Flying High, Global Cooling, -and- Brave New Schools

Flying High - United pilot admits to being drunk
Global Cooling - frozen iguanas drop from Florida trees
Brave New Schools - drunk bus driver takes NY students on wild ride

On this day in history: January 6, 1969 - Future Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter sees an Unidentified Flying Object in Leary, GA. Also witnessing the craft are his fellow Lions Club members.

Born on this day in history: January 6, 1954 - Anthony Minghella (1954 - 2008) The Academy Award-winning director of The English Patient (1996), Anthony Minghella used his love of literature to create rich, dynamic films. Before his untimely death, Minghella wowed critics and audiences with his adaptations of books such as The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Cold Mountain (2003).

Scripture of the Day: Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. - 1 Peter 1:13

Video of the Day: "The Iguana Song"

Zeus is a very independent creature. When he desires human interaction, he makes it well known. When he does not desire human interaction, he shrouds himself with a barrier of aloofness—as if to say, "What is it about 'no' that you don't understand?" Laura took this photograph of Zeus during just such a period. Click to enlarge.

Technology News
Google unleashes its Nexus One smartphone
Survey: Android gaining ground, fast
Snapdragon chip powers itself into Nexus One

Background Uncheck, I Want My MTV!, -and- Nothing to Sing About

Background Uncheck - some US cities eliminate criminal background question
I Want My MTV! - $450 cable bill leads to domestic violence
Nothing to Sing About - singer has suffered non-stop hiccups for 22 months

On this day in history: January 6, 1969 - Future Governor of Georgia Jimmy Carter sees an Unidentified Flying Object in Leary, GA.

Born on this day in history: January 6, 1957 - Nancy Lopez (1957- ) Born in Torrance, CA, golfer Nancy Lopez won the Ladies' Professional Golf Association Championship in 1978, and was voted LPGA player of the year four times, setting the record for the lowest 72-hole score of 268 (1985).

Scripture of the Day: I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. - Psalm 104:33-34

Video of the Day: Awesome Ford Mustang Commercial - submitted by Chris

Imagine my surprise when I found this creature hiding under my desk this morning! I have no idea what it is. If I knew its origin, I would surely send it home! 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
Best Quotes of 2008
Naughtiest and Nicest CEOs of 2008
Funniest Stories of 2008

My friend, Frank, visited my office yesterday. We had a nice visit. He is returning to Beserkley today—where he is working as a master tile setter. He told me to expect photographs of the wildlife there, and I shall. If you did not see the video of Frank racing his 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra at the Redding Dragstrip in yesterday's blog, by all means view it!

Frank gave me this link to A fascinating look at the history of ATF through the perspective of badge changes

Armed and Dangerous, Hide Bugs!, -and- I Gave at the Office

Armed and Dangerous - woman pulls .44 Magnum on mice, shoots herself
Hide Bugs! - serial rabbit-killer uses Google Earth to find victims
I Gave at the Office - new law: jail for giving to beggars

On this day in history: July 11, 1979 - The derelict space station Skylab finally returns to Earth, ignominiously breaking into 500 separate fragments which are swallowed by the Indian Ocean. That is, except for the ones which crash into Woorlba Sheep Station, near Balladonia in Western Australia. Shortly thereafter, President Jimmy Carter telephones the prime minister of that country to apologize for scattering NASA litter on his nation.

Born on this day in history: July 11, 1934 - Giorgio Armani (1934 - ) Born in Piacenza, Italy, fashion designer Giorgio Armani began as a window dresser in Milan and started his own design house in 1975. In 2003, Armani was the first fashion designer to have an exhibition at London's Royal Academy.

Scripture of the Day: "Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." - Job 7:11

Video of the Day: California Fires Smoke - from the Sky

Here is a photograph Laura took yesterday afternoon from our backyard. This has been the view of the sun that has plagued us for weeks now. The air quality—as you might well imagine—is horrid. There are many birds here, and Laura and I enjoy listening to them sing. The birds are not singing these days, and we miss their songs greatly. Click to enlarge.

One of my favorite songs at the moment—and one that often echoes in my
head—is a FreeCreditReport.com commercial!

"Well, I married my dream girl.
(I married my dream girl.)
But she didn't tell me.
Her credit was bad.
So now instead of living in a pleasant suburb.
We're living in the basement at her Mom and Dad's.
No we can't get a loan, for a respectable home.
Just because my girl defaulted on some old credit card.
If we'd gone to freecreditreport.com...
I'd be a happy bachelor with a dog and a yard."

While the sentiment is certainly not particularly encouraging, the melody is infective, the beat is good, and I rate it a 10!

Bad Cop/Good Cop, Armed and Stupid, -and- Getting Air

Bad Cop/Good Cop - fake officer pulls over real one
Armed and Stupid - anti-gun activist makes illegal gun purchase
Getting Air - balloons carry man in lawnchair 193 miles

On this day in history: July 11, 1979 - The derelict space station Skylab finally returns to Earth, ignominiously breaking into 500 separate fragments which are swallowed by the Indian Ocean. That is, except for the ones which crash into Woorlba Sheep Station, near Balladonia in Western Australia. Shortly thereafter, President Jimmy Carter telephones the prime minister of that country to apologize for scattering NASA litter on his nation.

Born on this day in history: July 11, 1897 - Blind Lemon Johnson (c. 1897 - 1930) blues singer Blind from birth, "the King of the Country Blues" recorded during the 1920s; died in Chicago, lost in the streets during a snowstorm.

Today's Video: Black Sabbath - "Paranoid" (1970)

Along the route to my office this morning, I encountered people harvesting mushrooms. The mushrooms were very large. It must be the fertilizer they use that is producing such large results!

It is cold this morning! The weatherpeople are predicting rain! It certainly looks dismal outside, and the possibility that it might rain appears high. Yikes! Quick, someone alert Al Gore!

For dinner last evening, we had Johnsonville brats: I sprayed a sauté pan with Pam and arranged six Johnsonville brats. I peeled a head of garlic and scattered the cloves over the brats. I sliced a large white onion into six sections and scattered over the brats and garlic. I sliced a large zucchini on the bias and layered atop the onions, brats, and garlic. I sliced four large mushrooms into quarters and layered atop the zucchini, onions, brats, and garlic. I liberally seasoned with Red Monkey Cajun Spice. I sliced a large tomato into six thin slices, layered atop the mushrooms, zucchini, onions, brats, and garlic and seasoned with sea salt and ground black pepper. Laura placed the sauté pan on the stove and set the burner to medium. Ten minutes later, she reduced the heat to medium-low and continued to cook for twenty minutes. Spicy brown mustard was used as a condiment. The meal was delightful.

Tonight, we shall have some of the ham and beans from Sunday's dinner.