Sylmar Quake Anniversary!

Forty-three years ago this morning the Sylmar Quake a.k.a., the San Fernando Earthquake, rocked Southern California. For those of you who remember it or who weren't born yet and missed it you are invited to watch this contemporary documentary about it created by the then-President's Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Civil Defense Preparedness Agency.

A Salacious Greek Yogurt Spill

Even if you don't have any knowledge of the 1980's into 1990's hit television series Full House you can still appreciate the most basic level of humor in this television commercial which requires no explanation. This ad features the most handsome of the trio of males who starred in the show, to wit, John Stamos, who is flirtatiously eating yogurt with an unknown hot-looking woman. The second level of humor is his interaction with the other two male leads of the program who scoldingly and maternally "cock-block" his efforts to score with the woman.

My Favorite Russian

I immediately noticed Russian tennis phenom Maria Sharapova when she first caught the world's attention at Wimbledon in 2004 when she was the ripe age of sweet 17 and I was immediately besotted by her. She carried herself in a fashion that clearly demonstrated courage (she faced two-time defending champion Serena Williams) and maturity (beyond her years)  and strength (all types) and intelligence (outsmarted Serena) and class (which contrasted her with her opponent) and a certain sexual purity and power (she's avoided controversy and notoriety and she certainly is rather easy on the eyes isn't she?). The only thing she managed to accomplish at that time was upset the heavily-favored American juggernaut Serena Williams (whom I've always disliked ~ she's a low-class diva) in the final that year and take the Wimbledon women's crown. She's been a beast ever since (when she's healthy). I understand and respect her patriotism to her motherland, but given its identification with Vladimir Putin, whom I utterly abhor, it places me in a somewhat conflicted place... therefore, I'll stop thinking about it and just ogle her some more in this image above and say a prayer to God of thanks for creating beautiful young women.  Note: some people are simply photogenic and others are not and it has nothing to do with physical beauty or homeliness. In Sharapova's case she's both beautiful and photogenic as the above image of her at last night's Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony effectively demonstrates as she looks like a mythical Valkyrie. Image courtesy of AFP/Getty Images (all rights reserved).

Musik To Invade Moskau By

I have loved the song "Moskau" by the German industrial metal band Rammstein since first I heard it. True, I do not understand most German and Russian which are both heard in this song as Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann is the male voice heard singing in German and Viktoria Fersh is the backup female  vocals heard singing in Russian.

Note: Lindemann has the most bad-ass voice ever to sing in German (or any language for that matter). Language barriers notwithstanding, the sound of the song is certainly stirring to the point of being the perfect music to invade Russia by.

Note: Rammstein also created the perfect song to invade Poland by HERE. The official music video for this song can be viewed HERE. I certainly find it interesting from a historic standpoint and it intellectually stimulates me. However, emotionally-speaking for some reason(s) I love listening to this song while watching this sequence of clips from the electronic game "Hellgate: London".

The Quake I Missed

This M4.1 earthquake (represented by the large, red box above) struck off the coast of San Luis Obispo County shortly before noon today about 9 miles south-southwest of San Simeon. It was felt by many throughout the area including here in the North County, but not by me nursing my flu while safely situated within my house here in Paso Robes, CA.  I find earthquakes fascinating and enjoy feeling them and feel deprived when I miss feeling one like this. I suppose I should be careful of what I wish for, eh? I extend my thanks for my older sister by another mother, Linsis, who acquired this image from a screenshot for me until I can figure out how to do that myself.

Otherworldy Subterranean Dreamscape

This morning I first became aware of a series of amazing images. surrealistically H.R. Giger-esque, captured by an intrepid young Russian photographer in an abandoned salt mine complex several hundred feet under the city of Yekaterinburg, Russia. The mineral responsible for staining these salt deposits is one that before today I do not ever recall seeing or hearing ought of, to wit, Carnallite. For further details and additional photographs for this set visit HERE.

All photographs by Mikhail Mishainik (all rights reserved).

Scripture of the Day - The Stand

Earlier tonight I finished watching, for the very first time, the second half of the made-for-television movie "The Stand" adapted from Stephen King's novel by the same name. The relevance of this factoid here is that the very title (an apt title for the work I might add) caught my attention. It brought to my mind the fact that in Ephesians in Ch.6:10-18 (glibly known by some in Christian circles as the  "varsity wrestling" passage) Paul the Apostle uses the word "stand" three times and "withstand" once. Metaphorically-speaking I have not been "standing" enough lately and this spiritual malaise and complacency is reflected in the dearth of postings in this blog that relate to my spiritual life. This is ending tonight!

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the complete armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the tactics of the Enemy. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against wicked authorities, against evil power structures, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against supernatural wickedness in the spiritual realm. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God so that you may be able to endure in the evil day and having done all you can, make your stand. Stand therefore, wearing your belt and the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparedness of the Good News of peace; foremost of all, taking hold of the shield of faith with which you shall be able to turn back the fiery projectiles of the Enemy. And use the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is a word FROM God. Praying in the Spirit constantly and diligently making supplication for all the brethren:"

~ Ephesians 6:10-18 (Kimicus ad Absurdum translation)