Spider-Boy, Hot Air, -and- I Put a Spell on You

Spider-Boy - boy has spiders alive in his head
Hot Air - environmental group says children "bad for planet"
I Put a Spell on You - couple burned alive for black magic

On this day in history: May 7, 1959 - Boxing promoter Don King is arrested in Cleveland on suspicion of drug dealing. His criminal record includes a 1955 arrest for arson, a 1954 arrest for murder, and others.

Born on this day in history: May 7, 1919 - Eva Peron (1919 - 1952) political leader. "Evita" was the second wife of Argentine president Juan Peron; she "co-governed" during his first term as president, 1946-52.

Today's Video: Why Men Have Sheds - submitted by Frank

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

Paris Hilton Goes to the Slammer!

One of my brothers was here over the weekend. He will return home to Fullerton, CA today. He was our dinner guest during his stay. Friday evening, we had sushi. Laura ordered a vast array of sushi items from Raley's in Chico and picked up the order on her way home. We ate until we could eat no more, and there was sushi remaining. I devoured the leftovers Saturday morning.

Saturday evening, we had cheeseburgers and margaritas. Laura added minced garlic, poached mushroom slices, and seasonings to ground beef and formed oblong patties to approximate the dimensions of the sourdough buns. When the patties had nearly completed grilling, she added mozzarella cheese slices to them and toasted the buns. Sliced tomato, red onion, and pickle—along with wasabi mayonnaise, spicy brown mustard, and spicy catsup—completed the delicious half-pound burgers. They were delightful.

Sunday, we had grilled rib eye steaks and steamed asparagus. The rib eyes were huge and incredibly thick—weighing well over a pound each. Laura applied a spicy dry rub several hours before grilling them with great precision. It was a wonderful meal.

We watched "Happy Feet," "Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties," and "Charlotte's Web." All three movies were excellent, and I highly recommend them.

Fighting Back, Sticker Tricker, -and- Stick to It

Fighting Back - 99-year-old woman fights off home invader
Sticker Tricker - man "buys" everything from Wal-Mart for 75 cents
Stick to It - naked man glued to exercise bike during robbery

On this day in history: May 4, 2001 - After dinner at Vitello's in Studio City, film and television actor Robert Blake remembers that he left something at the restaurant. When he returns to the car, he discovers his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, slumped over in the passenger seat. She had been shot in the head by person or persons unknown. Bakley later dies of her injury. One year later, Blake is charged with the murder. He is found not guilty.

Born on this day in history: May 4, 1796 - Horace Mann (1796 - 1859) educator, politician. He is considered the father of American public education; founder and president of Antioch College, 1852-59.

Today's Video: How a Dog Gets a Ball out of the Pool

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

There is a small pond behind my office. One of the businesses nearby has been dumping toxic waste into this pond. The offending party has been caught and prosecuted, and the dumping has ceased. The damage the toxic waste has done to the catfish in the pond is irreversible, however. They have experienced dramatic mutation. Click to enlarge.

Dinner plans last evening changed when Laura emailed me and declared she was sated by half her lunch and was bringing me the balance. It was a delicious treat from the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. restaurant: Italian Pizza Sandwich—thinly sliced black forest ham, pastrami, and salami, served on hand-tossed flatbread with basil pesto, fontina cheese, lettuce chiffonade, in a red wine vinaigrette, with a side of pasta salad with artichoke hearts, penne, and sun-dried tomato. It was a delightful repast.

One of my brothers is visiting for the weekend. He shall come to our house for sushi this evening. Laura will order an assortment of sushi items from Raley's and pick it up on her way home. It has been some time since we have enjoyed sushi, and I am very eager for it.

Grrr!, Arf!, -and- Grave Error

Grrr! - tiny terrier sacrifices its life to save 5 children from pitbulls
Arf! - MA lawmaker wants seat belt law for dogs
Grave Error - body mix-up leads to wrong woman being buried

On this day in history: May 3, 1987 - The Miami Herald runs a story that Senator Gary Hart had spent the preceding weekend alone with a woman other than his wife. The Presidential candidate withdraws from the race just five days later, and the homewrecker, one Donna Rice, goes on to launch a career crusading against pornography.

Born on this day in history: May 3, 1920 - Sugar Ray Robinson (1920 - 1989) boxer. He was noted for his boxing brains and brawn; welterweight champ, 1946-51 and five times middleweight champ, 1951-60.

Today's Video: Einstein the Bird - submitted by Laura

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

Today is the National Day of Prayer! On this, the National Day of Prayer, I pray for the Body of Christ, for our President and all elected officials—federal, state, and local—all military and law enforcement personnel, all foreign leaders, and people of all nations.

There have been several national days of prayer in the U.S. before the day was made official in 1952. The Continental Congress issued a day of prayer in 1775 to designate "a time for prayer in forming a new nation." Thomas Jefferson argued, however, that although individual religious organizations had the right to designate a day of prayer, the U.S. government should not have that right.

On April 17, 1952, President Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law. It was in 1972 that the National Prayer Committee was formed. It went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Reagan signed a bill into law decreeing that the National Day of Prayer should be held on the first Thursday of May.

The intention of the National Day of Prayer was always that it would be a day when members of all faiths could pray together in their own way. It would involve Christians, Jews, Muslims, as well as Buddhists, Hindus, Aboriginals, Zoroastrians, and all others, of any faith or of no organized religion, who wished to participate.

Satan Slept Here, Lost!, -and- The Kids Are Alright

Satan Slept Here - hotel replaces Bible with Gore's global-warming book
Lost! - lawyer sues dry cleaners for $67 million for losing trousers
The Kids Are Alright - 4-year-old saves mother by calling 911

On this day in history: May 2, 1957 - Mob figure Frank Costello is shot in the head by Vincent "the Chin" Gigante. Instead of killing him, the bullet circumnavigates between his skin and cranium, exiting through the original wound. Costello retires from the Mafia soon after.

Born on this day in history: May 2, 1903 - Benjamin Spock (1903 - 1998) physician, author. He was a major influence on modern U.S. child-rearing practices; "Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care," 1946 has sold millions of copies.

Today's Video: Chase Scene from "Bullit"

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

Today's video is the chase scene from "Bullit." In my opinion, this is the greatest movie chase scene ever filmed. A friend and I were in San Francisco while the movie was being filmed. We had no idea what was taking place until we inquired why the street was blocked off and why such a crowd of people had gathered. We did not get to see much, other than a very brief glimpse of the Mustang chasing the Charger. We were excited to have accidentally happened upon this event, however, and eagerly awaited the release of the movie. At that time, I was a Ford enthusiast and had a 1966 Ford Mustang GT. Understandably, I cheered Steve McQueen as he chased the 1968 Dodge Charger with his 1968 Ford Mustang. In 1980, I became a Dodge enthusiast and have purchased only Dodge products since then. Understandably, I now cheer for the Dodge Charger—even though I am fully aware of the outcome of the chase!

Heat of the Moment, Abracadabra, -and- Crash!

Heat of the Moment - ocean currents to blame for warming
Abracadabra - magicians sue over revealed secrets
Crash! - family staged 23 accidents to collect insurance

On this day in history: May 1, 1942 - The 215th and final hanging occurs at California's San Quentin maximum security prison. Subsequent executions utilize the facility's gas chamber, and, ultimately, inmate's choice of that or lethal injection.

Born on this day in history: May 1, 1939 - Judy Collins (1939 - ____) folksinger, film maker. She was a 1960s coffee house singer who hit it big with "Both Sides Now;" 29 albums including "Wildflowers," 1967 and "Living," 1971.

Today's Video: Tom Cruise Mastercard Ad

VIDEOS: The videos are now available via the link "Amazing and Amusing Videos" in the Links section, below the visitor counter.

Happy May Day! May Day in the United States is commonly regarded as a commemoration of the execution of the Haymarket martyrs, who were arrested after the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, which occurred on May 4, but was the culmination of labor unrest which began on May 1. In this form, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the working class and labor movement.

Now, get to work!