Heat of the Moment, Not Welcome, -and- Dive!

Heat of the Moment - over 400 prominent scientists dispute global warming
Not Welcome - couple forced to take in criminal lodger
Dive! - cocaine kingpins have submarine fleet

On this day in history: December 21, 1970 - President Nixon meets with prescription drug addict Elvis Presley at the White House to discuss The King's becoming a special drug enforcement agent. He presents Nixon with a pistol, and receives a special DEA badge in return.

Born on this day in history: December 21, 1940 - Frank Zappa (1940–93) Avant-garde rock musician and composer, born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He played guitar in a high school blues and rock band and briefly studied music theory in college. He led the satirical "underground" band The Mothers of Invention (with varying line-ups) in the 1960s and 1970s, making inventive and often scabrous albums such as "Freak-Out!" (1966) and "We're Only in it for the Money" (1967, a parody of the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album). Influential solo albums included "Lumpy Gravy" (1968) and "Hot Rats" (1969); and from various new groupings of Mothers came "Just Another Band from LA," "Over-Nite Sensation," and more. He created and scored the film "200 Motels," and composed serious music, performed by Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, and others.

Scripture of the Day: "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7)

Video of the Day: Creation - submitted by Laura

Here is an amazing photograph of the Orion Nebula, taken with a Nikon D3, at ISO 1600 for 70 seconds! 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

Merry Christmas! I wish everyone a glorious Christmas! May your Christmas be filled with family, friends, joy, and happiness. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Open Sesame!, Bam!, -and- The Real Thing

Open Sesame! - FBI raids David Copperfield's Las Vegas warehouse
Bam! - woman hammers computer to get Comcast's attention
The Real Thing - woman buys cocaine to kill husband

On this day in history: October 19, 1982 - Maverick carmaker John DeLorean is arrested in Los Angeles with $24M worth of cocaine in his suitcase. The case is later thrown out of court when a judge rules that the FBI sting operation constituted entrapment.

Born on this day in history: October 19, 1931 - John LeCarre (1931 - ____) novelist. He made George Smiley, antithesis of James Bond, famous in "Call from the Dead," 1962; also wrote "Little Drummer Girl," 1983 and "Perfect Spy," 1986.

Scripture of the Day: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

Video of the Day: Elephants Dream - submitted by Amber

Here is the weather forecast for Sunday. If the weatherman is correct, it
shall be a beautiful day for Oktoberfest!

Crash!, This Land Was Your Land, -and- You're Not It

Crash! - DUI driver flees with body in window
This Land Was Your Land - man gets 6 months in jail for building fence
You're Not It - Colorado school bans tag

On this day in history: August 30, 1859 - At the University of Göttingen, PhD candidate Albert Niemann isolates the alkaloid C17H21NO4 from leaves of the plant Erythroxylum coca. Niemann names his white, powdery discovery "cocaine" and observes firsthand its peculiarly strong anesthetic effect: "it benumbs the nerves of the tongue, depriving it of feeling and taste."

Born on this day in history: August 30, 1918 - Ted Williams (1918 - 2002) baseball player "The Thumper" was the last baseball player to bat over .400; had .344 lifetime batting average; Hall of Fame, 1966.

Scripture of the Day: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,” (Ephesians 2:19)

Video of the Day: World's Tallest Man Meets the Smallest

I went shopping at Sav-Mor Foods (conveniently, a mere block from our house) yesterday at 3:30 PM, following my departure from my office. (Since I arrive at my office by 7:30 AM each morning, I generally leave at 3:30 PM.) It was 107 degrees. I took my purchases to Mr. Nitro, unloaded them into him, and returned my shopping cart to the storage area. I noticed the numerous shopping carts abandoned throughout the parking lot by unthinking, uncaring, un-Christian miscreants and was reminded of Joyce Meyer's admonition that we should always return shopping carts. I have always done so, but Joyce's directive always comes to mind whenever I see that others do not do similarly.

As I walked back to Mr. Nitro, I saw a tiny, frail woman of perhaps 90 or more, obviously struggling in the extreme heat, returning her shopping cart. I took it from her and said, "I shall return this for you." "Thank you," she said, "and God bless you!" I replied, "You are certainly welcome, and may God bless you, as well!" Common decency and human kindness seem such simple matters, yet they are eschewed by so many. This is unfortunate, certainly.

Last Evening's Dinner: I sautéed julienned white onion and minced garlic in extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt. When the onion was translucent and caramelized, I added sliced white mushrooms, ground turkey breast, ground black pepper, ground cumin, Italian seasoning, and ground Cayenne pepper. I sautéed this, stirring often, until the turkey was cooked. I diced eight large tomatoes (beautiful, delicious, home-grown tomatoes from Corey's garden) and added them to the sauté pan. When Laura arrived home, she tended to the pan, stirring and blending the ingredients and flavors. I cooked a package of Barilla fettuccine for 9 minutes. (The package recommends 12 minutes, but I find that 9 minutes produces superior, al dente results.) I drained the fettuccine and added it to the sauce. Laura stirred it, and I took it to the table. I broiled some garlic bread that Laura had prepared. At the table, we added fresh grated Parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers. It was a delightful meal.

A quantity of leftovers followed Laura to Chico this morning for her lunch, and there still remains sufficient leftovers for another fine meal.