Fighting Back, Crime and Punishment, -and- From Mexico with Love

Fighting Back - 81-year-old kills home intruder
Crime and Punishment - Texas man gets 60 years for 10th DUI
From Mexico with Love - gang had James Bond Car

On this day in history: February 20, 1968 - The U.S. goes off the gold standard.

Born on this day in history: February 20, 1928 - Fred (McFeeley) Rogers (1928–2003) Born in Latrobe, PA, TV personality Fred Rogers became famous as host of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," a show for preschoolers that debuted in 1965. Rogers’ distinctive manner made him a national institution.

Scripture of the Day: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

Video of the Day: Big Dog Quadruped Robot - submitted by Frank

Happy Spring! Today is the first day of spring!

Spring is finally here! It appears that today will be a beautiful, sunny day. This is the forecast. While the weatherpeople are wrong more often then not, it appears—looking at the morning sky—that their forecast for today is correct. The rain that was forecast for yesterday arrived as a very brief sprinkling.

An installer from DirecTV is coming today to install an dual-feed HD dish and a DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR. With the latest DVR and HD technology rolled into one easy-to-use unit, the DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR will change the way you enjoy home theater. Images are sharper. Colors are brighter. Sound is crisper. And now they can be recorded. The DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR also features Media Share, allowing you to enjoy photos and music stored on your Intel® Viiv™ processor technology-based PC — on your TV.

Features:

High definition (mpeg-2, mpeg-4) and standard definition (mpeg-2) enabled. View the best in both HD and SD programming.

Record up to 200 hours of SD programming, up to 50 hours of HD programming. Watch your favorite shows on your own schedule.

Record two shows at once while watching another recording.

Series Link feature: Automatically record an entire season of your favorite shows, even if they change day or time.

One-touch record, auto record, manual record and bookmarks.

Pause and rewind live HD TV for up to 90 minutes. Control what you watch—back up, slow down or use instant replay.

Media Share capable: Listen to music and view photos stored on your Intel® Viiv™ processor technology-based PC.

2 satellite tuners for access to SD and HD DIRECTV programming.

Take advantage of DIRECTV interactive features like DIRECTV Active™. Get weather information, lottery results and horoscopes onscreen.

14-day Advanced Program Guide®. Search the channel guide for shows up to 14 days in advance.

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound capable. Listen to superb theater-quality sound with additional hardware.

View and log Caller ID info provided by your local phone company.

Parental controls/locks: Enjoy peace of mind over what your children are watching by locking out objectionable programming.

This will be a fine companion to the Vizio GV47LF 47" LCD HDTV we installed Tuesday.

Soon, a Sony BDPS300 Blu-Ray DVD player will arrive. This unit will play Blu-Ray DVDs, of course, but it offers another exciting feature: It offers complete backward compatibility. We can still enjoy our current favorite CDs and DVDs, no matter the format. In fact, they look and sound better than ever before, because the BDPS300 can take our current DVD library and upconvert it to a near high-definition experience (1080p) via HDMI connection or 1080i via component video.

Smell that Smell, Pump up the Volume, -and- To Serve and Protect

Smell that Smell - Lloyds insures winemaker's nose for $8 million
Pump up the Volume - cops aim to seize cars for loud music
To Serve and Protect - cop accused of stealing hot dogs, fired

On this day in history: February 19, 1982 - The guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, dies during the Diary of a Madman tour after the plane he is flying in buzzes the band's tour bus and clips the wing of the plane, crashing into a nearby farmhouse.

Born on this day in history: February 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-?). 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: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you -- even Jesus. - Acts 3:19-20

Video of the Day: Vizio GV47LF 47" LCT HDTV

Mmmmm-waaah! Yikes!

Our Vizio GV47LF 47" LCD HDTV arrived yesterday. My business neighbor, Corey (of Corning Auto Parts, two doors from my office), indicated a need for our 27" Hitachi CRT TV. He helped me unpack and set up the Vizio LCD unit and scampered away with the Hitachi TV and the box and packing materials for the Vizio TV. Thank you, Corey!

The Vizio unit is superb. Laura indicated a great desire for this unit. She rarely asks for anything, so it was a pleasure and a delight to be able to please her.

We watched "Night at the Museum" to initiate the new TV.

Laura declared we must now purchase an HD DVR/Satellite Receiver, add HD programming to our DirecTV service, and purchase a Blu-Ray DVD player. So it shall be!