Mr. Nitro R/T Is Healed, In the News, and Enjoy

Mr. Nitro R/T Is Healed - Mr. Nitro R/T became ill earlier this week. He suddenly began spewing oil smoke from his exhaust with abandon. On Wednesday, my automotive technician friend, Rick, quickly diagnosed the issue to have been caused by too much city driving. Upon inspection, he determined Mr. Nitro R/T's PCV valve was clogged. He ordered a new PCV valve, and Mr. Nitro R/T stayed overnight in his automotive repair facility Wednesday evening.

Yesterday, Rick returned Mr. Nitro R/T to me with a stern advisory that Mr. Nitro R/T be driven a minimum of 20 miles at highway speeds weekly. Laura shall take Mr. Nitro R/T to Chico once a week. This will ensure his good health and dependable service.

Other than a very infrequent road trip, Mr. Nitro R/T's travel itinerary is limited to journeying to and from mine office to our nest—a distance of four blocks. Mr. Nitro R/T requires being allowed to stretch his legs and clear his injectors!

In the News - They walk among us!

New York Mayor Caught Speeding, Violating Traffic Laws Just Days After Announcing New Traffic Safety Initiative

Is CNN’s Piers Morgan Shooting Himself in the Foot?

Suspect Used Icicle to Assault Victim During Home Invasion Robbery

Fired for Allegedly Using Forklift to Get Twix from Vending Machine

Woman Arrested for Not Returning Rented Video

Enjoy - Relax and enjoy these images and videos!

Let's Talk, Animal Kingdom, -and- Getting the Word

Let's Talk - cellphone user shocked by charges of $85K
Animal Kingdom - bomb-sniffing dog granted early retirement
Getting the Word - church fined for using own building for Bible study

On this day in history: December 14, 1944 - Lupe Velez, Hollywood's "Mexican Spitfire" of the 1940's, commits suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.

Born on this day in history: December 14, 1946 - Patty Duke
(1946-) Actress. Born Anna Marie Duke on December 14, 1946 in Elmhurst, New York. Patty Duke started off in commercials, a few movies and some bit parts. Her first big role came in 1951 when she was cast as Helen Keller in the Broadway version of "The Miracle Worker." In 1962, the play was turned into a feature film, and Patty won an Academy Award for best supporting actress. At 16, she was the youngest person ever to win the award.

Scripture of the Day: "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.'" (Luke 1:26-28)

Video of the Day: Quadruple Kickflip - submitted by Amber

This morning's poll on World Net Daily is very interesting. Click to enlarge.

Recommended Sites:
Nikon Photographer Forum - a free forum for photography enthusiasts
Corning California Message Board - a free message board for Corning
Olive Hut Blog - specials, olive news, recipes, and more

Initially, I thought it was warmer this morning than it was yesterday morning. I based this concept solely upon the fact that Mr. Nitro was covered with frost yesterday and wore no frost this morning. Imagine my disappointment when I saw Mr. Nitro's temperature display show that it was actually 29 degrees—3 degrees colder than yesterday morning! A half-hour later, the temperature has climbed to 31 degrees. Yikes! Fortunately, it is 70 degrees in my office!

Animal Kingdom, All Rise, -and- Funny Money

Animal Kingdom - dogs display aspects of human intelligence
All Rise - scientists say standing up as good as exercise
Funny Money - man tries to deposit fake $1 million bill

On this day in history: November 29, 1961 - The US sends the chimpanzee Enos into space, on the Mercury Atlas 5 capsule from Cape Canaveral.

Born on this day in history: November 29, 1898 - C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963) scholar, author. Wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Scripture of the Day: "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1,26)

Video of the Day: Wake Up! - submitted by Phillip

I encountered this patriotic Nitro on the way to my office this morning. Click to enlarge.

Recommended Site: Corning California Net - A free forum for Corning, California!

Recommended Site: Nikon Photographer - A free forum for all photographers (NOT just Nikon users!) and anyone interested in photography!

The Month Before Christmas

'Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand.
Why the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a " Holiday ".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X-BOX, an iPod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets are hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "DreamTree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

Caught!, Boo!, -and- Bang!

Caught! - top Mafia don arrested in Sicily raid
Boo! - woman robs kids of Halloween candy
Bang! - using hand as mock gun a crime

On this day in history: November 6, 1989 - Kitty Dukakis, wife of Presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis, is hospitalized for drinking rubbing alcohol.

Born on this day in history: November 6, 1946 - Sally Field (1946 - ____) actress. She won Oscars for "Norma Rae," 1979 and "Places in the Heart," 1985.

Scripture of the Day: "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment; to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Video of the Day: This Movie Is about Cats Flying - submitted by Cindy

The local Dodge Nitro Club held its first meeting this morning in the meadow behind my office. Click to enlarge.

Recommended Site: Corning California Net - A free forum for Corning, California!

Recommended Site: Nikon Photographer - A free forum for all photographers (NOT just Nikon users!) and anyone interested in photography!

For dinner last evening, I mad jambalaya. I used leftover grilled items from the weekend's meals—pork loin chop, Johnsonville Italian sausage, and chicken breast. I sliced these items and added them to two cups of brown rice, two cups of water, one cup of white wine, three large sliced Jalapeños, 1/2 sliced large red onion, four tablespoons minced garlic, one package baby spinach, and six sliced large Roma tomatoes. I seasoned with sea salt, ground black pepper, cumin, and ground Cayenne pepper. I cooked this, unattended, for two hours on medium-low heat. When Laura arrived home from work, she stirred and pronounced it ready to enjoy. Enjoy we did! It was wonderfully tasty and spicy. A quantity of leftover jambalaya followed Laura to work this morning. She shall enjoy a festive lunch.

Saturday morning, I had an experience I had not previously endured: I shopped at Sav-Mor Foods at 8:30 AM. Sav-Mor Foods has no baggers. Customers bag their purchases themselves. I removed my selected items from my cart, placed them on the conveyor belt, and fed my credit card into the processor. The checker entered the items into the system, announced the total, and handed me a receipt to sign. I signed the receipt and advanced to the bagging area. My cart was gone! I looked to the next lane and saw that what appeared to be my cart was being loaded by a stranger. "Excuse me," I said, "did you by chance steal my cart?" "I guess," he replied. "Well," I said, "remove your items and return my cart to me at once, please." There was no response. I repeated this request. There was no response. I noticed that the checker appeared to be stunned by the bizarre antics of this cart-stealing cretin. I walked around the bagging area, removed his items from my cart, took my cart, and began bagging my items and placing them in my cart. As I departed the store, the low, guttural grumblings of the cart monster echoed in my ears. What a way, thought I, to begin one's day.

License and Registration, Matchmaker, -and- Heil!

License and Registration - British speeder clocked at 172 mph
Matchmaker - astrologer in court over love spell
Heil! - police find swastika cut into NJ cornfield

On this day in history: September 25, 1980 - After spending the whole day drinking, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham dies from alcohol poisoning.

Born on this day in history: September 25, 1897 - William Faulkner (1897 - 1962) novelist He wrote about a microcosm of the post-Civil War deep South in "The Sound and the Fury," 1929.

Scripture of the Day: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." (1 John 2:1)

Video of the Day: It’s JerryTime: Jerry Strikes Back

Here is one of Mr. Nitro’s ancestors—a 1942 Dodge Power Wagon. Click to enlarge.

Here is another of Mr. Nitro’s ancestors—a 1941 Dodge sedan delivery. Click to enlarge.

Last evening, I made penne with marinara sauce. I simmered two pounds of ground sirloin, 12 large white onions (sliced into quarters), 8 tablespoons of Christopher Ranch minced garlic, 5 large cluster tomatoes (diced), sea salt, ground black pepper, and Italian seasoning for two hours. When the liquid had cooked down, Laura added a jar of Classico marinara sauce. I cooked a package of Barilla penne until al dente, drained, and added to the sauce. Laura incorporated the pasta into the sauce and browned some garlic bread under the broiler. At the table, we added DiGiorno grated Italian cheese and crushed red peppers. It was a delightful meal.

It's Alive!, Movin' on Up, -and- It Came from Outer Space

It's Alive! - man wakes during autopsy
Movin' on Up - Alaskan village to relocate
It Came from Outer Space - mystery illness strikes after meteorite hits Peruvian village

On this day in history: September 18, 1970 - Jimi Hendrix dies in London from barbiturate overdose.

Born on this day in history: September 18, 1956 - Debbi Fields (1956 - ____) business executive. She is the founder of "Mrs. Fields Cookies, Inc.," 1979.

Scripture of the Day: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)

Video of the Day: It's JerryTime - The Landlord - submitted by Cindy

I saw Bobby Flay on television yesterday, and he was driving a new silver Dodge Nitro SLT. Bobby Flay has good taste!

For dinner last evening, I made fettuccine with shrimp and Alfredo sauce. It was delightful.

To Serve and Protect, Animal Kingdom, -and- Homeland Insecurity

To Serve and Protect - 2 officers fired for Web misuse
Animal Kingdom - crows wield tools with human-like skill
Homeland Insecurity - CIA, FBI computers used for Wikipedia edits

On this day in history: August 17, 1948 - Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard is arrested for bad checks in San Luis Obispo, California. In court a fortnight later, Hubbard pays the $25 fine.

Born on this day in history: August 17, 1786 - Davy Crockett (1786 - 1836) frontiersman, soldier, politician. "The King of the Wild Frontier" was said to have grinned down bears; was one of the legendary figures to die at the Alamo.

Today's Video: Proper Road Rage Defense - submitted by Frank
Chicks prefer the Nitro over the Hummer! Click to enlarge.

[While I slept] I awakened, feeling thirsty, and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. As I walked toward the kitchen, my attention was drawn to the large window in the adjacent dining room. The moon lighted the yard beyond the window and made the outdoors appear very inviting. As I gazed at this scene, I noticed movement near the barn. The barn shaded this area from moonlight, and, in the shadows, I saw a large form moving toward the barn. I decided to investigate.

I armed myself with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, which I kept in the pantry. I took a large Maglite from a shelf in the pantry, attached it to the rifle, turned it on, and walked to the barn. As I entered the barn, I heard the sound of heavy breathing and slipped the AR-15 into the firing position. I probed the darkness with the Maglite. There, lying on a bed of hay, was Storm! I engaged the safety on my rifle, walked to Storm, knelt by her side, and began stroking her massive frame. Storm purred deeply and contentedly. “Welcome back, my friend,” I said. Storm fixed her gaze upon me and purred even more loudly. “Wait here and rest, Storm,” I said. “I shall return quickly with food and water for you.”

I walked to the house, prepared a bowl of leftover roast beef and a bowl of spring water, removed the Maglite from the rifle, and walked back to the barn, the Maglite clasped between my left arm and rib cage and a bowl in each hand. Storm rose as I walked to her and ate and drank with great relish. I sat with Storm for nearly two hours. When I prepared to return to the house to continue my sleep, I told Storm, “Storm, please stay here, and I shall return in the morning.” She appeared to understand, reclined on the hay, and held out her right paw toward me. I took her massive leopard paw in my right hand and squeezed it, smiling at her. I returned to the house and quickly fell asleep.

In the morning, I awakened, dressed quickly, and walked to the barn with a large bottle of water and some leftover grilled chicken breast. Storm was there! I was overjoyed to see that she had remained through the night. I filled her water bowl and put the chicken in her food bowl. I stroked her beautiful fur as she ate and drank.

After she had eaten, I told her, “Come to the house with me, Storm. I must eat something, and then we shall go on an adventure!” She seemed to understand and followed me to the house. I gave Storm a small bowl of milk. She lapped at it with her huge tongue while I prepared myself a spinach, bacon, cheese, and mushroom omelet. After I had eaten, I strapped on a black ballistic nylon holster, inserted a Sig Sauer P229 semi-automatic pistol into the holster, and beckoned Storm to follow me.

Together, we walked the perimeter of my property, pausing at one point so that Storm could drink from the small creek that fed the pond. It was a beautiful day—warm but not yet unpleasantly so—the sky was blue, and the birds were singing. We walked about my property for several hours. We stopped at the pond, and I caught several nice trout for our dinner.

At dusk, I prepared the trout, some poached asparagus, and some brown rice with celery, red onion, and mushrooms. Storm lay on the tile floor in the kitchen and watched me as I cooked. She seemed to enjoy watching me prepare our meal. I deboned the trout and prepared plates of food for us and set them on the dining room table. I placed a bowl of water and a small bowl of milk at Storm’s place at the table and poured some Chablis for myself. Storm appeared to be waiting for me to start eating, as she had made no move toward her food. I said a prayer—thanking God for the bounty we were about to enjoy and for Storm and her great friendship—and we began eating. Storm was so large that she sat on her haunches and easily reached her food. The dinner was delightful. Storm watched me wash the dishes and bowls.

We went into the den and watched Animal Planet. Storm sat near me and seemed to enjoy watching all the animals on television. She was close enough that I was able to reach out and stroke her massive back. In time, Storm grew tired. She lay on the floor of the den and yawned—her huge mouth opening incredibly widely, exposing large, sharp teeth. “Storm,” I thought to myself, “I am certainly glad we are friends!”

I was tired, also, and I rose from my chair and said, “Come, Storm. You need not sleep in the barn.” Storm followed me to the bedroom. She fell asleep on the floor at the foot of the bed. I fell asleep while delighting in the sound of her breathing.

iDisappointment, Sacrifice, -and- Role Model

iDisappointment - Apple shares fall on iPhone numbers
Sacrifice - Elizabeth Edwards gives up tangerines to fight global warming
Role Model - anger-management instructor arrested for domestic battery

On this day in history: July 25, 1917 - Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, also known as Mata Hari, is found guilty of spying and is sentenced to death.

Born on this day in history: July 25, 1848 - A. J. Balfour (1848 - 1930) statesman He was Prime Minister, 1902-05; wrote "Balfour Declaration," 1917, approving the establishment of Jewish state in Palestine.

Today's Video: Paintjam Dan Dunn - submitted by Frank

Here is a photograph of one of Mr. Nitro's ancestors—a 1949 Dodge Power Wagon. Click to enlarge.

Yesterday, my new Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 8000 arrived. FedEx delivered the mouse at 4 PM, so it was too late to toy with it. I had shopping to perform and dinner plans to complete. Today, I shall fully explore this new Bluetooth mouse. It is to be used with my new HP notebook, which is scheduled to arrive today.

Last week, I migrated my main office system and Laura's home desktop system to Microsoft Office 2007. I shall install Office 2007 on the new notebook tomorrow. Office 2007 is a significant advancement from Office 2003, which I had been using. I am still acclimating myself to all the changes, enhancements, and new features. The HP notebook will have Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate. I am eager to explore this new 64-bit operating system.

iHack, The Unreal Thing, -and- I Saw What You Did

iHack - iPhone security flaw lets hackers take over
The Unreal Thing - is that a fake in your pocket?
I Saw What You Did - man spies on daughter, catches wife cheating

On this day in history: July 23, 1996 - Harry Morgan, Col. Potter on TV's "M*A*S*H," is arraigned on charges of spousal abuse. LAPD officers responding to a 911 call at the couple's Brentwood, California home had discovered his wife Barbara bruised and bleeding from her face.

Born on this day in history: July 23, 1888 - Raymond Chandler (1888 - 1959) short-story writer, novelist He was considered master of "hard-boiled" crime stories, e.g., "The Big Sleep," 1939 and "Playback," 1958.

Today's Video: Dodge Nitro Pepsi Edition

This is indeed a world gone mad: PETA and other ultra-liberal, tree-hugging, self-righteous groups of morons complained so vehemently about a recent Dodge Nitro commercial—in which a Nitro appears to electrocute a dog who urinated on one of its wheels—that Chrysler publicly announced that it would not air the commercial in the United States. The commercial was originally produced for the European market. While it appeared patently obvious to me that the "electrocution" was simulated, the outcry against the commercial was too loud for Chrysler advertising executives to ignore.

While this commercial will apparently never be televised in this country, a Mercury commercial which is currently being shown depicts a zombie-like woman wearing an amulet. She buries the amulet in the ground, and through apparent sorcery, a Mercury Mariner forms from tendrils reaching up from the soil. Apparently, sorcery and demonic invocation are acceptable in television commercials.

Free Ride, The Bionic Dog, -and- You've Got Mail

Free Ride - "freebies" new threat to music industry
The Bionic Dog - dog breaks new ground with his metallic paw
You've Got Mail - NV couple blame Internet for neglect

On this day in history: July 16, 1945 - First Atomic Bomb is exploded at Trinity, Alamagordo, New Mexico. The explosion yields the equivalent 18,000 tons of TNT.

Born on this day in history: July 16, 1907 - Barbara Stanwyck (1907 - 1990) actress. She starred in 80 films including "Stella Dallas," 1937; "Sorry, Wrong Number," 1948; and "The Thorn Birds."

Today's Video: Louis CK's Stupid Dog

On Saturday, we watched Bobby Flay compete on "Iron Chef America." The secret ingredient was American Kobe Beef. During commercial breaks, Laura applied a Red Monkey Savory Steak rub to two giant rib eye steaks. Watching the beef being cooked and eaten on the television program heightened our senses and caused us to salivate uncontrollably in anticipation of our steaks. Laura grilled them perfectly. They were charred on the exterior and rare inside. She also grilled red potatoes, Jalapeños, white mushrooms, and zucchini. It was an excellent meal.

Yesterday, I prepared a pot of Cajun black beans. I simmered sliced white onion, whole garlic cloves (one head), sliced celery, sliced Jalapeños, and diced tomatoes in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I seasoned the mixture with Red Monkey Cajun Spice, ground black pepper, ground Cayenne pepper, cumin, and sea salt. After this had simmered for two hours, Laura added a can of black beans, stirred, and turned the burner to low. She applied a Red Monkey Mango Habanera rub to three large pork loin chops and pan-seared them. She added a bit of Almaden Chardonnay to steam and maintain moistness near the end of the cooking process. I made a dipping sauce with catsup, blackberry preserves, two types of hot sauce, molasses, rice wine vinegar, and ground Cayenne pepper. It was a delightful meal.

Fighting Back, Stormy Weather, -and- Sleep Well

Fighting Back - retired Marine tackles bank robber
Stormy Weather - iPod users report lightning strikes
Sleep Well - new bed mattress costs $60,000

On this day in history: July 12, 1843 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith discloses a divine revelation instructing his followers to take multiple wives, in what the LDS Church calls "plural marriage" but everyone else calls polygamy. The Mormons are ultimately forced to disclaim the practice in September 1890.

Born on this day in history: July 12, Oscar Hammerstein (1895 - 1960) lyricist, musical comedy author He was influential in the development of musical comedy; known especially for his collaboration with the composer Richard Rodgers.

Today's Video: Anti-Helium Makes Jay Leno Talk Like Ving Rhames - submitted by Chris

The weatherpeople were right! It rained yesterday! It rained lightly for approximately 15 seconds. It rained sufficiently that the coating of dust on Mr. Nitro turned to mud. It was most unseemly for Mr. Nitro to appear in public in this condition. I took him to the car wash and cleaned him thoroughly. I then drove him to the river and back to air-dry him. He was most grateful.

Global Cooling, No Pets, -and- So Low

Global Cooling - snow in Buenos Aires first time in 89 years
No Pets - petless family flees flea invasion
So Low - Madonna's guitar solo at Live Earth faked?

On this day in history: July 10, 1992 - Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega sentenced to 40 years in prison for eight counts of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering.

Born on this day in history: July 10, 1943 - Arthur Ashe (1943 - 1993) tennis player, AIDS spokesperson. He was the first black player to win the men's singles at Wimbledon, 1975.

Today's Video: Dodge Sniffing Dog

Shopping for a new head can certainly be a chore. Click to enlarge.

Stupid Criminal, Waste Not, -and- All Dried Up

Stupid Criminal - bank robber disguises himself as tree
Waste Not - "green" light bulbs pack toxic ingredient
All Dried Up - woman arrested for not watering lawn

On this day in history: July 9, 1997 - Attempting to spring him from the Arizona state prison at Florence, Rebecca Thornton meets her husband Floyd at the perimeter fence with a rifle. There the escape plan goes haywire, and Rebecca shoots her death-row husband after he instructs her: "Shoot me! I'm sorry things went wrong. Shoot me! Shoot me!" Then they are both gunned down by the guards.

Born on this day in history: July 9, 1908 - Paul Brown (1908 - 1991) football coach He is a NFL hall of famer who, as a coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, was known for calling plays from the sidelines.

Today's Video: The Zimmers Backstage at Graham Norton - submitted by Jeffrey

It was hot over the weekend, and this heat wave is forecast to continue through Wednesday—when the temperature is expected to drop below 100 degrees for the first time in several days.

We visited with my mother Saturday. Laura made shrimp wraps with large tortillas, medium shrimp, diced Jalapeños, slivered red onion, slivered tomato, julienned butter lettuce, minced garlic, mayonnaise, and curry powder. They were wonderful.

We journeyed to Chico in Mr. Nitro. Mr. Nitro recorded the best highway fuel economy to date: 22.1 MPG.

Sunday—following service at Harvest Christian Center—I made a pot of beans. I stewed the bone from a large spiral-cut ham in two bottles of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot ale for two hours. I took the bone from the pot, removed all the meat, returned the meat to the pot, and added a sliced red onion, a sliced white onion, a head of garlic (peeled, whole cloves), five stalks of celery (sliced), sea salt, ground black pepper, and cumin. Laura added three tablespoons of brown sugar and tended the pot for two hours—at which time she added four cans of white beans (drained), stirred, and turned the burner to low. It was a delightful meal.

To Serve and Protect, Fly Me to the Moon, -and- Take It on the Run

To Serve and Protect - sheriff driving on expired license for 14 months
Fly Me to the Moon - tickets for private lunar visit $100 million
Take It on the Run - convict ties monitoring tag to dog, flees

On this day in history: June 28, 1967 - Actress Jayne Mansfield is killed in a car crash, when her convertible collides with a parked tractor-trailer.

Born on this day in history: June 28, 1861 - William James Mayo (1861 - 1939) surgeon. He is best known as the founder of the Mayo Clinic, 1915.

Today's Video: Glock with Drum Magazine! - submitted by Frank

On my way to the office this morning, I encountered this Dodge Nitro! Click to enlarge.

For dinner this evening, I shall be making giant shrimp with thick spaghetti. I shall cook a package of Barilla thick spaghetti al denté and set aside while Laura sautés giant shrimp that have been marinating in extra-virgin olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, chopped habanero, sun-dried tomatoes, and Red Monkey Mango Habanero Spice Rub. When the shrimp are cooked, Laura will incorporate the spaghetti. At the table, we shall add crushed red pepper and grated Romano cheese. The meal shall be delightful. There is no doubt.

The Fats of Life, Foul Ball, -and- Never Too Young

The Fats of Life - Krispy Kreme introduces multigrain doughnut
Foul Ball - soccer mom goes berserk
Never Too Young - 6-year-old recruited as suicide bomber

On this day in history: June 28, 1997 - Mike Tyson is disqualified from a championship boxing bout after biting off a large portion of Evander Holyfield's ear. Tyson is later banned from boxing and fined $3 million for the incident.

Born on this day in history: June 28, 1926 - Mel Brooks (1926 - ____) comedian, producer, director. He wrote and directed "The Producers," 1968 and "Blazing Saddles," 1974.

Today's Video: Don't Stop! - submitted by Frank

I stopped at a car show on the way to my office this morning.
There—nestled among the entrants—was a Dodge Nitro! Click to enlarge.

Cop Gone Wild, Animal Cruelty, -and- Wrong Turn

Cop Gone Wild - sheriff captain charged as peeping tom
Animal Cruelty - woman faced jail time for staring at police dog
Wrong Turn - teen hits school during driving lesson

On this day in history: June 6, 1991 - For robbing a Las Vegas video store five weeks earlier, a judge gives former "Diff'rent Strokes" child star Dana Plato a six-year suspended sentence. Plato's haul from the caper was $164, which she obtained by brandishing a pellet gun at the clerk.

Born on this day in history: June 6, 1887 - Ruth Benedict (1887 - 1948) anthropologist. She was an expert on American Indian tribes; wrote classic "Patterns of Culture," 1934; "Race, Science and Politics," 1940.

Today's Video: Funniest Cat Ever

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

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

Here is Mr. Nitro visiting with his grandfather. Click to enlarge.

For dinner Monday evening, I poached Atlantic cod fillets in white wine, seasonings, and dill weed. I steamed broccoli and baby carrots. Laura declared that Atlantic cod is her favorite white fish.

For dinner Tuesday evening, I had planned to serve leftover black bean and chicken chili, but Laura declared she was tired of the chili—having eaten it for dinner Saturday and lunch Monday—and wished to have a pasta dish. I cooked whole-grain gemelli and sliced and seasoned zucchini, red bell pepper, and cluster tomatoes. Laura sautéed the vegetables in extra-virgin olive oil and minced garlic. When the vegetables were done, she introduced the gemelli. We sprinkled our pasta with grated mozzarella cheese and crushed red pepper at the table. It was delightful.

No Brotherly Love, The Kids Are Alright, -and- Animal Kingdom

No Brotherly Love - Philadelphia boots Boy Scouts from headquarters
The Kids Are Alright - homeschooled kid wins national spelling bee
Animal Kingdom - new breed of cat retails for $22,000

On this day in history: June 1, 1660 - After having received a last-minute reprieve seven months earlier, Mary Dyer is hanged for heresy after returning to Boston. Dyer was a member of the Quakers, a subversive religious sect which had been banned by the Puritan colony under "pain of death."

Born on this day in history: June 1, 1926 - Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) actress. She was the ultimate pin-up girl who starred in "Some Like It Hot," 1959 and "Bus Stop," 1956.

Today's Video: No Smoking in the Bathroom - submitted by Chris

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

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

Here is the new sign for my parking space. Click to enlarge.