Apparently there was an earthquake this morning that was felt in the Greater Cincinnati area. The crazy thing is that it was 180 miles away in Illinois. Unfortunately I was already in the car on my way to a leadership meeting for church and I didn’t notice. That is until I turned on the radio to make sure there weren’t any traffic issues (I75 south was taken down to 1 lane from where I get on through the next two exits) and both stations I checked were talking about the earthquake and calls telling about it.

An earthquake registering a 5.4-magnitude 180 miles away in southeast Illinois shook the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region at 5:37 a.m. No damages or injuries have been reported.
Tremors rocked residents from Wilmington to West Chester Township to Delhi Township in Hamilton County to Bellevue in Northern Kentucky for about 10 seconds, county dispatchers reported.
The quake was centered six miles from West Salem, Ill., and 66 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such distant cities as Chicago, Milwaukee, and Des Moines, Iowa, 450 miles northwest of the epicenter, but there were no early reports of injuries or significant damage.
The quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region that covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Earthquake tremors reported

WEST CHESTER, Ohio — Drivers in West Chester just couldn’t pass up a good deal Tuesday night. They battled longer than usual waits at the Thorntons on Tylersville Road to get gas for $2.69 a gallon for regular unleaded. That’s about 50 cents less than the average price for gallon. A group from Journey Church paid the difference.
“This truck is so big, I have to spend over $100 the way I travel. So this is going to help me out by about $50,” said Sylvia Stenson, a driver who stopped to fill up.

Source: wlwt.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Brett Favre has decided to retire from the NFL after 17 seasons. FOX Sports first reported Tuesday that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. ESPN.com said that according to Favre’s agent the quarterback told coach Mike McCarthy of his decision.

Source: Brett Favre Set to Retire After 17 Years
After sending me the link to the above story my wife’s comment was, “Am I stupid cuz I’m really teared up?” to which I replied, “no and I don’t think it makes a person less manly either”. I was actually a little surprised at how bummed out I am. However I find a source of great light in my day… I just got off the phone with American Express and have completely closed my account and as of today – I have left home without it! (Well actually we destroyed the card a number of months ago.) I was given a great offer from our bank to float the account to a much lower rate (for a year) and a lower regular rate as well, with no balance transfer fee. Thanks to Dave Ramsey we are on our way to being free.
So while the sting of Favre’s retirement is still fresh the bliss of AmEx being out of my life is lessening the blow.

We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of Earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.’

At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.

Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.
Consumers have a variety of options. Options to explore include:
1. Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
2. Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
3. Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

For more information and to request up to two $40 coupons for digital converters please visit www.dtv2009.gov

Just a couple of years ago I saw these guys at our church tribe’s campgrounds where RSB performed for the first Young Adult Camp (I was in denial that I was still young).

A candle may have sparked the fire that killed a 12-year-old boy this morning, investigators say.
The blaze was reported at 6:06 a.m. and caused severe damage to a three-apartment house in the 100 block of Hueston Street on the city’s west side.
Fire investigator Tom Angst said six people escaped the blaze, including an 11-year-old girl who jumped into a neighbor’s arms from a porch roof.
The boy who died was her brother, DeMarcus Thomas, a sixth-grader at Adams Elementary School, officials have confirmed.
Randall Cheek, who also lived in the building, said he coaxed the girl to jump. Cheek also kicked in the front door of the house in an attempt to rescue DeMarcus, who was still inside.
But flames drove Cheek back.

Source: Apartment fire kills boy

How much can one community, one school, heck – my kids! take?

Criminal Minds: Roughly twelve episodes will be produced. Eleven episodes have aired, so there is roughly one left.
Desperate Housewives: Ten episodes will be produced. Nine episodes have aired, so there is one left.
Jericho: Seven episodes will be produced. None have aired yet, so there are seven episodes left.
The Office: Twelve half-hour episodes will be produced. Twelve half-hour episodes have aired, so there are zero half-hour episodes left.

Have not seen any info on NCIS, but the last 2 weeks were repeats so it looks like they are done for now too.
But all is not lost, we still have 2 channels (one standard def and one high def) of Food Porn.

Las Vegas Metro Police have confirmed to TMZ that 52-year-old Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for 80′s metal band Quiet Riot, was found dead in his Las Vegas home.
We’re told one of Dubrow’s neighbors found the singer Sunday around 5:20 PM. The Clark County Coroner confirms to TMZ that they are currently examining Dubrow’s body to try to determine the cause of death.
Fellow band member Frankie Banali posted this message on his website: “I can’t even find words to say. Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend, Kevin DuBrow.”
Quiet Riot was the first metal band to top the Billboard charts and are perhaps best known for their cover of “Cum on Feel the Noize”

Source: TMZ

I had the absolute pleasure to meet Kevin DuBrow in 1991. My dad was the organizer/promoter for the county fair and brought in Quiet Riot and a couple other bands. I was in front dead center of the stage for the show and then had a backstage pass when I got to meet the band, get pictures taken – which I still have, and got a few autographs. Including the cassette liner to Metal Health – which was my very first tape cassette. Rest In Peace – Kevin.

Update I found a picture of me with Kevin and Carlos. This is from August 16, 1991 – I don’t want any comments about me. And if you aren’t so quick in math I was 15.