He's Alive!, Slap!, -and- The Midnight Cowboy Opens His Eyes

He's Alive! - "dead" man awakens before autopsy, asks for glass of water
Slap! - woman attacked husband with frozen lasagna
The Midnight Cowboy Opens His Eyes - Jon Voight praises McCain, repudiates his own Vietnam protests

On this day in history: August 7, 1882 - Ellison Hatfield is stabbed 26 times and shot in the back by Tolbert McCoy and two of his brothers. Two days later, the Hatfield clan captures the three McCoys and executes them by firing squad. Thus begins generations of bloodshed between the families, ultimately causing about 100 casualties.

Born on this day in history: August 7, 1975 - Charlize Theron (1975-) Born in Benoni, South Africa, actress Charlize Theron studied dance and moved to New York to join the Joffrey Ballet. In 1995, a knee injury led to acting. Her first starring role was in the Disney remake of "Mighty Joe Young" in 1998. In 2004, Theron won an Oscar for her work in "Monster."

Scripture of the Day: When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her [the woman caught in adultery]." - John 8:7

Video of the Day: Iron Chef Sushi Battle 2/5

This is not surprising. Click to enlarge.

The weather appears to have returned to "normal." It was a high of 102 degrees yesterday, and it is forecast to reach 99 degrees today. The rain that lasted a few seconds early yesterday morning did not return, the storm clouds disappeared, and the lightning strikes ceased. There were no reports of new fires from the lightning strikes. All appears well.

UPDATE: I was mistaken! SEVENTEEN new fires resulted from the lightning strikes! For the most part, these new fires are under control.

Maui, on the other hand, is suffering the worst cold spell in the history of that island!

For dinner Tuesday evening, I cut vegetables and made rice, and Laura stir-fried sliced chicken breasts and the vegetables. Laura dusted the chicken slices with cornstarch, Tony Chachere's More Spice, ground black pepper, and powdered ginger. She stir-fried the chicken until it was browned and added the vegetables—sliced white onion, sliced garlic, sliced mushrooms, sliced celery, and sliced Serrano peppers. When the vegetables were nearly done, she added a package of sugar snap peas and stir-fried for another minute. It was a delicious meal. I added Chinese hot sauce to my rice, topped with the stir-fry, and placed a dollop of wasabi paste on my plate. Laura added teriyaki sauce to her rice and vegetables.

We'll Always Have Paris, Burp!, -and- Lost!

We'll Always Have Paris - Hilton's new movie bombs at only $9,000 for opening weekend
Burp! - beer cheaper than water in Scotland supermarkets
Lost! - Best Buy sued for $54 million for misplaced laptop

On this day in history: February 13, 1959 - The first Barbie Doll is introduced by Mattel in California.

Born on this day in history: February 13, 1944 - Stockard Channing (1944-) Born Susan Williams Antonia Stockard in New York City, actress Stockard Channing landed the role of Rizzo in film musical Grease (1978) and won a Tony on Broadway in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1985). In 1999, she joined the cast of TV’s The West Wing, earning an Emmy for her portrayal of First Lady Abby Bartlett.

Scripture of the Day: Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. - Joel 2:13

Video of the Day: Will It Blend - iPhone - submitted by Cindy

There is a new K-9 cop on duty! Be good! Click to enlarge.

Yesterday was a liquids day on the food calendar we are following for The Lord's Table. I had hot tea, V-8 Juice, water, and beef bouillon. I am surprised by how agreeable my system is to ingesting only liquids. Today is a half day—meaning we are to eat half what we would otherwise eat. I had a small bowl of Special K with non-fat milk for breakfast. I shall have tea and spring water throughout the day. We shall have leftovers from Monday's spaghetti with Italian sausage and marinara sauce for dinner. The program is working well, I am learning a good deal, and I am very enthusiastic about the lessons. The program may be taken online at no charge. I recommend it highly.

Forget Paris, Don't Try This at Home, -and- Home Alone

Forget Paris - Grandpa Hilton to donate 97% of his wealth to charity
Don't Try This at Home - skydivers hope to land without parachute
Home Alone - 9 kids left alone for nearly a week

On this day in history: December 27, 1992 - Harry Connick, Jr., was arrested at Kennedy Airport in New York City after telling authorities he had an unloaded 9mm pistol in his luggage, which he said he had forgotten that his sister had given to him.

Born on this day in history: December 27, 1904 - Marlene Dietrich (1904–92)Born in Berlin, Germany, actress and singer Marlene Dietrich gained international attention in The Blue Angel (1930) and moved to Hollywood with its director, Josef von Sternberg, who starred her in six films that emphasized her persona of enigmatic sexuality. Resisting requests by the Nazis to return to Germany, she became a U.S. citizen in 1939.

Scripture of the Day: "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." (Psalm 103:1-2)

Video of the Day: Disappearing Car Door - submitted by Jay

That bites! I encountered this scene as I passed the pond behind my office this morning. Ouch! 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

32 Degrees! What a difference 4 degrees makes! While it is still very cold, it seems much warmer than yesterday—particularly since there was no frost on Mr. Nitro this morning. When I saw the frost on him yesterday, I shivered. When I saw "28 degrees" on his temperature display, I shivered more! This morning, it is certainly cold, and I was eager to get to the office and engage the heating system. It does not seem, however, nearly as cold as it seemed yesterday morning at the same time. In actuality, I seriously doubt that one can physically differentiate between 28 and 32 degrees, but psychologically, one can certainly imagine he is colder!

Interestingly, Mr. Nitro has a remote-start feature, which allows me to start him from up to 300 feet away. This would be great on these cold mornings: I could simply start Mr. Nitro from the comfort of our house and enter him once he is warm inside. The problem is I never think to set the heater controls when I park him upon arriving home in the afternoon. Obviously, without having the heater controls set properly, there is no value in starting him remotely. Perhaps a Post-it note, applied to Mr. Nitro's dash, would serve as a reminder for me to do this.

Girl Gone Wild, Fighting Back, -and- Ungodly

Girl Gone Wild - Paris Hilton loses inheritance
Fighting Back - robbery victim knifes attackers
Ungodly - Cambodia bans door-to-door evangelism

On this day in history: July 31, 1945 - Wearing a stolen army uniform, prisoner John Giles attempts to escape from Alcatraz Island by boarding an outbound cargo boat. But instead of San Francisco, the vessel heads for Angel Island, where Giles is promptly captured.

Born on this day in history: July 31, 1944 - Geraldine Chaplin (1944 - ____) actress. Her films include "Dr. Zhivago," 1965 and "Nashville," 1975; daughter of Charlie Chaplin.

Today's Video: The Kings of Gravitation - Few Training Days

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURA!

Fighting Back, Saved!, -and- Let It Shine!

Fighting Back - Subway customer hero for gunning down robbers
Saved! - "gay"-rights leader liberated from homosexuality by God
Let It Shine! - humans accused of overusing Sun

On this day in history: July 3, 1971 - Jim Morrison is found dead of an apparent heart attack in his Paris apartment bathtub.

Born on this day in history: July 3, 1947 - Dave Barry (1947 - ____) columnist, humorist. He is a syndicated columnist with the "Miami Herald," 1983--.

Today's Video: Buying an iPhone - submitted by Cindy

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.

Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.

Thanks to Chris for this great photograph! Click to enlarge.

We'll Always Have Paris, Bolt from the Blue, -and- The Water's Fine

We'll Always Have Paris - Hilton says shes "proud" she served jail sentence
Bolt from the Blue - lightning kills man under cloudless sky
The Water's Fine - fire crew used hydrant to fill pool

On this day in history: June 22, 1940 - France surrenders. Adolf Hitler forces the instrument of surrender to be signed in the very railcar in which the French inflicted the humiliating World War I Treaty of Versailles upon the Germans.

Born on this day in history: June 22, 1949 - Meryl Streep (1949 - ____) actress. She has starred in many films, including "The Deer Hunter," 1978 and "Kramer vs. Kramer," 1979.

Today's Video: Just for Fun

The weather—on this, the second day of summer—continues to be relatively mild. It has been in the low 90s for the last several days, and evenings bring a gentle breeze. It is very pleasant weather.

For dinner last evening, we had gourmet burritos. I simmered the remainder of the pig butt in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for several hours. I added six sliced Jalapeños, two diced habaneros, two sliced white onions, two diced tomatoes, ground black pepper, sea salt, ground cumin, and ground cayenne. Laura began tending to the pan when she arrived. Eventually, the pig meat shredded beautifully. The meal was delightful. Laura left for work this morning with leftovers in tow.

Hot Air, Arf!, -and- Grand Theft Auto

Hot Air - father of climatology dismisses global warming
Arf! - rest homes for dogs
Grand Theft Auto - Honda Accord stolen twice in one day

On this day in history: June 18, 1996 - Ted Kaczynski is indicted on ten criminal counts. He is suspected of being the Unabomber, who perpetrated 16 bomb attacks on people involved in technology.

Born on this day in history: June 18, 1939 - Lou Brock (1939 - ____) baseball player. He held the all-time stolen-base record of 938 (1961-79) until 1991; elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1985.

Today's Video: Marilyn Manson 15 Years Ago

Paris Hilton made a friend in jail. Her new friend is so enamored of Paris that she had her image inked onto her foot!

I am displeased to report that the SAVU Smoker Bag was an utter disappointment. While the pig butt cooked in it was incredibly juicy, tender, and delicious, it had no smoke flavor whatever and did not compare favorably with pig roasted on the grill. The six-pound pig butt cooked incredibly quickly—a mere two hours—and cleanup was quick and easy, but the results did not emulate barbecued pig in any way. I recommend the SAVU Smoker Bag as a means of quickly and easily cooking meats and vegetables with ease, but I cannot recommend the bag as an alternative to traditional barbecuing.

Home Alone, When Animals Attack, -and- Hic!

Home Alone - judge orders man not to have girlfriend for three years
When Animals Attack - squirrel goes on rampage, injures 3
Hic! - man gets two DUIs from same cop in one day

On this day in history: June 15, 1992 - The Supreme Court rules in US v. Alvarez-Machain that it is permissible for America to abduct suspects in foreign countries and smuggle them into the United States for trial, without extradition approval from those other countries.

Born on this day in history: June 15, 1932 - Mario Cuomo (1932 - ____) politician, lawyer, talk show host. He was democratic governor of New York, 1982-1994; wrote "Reason to Believe;" hosts weekly radio show, "Mario Talk Show - Talk to Mario."

Today's Video: "Paris in Jail" - The Music Video

Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, died yesterday at the age of 87, according to a family spokesman.

After battling pneumonia, she slipped into a coma yesterday at the couple's home in Montreat, N.C., where she was surrounded by her husband and five children. Spokesman Larry Ross said she died at 5:05 p.m. Eastern time.

"Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team," Billy Graham said in a statement. "No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.

"I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we've had in the mountains together. We've rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven."

From the Pen to the Pen, Snack Attack, -and- Fish Story

From the Pen to the Pen - Stan Lee to create Paris Hilton animated series for MTV
Snack Attack - city of Seattle could ban microwave popcorn
Fish Story - jumping sturgeon knocks woman unconscious

On this day in history: June 14, 1954 - At the Lincoln Memorial, President Dwight Eisenhower signs a law inserting the words "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance. Eisenhower declares: "From this day forward, the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty."

Born on this day in history: June 14, 1946 - Donald Trump (1946 - ____) businessman. He is one of Manhattan's most grandiose builders and billionaires.

Today's Video: Paris Hilton in Jail - "The Cellblock Life" (Episode 2)

It was 83 degrees in my office when I arrived at 7:15 AM this morning—prompting me to engage the air conditioning. It appears today will be very warm indeed. There is a fierce wind blowing, unfortunately. I loathe the wind. With the intense heat and the fierce wind, the outdoors will be like a blast furnace today. I shall not spend much time outside today.

If He Did It, Rated G, -and- Animal Cruelty

If He Did It - O.J. Simpson's daughter must testify
Rated G - Christian site takes on YouTube
Animal Cruelty - Australian police probe kangaroo mutilation deaths

On this day in history: June 13, 1920 - The United States Postal Service rules that children may not be sent via Parcel Post.

Born on this day in history: June 13, 1865 - William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939) poet, dramatist. He was the leader of the Irish literary renaissance; Founded Abbey Theater, Dublin.

Today's Video:Paris Hilton in Jail - "The Cellblock Life" (Episode 1)

Another warm day is predicted. The temperature reached 100+ degrees yesterday. There was a nice breeze in the evening, however. It was 77 degrees in my office when I arrived here this morning at 7:15 AM. It shall be very warm very soon!

For dinner last evening, I made rigatoni and giant shrimp: I peeled giant shrimp and marinated them in extra-virgin olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, seasonings, and crushed red pepper. I cooked the rigatoni and set aside. Laura sautéed the shrimp and stirred in the pasta when the shrimp were done. At the table, we added shredded mozzarella cheese, crushed red peppers, and freshly ground black pepper. It was delightful. I will add this recipe and a tip for grating ginger to the Recipes list when time permits.

Suicide Blonde, All Dressed Up, -and- Animal Kingdom

Suicide Blonde - Paris Hilton may go back to jail
All Dressed Up - man in drag arrested for stalking
Animal Kingdom - adoption group says cat invasion due to global warming

On this day in history: June 8, 1999 - The government of Colombia announces that it will include the estimated value of its illegal drug crops, exceeding half a billion dollars, when calculating its Gross National Product.

Born on this day in history: June 8, 1925 - Barbara Bush (1925 - ____) first lady. She founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy; wrote "C. Fred's Story: A Dog's Life," 1984 as a contribution to literacy campaign.

Today's Video: Chris Norman - "Needles and Pins" Live

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UPDATE: Paris Hilton ordered back to jail!

My friend and business neighbor, Corey, of Corning Auto Parts, gave me an SAVU Smoker Bag. We shall use this Saturday to roast a large pig butt on the grill. I shall give a full report of this in Monday's blog post.

Take Me Home!, Call Waiting, -and- 10-4

Take Me Home! - Paris Hilton released from jail for "medical reasons"
Call Waiting - man drowns trying to get cell phone in sewer
10-4 - trucker saves young father from traffic

On this day in history: June 7, 1982 - In an effort to defray its $500,000 annual upkeep costs, Priscilla Presley opens Graceland to the public only five years after Elvis died in an upstairs bathroom. The bathroom is kept off-limits to tourists.

Born on this day in history: June 7, 1981 - Anna Kournikova (1981 - ____) tennis player. She is known for her glamour on and off the tennis court.

Today's Video: Most People Riding a Surfboard

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

The weather remains cool, although there has been no rain nor fierce wind since Tuesday's powerful storm. The storm did a good deal of damage in this area. It brought down trees and power poles and left some areas without power or telephone service for several hours. While I did not experience any loss of electric power, the telephone at my office was affected for several hours, and the DirecTV satellite signal was lost for about twenty minutes.

Paris Hilton was released from jail today for "medical reasons." She shall serve the 40-day balance of her sentence confined to her home and must wear an ankle bracelet. This is not hawt! It shall be interesting, however, to see whether Paris can successfully complete the 40-day home confinement without slipping out of her ankle bracelet and making the party scene. Of course, with the resources she has available to her, she could easily arrange for the party to come to her!

Paris at Tent City?, Headache!, -and- How Ironic!

Paris at Tent City? - Sheriff Joe Arpaio offers lodging
Headache! - bullet in woman's head for 64 years
How Ironic! - guy named "Stoner" busted for growing pot

On this day in history: May 15, 1997 - Federal prosecutors in the Unabomber trial file the necessary paperwork requesting the death penalty for Ted Kaczynski.

Born on this day in history: May 15, 1894 - Katherine Anne Porter (1894 - 1980) novelist, short-story writer. She was a master stylist of texture and complexity of character delineation; won Pulitzer, 1966, for her only full length novel "Ship of Fools."

Today's Video: Gallop Around the Bay III - 150+ Mustangs! - submitted by Frank

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While on my way to the office this morning, I noticed this eye-catching plumber's truck. Click to enlarge.