Bad Religion, Tase Me Bro!, -and- Place Your Bets

Bad Religion - defectors say Church of Scientology hides abuse
Tase me Bro! - man laughed off Taser jolt while battling Rochester cops
Place Your Bets - chips are down for U.S. casinos as revenues slide

On this day in history: March 8, 1968 - A Soviet submarine sinks in the Pacific Ocean, killing all 97 crew members aboard. Later in the year a U.S. submarine secretly retrieves an encryption machine, codebooks, and nuclear warheads from the Soviet vessel. A further bold attempt is made in 1974 to bring up the entire submarine using the CIA ship Glomar Explorer, built by Howard Hughes. That mission supposedly fails, and is made public by the Los Angeles Times to the great embarrassment of the Agency.

Born on this day in history: March 8, 1945 - Micky Dolenz (1945 - ) Musician, actor, director. In 1965 Micky Dolenz was catapulted to fame when he was cast as the drummer and lead vocalist in the television series and band "The Monkees." Thanks to this role, his voice can be heard for all posterity on such classic hit songs as "Last Train to Clarksville" (1966) and "I'm a Believer" (1966).

Scripture of the Day: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Video of the Day: How to Survive a Zombie Attack - submitted by Cindy

Laura and Brian were given a special personal tour of the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation last Friday morning. Laura returned to civilization with some nice photographs—taken with her Nikon Coolpix 995 digital camera. I produced a slide show from 149 of her photographs. You may view the slide show HERE! The slide show lasts 13 minutes, so be certain you have the free time to view it.

Technology News
Jobs: iPad won't tether with iPhone
Warning: beware fake census sites
Symantec: Energizer battery recharger ships with Trojan
100Mbps broadband may be closer than you think

ESP 5000 Wolverine Entertainment Storage Player
Traditionally, I have taken a laptop with me when doing a photo shoot. If I fill my two 16GB CompactFlash storage cards, I can move the photographs to the laptop. If I wish to show a client the photographs I have taken, I can download the images onto the laptop and run a slide show. This methodology of managing photographs while in the field works, but it is slow, and the added weight of the laptop is not welcomed graciously. My Tamrac camera bag is easily heavy enoughcontaining a Nikon D3, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Micro lens, Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens, Nikon Speedlight SB-900, and an array of accessories and spare batteries!

I spent several hours researching alternative storage devices and decided upon the ESP 5000 Wolverine from Wolverine Data. Click the image to enlarge it.

The Wolverine abates the weight issue nicely: It weighs but a few ounces. Copying or moving files from camera cards to the Wolverine is very simple: When a camera (or any storage card) is inserted into the Wolverine's card slot, the unit automatically queries what one wishes done with the images or data on the card. If one chooses to copy or move the images, this is done quickly, and the progress is displayed graphically. The camera card may then be reinserted into the camera, and one is ready to continue shooting! If one wishes to run a slide show, the Wolverine will do so instantly, since there is negligible start-up time, and a slide show may be run directly from the camera card, without needing to copy or move the images! If a television is available, the slide show may be displayed on the television.
The Wolverine is available in several capacities—from 80GB to 250GB. I opted for the 250GB model.

Here are some of the features of the Wolverine:

Download images directly from any digital camera without a computer

Use it to backup and carry all your digital images

Display JPEG, Bitmap, Tiff, Text and RAW images (most popular SLR Cameras)

Print directly to printers

Store and Play Thousands of Songs

Supports five music Formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, AAC (MP4-audio) & CDA

Easy, drag and drop music files from your computer and play them instantly

Store and Play Hundreds of Hours of Video

Supports: MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV9 and Xvid

Built-in FM Radio

Listen and RECORD your favorite talk shows or music from any FM Radio Station

Scan and preset up to 18 different Radio Stations

Plugs to TV and Stereo System

With the included Video/Audio cable connect the ESP directly to any TV or Projector

View a slide show of your favorite photos or watch recorded videos on the big screen

Connect to a stereo system to enjoy and share your music collection

Record Video Directly from TV/DVD/VCR/Camcorder or any other video source (require optional Cradle)

Use the ESP as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to record directly from TV/DVD/VCR/Camcorder using the optional Cradle System (not included)

Bring last night's game, cartoons or an entire season of your favorite TV series with you and watch them anytime, anywhere

Armed and Dangerous, Fly by Night, -and- Gentlemen Start Your Engines

Armed and Dangerous - deputy tries to shoot his way out of jail cell
Fly by Night - airline pilot flew for 13 years with forged license
Gentlemen Start Your Engines - U.S. Navy ships raced each other at sea

On this day in history: March 5, 1982 - John Belushi found dead at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood from a cocaine and heroin overdose. A sketchy woman, Cathy Smith, is later charged with administering the fatal injections.

Born on this day in history: March 5, 1958 - Andy Gibb (1958 - 1988) Born in Manchester, England, singer Andy Gibb became the first male solo artist to land three consecutive No. 1 hits on the 'Billboard Hot 100'. The youngest brother of the band members of the Bee Gees, Andy collaborated with his siblings to create the hit singles "Shadow Dancing" (1978) and "Don't Throw It All Away" (1979)

Scripture of the Day: These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. - Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Video of the Day: Rob Zombie - "Living Dead Girl" - submitted by Darin

Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while passing through the parking lot at Walmart while on the way to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.

Technology News
Good luck burying the undead IE6
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Laura Visits the Wild Animals
This morning, Laura will visit the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation. As you may recall, the Foundation brought an eight-week-old leopard cub to Laura at Sierra Nevada. This morning, Laura and Brian will visit the leopard—along with a new tiger cub and a wide assortment of other wild animals, birds, and reptiles—at the Foundation's current location in Durham. They will also tour the site of what will be the new Foundation home. Laura is eager to visit the wildlife and is taking her real camera (a Nikon Coolpix 995) to photograph them.

Animal Kingdom, Chopper Mom, -and- Fooled Again

Animal Kingdom - Kirshner Wildlife Foundation to appear on Jay Leno
Chopper Mom - Memphis woman threatens school employees with sword
Fooled Again - CNN falls for "World's First Hot Dog" hoax

On this day in history: February 26, 1974 - A U.S. Senate report reveals Ford Motor's involvement in Nazi Germany's war efforts, for which CEO Henry Ford received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle from Adolf Hitler himself. After the war, the car company was paid nearly $1M reparation by the U.S. government to compensate for one of its plants that was bombed within the Reich.

Born on this day in history: February 26, 1932 - Johnny Cash (1932 - 2003) Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, singer Johnny Cash, one of the greatest stars of country music, recorded his first hits, "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues," in 1956. In 1968, he married June Carter (1929-2003), a member of country music's famous "first family." Cash was inducted into the Country Music Association (CMA) Hall of Fame in 1980.

Scripture of the Day: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. - 1 John 4:9

Video of the Day: Johnny Cash - "I Walk the Line"

Imagine my surprise when I encountered this scene while passing through Walmart on the way to my office this morning! Click to enlarge.

Technology News
Virgin Media to offer 100 Mbps broadband
Obscenity-laden email leads to Facebook boycott
The nitty-gritty details of the Bloom Energy box
Bug causes Facebook messages to misfire
Firefox extension simplifies emailing on Facebook
Woman says boyfriend kidnapped her Facebook page
Blockbuster posts $435 million loss

TGIF, The Weather, and the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation
Perchance it is specific to my own personal interpretation of the Mobius Continuum; however, this week seems to have passed particularly slowly. It is Friday morning, yet it seems to me that considerably more than seven days have passed since the last Friday morning. Possibly, I have simply entered the Continuum obliquely and have been, therefore, unable to travel in space and time in a single movement—my travel having been significantly lengthened by the circuitous path created by my oblique entry into the Continuum. Hopefully, today will pass quickly, and the weekend will be upon us without undue wait.

Yesterday was certainly not the beautiful day it seemed to be early in the morning. By mid-morning, the sun had begun hiding behind clouds, the temperature did not reach expectations, light rain fell, and a power outage occurred in the late afternoon! Currently, forecasts show sunshine and 70° temperatures for Saturday and Sunday. I shall make my own weather forecasts when I awaken and peer out the window tomorrow morning—thereby producing a forecast of considerably greater reliability.

The Kirshner Wildlife Foundation will appear on Jay Leno early next month. See the lead story here today for details. The Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation is in Durham—near Chico—in Butte County. Equal parts wildlife sanctuary, educational park, and research center, the Foundation is home to a remarkable assortment of wild and exotic animals, many of them endangered species. A priority of the Foundation is to provide these animals with all they need to keep them healthy and contented. This involves giving them the best quality care: daily exercise, needed interaction, and the highest quality nutrition. In return, the public has the awe-inspiring opportunity to witness first-hand their beauty and value as a natural part of the world's ecosystems.

Fighting Back, Stupid Criminals, -and- Gun Control

Fighting Back - teacher tackles Colorado school shooter
Stupid Criminals - man sent 500 texts on stolen phone
Gun Control - NRA gun instructor accidentally shoots student

On this day in history: February 24, 1998 - A man "on a mission from God" hijacks a Turkish Airlines jet with 68 on board, claiming to have a bomb in his teddy bear, and attempts to divert it to Iran. Passengers put an end to his plans.

Born on this day in history: February 24, 1955 - Steven Jobs (1955 - ) California entrepreneur Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976. The company's Apple II computer helped launch the personal computer revolution in 1977. During his time away from the company in 1985, he helped bring Pixar Animation to world fame. He then returned to Apple, ushering in a new era of computing with his 2001 iPod and 2007 iPhone.

Scripture of the Day: We love because [God] first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

Video of the Day: MWC: Microsoft debuts Windows Phone 7 Series

Technology News
Adobe patches Download Manager hole
More TVs hopping onto the Internet
Experts warn of catastrophe from cyberattacks
Recognizr can identify you by your photo alone

Here is Laura with the two-month-old baby leopard that the Kirshner Wildlife Foundation brought to SNBC. She thoroughly enjoyed playing with the
leopard. Click to enlarge.

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Money to Burn, Somebody's Watching You, -and- Somebody's Watching You Too

Money to Burn - tourist trapped on ski lift escapes death by burning cash
Somebody's Watching You - school-issued laptops used to spy on kids at home?
Somebody's Watching You Too - police push for warrantless searches of cell phones

On this day in history: February 19, 1998 - Lt. Col. Larry Wayne Harris (Aryan Nations) and William Leavitt are arrested in Henderson, NV for possession of the biological toxin anthrax, military grade, enough to kill an entire city. Their Mercedes is hermetically sealed by authorities and brought to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada for hazmat.

Born on this day in history: February 19, 1940 - Smokey Robinson 1940 - ) Born in Detroit, Michigan, singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson formed the group The Miracles, which signed with Motown Records in 1958. Robinson composed and produced many hits, including "Shop Around" (1960) and "My Girl" (1965). He also served as the company's vice president from 1961 to 1988, earning him the title "King of Motown."

Scripture of the Day: Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. — 1 John 4:11-12

Video of the Day: Windows Phone 7 Series Features

Technology News
Steve Jobs disses Adobe Flash as "CPU hog"
Comcast launches online backup service
PleaseRobMe's Twitter account is shut down
Your Facebook profile: An invitation to crime?

Laura Will Pet a Jaguar!
Laura will be meeting Tuesday with a representative of The Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation to discuss SNBC's support of the Foundation. Laura, as you know, is the assistant to Ken. In addition to her duties as his assistant, she oversees donations. The representative is bringing a baby jaguar to the meeting. Laura is eager to pet the jaguar. I am jealous. Click to enlarge.

The Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation is a special place. Equal parts wildlife sanctuary, educational park, and research center, the Foundation is home to a remarkable assortment of wild and exotic animals—many of them endangered species. A priority of the Foundation is to provide these animals with all they need to keep them healthy and contented. This involves giving them the best quality care: daily exercise, needed interaction, and the highest quality nutrition. In return, the public has the awe-inspiring opportunity to witness first-hand their beauty and value as a natural part of the world's ecosystems. The Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation was founded in 1994. In all of this time, it have been an all-volunteer staff, with all monies going to feed, care, and house the resident animals. The animals have the potential to inspire minds and to change lives!