It's Brady

WordPress...sorry Blogger

2008-03-01T22:13:00.000-08:00

New Blog!

WordPress

Go...

Now!

New and Improved "It's Brady"

Thanks.

31 Days of Oscar, Pt. 3

2008-02-28T19:44:00.000-08:00

And on and on...

Apocalypse Now - #35 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - #103 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Rear Window - #14 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Raging Bull - #70 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Letters from Iwo Jima - #159 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Some Like it Hot - #82 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies

Title: The Birds
Starring: Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Plot: A young woman follows a love interest to a small town where the birds aren't so nice. Carnage ensues. The Birds was nominated for 1 Academy Award.

Title: Psycho
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh and Vera Miles
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Plot: A woman on the lam stops at a long-forgotten hotel. Psycho was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. It is #21 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies.

Title: Enter the Dragon
Starring: Bruce Lee
Director: Robert Clouse
Plot: An undercover Shaolin martial artist enters a tournament hosted by a renegade monk to spy for the police.

On the DVR now...
Das Boot - #63 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Dr. Zhivago
12 Angry Men - #13 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies

31 Days of Oscar, Pt. 2

2008-02-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

So the list continues...

Apocalypse Now - #35 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - #103 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Rear Window - #14 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies

Title: Raging Bull
Starring: Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci
Director: Martin Scorcese
Plot: A hot-headed boxer allows his life and his career to be destroyed by his libertine nature and cocky attitude. Raging Bull won 2 and was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. It is #70 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies

Title: Letters from Iwo Jima
Starring: Ken Watanabe
Director: Clint Eastwood
Plot: The story of the Battle of Iwo Jima told from the point of view of a soldier and a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and humanized by their letters to and from home. Letters from Iwo Jima won 1 and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards. It is #159 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies.

Title: Some Like it Hot
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon
Director: Billy Wilder
Plot: Two Chicago gang murder witnesses flee to Florida in drag with an all girls orchestra fronted by the seductive Sugar Kowalczyk. A comedy for the ages! Some Like it Hot won 1 and was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. It is #82 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies.

On the DVR now:
The Birds
Psycho - #21 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies

and still to come:
Das Boot - Feb 27 - #61 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Cool Hand Luke - Mar 4 - #121 on the IMDB Top 250 Movies
Enter the Dragon - Feb 28
The Far Country - Mar 16
The Great Raid - Mar 5
In the Line of Fire - Mar 2
Witness - Mar 17

TCM, I think I love you!

Life Updates

2008-02-21T14:12:00.000-08:00

I've substituted three days this week: Tuesday, Wednesday and today!

Tuesday - eighth grade at LMS...it was interesting. I had a couple of my students from youth group.

Wednesday - ninth and eleventh at LHS...it was cool. Kevin DeRossett is student teaching in that class, so he was at the helm. I sat in a corner most of the day and just monitored the class. We had a pretty fun time, though.

Thursday - Seventh grade at LMS...half a day, loads of fun. We talked about Totalitarian governments. I got to "teach", kinda.

PureFocus is Saturday! Woooooo yeah! I cannot wait!!!

Home Improvement

2008-02-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

This month's series was all about Marriage and the Family.

February 3
"Just the One of Us" - Unity in your marriage
I. A holy marriage is made in God's image
II. A holy marriage gives up self
III. A holy marriage keeps the spouse above other people

February 10
"TNT: Handle with Care" - The explosive nature of bringing up teens
I. Team - Parenting is a partnership
II. Nurture - Parents must learn to listen and encourage
III. Train - Parents must both teach and model the Christian life

February 17
"Playground of the Mind" - Adultery begins in thoughts and fantasies
I. Decide to keep your eyes in check
II. Decide not to place yourself in tough situations
III. Decide not to complain about your spouse

February 24 through March 23 is the Journey to Jerusalem.

31 Days of Oscar

2008-02-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you TCM! "31 Days of Oscar" has been making my month.

Title: Apocalypse Now
Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford and Dennis Hopper
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Plot: The military needs a special unit to assassinate a rogue Green Beret who is leading a cult in the deep jungles of Cambodia. Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Apocalypse Now is a journey into the deepest expanses of the insane mind.

Title: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Starring: Jimmy Stewart, Claude Rains and Jean Arthur
Director: Frank Capra
Plot: The leader of a boys' group is appointed Senator of his state, but only as a puppet. Eventually, his ideals and vision spur him to oppose the political machines that run the Capitol.

Title: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Starring: Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur
Director: Frank Capra
Plot: A country bumpkin named Longfellow Deeds inherits $20 million and becomes the proprietor of the money and all the businesses of his late, rich uncle. Several people then attempt to swindle Mr. Deeds out of his money.

Title: Rear Window
Starring: Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Plot: An apartment-dwelling invalid (by means of broken leg) spends his days in a wheelchair peering through binoculars at his neighbors, until one evening he believes a man across the courtyard has murdered his wife. Suspense ensues.
Note: The entire movie is filmed from inside the apartment. Genius!

These are a few of the movies that I've watched this month.

Coming up in the next month:
Cool hand Luke - Feb. 21
Das Boot - Feb 27
The Far Country - Mar 16
The French Connection - Feb 19
The Grapes of Wrath - Feb 23
The Great Raid - Mar 5
Heartbreak Ridge - Feb 21
In the Line of Fire - Mar 2
The Searchers - Feb 20
Witness - Mar 17
Zorba the Greek - Feb 22

TCM...rockin' my world!

Help...

2008-02-16T22:10:00.000-08:00

Two Liberty High School students were involved in a bad car accident yesterday afternoon on Hwy 178. If you could take a minute to pray for them, that would be awesome. LJ and Hannah are both in the hospital tonight, but LJ is being released as this is written (or so they said when we were leaving the ER). Hannah is not doing so well. She has some internal injuries and is in ICU. She is stable, but things can change at any time. LJ has attended my youth group from time to time. So be praying and let's make - or let God make - something happen.

Aiming for Webster's #1

2008-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

Well, in a bid to eventually get a word into Webster's dictionary, Cody and I have decided to come up with a new word each week, or however often we feel the urge to be creative.

So your job is to try to use the word in your daily conversation.

This week's word is:

frumby /frum-bee/ adj.,

1. easygoing, nearing to the point of irresponsibility
2. laid back
3. joyous nonchalance
4. lack of concern caused by inhaling marijuana

[noun: frumbulesence; adv.: frumbily]

antonyms - anxious, worried, overly concerned

"His frumby attitude toward his work caused his grades to plummet."
"Dude, I'm feeling totally frumby, man, so I'm not going to work today. Pass the ganja."

2008 Southern Area Ministers' Conference

2008-02-13T07:10:00.000-08:00

Monday and Tuesday brought the Southern Area Ministers' Conference back to SWU. It's been two years since the last one and I had been anticipating it for quite some time now. This year's conference solidified itself as one of the best.

Monday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 pm - Dan Seaborn, Winning at Home, Inc.

Dan related our trials in ministry to Goliath. David, a true teenager, asked why no one had challenged him. David relied on God's power (and not his own, or Saul's for that matter) to bring down the giant. It's our time to step up and fight in the power of God with the stone of faith in our sling and take down the giant that stands against God's people and God's name.

Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 8:30 am - Dan Seaborn, Winning at Home, Inc.

Dan Seaborn founded Winning at Home, Inc. to aid families in keeping homes together. Married for Life is his campaign to get 1,000,000 couples to sign a contract stating that they will be married to each other for life. So far over 10,000 couples have signed and made that commitment.

Divorce is killing ministers of God's Word, but no one just runs and jumps off the cliff of divorce. It's a process of steps toward the edge.

7 steps that lead to the cliff of divorce:
1) Keeping secrets from a spouse
2) Finding sexual fulfillment in secret acts/pornography
3) Red flags in other relationships
4) Your mind strays and you picture yourself with another person
5) Justifying an action that in the past you said was wrong
6) Hanging out in "dangerous" places and with "dangerous" people
7) You don't care if you say hurtful things to or about your spouse

...and don't forget to say, "I'm sorry."

Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10:30 am - Dr. John Adams, Easley First Baptist Church

Americans are plagued by toxins in the body. Deep-breathing exercises are widely used in Europe to rid the body of those toxins. A deep breath in, hold...and slowly release. This allows the body to expel those toxins in the stomach. In the same way, we must deeply breathe in the Holy Spirit. As we hold the Spirit in, we allow a full work to happen. Then, when we exhale, all the toxins (anger, hate, grudges, etc...) that poison our souls are expelled.

Forgiveness is one of the ways that the Holy Spirit does its work. Dr. Adams read a quote by a person whose name I have now forgotten: "God invented forgiveness as the only way to keep his romance with the human race alive." Without it, we would have no hope.

Ann Lamont said "Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die." It's time to get rid of the poison for good.

Forgiveness is...
...refusing the right to get even
...rediscovering the humanity of the person who hurt us
...wishing the person who hurt us well

Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 pm - Dr. John Adams, Easley First Baptist Church

Dr. Adams related four words that remind us that we are beloved of God:

Chosen - God saw us so long ago and had a great plan for us to be the bearers of His message.
Blessed - God has given us His blessing as minister's of the gospel.
Broken - Until we realize that we are broken, we cannot become whole in Christ.
Given - We are handed the most important message of history and asked to give it to those who need it most.

After the message came the table. Everyone participated in communion, which is always a special time at SAMC.

Overall, it was quite amazing. Can't wait for the next one.

Next week brings Holiness Lecture Series with the one, the only, Steve Deneff. Oh man, it's gonna be awesome!

In the Know #29

2008-02-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2008

Today is Groundhog Day and Candlemas.

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

subterfuge \SUB-tur-fyooj\, noun:
A deceptive device or stratagem.

In the news:

- Abu Laith al-Libi, an al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, was reported killed on Islamist website Ekhlaas.org.

- Microsoft bids $44 billion for Yahoo!

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1653 - New Amsterdam (New York City) is incorporated.

1925 - Dog sleds reach Nome, Alaska with diphtheria serum, inspiring the Iditarod race (marker pictured).

1989 - The American Basketball Association is formed.

Today's Famous Births:

1861 - Solomon R. Guggenheim, American art collector and philanthropist

1882 - James Joyce (pictured), Irish author, Ulysses

1897 - Howard Johnson, American hotelier

1905 - Ayn Rand, Russian-born author and philosopher, Atlas Shrugged

1923 - James Dickey, American poet and author, Deliverance

1947 - Farrah Fawcett "Charlie's Angels" and The Cannonball Run

1949 - Brent Spiner, American actor, "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

1977 - Shakira, Colombian singer, "Hips Don't Lie"

Trivia
Today's Category - Eris

~ Eris (pictured with moon, Dysnomia) is the largest known dwarf planet in our solar system.

~ The full name of the dwarf planet is 136199 Eris.

~ It is approximately 27% more massive than Pluto.

~ A year on Eris lasts 557 Earth years.

~ Eris has an extremely eccentric orbit, which sometimes brings it within Pluto's orbit of the sun.

~ Eris was discovered October 21, 2003.

I always wondered...
...how E85 Flex-Fuel works...

E85 flex-fuel is an alcohol-based fuel. It is made by fermenting and distilling starch crops, corn mostly. One acre of corn can be processed into about 330 gallons of ethanol. Proponents argue that mixing 85 parts ethanol with 15 parts gasoline (hence E85) to create E85 ethanol fuel helps stretch the earth's finite oil supply.

The term "flex-fuel" implies that a vehicle can run on 100 percent E85, 100 percent pump gasoline of any octane, or any combination of the two. Only about 800 of the nation's 180,000 gas stations carry E85 ethanol fuel, so it is difficult to find.

One major downside to E85 is that, depending on vehicle model, fuel economy with E85 ethanol is some 20 to 30 percent less than with gasoline. Therefore, a tank of E85 ethanol will take you only about 80 percent as far as you could drive on a tank of gasoline. Also, E85 costs a bit more than regular gasoline, with the exception of Corn Belt states that actually produce the fuel. So, if you're thinking of purchasing a flex-fuel vehicle, be prepared to sacrifice for oil conservation.

["How E85 works" reference: How Stuff Works]
[All other references from Wikipedia.org and IMDB.com unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #28

2008-01-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2008

Today marks the beginning of Black History Month.

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

mien \MEEN\, noun:
1. Manner or bearing, especially as expressive of mood, attitude, or personality; demeanor.
2. Aspect; appearance.

In the news:

- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announces his support for Arizona Senator John McCain.

- A Chinese official says harsh winter weather is threatening food production and adding to inflationary pressures.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1790 - The Supreme Court of the United States first convenes in New York City.

1862 - Julia Ward Howe's "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (cover pictured) is first published.

1960 - Four African-American students sit at the counter of Woolworth's in Greensboro, NC, beginning the Greensboro Sit-ins.

2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

Today's Famous Births:

1894 - John Ford, American director and producer, The Grapes of Wrath and The Searchers

1901 - Clark Gable, American actor, Gone with the Wind and It Happened One Night

1902 - Langston Hughes (pictured), American writer

1909 - George Beverly Shea, Canadian singer

1931 - Boris Yeltsin, 1st President of the Russian Federation

1937 - Don Everly, American musician, "All I Have to Do is Dream"

1948 - Rick James, American musician

1975 - Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, American musician, "Ms. Jackson"

Trivia
Today's Category - Pluto...the former planet, not the Disney character

~ Earth's circumference is 5.3 times bigger than Pluto's with 151.1 times more volume, but Earth is 476.2 times more massive.

~ A year on Pluto lasts 248.1 Earth years.

~ A day on Pluto lasts only 153.3 Earth hours.

~ Minimum temperature is 33K (-400F) and maximum temperature is 55K (-361F).

~ The atmosphere of Pluto is composed mostly of nitrogen, methane and carbon monoxide.

~ The mean apparent magnitude of Pluto is 15.1, making it visible only with magnification.

I always wondered...
...how the current writer's strike works...

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

There are three issues that are being contested by writers:

1 - Since 1988, Writer's have given 0.3% of video sales up to the first million dollars and 0.36% of subsequent sales. Because of decline in costs of DVD (and thus less income) and because the reported profit of DVD's is much higher than box office figures, the writer's have asked for double the residual amount (0.6%). This request was dropped early in the strike, but will probably be contested again in the not-too-distant future.

2 - New media residuals are being negotiated. New media includes internet downloads, streaming media, video on demand, satellite television and other means of delivery channels. Currently, there is no arrangement concerning these new medias, but the WGA is asking for 2.5% of the gross sales. The AMPTP has offered the same deal as for DVD, 0.3%, and no payment for streaming materials. Both of these have been rejected by the WGA.

3 - The WGA has no jurisdiction in reality TV and animation. They are asking for credit in these areas because reality TV needs creative scenarios and animation has slowly evolved from storyboard-only work to screenplays then storyboards. The WGA has been denied this by the AMPTP. The WGA has since dropped this request, but will keep the idea tabled for the future.

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #27

2008-01-31T07:40:00.000-08:00

January 31, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

irascible \ih-RASS-uh-buhl\, adjective:
Prone to anger; easily provoked to anger; hot-tempered.

In the news:

- John McCain wins the Florida primary.

- Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards drop out of the presidential nomination race.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1606 - Guy Fawkes (pictured) is executed for plotting against Parliament and James I.

1876 - The United States orders all Native Americans to move into reservations.

1961 - Ham the Chimp travels into outer space.

Today's Famous Births:

1797 - Franz Schubert (pictured), Austrian composer

1872 - Zane Grey, American Western writer

1919 - Jackie Robinson, American baseball player, the first African-American player in Major League Baseball, 6-time All Star

1931 - Ernie Banks, American baseball player, 10-time All Star

1941 - Dick Gephardt, American politician

1947 - Nolan Ryan, American baseball player, 8-time All Star

1970 - Minnie Driver, British actress, Good Will Hunting

1981 - Justin Timberlake, American singer, "What Goes Around...Comes Around" and "My Love"

Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Neptune...the planet, not the trident-wielding god

~ Neptune (pictured as seen by Voyager 2) is the eighth planet from the sun, located beyond the asteroid belt and is one of four Jovian planets, the gas giants.

~ Neptune's circumference is 3.8 times bigger than Earth's with 57.7 times more volume, but it is only 17.1 times as massive as Earth.

~ A year on Neptune lasts 164.8 Earth years.

~ A day on Neptune lasts only 16.1 Earth hours.

~ Mean temperature is between 55K (-361 F) and 72K (-330 F) depending on altitude.

~ The atmosphere of Neptune is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

~ The apparent magnitude of Uranus varies from 8.0 to 7.8 at its brightest, making it visible only with magnification.

I always wondered...
...how noise-canceling headphones works...

In order to understand how noise-canceling headphones work, one must first understand how sound waves work. A sound wave is composed of crests and troughs which, respectively, represent compressions (positive pressure) and rarefactions (negative pressure) of air. When graphed, a sound wave is seen as a sine wave.

Destructive interference is what makes noise-canceling headphones work. Destructive interference occurs when crests meet troughs, or vice versa, in opposing sound waves. Alternatively, if crests meets crests and toughs meet troughs, constructive interference - or amplification - occurs (constructive and destructive interference pictured). So all that needs to happen in order for sound cancellation to occur is to reproduce a sound wave in the opposite direction and 180 degrees out of phase from the original sound wave. To visualize this, imagine two identical trains on the same track, traveling at the same speed, but towards each other. When the trains collide, neither will continue traveling along the track, instead they will "cancel each other out"...though quite violently in this example.

Active noise-canceling headphones utilize a microphone, a circuit board (which analyzes sound waves and creates the opposite wave), and a speaker. The speaker is aimed away from the ear and transmits the out of phase sound waves, which practically destroys all sound waves coming toward the headphones.

["Noise-canceling headphones" reference: How Stuff Works]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

Sorry

2008-01-30T13:19:00.001-08:00

Sorry about the hiatus, but I was out of town today. January 30th's In the Know will be up with February 1st.

In the Know #26

2008-01-28T18:25:00.000-08:00

January 30, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

canorous \kuh-NOR-us; KAN-or-uhs\, adjective:
Richly melodious; pleasant sounding; musical.

In the news:

- George W. Bush delivers his last State of the Union address.

- Indonesia reports its 100th death from bird flu.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1835 - Richard Lawrence attempts to assassinate President Andrew Jackson.

1933 - Adolf Hitler is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany.

1948 - Mohandas Gandhi (pictured) is assassinated by Nathuram Godse.

1968 - The Tet Offensive is launched by the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, a.k.a. Viet Cong.

1972 - Bloody Sunday in Ireland: British Paratroopers attack civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland.

1976 - George H. W. Bush becomes the Director of the CIA.

Today's Famous Births:

1882 - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States.

1912 - Francis Schaeffer, American Evangelical theologian and pastor

1930 - Gene Hackman, American actor

1941 - Dick Cheney (pictured), 46th Vice President of the United States

1951 - Phil Collins, English musician, "In the Air Tonight"

1957 - Payne Stewart, American golfer, PGA Champion and two-time U.S. Open Champion

1962 - King Abdullah II, reigning King of Jordan

1974 - Christian Bale, Welsh actor, Equilibrium and Batman Begins

Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Uranus...the planet, not your anus, hahaha...

~ Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun, located beyond the asteroid belt and is one of four Jovian planets, the gas giants.

~ Uranus' circumference is 4.0 times bigger than Earth's with 63.1 times more volume, but it is only 14.5 times as massive as Earth.

~ A year on Uranus lasts 84 Earth years.

~ A day on Uranus lasts only 14-17 Earth hours.

~ Mean temperature is between 49K (-371F) to 76K (-323F) depending on altitude.

~ The atmosphere of Uranus is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

~ The apparent magnitude of Uranus varies from 5.9 to 5.2 at its brightest, making it difficult to see with the naked eye.

I always wondered...
...how WiFi works...

Wireless networks use radio waves to transmit data. A computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna. A wireless router (pictured) receives the signal and decodes it. It sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection. The opposite is also true with the router sending information to the computer's antenna.

The transmitters utilize 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequencies. These frequencies are higher than cell phone and television radio signals, allowing higher data transfer rates. The technical protocol for wireless routers is the 802.11 networking standard. There are several different versions of 802.11 technology utilizing the different frequencies and boasting varying transfer rates.

A wireless router consists of (1) a port to connect to your cable or DSL modem, (2) a router, (3) an Ethernet hub, (4) a firewall and (5) a wireless access point. This router has a service set identification (SSID) name, which is the manufacturer by default, but can be changed by the user. 3 types of security are available in a wireless network: (1) Wired Equivalency Privacy and (2) WiFi Protected Access (WPA), which both use passwords, and (3) Media Access Control (MAC), which locates a physical address that is unique to a certain computer located in a list of safe computers.

["How WiFi Works" reference: How Stuff Works]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #25

2008-01-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

sylvan \SIL-vuhn\, adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to woods or forest regions.
2. Living or located in a wood or forest.
3. Abounding in forests or trees; wooded.

noun:
1. A fabled deity or spirit of the woods.
2. One that lives in or frequents the woods or forest; a rustic.

In the news:

- At least 250 schoolchildren 12 to 18 years old and several teachers were taken hostage and finally released by at least seven militants inside a high school in Domail, Pakistan.

- The United States Secret Service has evacuated the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C. after finding a suspicious package.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1845 - "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe (pictured) is published in the New York Evening Mirror.

1861 - Kansas admitted as the 34th U.S. state.

1886 - Karl Benz is granted a patent for the first successful gasoline-driven automobile.

2002 - In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush describes "regimes that sponsor terror" as an Axis of Evil.

Today's Famous Births:

1737 - Thomas Paine, American patriot, Common Sense and Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.

1843 - William McKinley, 25th President of the United States

1860 - Anton Chekhov (pictured), Russian writer, Uncle Vanya and The Cherry Orchard.

1874 - John D. Rockefeller, Jr., American entrepreneur and philanthropist

1880 - W.C. Fields, American actor

1945 - Tom Selleck, American actor, "Magnum P.I."

1954 - Oprah Winfrey, American actress and talk show host, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and The Color Purple.

1960 - Greg Louganis, American diver, 4 Olympic gold medals

1970 - Heather Graham, American actress

Trivia
Today's Category - Saturn...the planet, not the car company or the game console

~ Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun, located beyond the asteroid belt and is one of four Jovian planets, the gas giants.

~ Saturn has a complex ring system, composed mostly of ice and dust.

~ Saturn's circumference is 9.45 times bigger than Earth's and is 763.6 times more voluminous, but is only 95.2 times as massive.

~ A year on Saturn lasts 29.46 Earth years.

~ A day on Saturn lasts 10-11 Earth hours.

~ Mean temperature is between 84K (-308F) and 134K (-218F), depending on altitude.

~ The atmosphere of Saturn is composed of mostly hydrogen.

~ The apparent magnitude of Saturn is between 1.2 and -0.2, making it easily visible to the naked eye.

I always wondered...
...how braille works...

In 1821, the Frenchman Louis Braille developed the braille system of writing for use by blind people. The system utilized cells comprised of 6 dot positions with the arrangement of raised dots in the positions deciding letters and characters. The cells are arranged with two columns of three dots each. The arrangement of dots creates 64 permutations (2^6).

Dot heights are approximately 0.02 inches. Dot spacing is approximately 0.1 inches. Cell spacing is approximately 0.15 inches horizontally and 0.2 inches vertically. A standard braille page is 11 by 11.5 inches and consists of a maximum of 40-43 cells per line and 25 lines.

["Braille" Photo: Christophe Moustier - 2005]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

Who knew...

2008-01-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

Organ Hero

"Carry on My Wayward Son" like you've never heard it before.

Lebrons

2008-01-26T23:35:00.000-08:00

So.....very...funny.

Lebrons 2 on 2
"I'm on you like white on rice, like flies on shut yo mouth!"

The other three Lebrons commercials
"That's a quadruple double right there boy."

Just in case you didn't figure it out, Lebron James plays all the characters.

In the Know #24

2008-01-26T12:52:00.000-08:00

January 28, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

neophyte \NEE-uh-fyt\, noun:
1. A new convert or proselyte.
2. A novice; a beginner in anything.

In the news:

- At least 45 people killed in a new surge of violence (pictured) that began after Kenya's disputed December 27 presidential election.

- Gunmen killed 11 people in the village of Lusignan on the coast of Guyana.

- Barack Obama wins the South Carolina Democratic primary.

- An unresponsive United States reconnaissance satellite is in an uncontrolled, decaying orbit and will re-enter Earth's atmosphere in late February or early March.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1521 - The Diet of Worms begins.

1915 - U.S. Congress creates the United States Coast Guard (seal pictured).

- At the launch of NASA mission STS-51-L, Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after lift-off.

Today's Famous Births:

1890 - Robert Stroud, American convict, "The Birdman of Alcatraz"

1912 - Jackson Pollack, American painter, No. 5

1936 - Alan Alda, American actor and writer and director, "M.A.S.H."

1954 - Rick Warren, American pastor and author,

1955 - Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured), President of France

1959 - Frank Darabont, American filmmaker, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile

1974 - Magglio Ordoñez, Venezuelan baseball player, 6-time All Star

1981 - Elijah Wood, American actor, Lord of the Rings trilogy

Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Jupiter...the planet, not the orchestral piece or the rocket

~ Jupiter (pictured, as seen from Voyager I - click it to watch the approach) is the fifth planet from the sun, located beyond the asteroid belt and is one of four Jovian planets, the gas giants.

~ Jupiter's circumference is 11.2 times bigger than Earth's with 1,317 times more volume, but it is only 318 times as massive as Earth.

~ A year on Jupiter lasts 11.86 Earth years.

~ A day on Jupiter lasts only 9.9 Earth hours.

~ Mean temperature is between 112K (-258F) to 165K (-163F) depending on altitude.

~ The atmosphere of Jupiter is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.

~ The apparent magnitude of Jupiter varies from -1.6 to -2.9 at its brightest, making it easily distinguishable from the stars.

I always wondered...
...how youth ministry works...

If you have any idea...let me know.

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #23

2008-01-26T07:06:00.000-08:00

January 27, 2008

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

indelible \in-DEL-uh-buhl\, adjective:
1. That cannot be removed, erased, or washed away.
2. Making marks that cannot easily be removed or erased.
3. Incapable of being forgotten; memorable.

In the news:

- A 16-year-old was arrested over allegations of intentions to hijack a commercial passenger airliner.

- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announces a "decisive" offensive against al-Qaeda in Iraq.

- Australia to withdraw troops from Iraq this year.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor.

1678 - The first fire engine company in the United States went into service.

1825 - U.S. Congress approves Indian Territory (in what is present-day Oklahoma), paving the way for the "Trail of Tears."

1880 - Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.

1926 - John Logie Baird makes the first television broadcast.

1945 - The Red Army arrives at the Auschwitz-Birkenau (entrance pictured) concentration camp in Poland.

Today's Famous Births:

1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer, Le nozze di Figaro

1832 - Lewis Carroll, English author, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and "Jabberwocky"

1921 - Donna Reed, American actress, It's a Wonderful Life and From Here to Eternity

1940 - James Cromwell, American actor, The Green Mile and Babe

1955 - John G. Roberts, Jr. (pictured), 17th Chief Justice of the United States

1957 - Frank Miller, American comic book artist and writer and film director, 300 and Sin City

1971 - Jonathan Smith, American rapper, a.k.a. Lil' Jon

Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Mars...the planet, not the candy bar

~ Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.

~ Earth's circumference is 1.88 times bigger than Mars', but Earth is 9.35 times as massive.

~ It is referred to as the "Red Planet" due to its appearance from Earth.

~ A year on Mars lasts 686.5 Earth days.

~ A day on Mars lasts 24.55 Earth hours.

~ Surface temperatures range from about 133K (-220F) to 293K (68F).

~ The atmosphere of Mars is composed mostly of carbon dioxide.

~ The apparent magnitude of Mars at its brightest is about -2.9, making it visibly brighter than any star.

I always wondered...
...how The Shawshank Redemption works...

[1] Actor - Morgan Freeman; actor - Driving Miss Daisy and Glory and Se7en and Million Dollar Baby and so many more

[2] Actor - Tim Robbins; actor - Jacob's Ladder and Arlington Road

[3] Writer, short story - Stephen King; writer, short story - Stand By Me; writer, novel - The Green Mile and The Shining and a few horror novels too

[4] Director and screenplay - Frank Darabont; screenplay - The Green Mile; executive producer - Collateral

Greatest movie...ever.

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

Commercial

2008-01-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

Monster.com commercial...there's a perfect job for everyone...even a guy with ginormous legs.

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour!

2008-01-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

Watch this video and let me know of you want to go on March 20 to Greenville for the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.
Last year's event was beyond phenomenal.
$15 (I think) for three hours of awesome films.

I can't wait!

In the Know #22

2008-01-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

caterwaul \KAT-uhr-wawl\, intransitive verb:
1. To make a harsh cry.
2. To have a noisy argument.

noun:
1. A shrill, discordant sound.

In the news:

- President Bush and Congress agree on an economic stimulus package.

- A car bomb blast in a Christian suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut has killed at least six people, including a top security official.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1564 - The Council of Trent issues its conclusions in the Tridentinum, which established the distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

1837 - Michigan is admitted as the 26th U.S. state.

1905 - The Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered at 3106.75 carats, is found near Pretoria, South Africa.

1988 - Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera (pictured) debuts at Broadway's Majestic Theatre.

1998 - U.S. President Bill Clinton announces on American television that he had no "sexual relations" with intern Monica Lewinsky.

2005 - Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the post.

Today's Famous Births:

1880 - Douglas MacArthur (pictured), American general and Medal of Honor recipient

1904 - Seán MacBride, Irish statesman, founding member of Amnesty International and Nobel Peace Prize winner

1925 - Paul Newman, American actor and race car driver, Cool Hand Luke

1935 - Bob Uecker, American baseball player and broadcaster

1946 - Gene Siskel, American film critic

1955 - Eddie Van Halen, Dutch musician, Van Halen

1958 - Ellen DeGeneres, American actress and comedian, Finding Nemo and "The Ellen Show"

1961 - Wayne Gretzky (pictured), Canadian hockey player, "The Great One", 18 All Star game appearances

1970 - Kirk Franklin, American singer

1977 - Vince Carter, American basketball player, 8-time All Star

Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Venus...the planet, not the statue or the tennis player

~ Venus is the second planet from the sun.

~ Earth's circumference is 1.05 times bigger than Venus' and Earth is 1.23 times as massive.

~ It's similarities to Earth give Venus the nickname "Our sister planet".

~ A year on Venus lasts 224.7 earth days.

~ A day on Venus lasts 116.75 earth days (the sidereal day - the time it takes to complete one full rotation - on Venus is 243 days, which is longer than its year!).

~ The mean temperature on Venus' surface is 735K (863.3F).

~ The atmosphere of Venus is comprised of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

~ The apparent magnitude of Venus can be as bright as -4.6, gaining the titles "The Evening Star" and "The Morning Star"

I always wondered...
...how golf balls works...

The earliest golf balls were smooth and made of wood. Early in the 17th century, the 'featherie' ball was introduced and was constructed of tightly compacted goose down inside a cowhide casing. Later, tree sap was heated and formed into a ball, which flew truer because of imperfections in the ball. This led golf ball makers toward the distinctive dimples we know today. The 20th century contributed core technology, introducing a solid inside the ball allowing designers to fine tune the length, spin and feel of golf ball characteristics. Today, golf balls have titanium or other metal cores and may be composed of up to four layers.

The diameter of a golf ball cannot be smaller than 1.68 inches. 250 feet per second is the maximum velocity for the ball. Maximum weight of the ball cannot exceed 1.62 ounces. Most golf balls have between 300-450 dimples.

The millisecond-long impact of club and ball determines velocity, launch angle and spin rate. In its flight, the ball will experience drag and lift. The dimples on the ball work in two ways which affect these aerodynamic forces: (1) as the ball moves through the air, the dimples reduce drag by reducing turbulence (pictured), and (2) backspin induced by the angle of the club creates lift which is magnified by the dimples.

["How golf balls work.." turbulence picture reference]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

Laundromat

2008-01-24T09:15:00.001-08:00

This is another one of my favorite commercials: Orange Underground

In the Know #21

2008-01-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

January 25, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

disheveled \dih-SHEV-uhld\, adjective;
also dishevelled:
In loose disorder; disarranged; unkempt; as, "disheveled hair."

In the news:

- Romano Prodi (pictured), Italy's President of the Council of Ministers, loses a vote of confidence and resigns.

- Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich quits his bid for the presidency.

- An Iraqi police chief is killed in a suicide bombing.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

41 - Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor after Caligula is killed.

1919 - The League of Nations is created.

1924 - The first Winter Olympics opens in Chamonix, France.

1949 - At the Hollywood Athletic Club, the first Emmy Awards (pictured) are presented.

1949 - David Ben-Gurion becomes the first Prime Minister of Israel.

1961 - President John F. Kennedy delivers the first live televised presidential news conference.

2004 - Mars rovers Opportunity lands on the surface of Mars.

Today's Famous Births:

1627 - Robert Boyle, Irish chemist

1741 - Benedict Arnold, American general notorious for treason

1759 - Robert Burns (pictured), Scottish poet, Auld Lang Syne

1882 - Virginia Woolf, English writer

1938 - Etta James, American singer, "At Last"

1941 - Buddy Baker, American race car driver and commentator

1942 - Eusébio, Portuguese soccer player

1951 - Steve Prefontaine, American runner

1962 - Chris Chelios, American hockey player ,11 All-Star games

1981 - Alicia Keys, American singer

1984 - Robinho, Brazilian soccer player

Trivia
Today's Category - per request, Mercury...the planet, not the element

~ Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.

~ Earth's circumference is only 2.61 times the size of Mercury, but earth is 18 times as massive.

~ A year on Mercury lasts just under 88 days.

~ A day on Mercury lasts over 4200 hours (over 175 earth days).

~ Surface temperatures range from 80K (-315F) to 700K (800F).

~ Two NASA missions have studied Mercury: Mariner 10 (1974-75, upper picture)) and MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging - 2008, lower picture) [Note quality difference in photos].

~ The atmosphere of Mercury contains hydrogen, helium, oxygen, sodium, calcium and potassium.

~ At its brightest, Mercury is an apparent magnitude of -2.0, which is brighter than Sirius (the brightest star in apparent magnitude).

I always wondered...
...how that yellow first down line on a televised football game works...

It would seem that placing that little yellow line on our magical living room screens might be so very simple, but this could not be farther from the truth. A colossal amount of technology is put into play to make it possible. Sportvision created a system called 1st and Ten to digitally paint the line.

The system must:
  - know the orientation of the field
  - know where each yard line is
  - sense the camera's movement
  - recalculate perspectives, based on the camera's movement, at 30 frames per second (actually works at 60 fps)
  - cause the line to follow the curve of the field
  - work with multiple cameras
  - sense when players, refs or the ball cross the line, so as to not draw the line over them
  - be aware of superimposed graphics

There are several mechanisms and means used to address these issues. First, each camera is equipped with a special mount that records the cameras pan, tilt, zoom and focus. Stored on a main PC is a 3-D model of the field and the location of each camera. This allows the camera mount encoders to work with the 3-D model to appropriately place the line.

Also included in the software of the system is a color palette that distinguishes the field from the players, refs and the ball. When a pixel of a color not representing the field or first down lines passes over the line, the line disappears only where that pixel is.

It takes four people to run the 1st and Ten: a spotter and operator input the first down line manually, then two other operators make any corrections to the line during the game (such as adding colors to the palette like mud or snow). The system utilizes 8 computers in total.

["How it works" reference: HowStuffWorks.com}
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #20

2008-01-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

nolens volens \NO-lenz-VO-lenz\:
Whether unwilling or willing.

In the news:

- A border wall between Egypt and the Gaza Strip was partially destroyed allowing Palestinians to enter Egypt.

- Iraq removes three stars that referenced Sadaam Hussein's Baath Party from the Iraqi flag (new flag pictured).

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

41 - Gaius Caesar, a.k.a. Caligula, is assassinated by his disgruntled Praetorian Guard

1848 - James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill, sparking the California gold rush.

1918 - Russia finally adopts the Gregorian calendar, stating that the day after January 31st would be February 14th to correct the date.

2003 - The United States Department of Homeland Security (seal pictured) officially begins operating.

Today's Famous Births:

76 - Hadrian, Roman emperor

1705 - Carlo Broschi, a.k.a. Farinelli, Italian castrato

1862 - Edith Wharton, American writer, Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence

1917 - Ernest Borgnine (pictured), American actor

1918 - Oral Roberts, American evangelist

1939 - Ray Stevens, American musician

1941 - Neil Diamond, American musician

1941 - Aaron Neville, American singer

1949 - John Belushi, American actor

1968 - Mary Lou Retton, American gymnast

Trivia
Today's Category - Apartheid

~ The National Party enforced racial segregation in South Africa.

~ Apartheid lasted from 1948 to 1994.

~ In 1973, an International Convention of the United Nations General Assembly ruled that the system of apartheid amounted to a crime against humanity.

~ Apartheid strove to divide the country into sections that would aid in total physical segregation of races.

~ Anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for his fight against apartheid.

~ Mandela became an instrument of reconciliation after the fall of apartheid and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

I always wondered...
...how Communism works...

It doesn't...

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #19

2008-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

January 23, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

effusive \ih-FYOO-siv\, adjective:
Excessively demonstrative; giving or involving extravagant or excessive emotional expression; gushing.

In the news:

- Actor Heath Ledger found dead in New York City.

- Fred Thompson quits the U.S. Presidential race.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1556 - The deadliest earthquake in history hits Shaanxi Province in China.

1943 - Beginning of the Jewish-led Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

1960 - The Bathyscaphe USS Trieste (pictured) descends to 35,798 feet in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, the record depth achieved by any vehicle.

1973 - President Richard Nixon announces that a peace accord has been reached in Vietnam.

Today's Famous Births:

1737 - John Hancock, American statesman, first signer of the Declaration of Independence

1855 - John Moses Browning, American inventor

1898 - Sergei Eisenstein, Russian film director, Bronenosets Potyomkin (Battleship Potemkin)

1950 - Richard Dean Anderson, American actor, MacGyver

Due to time constraints, "Trivia" and "I always wondered..." will not be included in today's post. Sorry if this ruins your day. If this does ruin your day, consider your sad life and get mental help...my blog is not that interesting. Thanks for reading.
- JB

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #18

2008-01-21T19:07:00.000-08:00

January 22, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

permeate \PUR-mee-ayt\, transitive verb:
1. To spread or diffuse through.
2. To pass through the pores or openings of.

intransitive verb:
1. To spread through or penetrate something.

In the news:

- The New England Patriots (logo pictured, right) defeat the San Diego Chargers 21-12 to advance to the Super Bowl.

- The New York Giants defeat the Green Bay Packers 23-20 to advance to the Super Bowl.

- World stocks plunge on fears of United States recession.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1521 - Emperor Charles V opens the Diet of Worms

1905 - Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1973 - The Unites States Supreme Court comes to a decision in Roe v. Wade.

1973 - George Foreman beats the undefeated heavyweight Joe Frazier, "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"

1984 - The legendary "1984" commercial (pictured), aired during Super Bowl XVIII, advertising the Apple MacIntosh computer

1997 - Madeleine Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State.

Today's Famous Births:

1561 - Sir Francis Bacon, English philosopher

1788 - George Gordon, Lord Byron (pictured), English poet

1869 - Grigori Rasputin, Russian monk, the "Mad Monk"

1875 - D.W. Griffith, American director, Birth of a Nation and Intolerance

1965 - Jeffrey Townes, American rapper and actor, DJ Jazzy Jeff

1965 - Diane Lane, American actress, The Outsiders

Trivia
Today's Category - The Kentucky Derby

~ The Kentucky Derby (pictured) takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

~ The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km).

~ In the United States, the race is known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports".

~ The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes

~ May 17, 1875 marked the inauguration of the race.

~ 2007 was the 133rd running of the race.

~ A blanket of 554 roses is draped over the winner, giving the derby the nickname "The Run for the Roses".

~ The purse for winning is $2 million.

~ Mint Julep is the official drink of the race.

- Two horses, Secretariat (in 1973) and Monarchos (in 2001), have finished the race in under two minutes.

I always wondered...
...how the human voice works...

The human voice is created by vibrations through two membranes called vocal folds, or vocal cords. Male vocal cords are between 17mm and 25mm in length and female vocal cords are between 12.5mm and 17.5mm in length, making the male voice lower than the female voice.

There are four basic divisions of vocal range, determined by the way the vocal cords vibrate. Vocal fry register, in which air is permitted to bubble through the vocal cords, is the lowest range. Modal register is the normal speech and singing voice and can cover as much as two octaves for well trained singers. Falsetto voice occurs when the edges of the vocal cords are used and extends the vocal range of any singer. Not all singers can achieve phonation in the whistle register, which is not physiologically understood. Physiologists know that vibrations for the whistle range occur in the anterior region of the vocal cords.

In terms of frequency, human voices are roughly in the range of 80 Hz to 1100 Hz (that is, E2 to C6) for normal male and female voices together. The world record for the lowest note produced by a human voice is B-2 (two octaves below the lowest B on a piano, 8 Hz) by America's Tim Storms. The record for the highest vocal note is G10 (25087Hz) by Brazil's Georgia Brown.

Below is a list of the vocal classifications of the basic choral ranges:
Soprano: C4 (261.626 Hz) - C6 (1046.50 Hz)
Mezzo-Soprano: A3 (220.000 Hz) - A5 (880.000 Hz)
Contralto: E3 (164.814 Hz) - E5 (659.255 Hz)
Tenor: C3 (130.813 Hz) - C5 (523.251 Hz)
Baritone: G2 (97.9989 Hz) - G4 (391.995 Hz)
Bass: E2 (82.4069 Hz) - E4 (329.628 Hz)

A soprano who can sing higher than C♯6 is known as a sopranino and a bass who can sing G1 or lower is known as a sub-bass singer. Males who possess high ranges or can project falsetto, are referred to as countertenors and possess ranges equivalent to those of the female ranges, alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano.

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

PureFocus

2008-01-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

Don't let your youth group miss it!

"I guess it is awesome..."

2008-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Watch this Skittles commercial, click "Touch" when the page finishes loading. The end is so funny.

In the Know #17

2008-01-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

callow \KAL-oh\, adjective:
Immature; lacking adult perception, experience, or judgment.

In the news:

- Adolfo Nicolas (pictured) is chosen as the new Superior General of the Society of Jesus, whose members are known as Jesuits.

- George Bush proposes economic growth packages worth up to $150 billion.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1861 - Jefferson Davis (pictured) resigns from the United States Senate.

1915 - Kiwanis International is founded in Detroit, Michigan.

1924 - Vladimir Lenin dies.

1954 - The USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine is launched.

1976 - Commercial service of Concorde, a supersonic passenger airliner, begins.

Today's Famous Births:

1813 - John C. Frémont, American army officer, explorer and presidential candidate

1824 - Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, American Confederate general

1918 - Richard D. "Dick" Winters (pictured), American war hero, portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers

1922 - Telly Savalas, American actor, "Kojak" and Birdman of Alcatraz

1924 - Benny Hill, English actor, comedian and singer, "The Benny Hill Show"

1932 - John Chaney, American NCAA basketball coach, 1988 National Coach of the Year

1938 - Robert Weston Smith, American disc jockey and actor, better known as "Wolfman Jack"

1940 - Jack Nicklaus, American golfer

1941 - Plácido Domingo, Spanish tenor

1953 - Paul Allen, American entrepreneur, co-founder of Microsoft

1956 - Geena Davis, American actress, A League of Their Own

1963 - Hakeem Olajuwon, Nigerian-born basketball player, 12-time All Star

1965 - Jason Mizell, American disc jockey, better known as "Jam Master Jay", founder of Run-D.M.C. (pictured)

Trivia
Today's Category - John Grisham

~ John Grisham (pictured) graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981.

~ He practiced criminal and civil law in Southaven, Mississippi for nearly a decade.

~ In 1983, he was elected as a Democrat to the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he served until 1990.

~ His first novel was "A Time to Kill", which had an original print of only 5,000 but would be reprinted to become a bestseller.

~ 17 Grisham novels have topped the New York Times bestseller list.

~ 7 of his novels have become full length box office feature films.

~ His novels sold over 60 million copies in the 90's.

I always wondered...
...how surround sound works...

Home theater surround sound has two main components. First is the A/V receiver, which receives, decodes and sends both audio and video signals. Second are the speakers. The speakers are divided onto channels: Left, center, right, surround and subwoofer. The notation of the surround sound is as follows: [Number of surround speakers].[number of subwoofers] (i.e. 5.1 = five surround speakers and one subwoofer).

Surround sound comes to us in two forms: analog and digital. Analog surround is contained in two channels. The left and right channels contain two out of phase signals each. In the left channel, the left front speaker gets one signal and the left rear speaker gets the other, out of phase signal. The same occurs in the right channel. A center channel is constructed out of the two front speaker signals. Unlike analog, digital surround sound is recorded as ones and zeros. As such, it is the only format that can be recorded onto DVD's. Each channel is a separate track of the recording medium.

The center channel acts as the anchor of the system; producing the majority of dialog and effects. The left and right speakers remove the majority of the dialog. Rear surround speakers create sound effects, which help to create the illusion of being in the action. The Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel sends bass to the subwoofer.

The most common surround sound formats are Dolby Pro Logic (logo pictured) and Digital Theater Systems (DTS, logo pictured).

["How surround sound works" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #16

2008-01-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

January 20, 2008

Today is the Republican Presidential Primary in South Carolina.

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

adventitious \ad-ven-TISH-uhs\, adjective:
1. Added extrinsically; not essentially inherent.
2. (Biology) Out of the proper or usual place; as, "adventitious buds or roots."

In the news:

- Canada has added the United States to a list of countries in which foreigners risk torture and abuse.

- Israel closes border crossings at the Hamas-controlled (Hamas insignia pictured) Gaza Strip after a surge in cross-border attacks this week.

- Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton win the Nevada caucuses. John McCain edges out Mike Huckabee to win the South Carolina Republican Primary.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome.

1892 - At the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, the first official basketball game is played.

1920 - The American Civil Liberties Union is formed.

1968 - The Game of the Century takes place (Houston's Elvin Hayes shooting over Lew Alcindor, a.k.a. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, pictured), becoming the first regular season NCAA basketball game broadcast nationwide during prime time.

1986 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday for the first time.

Today's Famous Births:

1929 - Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, American race car driver

1930 - Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin, astronaut, Lunar module pilot of Apollo 11 (moonwalk pictured)

1956 - Bill Maher, American actor, comedian and political analyst

Trivia
Today's Category - The Ig Nobel Prize Ceremonies

~ The Ig Nobel Prize is a parody of the Nobel Prize awarded for ten achievements that "first make people laugh, then make them think."

~ There are ten prizes awarded each year.

~ The theme for the 2007 Ig Nobel Ceremony was "chicken" (2007 Award pictured).

~ Those who take place in the ceremony are called "Ignitaries".

~ Awards have been given to eaters of SPAM (for 54 years of undiscriminating digestion), to the inventors of the scent strips on magazine pages, to the inventor of the plastic pink flamingo lawn ornament, to the man who patented the comb-over hairstyle and to the scientists who studied the validity of the five-second food rule.

~ Until 2006, paper airplanes were thrown onto the stage by the audience.

~ Go here to see a full list of Ig Nobel Prize winners.

I always wondered...
...how a laser works...

Laser is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". A basic laser (pictured) is made up of a flash lamp (similar to a camera flash), a rod of the material to be lased (solid, liquid or gas) and two mirrors (one of which is only partially reflective).

Lasers use intense light flashes to "pump" up atoms of a solid or gas so that the atoms release photons. The photons are released in all directions, but only the photons traveling perpendicular to the mirrors will become the laser beam. As photons pass other atoms, more photons are spontaneously created from the other atoms. These photons will travel in the same direction and have the same phase and wavelength as the original photon.

Some of the photons pass through the partially reflective mirror as a concentrated beam of light. The laser light can have many uses from simply acting as a pointer to reading the information on a CD or DVD to cutting through hard materials. The strength of a laser is determined by the wavelength of the emitted light.

Lasers are classified into four broad areas based on the potential for biological damage (Laser warning symbol pictured). Class I lasers do no biological harm, though Class IA lasers are "not intended for viewing". Class II lasers rely on the human aversion to light to protect eyes. Class IIIA lasers are harmful to human eyes if the beam is projected directly into the eye. Most laser pointers are Class IIIA. Class IIIB lasers are moderately-powered. Class IV lasers are the most powerful lasers and are a fire hazard and skin hazard. Class IV lasers have very strict regulations for usage.

["" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #15

2008-01-18T19:37:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

quietus \kwy-EE-tuhs\, noun:
1. Final discharge or acquittance, as from debt or obligation.
2. Removal from activity; rest; death.
3. Something that serves to suppress or quiet.

In the news:

- Chess master Bobby Fischer (pictured) dies at 64.

- Data from 650,000 United States credit card holders is lost.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1817 - The Argentine army crosses the Andes, led by General Jose de San Martin, to liberate Chile and Peru from Spanish rule.

1883 - The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires, built by Thomas Edison, begins service in Roselle, New York.

1915 - Georges Claude patents the neon discharge tube for use in advertising.

1917 - German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman sends the Zimmerman Telegram (pictured) to Mexico, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the United States.

1953 - 68% of all TV sets are tuned into I Love Lucy to see Lucy give birth.

1974 - UCLA Men's basketball loses at the hands of Notre Dame, ending their 88-game winning streak.

1977 - Snow falls in Miami, Florida; the only occurrence of snow in the city's history.

1983 - Apple Lisa, the first commercial personal computer to have a graphical user interface and mouse, is introduced by Apple Computer, Inc.

Today's Famous Births:

1807 - Robert E. Lee (pictured), American Confederate General

1809 - Edgar Allan Poe, American writer and poet

1942 - Michael Crawford, British singer and actor, Broadway's "The Phantom of the Opera"

1943 - Janis Joplin, American singer

1946 - Dolly Parton, American singer and actress, "9 to 5" and "Islands in the Stream" (with Kenny Rogers)

1969 - Junior Seau, American football player, 12-time Pro Bowl selection

1982 - Jodie Sweetin, American actress, "Full House"

Trivia
Today's Category - The Outer Banks of North Carolina

~ The Outer Banks (pictured) consist of Bodie Island, Roanoke Island, Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island.

~ When Giovanni de Verrazzano explored the Outer Banks, he mistakingly believed the Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound as open ocean splitting the North American mainland in half.

~ The islands stretch 100 miles.

~ The first person of English descent born on American soil, Virginia Dare, was born on Roanoke Island.

~In 2003, Hatteras Island was cut in half by Hurricane Isabel, but the Army Corps of Engineers repaired the 3000 foot wide gash.

I always wondered...
...how a touchscreen works...

There are three basic types of touchscreen technologies: resistive, capacitive and surface wave acoustic.

Resistive touchscreens employ two thin metallic layers, one resistive and one conductive. When pressure is applied on the surface, one layer touches the other. The change on electrical field is noted and plotted.

Capacitive touchscreens use a layer that stores electrical charges on top of the glass panel of the monitor. When a user touches the screen, some of the charge is transferred to the person. Circuits located in each corner calculate the change in current. The relative differences in current help the computer to plot the point of contact.

Surface wave acoustic touchscreens have two transistors on the surface of the monitor which create ultrasonic waves on top of the screen. Opposite of the transistors are reflectors which bounce the waves back. When a wave is disturbed, the computer is able to plot where the touch occurred.

Resistive and surface wave acoustic screens do not distinguish between stimuli, because they recognize touches by pressure or disturbance. Capacitive does require a conductive input such as a finger to disturb the electrical charge on the surface.

["How a touchscreen works" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #14

2008-01-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

January 18, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

stoic \STOH-ik\, noun:
1. (Capitalized). A member of a school of philosophy founded by Zeno holding that one should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and should submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity.
2. Hence, one who is apparently or professedly indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain, joy or grief.

adjective:
1. Of or pertaining to the Stoics; resembling the Stoics or their doctrines.
2. Not affected by passion; being or appearing indifferent to pleasure or pain, joy or grief.

In the news:

- A British Airways flight from Beijing to London lands short of the runway (pictured) injuring 13. The cause of the crash is reported to have been a "total loss of power and avionics."

- The United Nations has appealed for $42 million to assist victims of Kenya violence.

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1778 - James Cook (pictured) is the first known European to discover the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands."

1896 - The x-ray machine is exhibited for the first time.

1903 - Theodore Roosevelt sends a radio message to King Edward VII of England, the first transatlantic radio transmission originating in the United States.

1967 - Albert DeSalvo, "The Boston Strangler", is convicted of numerous crimes and sentenced to life in prison.

1990 - Washington D.C. mayor, Marion Barry is arrested for drug possession in an FBI sting.

Today's Famous Births:

1689 - Charles Montesquieu, French writer

1779 - Peter Roget, British lexicographer

1782 - Daniel Webster, American statesman

1882 - A.A. Milne, English author, creator of Winnie the Pooh (pictured)

1904 - Cary Grant, American actor, North by Northwest

1950 - Gilles Villeneuve, Canadian race car driver

1955 - Kevin Costner, American actor

1961 - Mark Messier, Canadian hockey player, fifteen All-Star games

1971 - Jonathan Davis, American singer, KoRn

1980 - Julius Peppers, American football player, 3 Pro Bowls

Trivia
Today's Category - Clemson University

~ Thomas Green Clemson, the founder of Clemson University, came to the Foothills of South Carolina in 1838.

~ When Clemson died in 1886, he left most of his estate in his will to be used to establish a college to teach scientific agriculture and the mechanical arts.

~ In November 1889, Governor John Richardson signed a bill establishing Clemson Agricultural College.

~ Clemson was also originally a military institute.

~ There are 17,585 students enrolled at the university.

~ Cooper Library has over 1.5 million items.

~ Tillman Hall has 47 bells.

~ There are 194 wi-fi hot spots on campus.

~ Clemson (tiger paw pictured) covers a total of 17,000 acres.

I always wondered...
...how a fax machine works...

A fax machine is basically a scanner, a printer, a modem and a phone put together. When a document is placed into a fax machine, the scanner looks at the page one line at a time. It translates that line into 1728 separate bits of information. The bits of information either represent a black dot or a white dot. There are 1145 lines on a page in the standard setting of a fax machine (there are higher settings for finer resolutions). Therefore there are approximately 2,000,000 bits of information on a page. If there are large areas of black or white, the data can be compressed to relay that info, thus saving lots of time in faxing. The information is then sent via phone line to the receiving fax machine. That device then decodes, decompresses and reassembles the bits to duplicate the original document.

["How a fax machine works" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #13

2008-01-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

January 17, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

upbraid \uhp-BRAYD\, transitive verb:
To scold or criticize harshly.

In the news:

- President Bush ends his Middle East tour.

- A bus in Buttala, Sri Lanka exploded (pictured) killing at least 23 and wounding more than 60.

- The Bush Administration notified Congress on Monday of its intention to sell precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia.

- The Pentagon announces plans to send 3,200 additional marines to Afghanistan

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

1781 - The Battle of Cowpens takes place during the Revolutionary War.

1819 - Republic of Colombia created by Simon Bolivar.

1916 - The Professional Golf Association is formed.

1917 - The United States buys the Virgin Islands from Denmark.

1929 - Popeye, the Sailor Man (pictured), created by E.C. Segar, first appears in Thimble Theater comic strip.

1945 - Nazis begin the evacuation of Auschwitz concentration camp as Soviet forces close in.

Today's Famous Births:

1706 - Benjamin Franklin, American statesman, Poor Richard's Almanack

1899 - Al Capone (pictured), American gangster

1922 - Betty White, American actress, "The Golden Girls"

1928 - Vidal Sassoon, English cosmetologist

1931 - James Earl Jones, American actor, voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars saga and Field of Dreams

1933 - Shari Lewis, American ventriloquist, "Lamb Chop's Play-Along"

1942 - Muhammad Ali (pictured), American boxer, "The Greatest" a.k.a. Cassius Clay

1949 - Andy Kaufman, American comedian

1962 - Jim Carrey, Canadian comedian and actor, Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura

1970 - Jeremy Roenick, American hockey player, 9 time All-Star

1971 - Kid Rock, American singer, a.k.a. Robert Ritchie

1972 - Lil' Jon, American rapper and music producer

1982 - Dwayne Wade, American basketball player, 3 time All-Star

Trivia
Today's Category - per request...the human digestive system

~ The upper gastrointestinal tract (pictured) consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach.

~ The lower gastrointestinal tract consists of the intestines and the anus...yup, the anus.

~ The polite euphemism for "anus" has traditionally been "fundament."

~ Gastric acid has a pH of 1.4, but the stomach regulates the pH to keep it above 2.

I always wondered...
...how a stock exchange works...

Businesses listed on a stock exchange are equally divided into shares, which are publicly bought and sold. For example, a business worth #1 million might be divided into 10,000 shares worth $100 each. Each share represents a claim in the company. Whoever holds the majority of the stock has control of the company. Some companies pay money to each shareholder based on profits for a year. These payments are called dividends.

Stocks are traded at a stock market, or stock exchange, to centralize all trading so that buyers and sellers can go to one place. Rather than traveling all the way to the actual stock market, potential buyers and sellers contact stock brokers to do their business. When businesses publicize positive or negative news, the stock prices will fluctuate based on that news. Good news = more buying = higher prices. Bad news = more selling = lower prices.

There are two different ways a company can approach the stock market. They can either sell as an income stock or a growth stock. Income stocks pay dividends to shareholders. Growth stocks invest the money from share sales back into the company so that share prices continue to go up.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, Wall Street front pictured) is the largest such market in the world. As of December 31, 2006, the NYSE had a total capitalization of $25 trillion.

["How a stock exchange works" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #12

2008-01-14T21:53:00.000-08:00

January 16, 2008

Dictionary.com's Word of the Day

nonagenarian \non-uh-juh-NAIR-ee-uhn; no-nuh-\, noun:
A ninety year old person; someone whose age is in the nineties.

In the news yesterday:

- NASA's Messenger probe (pictured) flies by Mercury, the first spacecraft to do so in thirty-three years.

- The murderer and rapist of Marine Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, Corporal Cesar Armando Laurean, is believed by authorities to have fled to Mexico.

- 2008 Presidential primary in Michigan results: GOP, Mitt Romney; Dem, Hillary Clinton (Note: neither John Edwards nor Barack Obama took place in the Michigan primary due to the violation of party rules in moving the Michigan primary to January 15)

Today in History, according to Wikipedia:

27 B.C. - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman State.

1547 - Ivan the Terrible becomes Tsar of Russia.

1556 - Phillip II becomes King of Spain.

1991 - The first sorties of Operation Desert Storm begin.

2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia (pictured) takes off for the last time. It would disintegrate upon reentry on February 1.

Today's Famous Births:

1821 - John C. Breckinridge, 14th Vice President of the United States, Civil War Confederate General

1901 - Frank Zamboni, American inventor, you guessed it...the Zamboni ice resurfacer

1902 - Eric Liddell (pictured), Scottish runner and missionary to China, ever heard of Chariots of Fire...yeah, that's him

1935 - A.J. Foyt, American race car driver and team owner

1948 - John Carpenter, American director, Halloween

1959 - Sade Adu, Nigerian-born singer

1969 - Roy Jones, Jr., American boxer, former Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion of the world.

1974 - Kate Moss, English model

1979 - Aaliyah Haughton, American R&B singer, "Are You That Somebody?"

1980 - Albert Pujols, American baseball player, six-time All Star

Trivia
Today's Category - Alaska!

~ In 1867, William H Seward - U.S. Secretary of State - engineered the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

~ Alaska (flag pictured) became an American territory on May 11, 1912.

~ On January 3, 1959, Alaska became the 49th state.

~ In 2006, Alaska had an estimated population of 670,053, making it the state with the third lowest population (#1-Wyoming and #2-New Hampshire).

~ Alaska has no state sales tax (some local governments do levy sales taxes) nor does it have a personal income tax.

I always wondered...
...how black holes work...sort of...

A black hole (artist's impression pictured) is what remains when a massive star dies. A star is a giant fusion reactor and because of this is always on the verge of exploding and it would explode were it not for its massive size which gives it an extraordinary gravitational field. However, when a stars fusion fuel runs out, it collapses and becomes very dense causing an explosion (supernova) of material and radiation leaving the supermassive core. The core is so massive that even light cannot escape it.

The core of the black hole is called the singularity and the edge of the hole from which nothing can escape is called the event horizon. A rotating black hole, the most common in nature, has a surround called the ergosphere. The ergosphere is basically space distorted by the spin of the black hole. Not all matter that enters the ergosphere will enter the black hole, but the event horizon is still the point of no return.

One simple way that we detect black holes is by noticing gravitational lenses. Gravitational lenses are points in space that by our observance bend light toward them by intense gravitational forces. Other ways of observing black holes is by detecting strong x-rays or by noting jets of ejected materials from a point in space which seem to be caused by black holes.

["How black holes work" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #11

2008-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

January 15, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

inculcate \in-KUHL-kayt; IN-kuhl-kayt\, transitive verb:
To teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

588 B.C. - Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, lays siege to Jerusalem. The siege lasted until July 18, 586 B.C.

1559 - Elizabeth I is crowned in Westminster Abbey.

1777 - New Connecticut (Vermont) declares its independence.

1844 - The University of Notre Dame receives its charter from the state of Indiana.

1892 - James Naismith (pictured) publishes the rules of basketball.

1943 - The Pentagon is dedicated in Arlington, Virginia.

1967 - Super Bowl I, Green Bay Packers - 35:10 - Kansas City Chiefs.

2001 - Wikipedia goes online

Today's Famous Births:

1622 - Moliere (pictured), French playwright, Tartuffe

1902 - King Saud of Saudi Arabia

1929 - Martin Luther King, Jr., American civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner

1948 - Ronnie Van Zant, American singer, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Trivia:
Today's category - The World Cup

~ The first World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay.

~ Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 to win the first World Cup.

~ Brazil has the most World Cup Championships with five, Italy has four titles and Germany has three.

~ The next World Cup tournament is set for June through 11 July 11, 2010.

~ The World Cup trophy (pictured) is 36.6 cm tall and is made of 5 kg of 18 carat gold.

I always wondered...
...how GPS works...

The Global Positioning System is a network of 24 satellites that connect with the GPS receivers that are so commonplace today. The orbits of the satellites are arranged so that at any time at least four of them are "visible" from any place on earth. The GPS receiver (pictured) calculates the exact location of the device by using 3-D trilateration, a process of geometry using four satellites at a time to pinpoint the location of the device. The receiver must know the location of at least three satellites and the respective distances to each of those satellites. The GPS receiver has an almanac which tells it where each satellite will be at any time.

Current GPS receiver models can tell you how far you've traveled on a trip, time traveling, current speed, average speed and ETA at current speed. The receivers can also leave a "bread crumb" trail showing the exact path that you have traveled.

["how GPS works" reference: HowStuffWorks.com]
[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

Crazy vid

2008-01-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

Don't make Andy Roddick mad. Absolute insanity! Video of the greatest tennis serve ever...

...or a Powerade ad. If anyone could do it, it would be Roddick. He has a 155 mph world record serve.

In the Know #10

2008-01-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

primogeniture \pry-moh-JEN-ih-choor\, noun:
1. The state of being the firstborn of the same parents; seniority by birth among children of the same family.
2. (Law) An exclusive right of inheritance that belongs to the eldest son.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1501 - Martin Luther, 17, enters the University of Erfurt.

1973 - The Miami Dolphins (1966-1973 logo pictured) defeat the Washington Redskins to win Super Bowl VII and become the first NFL team to go undefeated in a season.

1994 - U.S. President Bill Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin sign the Kremlin Accords.

2000 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches a record high of 11,750.28 and closes at 11,722.98.

Today's Famous Births:

83 B.C. - Marcus Antonius - Mark Antony - Roman politician

1741 - Benedict Arnold (pictured), American general notorious of treason

1875 - Albert Schweitzer, Alsatian (German/French) physician and theologian

1919 - Andy Rooney, American journalist

1932 - Don "Big Daddy" Garlits, American race car driver known as the father of drag racing

1948 - Carl Weathers, American actor, Apollo Creed from Rocky

1953 - "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, American wrestler, HOOO!!!!

1963 - Steven Soderbergh, American director, Ocean's 11, 12 and 13

1964 - Shepherd Smith, American news anchor, The Fox Report and Studio B on FOX News

1968 - LL Cool J, American rapper and actor, "Mama Said Knock You Out"

1969 - Dave Grohl, American musician, Nirvana and Foo Fighters

1979 - John Reuben, American hip-hop artist, "What are you dippity doing?"

Trivia:
Today's category - Hubble Telescope

~ Hubble telescope (pictured) is named after American astronomer Edwin Hubble.

~ Hubble telescope was launched April 24, 1990.

~ Hubble has taken pictures of the most distant galaxies ever photographed in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

~ Hubble has five scientific instruments on board: the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement, the Advanced Camera for Surveys and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The telescope's guidance system can also be used for astrometry.

~ The first images taken were blurry due to spherical aberration, a 1993 mission fixed the problem (pictured are photos from before and after the fix).

~ Three service missions have been sent to Hubble to fix issues and replace instruments.

~ A fourth service mission is set for September 2008 to replace some of the current instruments.

I always wondered...
...how solar cells work...

Solar cells (pictured) use the photovoltaic effect to produce electricity. Light absorbing materials - such as silicon, cadmium telluride and other more rare compounds - are utilized to capture photons which knock electrons from the molecules. The electrons flowing through the material create electricity, which is captured and fed to an inverter to change the DC power to AC so that the power is usable in home applications.

The total solar energy available to the earth is approximately 3850 zettajoules (3.850*10^24 joules) per year. Worldwide energy consumption in 2004 for the entire world was 0.471 zettajoules (4.71*10^20 joules). In other words, solar energy could potentially produce over 8,000 times the world's energy needs (3.850*10^24/4.71*10^20=8.17*10^3). Note: Wind can theoretically supply 6 zettajoules of energy per year (almost 13 times the world's consumption).

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

Sweet Beats #1

2008-01-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

Sweet Beats:
1-1-6 Clique pronounced "one one six"

Flow Masters (Members):
Lecrae
Tedashii
Trip-Lee
Json
Thi'sl
and Sho

Representing:
Dallas, TX

Making it happen:
Reach Records

Latest Sounds:
Amped (Rock remixes) - released August 2007
13 Letters - released May 2007

The Message:
116 Clique's message is simple: live every day for Christ in every area of your life.

The Hook:
Play the Clique's music beside the mainstream likes of Soulja Boy and T-Payne and the styles match, but the difference is evident in the lyrics. Rarely does anything but Christ come out in the lyrics they spit.
And...
Each member of 116 has at least one hot solo album.

In the Know #9

2008-01-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

January 13, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

supplicate \SUP-luh-kayt\, intransitive verb:
1. To make a humble and earnest petition; to pray humbly.

transitive verb:
1. To seek or ask for humbly and earnestly.
2. To make a humble petition to; to beseech.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1733 - James Oglethorpe (pictured) and 130 colonists arrive in Charleston, South Carolina

1939 - The Church of England accepts the theory of evolution

1942 - The United States begins the internment of Japanese-Americans

1957 - Wham-O Company produces the first frisbee

1964 - Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) appointed archbishop of Krakow, Poland

Today's Famous Births:

1808 - Salmon P. Chase (pictured), 6th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

1957 - Mark O'Meara, American golfer, winner of two major championships

1961 - Julia Louis-Dreyfus, American actress, Seinfeld

1977 - Orlando Bloom, English actor, Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings

Trivia:
Today's category - Cheesecake

~ The basic cheesecake simply contains eggs, cream and cream cheese.

~ Some cheesecake styles contain ricotta, Havarti (Danish), quark (German) or other cheeses.

~ The first recorded mention of cheesecake was during the ancient Grecian Olympics.

~ The first Cheesecake Factory opened in Beverly Hills, California in 1978.

I always wondered...
...how the BCS works...

The Bowl Championship Series was started in 1998. It is a mathematical and human ranking system used to calculate the top teams in the country. Ten teams are selected each year to play in BCS bowl games. The five games are the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, and the BCS Championship Game which is played in a different arena each year.

The top two teams earn berths by having the best scores in the BCS system. Several other teams earn berths by winning their respective conference tournaments. The ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, PAC Ten and SEC tourney champs each get an automatic berth. Generally this will leave four teams to fill in the other spots. They are chosen from non-BCS conference champions, Notre Dame (if Notre Dame is ranked 8th or higher it is given an automatic berth) and other teams in the top fourteen and having at least nine wins.

The ranking system is comprised of three factors, each using Borda counts (number 1 gets 25 points, number 2 gets 24 points, number 3 get 23 points, and so on) to come up with figures: (1) The Harris Interactive College Poll, which is comprised of former players, coaches, administrators and current and former media members who submit votes for the top 25 teams each week, the scores are totaled and then converted to a percentage, (2) coaches' poll, which is also totaled and changed to a percentage and (3) computer average, which utilizes 6 different ranking systems, the highest and lowest rankings for each team are dropped and the rest are added, which would make the highest possible score 100. The two human polls are weighted twice as much as the computer scores. The three factors are averaged together to give a final percentage, the highest of which is the #1 team in the BCS standings.

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #8

2008-01-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

January 12, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

raillery \RAY-luh-ree\, noun:
1. Good-humored banter or teasing.
2. An instance of good-humored teasing; a jest.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1908 - The Rocky Mountain National Park (pictured) is formed by an act of U.S. Congress.

1932 - Hattie W. Caraway becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

1966 - Lyndon B. Johnson states the the U.S. should stay in South Vietnam until Communist aggression there is ended.

1991 - An act of the U.S. Congress authorizes the use of military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.

Today's Famous Births:

1876 - Jack London, American writer, The Call of the Wild and White Fang

1893 - Hermann Goring (pictured), Nazi official, second in command of the Third Reich, commander of the Luftwaffe, commanded Manfred von Richthofen's ("The Red Baron") division

1930 - Tim Horton, Canadian hockey player, co-founder of Tim Horton's

1944 - Joe Frazier, American boxer, 1964 Olympic heavyweight gold medal, Heavyweight Champion of the world (1971-73)

1951 - Rush Limbaugh, American radio personality and political commentator

1960 - Dominique Wilkins, American basketball player, "The Human Highlight Film", 9-time NBA All-star

1970 - Zack de la Rocha, American singer, Rage Against the Machine

1978 - Jeremy Camp, American musician, "I Still Believe" and "'This Man"

Trivia:
Today's category - Skyscrapers

~ A loose convention in the United States and Europe states that a building must be 500 feet (150 m) tall to be considered a skyscraper.

~ Taipei 101 is the tallest skyscraper at 1473.75 feet tall (1670.6 feet to the spire)

~ Taipei 101 is named so because of its 101 floors.

~ Upon completion, Burj Dubai ("Dubai Tower", pictured) will be the tallest skyscraper in the world.

~ Burj Dubai will be 2,111 feet tall (2684 feet to the spire)

~ Finished in 1931, the Empire State Building stands at 1250 feet tall (1472 feet to the spire) and is still listed in the top ten tallest skyscrapers in the world.

I always wondered...
...how curling is played...

The game of curling is thought to have originated in Scotland during the late Middle Ages. Records from a monastery dating to 1541 reference a contest using stones on ice. A curling stone was found at the bottom of a lake with the year 1511 inscribed on it. The first American curling club was instituted in 1831 at Orchard Lake, Michigan. Curling has been an official Winter Olympic sport since 1998.

The curling sheet (playing surface, pictured below) is an area of ice 146 feet long by 14 feet 2 inches to 16 feet 5 inches wide. The surface of the ice has tiny bumps called pebbles, which are created by spraying water droplets onto the ice. The pebbles give the stones their spin, or curl.

A 12 foot wide set of concentric rings, called the house, is painted on each end of the sheet. The center of the house - known as the button - is marked by the juncture of two lines: the center line drawn lengthwise and the tee line drawn 16 feet from the backline. 37 feet from the backline and parallel to it, two more lines - called the hoglines - are drawn.

The rings surrounding the button are designated as the four-foot, the eight-foot and the twelve-foot rings. The rings are used merely to judge which stones are nearer to the button. Any stone outside of the twelve-foot ring is not "in the house" and cannot score. Twelve feet behind the button is the hackline, where the footholds (hacks), are located.

There are four players per team, practically named for their order of play: the first, second, third and fourth. The fourth is generally the team's skip, or captain. The skip calls the strategy for the team. Each player throws (delivers) two stones while two other teammates sweep the ice to speed up or slow down the stone. The skip does not sweep for the throws, instead he calls the shot for the curlers and awaits the stones at the opposite end so that he can sweep opposing teams stones if they are hit.

The stone (pictured) is round with a handle on top and weighs 44 lb (20 kg). The maximum allowable dimensions are 36 inches in circumference and 4.5 inches in height.

There are ten ends - complete rounds of 16 throws - to a game. Players release the stones prior to reaching the hogline and either tries to place their stones (with help of the sweepers) as close to the button as possible or tries to hit the other teams stones out of the house, called a take-out or tap.

The last stone of an end is called the hammer and gives the advantage of an easier score. If no points are scored in an end, it is called blank. If no team scores, the hammer stays with the same team, so a skip will often call for a blank if he thinks he can only score one point. Additionally, curlers may throw guard stones in front of the tee line to keep the opposing team from nearing the button.

FYI: The U.S. Olympic curling team won the first curling medal for the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy. They took home the bronze.

[All references from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

In the Know #7

2008-01-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

January 11, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

imprimatur \im-prih-MAH-tur; -MAY-\, noun:
1. Official license or approval to print or publish a book, paper, etc.; especially, such a license issued by the Roman Catholic episcopal authority.
2. Approval; sanction.
3. A mark of approval or distinction.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1759 - The first American life insurance company is incorporated in Philadelphia.

1949 - First recorded snowfall in Los Angeles (pictured).

1964 - United States Surgeon General Dr. Luther Leonidas Terry publishes a report that smoking may be hazardous to health, the first such statement made by the U.S. government.

1972 - East Pakistan renames itself Bangladesh.

2001 - The Federal Trade Commission approves the merger of AOL and Time Warner.

Today's Famous Births:

1775 - Alexander Hamilton (pictured), first United States Secretary of the Treasury

1923 - Carroll Shelby, American race car driver and automobile designer

1946 - John Piper, American theologian

1946 - Naomi Judd, American singer

1971 - Mary J. Blige, American singer

Trivia:
Today's category - Samurai

~ Samurai (pictured) were aristocratic warrior nobility.

~ The rise of the samurai came during the 12th century wars between the Taira and Minamoto clans.

~ At one time, samurai had the right to cut down anyone who offended them.

~ Masterless samurai were known as ronin.

~ Samurai comes from the Japanese verb meaning "to serve".

~ Ronin means "drifting person".

I always wondered...
...about the Presidential line of succession...

The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 established the list of representatives who would succeed to the Presidency upon the incapacity, death, resignation or removal of the President.

The list is as follows:
1 - Vice-President/President of the Senate: Dick Cheney
2 - Speaker of the House of Representatives: Nancy Pelosi
3 - President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Robert Byrd (pictured)
4 - Secretary of State: Condoleezza Rice
5 - Secretary of the Treasury: Henry Paulson
6 - Secretary of Defense: Robert Gates
7 - Attorney General: Michael Mukasey
8 - Secretary of the Interior: Dirk Kempthorne
9 - Secretary of Agriculture: Charles Conner (acting)
10 - Secretary of Commerce: Carlos Gutierrez (non-natural)
11 - Secretary of Labor: Elaine Chao (non-natural)
12 - Secretary of Health and Human Services: Michael Leavitt
13 - Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Alphonso Jackson
14 - Secretary of Transportation: Mary Peters
15 - Secretary of Energy: Samuel Bodman
16 - Secretary of Education: Margaret Spellings
17 - Secretary of Veterans Affairs: James Peake
18 - Secretary of Homeland Security (newly added in 2006): Michael Chertoff

- Non-natural-born citizens are ineligible to succeed to the Presidency.
- Any office-holder not approved by the Senate ("acting") is ineligible to succeed to the Presidency.

[Reference "samurai": education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/samurai] [References from Wikipedia.org unless otherwise noted]

10 Things I Hate About...NASCAR

2008-01-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

1. Jimmy Spencer's temper (video with color commentary)
2. Left turn, left turn, left turn...
3. Caution laps
4. Restrictor plates
5. Dirty racers
6. Robbie Gordon
7. No track within an hour of my house
8. "The Hardee's, Best Buy, Nextel, Sears Chevrolet really performed today..."
9. Brad Daugherty's race commentary
10. Ned Jarrett's glass eye (pictured)

10 Things I Love About...NASCAR

2008-01-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

1. 700+ Horsepower
2. 200 MPH
3. 43 cars, 1 track
4. Banked curves
5. Carl Edwards' backflip
6. Burnouts
7. LOUD!!!
8. They got trucks!
9. Wrecks
10. "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

In the Know #6

2008-01-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

remonstrate \rih-MAHN-strayt; REH-mun-strayt\, intransitive verb:

1. To present and urge reasons in opposition to an act, measure, or any course of proceedings -- usually used with 'with'.

transitive verb:
1. To say or plead in protest, opposition, or reproof.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1776 - Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.

1920 - The League of Nations holds its first meeting and ratifies the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I.

1929 - Tintin (pictured, with Snowy), a comic book character created by a Belgian artist under the pen name of Herge, makes his debut. Tintin would go on to be published in over 200 million comic books in over 40 languages.

1946 - The first General Assembly of the United Nations opens in London. 51 nations are represented.

1990 - Time Warner is former with the merger of Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc.

Today's Famous Births:

1738 - Ethan Allen, American Revolution military leader

1883 - Aleksei Nikolaevich Tolstoi (pictured), Russian writer, War and Peace and Anna Karenina

1938 - Willie McCovey, American baseball player, 6-time All Star

1939 - Sal Mineo, American actor

1945 - Rod Stewart, Scottish singer, "Have I Told You Lately?"

1949 - George Foreman, American boxer

1953 - Pat Benatar, American singer, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"

1953 - Bobby Rahal, American race car driver and team owner

Trivia:
Today's category - The Hershey Company

~ Milton S. Hershey's first candy shop, located in Philadelphia, failed.

~ After a second failure in New York, he returned to Pennsylvania and founded Lancaster Caramel Company, which he sold for $1,000,000 in 1900.

~ In 1903, Hershey began construction of a chocolate plant in Derry Church, Pennsylvania.

~ The Hershey Kiss (pictured) was introduced in 1907.

~ Hershey manufactures non-chocolate candies such as Bubble Yum, Jolly Rancher, Good & Plenty and Twizzlers.

I always wondered...
...how a DVD works...

A DVD (pictured) is composed of several layers of plastic, creating a thickness of about 1.2 millimeters. Information is encoded in a series of bumps arranged in a single, continuous spiral track of data. The tracks are separated by only 740 nanometers. Each of the bumps is 320 nanometers wide, 400 nanometers long and 120 nanometers high. If the track were stretched out into a straight line, it would extend almost 7.5 miles. This means a double-sided, dual-layer disc's data track would stretch nearly 30 miles. For a dual-layer disc, aluminum is used for the inside layer and a semi-reflective gold is used for the outer layer, which allows the DVD player's laser to read through the first layer.

The wavelength of a DVD laser is 640 nanometers, allowing it to read the bumps on the track. The light from the laser is bounced off the bumps and hits an optical sensor, which interprets the changes in reflection into bits and bytes. The laser moves outward as the DVD plays. The disc spins slower the farther the laser is from the center in order the keep the speed of the track moving past the laser constant.

- MPEG encoding is used on DVD's.
- A single-side single-layer DVD holds 4.38 GB.

["How a DVD works" Reference: Howstuffworks.com; electronics.howstuffworks.com/dvd.htm]

In the Know #5

2008-01-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

January 9, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

pertinacious \puhr-tin-AY-shuhs\, adjective:
1. Holding or adhering obstinately to any opinion, purpose, or design.
2. Stubbornly or perversely persistent.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1788 - Connecticut becomes the fifth state to join the United States.

1861 - "The Star of the West" incident occurs near Charleston, South Carolina. This is considered by some as the first shots of the American Civil War.

1951 - The United Nations headquarters building is officially opened in New York City.

2002 - The US Department of Justice announces it is going to pursue a criminal investigation of Enron (logo pictured).

2006 - The Phantom of the Opera surpasses Cats as the longest running show on Broadway.

Today's Famous Births:

1913 - Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States.

1934 - Bart Starr (pictured), American football player with the Green Bay Packers, winner and MVP of Super Bowl I and II.

1935 - Bob Denver, American actor, "Gilligan's Island"

1959 - Mark Martin, NASCAR driver

1965 - Muggsy Bogues, American basketball player, the shortest basketball player in NBA history at 5'3".

1967 - Dave Matthews, South African singer and musician, "Ants Marching" and "Crash Into Me".

1978 - Chad Johnson, American football player, 4 Pro Bowls and led NFL in receiving yards in 2006.

1980 - Sergio Garcia, Spanish golfer, 2nd place 1999 PGA championship.

Trivia:
Today's category - The Academy Awards

~ The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

~ Bob Hope (pictured) has hosted the Academy Awards more times than anyone else.

~ Three films have won the "Big Five" Academy Awards: It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Silence of the Lambs (1991).

[The "Big Five" includes Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing (original work or adapted screenplay), Best Actor and Best Actress]

I always wondered...
...what happened in the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union...

The U.S.S.R. - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - was formed in 1922 when the Bolshevik republics of the Russian SFSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR, the Ukrainian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR approved the Treaty of Creation of the U.S.S.R. and the Declaration of the Creation of the U.S.S.R.

Vladimir Lenin, was leading the Bolshevik party at the institution of the U.S.S.R. After his death, Joseph Stalin came to power and ruled with an iron fist. The post-Stalin Soviet was governed by a collective of Soviet officials. Nikita Khrushchev asserted his power in the background of this joint government. The next major stand-alone leader for the U.S.S.R. was Leonid Brezhnev, who led the country until his death in 1982. A few short years after Brezhnev's death, Mikhail Gorbachev (pictured) ascended to the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

And so we have a history of the leadership of the U.S.S.R. What is the thread that runs throughout them? A declining economic and social structure. Gorbachev's reforms did not have their intended result and led to an almost complete breakdown of these already strained systems.

February 7, 1990 - the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union agreed to give up its monopoly of power.

March 11, 1990 - Lithuania declared its independence, which resulted in a response to suppress it.

December 1, 1991 - Ukrainian popular referendum, 90% of voters opted for independence.

December 8, 1991 - leaders of Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian republics signed the Belavezha Accords declaring the Soviet Union dissolved (disputed by the Soviet government).

December 21, 1991 - representatives of Russian states signed the Alma Ata Protocol, which confirmed the dissolution.

December 25, 1991 - Gorbachev resigns as president of the U.S.S.R., yielding power to the president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin.

The 15 former republics of the Soviet Union, which became independent states in 1991:
1 - Armenia
2 - Azerbaijan
3 - Belarus
4 - Estonia
5 - Georgia
6 - Kazakhstan
7 - Kyrgyzstan
8 - Latvia
9 - Lithuania
10 - Moldova
11 - Russia
12 - Tajikistan
13 - Turkmenistan
14 - Ukraine
15 - Uzbekistan

In the Know #4

2008-01-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

mimetic \mim-ET-ik\, adjective:
1. Apt to imitate; given to mimicry; imitative.
2. Characterized by mimicry; -- applied to animals and plants; as, "mimetic species; mimetic organisms."

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1790 - George Washington delivers the first State of the Union Address in New York City.

1815 - Andrew Jackson leads American forces (pictured) to victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle of the War of 1812.

1835 - US national debt is 0 for the first and only time.

1918 - President Woodrow Wilson announces his "Fourteen Points" for the aftermath of War World I.

1982 - Break-up of AT&T into 7 Regional Bell Operating Companies.

Today's Famous Births:

1821 - James Longstreet, American Confederate general

1935 - Elvis Presley, American singer and actor, "The King"

1942 - Stephen Hawking (pictured), American theoretical physicist and author, A Brief History of Time

1947 - David Bowie, English musician and actor, "Space Oddity" and Labyrinth

1967 - R Kelly, American singer, "I Believe I Can Fly"

1971 - Jason Giambi, American baseball player

Trivia:
Today's category - Automobiles prior to 1900

~ Claims for the first automobile date back to around 1672 when Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit missionary to China, supposedly built the first steam-powered car.

~ Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss inventor, designed the internal combustion engine and built an automobile using the engine.

~ Karl Benz (pictured) is credited as being the father of the modern automobile.

~ Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach formed Daimler Motor Company (DMG) in 1890 and sold their first vehicle in 1892.

~ In 1897, Rudolf Diesel built the first engine bearing his name.

I always wondered...
...how high-def works...

High definition video is any video with a resolution greater than standard definition. The most common resolutions available now are 1280x720 (720i or 720p) and 1920x1080 (1080i or 1080p). [Visual graph pictured]

3 measurements included in naming high-def resolutions:

Number of lines in vertical display resolution - 480 vertical lines is standard definition (broadcast cable), 720 or 1080 is high definition.
Scanning system - interlaced or progressive - Interlaced scanning means that half the field is redrawn for the first refresh and the other half is redrawn in the second refresh Progressive scanning redraws the entire image with each refresh.
Number of frames per second or fields per second - This number is often dropped from the name. Technically, the names should read 720p60, 1080i30 or 1080p30; the latter number denoting the frames per second or fields per second. At 50 refreshes per second, interlaced scanning makes still images clearer than progressive scanning, but moving images lose some of their quality, compared to 30 frame progressive.

LCD - Liquid Crystal Display - a liquid-crystal gel is sandwiched between two polarized panels and divided into pixels, each pixel can be controlled by regulating voltage to that pixel (higher voltages equal darker pixels). LCD's cannot reproduce pure black because the pixels are not opaque. Contrast ratios tend to be less in LCD's than in plasma screen TV's.

Plasma - As in LCD's, plasma displays sandwich the gases argon and neon between two plates of glass. The gases are split into cells (pixels) and electrodes run along the front and back of the cells. The electrodes emit electricity which causes the gases to become ionized plasma, which, in turn causes the molecules of gas to rush toward the electrodes. When the ions strike the electrodes...BAM!...photons.

OLED display - Organic Light Emitting Diode display (pictured) - A film of electroluminescent organic compounds (when electricity is applied, light is emitted) are "printed" on a carrier (surprisingly, the medium can be printed with ink-jet printers, modified, of course). Unlike LCD's, OLED's require no backlight, hence light emitting diode. Sony's 11-inch OLED TV is a mere 3 millimeters thick and boasts a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1.

In the Know #3

2008-01-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

January 7, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

scrabble \SKRAB-uhl\, intransitive verb:

1. To scrape or scratch with the hands or feet.
2. To struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching.
3. To proceed by clawing with the hands and feet; to scramble.
4. To make irregular, crooked, or unmeaning marks; to scribble; to scrawl.

transitive verb:
1. To mark with irregular lines or letters; to scribble on or over.
2. To make or obtain by scraping together hastily.

noun:
1. The act or an instance of scrabbling.
2. A scribble.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1610 - Galileo Galilei observes the four largest moons of Jupiter for the first time. They are known as the Galilean moons.

1835 - The HMS Beagle (cutaway pictured) anchors of the coast of Chonos Archipelago.

1924 - George Gershwin completes Rhapsody in Blue.

1927 - First transatlantic telephone call - New York City to London.

1953 - President Harry Truman announces that the US has developed a hydrogen bomb.

Today's Famous Births:

1502 - Pope Gregory XII (pictured), for whom the Gregorian calendar is named.

1800 - Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States.

1891 - Zora Neale Hurston, American author, Their Eyes Were Watching God.

1948 - Kenny Loggins, American musician, "...highway to the Danger Zone!"

1957 - Katie Couric, American television host, "CBS Evening News" and, formerly, "Today" on NBC.

1964 - Nicholas Cage, American actor, National Treasure 1 & 2 and Raising Arizona.

Trivia:
Today's category - Futbol/Soccer

~ Dating to the second or third century BC in China, cuju is the earliest known sport with similarities to soccer.

~ The largest attendance for a soccer match was in July 1950 at Maracana Municipal Stadium (a.k.a. Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, pictured) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil played Uruguay for the World Cup in front of 199,854 people.

~ Pele scored 1281 goals in his career.

~ The international governing body of soccer is FIFA, the Federation Internationale de Football Association.

I always wondered...
...what a presidential primary is...

The presidential primaries and caucuses are one of the first steps in the presidential election process. Individual states hold voting sessions or meetings to nominate their candidates for each party's national convention. The primary election gives the nomination of candidates to the people instead of the parties themselves.

The Iowa caucus (January 3) and New Hampshire primary (January 8) are the earliest candidate election events and often weigh heavily on eventual nomination.

In the Know #2

2008-01-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

January 6, 2008

Today is Epiphany, the celebration of the visit of the Magi to the Christ-child. Also known as Theophany to some Christians in celebration of the Baptism of Jesus.

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

friable \FRY-uh-buhl\, adjective:
Easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1838 - Samuel Morse first successfully tests the electrical telegraph.
1912 - New Mexico is admitted as the 47th US state.
1929 - Mother Theresa (pictured) arrives in Calcutta to begin her work amongst India's poorest and diseased people.
1941 - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers his Four Freedoms Speech in the State of the Union address.

Today's Famous Births:

1412 - Joan or Arc, Roman Catholic saint and national heroine of France
1878 - Carl Sandburg (pictured), American poet and historian
1883 - Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese author
1926 - Kim Dae-jung, President of South Korea and Nobel laureate
1937 - Lou Holtz, American football coach and broadcaster
1955 - Rowan Atkinson, English comedian and actor, Mr. Bean
1968 - John Singleton, American film director and producer; Hustle & Flow, Four Brothers, Higher Learning, Boyz n the Hood

Trivia:
Today's category - Vexillology, the study of flags

~ Red is the most popular color used in flags of the world, followed by white.
~ The largest flag ever flown was hoisted by a helicopter over Abu Dhabi, UAE, on December 2, 2007.
~ Flags based on the French flag copy its proportions of 2:3, German flags are 3:5, U.S. flags are 10:19, and Russian, Commonwealth of Nations, and communist flags use 1:2.
~ On June 14, 1777, Congress adopted a resolution calling for a flag with thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and with a blue canton or "union", with thirteen white stars. The resolution defined the significance of the colors: "White signifies Purity and Innocence; Red, Hardiness and Valor; Blue, Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice."

I always wondered...
...how time is measured...

The science of time measurement has advanced greatly through the years, from sundials and candles to pendulums and quartz. But in recent times, time measurement has become much more precise. An atomic clock relies on the resonant frequency of Cesium-133. The current SI standard for the passage of one second is the time it takes for a Cesium atom to cycle through 9,192,631,770 energy changes - a lot more complicated than the ticking second-hand on your wristwatch.

Taming Lions

2008-01-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

[Sermon preached January 6, 2008, at Smith Chapel Wesleyan.]

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered

Judah

and carried away the nobility in the late seventh century B.C. A young man named Daniel was taken into captivity at this time. Because of his wisdom and interpretation of dreams, He worked his way up in the kingdom and eventually became the third highest ruler in the country under another king, Belshazzar. All of a sudden, the management changed and King Darius the Mede was in charge. Darius made Daniel one of three administrators of his kingdom. Now, imagine just for a moment how you would feel if you were one of the Babylonian or Persian leaders, and a foreign kid starts to work his way up in your kingdom! You have spent your entire life trying to make it to the top. Then, in struts some guy who does not worship the same god as you and does not know your culture, but he gets the job you have been working for. What would you do?

Here is what Darius’ leaders did. They came up with a plan to trap Daniel. They knew his habit of prayer and devised a scheme that would use it against him. The other administrators and rulers convinced Darius to make a law which banned prayer to anyone but the king for thirty days. The king made the law official and so the trap was set.

Let’s pick up reading there. [Daniel 6:10-26]

10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12 So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?"
The king answered, "The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed."
13 Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day." 14 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15 Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. 20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"
21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24 At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly!
26 "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.
"For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.

The first thing I notice is that Daniel was willing to show his faith. His faith was not something that he hid from public view. He prayed at his window every day. Anyone who passed by could have seen him.

Daniel did not back down. We learn that even after he found out about the new law - a law that came with a death penalty - he went to his room and prayed. Sometimes, God may ask us to take a stand that goes against what people have called a norm. This nonconformity will certainly attract attention.

Not only did he not back down, but Daniel did not compromise in the slightest. At the end of verse 10, Daniel is praying and giving thanks to God “just as he had done before”. Nothing was different. No law or death threat or hate crime could keep him from his daily faith. Do you find yourself changing your habits to please others or to keep from trouble? God is asking you to be faithful in every part of your spiritual life, even in the little things - especially in the little things.

The second thing I notice about Daniel’s faith is that it was tested. Many times, we hear stories about people who escaped great trial because God kept them from being caught. Take Rahab for instance. She could have been killed for housing spies, but God protected her. There are countless other stories in which God miraculously protected someone from being detained. Daniel was not one of these people. His defiance of the king’s law lasted only a few days before he was arrested. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that Christianity is “costly and never altogether comfortable, [it] may mean walking through the valley of the shadow of suffering…we are gravely mistaken to think that Christianity protects us from the pain and agony of mortal existence.”

Daniel’s faith brought about punishment by human law. The key word there is human. As humans, we are imperfect and so - it only follows - that our laws are sometimes imperfect. God may ask us to break a human law in order to fulfill a Divine law. King Darius issued a decree out of pride and ignorance. His law was not God’s law, and his law had a very serious penalty: Daniel was to be fed to lions.

In this, we see that Daniel’s faith brought about not only a punishment, but a persecution. The law that was passed was a direct attack on Daniel’s faith. Earlier in verse 5, the rulers said to each other, “we will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” Daniel could have saved himself if only he had given up prayer for one month, but instead, he chose to continue his pattern of talking to God. This brought about the punishment and the persecution, but this was not the end of the matter.

The third aspect of Daniel’s story is a reward for faithfulness. One promise from God is that the faithful will receive reward either in this life or the next. Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith”, has a great list of those who were repaid for their devotion to God. Verse 33 begins a catalog of the rewards of men’s faith. It reads, “…faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised…shut the mouths of lions (that’s our friend Daniel), quenched the fury of the flames…routed armies…” It goes on later: “Women received back their dead, raised to life again.” On the other side of the coin, we are guaranteed recompense for faithfulness when Christ returns. In Matthew 5:11 and 12, Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…”

Faith brings salvation. Daniel was not willing to compromise, and this stand put him in a very tight spot. The lions’ den was the place of execution and a gruesome place as well. Darius threw Daniel into the pit and came back the next day to find Daniel calmly sitting with the lions. Not only was Daniel spared from death, but he was not harmed at all. Verse 23 confirms that “no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.” At times, though, we must endure the persecution and punishment without direct deliverance. Oswald Chambers once wrote “Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.” God has not promised to save us from danger as he saved Daniel, but he has promised to save us from eternal death if we have faith in His Son, Jesus. Dr. King was right in saying that “the cross we bear precedes the crown we wear.”

Faith also brings glory to God. This should be the highest aim of our faith. The faith of one man caused an entire nation to be changed. Darius, in light of Daniel’s salvation, made a new decree that read “in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.” God was magnified through Daniel. The glorification of God is the chief reason for our service to Him. We are made and we should live for His praise.

God is asking us today to look at our faith. First, your faithfulness must be shown. We are being challenged to stand up for Christ and not compromise the Gospel. Second, your faithfulness might be tested. We must understand that punishment and persecution by people might be - and quite possibly should be - a regular part of our lives. Lastly, your faithfulness will be rewarded. We need to realize that we are not abandoned or alone, because God has promised salvation if we will glorify Him in all we do.

10 Things I Love About...Being a Pastor/Youth Pastor

2008-01-05T13:17:00.001-08:00

1. Teaching
2. Preaching
3. Creative freedom, somewhat
4. Working with PowerPoint
5. Running Sound
6. Knowing that I'm planting seeds
7. Gaining invaluable experience
8. Seeing teens worship
9. Youth camps/conventions
10. Working for Jesus

In the know #1

2008-01-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

"In the Know" is a new addition to the blog. Here's your brain food for the day.

January 5, 2008

Word of the Day from Dictionary.com:

lacuna \luh-KYOO-nuh\, noun;
plural lacunae \luh-KYOO-nee\ or lacunas::
1. A blank space; a missing part; a gap.
2. (Biology) A small opening, depression, or cavity in an anatomical structure.

Today in history, according to Wikipedia:

1781 - Richmond, Virginia, is burned (pictured) by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.
1914 - Ford Motor Co. announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor.
1933 - Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
1940 - FM radio demonstrated to the FCC for the first time.
2005 - Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system, is discovered.

Today's Famous Births:

1779 - Zebulon Pike (pictured), American explorer (ever heard of Pikes Peak?)
1931 - Robert Duvall, American actor - The Godfather, To Kill a Mockingbird, Secondhand Lions
1942 - Charlie Rose, American talk show host, The Charlie Rose Show
1946 - Diane Keaton, American actress - The Godfather, Annie Hall, Father of the Bride

Trivia:
Today's category - Literature

~ Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was published March 20, 1852. It was the first American novel to sell one million copies.
~ All the proceeds earned from James M. Barrie's book "Peter Pan" were bequeathed to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for the Sick Children in London.
~ Dr. Seuss wrote "Green Eggs and Ham" (cover pictured) after his editor dared him to write a book using fewer than 50 different words.

I always wondered...
...how far a light-year is...
A light-year is a unit of measurement of length equal to the distance that light travels over the span of one year (Julian Year) in a vacuum. Light travels at 299,792,458 m/s in a vacuum. There are 31,557,600 seconds in a Julian Year (365.25 days).
Therefore: 299,792,458 m/s * 31,557,600 s = 9,460,730,472,580,800 m So, a light year is equal to 9,460,730,472,580,800 meters (that's almost 9 and a half quadrillion) or about 5.878 quadrillion miles.

It takes about 1.3 seconds for light to travel from the moon to the earth.
It takes about 8.3 minutes for light to travel from the sun to the earth.

10 Things I Hate About...Being a Pastor/Youth Pastor

2008-01-05T07:27:00.001-08:00

1. Full-time hours
2. Part-time pay
3. Being "uncool" again
4. Fund raising
5. Still never enough $$$
6. Shape Notes
7. "We've always done it that way"
8. Boy-crazy girls
9. Some, but not all, parents
10. Responsibility

10 Things I Hate About...Responsibility

2008-01-04T22:33:00.000-08:00

1. Delegation
2. Planning ahead of time
3. Money management
4. Time management
5. Being in charge of people
6. Complaining people
7. Lack of motivation
8. Little or no appreciation
9. Stress
10. Opposition

Hopefully, this can become a regular installment on this blog.

Cinema Standard

2008-01-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

I've started blogging on my movie review blog again.

Cinema Standard

Check it out!

Transformers and Shaun of the Dead are new.

Also check out my youth group's MySpace page, The CORE.

I pronounce it "Flah-duh"

2008-01-03T16:21:00.001-08:00

This ain't Kansas, Toto, or South Carolina for that matter. My youth group, The CORE, from Smith Chapel Wesleyan Church in Liberty just got back from SetApart07. The International Wesleyan Youth Convention took place in Orlando, Florida, from December 28-30. A trip to Universal Studios then followed on the 31st. The bus ride home included New Years.

The busses sat in the parking lot of United Wesleyan Church near Easley. All suitcases, teens and sponsors were loaded by a few minutes after midnight. The trek south began in the deep of night. It wasn't long before most of the passengers were sleeping except for me. I can't sleep in a moving vehicle. It was a long night and Golden Corral greeted us in Orlando.

Registration was much easier than I expected and we set off for the mall to watch a movie. The 1.5 mile trip took over half an hour, plus the half an hour wait time to get on the bus. We watched National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which I recommend. The movie let out at 5:30 and it took us an hour and a half to get back. Add those together and you get...that's right, 7 pm, which just happens to be right when the night session was set to begin.

Our seats were about two thirds of the way back and there was no use trying to see the stage. The two large screens set halfway back gave everyone a great view. Sevenglory performed, then Steve Fee led worship, followed by the opening message ("Set Apart for God") by Efrem Smith of Kingdom Building Ministries. It's always a little difficult to get into the first service, so it wasn't a ground-breaking message for most of the people there.

The next morning Building 429 opened the service. Our seats were about 10 rows from the back, so we didn't really see much. After worship, Marilyn Laszlo spoke about her experiences in Papau New Guinea, called "Set Apart for the World", and left us with the challenge to use whatever you have in your hand for God. She was a great speaker and many of her stories were moving.

Saturday night boasted a performance by Kutless, which was the first thing that my teens really liked. This is the first time some of them and I went up front for the concert and worship. Shaun and Theresa Blakeney spoke about being "Set Apart for Purity" including sexuality.

Kevin Myers, garbed in black leather jacket, spoke Sunday morning and brought his motorcycle on stage to talk about an intimidation tactic he used to protect his daughter from some bullies. He cranked it up and let it roar inside the building (a $200 fine according to the fire marshall). It was a great message on being "Set Apart for Life". Everyday Sunday's mini-concert started things off before the service.

Fireflight rocked the start of the service and Efrem gave the last message of the convention on Sunday night. Family Force 5 ripped the place apart with their concert after the last service. I had forgotten how much fun their concerts were. My face melted off several times and had to be surgically replaced.

Monday's adventure included Universal Studios Orlando. Some of the attractions we got to experience were Shrek 4-D, Twister special effects, Disaster green screen effects, Jaws, E.T., The Mummy twice, and many more. It was loads of fun.

At 8:30 we packed back into the busses and headed back toward SC. A few hours into the trip, midnight rolled around and as the clock tripped over to 2008, we passed Jacksonville. A river dissects the city. We parked on the I-95 bridge and watched fireworks being shot off of a barge in the river between skyscrapers. It was awesome! With several stops in between J-ville and SC, including almost running out of gas, we made it back in 11 hours. The parking lot of United greeted us once again and we groggily (as I had not slept on the bus) moved our bags to our personal vehicles. Bed was a welcome sight.

Many thanks to the Wesleyan Church for a great youth convention. Can't wait for the next one, Somewhere??? '09.

It's been awhile, Jocassee

2007-06-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Summer 2004

Southern Wesleyan University Ministry Teams experience some great youth camps up and down the eastern seaboard, but sometimes are allowed to participate in some untraditional events. A SWU senior citizen gathering called Southern Celebration brought dozens of 60, 70 and 80 year old alumni together for a week-long adventure seeking the waterfalls of the South Carolina Upstate. The highlight of the week had all the alumni and the ministry team members on boats discovering Lake Jocassee, South Carolina's most scenic lake.

The line of pontoon boats visited waterfalls including Lower Whitewater and Laurel Fork falls, at which the boat pulled into a narrow cove only inches wider than the vessel itself. The waterfall plunged into the lake a few feet from the boat and provided a great spot for some cliff jumping for the few brave souls who dared to climb the treacherous rocks.

Back out on the open water, we spotted a rock jutting out of the lake. A perfect spot from which to jump. Not only did the young ministry team students go for a leap, but one of the alumni hopped out of the boat and joined. Her name was Ruth and she was 67 years old at the time. That trip is solidified as one of my fondest memories.

Fast forward to today, June 2nd, 2007.

Alarm - 6:30 a.m.
I didn't want to get up but had to be ready to go by 7. I hopped out of bed and got dressed in swimming shorts just in case I decided to take a swim. As 7 rolled around the truck pulled up and I went out to greet Doc.

[Dr. Roger "Doc" MacKenzie is the chair of the Religion Division at Southern Wesleyan. I had the pleasure of having nearly every course that he teaches. Our trip to Jocassee would have us meet Dr. Rocky Nation, professor of Biology at SWU and avid outdoorsman. I would be borrowing one of his kayaks for the day.]

First stop - Hardee's for a biscuit to start the day off right. Then back to the road to drive up Highway 130 to 11. A right turn on 11 and then the road to Devils Fork State Park. After park fees were paid, the truck meandered down to the lake via the curvy road to the remote boat access. [I'm told the purpose of the remote boat access is to give kayakers and fishermen a less busy spot to put in their craft.]

Two kayaks sat waiting - one light blue, long and slender and the other forest green, short and wide. Doc stopped and we unloaded his red kayak - the longest of the three - and placed it beside the other two. The green one would be mine for the day. After stowing items in the boats, we moved to the water's edge and shoved off; each of us trying to keep our feet dry with the exception of Doc, who decided it wasn't worth the effort (he had worn sandals for just such a purpose).

Rocky explained the basics of kayaking and we set off toward the first point a couple hundred yards away. My kayak bobbed back and forth as I tried to maintain stablility and balance. As the two long boats began to leave me behind, I realized that I would be in for a greuling day of paddling. The point seemed to be just as far away as when we had started (maybe even further).

After reaching the first point, we turned to head across the lake. I was apprehensive about this to say the least. I do not want to be out on the middle of Jocassee when my awesome paddling skills get me overturned. It took several long minutes and a lot of tiring strokes to get across, but a rare sight sat waiting for us.

Rocky focused our attention on a tree which stood on the tip of a small point. A tiny white dot sat motionless near the top of the tree. With binoculars focused, Rocky sat motionless for a moment. "It's a bald eagle," he informed us. I had never seen a bald eagle in the wild until then. The trip was already worth it. As we neared the point, the bird took to the air flying relatively low around the next point, where Rocky notified us it had lighted again.

It took some time to make it to the next point, but as we rounded it - hugging the shore - the eagle flew out of a tree to my right. I was less than a hundred feet from a bald eagle...pretty amazing, at least for me it was amazing. What is even more amazing is that I saw it poop. BALD EAGLE POOP! How about that, Andy Dixon, not in HD...in real life.

We navigated the three kayaks between the shore and a small island then turned right into a cove. The cove slowly narrowed and the sound of rushing water filled the air. Wright Creek Falls sat nestled in a crook at the very end of the cove. Huge rocks littered the bottom of the cove, some of which were as shallow as the dips of our paddles. Other spots were obviously ten feet deep or more, but with the crystal clear water of Jocassee, ten feet looks like a lot less.

According to Rocky, it's customary to get the front of your kayak wet under a waterfall, so we each took our separate turns splashing the cold, mountain-creek water on the tips of our boats. I believe that my commitment in this tradition was much greater than the others', because the tip of my kayak was two feet closer to the opening where I sat than was theirs.

We relaxed for a while with our feet propped on the tops of the shells until I decided that I wanted to get out and explore the waterfall from a closer vantage point. I pulled to the shore, got out and made my way through the underbrush and spiderwebs to the second tier of the falls. The total height of the falls is probably fifty feet, maybe a bit higher. Rocky explained that the last time he visited the falls at Wright Creek, the lowest tier was hitting the rock bottom of the lake. [A video on this site shows the low levels of the lake a couple years back - the place where the woman is standing in the video is under a few feet of water now]

The end of break time found us eating a small snack. Paddles hit water and we were on our way back toward the ramp. About halfway to our final destination, a group of common loons greeted us. Six or seven of the sharp-billed, light brown waterfowl took turns diving for fish. I paddled within ten feet of one, which quickly ducked under the water. The rest of the 3.4 miles back were relatively uneventful with the exception of several boat wakes to make the ride interesting - one of which almost made it into my kayak.

The boat ramp was much busier than when we had arrived. A dozen people or more scurried about pulling kayaks into the water and strapping camping gear to them in order to go to a remote campsite. Once everyone was out of the way, we pulled up to the ramp and got out.

I wanted to try one of the narrow kayaks and Rocky wanted to try Doc's, so I jumped in (rather, I slowly slinked into) the blue boat while Rocky sped about in the red 14.5'. The slender kayak paddled incredibly easily compared to the stubby one. I felt as though I was flying on water. Doc wanted to try the blue because it had a rudder, so I got out and let him take his turn while Rocky continued speeding around in the red. "I got it up to 6 miles per hour," Rocky stated, citing his GPS.

We dragged the boats onto the pavement and loaded them onto the vehicles. Rocky waved goodbye and was off as Doc tied off his kayak. We hopped in the truck and headed back out toward the highway, all the while I read a book on the furbearers of South Carolina which Rocky had so eagerly given away. Who knew that muskrats could be so interesting?

We took a different route home than the way we had come. We rode on Highway 133 through Six Mile, then Maw Bridge Road to Central. Doc dropped me off and I walked in the apartment with new dreams of life on the water. Now, how can I get my hands on a kayak?!

Chattooga - Part 15

2007-01-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

...continued from Sunday, December 31.

Every moment of time spent in the drenching deluge was watery torture. Two bodies sat with heads between knees discussing the options afforded them. Option number one: build a small fire, attempt to cook dinner, lie under a poorly constructed “tent” and sleep in the middle of nowhere less then ten feet from the river. Option number two: pack all the stuff up, head farther down the trail, try to locate the camping area by Licklog Falls, set up the “tent”, somehow eat dinner and manage to get some sleep. Option number three: pack up all the stuff, backtrack the five miles to Burrell’s Ford Campground, find the girls there and take them up on their offer of hot dinner, set up the “tent” again and get some shuteye. After many minutes of debate, a unanimous decision to head back up the trail fueled the grueling task of breaking everything down and packing it all up.

Seven o’clock had already passed when walking resumed and over four and a half miles of trail lay ahead. Dark would relay its greeting before any of the girls would. Less than two hours and several missteps over gnarly roots later, the first campsites (or last as seen before) came into view. The tiring pace drained bodies and caused legs and backs to ache under the strain of thirty-five pound backpacks. Thirteen miles in one day and only eight miles of progress to show for it.

The river ran barely visible left of the tired company. No audible sound could be heard due to the depth of the water. Walking in the dark beside a quiet river can be best described as eerie, not unlike a trip through a ghost town devoid of life. The now familiar right turn into the heart of the campground and the sight of the large campfire were welcoming.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 14

2006-12-31T11:51:00.000-08:00

...continued from Saturday, December 30.

Not much further ahead a small, flat area about ten feet above the riverbank looked to be a suitable spot to set up camp for the night. Local regulations which require campsites to be set up no closer than fifty feet from the river were decidedly ignored. The rain had increased to a soaking downpour and complicated the setup. There would be no dry place on which to set up the makeshift “tent.” The “tent” included one large piece of plastic, nylon string and the tan poncho to be used as the floor. The plastic was quickly strung up between a few small trees and provided barely adequate shelter.

With the “tent” finished, the gathering of wood for a fire commenced. Finding dry wood immediately presented itself as an issue, but with enough time and energy a suitable pile of kindling and timber found its way into the pile. Starting a fire using wet wood is complicated at the very least – frustrating and nearly impossible are probably better descriptions.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 13

2006-12-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

...continued from Friday, December 29.

Big Bend signaled its goodbye as we plodded away from it and toward the next set of waterfalls – Licklog and Pigpen. Miles separated Big Bend from the others, but the trail lay flat between and weaved a serpentine path along the ravine walls.

Puffy, white clouds slowly became grey and covered the sky as far as the limited view would permit. The thickening humidity warned of an ominous peril for hikers: thunderstorms! The search for a suitable place to set up camp began, but the steep grades would allow no such thing. Long, low rumbles came rolling over the ridgelines, quickening the walking pace. It would be nearly an hour before the first raindrops softly pattered the leaves.

The forecast for the day had mentioned a forty percent chance of rain which, according to Murphy’s Law, meant precipitation was inevitable. The slow rate of the rainfall picked up until clothes and packs became damp - an indication that it was time for ponchos. One GI style, tan poncho emerged from a pack along with an “engineered poncho,” a euphemism for a piece of plastic with a hole cut for one’s head.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 12

2006-12-29T14:40:00.000-08:00

...continued from Thursday, December 28.

Back on the journey, the trail tightened to a corridor of trees on each side with the river visible through the braches on the right - the path still a distinctive dirt strip. A slight, downhill grade made walking nearly effortless and afforded a chance to concentrate on taking in the natural beauty of the area.

The dominate green of the leaves oversaturated the view in an almost surreal way, contrasted only by the deep brown hues of the path and the tree trunks. The thick sound of water rushing over large rocks complimented the deep colors of nature. Glimpses of the rapidly quickening water and the growing cacophony signaled the approach of Big Bend.

Big Bend Falls spans the entire width of Chattooga, plummeting 15 feet in its entirety. Though a modest waterfall, Big Bend makes up for is small size with volume. A wall of water drops over the first ledge and creates a roar that can almost be described as deafening.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 11

2006-12-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

...continued from Friday, December 1.

The dirt path meandered by the last campsites and drew close to the river’s edge. Feet strode no more than a couple of absent-minded steps from a fall into the deep, cool water. The walk traversed mostly level ground and would have been a boring section without the quickening pace of the watercourse.

Empty stomachs brought up the discussion of lunch. The next open area with a fire pit would signal time for a meal. Forty-five minutes and more than a few voiced complaints about lack of viable stopping points later, packs were opened for the first time since setting out on the trip. Food and fire-starting gear were brought out and a small, efficient fire was started.

Canned food is generally a bad choice of hiking provisions; the extra weight adding unnecessary pounds to the packs. An exception to the rule found Chef Boyardee ravioli sizzling in tiny mess pans. An attempt to produce forks from the bags proved a moot trial. Silverware: a forgotten necessity. Out of the packs came the knives. A nearly weightless skeleton knife and the legendary BFK would have to function as forks. One is extremely careful when endeavoring to eat with a razor-sharp utensil.

Mess kits met river water and knife blades were wiped clean of victuals. The intricate packing of mess kits can be an art in itself. Memorization of the order is essential. The diminutive cup rests inside the miniature pot. The pair then lies in between the plate and the pan, the handle of which acts as a latch to hold it all together. The process is comparable to opening and closing a Russian nesting doll.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 10

2006-12-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

...continued from Thursday, November 16.

The first campsite offered a strange encounter: Adventure Scouts, the co-ed version of the Boy Scouts. The co-ed crew was anything but mixed gender, consisting of 5 girls under 18 and a forty-something woman scout leader. Disheveled hair and grungy clothes marked the woman, who had obviously seen her share of the outdoors.

The first sight of the camp revealed three small tents, a more than adequate fire pit, between-the-trees clotheslines, a large pile of firewood and the aforementioned group. Appropriately located nearest the “bath house”, the oversized campsite was anything but shabby. Everything was placed neatly but efficiently. Nothing was unnecessarily unpacked and everyone shared what was used. It could be called a perfect model for a recreational pleasure-seeker.

The six companions - a later conversation disclosed - had been hiking for five weeks already and had two more weeks to go before the summer expedition was complete. The girls had driven from the unexciting terrain of Florida up to the lower end of Appalachia. Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina trails had previously been navigated and South Carolina was the last destination of their journey. Oconee State Park for the Fourth would be their final stop before packing up and heading home.

A light conversation turned into an hour of spent time. After the standard topics of discussion were covered, dialogue ranged from life dreams and aspirations to random hiking adventures. The majority of the conversation was one-sided, coming mostly from the woman. A short while later, following goodbyes and a declined offer for dinner cooked by the girls, eyes turned south and on toward Big Bend.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 9

2006-11-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

...continued from Tuesday, November 14.

Chattooga runs strewn with boulders along most of its length, creating a system of rapids and eddies. The river’s features create a paradise for kayakers and rafters alike. Deep, placid pools can turn quickly to raging rapids and waterfalls. Novice navigators, along with the advanced, find enjoyable trips on the scenic waters.

Burrell’s Ford Campground is a favorite destination for many hikers and campers. With its many campsites and proximity to the river, Burrell’s Ford is the perfect stop on the long Foothills Trail hike from Table Rock to Oconee State Park. The peaks of tents are a welcome sight to weary travelers. This day’s hike would require more walking before setting up camp. Burrell’s Ford sits over ten miles from Highway 28 - the final destination.

The campground was once accessible by car, which is evidenced by the gravel roadbed that runs right up to the first campsites. The rugged roadbed lies basically useless for any vehicles other than the most heavy-duty four-wheel drives because of steep runoff ditches cut at angles across the road.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 8

2006-11-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

...continued from Monday, November 13

The Foothills Trail overlaps the Chattooga Trail a few miles from Fish Hatchery Road. At the intersection, a left turn moves the path farther from the northern end of Chattooga, Ellicott Rock and the North Carolina border. The last section of Foothills before meeting the river trail slowly migrates toward the water until it meets Burrell’s Ford Campground.

It was two hours after setting out before the sound of gurgling water met eager ears. The flat trail slowly started descending to the river basin. The path had been relatively straight, but it began making the first of many twists and turns which would follow.

Chattooga River runs through a deep valley along the Georgia border, creating the jagged state line. Standing high above the water, the trail heads southwest toward Highway 28. Ellicott Rock Wilderness Area boasts a three-state river rock - plaque included. Georgia, North and South Carolina converge on the spot. Hikers often stand on the rock claiming to be in three places at once.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 7

2006-11-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

...continued from Monday, October 23

The walk from Fish Hatchery to Chattooga is less than picturesque. Flat terrain and trees are about the only things in view until midway to the river. Three and a half miles separated the parking area from the river. If any hike can be boring it is this section.

The air stood still; shadows of branches showing no movement. Most vernal days the forest ground seems to be a woodland dance floor with its dark figures fluttering and flittering about like nature’s fanciful ballerinas. Of course music is the dancer’s compliment. Songbirds provide the melody and the wind in the trees is the fluid accompaniment. Summer days are often much more quiet – a subdued tranquility.

A few, stray clouds strafed the beaming sun. The fiery orb floated high over the canopy, sending its rays between boughs. The synthesis of sun and shade created a nice climate. The temperature became more pleasant, if but only slightly hot.

The same muscles that were tight only moments earlier moved much easier and walking became a syncopated cadence. Two pairs of shoes plodded on with distinct footfalls – one heavy and almost labored, the other sure and steady. Final adjustments were made to pack straps, ensuring that the burdens didn’t bounce or sag. A sore back is the last thing a tired hiker needs.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 6

2006-10-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

...continued from Thursday, October 19...

With the heavy packs tightened on fresh backs, the journey began. The path was well marked and had seen many visitors in its storied past. Two more pairs of worn, hiking shoes would make their mark on the trail.

As always, the walking pace was swift, although a bit slower than normal. Regulating speed is crucial when setting out on long hikes. Walk too fast and run the risk of collapse. Muscles can only take so much punishment before shutting down. Walk too slowly and consign yourself to staying out another night.

Less than 15 minutes in a familiar sight met us. The man and his dog came jogging along the path back towards the vehicles, both guy and canine panting in rhythm with their steps.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 5

2006-10-19T05:47:00.001-07:00

...continued from Tuesday, October 17...

Another car turned onto the road and parked across the way. An athletic man hopped out and opened the back door of his blue station wagon. Out came a diminutive, tan dog, hyperactive and ready for a jog. The man clicked a leash on the dog and they bounded off into the woods just behind the car. A swift pace stated that they would not be long on their outing.

The weather was pleasant for most anything but hiking. Temperatures in the mid-eighties with clear skies make for a hot day on the trail. The air stood thick with humidity, but not so thick that breathing becomes labored. In those conditions it takes about five and a half minutes for perspiration to soak through two layers of clothes, leaving the form of a backpack in sweat lines.

The entry point of the Foothills Trail into the woods is marked by an old, wooden sign just large enough to read within fifty feet. The hike from Table Rock State Park to Fish Hatchery Road is littered with grand vistas and steep mountainsides. Foothills takes you up Pinnacle Mountain, over to Sassafras Mountain (the highest in South Carolina), up and down the Jocassee Gorges, over the Toxaway River and then drops out of the forest on Fish Hatchery Road. The quiet nature of the spot can mislead the novice hiker into believing that Foothills is no challenge, but difficult travels are on either side of the road. A four foot wide gap in the trees points in the direction of the river and to another awe-inspiring expedition.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 4

2006-10-17T10:28:00.001-07:00

...continued from Monday, October 16...

The road to the fish hatchery is a winding, never-ending path down into the valley. After seeming miles of twisted, barely-two-lane back road, one finds the Oconee fish hatchery with its long, narrow pools brimming with beautiful, silver trout. It’s been said, “Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime.” A good tagline might be, “Show a man how to get to the fish hatchery; feed him without teaching him a darn thing.” The vehicles pulled off only yards down the road, a long way from the angler’s paradise.

The Foothills Trail makes its crossing of Fish Hatchery Road at a small pull off. Five cars could fit in the area if they were perfectly placed. The white sedan came to a stop on the far right side of the small clearing. Legs stretched after an hour of driving, almost mocking the trail which stood only yards away. Those same legs would be aching in a day’s time, wishing for a hot, soaking shower and a long sleep.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 3

2006-10-16T05:45:00.001-07:00

...continued from Saturday, October 14...

Mountain curves slalomed lazily back and forth through the countryside, rising higher with each turn. Issaqueena passed as she had many times before. Scenic overlooks, marked by small parking areas, are void of viewers at such an early time. A few hours later and vehicles would be driving by slow looking for places to park for the grand views.

The bridge over the Chattooga. Georgia state line. The cars parked just beyond the bridge in a small, gravel parking area lot along with several fishermen’s trucks. One backpack transfer later, a single car pulled out of leaving the other to “sit for a spell”.

Several miles back down Highway 28, a fork in the road awaits our left turn. Heading up Highway 170, the pavement narrows and the esses grow tighter. Climbing into the mountains, the automobiles snake by Burrell’s Ford and Oconee State Park.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 2

2006-10-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

...continued from Friday, October 13...

Morning packing measures included locating the last toiletries and completing a mental checklist of items at least twenty eight times. No amount of packing, repacking and confirmation of supplies can assuage the anxiety of leaving something behind…and not without good reason. “Change of clothes – check; extra socks – check; food, food and more food – check; maps – check; compass – check; BFK ‘Big Friggin’ Knife’ – check; trash bags for ‘Pack it in, pack it out’ – check; foam sleeping pad – check; 50 degree liner – check. That’s it…right? Ummmm. Ok, go through it one more time.”

The bags and bodies migrated to the cars and it was off to find sustenance for the rest of the morning. McDonald’s breakfast combos make an acceptable morning meal. Sausage biscuits and hash browns on both sides of the table were quickly consumed and the drive continued. Clemson disappeared and Seneca neared.

Middle class homeowners were already at home improvement stores buying fix-it-yourself items and lawn care products. The cars passed Lowes and turned just before Home Depot. Highway 28 took the tiny caravan through the tired town of Walhalla, a community still fighting the War Between the States and winning by many accounts.

Check back soon for the next installment...

Chattooga - Part 1

2006-10-13T10:15:00.000-07:00

Chattooga is a semi-fiction short story account of a hike that Andrew Pierce and I made this summer. The Chattooga Trail is a 15 mile trek that follows the famous river along the South Carolina-Georgia border. I hope you enjoy the story.

A light morning fog hovered in the distance, but would soon disappear with the hot, summer sun which peeked just over the pines. Preparations weeks in advance had been made for an adventure to come…which would be just that. Money spent was justified as necessary expense. Who wants to be stranded in the mountains without ten pounds of beef jerky?

Backpacks full and heavy sat inert in anticipation for the journey and their first true test of worth. Forgotten articles would not have fit anyway; at least that was the sentiment and justification afterwards. Good sleep was interrupted early and is as valuable as anything that can be packed. It would have been nice to have crammed in a couple more hours.

“To sleep; to dream…” When Shakespeare compared death to sleep, he could have said it vice versa. A sleep so deep that one is merely dead and dreaming. Even after climbing out of bed, one is not alive. “To sleep; to dream…” and Yeats then argued, “but I…have naught but my dreams.” If only dreams were reality, the trip would have been flawless - flora and fauna welcoming all visitors like in a Disney movie song. A nice, hot shower moves the mind from groggy, ethereal dreams to the awakened reality of the day.

Check back soon for the next installment...

20 mph Speed Limit

2006-09-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

Two o'clock didn't come soon enough and waiting around for people is not enjoyable when you're heading to the lake...

Saturday, a group of friends went out to Lake Hartwell to go boating. Abram Rampey brought his boat and Katherine Bowyer brought a jet ski. Andrew Pierce, Jarred Mann, Matt Bentley, Jason Williams and Michelle Lavengood were along for the fun...and what fun it was!

We left about two thirty Saturday afternoon - a late start - and headed to Abram's house to get the boat, which was in need of fuel. A quick stopover at the gas station and we were on our way. Katherine and Michelle were already on the lake enjoying the thrills of the Sea Doo when we shoved off.

Less than five minutes had passed before someone was on a tube flying around behind the boat. After some time, we hooked up a second - and much larger - tube alongside the first, but not before Abram shredded a tube line in the prop. The speed limit written on the large tube: "20 mph". What kind of fun can you have at 20 mph? That warning was rarely heeded.

Someone managed to flip the jet ski over and flood the engine. Thirty minutes of waiting and it finally cranked again. I'm glad it did, because I got to drive it later on. My first experience on a jet ski was one of first caution, then exhiliration, then sadness...I had to relinquish the controls.

Many wild rides were experienced on the tubes. Michelle completed a full flip and stayed on the tube. Katherine, Andrew and Matt got the full wrath of Abram's crazy driving (I feared for the life of all). Matt actually cut a flip in the air, flew off his tube and landed on Jarred. Matt and I found out what it's like to go over thirty miles and hour on tubes. It's insane. 20 mph Abram! 20 mph!!!

When we returned to the Rampeys' house - hours after dark and tired from the day - Dr. and Mrs, Rampey fixed us dinner: bratwersts and potato wedges plus brownies and ice cream. Mmmm mmmm goooooooood!!!

A fun day had by all. Many thanks to Katherine and the Rampeys.

Landslide Falls

2006-09-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

Andrew and I went hiking to Jones Gap Falls, which is located just west of Jones Gap State Park. The trail was fairly easy until we got to the bridge across the Middle Saluda River. "Trail Closed" a sign warned. We crossed the bridge and continued on unaware of what we would see. Pictures of the Jones Gap landslide had done it no justice. A giant gash was carved out of the hillside as high and as low as we could see. Giant rocks and large trees were strewn about like tinkertoys in a child's room.
We proceeded to cross and continue on to Jones Gap Falls which made a right turn not far past the slide area. It was a serene place with the mixed sounds of trickling and splashing waters. A nice place to relax, shaded from both the sun and the cares of life. Check off another of the Upstate's waterfalls that I've visited.
The list is now as follows:
1. Big Bend Falls on the Chattooga River
2. Chauga Narrows on the Chauga River
3. Issaqueena Falls past Walhalla on Hwy. 28

4. King Creek Falls near Burrell's Ford on King's Creek by the Chattooga River

5. Spoonauger Falls near Burrell's Ford on Spoonauger Creek by the Chattooga River

6. Lee Falls on Tamassee Creek

7. Licklog Falls on the Chattooga River
8. Pigpen Falls on the Chattooga River
9. Lower Whitewater Falls at Lake Jocassee
10. Miuka Falls on the Winding Stairs Trail
11. Secret Falls off the Winding Stairs Trail
12. Station Cove Falls at the historic Oconee Station Site
13. Yellow Branch Falls across from Issaqueena Falls on Hwy. 28 past Walhalla

14. Falls Creek Falls on the east end of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and Jones Gap State Park via Hospital Rock Trail

15. Jones Gap Falls on the Jones Gap Trail
16. Raven Cliff Falls from the top via the Foothills Trail and the lookout across the valley

17. Laurel Fork Falls on Lake Jocassee
18. Twin Falls west of Table Rock
19. Carrick Creek Falls in Table Rock State Park
20. Spring Bluff Falls via Pinnacle Mountain Trail
21. Mill Creek Falls via Pinnacle Mountain Trail

22. Reedy River Falls in downtown Greenville

Cold Water and a Copperhead

2006-09-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

[Original post March 27, 2006]
Saturday, Drew and I went hiking at Keowee-Toxaway State Park. The trail passed Natural Bridge and Raven Rock on the way to a lakeside view. Natural Bridge is a rock that is hollow underneath. A small creek passes under it. It was dissappointing to say the least. Raven Rock also left much to be desired. No ravens were to be seen...nor was much of anything else for that matter, except for trees and the rock.

The trail down to the lake was steep...really steep. I was scared that we wouldn't be able to make it back up with forty-pound packs on our backs. The trail spit us out on a small camping area beside a cove.

A golf course and several houses were across the lake from us, but at least we had the unspoiled cove. After getting our feet wet in the icy water, we noticed some large rocks about a hundred yards around the water's edge. We were compelled by some unseen force to get over to them. Steep hills and thick brush blocked our way, but nothing would keep us from our goal. We finally made it over to the rocks, which now seemed much higher off the water than from our previous vantage point. We made our way down to smaller rocks and, of course, Andrew had to jump in. I followed suit soon after. The water was frigid, but refreshing. Soon, Andrew decided that he would have to jump from the higher rocks, twenty-five feet off the water. With a running jump, flailing arms and a boy-like scream, Andrew flew out into the air.

On our trip back, we saw a cool lizard.

I nearly stepped on a Copperhead, so we had to take pics of it.

So what was in our packs to make them forty pounds?

Two dictionaries and a one-volume New Testament Commentary in my pack. A twelve-pack of Cheerwine, a camelpack, a Nalgene bottle and a Maglight in Andrew's pack.

We'll be back to go rock jumping soon. Guaranteed!

Studio Backdrop

2006-09-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

A cold breeze met us with absolute contempt. "Are you really dumb enough to go hiking today?" it smacked at our ears. "Why yes I am!" came the dumb reply from my mind. Since when has freezing temps kept us at home?
Liberty and Pickens breezed by us and Pumpkintown nearly missed us as we sped by. Caesar kept watch over the foothills and Piedmont, but we continued on to the trailhead for Raven Cliff.
By eleven we were leaving any trace of civilization behind. The trail began to undulate with the ridges and forty pounds in my pack seemed like a hundred. Soon, though, my tight muscles would relax and we maintained a quick pace. At the highest elevations, we looked out over the mountainous terrain which sprawled out beside us. The hillside below descended quickly and disappeared before touching bottom. The lowest elevations were hidden from our sight. The world was unreal for a time. It was as though we were in the world's largest movie lot. The terrain derectly beside us was real, but beyond that sharp edge lay the most beautiful studio backdrop I've ever seen. Mountains in their deep green met the sky with it's sharp blue. The Artist's work was incredible. No human touch could be seen; it was all God's awesome Creation.
The trail began to descend slightly and soon we were on nearly flat ground. The winding dirt path became rocky and fell into what looked like an old streambed. We walked under the face of the earth for a while until the trail rose out of the deep rut. The way was still very rocky; our road looking like something from a Robert Frost poem.

Soon, our path led us down to a river which we followed for a short while until we reached a bridge. The bridge was like none I've ever seen before. It was a wooden cable-supported suspension bridge. The cables were cemented into the rock on each side of the span. The bridge swayed with our steps but made not one sound in its moving.

(Sorry about the pic quality on this one, it is a screen capture from a video)
It wasn't long before we had to make our way down to the rocks. The navigation of the "trail" down to the falls was tricky to say the least. We finally made it down and began the tedious crossing of the slick rocks. We realized that this 420 foot waterfall was not one continuous drop, but a series of steps that culminated in one large plummet of well over a hundred feet.

As the egde came nearer, we slowed our pace. The world fell away to the depths, and our view became trees across the deep valley. Minutes passed as we built the courage to approach the edge. Thoughts of my fall earlier in the year crossed my mind and I hesitated to go any closer. I had to do it though; for me...and to get some cool photos. I hovered at the edge, teetering forward to get the entire shot down the falls. I couldn't take it for long and had to step back. It was Jarred's turn. I could hardly watch. I was able to walk to the edge, but I certainly couldn't watch anyone else do it. Thoughts of a splatter stain on the rocks below ran through my head as Jarred peered over the precipice.

We headed back to the trail and started the difficult climb back up to the bridge. I shot a quick video from the middle of the bridge (from which the photo of the bridge in this blog entry came from) and we were off. The four-mile hike back was a time of reflection, but our day was not over yet.

A quick stop at Caesar's Head gave Jarred the chance to climb in the Devil's Kitchen.

The view from Caesar's Head is a panorama of many of South Carolina's natural treasures. Table Rock and Pinnalce Mountain stand in sharp contrast to the Piedmont in the south. Just to the north (right) of Table Rock is Jones Gap, a deep and craggy valley that looks nearly impassable. Just below the observation deck and through Devil's Kitchen is a profile view of Caesar's Head.

We headed back to the car after a few minutes and started back toward Central. On the way down the snaking mountain highway, I put the car in neutral and coasted for several miles. Pumpkintown, Pickens and Liberty passed us again, waiving their backcountry hands and yellin' "Ya'll come back now!" I'm sure we'll be back again soon.