Free Ride, The Bionic Dog, -and- You've Got Mail

Free Ride - "freebies" new threat to music industry
The Bionic Dog - dog breaks new ground with his metallic paw
You've Got Mail - NV couple blame Internet for neglect

On this day in history: July 16, 1945 - First Atomic Bomb is exploded at Trinity, Alamagordo, New Mexico. The explosion yields the equivalent 18,000 tons of TNT.

Born on this day in history: July 16, 1907 - Barbara Stanwyck (1907 - 1990) actress. She starred in 80 films including "Stella Dallas," 1937; "Sorry, Wrong Number," 1948; and "The Thorn Birds."

Today's Video: Louis CK's Stupid Dog

On Saturday, we watched Bobby Flay compete on "Iron Chef America." The secret ingredient was American Kobe Beef. During commercial breaks, Laura applied a Red Monkey Savory Steak rub to two giant rib eye steaks. Watching the beef being cooked and eaten on the television program heightened our senses and caused us to salivate uncontrollably in anticipation of our steaks. Laura grilled them perfectly. They were charred on the exterior and rare inside. She also grilled red potatoes, Jalapeños, white mushrooms, and zucchini. It was an excellent meal.

Yesterday, I prepared a pot of Cajun black beans. I simmered sliced white onion, whole garlic cloves (one head), sliced celery, sliced Jalapeños, and diced tomatoes in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I seasoned the mixture with Red Monkey Cajun Spice, ground black pepper, ground Cayenne pepper, cumin, and sea salt. After this had simmered for two hours, Laura added a can of black beans, stirred, and turned the burner to low. She applied a Red Monkey Mango Habanera rub to three large pork loin chops and pan-seared them. She added a bit of Almaden Chardonnay to steam and maintain moistness near the end of the cooking process. I made a dipping sauce with catsup, blackberry preserves, two types of hot sauce, molasses, rice wine vinegar, and ground Cayenne pepper. It was a delightful meal.

Shut Up!, No Q, -and- Ouch!

Shut Up! - Web DJs silenced by royalty fees
No Q - mayor outlaws grilling after 8 PM
Ouch! - man survives pickup rolling over his head

On this day in history: July 13, 1994 - Tonya Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, is sentenced in Portland, Oregon, to two years in prison for his role in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. He serves six months.

Born on this day in history: July 13, 1942 - Harrison Ford (1942 - ____) actor. He is best known for his roles as Hans Solo in "Star Wars" films and Indiana Jones; received Oscar nomination for "The Witness," 1985.

Today's Video: Serious Frog Jumpin' in Calaveras County

Happy Friday the 13th! There is nothing one need fear today. Today is not unlike any other day. The fact that the 13th of the month falls on a Friday has absolutely no significance whatever. Superstition is something embraced by those who have no faith in God.

For dinner last evening, I prepared a delightful salad. It contained butter lettuce, diced red bell pepper, diced Jalapeño pepper, diced red onion, chopped celery, diced red onion, red tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, bacon, Red Monkey Lemon Pepper Spice, and wasabi sesame seeds. It was wonderful. It was large. It is all gone!

Fighting Back, Stormy Weather, -and- Sleep Well

Fighting Back - retired Marine tackles bank robber
Stormy Weather - iPod users report lightning strikes
Sleep Well - new bed mattress costs $60,000

On this day in history: July 12, 1843 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith discloses a divine revelation instructing his followers to take multiple wives, in what the LDS Church calls "plural marriage" but everyone else calls polygamy. The Mormons are ultimately forced to disclaim the practice in September 1890.

Born on this day in history: July 12, Oscar Hammerstein (1895 - 1960) lyricist, musical comedy author He was influential in the development of musical comedy; known especially for his collaboration with the composer Richard Rodgers.

Today's Video: Anti-Helium Makes Jay Leno Talk Like Ving Rhames - submitted by Chris

The weatherpeople were right! It rained yesterday! It rained lightly for approximately 15 seconds. It rained sufficiently that the coating of dust on Mr. Nitro turned to mud. It was most unseemly for Mr. Nitro to appear in public in this condition. I took him to the car wash and cleaned him thoroughly. I then drove him to the river and back to air-dry him. He was most grateful.

Bad Cop/Good Cop, Armed and Stupid, -and- Getting Air

Bad Cop/Good Cop - fake officer pulls over real one
Armed and Stupid - anti-gun activist makes illegal gun purchase
Getting Air - balloons carry man in lawnchair 193 miles

On this day in history: July 11, 1979 - The derelict space station Skylab finally returns to Earth, ignominiously breaking into 500 separate fragments which are swallowed by the Indian Ocean. That is, except for the ones which crash into Woorlba Sheep Station, near Balladonia in Western Australia. Shortly thereafter, President Jimmy Carter telephones the prime minister of that country to apologize for scattering NASA litter on his nation.

Born on this day in history: July 11, 1897 - Blind Lemon Johnson (c. 1897 - 1930) blues singer Blind from birth, "the King of the Country Blues" recorded during the 1920s; died in Chicago, lost in the streets during a snowstorm.

Today's Video: Black Sabbath - "Paranoid" (1970)

Along the route to my office this morning, I encountered people harvesting mushrooms. The mushrooms were very large. It must be the fertilizer they use that is producing such large results!

It is cold this morning! The weatherpeople are predicting rain! It certainly looks dismal outside, and the possibility that it might rain appears high. Yikes! Quick, someone alert Al Gore!

For dinner last evening, we had Johnsonville brats: I sprayed a sauté pan with Pam and arranged six Johnsonville brats. I peeled a head of garlic and scattered the cloves over the brats. I sliced a large white onion into six sections and scattered over the brats and garlic. I sliced a large zucchini on the bias and layered atop the onions, brats, and garlic. I sliced four large mushrooms into quarters and layered atop the zucchini, onions, brats, and garlic. I liberally seasoned with Red Monkey Cajun Spice. I sliced a large tomato into six thin slices, layered atop the mushrooms, zucchini, onions, brats, and garlic and seasoned with sea salt and ground black pepper. Laura placed the sauté pan on the stove and set the burner to medium. Ten minutes later, she reduced the heat to medium-low and continued to cook for twenty minutes. Spicy brown mustard was used as a condiment. The meal was delightful.

Tonight, we shall have some of the ham and beans from Sunday's dinner.

Global Cooling, No Pets, -and- So Low

Global Cooling - snow in Buenos Aires first time in 89 years
No Pets - petless family flees flea invasion
So Low - Madonna's guitar solo at Live Earth faked?

On this day in history: July 10, 1992 - Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega sentenced to 40 years in prison for eight counts of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering.

Born on this day in history: July 10, 1943 - Arthur Ashe (1943 - 1993) tennis player, AIDS spokesperson. He was the first black player to win the men's singles at Wimbledon, 1975.

Today's Video: Dodge Sniffing Dog

Shopping for a new head can certainly be a chore. Click to enlarge.