Grounded, Back to School, -and- Somebody's Watching You

Grounded - after morning coffee, woman finds dead bat in filter
Back to School - MI law requires GED for parole
Somebody's Watching You - homeowner links cameras to city cops

On this day in history: September 30, 1955 - Heading westbound on Highway 466 just outside Cholame, California, movie star James Dean is killed in a head-on collision with another driver. University student Donald Turnupseed was driving home in his Ford when he swerved into the oncoming lane, smashing into Dean's Porsche 550 Spyder.

Born on this day in history: September 30, 1924 - Truman Capote (1924 - 1984) Born in New Orleans, writer Truman Capote moved to New York City in 1942, working as an office boy at The New Yorker. His first novel, "Other Voices, Other Rooms" (1948), launched a literary career that’s best-known for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1958). Capote cultivated celebrity status and was famous for his jet-setting lifestyle.

Scripture of the Day: For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples. — Nehemiah 9:30

Video of the Day: Cats vs. Dogs - submitted by Danica

Break a leg, Sarah. Click to enlarge.

Click here to see yourself onscreen!

The United Way

The United Way realized that it had never received a donation from the city's most successful lawyer. So a United Way volunteer paid the lawyer a visit in his lavish office.

The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, "Our research shows that even though your annual income is over two million dollars, you don't give a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give something back to your community through the United Way?"

The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, "First, did your research also show you that my mother is dying after a long, painful illness and she has huge medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?"

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbles, "Uh... no, I didn't know that."

"Secondly," says the lawyer, "did it show that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair and is unable to support his wife and six children?" The stricken United Way rep begins to stammer an apology, but is cut off again.

"Thirdly, did your research also show you that my sister's husband died in dreadful car accident, leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three children, one of whom is disabled and another that has learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?"

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, says, "I'm so sorry, I had no idea."

And the lawyer says, "So . . . if I didn't give any money to them, what makes you think I'd give any to you?"

Heat of the Moment, Back to School, -and- Where's the Beef?

Heat of the Moment - AccuWeather: global cooling on the way
Back to School - woman poses as daughter to practice with cheerleaders
Where's the Beef? - new culinary craze: eating with blindfolds

On this day in history: September 15, 1998 - Rap artist Coolio is arrested in Lawndale, California after being pulled over for driving a 1996 Hummer on the wrong side of the road. He was carrying an expired license, a loaded 9mm semiautomatic firearm, and a small quantity of marijuana.

Born on this day in history: September 15, 1946 - Tommy Lee Jones (1946-) Academy-Award-winning actor, director, and screenwriter born September 15, 1946, in San Saba, Texas.

Scripture of the Day: [In talking about others having the right to be supported in their ministry, the apostle Paul says] But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. - 1 Corinthians 9:15

Video of the Day: Origami Frog - submitted by Danica

Yikes! Say it is not so! Click to enlarge.

Following the early service at Harvest Christian Center yesterday, I produced a delectable Oriental salad: I poached sliced white mushrooms for 20 minutes. I added a package of Oriental noodles to the boiling water and continued to cook for 3 minutes. I then added a package of snow peas and turned off the burner. I allowed the mushrooms, noodles, and snow peas to remain in the water for another minute then drained into a colander. I shook the colander vigorously to further drain and emptied the contents into a large stainless-steel mixing bowl. I added a quantity of chopped green onions and sliced water chestnuts. I sliced leftover grilled London broil into thin strips and added to the salad. I grated a large quantity of fresh ginger onto the salad and seasoned with Tony Chachere's More Spice, garlic powder, parsley flakes, crushed red pepper, and celery salt. I dressed the salad with a mixture of one part teriyaki sauce, one part extra-virgin olive oil, and three parts rice wine vinegar. I tossed the salad, covered with a paper towel, and placed in the refrigerator. It was a delightful evening meal.

Sunday afternoon, I photographed the Harvest Christian Center softball tournament—the second of the year. I shall produce a slide show from these photographs and share them soon.