Other Charges May Apply, Calling All Carbs, -and- Animal House

Other Charges May Apply - dirty tricks credit card companies play
Calling All Carbs - dietitian hired to arrest LA cops' obesity
Animal House six fraternities suspended in drug probe at San Diego State University

On this day in history: May 7, 1959 - Small-time 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, 1901 - Gary Cooper (1901–61) Born in Helena, MT, actor Gary Cooper became a star as the laconic cowboy in "The Virginian" (1929). Initially known for off-screen romances, he came to personify the archetypal American, winning Academy Awards for work in "Sergeant York" (1941) and "High Noon" (1952).

Scripture of the Day: Cast all your anxiety on him [God] because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

Video of the Day: 400-way Skydiving World Championship - submitted by Amber

For dinner last evening, I made a potato and sausage sauté: I pre-cooked quartered baby red potatoes by boiling them for 10 minutes. I sautéed a sliced white onion, sliced red bell pepper, three sliced Jalapeño peppers, and a head of peeled garlic cloves in extra-virgin olive oil. I seasoned with Tony Chachere's More Spice, ground black pepper, and ground cumin. I sliced three Johnsonville hot Italian sausages (previously grilled for Sunday's dinner) into 1/2-inch slices. When the onions became translucent, I added the sausage. Our new GE microwave oven is still in the service center, awaiting a part, so I used a "trick" that impressed Laura greatly: I warmed two flour tortillas by folding them and placing them in the toaster. The meal was delicious. The leftovers will follow Laura to Chico today for her lunch.

We watched "Rattouille." [Brad Bird (The Incredibles) co-directs this Oscar-winning Pixar offering, following the antics of a passionate rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who yearns for a sip of the good life. Growing up beneath a five-star Parisian restaurant owned by a famous chef (Brad Garrett), Remy inherits a taste for fine food. But his culinary ambitions only anger his practical father, who wishes his son could just eat garbage like everyone else.] We had seen this movie before (at the theatre, actually--a very rare thing indeed), but the viewing experience was considerably enhanced by viewing the movie in Blu-ray Disc on our HD system. It is a wonderfully entertaining movie. I highly recommend it.

This weekend is the annual May Madness Corning Car Show. Friday evening, there will be burnouts (in front of the police station!) and a cruise. Saturday will feature burnout finals and a car show. It is an excellent event. If you find yourself near this area, I highly recommend that you attend this event.

Fighting Back, Stupid Criminals, -and- Hold the Salad

Fighting Back - store clerk shoots would-be robber
Stupid Criminals - motorcyclist flips off cops, slams into cruiser
Hold the Salad - Switzerland grants unprecedented rights to plants

On this day in history: May 6, 1937 - Zeppelin Hindenberg explodes at Lakehurst NJ, leaving 36 dead and others seriously burned. Official cause of the explosion is listed as "St. Elmo's Fire."

Born on this day in history: May 6, 1961 - George Clooney (1961– ) Born in Lexington, KY actor, producer and director George Clooney became known as Dr. Doug Ross in TV series "ER" (1994?9), and went on to fame in such hits as "Batman and Robin" (1997), "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000) and "Oceans Eleven" (2001). In 2003, Clooney made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind."

Scripture of the Day: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." - Deuteronomy 5:6-7

Video of the Day: The Revival Hymn - submitted by Laura

22 WAYS TO BE A GOOD DEMOCRAT:
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are more of a threat than nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are more affected by soccer moms driving SUVs than by scientifically documented cyclical changes in the earth's climate.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.
12. You have to believe that the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and Alexander Graham Bell.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe that conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and sex offender belonged in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest of the United States
21. You have to believe that it's okay to give federal workers the day off on Christmas Day, but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."
22. You have to believe that this message is part of a vast right wing conspiracy.

Ready to vote?

Fighting Back, Law of the Land, -and- Mommy Dearest

Fighting Back - gunman shot, killed with own gun by store manager
Law of the Land - judge gives offenders choice: pay fine or donate blood
Mommy Dearest - woman shoots 8-year-old daughter in leg to win $1 bet

On this day in history: May 5, 1982 - Secretary Janet Smith in the computer science department at Vanderbilt University is injured when she opens a package from the Unabomber.

Born on this day in history: May 5, 1959 - Brian Williams (1959-) Born in Elmira, NY, TV news anchor Brian Williams began his career in Kansas before moving to local CBS outlet in New York City, where he won an Emmy for reporting on the stock market collapse. Climbing the ranks, he took over from Tom Brokaw as anchor of NBC Nightly News in 2004. Williams at first drew criticism for being stiff, but his acclaimed coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 improved his image.

Scripture of the Day: And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:5

Video of the Day:

David Gallo: Underwater Astonishment - submitted by Laura

Laura took this photograph of Sunday's grilled chicken and hot Italian sausage. Click to enlarge.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The Weekend: The weekend was warm and sunny. We enjoyed leftover fettuccine with marinara sauce Friday evening. For Saturday's dinner, I grilled New York strip steaks, Jalapeño peppers, yellow squash, white mushrooms, and baby red potatoes. The steaks were excellent, and I grilled them perfectly—charring them nicely on the exterior and leaving them rare in the center.

Sunday's dinner was a mixed grill and rice with tomato, corn and peas. Laura grilled seven large Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts and five Johnsonville hot Italian sausages. She charred the chicken and sausages nicely then moved them away from the flame. She brushed the chicken and sausages with spicy barbecue sauce and turned several times. I placed a cup of Calrose rice, 2 cups of water, a handful of frozen corn kernels, a handful of frozen peas, 2 diced Roma tomatoes, ground black pepper, and Tony Chachere's More Spice in the rice cooker. The rice was wonderful. We shall make this tasty, easy-to-prepare side dish again soon.

Friday evening, we watched "Walk the Line" [2005) PG-13 Among the pantheon of great country singers, Johnny Cash (played here by Joaquin Phoenix) may just be the most enigmatic. James Mangold's film distills Cash's transformation from man to icon -- from his hardscrabble days on an Arkansas farm to Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., where Cash finally found a way for his talent to come into its own. Reese Witherspoon plays his beloved June, alongside co-stars Robert Patrick and Shelby Lynne.] We had seen this movie previously, but we had not seen it in HD. I recorded it previously with our DVR. It is a wonderful movie, and I highly recommend it. Joaquin Phoenix gives an incredible performance as Johnny Cash, and Reese Witherspoon is stunning as June Carter.

Sunday evening, we watched "The Bourne Supremacy" [2004) PG-13 When a CIA sting in Berlin turns murderously wrong, everyone suspects it's the handiwork of Jason Bourne (Matt Damon). As the CIA hunts for their lost ex-killer Bourne, Bourne himself is pursued by a ruthless cartel bent on framing him up -- and leaving him dead. Franka Potente returns as Marie Helena Kreutz alongside Joan Allen as Agent Helen Landy.] We had seen this movie previously, but we had not seen it in HD. It is an exciting, well-produced movie, and I highly recommend it.

Animal Cruelty, Jaws of Death, -and- The Fats of Life

Animal Cruelty - trooper beats, kicks K9 partner
Jaws of Death - huge alligator on loose outside Florida elementary school
The Fats of Life - judge holds court in parking lot for 500-pound man

On this day in history: May 2, 1946 - Six prisoners attempt to escape the federal prison on Alcatraz island. They take over their cellblock but fail to gain access to the outside. One guard held hostage is executed by prisoners, and another dies in the attempt to retake the cellblock. The Battle of Alcatraz ends only after the deaths of three prisoners, and two others are subsequently executed at San Quentin.

Born on this day in history: May 2, 1985 - Sarah Hughes (1985-) Born in Great Neck, NY, figure skater Sarah Hughes was surprise gold medalist at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. She is currently skating professionally and attending Yale University.

Scripture of the Day: Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. - Ecclesiastes 5:2

Video of the Day: Back in the days of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Red Army had an official choir composed of male soldiers and musicians. It still exists. The Red Army Choir performs throughout Russia to this day. Now consider the Finnish rock band called The Leningrad Cowboys. A little while ago, they held a concert in Russia, in which - to the screaming applause of Russkie teen-agers - they got the Red Army Choir to join them on stage for a performance of "Sweet Home Alabama." In English. You couldn't make this up. We are talking seriously off-the-wall here. Better have that Stoli ready when you watch it! - submitted by Frank

Yikes! No caption needed! Click to enlarge.

It is warmer today! Yesterday morning, as I drove to my office a 6:30 AM, Mr. Nitro's exterior temperature display registered 46 degrees. This morning, a half-hour earlier, at 6 AM, the display registered 54 degrees. This is a significant increase, and it was very noticeable! The air is calm, the sky is blue and clear, the sun is shining brightly, and the birds are singing! It appears that this will be a particularly beautiful, warm weekend!

Follow the Evidence, Stupid Criminals, -and- Brave New Schools

Follow the Evidence - "CSI" star, Gary Dourdan, charged with drug possession
Stupid Criminals - bank workers recognized alleged robber as colleague
Brave New Schools - ban on bowing for prayer challenged

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-) Born in Seattle, WA, singer Judy Collins was a piano prodigy but switched to guitar, releasing her first album in 1961, at 22, and a gold album in 1967, "Wildflowers." Later albums, like 1968's "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," produced by then-boyfriend Stephen Stills, established her reputation. Collins wrote a memoir, "Trust Your Heart," two novels, and directed 1974 documentary "Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman."

Scripture of the Day: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ... - Romans 5:1

Video of the Day: National Day of Prayer - May 1, 2008

John Jacobs' Next Generation Power Force: View slide show of images from John Jacobs' Power Force presentation

The wind has abated! The wind that has plagued us for the last several days appears to have abated. While not significantly warmer than yesterday morning, it is considerably more comfortable because the wind has gone.

Laura brought two Sierra Nevada gourmet pizzas home from work last evening. We enjoyed them following Bible class at Harvest Christian Center. She brought a Mediterranean pizza (pesto sauce, artichoke hearts, red onion, olives, etc.) and a Brewery Employees' Favorite pizza (red sauce, four cheeses, mushrooms, several meats, etc.). They were delightful. Some of the leftover pizza followed Laura to work for lunch, and the balance followed me to my office and was enjoyed as breakfast this morning.