Never Too Young, Say "Cheese"!, -and- Robocop

Never Too Young - hockey brawl between 8-year-olds stuns police
Say "Cheese"! - man arrested for shooting traffic camera
Robocop - high-tech drones joining Miami police force

On this day in history: November 28, 1981 - Natalie Wood topples off her yacht near Catalina Island and drowns. Her husband, Robert Wagner, and friend, Christopher Walken, were onboard and unaware of her predicament.

Born on this day in history: November 28, 1936 - Gary Hart (1936 - ____) politician. He was the Democratic senator from Colorado, 1975-86; his scandal-ridden bid for the presidential nomination in 1984 rocked the party.

Scripture of the Day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done." (1 Chronicles 16:8)

Video of the Day: Twin Musical Tesla Coils playing Mario Bros.
Theme - submitted by Phillip

Here is a photograph I took last week of the ruins of Premier West Bank.
Click to enlarge. To see more photographs of the ruins, go to Photo Gallery of Local Events.

For dinner last evening, I made grilled pork loin chops and brown rice. I grilled two of the thickest pork loin chops I have ever seen on the indoor grill. I allowed the grill to reach its full heat, tossed the chops (dry-rubbed with sea salt, ground black pepper, and Gebhardt's chili powder) on the grill, and covered with an aluminum-foil tent. They were delicious—nice grill marks, seared on the outside, and juicy and moist on the inside. For the rice, I placed 1 1/2 cups of brown rice, three cups of water, three large sliced white mushrooms, two sliced celery stalks, one sliced red bell pepper, sea salt, ground black pepper, and ground sage in a covered pot. I cooked this on high for 10 minutes, reduced the heat to medium-low, cooked for 30 minutes, reduced the heat to low, and cooked for another 10 minutes. It was a delightful meal.

Telemarketers: Undoubtedly, the number of telemarketing calls I receive is significantly diminished by the inclusion of my telephone numbers in the National Do Not Call List. However, the calls do sneak in under the radar—so to speak. Last evening at around 6 PM, the following conversation took place:

ME: Hello Mr. Telemarketer. What is it you are attempting to peddle?
TM: Uh...why do you say that?
ME: I would like to keep this conversation brief. I am expecting an important telephone call from Chuck Norris. What is it you are attempting to peddle?
TM: Uh...well...anyway...this is [name redacted] representing [newspaper name redacted]...
ME: I am not interested. Good bye.
TM: You haven't heard what we're offering...
ME: There is no time. Save your energy for someone who does not daily read this newspaper online at no cost. Good bye.
TM: But...
ME: (Plonk)

Paint It White, To Serve and Protect, -and- Don't Point!

Paint It White - U.K. skin-bleaching trade exposed
To Serve and Protect - parking chief fired for illegal parking
Don't Point! - teen arrested for pointing laser at police helicopter

On this day in history: November 27, 1969 - Court appointed attorney Ronald Hughes, handling the Charles Manson case, disappears on a camping trip to Sespe Hot Springs in Southern California, accompanied by two Manson followers. His decomposed body is identified by dental x-rays five months later.

Born on this day in history: November 27, 1937 - Gail Sheehy (1937 - ____) writer, journalist, editor. She is best known for "Pathfinders: Predictable Crises of Adult Life," 1976.

Scripture of the Day: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16)

Video of the Day: Dodge Viper twin-turbo 1900 hp 7.99 1/4 mile - submitted by Phillip

Band Wagon: 2007 Dodge Nitro R/T rock band vehicle. The Beatles never reunited. Nor has SCREAM, a little band from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, that played their last gig in 1975. While not as socially significant as a Beatles reunion, the thought of participating in a rock reunion with my old high school buddies was irresistible. After brushing off 20 years of musical inactivity, all the exaltation and exasperation of playing live returned.

One burden for local rock bands is the necessity of hefting and hauling gear to practices and gigs. In high school, at least one member, or his parent, had to have a pickup, station wagon, or van. Today, 30 years on, the same rules apply.

For this adventure, the Dodge Nitro R/T is a perfect fit. Its snazzy looks and tough-guy appeal are augmented by its cargo/passenger versatility. The 4.0L V-6 with the full-time 4WD option may come in handy should the weather turn nasty.

They're Not Here!, 'Tis the Season, -and- Come Fly with Me

They're Not Here! - alien ad campaign angers New Mexico tourism officials
'Tis the Season - Americans fed up with "Happy Holidays"
Come Fly with Me - regional airlines lower bar for pilots

On this day in history: November 26, 1975 - Manson family member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Ford.

Born on this day in history: November 26, 1938 - Tina Turner (1938 - ____) singer. She won Grammys for "Proud Mary," 1972 and "What's Love Got to Do With It?," 1984.

Scripture of the Day: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28)

Video of the Day: Laser Cats - submitted by Phillip

I hope that everyone had a festive and safe Thanksgiving. The weather here was beautiful throughout Thanksgiving and the weekend. Mornings were cool, but the sun was bright, the sky was clear, and the days were warm and wonderful.

Laura and I attended a candlelight Thanksgiving service at Harvest Christian Center Wednesday evening. It was an awesome experience.

Following the candlelight Thanksgiving service, we dined upon a 10-topping Freschetta pizza and retired early.

Thursday morning, we made preparations for Thanksgiving dinner. I poached two large bundles of asparagus and placed in the refrigerator to chill. I sliced a loaf of garlic sourdough bread into cubes and toasted in the oven. I sautéed two medium white onions, two heads of peeled and chopped garlic, six diced Jalapeños, a diced red bell pepper, four large sliced white mushrooms, three sliced celery stalks, and seasonings in extra-virgin olive oil. Laura tended to this as I drained two jars of Pacific oysters. Laura added the oysters to the sauté pan and broke them apart with wooden spoons. Laura then added a large package of baby spinach to the sauté pan and continued to tend it. I took the toasted sourdough cubes from the oven and placed them in a large stainless-steel bowl. Laura added the contents of the sauté pan and a can of chicken stock and stirred the dressing. She then placed it in a large Pyrex baking dish, covered with aluminum foil, and placed in the refrigerator. She did a spicy dry rub on a 5-pound turkey breast. I roasted the turkey breast at 350 degrees for one hour, uncovered, in a roasting pan. I placed an aluminum foil tent over the turkey and continued to roast for another two hours at 225 degrees. When the turkey was done, I removed it from the oven, covered with the aluminum foil, and allowed it to rest while I baked the oyster dressing for 30 minutes at 300 degrees. I sliced the turkey breast, removed the asparagus from the refrigerator and placed it on the dining table, along with the sliced turkey breast, oyster dressing, a pot of turkey gravy, and a bowl of cranberry sauce. The meal was delightful. Champagne accompanied the food.

Friday evening, we revisited the Thanksgiving meal—without the asparagus, which had been fully devoured on Thanksgiving.

Saturday morning, I made baked cubed white potatoes, sliced white onion, a head of whole, peeled garlic cloves, and two sliced Jalapeños in the microwave oven in a Pyrex baking dish for eight minutes. I removed this from the microwave, seasoned with sea salt, ground black pepper, and Cajun seasoning, cracked six jumbo eggs and arranged them on top, and baked in the conventional oven for twenty minutes at 400 degrees. Laura grated some medium cheddar cheese and distributed it atop the food when I removed it from the oven. It was a delightful meal.

For dinner Saturday evening, Laura made chicken enchiladas—using the four leftover chicken breasts I had grilled earlier in the week. I made a fresh salsa with diced Roma tomato and diced Jalapeño. It was a wonderful meal. Five enchiladas remain and shall be our dinner on Wednesday, following Bible class at Harvest Christian Center.

Sunday, I grilled a large tri-tip and made a casserole of steamed white potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and baby carrots. We enjoyed this with an extraordinary Woodbridge Zinfandel.

Now, it is Monday, and it is time to toil once again!

The Kids Are Alright, Online, -and- Never Too Thin

The Kids Are Alright - 3rd-grader rescues choking pal
Online - Wi-Fi causing autism?
Never too Thin - Web sites promoting anorexia shut down

On this day in history: November 21, 1997 - Lead singer of INXS, Michael Hutchence, found hanged in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Sydney Australia. Police have denied that his death was due to Autoerotic Asphyxiation.

Born on this day in history: November 21, Goldie Hawn (1945 - ____) actress, comedienne, producer. She won an Oscar for "Cactus Flower," 1969; other films include "Protocol," 1984 and "The First Wives Club," 1996.

Scripture of the Day: "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking, and in all your knowledge." (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)

Video of the Day: Thanksgiving - George Winston

Laura has set a beautiful table in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. Click to enlarge.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We shall be attending a Thanksgiving worship service at Harvest Christmas Center. For dinner afterwards, we shall have one of the new Freschetta 10-topping pizzas. I described this pizza in an earlier post. It is wonderful and easily equal in taste and appearance to a take-and-bake pizza.

For Thanksgiving dinner, we shall have a roasted turkey breast, oyster dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, poached asparagus, turkey gravy, cranberries, and champagne.

Laura and I wish you all a very festive and safe Thanksgiving.

Got Milk?, Vanished!, -and- Helping Hands

Got Milk? - Heather Mills: drink rat's milk to save planet
Vanished! - wife can't find husband after he wins lottery
Helping Hands - neighbors catch baby thrown from blaze

On this day in history: November 20, 1912 - Mad Bomber Carl Warr enters Los Angeles city jail with 60 sticks of dynamite strapped to himself. After an hour, two detectives attack Warr who then pulls the bomb's trigger. Nothing happens, and the freakishly masked bomber begs police to kill him.

Born on this day in history: November 20, 1923 - Nadine Gordimer (1923 - ____) novelist. She is noted for her major anti-apartheid themes of exile and alienation in "Burger's Daughter," 1979; won Nobel Prize for Literature, 1991.

Scripture of the Day: "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1-2)

Video of the Day: How to charge an iPod using electrolytes and an onion

For dinner last evening, I grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The chicken had marinated overnight in extra-virgin olive oil, rice wine vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, lime juice, crushed red peppers, sea salt, and lemon pepper spice. I grilled the breasts until they were approximately 75% done. I placed them in a Pyrex dish, covered the dish with aluminum foil, and placed in a 170-degree oven. After 30 minutes, I halved three medium red potatoes, baked them in the microwave, and added them—cut-side down—to the Pyrex dish. When we dined an hour later, the potatoes had absorbed a quantity of the delicious juice that exuded from the chicken breasts. We also had baby asparagus that I poached and chilled. It was a delightful meal. The chicken was fork-tender, moist, and delicious. The four leftover breasts will make some excellent enchiladas later this week, I am certain.

Photographs from the 12th annual Corning Hometown Christmas await your viewing pleasure. From the index for the Photo Gallery of Local Events, choose Corning Hometown Christmas. The photographs may be viewed individually, by clicking on the thumbnails, or as a slide show, by clicking on "start slide show" near the bottom left of the first photograph.