated resonant cavity transmitter. Less than 30 years later a newly-rebuilt Moscow embassy is determined to be "structurally riddled with eavesdropping devices."

Born on this Day in History: May 26, 1907 - John Wayne (1907 - 1979) Larger-than-life film hero known as "The Duke," John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa, USA. He starred in over 150 films in his lifetime. His distinctive drawl, cool swagger, and seemingly effortless talent were his trademarks and he's remembered as an American icon and silver screen legend.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - Submitted by Darin

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

Lost and Found, The Taxman Cometh, -and- Brave New Schools

In the News Today:

Lost and Found - man finds over $40,000, returns to rightful owners

The Taxman Cometh - IRS staff committed tax credit fraud

Brave New Schools - teacher suspended after forcing students to clean toilets

Technology in the News Today:

Russian company releases commercial iOS decryption toolset

Kingmax debuts world’s largest capacity microSD card with 64GB of storage

FCC Likely to stay neutral on wireless competition

On this Day in History: May 25, 2006 - Enron CEO Kenneth Lay is found guilty on six counts of conspiracy.

Born on this Day in History: May 25, 1963 - Mike Myers 1963 -) Born in Toronto, Canada, comedian and actor Mike Myers joined Chicago's "Second City" comedy troupe in 1981, and then the Saturday Night Live cast. His popular SNL sketch, "Wayne's World," inspired a popular film. This led to a series of successful movies, including Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and Shrek (2001).

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - Submitted by Darin

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

Would You Look at That!, Let the Games Begin!, -and- To Protect and Serve

In the News Today:

Would You Look at That! - in pictures: top 10 new species

Let the Games Begin! - this video game was made in the 1940s

To Protect and Serve - cops scramble helicopters and tranquilizer teams to take down stuffed tiger

Technology in the News Today:

Yahoo rolls out new email service

Single laser sets record shooting 26 terabits of data per second along its path

Sony Music Japan hacked through SQL injection flaw

On this Day in History: May 24, 1964 - Fighting begins in the closing minutes of a match between Peru and Argentina, after a referee disallows a goal. 318 people are killed and 500 injured in Lima, Peru, making it the worst soccer riot in history.

Born on this Day in History: May 24, 1941 - Bob Dylan (1941 - ) Born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota, songwriter-singer Bob Dylan began performing in 1960s Greenwich Village coffeehouses. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963) established him as one of the most original and poetic voices of American pop. In 2008, Dylan was given an art award by the Pulitzer Prize committee for his contributions to music.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - Submitted by Phillip

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

That Stinks!, Left Behind, -and- Bad Hair Day

In the News Today:

That Stinks! - stench from waste facility overwhelms California town

Left Behind - world doesn't end; California millionaire had no plan B

Bad Hair Day - thief steals woman's hair at bus stop

Technology in the News Today:

NASA busts woman trying to sell "moon rock" for 1.7M

what's inside Mozilla's Firefox 5 Beta?

German police seize Pirate Party's servers

On this Day in History: May 23, 1934 - A group of FBI agents and police officers from two states ambush Bonnie and Clyde on a highway near Gibsland, Louisiana. The men open fire as the bank robbers drive past the concealed posse, unloading hundreds of rounds into the car.

Born on this Day in History: May 23, 1958 - Drew Carey (1958 - Born in Cleveland, OH, comedian Drew Carey began in stand-up. In 1995, he starred in a sitcom filled with everyman humor and a likable cast. The popular "Drew Carey Show" lasted until 2004. Carey published a 1997 autobiography, Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined.

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Video of the Day: -

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

There's the Beef, Stupid Criminals, -and- Matters of Life and Death

In the News Today:

There's the Beef - man eats 25,000 Big Macs and lives to tell about it

Stupid Criminals - drug dealer foiled when cellphone in pocket dials 911

Matters of Life and Death - new Texas law mandates sonograms before abortion

Technology in the News Today:

Google's Schmidt takes heat for comments on anti-piracy bill

Porting Windows 8 on the ARM chip?

Microsoft: Anti-Piracy glitch prompted Xbox 360 replacements

On this Day in History: May 20, 1960 - Music DJ Alan Freed, originator of the term "Rock and Roll," is indicted in New York in the Payola scandal. Freed had accepted $30,650 from five record companies to play their records, although to be fair "pay for play" was the accepted practice up to that point.

Born on this Day in History: May 20, 1946 - Cher 1946 - ) Born Cherilyn La Piere Sarkisian in El Centro, California, singer and actress Cher originally created a singing act with then-husband Salvatore "Sonny" Bono, and was known for folk anthem "I Got You Babe" (1965). Cher found greater success on her own, as a singer and a stage and film actress, winning an Academy Award for Moonstruck (1987).

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - Submitted by Darin

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

Armed and Dangerous, Don't Cheat!, -and- Respect Your Elders!

In the News Today:

Armed and Dangerous - TSA officer arrested for loaded gun in lugage

Don't Cheat! - D.C. teachers help students pass standardized tests

Respect Your Elders! - 93-year-old woman violently robbed—of $4

Technology in the News Today:

Consumers now buying more Amazon Kindle E-Books than print books

LinkedIn launches IPO

Microsoft offering upgraded Xbox 360s for consoles with disc issues

On this Day in History: May 19, 1992 - 17-year-old Amy Fisher shoots Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the face. Amy had been having an affair with Mary Jo's 38-year-old husband Joey. Fisher winds up spending seven years in prison.

Born on this Day in History: May 19, 1925 - Malcolm X (1925 - 1965) Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, activist Malcolm X spent came to national attention via a TV documentary that portrayed him as a threat to white people. Malcolm X formed the Organization of African-American Unity in 1964, and became a powerful influence to generations of African-Americans. He was assassinated in New York in 1965.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - Submitted by Cap'n Jack

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

Incoming Call, Food for Thought, -and- Staying Current

In the News Today:

Incoming Call - ringtones endangering baby chicks

Food for Thought - Michigan man still on food stamps despite winning $2M

Staying Current - woman "allergic" to electricity

Technology in the News Today:

Microsoft: One out of 14 downloads is malware

Bill would require warrants for government to access your email, cloud services

Plustek to support direct scanning to Google Docs, Google Cloud

On this Day in History: May 18, 1980 - After a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Washington state, 57 people are killed in an avalanche of volcanic mud in the eruption of Mount St. Helens. The volcano spews out 200 million cubic yards of of pumice, ash, and debris which covers 24 square miles of the valley below.

Born on this Day in History: May 18, 1970 - Tina Fey (1970 - ) Pennsylvania comedian Tiny Fey was recruited from improv comedy troupe "Second City" in 1997 to be a "Saturday Night Live" writer. In 1999, she was promoted to the position of head writer—the first woman on staff to be in the coveted position. More recently, she writes and stars in the hit comedy, "30 Rock," based on her experiences as a writer on "SNL."

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - submitted by Cindy

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

Keep It To Yourself, The Name Game, -and- Northern Exoposure

In the News Today:

Keep It To Yourself - woman sends text threats to herself

The Name Game - Facebook-loving couple names baby "Like"

Northern Exposure - Denmark preparing to stake claim to North Pole

Technology in the News Today:

Hewlett Packard not convinced of the value of Thunderbolt

Sony shuts down PSN eriefly due to flood of password resets

MIT breakthrough could push chip clock speeds much higher

On this Day in History: May 17, 1965 - Magazine The Nation publishes Hunter S. Thompson's first-hand experiences with the Hell's Angels motorcycle club. The bikers would eventually stomp Thompson when they demanded payment for his time spent. A year later, Random House published his book Hells Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.

Born on this Day in History: May 17, 1936 - Dennis Hopper (1936 - 2010) Born in Dodge City, Kansas, Dennis Hopper caused a sensation with anti-establishment Easy Rider (1969), in which he directed and starred. Later films include Blue Velvet (1986) and Speed (1994), and he also directed Colors (1988). Hopper landed a spot on the 2005 TV series

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: -

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

Can You Hear Me Now?, Beware of Dog, -and- Call Waiting

In the News Today:

Can You Hear Me Now? - high school sets speaking English as a graduation requirement

Beware of Dog - Houston "most dangerous US city for a postman"

Call Waiting - copper thieves steal phone lines, knock out service to hundreds

Technology in the News Today:

Seagate serves up wireless storage on the go

Flickr: few snapping Pics using Apple's iPad 2

Sony brings PSN back online, new security measures in place

On this Day in History: May 16, 1995 - After receiving an anonymous tip that a runaway teen was hiding there, police in Coral Gables, Florida search Jennifer Capriati's motel room and uncover 20 grams of marijuana. The 18-year-old professional tennis player winds up diverted to a drug treatment program, avoiding a court trial.

Born on this Day in History: May 16, 1966 - Janet Jackson (1966 - ) Born in Gary, Indiana, pop star Janet Jackson grew up in the Jackson musical dynasty. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1982, and landed in the Billboard Top 10. Her third album, Control, went platinum five times, and earned 12 AMA nominations. Since then, Jackson has become one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: -

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

The One that Got Away, Somebody's Watching You, -and- The Red White and Blue

I would apologize for not posting today's blog entry in a timely manner—HOWEVER: Blogger.com was down for over 30 hours, and I could not access the Blogger.com file server to post today's entry. I shall not, therefore, apologize. For those readers who eagerly anticipate beginning each weekday morning sitting on the veranda, sipping a steaming mug of Earl Grey tea with honey and a squirt of fresh lime juice, nibbling on a homemade cranberry muffin (I know you are out there—I read the statistics logs!), I sympathize. I know whereof the pain and anguish you feel is harbored. Might I suggest—because of the lateness of the hour that finds you (finally!) able to enjoy today's posting: Move into a shaded spot on the veranda, relax, and enjoy a frosty mug of Sierra Nevada and some peppery homemade beef jerky!

In the News Today:

The One that Got Away - Texas to ban anglers from lying about the size of their catch

Somebody's Watching You - Fed-funded cameras record what kids eat at school and reports to parents

The Red White and Blue - teacher refuses to hang student's drawing of American flag

Technology in the News Today:

Adobe Unveils Flash Player 10.3 with improved "flash Cookie" control

What's new for Google Chrome OS

Bill goes after online pirated content via ISPs, search engines

On this Day in History: May 13, 1985After attempting to serve arrest warrants at 6221 Osage Avenue, police in West Philadelphia are sucked into a 90-minute gunfight with members of the MOVE organization. Later, police drop a bomb on the house from a helicopter. The bomb misses its target and ignites a fire which consumes the entire city block. 61 houses are destroyed in the conflagration, killing 11 MOVE members#151;including five children—and leaving hundreds of neighbors homeless.

Born on this Day in History: May 13, 1950 - Stevie Wonder (1950 - ) Born in Michigan, Stevie Wonder was blinded by receiving too much oxygen in the incubator as a premature baby. In 1963, at the age of 12, his single "Fingertips - Pt. 2" became his first No. 1 hit. Wonder was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and named a U.N. Messenger of Peace in 2009 for his inspiration to the disabled.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - Submitted by Phillip

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

The Red White and Blue, There's No New Sheriff in Town, -and- A Bug's Life

In the News Today:

The Red White and Blue - angry mob chases would-be flag burner off LSU campus

There's No New Sheriff in Town - America's toughest sheriff rejects calls to quit

A Bug's Life - U.S. states braced for invasion of cicadas as they hatch after 13 years underground

Technology in the News Today:

Facebook hired PR firm to run smear campaign against Google

The 16 coolest demos at Google I/O

Forget passwords; eye-scanning is here

On this Day in History: May 12, 1982 - During a procession outside the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, security guards overpower Juan Fernandez Krohn before he can attack Pope John Paul II with a bayonet. Krohn, an ultraconservative Spanish priest opposed to the Vatican II reforms, decided that the Pope must be killed for being an "agent of Moscow."

Born on this Day in History: May 12, 1907 - Katharine Hepburn (1907 - 2003) Actress Katharine Hepburn made her stage debut in 1928, and attained international fame as a character actress. She won several Oscars, notably for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968) and On Golden Pond (1981). In 1991 she published Me: Stories of My Life.

Scripture of the Day:



Video of the Day: - submitted by Darin

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