Just Looking, Get the Lead Out, -and- The Devil and Daniel Webster

Just Looking - suspected robbers freed when court cannot tell twins apart
Get the Lead Out - National Park Service proposes banning lead in national parks
The Devil and Daniel Webster - dictionary redefines "marriage"

On this day in history: March 19, 1957 - Elvis Presley tours and then immediately agrees to purchase the 14 acre Graceland estate from Ruth Moore for $100,000.

Born on this day in history: March 19, 1955 - Bruce Willis (1955- ) Born in West Germany, and raised in New Jersey, actor Bruce Willis became known for his role in TV show "Moonlighting" (1985?9). He made a film debut in "Blind Date" (1987), and achieved star status in the "Die Hard" series, starting in 1988.

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: Elvis Presley - "Heartbreak Hotel" (1956)

Imagine my surprise when I encountered this apartment fire while driving to my office this morning! It appeared the man had things under control, so there was no need to alert the fire department.

The Americans With No Abilities Act
President Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress are considering sweeping legislation that will provide new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.

"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said California Sen. Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability (POI) to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing."

In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons With No Ability.

Private-sector industries with good records of non-discrimination against the inept include retail sales (72 percent), the airline industry (68 percent), and home-improvement warehouse stores (65 percent). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has an excellent record of hiring Persons with No Ability (63 percent).

Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million mid-level positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.

Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given so as to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability (POI) into middle-management positions, and give a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.

Finally, the Americans With No Abilities Act contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as, "Do you have any skills or experience that relate to this job?"

"As a non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, Mich., due to her inability to remember righty tighty, lefty loosey. "This new law should be real good for people like me." With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Said Sen. Dick Durbin: "As a senator with no abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation and a good salary for doing so."

Armed and Dangerous, Crime and Punishment, -and- Victor-Victoria

Armed and Dangerous - taser shock triggers fire in man's pants
Crime and Punishment - China food-safety law to allow for life in prison
Victor-Victoria - children's hospital launches sex change for children program

On this day in history: April 21, 1992 - Convicted murderer Robert Alton Harris consumes two large pizzas, a bucket of fried chicken, and some ice cream on the eve of his execution.

Born on this day in history: April 21, 1958 - Andie MacDowell
(1958-)
Born in Gaffney, SC, actress Andie MacDowell began as a model and got her acting break in "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984), though Glenn Close re-recorded her lines. She had success in "Groundhog Day" (1993), opposite Bill Murray, and in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" (1994), with Hugh Grant.

Scripture of the Day: And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. - 1 John 4:21

Video of the Day: Stuck in Vermont 75: Jr. Iron Chef - submitted by Danica

While driving to my office this morning, I decided to go for an excursion near the lake. I saw this floating gazebo. Click to enlarge.

Friday evening, we enjoyed a variety of sushi. One of my brothers joined us for dinner. I made 12 large California rolls with shrimp, avocado, and green onion. Laura picked up a large platter of various sushi morsels at Raley's on her way home. We had champagne to soothe the sting of the wasabi. It was wonderful I vow that we shall enjoy sushi more often.

After dinner, we watched "16 Blocks" in Blu-ray. [Tasked with escorting chatty prosecution witness Eddie Bunker (rapper and seasoned actor Mos Def) from police custody to a nearby courthouse, aging New York City cop Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) reluctantly gears up for the 16-block trek. But with powerful forces intent on keeping them from reaching their destination, they'll be lucky to make it there alive. David Morse co-stars in director Richard Donner's action thriller.] We all enjoyed this movie a good deal. Bruce Willis' performance was excellent, as was Mos Def's. The action scenes were well done, and the movie was exciting and thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

On Saturday, my brother joined us for dinner again. I made red beans and rice: I simmered a head of peeled garlic (sliced thickly), red bell pepper (diced), white onion (sliced thinly), celery (sliced thickly), Roma tomatoes (diced), in extra-virgin olive oil—seasoned with Tony Chachere's More Spice, brown sugar, molasses, sea salt, ground black pepper, and Gebhardt's chili powder. When the onions became translucent, I added a cup of cooked white rice and two cans of red beans—with juice. This simmered on low for two hours. Laura did a dry rub on two huge racks of baby back ribs (halved), using garlic powder, Tony Chachere's More Spice, sea salt, ground black pepper, cinnamon sugar, and brown sugar. She charred the ribs then moved away from the flame and cooked for two hours—spraying every 20 minutes with a mixture of one part extra-virgin olive oil and three parts balsamic vinegar. It was a delightful meal. Laura photographed the food during cooking, and I will share some of these images here tomorrow.

After dinner, we watched "Ultimate Avengers: The Movie" in Blu-ray. [Captain America and his dream team of superheroes fight to save the world from evil in this original animated feature. Sixty years after courageously diverting a missile aimed at the White House and plummeting into the North Atlantic, the star-spangled superhero emerges from the ocean depths to join Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Wasp and Giant Man in an all-out war against the sinister forces that threaten humanity.] This animated movie was well produced but grew tiresome relatively quickly. It was marginally enjoyable.

Sunday morning—following the early service at Harvest Christian Center, I made potatoes O'Brien, bacon, and fried eggs. It was delicious. We watched several episodes of "King of the Hill" that had recorded throughout the week on DVR. We snacked and napped. At 5:30 PM, we returned to Harvest Christian Center for John Jacobs Next Generation Power Force - A Strength Team with a Message of Hope to Lift the World. It was an excellent event that featured acts of strength and testimony from an ex-NFL football player and a man who holds a record for bench-pressing over 1,000 pounds. I took over 500 photographs and will soon produce a slide show using some of these photographs. I shall post the URL here when the slide show is ready for viewing.

Following the Power Force presentation, we had a Red Baron pepperoni pizza and watched an episode of "Lockup."